I was painting a picture [closed]

[alwaysme]

Who: Vi, Jack Kline, Jonathan Strange
Where: various
When: Throughout the month
What: TDM threads continued

Warnings: suicidal ideation, self-worth, and possible mental instability, marked on thread



And for a moment I thought you were here
But then again, it wasn't true, down
And all this time I have been lying
Oh, lying in secret to myself
I've been putting sorrow on the farthest place on my shelf
And I was running far away
Would I run off the world someday? ♫

Comments

man I do not blame you, it's stay inside and don't do things time

[kingsroads]

Oh, I'm certain that if he saw what become of his legacy, he'd either be overjoyed or absolutely distraught.

[ Strange shrugs a little, bright smile on his face, as he muses, ]

I suppose that's why it's best we don't learn about what happens in our futures. I was more than ready to step in and correct people about rumors involving me in my lifetime, I would be even more irritating stepping in and bothering them decades in the future.

[alwaysme]

[Sounds about right. It's the sort of thing where there's no middle ground.

At his next words though, whatever solemn expression that seemed to be haunting her wipes away and she laughs, bright, latched in on there being rumors surrounding him from his current lifetime.] Wait, are you famous where you're from?

[kingsroads]

I suppose I am, [ Strange shrugs. This is very much a man trying to be modest despite the fact that his natural state of being is anything but modesty. But even he knows it's bad form to say 'I'm close to a celebrity.' ]

There are only a few magicians in my time. As one of them, it's only natural that people would gossip. But I'm certainly not a celebrity in the sense of actors or actresses. I suppose...good God, I suppose I'm closest to a politician.

[ which.....ew ]

[alwaysme]

Magician, huh? Guess you're probably not the kind that does fancy card tricks? [She asks this for sanity sake, instead of wondering what destructive strength his abilities wrought. Street 'magick' illusory cons instead of... Whatever brute force the rest of them were involved in.

Not that Jinx would ever call herself, what? A mage? A magician? Hex-something-or-other?

No, she was just a survivalist. Opportunist.

She'll circle back to the politician part, don't you worry.]

[kingsroads]

Magicians of my ilk tried to purposefully distinguish ourselves from the various charlatans and con men who did card tricks and fleeced men and women out of their pocket change.

[ There's a bit of a wry tone in Strange's voice as he talks. It's obvious the comparison to (what he views as) a charlatan amuses him more than anything else. He gives Jinx a little nod before lightly pointing out, ]

Though the only fancy card trick I know is being a dab hand at whist.

[alwaysme]

[This is the peninsula thing all over again. A what?? She's not going to ask.

Just another tick into What Is This Guy About which thankfully (or not) has less mental ticks in it than the This Guy's Interesting.] Okay, not in the same line as your Turpin pal. What does a 'magician of your ilk' do then? Can't just have a fancy name and nothing to show for it. I mean, maybe you can make your own tent for all I know.

[kingsroads]

Most of what I do is a little too...intense for this space. Reshaping roads, controlling the weather, things like that. But I'm certain I can craft a spell that's a bit more manageable...

[ He looks at Jinx for a moment, looking her over, before deciding. Strange closes his eyes and murmurs something under his breath. A moment later, a gust of wind kicks up. The gust isn't overwhelming, but feels small and targeted. The wind pushes Jinx's bangs back and blows her braid to the side a bit, but that's all. None of the surroundings near her are disturbed—in fact, Strange's hair isn't tousled at all.

The breeze also smells odd. The scent of dried leaves, an autumn breeze, the morning dew on the grass comes with it. It's remarkably natural compared to the scrapyard surrounding them. ]

[alwaysme]

[She's glad he went wind and not... lightning, if he had so-called weather control. Sure, she asked, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't holding her breath.

This... gentle application isn't something she'd expect. She's only ever seen manufactured magick. Despite whatever Piltover and their City of Progress wanted to achieve, they still made weapons, just like Jinx. It always comes down to weaponry. Even without her influence, she's certain: they'd always make weapons, eventually.

None of them were going to help the Undercity, not even with the fabrication of the Machine Herald.

She breathes deep. Once, twice. Reaches up to flick at hand through the strand of hair previously shifted and looks calmer for it.] Fun party trick. I think you nailed something else on the head though--reshaping roads? That's a way to make some cash. A nice honest living--as much as a politician can get, anyway. [Said more tongue-in-cheek.]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange lights up a little at Jinx's suggestion. Reshaping roads to make ends meet...that does sound like a good idea. He had been mulling over what sort of job to take to pay off this unasked for debt, and now new ideas are starting to form in his mind. ]

I'm sure the nearest city must have a council or municipal government of sorts. I'm perfectly fine being the magical equivalent of a day laborer if the pay suits.

[ It's obvious the more they talk, the more Strange is coming around to this idea. ]