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[ And in reality, a remote dings off his shoulderblade. ]

Congratulations. You learned basic magic management. I'll buy you a cake.

[ This is partially genuine. Normally there'd be some level of emotional bleed over, but it apparently went across without affecting Alex proper. Extreme amount of potential, low chance to reach it because of anxiety and inability to focus. Sounds about right. ]

[ Too focused on the piece of paper- which he's taking down, by the way, and crumpling- Alex yelps as the remote bounces off him.

He smacks that paper back on the wall, and it sticks, but now it only displays a cut in his shoulderblades. ...And the pain he'd felt through the Oath is gone. Oh. That's how that works.

Alex's eyes shoot open. He rubs at where the remote hit him, but it's a normal ache. He's distracted for a moment. ]

...Wait. Did you just say magic? Like... Like magic from your world?

[ Technically, it's more a basic exercise for maintaining focus that has been repurposed through countless eons and cultures and found particular use in memorization, medication, and religious practices; not just Magic. But that's also way too many words and he's tired. Whatever. ]

Yeah. [ With the same type of inattentive dismissal one gives when discussing the weather. ] You're a Warlock. Th'ell you surprised by here.

Yeah, I mean- I know. I know that. It's just...

[ He hesitates, for a moment. ]

When Lion tried to help me before, that... [ He shrugs one shoulder. A twinge of shame, at his own lack of impulse control. ] Called it magic. That's all.

[ Oh.

Even more than the hastily taped-up holes in his memory, that subject gets a wide berth of avoidance. That's just too deep a hell for him to contemplate dealing with right now. ]

...Yeah. The illusions, right? That's magic from our world.

...It really was nice. I hope... Hope Lion knows that. 'Til I, uh...

[ He winces; show the boy an illusion of Clear and he just loses it, even if he knows that's an illusion. ]

It meant a lot.

[ That explains why Lion's been so vague about the whole thing. They're already scared shitless about falling down the same plot hooks, refusing to use their illusions for anything. But if Alex showed heartfelt gratitude, they'd never be able to say No. ]

Lion's aware. But... don't make a hobby out of it.

[ There's a question Alex wants to ask. But he knows it's best asked to Lion in-person. Not behind their back. ]

I'm not going to.

[ Smart kid. The only thing he gets back through the oath is a deep silence, like perfectly still water, and something infinitely close to gratitude. ]

Good. You can get better magic lessons when I'm not in time out.

[ Thinking of it like that, magic lessons... It gets him excited. Just a little. He curbs it, though, as he feels that. ...The more emotion he gets back through the Oath, the more he's glad for it, accidental as it was. ]

When're you blowing this pop stand, anyway?

[ Okay, yeah, all that above? Nix that. All that's left is an irritation strong enough to blot out the sun. ]

I have no idea! He doesn't tell me shit. [ For good reason. There's an attempt to say something, cut off into a moment of silence, then staring at Mia's gift again. The speech is oddly strained. Like using a word you've never had to use in a sentence before, and aren't quite sure what it means. ] A few... days? Leg's almost fixed.

[ Oh, that's startling. What's his... Jeez, why's that the reaction? ]

It is? Damn, wonders of...modern...medicine magic... [ Ugh, that's dumb- ] 'Least some things never change, docs never give you anything. [ ... ] Don't...end up here again, like this? [ Worry. Concern, a bunch of concern. ] It... We were all real worried about you, Will.

[ Alex is given free reign to wander through various awkward conversation rejoiners with the patience of a very tired saint. It's only that last one, all worries and honest feelings, does anything change. Reach over and shut the display off. Lion's already reached the realization that comes after that concern. Last thing he needs is it playing in stereo.

Downside to the oath is, even with shutting off the receiving end, Alex gets - of all things - a mix of precision and focus. ]

Can't say I'm planning on it. So stop worrying.

[ He's going to have to get used to that, isn't he? The strange feelings he can't pinpoint or understand. What is it? ...He realizes, maybe, comparing notes with Lion will be a good idea. ]

Plans go awry. That's true in every universe. [ Light, breezy. ] ...I'll worry less. Okay? I know you're a capable fighter.

[ It's definitely more the "can't pinpoint" option. If Alex opts to reference against his mental whiteboard later, the only note he'll find posted there is a pane of opaque glass. Giving nothing but reflections of everything else; unyielding. A corner might be cracked.

But the crack gets smoothed over. Not the time or the place, Not Yet, and only one part of his statement gets focused on. ]

Worrying less is all I ask for. Last thing we need is you having a stress-based heart attack.

[ The new mystery to figure out, that of Willard H. Wright himself. Alex could get used to that. ]

Hey, that hasn't got me yet, has it? I've been like...a thousand times more stressed than this.

[ Sad thing is, that's true. ]

[ The eternal question: how many problems can you internalize before people start catching on to your bullshit. The answer is a lot higher than whatever you're thinking.

And he knows it's true, but that's not healthy you idiot. ]

That's not permission for you to try breaking previous records.

[ Alex snorts, rolling his eyes. ]

Wasn't gonna take it that way, I don't like it, you know.

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