[ In turn Alec reaches out to catch Henry by the wrist. Gently. ]
Ah-ah. No touching. If you smudge something, I might get turned into paste, and nobody wants that. Least of all me.
[ He lets him go after a moment. ]
Around the prison. I can't tear holes in reality like you can, but I can connect two points in the same reality. Think of it like a network of tunnels. My own little shortcuts.
[He can't argue with that. Henry follows around to the same side, deciding to watch him work whether or not Alec appreciates the scrutiny.]
I was. A lot happened last night, and I only realized today that a few questions slipped my mind in all the excitement.
["A lot happened" is an understatement, but neither of them requires a reminder. And though the recollection is fresh, at least the experience itself feels less... raw after a night of sleep. And other things.]
[ In answer to that, he fishes around in his pocket and withdraws... a tarot card. He holds it up between two fingers. Look, they have matching arcana: the Tower. ]
I always leave the door a little ajar. [That's a joke, right? Henry???] But maybe it didn't help to have that memory at the forefront of your mind at the time.
I always figured if anything was gonna come back and haunt me, it was gonna be that moment. I just... you know, would have liked a little breathing room in between.
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Ah-ah. No touching. If you smudge something, I might get turned into paste, and nobody wants that. Least of all me.
[ He lets him go after a moment. ]
Around the prison. I can't tear holes in reality like you can, but I can connect two points in the same reality. Think of it like a network of tunnels. My own little shortcuts.
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Shortcuts so you don’t have to… walk so much across the prison?
[Something about that is amusing to him.]
And can anyone use them?
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They're not just so I don't have to walk, thank you.
And no. It's not like my magic is the most user-friendly stuff around. Anyone can go through, but I have to be there to open the door, so to speak.
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So then, what? They’re so you can duck out of conversations you want no part of?
[Whether or not that’s the case, it’s somehow even more amusing. Very Alec.]
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[ A grin. That's not the only reason by a long shot, but he can and will use them for that reason as well. ]
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[All those runes.]
Still, I’m interested to see them when you’re done. My portals weren’t ever so straightforward to make.
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[ He moves back around to where he was, continuing his work. ]
Anyway, you were looking for me?
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I was. A lot happened last night, and I only realized today that a few questions slipped my mind in all the excitement.
["A lot happened" is an understatement, but neither of them requires a reminder. And though the recollection is fresh, at least the experience itself feels less... raw after a night of sleep. And other things.]
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Questions like what?
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So you did.
[He’s almost sorry he missed it. But Henry figures that might not be a sentiment appreciated.]
And resolved it just fine, apparently.
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Fine is pushing it. I think half the team and then some saw what happened.
[ He tucks the card back into his pocket. ]
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...So, what did happen?
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So then, that younger version of you...
[With blood painting his face. That would be Henry's guess.]
Let one person in, and the whole prison gets to see it next. That's bad luck on your part.
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Yeah, what the hell did you do, man? Forget to lock the door on your way out?
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I always leave the door a little ajar. [That's a joke, right? Henry???] But maybe it didn't help to have that memory at the forefront of your mind at the time.
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I always figured if anything was gonna come back and haunt me, it was gonna be that moment. I just... you know, would have liked a little breathing room in between.
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But if you've earned yourself a tarot card, that must mean you resolved something.
[And that part would be something Henry's not seen. Something that really needles at his curiosity, now.]
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Yeah, a thing or two. Like maybe this whole self-imposed isolation bit I've got going on isn't all it's cracked up to be.
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[Regarding Alec’s willingness to… well, make the offer that he did.]
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[ His grin skews a little lopsided, but it's a subdued version of his usual smirks. Something perhaps a smidge more genuine than he usually puts on. ]
But yeah, I'd say it did.
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He smiles at him, his own wryness blunted at the edges.]
No complaints here.
[But heaven forbid things get too genuine in such a short window of time between them, and so—]
Second question. How familiar are you with the arcana?
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What, like all the tarot card stuff? I know the broad strokes. Why?
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