[The words do not match the concerned expression on his face, and in spite of his best efforts, it's not terribly comforting.]
I know. And I know I was fine the last time he tried to kill me, but... Ozpin, I had magic then, and that was the only reason I got away from him.
[He knows what happened to her at home after Tara died, and it's not so much that she's concerned Tara will do the same as her and try to tear down the whole world in a fit of rage as fold in on herself, or worse, disappear into wherever it is she seems to go when her mind wanders.]
I don't think it's Corruption, I think it's something else. It's like she just... forgets where she is, or what she's doing, and goes into another world or something sometimes. I've heard her repeat herself, lose her train of thought, and just stop in the middle of a sentence. Sometimes she says things that just come completely from out of nowhere.
She, um. Forgot one night. That she can't touch people, without messing with their emotions. The blood magic thing. While I was meditating.
[ It is an entirely valid fear. He is not so powerful as he used to be; he has only lingering remnants of what had already been the dregs of his magic. It's been an odd little solidarity he's harbored quietly, that so many of their number are similarly defanged. He'd hoped, foolishly and in the full knowledge that this world is not kind... still, he'd hoped it might be an indication that this world would be simpler, so as to not need their power.
Instead, now, they have this. ]
When did this begin? Here in Trench, not at home?
[ Perhaps it's a mistranslation of ability, some aspect of her new self she has yet to unlock— but, oh. What she says next deepens the concern on his face, adds something slow and cautious to his voice. ]
That is an understandable mistake, though not a comfortable one to experience, I'm sure. Have the effects persisted?
I mean, Deerington was always a bit of a wildcard as far as magic went, but everyone's powers were like that, and in Sunnydale, I ended up with more power than what I was really comfortable with. It's definitely a Trench thing. I've been trying to find a solution, and John's tried to help, but... Yeah. The first day it ever happened was that day in the kitchen, when we were trying to get your, uh, morning glory situation under control. I didn't really have much need to cast anything before that.
[She had tried twice with two variations of the same sort of spell, with the same result. A whole lot of head pain, radio static and fog. She shrugs a little, and shakes her head. Especially right now, it feels like there's nothing more that can be done for it.]
It was like she just... forgot it was a thing all together for a minute. As soon as she realized, I mean, she was horrified. I figured it would wear off in a few hours, but... it feels pretty awful.
[ To this he tips his head in acknowledgement and is quiet a moment, in thought. ]
I am more concerned with whatever has come over Tara than what has been lost. This... aspect of losing her way. It's been with her since arrival? If there is anything I can do to be of help to her, Willow, I truly will try.
[ He smiles, gentle and sad. ]
Though I very much believe you will be here to do so yourself. Perhaps together we can puzzle out this power of hers, and its countercharm.
[Willow shakes her head when she realizes she misunderstood the question.]
Sorry. With everything, my focus is kind of all over the place right now. But yeah, she was fine at home. I noticed something was up not long after she got here. She's never had any problems at home.
[She pauses for a moment, thinking.]
Well, once. But that was a pretty specific issue and we got it worked out a year before... well. You know. Before what she remembers before coming here.
[ He lets the quiet hang for a beat as he considers, some wistful edge still to his expression. ]
Deerington did so love to remind us of our past experiences. Perhaps Trench is proving to be the same. It may be too early yet to say whether this world works in the manner of the dream, but there was always the air of a puzzle, there. A riddle, often based in emotion, to be solved.
[She thinks she might have mentioned Glory in passing - something about coming up against a god from her world, but she doesn't think she's ever told Ozpin the specifics.]
There was, um, a hell god back in Sunnydale that came after us - well, specifically, she was looking for Buffy's little sister - that part's a really long story. But, uh, she fed on people's sanity. She got Tara.
[Willow lets out a slow breath. She remembers very well trying to fight her way through the crowd at the fair and trying to recall the words of a spell that might have been able to protect her.]
I never really thought about it until, you know, her, uh, mistake. But sometimes, it reminds me a little of that - like she's off in her own little world instead of here in this one. The difference is, this isn't all the time. It's only for a few seconds, and then she's back and she's okay again.
I undid that at home, though, and she was totally fine after that. No sign of any problems at all there.
[ He does not interrogate hell god, because it does sound familiar and frankly he has come to expect terms this horrifying in scope from tales of Sunnydale. He trusts, fully and without question, that Willow has already considered the possibility of a repeat countercharm— has probably gone sleepless with the effort.
Not that she would have many options available to her, with their powers so reduced. His mouth tightens in a thin frown. ]
Were this to operate by the logic of Deerington... perhaps it's not yours to undo. The issue could require something of Tara to solve. She can blunt the emotions of others; I would not be surprised to hear that hers form some hidden crux.
It is something I trust we will find our way through, Willow. Even with Maul providing... a worrying distraction.
[Ozpin has a valid point - it hits her that it might not be something she can solve, but it might be something that Tara has to solve herself. It's not a stretch either that her own emotional state is somehow connected to all this.
If she only knew what was going on in Tara's head...]
Yeah... I guess we do have a pretty good track record when it comes to figuring this stuff out.
[She rubs a hand across her forehead.]
I guess I'll be sticking close to home for awhile, until this blows over. At least, I don't think he'll come after me here... But the rest of you should be careful too.
As usual, there is still a shade of worry in his eyes. ]
That sounds like a sensible response. Most of the household is accustomed to such a degree of threat... we will simply have to be on our guard. Particularly for those less accustomed to danger.
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no subject
I know. And I know I was fine the last time he tried to kill me, but... Ozpin, I had magic then, and that was the only reason I got away from him.
[He knows what happened to her at home after Tara died, and it's not so much that she's concerned Tara will do the same as her and try to tear down the whole world in a fit of rage as fold in on herself, or worse, disappear into wherever it is she seems to go when her mind wanders.]
I don't think it's Corruption, I think it's something else. It's like she just... forgets where she is, or what she's doing, and goes into another world or something sometimes. I've heard her repeat herself, lose her train of thought, and just stop in the middle of a sentence. Sometimes she says things that just come completely from out of nowhere.
She, um. Forgot one night. That she can't touch people, without messing with their emotions. The blood magic thing. While I was meditating.
no subject
Instead, now, they have this. ]
When did this begin? Here in Trench, not at home?
[ Perhaps it's a mistranslation of ability, some aspect of her new self she has yet to unlock— but, oh. What she says next deepens the concern on his face, adds something slow and cautious to his voice. ]
That is an understandable mistake, though not a comfortable one to experience, I'm sure. Have the effects persisted?
no subject
[She had tried twice with two variations of the same sort of spell, with the same result. A whole lot of head pain, radio static and fog. She shrugs a little, and shakes her head. Especially right now, it feels like there's nothing more that can be done for it.]
It was like she just... forgot it was a thing all together for a minute. As soon as she realized, I mean, she was horrified. I figured it would wear off in a few hours, but... it feels pretty awful.
no subject
I am more concerned with whatever has come over Tara than what has been lost. This... aspect of losing her way. It's been with her since arrival? If there is anything I can do to be of help to her, Willow, I truly will try.
[ He smiles, gentle and sad. ]
Though I very much believe you will be here to do so yourself. Perhaps together we can puzzle out this power of hers, and its countercharm.
no subject
Sorry. With everything, my focus is kind of all over the place right now. But yeah, she was fine at home. I noticed something was up not long after she got here. She's never had any problems at home.
[She pauses for a moment, thinking.]
Well, once. But that was a pretty specific issue and we got it worked out a year before... well. You know. Before what she remembers before coming here.
no subject
[ He lets the quiet hang for a beat as he considers, some wistful edge still to his expression. ]
Deerington did so love to remind us of our past experiences. Perhaps Trench is proving to be the same. It may be too early yet to say whether this world works in the manner of the dream, but there was always the air of a puzzle, there. A riddle, often based in emotion, to be solved.
no subject
[She thinks she might have mentioned Glory in passing - something about coming up against a god from her world, but she doesn't think she's ever told Ozpin the specifics.]
There was, um, a hell god back in Sunnydale that came after us - well, specifically, she was looking for Buffy's little sister - that part's a really long story. But, uh, she fed on people's sanity. She got Tara.
[Willow lets out a slow breath. She remembers very well trying to fight her way through the crowd at the fair and trying to recall the words of a spell that might have been able to protect her.]
I never really thought about it until, you know, her, uh, mistake. But sometimes, it reminds me a little of that - like she's off in her own little world instead of here in this one. The difference is, this isn't all the time. It's only for a few seconds, and then she's back and she's okay again.
I undid that at home, though, and she was totally fine after that. No sign of any problems at all there.
no subject
Not that she would have many options available to her, with their powers so reduced. His mouth tightens in a thin frown. ]
Were this to operate by the logic of Deerington... perhaps it's not yours to undo. The issue could require something of Tara to solve. She can blunt the emotions of others; I would not be surprised to hear that hers form some hidden crux.
It is something I trust we will find our way through, Willow. Even with Maul providing... a worrying distraction.
no subject
If she only knew what was going on in Tara's head...]
Yeah... I guess we do have a pretty good track record when it comes to figuring this stuff out.
[She rubs a hand across her forehead.]
I guess I'll be sticking close to home for awhile, until this blows over. At least, I don't think he'll come after me here... But the rest of you should be careful too.
no subject
As usual, there is still a shade of worry in his eyes. ]
That sounds like a sensible response. Most of the household is accustomed to such a degree of threat... we will simply have to be on our guard. Particularly for those less accustomed to danger.
Consider it a team effort.