PSL; [TERRIBLE THINGS WE HAVE DONE]

[vecna]

[It's difficult being the new kid at school, the new kid in town, everyone a stranger, every setting a readjustment, a fresh (and always failed) expectation to fit in hanging over one's head like a knife. It's even harder when your name is Henry Creel; a twelve year-old boy who is a little too lanky, a little too quiet. Who would prefer to keep to himself and not always look someone in the eye, finding more companionship in books and his collection of drawings than any of the kids his age. Who doesn't look like he wants to try to fit in—and struggles with every teacher’s gentle encouragement—even if he’s hardly a rule-breaker. Always punctual, always presentable, good grades, a nice new home to return to at the end of the day.

But his faith in his own integration is low. He had never flourished in his old town — why should he in this new one? As if moving would change how the world is, how he is, but he tries so hard not to linger on these thoughts today. They make him indescribably—

Well, he doesn’t know.

School lets out. The weather’s nice. It’s time to walk home, detaching himself from the excitable crowd of his classmates as swiftly and quietly as he can, his backpack slung over one shoulder and half-unzipped. He tries to stuff a book into it with one hand, paying no attention to where he’s going, and stumbles right into someone in an utterly ungraceful showing.

The book, of course, goes flying and lands splayed open, pages-down. Blue eyes flick up, out comes an automatic:]

Sorry.

Comments

[striketwice]

[ Maybe this is a really stupid idea, but now that it's happening, there's some part of him that excited, weirdly, to share.

Alec crowds close, lifting his hand between them. His brows knit together in concentration as he does his best to recall the runes he needs and etch them in the air in stormy purple light that flows from his fingertips. Maybe that's proof enough of the magic, but then the shaky lines dissipate and a small orb of water appears, floating a little shakily but holding together. ]

[vecna]

[He doesn’t know what to expect. What does “magic” entail, anyway, other than what he’s read in books?

Either way, Henry definitely didn't expect purple light flowing from the other boy’s fingertips. Much less what follows — a little jittery orb of water, hovering there between them.

Sorry, but—]

Woah!

[His voice echoes throughout the restroom. Henry’s quiet and awkward but he’s still… twelve. This is crazy. He can just make some objects float and push stuff around — it’s not even half as neat as what he’s looking at now.]

[striketwice]

[ Well, that little outburst certainly breaks Alec's already shaky concentration, and the water orb bursts, splattering to the floor. At least they're already in the bathroom. ]

Ssshh! You're gonna get us caught!

[ Because apparently there's an "us" now. ]

[vecna]

[Henry doesn’t even note the use of “us” because he’s way too !!! about this new development.

But he does return to a whispering tone, his look surprised, then apologetic.]

Sorry. It’s just… I’ve never seen anything like that before. Is that magic? That’s not what I do. I can’t—

[Makes random gestural motions in the air, mimicking Alec’s casting.]

Do that.

[striketwice]

[ He nods, almost excitedly. It sure is magic! What is this weird, giddy feeling? Is this what it's like to connect with someone? To exchange secrets instead of trading insults or punches? ]

Well, even if you can't do magic, you got some kind of powers. My dad knows more about it.

[ OH RIGHT. ]

So, um. Do you wanna come over or not? My house isn't anything special or anything.

[vecna]

[Some kind of powers? Henry feels that same kind of excitement, that little thrill, but it’s so foreign to him he doesn’t really know what to make of it. He worries at his lower lip, instead.]

Oh, I think… I can.

[If Alec's dad knows more, maybe he can help him figure out just what these powers are. What he’s supposed to do with them.]

I need to ask my mom but I don’t see why she would say no. She’s always pushing me to…

[Make more friends. Make any friends, Henry. I worry about you sometimes, you know?]

A-anyway, I’m sure she can drop me off in time for dinner at your house. It doesn’t need to be anything special.

[striketwice]

[ "She's always pushing me to..." make more friends, maybe? Alec's dad is much the same. He gets it.

But oh. The idea of Henry's family seeing the run down little apartment that Alec calls home makes his stomach drop. Kids are mean. They tease and the sling insults, but he cannot stand the cold, haughty judgement that adults fling his way. ]

Oh. Ummmmm. What if we picked you up instead?

[vecna]

[He blinks, then nods. Henry has the privilege of coming from an upper middle class family, living in a nice neighborhood — sheltered as he is, it doesn’t even strike him that Alec could be ashamed of having his home seen by other adults.]

That’s fine, too. I can give you the address, it’s on Moorehead Street.

[Like that would mean anything to Alec. Anyway. He gives the address proper.]

[striketwice]

Let me give you my phone number.

[ Alec fumbles around in his pockets for a second, coming up with an old scrap of notebook paper from somewhere. It was probably once supposed to be homework.

He scribbles out Henry's address on one half, and his own phone number on the other. The latter he tears off and gives to Henry. ]

So, I'll see you later?

[ Is it weird that he's excited? ]

[vecna]

[He takes the scrap of paper, staring down at it for a second. There is something very surreal about all of this—something unexpected happening in his days and days of predictability—that Henry simply cannot parse.

But then he nods, and maybe for the first time in Alec’s presence, manages to crack the tiniest, tiniest smile.]

Sure. See you later.

[What a weird turn of events. But he’s a little excited, too.]

* * *

[Later, and he’s just nervous.

Not because of the neighborhood, or the state of Alec’s home. Henry’s not used to being on this side of town, but if nothing else, it’s interesting. It’s different than what he’s used to. Often times, that’s more than enough to satisfy him.

No, he’s nervous because he realizes—as he follows his new friend(?) and his dad, nearing the house—that he’ll have to interact with an adult. A stranger. Alec’s dad, sure, but still an adult stranger. He’s never been… good with that. He’s always just relied on polite manners and attentiveness; but they’re going to discuss his powers, and he’s not sure if he can articulate exactly what they are. How they work.]

Uhm. [Fidgeting with his hands.] Thanks for having me over.

[striketwice]

[ Not helping poor Henry is the fact that Alec's father cuts an intimidating figure. A former mercenary-turned-mechanic, he has a look of an old soldier, grizzled and tattooed and so often covered in grease it almost feels like a permanent fixture in the creases of his hands.

His eyes flick up - brown, in contrast to Alec's green - to look at the other boy. A smile cuts through is beard, crinkles the corners of his eyes. ]

Any time. We're happy to have you.

[ The "house" for want of a better term, is a far cry from the one Henry just came from. A simple apartment over a simple garage, packed into a less-than-savory neighborhood. The sign advertising the place as a mechanic's shop has gone dark, closed for the night. Thomas lets them in through the garage - empty of a customer's vehicle - and Henry might get the sense that they're passing through something. A tickle at the edge of his mind.

A very small sense... of magic. ]

[vecna]

[Alec’s father does cut an intimidating figure, but his voice is nothing short of sincere and welcoming. It eases his nerves somewhat as they enter the garage.

Henry's eyes flick this way and that, taking everything in. There may be no car to ogle at, but everything else screams “mechanic’s shop”, and he wonders how long Alec’s dad spends in here every day. Everyone has a car, right? Everyone needs one serviced. He must keep busy.

At the back of his mind, a tickle. He senses something, bring his hand up to rub at where his hair stands a little on end at the back of his neck. Magic? But not exactly like what he saw with Alec, is it?

Should he… say something…?






No, he keeps quiet. A talker, this one.]

[striketwice]

[ Well, Henry may not be quick to say anything, but Alec is quick to notice the way he rubs at the back of his neck.

He is, in fact, quite sharp. A shame he never puts that toward his schooling. ]

Hey, you okay?

[vecna]

[That’s going to take some getting used to, too. Being asked if he’s okay by Alec. Henry looks at him, feeling awkward.]

I’m fine. It just feels weird in here.

[Did that sound rude? It’s not how he meant it.]

Not in a bad way. Just different. It’s faint.

[striketwice]

Weird?

[ Alec makes a face as he tries to figure out what that means. He doesn't think Henry means it in a bad way, not in the way an adult would turn their nose up at the whole neighborhood.

It clicks after a minute. ]

Oh! Those are the wards. So robbers can't get in and steal dad's tools and stuff.

[vecna]

A ward?

[His turn to crinkle his brows as he tries to draw a connection in his mind he’s familiar with.]

So like a shield.

[More magic. Weird.]

Have you and your dad always been this way? Magical, I mean.

[striketwice]

[ Alec frankly doesn't know how best to describe how wards work, so "shield" is good enough for him.

As they talk, they head up the stairs and into the apartment proper, entering through the small kitchen just off the door to the garage. ]

Yeah, pretty much. Like I said, I'm just learning, but my dad knows a loooooot of magic.

[vecna]

[Up they go, and into the kitchen. Henry’s still taking in the place as they walk, trying not to look like he’s gawking too much at every little thing.]

Really? How many kinds of magic is there?

[striketwice]

Nine. Well, nine Specializations.

[ Baby Alec has not yet learned about Necromancy.

In any case, he looks like he's about to start rattling them off, like they would mean literally anything to Henry, but Alec's dad steps in and asks him if he can go set the table instead. He then turns his attention to Henry. ]

In the meantime, I was hoping you could tell me about what you can do, Henry. Alec said you mentioned moving things with your mind.

[vecna]

[Oh... questions time. Henry looks up at Alec's dad, straight-backed.]

Yes, sir. Nothing big, and only if I really focus. Things don't move very far.

[It's really not that impressive to like, actually magic. Though this doesn't seem to include the time he struck Alec across the face in his anger.]

[striketwice]

[ Alec is still nearby, quietly setting things on the table. He's listening, clearly curious.

Thomas simply nods in gentle understanding. ]

I think you're psychic, Henry. Have you heard that term before?

[vecna]

[Psychic? Of course he's heard of it before, but-]

Yes, but I thought that only existed in comic books. Or sci-fi novels.

[Then again, he thought the same about magic.]

[striketwice]

[ Yes about that-- ]

It's all very real, just like magic. As far as you know, no one in your family has these kinds of powers?

[vecna]

[He shakes his head, almost vigorously.]

No, no one. And I can't... I can't tell any of them about mine.

[striketwice]

[ Well, that's a rather insistent reaction. Thomas frowns. ]

Because they wouldn't understand?