public channel, forward dated a smidge to the morning of d15

[kingsroads]

Months ago, during the Celebration, a few of us got together to talk about and compare the magic from our worlds. Well, it's been a while since then and we've certainly picked up more magicians, so why not revive that little discussion group?

[ he's phrasing it as a hypothetical but as Strange keeps barging on, there's nothing hypothetical about it: he is totally reviving that discussion group. ]

I've asked around and the smaller festival hall in the building closest to the carnival portal is available for our use. Anyone who's interested should meet there tonight, just after sundown, for an informal gathering to talk about magic. There will be space inside the festival hall and outside in the snow for anyone to demonstrate their techniques.

Likewise, anyone who wishes to learn about magic should come and visit as well. [ And there's a bit of a pause like Strange is trying his hardest to choose his words carefully. ] Magicians in the carnival have different types of magic drawing upon different techniques. While one school of thought might seem incomprehensible, another might seem as clear as day. This is a chance for those of us with magic to learn from each other and develop our skills and those of us who wish to learn magic to see what practice would best fit their needs.

[ There's a pause, because Strange has no idea how to end this. ] Sound off if you're coming, I suppose. Oh, and can someone bring snacks?

( ooc: this is an ic post about mage club, an idea floated around on the cr meme a while back. I'll put up a mingle log later in the week for the actual meeting itself. as for this post, feel free to threadjack around! )

Comments

[atouts]

[ And because he's Childermass, it's already apparent he isn't going to ask for help figuring out what to do with it, even if he will at least discuss it. ]

Hm. [ Really, though. ] You're right, that is better. At least we can expect those to remain absent rather than freeze everything and snow us in.

[ Though now that he thinks of Frost, he really hopes they don't run into that one again, either! Childermass would prefer no Winter Fae in the court's immediate future, thanks. ]

[kingsroads]

[ One day these idiots will learn how to work together. Today isn't that day. ]

Or kidnap one's wife. Or enthrall me into attacking my friends. At least Frost was just a nuisance.

[ Still, Strange kind of hopes he doesn't run into any of the fae he's dealt with again. ]

[atouts]

The first two, at least, should no longer be a problem for us.

[ One, he assumes, is extremely vanquished, the other unable to find Strange. If she can find the rest of them, well... It's not like he can do much about that part, but still. ]

[kingsroads]

I hope you're right.

[ Paranoid? Who's paranoid? Strange isn't paranoid, why would you think that. There's a pause before Strange swaps the conversation...right back to Childermass's odd soul, sorry buddy. ]

And I also hope you'll tell me if your soul undergoes any more, erm, 'oddities.' Norrell and I will be away from England for who knows how long. I want to know exactly what we might face.

[atouts]

The fact that none of us remaining in England have been murdered by an angry faerie makes the first quite certain, [ he points that out, very matter-of-factly. ] And we dealt with the second one. Regardless, the cards told me she was having a very bad time after Portland. I would not be surprised if you are the last thing on her mind.

[ Like the worst time and Nightshade absolutely deserves it. All the faeries from that place do, as far as Childermass is concerned, rotten, nasty things they were... But on the topic of his 'oddities'. Well. ]

I would hope it doesn't undergo any others, to be quite honest, but I can tell you to avoid suddenly being related to a faerie. I suspect you and Mr. Norrell may not run into that one, however. That spell seemed to be very unique.

[kingsroads]

We should look into finding you supplies for new cards here, [ Strange briefly interjects, with a small frown. After all, part of him is still tremendously guilty that Childermass gave up his cards just to keep Strange safe. The least he can do is look around to see if he could find anything potentially useful in the first place.

That second part though...Strange can't help but smile a little. However, it's a small wistful smile, not anything like the wider more obnoxious smirks he gives on a daily basis. ]

I've no idea what Norrell and I shall run into, [ Strange admits, with a little shrug. ] It's best I assume nothing is off limits and prepare myself accordingly.

[atouts]

That's fair, but also a good reason to find a way back for you two as soon as possible. If the book turns up nothing, we may want to ask the Ringmaster about it.

[ Another year in return for Hurtfew and everything swept away with it returned to England, his England, preferably at the right time. It's been something he's spent some time considering already, because of course, Childermass would.

His cards, though... That part he can only shake his head at. ]

And while I appreciate the thought, I have already looked through the market. I could find nothing I would want to use there, either. [ Which he'll allow himself to sigh over. ] The original set was cobbled together in such a strange way, I am not sure I can make them the same way a second time.

[kingsroads]

I may want to ask the Ringmaster about it. If you make a contract on Norrell's and my behalf, then I'll simply spite you by making a contract on your behalf in return.

[ Despite the fact that Strange honestly has no idea what the two of them will encounter back in faerie, Strange is confident that somehow, he and Norrell will find a way through it and back to England. Besides, Childermass has a life of his own. He's spent too long cleaning up the messes of English magic already, he shouldn't have to do it anymore. ]

[atouts]

You wouldn't know what to contract for on my behalf in the first place.

[ Or he would just decide something randomly and run with it, for better or worse. ]

Besides, if you remain longer than your year and a day, you can't possibly believe I'll leave you to your own devices for god knows how long and even where.

[kingsroads]

I've got an idea about what it would be.

[ What that idea is, Strange isn't saying. Instead, he's giving Childermass a wry little smirk of a smile. ]

You'll have to leave me to my own devices to begin with! Remember, I signed onto the carnival after you did. If you're so worried about me, Lambert can watch me for the remainder of my tenure.

[ Which Strange is saying for the sole purpose of being a shit. He knows that poor Childermass already has horror scenarios playing in his head of a Jonathan Strange whose impulse control is Lambert. ]

[atouts]

That'll only end in both of you getting yourselves killed...

[ Okay, untrue and unfair, but that's his initial feeling on it. Lambert would probably take the magician-sitting job seriously enough. Still, he shoots a look over Strange's way, suddenly suspicious. ]

But you've got an idea, do you? And just what might that be?

[ Strange may not be saying, but you had better believe Childermass wants to know! ]

[kingsroads]

[ this is Strange, any attempt at keeping a secret will last for literally a few seconds. ]

Your cards.

[ Weren't they just talking about that? About how Childermass couldn't find anything that seemed appropriate enough to redo his cards? If Childermass was going to make a contract to benefit Strange, then that's the contract Strange would make to benefit Childermass. ]

[atouts]

[ The man seriously cannot keep anything to himself, can he... but at least this gives Childermass a chance to shake his head — after a brief moment of looking surprised, that is, at such an answer — and dismiss the notion. He misses his cards, more than he'll ever admit to Strange, but— ]

They're gone, fair and square. The Fool was my entrance fee into the carnival and the rest were traded away. The Ringmaster may be willing to return the first, but the rest? Let those be.

[kingsroads]

[ At Childermass's surprised expression, Strange can't help but crack a smile. He doesn't know how much the cards mean to Childermass (and he doubts he ever will) but this is yet another example of Childermass giving something up or giving up a part of himself to try and protect Strange. Well, if Childermass attempts to do it again, at least Strange has a retort he could use to try and keep Childermass from trying to keep him safe (again). ]

I'm afraid I won't, [ Strange simply remarks, with a shrug. ] Norrell and I will work through the darkness and return to England ourselves. There's no need for you to sacrifice a year of your life and put yourself in danger for the two of us. And if you do, it's only fitting I make it so you get something in return.

[atouts]

For all we know, this is how you're meant to work through it and return, though I suppose I won't know for sure until I see what other prophecies the Raven King's book has in store for England.

[ Fine, he won't argue the point more than that, then. It's not like he has to make a decision for another six months, in any case. ]

[kingsroads]

[ That's a battle they'll face when the time comes. Though, Childermass's mention of prophecies makes Strange think a little as he changes the subject away from talk of potential futures. ]

I wonder...you said the book has prophecies. Well, when I bought my first spells from that man under the hedge, he said something of a prophecy at me. I can't remember it all, of course, but perhaps he read it from your book? [ there's a pause before Strange idly shrugs. ] Or perhaps I'm reading too much into the ramblings of a madman.

[ Still, the amount of coincidences in his life had grown too high for Strange to discount the theory entirely. ]

[atouts]

[ This, this is where things get weird. There's no way that man could be anyone but the rambling madman he's now stuck with back in England, but—

He pauses to turn and face Strange, looking a touch wary over how to reply to this. ]

You said that before, that a man under a hedge sold you your first spells. What were they again? Exactly?

[kingsroads]

A spell to see what my enemy was doing and a spell to make an obstinate man leave London.

[ Childermass's wariness is contagious. Strange matches that wary expression with a small little frown of his own. Something's suspicious here, though he doesn't have the benefit of knowing just what it is. ]

They were recent spells, dated a few days before I bought them.

[atouts]

A spell to see what my enemy was doing... and a spell to make an obstinate man leave London?

[ Childermass repeats that slowly, word for word, and then that wary look of his falls apart into, at first, sheer disbelief, followed by a grin, and then he turns to carry on walking down the path, laughing all the way, just like that. Oh, he'll explain in a moment, but first, laughing. A lot of it. ]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange has the distinct impression that he's missing out on part of this conversation. He really hates that. ]

Well go on! [ he complains, jogging a little to catch up with Childermass. ] What's so funny?

[atouts]

[ His laughter eventually tapers off, though he's still awfully amused, which means strangely more expressive smiling for the moment as opposed to the vague amusement or faint smirks more common to Childermass. ]

That bastard... [ He mutters in one final, quieter laugh before glancing back over to Strange. ] Your madman under the hedge stole those spells from me back in London. He'd been harassing Mr. Norrell with the same talk of prophecies and he meant to have him driven out of the city.

[kingsroads]

[ Yet again, there's a part of their lives that just fits together so neatly. He should come to expect this by now and yet it surprises Strange every time. ]

Well considering I ran into that vagabond in Shropshire, Norrell succeeded at one part. [ Vinculus was certainly out of the city, though whether by his own choice or by being forced by Norrell, Strange doesn't know. ]

Did Norrell ever tell you about what the details of that prophecy were?

[atouts]

He had been planning to leave regardless.

[ Strange may not know, but Childermass sure does. As for the prophecy, well, he only shrugs. ]

And I've heard more of it from Vinculus than I ever did from Mr. Norrell. Not that it matters much anymore. It's all come to pass and the book's words have changed entirely.

[kingsroads]

I'd still like to hear what you remember.

[ because Strange is nosy. Nosy and curious about these sorts of things.

and who the hell is Vinculus? ]

[atouts]

You already know about the two magicians appearing in England, I assume.

[ That's the easiest part to recall. ]

The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me. [ He moves on to reciting the lines he actually remembers off the top of his head, though only after a brief pause, where he frowns and looks down at the snowy path, a hand held ponderously to his chin. ] The first shall be governed by thieves and murderers; the second shall conspire at his own destruction.

[ At that point, he looks up again, pointedly at Strange. ]

I don't need to point out which magician is which, do I?