Second

[sapienza]

[Minerva generally checks the mail out of habit, as something to do, even though there's rarely ever anything very exciting in it. Bits and bobs aimd at maintaining the illusion that this town is a real town, and this "family" is a real family. But when she sees the long, thin package, marked with her name, that arrives in the mail today, she can feel her heart flutter in anticipation. She leaves the rest of the mail on the kitchen table and retreats to the bedroom to open it.]

[Phone - Unfiltered]

It's funny, what a grand effect a small change can make. That is what happened over the weekend, I believe. Our histories were altered, somehow. It seems like a dream now, but...

Just one little action can change your whole future. But of course, you can never know what the effect will be, until it happens.

[Action - John Doe Park]

[The wand hadn't worked. Of course it hadn't. If the town had stripped her of her magic, returning her wand wasn't going to bring it back. Nevertheless, there is a sense of comfort to be gained simply from having it by her side again. She'd made the right choice, she knew that for certain now. But it still hurt.

If anyone would like to bother her, she'll be sitting a a bench in the park, reading a book. She appears to be deep in thought.]

Comments

Phone

[infourbooks]

I'm not sure what was different but... I think it's better, the way it went.

[sapienza]

The real way, you mean?

It brings a deeper appreciation, doesn't it?

[infourbooks]

Yes. I don't know what would have made me get it into my head to try to fix all this myself.

[sapienza]

Pigheadedness?

[infourbooks]

Maybe I was more of a Gryffindor. In a bad way...

[sapienza]

A certain amount of pigheadedness is a requirement of the House.

[infourbooks]

I guess... I was never really a shining example.

[sapienza]

I'm sure that's not true. The Sorting Hat does know what it's doing.

[infourbooks]

That's what Professor Dumbledore always says...

[sapienza]

The man does know what he's talking about.

[infourbooks]

I guess... I'm definitely no Harry Potter though.

[There's something about that though...]

[sapienza]

But why would you want to be anyone you're not?

[infourbooks]

I guess... it's just been on my mind, lately.

[phone]

[noluckduck]

You're sayin' that like what happened made any goddamn sense.

[sapienza]

No, but I believe there may have been a method to the madness.

[noluckduck]

Oh yeah? Call again when ya actually find out what it is.

[sapienza]

I'll certainly try.

[noluckduck]

I'll be waitin'.

[velesdonnersen]

[Tarvek sees a not-unexpected sight after this past week...someone pondering. And a bookworm, too...he's got a soft spot for bookworms.]

[He doesn't think he's seen her before...]

Hello.

Hard week, wasn't it?

[He's a very nice looking young man in a very, very spiffy suit. He's got a shock of red hair, a pony-tail, and tiny pince-nez. If she's got gut reactions, she may sense he'd make a good Slytherin...but also, just possibly, a good Gryffindor. Actually, he'd do well in almost any house...he's a data-hog, and the sort of friend who will change reality for you, if he can.]

[sapienza]

[She folds the book closed on her thumb to hold her place and looks up at the newcomer, sighing a bit.]

Oh, yes, quite.

[velesdonnersen]

[Definitely a bookwork. He blushes a bit.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I can go.

But Mayfield's the sort of place where a friend's a good thing to have. And a friend who likes books? Even better.

Um. My name is Tarvek. Tarvek Sturmvoraus. I've been here about a year....

[sapienza]

Ah, no, my apologies. I was just a bit distracted. [She tucks a bookmark into the book and puts it aside for the moment.]

Minerva McGonagall. I've been here a month at most.

[velesdonnersen]

[He pauses, startled, and tries to figure out what's so...amazing about her. Then he realizes: it's been over a year since he dealt often with anyone with what he was raised to consider proper manners. The polite setting aside of her book, the apology, the faint aura of reserve and control--this is his heritage. He straightens and gives a formal, Europan bow.]

A pleasure, mademoiselle. And again, my own apologies for intruding.

I did suspect you were comparatively new. While I am not terribly social, I do have a good memory and do not believe I've seen you previously.

Might I ask if you've found a strong support group and friends, yet? If not I can probably put you in touch with some good people in both the technical and the magical communities here in Mayfield, and would be honored to offer you such service.

[Yes, it's hokey, but his soul is alight at the opportunity to function once more as the gentleman and prince he was raised to be. And he does like taking care of people. For a Slytherin-y boy he's really rather sweet.]

[sapienza]

I have made a few friends, yes, but in a place like this... I've gotten the impression that it would never hurt to have a few more.

[velesdonnersen]

[He smiles. It's a reserved, quiet smile, but sincere.]

Wonderful. Then I could introduce you to Quinn, who's a techno-mage. In my world he'd be considered a spark, like me. And I can introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Ilsa, who's a magic-based Guardian in her own world. She's also a doctor, if you find you need a healer.

If you'd like I can invite you all to come out to dinner, so you can meet them on neutral territory. I have found that to be a good approach here in Mayfield. So many of the exiles here feel safer that way.

[sapienza]

Is there quite a large magical community here?

[velesdonnersen]

Oh, my, yes. Though Ilsa can tell you more about that than I can. Ilsa's been trying to create a more extensive network of magic users for some time, so she's got a better sense of who's out there. Then there are folks like me and like Quinn, who sort of sit on the fence. Ilsa believes what I do is closer to magic than Science(!), but it was considered Science where I came from.

[sapienza]

Interesting... I almost wonder if there are certain qualities the powers that be are looking for when they bring new victims to this place.

[velesdonnersen]

[Much of his time here he's felt like *no one* really wants to try to figure Mayfield out. Even his dearest tends to focus more often on the here-now of the place. It's...wonderful to find someone who's thinking in terms of observation and analysis!]

Yes! Yes, exactly! My own theory is they're pulling in people with...er...

(Uneasy, and not sure she'll follow his own thoughts...)You see, I'm not entirely sure we're transported so much as copied and inserted into a fiction. So I have wondered if they're not picking people with narrative value. People with talent, power, skills, passions. Even our non-talented seem extraordinary.

(Blushes) I may be wrong. I'm still trying to find a way to prove any of it, or even to test it. But Mayfield's residents just aren't bland. That's what the drones are for. The exiles, though, are exceptional.

[sapienza]

Narrative value. [She has to smile at that, a sardonic little smile.] That would make sense, wouldn't it. This is a fantasyland. Scripted families, playing our little roles.

It's almost flattering, isn't it.

[phone]

[detecting]

Indeed. I did not experience it personally, but what I witnessed was more than sufficient. It's rather amazing how much one decision can impact the rest of your life.

[sapienza]

As an outside observer, then, did you notice a pattern in those affected?

[detecting]

Unfortunately not. Mayfield never seems to have a particular pattern when it comes to things like this.

[sapienza]

That's a shame.

[detecting]

If you would like, I'd be happy to keep you informed of any new developments I come across.

[sapienza]

I'd appreciate that, actually. I'll let you know as well, if there's anything I pick up.

My name is Minerva. And you?

[detecting]

Naoto Shirogane.

It's a pleasure to meet you.