003 // @strange.magic: video

[suckstobestrange]

[Stephen is so fucking over this.

It's only the fact that he knows which buttons do what that he can get the video on at all and he definitely doesn't look like a happy camper, not with the frown he was wearing.]

So this... memory loss thing. Anyone made any progress on figuring out a way around it?

[His brows twitched lower as his frown deepens into an annoyed sort of scowl, trembling fingers drumming restlessly against the open pages of a book.]

Not having much luck on my end.

[For a reason he's not getting into with all and sundry.]

Comments

[wingedman]

[There is a distinct lack of magic portals where Sam's from, okay? And it's the sort of thing he views more as science fiction than proper magic, because when you have insomnia you end up watching a lot of weird shit on TV and/or Netflix.]

So we could keep seeing things like this - like ripples in a pond when you toss a rock in. The crest of the waves hits us and brings the after-effects, but over time, they get weaker.

[Sam is reasonably familiar with physics - maybe not at Tony Stark levels, but it's an easier way to look at the puzzle than from an arcane angle.]

[suckstobestrange]

[Stephen gets it. He still equates to some things in magic using medical terminology, like how he referred to the horrific shifts in how his body worked as 'antibodies'. It got the point across with those unfamiliar with the more esoteric explanations at least. And antibodies tended to bring to mind health, instead of the absolute disaster he really was.

If he had a GP, they'd likely weep.]

The long and short of it, yeah. Not enough incidents to say for sure, I'm wary of saying 'this is why it is' with only two points to match to it.

[wingedman]

Oh, yeah, definitely. No scientist would ever accept any data with only two samples.

[He drags a chair over to Stephen and sits down, maybe leaning against him a little bit.]

Where do you want me to start?

[suckstobestrange]

Pick a book, any book. Most of these are new so I haven't had a chance to do much more than skim them before.

[And they're pretty much all weird magic books in a variety of languages. Stephen reacts to that contact by relaxing a fraction, letting his shoulder lightly nudge Sam's. A quiet little note of thanks, both for not treating this like a big thing, and for helping in the first place.

He's bad at words for that sort of thing, so this is the next best thing.]

[wingedman]

Are all of these languages even from Earth?

[Sam uses one hand to sift through a pile of books, the other arm looping around Stephen's shoulders. It would almost be cute if it wasn't for the reason behind it.]

I think that one's in Elvish or something. Guy in my squadron had the one ring tattooed on his arm. Great DM, though. [He sets the possibly elvish book aside and picks up one that's in English.]

Better not be anything about making Horcruxes in any of these books, just sayin'.

[suckstobestrange]

A few are.

[He couldn't help but chuckle, recognizing at least the general look of the script even if he couldn't tell Sam what the hell it said at the moment.]

Close. That one's some manner of Faerie if I'm remembering correctly.

Horcruxes? Gosh no, those books are already shelved.

[wingedman]

Gotta keep them away from the Muggles, am I right?

[Meaning him, although they both know he's about the last person who would actually try to make a Horcrux.]

Let's see, Magickal Herbs and Spices, that's probably a no. What to Expect When You're Expecting an Extraplanar Arrival, no. Fifty Ways to Cook a Jabberwocky... Man, you need a card catalog.

[suckstobestrange]

Don't want the Ministry on my case.

[They're silly jokes, but that's probably why he likes them in the first place.]

I've got one. They're just not registered in it yet. If you wanted we could pull from the shelves?

[It'd suck for Sam to be bored as hell doing this after all.]

[wingedman]

Yeah, they might send you to Azkaban.

[See, this is why he likes you, Stephen. You have a better sense of humor than the one from his world.]

Nah, it's fine. I'm more worried that the information's going to be in one of the books I can't read.

[Are you kidding? Sam gets to read magic books, how fucking cool is that? He's not going to get bored. Even the titles are great.]

Perfect Portals for Pleasure and Profit. Let's try that one, huh?

[suckstobestrange]

I won't make it on the inside, I'm gonna have to go on the lam.

[It's one of the few things he has going for him, might as well get the most of it, right?

And hell yes the titles are hilarious. Some of them he got specifically because they amused the hell out of him.]

Sounds like a good place to start to me.

[wingedman]

Better practice your Patronus charm.

[Sam entertains himself for a moment by wondering what Stephen's Patronus might be (although he has no damn idea) and imagines a beagle yapping energetically at the dementors.

(His own Patronus is obviously a falcon.)]

Right. [Sam flips open the book, picks a useful-sounding chapter, and starts reading.]