|
Post by demikara on Jun 20, 2020 7:40:48 GMT -6
Today was meant to be a good day. It was meant to be a day where he could do some of his larger works for the year, create something new and bring it forth in the world. It was meant to be the sort of day where everything went right. Unfortunately, it was not that day. The mage had been dealing with increasing instability in his magic the closer it got to the solstice, to the point where he was meditating and going through his katas and doing everything he could to tame the beast that was his changed magic. None of it worked.
It meant his plans for the day were called off and he was stuck dealing with magic that kept lashing out. At least he was getting plenty of practice in transfiguration, even if he could do without the practice at all. He was running out of options and isolating himself at the ranch was not enough. He'd need to rest eventually and he'd need to eat eventually. Right now, he didn't trust his ability to do either.
The mage sighed and gave in to the inevitable. Catherine had stronger magic. She had to have something to deal with high magic days like this. She had also had the stronger magic for longer. As much as it pained him to admit it, she was certainly more likely to have a plan on how to deal with the solstice. Although he would be quietly surprised if it was more detailed than fight against the magic all day long.
At least he had plenty of room to isolate himself right now.
Tyrus pulled out his phone and dialed Catherine's number. He needed help, as embarrassing as it was. Hopefully, Catherine would be able to help him. If not, he wasn't quite sure what the next step would be. Once she picked up, he'd lean back and place his weight on one hand, sitting on the ground in a deserted section of the ranch. The only thing nearby was his fourwheeler. Otherwise, there was nothing for miles, which given the situation was a good thing.
"Catherine? This is Tyrus. I'm afraid I have a small problem and I was hoping you might be able to help." Though he hated having to asked for help, under the circumstances, he didn't have much of a choice. Nearby, a stone turned into a a toy llama. Annoyed, he reversed the transfiguration. Llamas were new. At least it wasn't the four wheeler. The vehicle had been inscribed so it couldn't be magicked, but under the circumstances, he didn't want to test that.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 20, 2020 17:57:04 GMT -6
"Help? Me? Did that ritual scramble your brain?" Catherine asked, she sounded exhausted and pained. Solstice was one of a handful of times a year when magic easily bled over between the worlds. Large scale feats of magic were easily accomplished at this time, and it wasn't unheard of for covens to use this to their advantage; often initating new members at this time. The summer and winter solstice were two sides of the same coin, and were linked to the veil's own raw magic. This was the same magic that casters drew on, using a focus or words to forge their spells and then link the magic to their intent. For most, there was minimal risk of large scale incidents and transfigurations, for others though this could be a dangerous time.
"I'm not exactly sure you want me helping anyway." She commented, staring at what had been her living room now turned into a riotous jungle of flowering plants and grasses. Catherine couldn't even begin to try to explain what had happened, considering magic was something that she still avoided at all costs. For now she was just grateful that she had decided to seclude herself away from the court for the days running up to and the solstice itself.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 20, 2020 18:04:58 GMT -6
"Quite possibly. Or it's possible I'm exhausted. Is there anything in MCU that would suppress magic that I wouldn't burn through?" He hesitated a moment. "I'm having more problems with my magic than I'm used to. I'm afraid my solstice plans ended up canceled because of it." He watched as the ground around him turned bright pink. Brilliant. The mage grabbed the magic and funneled it deep underground where it would hopefully disperse.
He considered what he could hear. "You sound like I feel though. I take it you're dealing with magical trouble as well?" There went that avenue. He was hoping that the situation would be different, but apparently not. If she was still having problems though, then she likely didn't have any solution.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 20, 2020 18:24:44 GMT -6
The other end of the line went silent as Catherine tore her thoughts away from containing whatever was happening in her living room to what Tyrus was asking. "We use magic surpressant cuffs... but... I'm not sure they'd work." She wondered if they'd even work on Tyrus. Catherine had found out after everything was said and done with Broadmoore that even they had struggled to contain her not just physically, but magically as well. The Council hadn't realized just how dangerous of a game they had been playing when they had decided to bind the magic of a veil borne like Catherine.
"No, Tyrus. This normal." She stated sarcastically. There simply were not enough hours in the day for her to manage anymore. MCU, the Court, and family drama sapped all of her energy. Static crackled the line and was soon punctuated by a few choice swears of extremely explicit nature. The magic had taken full advantage of her distraction and was now slowly breaking the wards designed to keep it contained. A crack that sounded like a shotgun reverberated through the building as strong vines began to probe and tear at the inscriptions designed to keep everything out and only a few things in.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 20, 2020 19:26:06 GMT -6
Tyrus pulled the phone away from his ear and raised an eyebrow at it. That was a lot more explicit than he was used to hearing from her. "What was that? Catherine, are you okay?" It didn't sound like she was at all. He was having problems, but hers sounded worse. "Do you need to come out here?" Where there was nothing for miles. Though he was there and he didn't want to see what would happen if they got too close. Perhaps if she and he stayed far apart on the ranch.
It sounded like the cuffs wouldn't be a good idea, so there went that idea. Suppressant cuffs might have made it better, but they apparently weren't going to be strong enough. He'd have to work on that. Once his own magic was under control again. Right now, he didn't trust his magic to behave while he sketched out possibilities. His magic was definitely acting up and he had no clue how to handle it.
The mage watched as the grass began to bloom. That was largely interesting because he was fairly certain he had last seen those flowers in a child's drawing.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 20, 2020 20:37:28 GMT -6
Tyrus's questions were initially met with silence and more static as Catherine was unable to quite divide her attention just yet. Another series of loud shots echoed over the line as the vines continued their assault on her condo's wards. "Motherfucking..." She fumed followed by another series of curses insinuating things hardly meant for polite company. Wracking her memory for the exact words that would allow her to at least get a brief reprieve, Catherine hoped this would work. Given the nature of the solstice, it was uncertain, and the current situation risked a great deal. Her neighbors had long since stopped trying to make sense of her comings and goings, finally satisfied when she explained that she worked with the police. Something about the safe, middle class neighborhood, not to far from downtown, seemed to insist that its residents be trusting and gullable yuppies.
"Aurboda VanyalĂ!!" Catherine ordered trying to focus through the fatigue and mind numbing panic that came with situations like this. Control had always been a tenous thing, the mind had always been easier than the magic, especially when the magic was frighteningly strong.
At her words, the vines halted their assault on her doors and windows and began to retreat. The door frame, windows, and stair railing were damaged. Their protective inscriptions lost to the magic and its greedy curiosity. This was the second time in the last year that something had found a way around the surpression wards and decided to cause chaos in her personal sanctuary.
"Everything is fine... I'm fine... yes.. yes that would be a good idea. I don't know if I can risk the mirror though." Catherine panted as she slid down the wall to the floor. She was utterly spent and exhausted, and hunger was beginning to gnaw at the back of her mind and would not allow itself to be pushed aside.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 21, 2020 7:45:54 GMT -6
"Get someone from the court to drive you." He suggested. He hesitated a moment and considered what else. "Or order Brandon to do it. He can keep his mouth shut." It was a hell of a drive but it could be done. "Or maybe Boyuan. If she can handle it." If. It was a big if. They were both channeling a lot of magic right now. It wasn't exactly ideal, but an actual null may be able to get Catherine here at least. And Boyuan could keep her mouth shut, which was what they needed right now.
Catherine needed a place where she could relax at least a little and the middle of Dallas was hardly that. Though relax wasn't quite the word he would choose under the circumstances. Lower her guard some, perhaps, because this was ridiculous. And there was no one else who could manage to help that he could think of. Not that he knew was going to be discreet.
Tyrus forced another wave of magic deep underground. Some spilled up and around him and he sighed as his hair began sprouting again. Dammit. He began unweaving the magic from his hair, pulling it out and forcing it to the ground again.
His ranch was going to be more of a magical hotspot than it already was, once the solstice was over with.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 21, 2020 11:21:51 GMT -6
Catherine sighed as she leaned back against the wall, Brandon was out of the question. Neither of them were on speaking terms with one another, not since she had found out just how much his compulsions had put everything at risk. She had made herself scarce outside of the occasional required event with the court. It had all just been too much to manage and too much to process all at once. Catherine had never been entirely sure what would happen if she found her sire, or if she even wanted to. Sir William had been so kind and willing to raise a child whose prospects had already been dismal to begin with, it had only been natural that she call him her father; adopted or not. Grigore meanwhile had shown up like nothing had ever happened and demanded a relationship. But not before destroying the previous court, threatening her family, and forcing her hand into agreement to all this somehow.
"Brandon is a no." She finally spoke, letting the words roll around in her mind and spill out of her mouth. Her mind was a scrambled and staticky mess, hardly conducive to working magic. Especially when what she had access to was some of the oldest in existence, at least by the reckoning of most humans and even fae.
"A null might be a better idea than anything else..." She couldn't risk being near any other magic user, and allowing her own magic to spill over and spark off some unspoken and even lesser understood intent. She just hoped that Xiaolian would agree to such a thing; the lieutenant while bound to the court by her own will, was often difficult. If the other didn't agree, the only thing left was the fae gates. While it would bleed off the magic, passing through the fae lands could also supercharge things even more. It was a last resort. "...and if this continues, the only thing left is to bind it." Catherine added. She remembered the searing pain and being sick for weeks afterwards. In some ways it had been a blessing to not have access to such a rich and deep pool of magic. To be able to get through emotionally tense situations without having the magic take over and make things worse had been invaluable in those first days in Dallas after the incident. Unfortunately, it had made other things more difficult. Simple magics often fizzled out and it was a struggle to fight against the fog that accompanied the binding to use her telepathy and telekinesis. "I'll try Boyuan I guess."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 21, 2020 11:40:44 GMT -6
"I'll find a way to handle this by the next solstice." He promised easily. His mind was already working on it. "We won't have to bind it." He was terrified of the very idea of being bound, though he'd never admit to it. TO not have easy access to his magic was anathema to everything that made him who he was. He just had to find some way to make this entire process less dangerous, less chaotic, for the both of them.
Isolating at the ranch would be the first step regardless. For the sake of everyone around them.
He just hadn't been expecting it to be this bad. The instability in his magic had to be addressed and fast. This lack of control was going to get him in so much trouble.
Hopefully no detectors were set off because of this. That would be icing on the cake as far as he was concerned. And terrible icing at that. The mage poured more of his magic into the ground, laying down on it entirely. The more he sent underground, the safer the world around him. Of course, there would be long term issues from this, but for now, he was funneling it to the ground and into his warding stones. He'd have ridiculously strong wards after this, if nothing else. Or at least, a ridiculous strong potential for wards, if he wanted to add another layer.
And if not, he'd have strong magic thick stones to pull from, assuming he didn't overload them.
He'd have to be careful about that.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 21, 2020 13:47:55 GMT -6
"Pretty promises." Catherine muttered to Tyrus before hanging up. Glancing at the wreckage of her once simple, but comfortable home now turned into a mass of tangled vines and flowers, she sighed and placed her head in her hands. How had everything gotten to this point? Hadn't everything been just fine until recently? The solstice was usually spent in the safe and sequestered confines of the Seelie Court, a place that could easily absorb the magic and had rituals in place to stabilize the chaos of the solstice. But instead she was stuck here on the other side, and finding herself desperately missing home. Not the now wrecked condo, or the family rooms at the court, but home with the fae where despite her nature everything had made sense.
Picking up her phone again before it became lost, Catherine scrolled through her contacts and found Xiaolian's number. Dialing it she explained the situation to the other, who readily agreed to help to her surprise, saying that something like this wasn't unusual given the current situation. Xiaolian had also agreed that keeping it from the rest of the court however would be paramount, and bringing Catherine to Mezar to stay within the wards was probably the wisest decision.
"Thank you, Xiaolian. You shouldn't have any trouble, the wards are down here." She replied before hanging up. There wasn't a spell, incantation, or anything that she knew to even begin to set things right. At least at the ranch if things got out of hand, she could deal with it more aggressively, unlike in the middle of Dallas where she had mundane residents to worry about.
Thankfully Catherine didn't have to wait long as Xiaolian appeared not ten minutes later peering around what had been the front door.
"Warden?" The lieutenant asked cautiously. It had been a long time since she'd seen such a major contamination like this. "In here Lieutenant." Catherine called tiredly from inside near the back door that lead to a little used patio except for a few potted plants which had now been mutated and twisted from the high magic. "Stay put and I'll come to you!" Xiaolian said now satisfied that things were as safe as they could be. Pulling a slip of parchment from her pocket, she tucked it into a crack in the broken door before proceeding. This small piece of paper would allow for a temporary ward and barrier to remain erect while Catherine was gone. It would also cast a strong illusion of normalcy to anyone looking.
Finding Catherine, she quickly helped her up and placed an arm around her waist. "You're not going to like this, but it'll be over soon. Just close your eyes and do as I say." She instructed before winking out of existence. 'You're bleeding magic like crazy and its dangerous here. I need you to stop long enough to get through to Mezar. Think of stillness, quiet, and emptiness.' Xiaolian added, reaching out and gently touching Catherine's mental shields. Shields that were weakening rapidly with exhaustion and hunger.
'Emptiness?' Catherine asked uncertain. 'Think of nothing, be absolutely blank. Like a clean slate. It'll help, I promise.' Xiaolian urged. It would keep them safe and draw less attention as she worked out the backdoor to Tyrus's wards and how to seal them back up. 'Alright...' Catherine faltered as she concentrated on doing as Xiaolian asked.
Finding the small thread of magic she had left herself, Xiaolian pulled gently at it, asking politely for access through the seals. Once through, she reappeared not far off from the mirror with Catherine and resealed the wards.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 21, 2020 14:24:07 GMT -6
On hanging up he groaned and got up. He should probably actually meet her. Aching, he got on the fourwheeler and headed towards the mirror. He could intersect her there, if she was coming by car. Before he would get there though, he felt the new presences through the wards and reached out mentally. How the hell had they? Boyuan, he supposed. He touched Catherine's shields.
'Catherine? I'll be there shortly. I'm about ten minutes out from the mirror.' And he pushed the four wheeler to make it there when he said. Exhausted, he pulled to a stop far enough away from the two that he didn't need to worry about their magic interacting. "Welcome to Mezar." He sounded exhausted. He felt exhausted as well, so it suited him right now. The man dismounted from the four wheeler. "I'll show you to a safe place, nice and empty. I don't want us too close, given the circumstances. I don't think I could handle grounding your magic and my own right now."
Under normal circumstances, he could handle it. This was not normal circumstances.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 21, 2020 14:45:16 GMT -6
"If anyone is going to be grounding magic, it's going to be me. Both of you are at the point where even with the wards you're likely to attract attention." Xiaolian said by way of greeting. It was bitter and exhausting work, but it wasn't out of the question for her to do. She had maybe not excelled at the magic required of a Guardian, but could certainly negate it better than anyone else. This was what the Black Lotus program had leveraged, using her knowledge and skills to gain objects and tools for their own use.
Catherine meanwhile looked utterly drained, having held and still holding the magic back since Dallas. "I have absolutely no intention of doing so." She protested. Even she knew better than to be in close proximity even under the best of circumstances. The pull of the magic was just too strong, and she still had no earthly clue how to handle it.
"I just need sleep... I think." She muttered tiredly pushing strands of hair out of her face.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 21, 2020 14:54:03 GMT -6
"There's two of us and one of you." Tyrus pointed out. "And we're both powerhouses. That would be a lot for one person to handle." He tugged on his braid and ignored the fact that he was rather abruptly dressed in purple. That was different, but he'd take a color change. Those were easy enough to fix. "And there's a distinct chance that our magic would feed off of each other if we were both close enough for you to ground us both."
Still, if she was willing to stay, she'd be a huge help. "Stay with Catherine. I can continue feeding my magic to the stones under the property." As best he could at least. He was incredibly tired though. "Unless you think you can manage both of us, it may be best that we split up and handle the situation that way." Though if she had a better idea he was all ears. He sure as hell couldn't think of anything, but he was tired and hungry and worn out from grounding himself and his magic, quite literally, since dawn.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 21, 2020 15:23:31 GMT -6
"It will be difficult, but.. it is possible." Xiaolian confirmed slowly. "Normally I would work in conjunction with others... well other Guardians. All of us are trained to nullify or what you consider dispell any class five or above entity's magic." It was one of the last things they had to learn to earn the right to even be considered a Guardian. It was easier to cast, but many struggled with taking the magic back, absorbing it and channeling it out and away. Xiaolian would freely admit that even she had initially struggled with it, but soon found it rewarding to do something well that few people could do.
"Wait.. what?" Catherine asked, struggling against the incoming fog that threatened to engulf her thoughts. At that point she would be lost and her mind strung out across the vastness of the veil. Only after the solstice passed would she come crashing back into herself, an altogether unpleasant experience.
"Guardians.. we're technically not supposed to reveal ourselves." Xiaolian sighed. "We keep the world tree and individuals like Miss Bronson in check. We're also dispatched if any class five or above entity causes problems."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 21, 2020 15:28:52 GMT -6
"If you know of any others like you..." He was assuming she did. "Then I would suggest gathering a team. Catherine and I are both class 5. I would of course be willing to sign an NDA, or take an oath to not reveal anything. And I will gladly pay for the service if it means we can get even a little bit of rest." He would endeavor to never speak of what had been revealed here regardless. Boyuan was someone he wanted to remain on the good side of.
"I'm afraid that having a team dispatched here may be...I can't actually funnel magic to the ground constantly. There will be hell to pay later for what I have done." There were side effects to forcing an area to be that saturated with magic, and he didn't fully understand what they would be. He did know though, that the theories he could work out contributed to nothing good.
|
|