Harry Dresden (wizardinthebook) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2016-12-12 00:50:00 |
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The winter season was a busy one for Tessa. She knew this, and she was prepared. After all, it was this time last year, when she’d witnessed an elderly woman struggling to purchase groceries in the snow, when she had gotten the idea of starting this business to aid those who had difficulty running their own errands. The Christmas season, when gifts needed to be purchased and the cold bite of the wind kept people at home, was especially busy. Most of her clients were elderly, but some of them had difficulty moving about. On the slick, frosty streets, their wheelchairs or canes did not hold them in good stead. It was fortunate, then, that Tessa had Molly Carpenter to help her out. The young woman (Tessa still thought of her as a young woman although Molly was older than Tessa herself) had been a godsend. She was efficient, organized, and wonderful with clients. Tessa was going to have to find her a good gift for Christmas to show her appreciation. She just wasn’t quite sure what Molly would like. Perhaps she might be able to get an idea if she went out to take a look at some of the gifts filling the shelves of the stores. Tessa was just about to head out when she swung the door open to find a tall - very tall - man about to knock. “Oh!” she said, taking a swift step back. She was friendly, but wary. “May I help you?” *** “Yes, I think so. You’re Tessa, Molly Carpenter’s boss?” Harry extended his hand, eyes not quite on hers, in a way that should be familiar from Molly’s own actions. “My name’s Harry Dresden. I was wondering if I might steal a moment of your time, whether here or some other time when you might be free.” He was prepared with an idea of where she might go, and where he might meet her. First rule of checking out your former apprentice’s boss; do your research first. And more research, and yet more, all before meeting them. Even if he just wanted to make sure all was well, and by now, checking around, he was sure it was, he was thorough. Harry had decades of working cases behind him to lend to this situation. *** “Of course,” Tessa said, her smile warning. The name was familiar; Molly had mentioned Harry a few times, mostly in tones of fond exasperation. Tessa did not know very much about this friend or perhaps mentor of Molly’s, but she had the sense he was very important to her. “I was just about to go to the tea shop,” she continued. “Would you care to join me?” She did not invite him in; Will was still sleeping, his shift at Verdant having ended late last night, and Tessa had learned not to surprise a Shadowhunter. That was when weapons started being thrown around. *** “I’d love to, thank you. I rather like the tea shop.” He smiled and stepped back, giving her a half-bow outward. “And thank you. It’s nice to meet people who are important in Molly’s life, especially when they are helping her.” Harry really didn’t beat around the bushes. *** Tessa did not mind, however. She much preferred someone who as straightforward than one who dissembled. “I am not sure I am helping her so much as she is helping me,” she replied as they made their way down the hall. He was tall, but so was she: although her strides didn’t quite match his, she was able to keep up easily. “She has been an immense boon to my business, and my clients are very fond of her. She says she comes from a large family.” It was a subtle opening for Harry to explain where he fit in her life, if he so chose. *** Harry shook his head as he followed her, and walked with her. “You offer her a job and stability, things all too in short supply in a town where not everyone is friendly, and for us, wizards, it is not something we expect, either from normals, or from other wizards.” He spoke softly, but surely. “She does. The Carpenters are a strange group, but a good one, much beloved.” By angels, but maybe he would leave that part out. *** That would be a no on the choosing, then. Tessa let it go. She had no wish to pry, although she did feel curious about someone who seemed to be such an important part of Molly’s life. “There are certainly people who harbour enough suspicion and resentment of us that they would not reach out to help,” she acknowledged. “But I hope you have found, or will find, that there are many others who would.” She did not comment on his remark about wizards. Molly had been upfront about being one, and Tessa had no issue with it. She herself was the child of a demon and a warlock herself, although she kept her magic usage to a minimum. Most people did not know she was capable of powerful magic. *** Harry had a bad habit of being closed-lipped in some ways, and open-mouthed in others, sometimes in the same conversation. Molly was… a special case. “Most people on the network are friendly, and some townspeople, too. A lot of them, though, the people who originate here? Are mostly not wanting to know, or hear, or see, us. In my experience, anyway.” He nodded. “Mostly, I just work here, and keep the magic quiet. And keep an eye out on my ex-padawan.” *** “Ex-pad-a-wan?” Tessa carefully repeated the word. “I am not familiar with that term. What does it mean?” She appeared young - younger than Molly - but there was an old-world air to her that suggested it would not be utterly surprising that she had never watched Star Wars. *** “It means she was my student. Padawan is another term for student.” The word hailed form terms older than Star Wars, but was obscure, and he was not all that surprised, here, that someone did not know it. Harry smiled a little. “You’ve given her a steady place to be and a nice job she thrives in. Thank you.” *** “It is my pleasure,” she assured him. “As I said, she has been a great help to me. I do not imagine I could have been quite as organized and efficient without her - especially in the areas of modern bureaucracy. It is all very complex.” The air was brisk outside, and Tessa tugged her lapels closer to fend off the chill. “Are you the one who taught her magic?” *** “Good to know.” He watched her the whole time, reading her as much as he could. “I am the one who helped her learn, though she self-taught some of it, and has had some teaching after leaving my tutorship.” He nodded. As they walked, he smiled, and saw her tugging her lapels. Using a piece of newly practiced magic, he spread a hand and spoke softly. “Infernus minimus.” Warmth welled up around them, like a cocoon, not a lot of it, but enough to turn a very cold day to one that was merely pleasant, at least around their skin. He grunted softly as he held it and kept walking. “Please, tell me about the work you do?” *** “Thank you,” Tessa murmured. She was still so used to thinking herself human that magic was never her first thought when she needed more comfort. And since Mr. Dresden seemed to have it in hand, she allowed him to continue providing heat rather than take care of it on her own. She told him of her work as they walked, explaining its origins last year when she saw an elderly lady struggle to cart her groceries home from the snow. She had stopped to help her, and ended up helping her - and soon her friends and other clients - run errands and do things they could not do themselves. “It is quite busy,” she concluded as they got to the bookstore where the cafe was. “So having Molly to arrange schedules and appointments has been very helpful.” *** Harry shook his head, listening, slowly relaxing. This woman had a way about her. He thought for sure there was something he wasn’t getting just yet, but he had no clues what, and she seemed on every front to be rather a good person, despite that. At her final words, he nodded. “It sounds like you two have worked out a rather good deal for both of you, and that you have her well in hand. Thank you, again. While she isn’t technically mine to worry about, or my responsibility, I still worry about her.” He slowed as they arrived at the cafe, and noded. “Thank you for reassuring an old teacher that his ex-student is doing well. If I can ever help you, please let me know.” *** “Does your magic allow you to teleport or move very quickly?” Tessa asked wryly. “If so, I may have to recruit you into the team. I find I often do not have time to do all the things I require - especially when it involves banking hours.” They reached the cafe, and she glanced at him. “May I purchase a drink for you?” He seemed nice enough, and obviously very concerned with Molly’s well-being. That was enough to get in Tessa’s good graces. *** “I… can. It’s a new thing.” He chuckled. “I can run like the wind, though, even normally.” Years of enhancing his running abilities led to him having a lot of speed and strength there. But the teleport thing… was a new experiment. “The teleporting still need work. But soon, maybe.” He nodded. “Sure, if you want to?” He felt constantly a little overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of people here. *** “Well, let me know if you require employment,” Tessa told him, smiling. She stepped up to the counter and looked over the options. “What will you have?” It wasn't exceptionally generous, what she was doing - at least not to her mind. It was simply sharing a drink with someone she hoped would be a new friend. *** Harry grinned and doffed a nonexistent hat to her and nodded. “Just a coffee, black, extra strong. Please.” He liked his coffees that way, most of the time, except when he had headaches, then he would adopt all the sugar and flavor in them. He was weird, he knew. And he could live with having a new friend. It made life a little easier, most of the time. *** Tessa nodded and went to get the coffee. Being originally American herself, she did not have the same disdain for coffee as Jem and Will did, although she had spent enough time in England to develop a taste for tea. It was a strong black tea that she purchased for herself and brought back to the table Mr. Dresden had found for them. “I have said much about myself,” she noted once they were settled in. “Now I am interested in hearing about you.” *** “Thank you.” Harry considered her as he thought, then nodded. “My story is a long one, but shortened, I am a wizard, which means different things to different people. To me, it means protector, defender, and keeper of the ways. It means not always following the rules, and sometimes outright overturning them, to keep people safe. I’ve spent my life in that task, since I was a young kid, and I’ve spent it completely, at least once.” He did not brag, simply spoke softly as he raised his cup to her and sipped. *** “And what ways do you keep?” Tessa asked curiously. There was any number of magic types sharing the same space in Madison Valley, and as someone who did not fully understand her own magic, she was fascinated to learn all she could about magic in general. *** Her question made him hesitate, then nod. “In my world, there are pathways between different points, paths that cut into other realms and dimensions, mostly which use a realm called the Nevernever. They’re dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, but I know them well, with my own knowledge and knowledge from my mother.” Harry nodded. “Here’s it’s just part of who I am. But still important, even without the Ways.” *** “And...you prevent others from abusing the pathways or getting lost in them?” Tessa asked, trying to get a sense of how things worked in his world and how he - and Molly - fit in. The idea of a Nevernever was not entirely foreign to her. It seemed to her like another dimension, which she had learned of from the younger shadow hunters. *** Harry nodded. “That’s the theory. With all the crazy going on back home, a lot of times I am running around from fire to fire, putting things out and not getting the time to do that, but I try.” He hated the way things were back there. “Another reason I like this place. Peace, of a kind, and quiet of a kind.” *** “Of a sort,” Tessa agreed, her lips quirking up wryly. “It’s never truly quiet here. Has Molly told you of the strangeness that could happen here? Just a few months ago, we had dinosaurs descend on the town. Dinosaurs! I had never thought I would see such a thing.” *** “Dinosaurs, huh? She hasn’t shared that one. But then, I’ve seen some strangeness here, and a dinosaur back home… sort of.” He grinned as he recalled Sue, and frowned as he recalled that adventure and another failed birthday. Ugh. “Hopefully this place will hold off on any more of those for now.” *** “I hope so as well,” Tessa said. “They caused quite a bit of havoc and damage when they were last here.” She took a sip of her tea and regarded him, her grey eyes steady. “Although I imagine you’re no stranger to that sort of danger and excitement.” *** “I imagine you’re right. Being a wizard is hardly a normal occupation, after all. It involves a lot of running through, so keeps one in shape.” He chuckled. He worked out regularly, not out of a love of being in shape, but out of a love of not being chased down and killed. He liked his skin on, thanks. “I have a feeling your life was hardly normal, either.” *** It was a smooth way of answering the question without giving details; Jem would have liked that. Molly’s teacher was nothing less than Tessa would have expected. Not many people could be strong and smart enough to gain the respect of a woman as strong as Molly herself. “I don’t think the dome brings anyone here whose life was entirely boring,” she said. Tessa did not like to speak of her past in general. Even Hestia, who had known her best other than Jem and Will, did not know the full story of her life *** Harry nodded, conceding the point. “True. After all, whatever reason we’re here, I have a feeling that it requires a little bit of fortitude.” Or so he felt. Noting the time, he smiled, then stretched. “I should be moving on toward work. But we should meet again, sometime. Talk some more.” Fence some more. This had been enjoyable. Finishing his drink, he rose, and offered her his hand. “And thank you for taking care of Molly.” *** “Molly is quite capable of taking care of herself,” Tessa said with a smile. She rose and took his hand with her gloved one - she has not removed her gloves despite being inside. “But I am very fond of her. I am glad she has more people here who care for her. It is a pleasure, Mr. Dresden.” |