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So.

[There is wine, there are beauty supplies, and there are options. And honestly, this one of the thing she's been looking forward to since the pirate ships. Having some time for just some genuine self-care is something she's been letting slide too much, and she appreciates Magnus nudging her in the right direction.]

Do we want to do hair or nails first?

[ What a lovely break from investigating all the general oddities of this world. The novelty of moving territories wore off long ago, and Magnus hasn't been able to get past the disquieting feeling that's been following him since he first arrived.

Basically, he'll do just about anything for a distraction, but this is a welcome one. There's wine, excellent company, and he's glad they're on solid ground since that makes his life easier. ]

I vote nails. Mine need a touch-up, and I want to try out my new shades on you.

[ He has a couple of iridescent colors in bottles next to him that he mixed himself. ]

Please choose your poison. I promise I've definitely done this before.

Ooooh.

[She moves over to take a closer look, judging the different shades against her skin tone, but eventually she picks up one that's closer to a shimmering ruby, and turns it to face him.]

The classics are classics for a reason. I've always been a sucker for red.

Why didn't we become friends sooner?

[ He's a sucker for red, except when it's on his exes. Which happens to be often simply because they also shared his tastes... it's really no wonder he ended up with someone who's allergic to color and nail polish at all. ]

I could magic it on you, but what would be the fun in that. Let's see your fingernails. Don't worry, I won't judge if they're in a sorry state.

[ If not for his magic, he's sure he wouldn't even have nails at all at this point. ]

[She wrinkles her nose as she holds out her hands because yeah. They're not great looking, but being at sea is rough on your hands. And so is being in the run down situation that was the House of Ravens.]

It's hard to maintain proper cuticle care in a world that finds it superfluous.

I've seen way worse, and you've at least kept them quite clean.

[ Considering their negligible amount of hygiene, it's a feat. He summons a nail file into his grip so he can start evening them out a bit for her. A small dish with warm water also appears next to his knee so she can dip her hand in once he's finished with the first. ]

That reminds me– I've met your delightful younger brother a few times...although 'younger' probably shouldn't be the word of choice. He's a peach. How many siblings did you say you had again?

[ He hasn't come across any other Hargreeves, but he has been keeping an eye. ]

Ah, you've met Five. Peach is generous.

[Because really, she knows he's more than kind of a dick. She relaxes her hands, letting him manipulate her fingers as he needs to and tries to relax the rest of her from there, even if talking about her family can be a tumultuous subject.]

There were seven of us. I'm Number Three.

[Which is a mixed bag, answering to a number instead of a name.]

Yeah, I would say he's more of a grape if I had to pick a fruit.

[ Or a prune, but he'll remain tactful. Magnus has met far pricklier people, after all. ]

Also... seven. That is quite a lot. I can't say how many half-siblings I likely had as family reunions weren't really common in Hell, but I don't think I'd endure even sharing my genes with one person. I assume you were all adopted?

[ Mostly because she and Five look nothing alike, but who knows? Maybe each of them just took really strongly after a different parent. ]

Yep. We were all born October first, 1989, and Dad snatched up as many of us as he could. Still not sure why he wanted us when he clearly hated children, but ... he got us.

[Unfortunately.]

Trained us from birth to be his little super-powered soldiers.

All of your siblings... on the same day?

[ That is a bizarrely specific adoption plan. How did he even find so many kids with the same birthday? ]

And I am sorry you were also saddled with daddy issues. That seems an unfortunate trend around here. In my world, too, come to think of it.

[It's actually much simpler than it sounds but Allison's not sure she wants to explain ... all of that.]

I have yet to meet someone who doesn't have them. Which probably says a lot about the state of fathers in the world.

Deep gratitude for your hole Master Bane, in future if you require help, I will come to your aid.

Why, if it isn't the most beautiful sword-wielder in the land.
My hole is always available for your use.
And you have my gratitude in return for the plentiful stabbings 💖

[ She has no idea what to do with flattery Magnus. ]

Would you lend your expertise?

We have witnessed much to be worried about, but there is something in that room I wish to speak to someone with an understanding of magic about. You are a scholar of magic, yes?

Of course, I will.
I will even waive my usual consultant fee for you.

And I like to think of myself as a little beyond 'scholar of magic.'
Warlock is my preferred title, and if we stay here long enough,
High Warlock of Serthica does have a nice ring to it.

[ god, he hopes they're not stuck here that long though... ]

Do you recall Master Wrath and Lady Emilia's showing on the network when Lady Arabella unhinged her jaw to open it so wide? Emilia said afterward, she did not appear to be injured from this, but surely it must have been damaging to do such a thing. A bone would be broken on a normal person.

The dolls beyond the wall, the ones that had been the most soaked through with dark water resembled real people so strongly, but they do not have bones. The tags they wore had small silly words on them, words that could be worked into a note, such as the one Emilia and Wrath brought Arabella.

Do you think, Master Warlock with your knowledge of magic, Arabella may be one of the dolls?

[ This is the one clever epiphany she's allowed per quarter and she is not going to waste it. ]

Thank you for reminding me of that nightmare fuel.
I definitely did not need to sleep tonight.

[ He's mostly kidding. ]

Anyway, I could check for you without having to actually
dissect anyone.
A bit of magical dissection, if you will, but I would have to see her in person.

Is there anything in this city not made to be the source of nightmares? I have not seen it if there is.

You can see if a person is not what they appear to be? Can you check an entire space at once, or one person at a time?

Arabella is in Minaras, we would require a connection there to get to her, or wait for her to be at the neutral zone.

You think it's possible then?

Oh, my dear, you forget I can just portal us there and back
in the blink of an eye.
I can also check an entire space or person unless an area is warded to prevent any
magic from being cast inside of it, which hasn't been the case so far –knock on wood.

Ah! Your hole is wonderous!

[ No, she has no idea what she's saying. ]

Do you have a means of concealing us if we go? She must be very protected. I can cut through opposition but if this is meant to be a secret endeavor I cannot be so subtle for very long.

[ Even if she doesn't cleave her way through, eventually someone is going to notice a trail of bodies with their accupoints locked so they can't move. ]

[ No, she does not, and he's all the more amused for it. ]

My boyfriend has also given it rave reviews,
but I am never one to shy away from taking more compliments.

I can glamour us to clear us from all normal sight.
Only anyone who can see through illusory magic would spot us,
but that shouldn't be a problem if we keep quiet, move at night, and walk fast.

It is a true asset, he's right to.

[ Oblivious puns best puns? Perchance. ]

Does he dwell here as well? You should bring him to my house when my husband roasts duck next.

You must be regarded as a peerless master in your world.

Then all that remains is where to find her, yes?

Tragically, he does not, but I won't say no to roast duck anyway.
And all that flattery will get you everything you desire,
including free complimentary dessert with the roast duck.

More importantly, do you have any information on where she's located at the moment?
Where was she last spotted?

Across universes even. I guess I know who is on the top of list of people you don't want to spontaneously show up here.

[ Same for him too really... once he's done tidying up her nails, he grabs the bottle of home-made polish to begin the first coat of deep red on her left hand. ]

Is there anyone you miss beyond your second husband?

[ After about a day, once she gets this information. ]

I have spoken with Master Wrath, who knows where her quarters are, but he has also said he possesses a similar gifted sight, and that to his eye Arabella is human, but so were the dolls who were so soaked they resembled humans.

But, that can't be right can it?

Edited 2022-10-09 21:52 (UTC)

If Wrath already used his magic on her,
it's unlikely I'll have a different result,
but it's still always good to check just to make sure.

I'd have to take a second look at the dolls to compare,
which I can't say is my favorite plan in the universe.

[ Who doesn't find dolls inherently creepy? ]

If she isn't real, then perhaps around her she keeps a guard composed of others like her, perhaps they are less formed than she, and you will be able to see it?

Can your magic force a thing to change back to its original form?

I certainly could try.
It wouldn't be the first time I've dispelled glamours, transformations, or illusions.

Probably less messy than outright dissection if you want to peek at what's beneath the veil.

I don't know. It might be kind of fun to see him suffer with some of the undead shit we've got going on.

[This place is nothing but chaos and Reginald Hargreeves is obsessed with order. He would hate it.]

But my other siblings would be nice. Luther, Vanya, and Klaus. We're usually better as a team, and I think it would make Five at least fifty percent less paranoid to have all of us together in one place.

I take it your adopted father is a regular human as opposed to all of you?

[ That might mitigate some of the possible harm the man could do... aside from emotional harm. Magnus wishes the same could be said of his own, but his father is a terror no one, not even the undead, should have to deal with. ]

And 50% from Five's usual 150% is still a marked improvement. Maybe your other siblings might enjoy the break from whatever monotony I'm sure you barely get to experience back home.

[There's a pause when Magnus asks that question because one the one hand probably but on the other ...]

You know what, I actually don't know whether Reggie was human or not.

[They never asked, he never told, but given what he was doing in the sixties and how he didn't look like he was a day older than when Allison knew him her entire life she's starting to question whether or not that's the case.]

But he doesn't have powers. At least not that I'm aware of.

[But she snorts at the monotony comment.]

Oh yeah. Whenever Five's around, the world's about to end in a week. Honestly, I think this whole situation has been kind of a vacation for him.

I would say it's generally obvious, but some are better at hiding it than others. It's how I've managed to go so long undetected in my world.

[ Not that he really is the most subtle of warlocks, but he prefers to think of his own method as hiding in plain sight. ]

And it's nice to see him sort of thriving in a new environment. At least here the cataclysms probably occur independent of any supernatural people like us so we don't absorb all the blame.

[ Not unless the arrival of the first outsider from another universe is what kicked off all the angry spirits, volcanoes, krakens, etc... ]

It is very nice to not be at fault.

[That much is for sure. Not that Allison ever was directly responsible, but she was tangentially involved here and there.]

But I know it frustrates him. He's not sure how paranoid he has to be, and "relaxed" isn't one of his natural settings.

We might just have to sneak a bit of warlock xanax into his ice cream. I know a great recipe for both. He'll hardly notice. Other hand, my dear.

[ He gestures to her right hand while the left hand is left drying. Considering he hasn't done nails the manual way in a while, he likes to think he's doing a fairly good job here.

Of course, lacking any proper top coat, he'll probably just polish them a little more with magic when he's done. ]

[She obediently trades hands, holding up the opposite to admire the color.]

Does that stuff work with coffee or booze? Because that might be a better chance of him actually consuming it.

[ Sounds like him, although he wouldn't turn down good ice cream either. ]

Depends how much he drinks of either, although booze would be far better than coffee. I imagine coffee would only counteract any relaxants. I also worry about his tolerance at that age.

[ From what Five had told him, he's all biologically a teenager again, so his tolerance has probably diminished considerably. ]

[She nods.]

Yeah, it's hard to say with him. Because while his body did reset a bit, he's works hard to build it back up.

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un: nutcracker (text)

un: iwannahexyouup

that username tho

did you expect anything classier from him

i love him, please accept this sword gal as part of his entourage

gladly, they have suffered together, they will now thrive together

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