we have a complex relationship with our sisters and our cousins

[dark_light]

Amariah is starting a circle in her yard - minting and enchanting can pull heavier duty than witchcraft, and faster, too, but they won't scale unless she wants to hand out copies of her trump cards; novel spells will, since there are many witches across the globe.

And then Jane asks if she wants to be visited, by Juliet's Sherlock - Minus - and Amariah's reply is "Sure, I could take a break." Because she's been at this for a while now and was just about to wish a crick out of her back for the second time this afternoon.

She puts down her pitcher of oil and waits for him to appear.

Comments

[eversomuchfun]

"I can tell," says Sherlock, his voice oddly flat.

[dark_light]

"She - she could be back any second. Or we could find a door, at any time," Amariah says. "We used to find them pretty - well, not often, but they happened, you won't be stuck here forever."

[eversomuchfun]

"Pleased to hear it," he says, rubbing his face with both hands. "And yet."

[dark_light]

"I - well - of course you can stay here, while she's out of commission," says Amariah. "There's room. Do you need anything non-obvious to be - as comfortable as possible?" She attempts a weak smile. "I want to return you to Juliet in good condition."

[eversomuchfun]

"Tea, animal blood, optionally a bed," he says. "All of which I can conjure myself. Being a mint does do wonders for one's access to material comforts. As for the immaterial... those are trickier."

[dark_light]

"Well," says Amariah, "if I can help in the immaterial department, please let me know."

[eversomuchfun]

"I may have to impose on you for a regular supply of hugs."

[dark_light]

She wraps her arms around him. "I can absolutely supply those," she says softly.

[eversomuchfun]

He hugs her and sighs.

"Then I'll manage."

[dark_light]

Squeeze.

"I need to tell Kas," she murmurs.

[Sweetie, Jane's offline. No ansible connection. We don't know what happened or when she'll be back. And Minus is here and he's stuck.]

[truthwright]

[Aww!] says Kas.

A moment later, he appears with Petaal wrapped around his shoulders as a big green snake, and he joins the hug.

[eversomuchfun]

"I see you told Kas," Minus says dryly.

[dark_light]

"Yes."

Hugs. Sighs.

[eversomuchfun]

Hugs.

[truthwright]

Snuggly hugs.

[dark_light]

"My room is the one with the hammock, and Kas sort of sleeps anywhere," Amariah says, when it is finally the hiatus of hug time. "Help yourself to whatever space is going spare and appeals to you."

[eversomuchfun]

"Will do."

[dark_light]

"I'm really sorry," Amariah murmurs, and she pets his hair.

[eversomuchfun]

He smiles.

"I know. Thank you."

[dark_light]

"...Want to watch me cast a circle?"

[eversomuchfun]

"Happily. What pray tell is it for?"

[dark_light]

"It's not for practical use. It's a test circle, of sorts - I can draw them on paper but I've got a sense now of whether something is workable if I look at it in the actual material. And also this way I can take a picture and send it to other witches and they'll take me a little more seriously than if I just send them sketches. But the spell is for immortality, like I gave Kas - the kind witches have. To put on humans, and when I have that down I'll work on a bear version."

[eversomuchfun]

"I see," says Sherlock. "Handy."

[dark_light]

"It is." She picks up the pitcher and begins a steady walk around her bare yard-patch. "The bear version's going to be tricky because they don't have daemons."

[eversomuchfun]

"Are daemons an integral component?"