this is the fate au our parents warned us about

[oncoming]

( locked to fionnuisce )

Comments

[fionnuisce]

In this building? Yes. In this country? No.

[hello migraine my old friend. To his credit, Waver kept up a fairly quick pace; not enough to draw attention, but enough to look far too busy to interrupt.]

The idea of an escape would, I think, not entail leaving the person likely helping you escape in a trail of dust. Do you have no concept of subtlety?

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And that's why I asked what was the fastest you could make an escape.

[ glancing back towards waver he rubs his cheek as in contemplation. ]

You don't listen too well, do you?

[ a pause, unaware of his own hypocrisy. ]

Now your lot was talking a lot about secrecy. But how can you be so "secretive" and have a school in the smack middle of London?

[fionnuisce]

Faster when I'm not being chased by my colleagues, students, and everyone in between. You'd likely get lost in the damn hallways long before I would. Just calm down, there's no need to rush around yet.

[A shrug.]

The whole building is layered with countless bounded fields, protective spells and the like. Hence why we were all quite interested as to how some random idiot wandered his way on in. Normal people can't do that.

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Well, that's because I'm not normal!

[ HE SAYS WITH EXTREME PRIDE. ]

[fionnuisce]

I have noticed this.

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Glad you have! I thought you hadn't.

[ he beams at this, puffing his chest as they continue walking. ]

It was pretty difficult, I had never seen a type of forcefield like this. But when presented with a challenge and stuck in a parallel world, I just couldn't say no to it. It was practically calling for me to solve it. And then I made it in!

[ and then immediately got caught. ]

[fionnuisce]

...

[It was at that point Waver looked like he'd just seen the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future all at the same time and gone through a massive overhaul of his entire worldview in the space of .5 seconds.]

...We have got to get you the fuck out of here.

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That's what I've been saying this whole time!

[ though he does tilt his head at the professor, eyebrow raised. ]

Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. I don't see anyone coming after us, do you sense something different, Prof?

[fionnuisce]

Nope. Not at all. I'm fine. Just...just a deeply unsettling reminder. Don't worry about it.

[oncoming]

Deeply unsettling? Maybe there is a reason the TARDIS brought me here, then...

[ he quietly continues to muse over his reasons for landing in this place, as he continues. ]

Listen, if there's any trouble, Prof, I could help out. I'm very good at helping people out. It's kind of my thing, as The Doctor.

[fionnuisce]

Trouble? No--no more than usual. Really, it's nothing to be concerned about and if you and the person I'm thinking of were in the same room for two seconds I might age twenty years.

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[ somewhere in the clock tower dorms, flat escardos sneezes. ]

Then I think we should go and find this person!

[fionnuisce]

No. Because you're leaving before I hand you over to the team in favor of vivisection myself. Where's this damn ship anyway?

[oncoming]

Can you stop talking about vivisection? It’s deeply unsettling to be talked about like I’m a lab rat, you know.

[ he sighs, shaking his head. be more mindful of his feelings, professor! ]

It’s tucked in a back alley a few streets down from the campus. Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone should have noticed it.

[fionnuisce]

Fine. Come on, there's a side door down this way nobody bothers using.

[oncoming]

Hahah! There’s nothing better than a secret exit!

[ he is practically vibrating with excitement over this. if he could (well, technically he can) he would break out into a run.

instead he keeps walking in that direction, turning towards waver to chat. ]

So what are your students like, Prof? They can’t be that bad, if they got a man like you as their instructor.

[fionnuisce]

You literally do not even know me. What kind of assessment is that?

[oncoming]

Sure, we haven’t met for long, but you’re already coming off far better than the others. You could have just led me directly to that vivisection that you were talking about. But you haven’t.

[ he looks back, smiling. ]

Well, I suppose you could be deceiving me, but I choose not to believe that right now. If I’m wrong, well… I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.

[ he points at a door. ]

This one?

[fionnuisce]

Well, that's reckless as all hell.

[With a slight nod, he pushed the door open and walked outside.]

You don't plan ahead much, do you?

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It’s more fun that way.

[ where’s the fun in knowing your opponent’s moves? it’s far more interesting when there’s an unknown factor.

once they’re out, he turns his head side to side, orienting himself in the mental map of london that he had in his mind. if he’s correct, then…

he points. ]

This way. Let’s hurry now. I was never that good at hitting the books— I far prefer hands-on experiences.

[fionnuisce]

Well, experience is the best teacher. I won't argue that.

[oncoming]

Oh, yes it is!

[ he leans back on his heels, smug as he continues walking at a brisk pace. ]

So tell me about yourself! How did you end up in a glorified academy that vivisects what they don’t know?

[fionnuisce]

There's nothing worth telling. I'm a mage, of course I would wind up at the Clock Tower sooner or later.

[There was, in fact, quite a lot worth telling.]

Stumbled my way into a teaching position, and here we all are.

[oncoming]

Keeping your cards close to your chest, huh?

[ that’s fine. The Doctor did say that he liked a challenge. ]

How does one become a mage, then? Or are you born one?

[fionnuisce]

[That earned him another eyeroll. Mind your business, beanpole.]

You're born one. It's just as you said--human, but a little extra. The ability to utilize magecraft manifests as what amounts to a second nervous system.