to: everyone

[ordinar]

Hey everyone. I don't know if I'm supposed to introduce myself... I'm Wilhelm.

Ugh, that sounded so lame...

Fuck. How do you delete a message you're sending with your mind?

Okay, never mind. Anyway, I was wondering about a few things.

1. So...I sort of accidentally set my bed on fire. Like, with just my hands. If it wasn't already obvious, this is a new thing for me. Is this the Singularity's way of telling me to go burn something down? It's fine now, by the way. I put it out. I'm still freaking out though, so if anyone has tips on how to avoid accidentally committing arson...I'd appreciate it.

2. Everyone made a big deal about these arcana signs, but I don't really get the point of them. What do they actually mean? What are they for?

3. What does anyone do for fun around here?

Thanks.

Comments

[ordinar]

[He's not hip either!]

Nice to meet you, Wanda.

Oh, I've met him. Stern professor vibes. Makes stuff float through the air.

There's nothing to do in this stupid castle unless you like reading the driest books ever or taking really long baths. The town isn't much better, and we're not allowed to go any farther than that. And there's almost nobody around the same age as me.

[carmesi]

I can assure you that he can do more than just make stuff float through the air.

[and, oh, she hadn't realized just how actually boring thorne would be? for someone wilhelm's age, if his mentioning it implies anything about how young (or old?) he may be.]

How old are you?
Besides, you could always go into the Horizon.
There is a lot worth seeing there.

[ordinar]

I didn't mean that in a bad way. That's just most of what I've seen.

Um, I'm 16. And yeah, I go into the Horizon a lot. I was just wondering what other people like to do.

[Because even hanging out in a magical plane that you can shape with your imagination gets...kind of boring by yourself.]

[carmesi]

[oh, a child...]

I didn't mean it in a bad way either.
He is perhaps one of the best people you could ask.

[(ew, don't tell him she said that)]

There are others close to your age.
Not sure about in Thorne... but in The Free Cities, as far as I know.

[ordinar]

You don't think he'd mind?

[The one time they'd met involved a lot of stress and a dearth of sleep, so...that might be coloring his impression of the man.]

Good to know. Thanks.

[Embarrassing, though, that she's basically helping him find friends? Well, desperate times.]

I guess the Horizon sort of makes up for the depressing lack of technology. Instead of being friends on, like, Instagram, you can be friends in the Horizon.

[carmesi]

If you don't make fun of his name, I'm sure you'll be fine.
You know about Instagram? It's fun to see the similarities between our worlds.

[unless he is from her world?... anyway, assume he isn't unless proven otherwise.]

What's your Earth like?

[ordinar]

His name?

[Give it a moment for his brain to switch to English.]

Oh, right. Strange. I'm not going to be rude to someone who's helping me.

It's just regular Earth. No vampires or werewolves or magic stuff. I've gotten the feeling that that isn't the norm around here, though.

[carmesi]

You're already leagues ahead of others.

With an Earth like that, it's no wonder you would feel way out of your depth here.
Funny that Instagram exists in more than one, though.

My arcana is The Hanged Man. It reminds me of tarot cards.
What is yours?

[ordinar]

Yeah, it's weird. It's like...when you buy a car, and you can get the base model or you can pick all these upgrades. Or something.

Mine's the Tower. Honestly, I don't remember what the mages told me about it. I was thinking about a million other things at the time. I don't know anything about tarot cards either. Other than the fact that there's a girl at my school who's into all of that.

[carmesi]

It's weird that your example made sense.

Tower is interesting.
I could teach you a bit about tarot so you get the general idea, if you want?
As for why we have them... I'm not sure about that.

[ordinar]

I'm actually very wise.

[Too bad tone doesn't come across in mind texting.]

Sure, it could be useful to know more about it. For if we ever figure out why it's so important.

[carmesi]

[she'd believe him]

And just to keep yourself from being bored, right?
I guess filling up your time with things is... the way to go.

Would you like to meet in the Horizon?

[ordinar]

Haha. Yeah, that too.

Okay. When are you available?

[carmesi]

How does later tonight sound?

[ordinar]

Sounds good.

Uh. How do I find you in the Horizon?

[carmesi]

I suppose you get a sense for it?
Look for mountains with snow on them and a lake. A cabin.

I can find you instead if you rather save yourself the possibility of getting lost.

[ordinar]

Okay, sure. I've got a beach. Well, it's sort of hidden, but you'll see the cliffs, and there's a house. I'll wait outside.

[carmesi]

[wanda doesn't tell him that just his name is enough for her to find him, but she appreciates his description of the place regardless.]

See you soon.