oldhound | ( inbox. ) deer country.

[ She very much looks how John feels. He hasn't been sleeping well since they got here. ]

Settling as well as can be expected. Haven't been able to sleep worth anything.

I've done a few. Backfired one of my normal ones in a strange way. Managed to fix it with the right incantation but it being wonky was a bit unsettling.

You having difficulty as well?

Ummm... Yeah. Yeah, you could say that. I mean, I haven't tried all my spells yet, but I tried a couple just really basic ones.

They didn't work. Not even a little.

[A look of worry breaks through the tiredness.]

They, um. Just caused a lot of headache. Like, really sharp, bad, worst migraine ever headache.

Well, I think the rules have changed, love. More than that, I think we've all changed.

So it's back to the basics and relearning for the most part.

[ Which is a special level of hell if anyone cared to ask him. Clearly, they don't. Still, his concern spikes at her telling him what's literally ailing her. ]

Right, so how's about we work this in the shop? I can put up some wards for you. We can do some research. Have some other stuff on standby in case you end up hurting again? Between the two of us and some good old fashioned books we should be able to have you sorted.

Yeah... I think you're right. About everything changing - including us. Ruby, um, keeps going on fire? She's not getting hurt or anything, but we're all kind of worried about her. Hopefully we can find a solution for her soon.

[She nods. Working with John to find a solution is probably not a bad thing, and then maybe she can find something to help Ozpin too.]

That's probably a good idea - wards, and the shop, and research and everything. It's better than just moping about it anyway.

[She pauses, and shifts uncomfortably. She's being paranoid. She knows she's probably being paranoid, but it's still a thought lurking in the back of her mind.]

You don't think - I mean, you don't think this has anything to do with what we did to Maul, do you? Just, with the head pain and all - it's kind of... familiar?

On fire? Blimey. I can understand the getting worried for her. If I manage to run into anything that might help I'll send it your way.

[ Two heads and all that nonsense. ]

No sense brooding over it. At least not too much. We'll take turns on it.

[ He hopes the attempt at humor isn't completely lost on her. ]

No. Definitely not. If it were something tied to that we'd all be feeling it in similar ways, you, me and Luna. What happened with him he deserved and he doesn't deserve a single ounce of worry out of you, understand?

On fire. Except for when she does ice instead? There's a bunch of us trying to figure it out, but the more the merrier.

[She gives him a small, brief smile at the joke, but her focus is on his reassurance that this isn't because of the spell they cast. It makes sense to eliminate it as a possible cause when John and Luna are not also affected, but the reassurance helps.]

Yeah, that's a good point. I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else. I'm not worried about Maul, not really. Not after everything he did back in Deerington. It does seem like he's changing, though. Sort of, anyway.

I've had some difficulties with elemental abilities like that myself since I got here.

[ His mouth twists into an almost smile but now he's more just mulling things over. All their powers are blood-based and different blood provokes different abilities. ]

Everyone needs reassuring sometimes, love. It's only human. [ His expression takes on a gentle look at her explanation. Heart of gold, this one. ] I hope for his sake you're right about that. It'll still take time for him but moving in a positive direction is a start.

Yeah... I guess a lot of us are kind of having a hard time readjusting. I was kinda hoping with the waking world, there'd be less backfiring magic, not more. We'll figure it out, I guess. I mean, there's not really another option.

Yeah. Don't get me wrong, he's got a long way to go, but we called a little truce back in Deerington - you know, when things started going sideways, and he's upheld it ever since. It's all baby steps, but still progress.

Well in all of our defenses we did willingly wade out into the ocean with naught but one of our old captors to guide us and either a bit of a death wish or a lot of hope. Then we washed up here after being squids. Pretty sure there's an adjustment period for all that rubbish.

I don't think he knows much more than baby steps, love. He's got the mental age of a toddler told he couldn't have a sweet before dinner.

[Rubbish. It's a fairly accurate way of describing how this whole month has been going. Willow can't help a tired smile.]

Yeah. Maybe things will kind of go back to normal - okay, okay, what's gonna pass for normal here - eventually.

[The description of Maul as a temper tantrum throwing toddler gets a laugh from her.]

That's pretty much it, yeah. But at least he's showing that he can learn.

( inbox. ) deer country.

un: hardsell

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