THE JARS THAT BLEED BEFORE THEY BREAK.

[glassjar]

Congrats! You've somehow stumbled upon the pocket dimension where five people with questionable morals (some more questionable than others) live and operate. Are you here on business? Do you have an appointment? Or are you here to see a friend? (Come on, don't make us laugh.)

Maybe you're here on accident due to some multiversal, magical, or otherwise supernatural nonsense? It's happened before, it was bound to happen again.

You can wander towards the house, see if anyone's home. Or you can explore the lush grounds, and maybe run across the wolfman groundskeeper who might try to usher you out towards the nearest portal, anyway. The world is your oyster, just try to be a good guest.

Comments

[spacecaser]

[Magic of some kind, yes. That is the best way he can describe it. Thomas is sensitive to the energies of this world, and though he cannot see directly into a person's soul the way Morgan can, there are other subtleties he can pick up on, almost innately.

So yes, magic. It rolls off of her in waves. And he finds it very, very lovely, if not utterly indescribable. He has no way of knowing what she is unless otherwise told, however.]

Mmm. [He seems to consider that, an exaggerated expression that would be faux if not for... how he is, right now.] Okay.

[Just "okay".]

I have been here the longest. More than any of them. [Is he proud of this? It's hard to tell.] If you have questions, or you want to go for a little walk, then I am your man.

[gembonds]

Let's walk!

[As Jackie moves to stand next to Thomas, so do her crystals with her.]

Who knows if I'll come back again? Better now than ever.

[spacecaser]

[He offers her his arm, if she is so inclined.]

Let's. [He echoes breezily. Whether or not she takes it, he raises his other hand and a ball of energy twists and burns bright, hovering inches above. His eyes glow in that same burning color, the same aura.] You don't mind if I burn while we walk?

[What a sentence.]

[gembonds]

[Berna accepts, looping her arm through Thomas's as if it's only natural he would do so for her. When his eyes light up she raises a brow but doesn't seem bothered otherwise.

Her words return to that odd elegance, soothing and sweet.]

Go ahead. I'll see t how I'll take to it.

And don't worry about burning me.

[spacecaser]

[What a nice, pretty woman. He likes her.]

Burn you? Oh, no. No, no. I have more... focus than that. More control.

[He twists his wrist, and the little ball of light burns furiously, but it does not flare. It may be nothing more than plasmic, roiling heat, but it's concentrated.]

It'll just stay here, above my hand. [He just wants to keep exerting energy, if he's not flinging it all up into the sky. This will take longer, but the company is probably worth it. Anyway, they start walking in the house's direction, but not necessarily straight towards it. When Thomas walks, it's a slow amble.] You have no reason to be worried. Though I notice you never seem worried at all. Do you like fire and heat?

[gembonds]

[With graceful steps, Berna keeps up with his slow amble, appreciative of the pace. ]

I'm told I don't worry enough. I could and I do, but always in the moment? Hardly.

[Not that she isn't careful or thinks ahead. She's a witch who knows when something will work for her (until it doesn't).]

As for fire and heat... Well, with what I do, it is essential.

[She holds up a free hand to show off the delicate rings on her finger.]

Jewelry making, for instance.

[spacecaser]

I wish I could be like that. Always, I mean. To never worry... enough. That would be quite an existence to have.

[But his eyes are drawn, of course, to her rings. Shining in the glow.]

You made those yourself? They are beautiful.

[gembonds]

It takes a while, believe me. To unburden yourself, to be like air... There are many shackles to release yourself from.

[Berna is quite an existence, unknowingly to him so far.

When he compliments her jewelry, she sets down her hand, smiling.]

Thank you. It's one of my art forms. My type of release.

[spacecaser]

[It sounds like something someone wise beyond their years would say. Thomas might be a lot older than even she would assume, but he doesn't have the kind of worldly experience Jackie seems to be radiating.]

Shackles stay on tightly, or else they wouldn't be called shackles, would they?

[But. Ah, well. Her jewelry though!]

You must have much practice. And what of these? [He shoots a glance at one of her crystals.]

[gembonds]

These things?

[The crystals have been hovering around them, humming with her magic. One is beckoned with an outstretched palm and it drops into her hand, glowing.]

Mm. A different kind of jewelry. Perhaps more practical.

[Doubles as quick weapons in a pinch too but luckily these days she hasn't had to be on the offensive. Not many would pick a fight with someone close in age to the Witch King (though he was still many times more powerful than she).]

Here. You can hold it. Tell me how it feels.

[Berna offers the crystal to him.]

[spacecaser]

[In his curiosity, almost childlike in this state, he banishes away his globe of burning energy. With it goes the light in his eyes, receding back into their normal brown.]

Oh? Practical jewelry.

[He remarks uselessly as she places it in his open palm. His fingers gently curl around the crystal.

How does it it feel? What would a man like him—sensitive to many things strange and arcane—sense?]

[gembonds]

[It feels like her for a lack of a better description.

It's warm, alive, and pulses like it's a live heartbeat in Thomas's hand. If he looks long enough, it's a prism that contains multitudes of colors, and yet the surface is as clear as a mirror, enough so that his own face reflects back at him.

And maybe, just maybe any residual energy that Thomas may have, he can feel it rolling over the crystal's facets.

Berna watches him closely for his reaction (she's curious too; these people were different after all, how does the magic taste to them?)]

[spacecaser]

[It pulses, and yes, it feels alive. He turns it over in his hand, and it's as though his own bright, burning energy might slide over every plane of this strange crystal. How strange; what a colorful thing, prismatic if he brings it closer to his face. He can see the reflection of his own eyes in the shining surface.

Those same eyes flick over to her.]

It is... a part of you. In a way. No?

[gembonds]

[There's a gleam in her eyes behind the dark color it sports. She confirms his question with a nod.]

You have strong senses.

[The remaining crystals in the air continue to light their path around them and Berna turns her gaze towards the night sky.]

It is magic, yes. My magic, my essence, and my arts. There is a saying about putting a part of yourself into your work. The personal touch. When I touch the earth, be it clay, stone, or metal, it's inevitable.

[spacecaser]

[He seems pleased and his grin widens.]

I am, in fact, the most sensitive one here!

[...in more ways than one. He rolls the crystal between his fingers, gently, feeling its warmth.]

So your magic... It is related to earthen things. Stone and soil and crystal. You build with it?

[Her jewelry, and he supposes, maybe other things. What better element to build from, than the earth itself?]

[gembonds]

Less related to earthen things. More of a chosen focus. If I put my mind to it... Many things are possible.

[Witches are terrifying creatures when one really thinks about it. On their side of the woods, maybe it's a good thing there are very few of them that are on the level of magic that she and the Emerald Witch are on.]

A clear mind, a vision, total purpose... Only then will one's magic make an effect on the world around them.

[And she's had a long, long, time to get very good at it.]

What of you? What is your light? Must it burn away in the sky or around you as regularly as you say?

[spacecaser]

[That does sound terrifying if he did take the proper time to think about it. But again, given his state of mind, (the leftover thrill of using his powers, letting them burn out) he can only think of it as wonderful. So, so many opportunities. The whole world might change at her whim. What a power!]

"Total purpose". You make it sound so easy, Jackie.

[For him, he tries to avoid having a clear mind. He'd be terrible at magic, he thinks.]

My light? My light is my soul's power — the power of a star in the night sky. My soul is that of a star, you see, but instead? Fate is cruel, and has misplaced me in the wrong body. A too-small body.

[His turn to crane his neck up to the night sky.]

I belong up there. The others say that cannot be true, that stars do not have souls. But I feel it. How else can it be explained?

[gembonds]

[What a strange story. How beautiful, how unique. Berna looks at him again and her expression is complex but soft. Compassionate.]

... I believe you.

[So many centuries ago, before her time a star fell to the earth sleeping, lying on wait. Right when she hit a century in age did the witch find that star, now a malevolent crystal, form it into something else, and gave it another purpose.

How fortuitous. How odd and wonderful her personal discoveries and encounters can still be.]

What a tragedy it must be, to be below while yearning for the above. But I hope you've had your joy along with sorrow.

I hope that this time with me is not so dull.

[spacecaser]

[And that—I believe you—makes him grip onto the crystal more fervently, makes him stop in his tracks, even with Jackie still linked to his arm. He turns and looks at her, brows shooting straight up.]

You do?

[That is the best thing he’s heard in so very long.]

Oh, Jackie, it is like being stuffed into a tiny cage, with so much trying to spill out. Always, always trying to spill out. Do you know, that is why I burn my energy away? [(It is not actually why; just a fragment of a reason why. But it isn’t technically a fully-fledged lie.)] To make room, to feel like I can breathe. It is a necessary release.

But of course time with you is not dull. I am having fun. I hope you’re also having fun. I— hmm. I wish you could tell the others that you believe me. Hammer it into Jacob and Morgan’s heads, especially.

[gembonds]

[Berna nods, smiling serenely all the while.]

I'm having a wonderful time. Even after all these years, knowing I'm able to meet so many different souls... It's what keeps me young, you know. Figuratively of course.

[His explanation she accepts for now; not that she takes everything at face value but Berna isn't here to force answers. The truth will come about its own way.

At the mention of Jacob and Morgan, the witch hums under her breath. She has heard... Things about them. She keeps the conversation about Thomas in the meanwhile.]

Why don't they believe you? Are they being callous? Is it so hard to believe when all of you have different sparks dull eyes cannot perceive?

[spacecaser]

[Why don’t they? Why, indeed. Now, Thomas frowns.]

Morgan can sense souls. See them. Do… other things to them. And he tells me that stars do not have souls — that if the sun had one, he would have taken it long before now.

[That was probably a joke, but it settles unwell.]

That is his logic. Jacob believes him, too. The girls? They humor me, but I do not think they believe me, either. But at least they are kinder about it.

[gembonds]

[So that's why Oren is wary around Morgan in particular, why her precious granddaughter who had so much love in her heart for others, could not understand her own unease towards him.

A man who sees souls, treasures them, and then what? That sounds like nothing good, nothing at all.

Berna reaches over to give a reassuring pat on Thomas's arm.]

Even with all my experience, there are things out of reach, beyond comprehension... That includes stars beyond our skies. I can perhaps make a facsimile... Like so.

[One of her floating crystals starts to fly higher, higher, and even higher until it's so far away that it's impossible to reach. But oh, does it gleam and shine, a diamond in the sky.]

... But I don't know of many stars with souls. Perhaps once they touch the earth, that's when they no longer are one.

[And her crystal in the sky bursts, blipping out of existence.]

[spacecaser]

[The pat on his arm is reassuring, despite the subject matter. Even when she sends up a crystal, high into the sky, where it glitters and then shatters, he watches it quietly, and the sight is still a beautiful one.]

I have been on earth for a long time.

[An exhale, then he hands her back the crystal he’s been holding onto.]

So what does that make me now? Just a man.

[gembonds]

How long?

[She asks him in a hushed whisper. It felt right to do so; she and Iona shared that similarity of listening to the stories of others, letting their hearts hurt for them (maybe less in her case; but Berna is rather sentimental)

The returned crystal glides out of his hand and lingers around the witch's face.]

How long have you felt lost?

[spacecaser]

[His smile quirks rueful.]

Now, I am not always lost. Sometimes I have fun. Like tonight!

[He can’t let this harsh his vibe. Not when feeling good was the whole point of nights like this one.]

But if you are asking how old I am… sometimes I lose track of the exact years. [Ask him when he’s more lucid.] Ah… Last year, we celebrated my birthday. I think. The cake said “220”. It must be correct, no?