Power Without a Price

[curiousdiscoverer]

The first time Ezra finds Milliways he spends most of the experience overwhelmed by psychic sensory overload. Postcognition doesn’t really mix well with inter-dimensional nexus.

However when he walks out and tells about the experience, the true nature of the place is eventually revealed, furthermore he discovers that the Traders are very interested in using the unique location to seed magic to other worlds and they pay very generously for it. So Ezra’s family all hear about the story and stay in the look out for another door, just in case.

Years pass, and Ezra’s family gets a little smaller, and starting wishing for a door to show up.

Because resurrection is possible, but expensive and bringing three people back is impossibly costly without extreme circumstances.

So Ezra feels extremely lucky the day he finally finds a door again, with family in his apartment where they wait behind after Ezra grabs a few things while Temps holds the door.

He is now in better control of his powers and Milliways massive history doesn’t overload him anymore.

Ezra looks around the bar, sits on a table with a nice view and observes.

Is anyone here that could want and deserve magic?

Comments

[mage_see_mage_do]

Temperance blinks

"Ah," Temperance says "I think it is the magic, she is new at magehood and her... mana supply should be a little unstable for the next couple of months. Plus, I think the power was pulling her towards all those trinkets."

Temperance closes her eyes for a moment.

"I wouldn't be worried because the power works to keep her safe," Temperance says after the moment "more so when it is fully developed. I don't think she will pass out before that, but she is going to sleep more. Passing out is rare even among non-lucky mages."

[can_i_stay]

"Oh. She really does have the most convenient power of them all. Let's let her sleep, for now. How long is the food going to take?"

[mage_see_mage_do]

"My guess?" Temperance says "how long it takes for Lucy to take a nap."

Franklyn is cooking a variant of Chili con carne French-Canadian-Japan-Brazilian fusion style, straight from the 2040's. Classic for the sisters, novel for the Grayson. It should be done in about 30 minutes.

Temperance decides to borrow Ann's book to read about the woods' flora.

[can_i_go]

It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one when Lucy opens her eyes at the exact moment the food is ready.

Once she's gotten a plateful she scoots over to Temperance. "D'you find anything interesting there? There're still a few hours left in the day, I can look for interesting stuff for you."

Or, you know, for herself.

[mage_see_mage_do]

Temperance skimmed over the book.

"A lot of interesting things," Temperance says "but nothing urgent and my feet a little tired too," She puts an arm around Lucy "but thank you."

Temperance waits until Franklyn offers her a plate, and it is really good. If they don't have this on their home dimension, Temperance is going to invent it.

"I wonder how good the finding stuff would be," Franklyn speculates "if we tried specific stuff. Like a species of plant that we could use to terraform Mars or something."

[can_i_stay]

Lucy opens her mouth, but Ann jumps in before Lucy can suggest anything.

"That sounds like something we can try tomorrow. And we'll have more time tomorrow if we go to bed early."

[mage_see_mage_do]

Franklyn pouts, just a little, but when Temperance says that sounds like a good idea he agrees.

Just because they aren't going to walk around a interdimensional forest it doesn't mean they can have some fun before go to bed. Franklyn knows how to make some really good s'mores.

Assuming they don't do anything more interesting they can go to bed and wake up early.

[can_i_help]

The s'mores are enjoyed by everyone, much late evening fun is had, the fire is put out and everyone goes to sleep in their sleeping bags.

In the morning Sabrina wakes up with Lucy out of her bag and Lucy's bare feet on her chest.

This is completely normal. She flops Lucy on the ground and gets up to see if she's the first one to wake up.

[of_all_trades]

Franklyn is sleeping with a smile, while Temperance seems to have wake up a few seconds after Sabrina.

Temperance waves at Sabrina while yawning.

[can_i_help]

Sabrina waves back. Then she points towards Franklyn and mouths 'How deeply does he sleep?'

[of_all_trades]

"Like a rock" Temperance mouths then she comes closer and whispers "talking like this is fine. What about the others?"

Franklyn rolls over to a more comfortable position oblivious to the conversation.

[can_i_help]

"We could most likely throw a party here and neither of them would notice. The only things that can get them up are food or a few strong kicks."

She's only mostly joking.

[mage_see_mage_do]

Temperance can tell.

"Franklyn is the same," Temperance says "both of him and his full-siblings are heavy sleepers. Luckily no one in the family has sleep disorders, despite our biological father being a little insomniac. Do you have any ideas for what to do today?"

[can_i_help]

"Go explore the cave and throw stuff at Lucy's power and see what sticks, not necessarily at the same time."

[mage_see_mage_do]

"Sounds like a plan," Temperance says "Do you want to make breakfast? Or at least coffee?"

While the two are busy preparing things, something slithers quietly through the forest ground, camouflaging itself dark green.

Suddenly its color changes to bright red, leaps and envelopes Lucy! She will wake up and realize that she is being covered by something... fluffy.

[can_i_go]

Lucy sits up, the fluffy thing on her shoulders like a blanket. She blinks a few times at the unfamiliar scene around her, and then at the fluffy thing that's wrapped around her.

She doesn't remember bringing anything like this to the forest. She doesn't remember her sisters bringing anything like this to the forest.

But. It feels nice. It has a nice color. It even smells nice.

Food still wins, Lucy gets up and drags herself to Temperance and Sabrina.

"What're you making?" she asks.

[can_i_help]

Sabrina turns to her and stares, the good morning dead on her lips.

"What the hell is that?" she says instead.

[can_i_go]

Lucy glances at the thing on her shoulders and shrugs.

"I dunno. I woke up with it."

[can_i_help]

"You what?"

There's a clear hint of panic in her voice.

[mage_see_mage_do]

The thing rubs itself on Lucy, it is like a soft full body massage.

Temperance just stares at the scene.

"I think it is magical...?" she says quietly.

It is, Lucy might not have noticed before but there is an aura of magic around it.

[can_i_help]

Well, that can't be good.

"Get it off," Sabrina says, her voice level.

Lucy takes a few steps back. "What, no! It's warm and fuzzy."

"Right now. You don't know what kind of magic it has."

The volume of her voice has been rising steadily and at this point she's only seconds away from shouting.

[can_i_go]

Lucy waits for a few tense heartbeats and drops the red fuzzy thing. It's not worth fighting about, at least not at this hour.

[mage_see_mage_do]

"I could try check its magic," Temperance offers "I can't copy objects but I can sort of... feel them."

The red fuzzy thing seems to take being dropped as a sign to rub itself on Lucy's legs. Considering it is like a blanket it is amazing how cat-like it looks.

Temperance manages to touch a piece and hold it gently.

"Weird..." Temperance says "there is... I am not getting everything, but it is supposed to behave like a pet, including loyalty...."

[can_i_go]

"See, it's a red, fluffy, warm puppy."

[can_i_help]

"Loyalty does not automatically mean loyalty to you."

She's worried and she knows getting Lucy to let go is an uphill battle. She can't even count on Ann as an ally, there's an even change she'd let Lucy do as she pleases.

"Temperance," she says and then pauses. "Help?"

Even she herself isn't sure if she means 'Help me convince her to let it go' or 'Help me make sure it's safe'.