lordofthering | IC SUGGESTION BOX

[ Considering Strange's way of doing magic is 'throw things at it until it works,' RM's hit the nail on the head.

Still, if 'blast the hell out of her' isn't a good plan, Strange at least has another. ]

Then I've got a second plan. I was able to defeat the faerie who cursed me in my world by placing all of English magic in the hands of one person. That person then used the entirety of magic to destroy that fiend. I doubt I could do this in any other world as we never stay long enough for me to get as acquainted with their magic as I am with my own world's magic, but the magic of Wismuth is just so easier to access.

I...admittedly, I don't know if I can do this and it's astonishingly risky in the first place. But if I can get acquainted enough with Wismuth's magic, I place it in the hands of someone else, politely ask Nightshade to pay a visit, and they destroy her.

[ this plan is still pretty much 'blast the hell out of her' and still relies on Strange actually summoning Nightshade. But it is just obvious from Strange's tone and expression that he desperately wants to find a way to get Nightshade dead. ]

[The Ringmaster stares at him long enough that it might appear that she isn't going to say anything, and might instead just use her uncomprehending gaze to get her message across. Eventually, however, she manages:]

Strange... do you... need to talk about something?

[ Now it's Strange's turn to just pause for a moment. ]

When I was under her thrall, I hurt people I cared about. I didn't even think about what I was doing in the first place. I don't want that to happen again but considering everything...

[ And Strange just breaks off there, stubbornly jamming his hands into his pockets as he tries to force an expression on his face that's somewhere remotely close to his normal sort of arrogance. The long and short of it is he's scared as hell and obviously doesn't know how to admit it. ]

[Her shoulders relax, as if his bit of candidness there has absolved a lot of her confusion.]

I see. Well, that would explain why that plan was far more demented than usual. [That's not a low bar, either. She takes a moment to consider it, and then exhales, crossing her arms.]

...You'll never be able to destroy everything that threatens you. There will always be another foe, another fear, another challenge. And... sometimes, slaying one enemy only beckons more to take their place.

You aren't the only one that can be inspired to act out of a need for vengeance.

I'm not scared of reprisal.

[ granted, this is because Strange has zero clue what forms someone's vengeance against him would take and also is arrogant enough to assume that he can at least put up a decent fight against it. ]

I know I can't fix every problem I face, [ he begrudgingly admits (frame this moment RM, it ain't ever gonna happen again) ] but can't we at least fix this one thing?

That would depend on your definition of 'fixed'.

[She rubs her chin, considering.]

Strange, do you know how many High Fae there are, in the entire multiverse?

[ He's got no clue. ]

I'd guess there's either a tremendous amount or a handful.

[She snorts.]

I don't know the exact numbers, but it would be in the the thousands. Not even the tens of thousands, most likely, just the regular kind.

To think that any individual's death could go unnoticed would be pure foolishness.

And yet you didn't hesitate before murdering the Prince, [ Strange snaps. Thankfully, a second or so later he quickly clarifies, ]

Which yes, I know he was monstrous and I know his treatment of Sans and those changelings was barbaric, I'm not excusing that. But where's the line between him and her? Would I have to lose my true name before we take action?

[Just watch as her eyes almost roll into the back of her head.]

Did you fail to remember everything I said about him being a universally disliked loner who actively betrayed the Courts?

So it's only acceptable if we all hate him, how wonderful to know.

[ sulk sulk sulk, scowl scowl scowl. ]

[She throws up her hands into the air, actually angry now.]

YES, OBVIOUSLY!

It's like nothing penetrates your skull!

[ It's just going to be a yelling match as Strange continues sassing back at the Ringmaster. ]

Then I suppose we should all just hope that Nightshade gets into an argument and pisses off the Courts! Maybe then you won't be scared of actually doing something!

Rrrrrgghhh!

[The growl that comes out of her is not something suited to a humanoid body, and she wastes no time in stomping right over to him, grabbing him my the back of his shirt/jacket, and hauling him up into the air over her head with her other hand grasping the band of his pants.]

STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY!

[ If at any point in this conversation, Strange actually bothered to think for a moment, he'd remember 'wait a moment, I can turn into smoke.' As it is, the shock of suddenly being lifted up (???) by the Ringmaster (???) and hauled into the air (?????) is enough that Strange completely forgets about the smoke thing and attempts to wriggle out of the Ringmaster's grasp despite the fact that he's literally being held in the air.

RIP Strange, you going down ]

[She kicks open the door of his trailer and forces the two of them through the doorframe, only to sprout her wings and leap into the air for approximate two seconds - only to wind up at the side of the carnival's lake with only a magical transition in between. She lets out another roar, raising him up extra high.

Then she throws him in the lake.]

[ There's a very satisfying splash as Strange falls straight into the lake and an even more satisfying moment a few seconds later when Strange pops up with his hair plastered to his face, looking like a drowned rat.

He's very awkwardly treading water as he blinks water out of his eyes and tries to move his hair out of his face and oh great, she's still here? Strange just gives RM a look that's pure 'what NOW?' ]

[Once he's surface enough to hear her, she thrusts out a claw in his direction, continuing to yell:]

You asked to be here!
You summoned Frost here!
You made a deal with Nightshade - not once, but twice! And guess what? You were a fool, and she bested you fair and square!

Fae like her are considered weak in Arcadia, and you can't even handle that! There are consequences for your actions, Strange! And if Nightshade does steal your soul, I'm sure it will be squarely your fault!

[ ...she's right. As much as Strange wants to complain about how he was mad or it was that potion's influence or how he didn't have all his memories, the fact remains that every time he's dealt with a faerie, both in the carnival and back in England, he's fucked up somehow.

Some 'expert on the fae' he was. The only reason he was still in the carnival was that the Ringmaster saved his ass...and yet he still got into a fight with her.

He continues to awkwardly tread water for a moment. Thankfully, the lake and the Ringmaster's words have just zapped all the fight from Strange. ]

Then I need to learn, [ he decides. ] So that the next time this happens, I won't be caught off guard.

[ because he's still a bit paranoid and still a bit worried something's going to happen no matter what. ]

[The Ringmaster isn't really the sort to go easy on someone the moment they turn meek - especially when she's seen this process with Strange a few times now - but she stops yelling quite as loudly, at least. Even if she still looks pretty pissed.]

Learning would be much easier, I'm sure, if you ever listened to anyone besides yourself!

I listen to people! I listen— [ no, wait, he's sinking, pause for a moment while Strange pushes himself back up from the water. ] I listen to Arabella, to Lambert and Childermass. I listen to you.

[ except he just did a wonderful job getting into a fight with the Ringmaster, which Strange has just now realized. A look that's plainly 'aw fuck' flashes across his face. ]

At least, most of the time I do.

[ what a shitty justification. ]

[It's not like it's the only time, either! She used to think it was cute, but in such dire straights its started to feel less so. She scowls at him.]

Oh, you do not! Almost every time I, or anyone else, has ever spoken to you about magic, you contradict them! Seemingly apropos of nothing!

Even after everything you've seen, you still like to imagine that everything plays by the same rules as that kiddie pool of a world of yours! To take all of the magic in a Pillar of Creation and to give it to a single person so that they could kill a High Fae? Do you have any idea how insane you sound?

I don't know what the fuck a Pillar of Creation is!

[ aaaaand then a bit of the insight hits. Right. He doesn't know what a Pillar of Creation is. And he didn't even bother to ask about what a Pillar of Creation is, this isn't something that could arguably be RM's fault as well (because Strange will go to his grave saying that the petty gem argument was at least partly Lapis and Peridot's fault). ]

So I suppose this is me asking. What exactly is a Pillar of Creation and why would it be a bad idea to give all of it's magic to one person?

[ And look, he's tired of almost drowning, so don't mind Strange as he awkwardly starts doggy paddling towards the edge of the lake. ]

It is one of the wells from which all of Creation flows.

[She's still irritated, and it shows, but she is explaining at least.]

You could spend centuries studying the ways that Pillars interact with the rest of reality and still have no idea where to start. Creation chooses its champions, and not the other way around.

[She gestures vaguely.]

Metaphorically speaking, though, it is very much like a pillar... in that if it crumbles, it may allow for the entire roof to fall down.

[ Strange is listening as he swims towards the edge. And at least now he grasps the importance: if a Pillar of Creation is that powerful, then shoving it's magic into someone would overpower them at best, destabilize all of Creation at worst. ]

What exactly do you mean by Creation? It sort of sounds like you're describing...well, everything.

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lordofthering - 2018-02-12 22:30 (UTC) - Expand

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kingsroads - 2018-02-12 22:44 (UTC) - Expand