[He watches him work, deciding to find a place to sit nearby. The trunk of a fallen tree, likely toppled over in last night’s chaos, works just as well.]
Is that really your trademark in your world? Your lightning magic?
Kind of? It's not like I put my name on anything involving my work. At some point I picked up using a lightning bolt as a signature. Like an emoji, not a real one.
It just worked out that way because lightning is the element I'm best with.
[He smiles, pleased. It is the point, though his Shadow summoned so many at once, making them unbearable. Henry often goes for a more foreboding approach.]
It’s the clock you might have seen in my dream if you were paying attention. It’s the same one from my old family home. When I first was discovering how to use my powers, I would move the hands on its face, backwards and forwards. Over and over. They were light and easy to manipulate.
[But years later…]
More recently, though, the point was to drive home the idea of… humanity wasting away time with their useless lives, minute by minute and hour by hour. For my— [He pauses. But it’s been nothing but so much honesty between them, so he continues.] —victims across dimensions, it was a death knell.
[ Alec spends a moment going over the glowing marks, line by line, checking and double checking, then with a flick of his wrist, he finishes off the last mark. The runes vanish in a burst. The air ripples, then tears open, and the two of them are staring through a hole in reality into... Alec's dorm room. ]
[It seems like a lot of fussing; which means it’s probably no easy task, no easy magic to cast, and Henry can appreciate the effort without even really understanding how it works.
When the air ripples and the portal yawns open, he sees… Alec’s room beyond.]
[Henry gives him a Look. Sir, his own portals look way less… ah, welcoming, so it’s not like he has a reason to be dubious about Alec’s own ability, especially when his magic seems so stable.]
No, I’ll go first.
[And so he will! Stepping through, and turning around soon after to peer at Alec from the other side — spreading his hands in a ta-da kind of way.]
[ He's just making sure. He mentioned being turned into paste earlier, so.
Henry steps through without incident, and Alec follows, exiting the portal into his room back in the dorm. He waves a hand and the portal closes behind him, leaving no trace of its existence. ]
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[ Alec is of course aware of the parallel that Henry is drawing. Alec himself has been responsible for his own share of upheaval.
The corner of his mouth quirks. ]
Stealing my gimmick.
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Though he supposes that much doesn't apply anymore, does it?]
Please. You can be lightning anytime you like.
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[ Idly, as he goes back to his work. ]
Branding is important.
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Is that really your trademark in your world? Your lightning magic?
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It just worked out that way because lightning is the element I'm best with.
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So it’s a calling card. Like my grandfather clock.
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[(Fond.) That’s not answering the question, but please appreciate his dramatics first.]
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Sounds like that's the point, though. So, uh, good job?
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It’s the clock you might have seen in my dream if you were paying attention. It’s the same one from my old family home. When I first was discovering how to use my powers, I would move the hands on its face, backwards and forwards. Over and over. They were light and easy to manipulate.
[But years later…]
More recently, though, the point was to drive home the idea of… humanity wasting away time with their useless lives, minute by minute and hour by hour. For my— [He pauses. But it’s been nothing but so much honesty between them, so he continues.] —victims across dimensions, it was a death knell.
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[ But it makes sense that it would be so central in Henry's mind, if it was central to the growth of his powers. ]
Huh. So it is a calling card. Flashy bastard.
[ Says the man who has branded himself after literal lightning. ]
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Says Mr. Lightning Bolt himself.
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I think I'm about done, if you wanna see this whole portal thing in action.
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Sure. Show me.
[Henry stands from his seat.]
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[ Alec spends a moment going over the glowing marks, line by line, checking and double checking, then with a flick of his wrist, he finishes off the last mark. The runes vanish in a burst. The air ripples, then tears open, and the two of them are staring through a hole in reality into... Alec's dorm room. ]
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When the air ripples and the portal yawns open, he sees… Alec’s room beyond.]
Impressive.
[Leaning forward just a tad.]
Can we cross?
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Now that the portal is open and functioning, however, he seems pretty confident in it. ]
Go for it. Unless you want me to go first.
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No, I’ll go first.
[And so he will! Stepping through, and turning around soon after to peer at Alec from the other side — spreading his hands in a ta-da kind of way.]
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Henry steps through without incident, and Alec follows, exiting the portal into his room back in the dorm. He waves a hand and the portal closes behind him, leaving no trace of its existence. ]
And there you have it. Wizard portals.
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Well, at least he’s been here before.]
Working as intended. So now your room is connected to… the graveyard? An interesting choice.
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I'm building a network, ideally, and I wanted to find someplace out of the way to see if it would even work.
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So which other locations are on the list?
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I haven't totally decided, but a little of everywhere, probably. 'Cause, you know, why walk if I don't have to?
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Heaven forbid you use your legs like a normal person. Is that really the only reason why you’re doing this?
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Hell no. If this place goes tits up like whatever happened with the jail cells, I want options.
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