[semi-open] ✪ may your smile shine on, don't be scared

[causational]

who: Eddie Thawne; Tony Stark, Taako Taaco; anyone else
what: catch-all
when: mid to late March, maybe early April
where: Community Housing; out and about
warnings: flashbacks to traumatic situations in trapped threads; probable mention of suicide (heroic self-sacrifice) and violence
notes: Hit me up via PM or on plurk if I have you added if you'd like to thread something, or toss up a starter.

Starters in comments.

Comments

[spellslots]

That about sums it up.

[He gives Eddie a grin to hide any of the nerves he's feeling, not wanting to make Eddie worry, since at least one of them needs to keep their shit together if this goes awry.]

I dunno what this shit is gonna look like from this end, if I start talking to myself don't sweat it too much.

[As long as it's normal talking and not muttering insanely.]

[causational]

Alright. Maybe I'm not so hopeless with this magic thing.

[Eddie says it with a teasing little grin in response to Taako's. Eddie's observant enough to tell the elf is nervous, but he can also tell Taako is trying to hide it, so he doesn't call him out on it. It's a little catching though, the anxiety. How could it not be when this is apparently a really dangerous spell?

Eddie nods in response to Taako's last warning, takes a deep breath and holds it for just a moment, again, before letting it go.]

Alright. Let's do this thing.

[spellslots]

Hell yeah.

[Taako takes one more second to get comfortable, resting his hands loosely in his lap, before he closes his eyes. There's an incantation for this, spoken in Elvish although it doesn't quite translate for Eddie because they're just... magic words with no meaning except to do what he needs them to do.

Nothing really changes, not noticeably, but Taako's posture slackens a little, as if he's not quite focused on holding himself up anymore.

In his mind, he sees the witch of the river. Worry crosses his brow at the second question he asks her and never quite smooths away, but that's the only outward sign of what's happening.

And then a minute has passed, and he's back. His eyes open and his mouth twists in a smile that isn't quite genuine.]

Hey.

[They're good, nothing went wrong.]

[causational]

[The spell doesn't take very long, only a minute, but it's one of the longest minutes of Eddie's whole life, and he spends nearly the entire thing holding his breath, watching Taako's face. The elf murmurs soft words that Eddie can't understand, and his heart beats harder because he's worried about that, but then Taako seems to relax, his expression softens, his posture goes looser, like he's in a trance.

Eddie watches his face clearly for any sign of distress, notices the way his brows furrow a little with concern, and Eddie's about to say something, try to see if he can help, when Taako abruptly comes back into himself.]

Hey. You understand me. I understand you. You're looking at me. We're good?

[Smiling, Eddie suddenly registers how hard his heart is beating and how fast he's breathing.]

Did you get the information you were looking for?

[spellslots]

We're good, my man, take a breath.

[He can't actually hear how hard Eddie's heart is beating, but Taako can guess that he was worried, that he still might be a little worried. That's just the kind of guy Eddie is.

It's almost sweet.]

Yeah, it's, yeah. The people here don't have any ill intentions towards us, and they're not lying about being able to send us back. [He knows that isn't as relevant to Eddie, but it's an important fact for most people here.] And I asked about whatever the fuck is happening back home, if it's a threat here. She said 'not yet', so I guess we don't have to panic.

[He doesn't say that he asked about his friends, Eddie doesn't need to know how many questions he asked.]

[causational]

[Eddie actually laughs softly at that, and he stands up, sits down on the bed beside Taako with a soft exhalation of relief, and shakes his head.]

Good. Good, I'm glad we're good, and you're okay.

[While Taako explains the intel he got, Eddie's brows raise a little bit. The answers aren't all that unexpected, since Eddie never really got any bad vibes from the people in charge here. They seemed...well-meaning but maybe a little henpecked and slightly incompetent. The fact that everyone can go home is a little disheartening, but Eddie doesn't want to think about that, right now, about being stuck here while everyone else goes home once they figure out how.

Nodding again, he exhales softly.]

Alright. Well, that's something. Do you mind if I ask...how you got these answers?

[spellslots]

Fuck yeah, not crazy! [His grin is a little more genuine, as is his laugh.] Super glad about that one.

[He realises that he would've been less worried if Magnus or Merle were around; it's not that he doesn't trust Eddie, just that Eddie doesn't know him the way the others two do, he doesn't know magic they way they do.

But nothing went wrong, it's fine, and with a wave he drops all the rest of the spells that he'd cast, including the one on the ribbon.]

There was a witch, said she was the witch of the river, or... I knew she was? It's kinda hard to explain. I asked my questions, she answered.

[causational]

[It's to be expected, that he's no substitute for the people from Taako's home, but even so, if he were aware of how Taako is feeling, he would probably be a little sad. A little homesick. Fortunately, he doesn't know, so he's focused on Taako and his responses.

Lifting a hand, he gently rubs at Taako's shoulder as he drops the spells, an instinctive comforting response.]

So you contacted a witch? Is she...a dead witch?

[spellslots]

[There's a brief flicker of surprise when Eddie touches him; Magnus is a hugger, but tends to let Taako initiate any contact between them, and while he's not exactly adverse to physical affection, he tends to keep the gestures small and brief.

But he doesn't pull away, instead relaxing under the touch.]

She was hella dead, for a long time. Not that I wasted a question on that shit, but she felt old.

[causational]

[Eddie's always been the physical type, and rubbing shoulders and squeezing arms, patting people on the back. It's instinct, and when he feels Taako relax against his hand, he just smiles and keeps rubbing for a few moments before dropping his hand again.]

Huh. So the spell was basically...contacting a ghost? Wait, does that mean it was a really fancy séance?

[spellslots]

[Uh, rude. He sticks his tongue out at Eddie, glad for the distraction so he doesn't have to think about the witch's answer to his second question.]

I could've got a demigod or some other kinda entity. She was just around.

[causational]

[Eddie grins when Taako sticks his tongue out at him, shrugging his shoulders.]

Look, I don't exactly have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, okay?

[At that last bit, he tilts his head.]

Really? This place has demigods?

[spellslots]

Well, I dunno? That's what the spell was reaching out for, it's why it's a liiiitle dangerous.

[Who knows what could be on the other end? If it was too much for his mind, or if it was malicious?]

Maybe next time I'll get someone different, but there's time for that shit later.

[It went well once, no need to push his luck.]

shall we call it here?

[causational]

[Eddie's brows raise at that, and he exhales heavily.]

Wow. Yeah I can see why it's dangerous now.

[For a moment, he contemplates things, and then smiles a bit.]

Well, if you need to do it again, I've got your back. Now, why don't I make you something to drink and you can tell me more about your encounter?

yes ma'am o7

[spellslots]

I could absolutely go for a drink.

[That'll give him a second alone to decompress. There's not a lot of information to go over, but it was troubling enough that he'd like to get his thoughts in order before he explains the rest to Eddie.]