riverviewlogs | [closed] I can't help this awful energy

Entry tags:

[closed] I can't help this awful energy

who: Wanda and Loki
what: Magical shenanigans and training.
when: July 18
where: Gramarye
warnings: None

[Wanda pauses outside Loki's office the day after their conversation, biting her lip before knocking. Of course she's a little nervous. How could she not be? Loki's the only other person she knows of who has both real experience with the Mind Stone and the magical knowledge to understand it. He's her best hope.

If he can't help her, at least there's still Stephen and Billy's books, but her powers are still some degree of different. She's not a sorcerer or a mutant...she just is, and whatever this power is, it's hers. Wanda doesn't know if she'll ever reach a point of absolute comfort with them - she has such an odd relationship with them. Some days it really feels like they're as much a part of her as any limb, but then something will happen and everything feels wrong and off, like her foot's asleep or she's having to remind herself to breathe. Still part of her, but uncomfortable and sometimes frightening in its potential.

But deep down, Wanda knows he's right - she can't keep going like this indefinitely.

She manages to school her expression into something more neutral before the door opens. Thankfully, her voice doesn't betray her.]

Hi. [Not her most eloquent but she's here at least.] Is this a good time?

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[Yep, definitely something to keep in her own office. No one wants to try to explain that their cat ate their homework.]

I'll try. [He doesn't need to elaborate. Wanda's used to experimenting with her abilities, and really, she needs guidance, not handholding.]

((ooc: time skip?))

[ Just as well. Loki isn't the hand holding type. ]

Good. I will check on you later.

(( sounds good! ))

[Wanda's mood is much brighter the next week when she shows up with the plant and a small box of chocolate chip cookies.

She adopted one of the lavender plants from Gramarye's collection and she hasn't managed to kill it. It's actually doing pretty well, and several shoots are beginning to flower. Wanda had left it alone for the first two days to focus on getting a sense of its energy and what happened when she touched it with her power. Only when she was sure she had a decent grasp of it did she try to feed it small amounts of her power.

This is probably the first time she's actually been happy to explore her powers.]

Look, [she says excitedly when he opens the door.] I didn't kill it.

[...setting the bar real high for yourself there, Wanda.]

[ To be fair, he'd treat not killing it as a high bar too. It's not as though Loki has a skill with keeping people alive. Today, he seems to be lounging in his suit, without the black jacket. ]

So you did not. Bring it closer. I need to examine it.

[She crosses the room to set the plant and box of cookies on the desk.]

These are for you. For your help.

[ Loki blinks, confused. ]

I haven't done much.

You offered to help and you didn't run away.

[Just accept her friendship (and chocolate), Loki.]

Why would I be running?

[ And he's totally going to gloss over the helping bit. ]

I told you, sometimes my powers frighten people.

I'm not people. I do not hold to mortal stereotypes and assumptions.

You still didn't have to help.

[And the cookies are staying here. She looks back at the plant.]

How did I do?

[ Green energy curls around Loki's fingers as he touches the plant lightly. ]

Not bad. But your touch was very light. Were you scared you might hurt it?

[She nods.]

I was afraid I might give it too much.

[She doesn't know if that's possible with her own powers, but overexposure to the Mind Stone's energy definitely killed people.]

[ Loki pulls his hand back. ]

This is still an encouraging start, at least. Plants are sensitive to their environment. They make for an excellent gauge when it comes to balance.

[Wanda cups her hands loosely around one of the smaller shoots. Scarlet power glows between her palms as she feeds a little more power into it to balance it with the taller shoots.

There's a gentle benevolence to the way she works with it, a simple joy in feeling the plant respond. But she may be slightly too gentle.]

My emotions affect my powers. It makes sense that they can feel it.

[She has that much self-awareness, at least.]

Your body is a vessel. Emotions are energy. But it has drawbacks.

[ Loki watches her before moving his gaze away. ]

My magic works no matter what state of mind I'm in. It functions without hesitation or error. I can rely on it without question.

[Wanda also glances away.] I wish I could.

[...but her gaze falls back on the plant that she has somehow managed not to kill. Baby steps. Wanda doesn't know if she'll ever become the person Billy talks about looking up to in his world, but better than she is? That's starting to feel more attainable.]

Maybe one day I will.

[ Loki doesn't give something preachy like "you have time" or anything along those lines. Thanos in their reality now. Time is not something they possess. Loki knew he was on borrowed time and did little about it.

He deserved — ]

You are on the right path, at least.

[She doesn't know (yet), but she still appreciates the lack of platitudes. She needs help, yes, but not coddling.]

So what now?

Now, we move onto the next step.

[ loki levitates the plant to the table, letting it settle. ]

You will try your magic on me.

All right. I can do that.

[She's less nervous this time - Loki is definitely sturdier than a plant, and since she didn't manage to hurt it she can ride that wave of confidence into the next lesson.

She holds out her hands. It's the same principle, and she'll have much more immediate feedback this time, even if she's not sure what will happen. Loki isn't hurt.]

[ Loki's energies are a little more gnarled, reflecting secret parts of his inner state, but it feels luminous, like bright pristine corners in a limestone cave, reflecting pools of light and colours across the floor. ]

Don't falter.

[She is less hesitant this time but still careful - it's like a steadily rising tide of warmth that seeks out anywhere he's physically or energetically uneven. Maybe they're old battle wounds. Maybe he just didn't sleep well. But whatever it is, she can see the way their energies mingle and how Loki's energy gradually absorbs what she offers.

She glances up, brow furrowed in concentration. Well, as long as he hasn't shoved her away she must be doing something right?]

[ It is hard to relax his own shields, letting the foreign energies wash over him. Though not so foreign since it seems the Mind Stone took some of his abilities and enhanced them. Still, it is a difficult task for Loki and for a moment — there's fire on the ship, a hand on his throat and the world spins — which he immediately banishes with a snap of his fingers. ]

[There's no amount of energy she can give him to unmake the damage done, but her power still wants to try.

Wanda, watchful as she is, definitely notices his discomfort. But she doesn't pull away, not yet.]

Loki? Are you all right?

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