Harry Dresden (beforetheduster) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-12-16 19:06:00 |
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When you’ve spent months taking care of someone, you tend to build a bond. And when both parties had magic, that bond tended to be on the metaphysical level. Sarissa didn’t immediately notice when Harry returned to Madison, but eventually, the awareness pricked at the back of her mind. She looked on the network, but he hadn’t posted yet. Strange. Knowing Harry, that would be the first thing he’d do, whether he remembered being here or not. Curious, she followed that awareness to a comic book shop, where she immediately spotted Harry towering over the shelves. But this was a different Harry. He looked...younger. Less grizzled. And less worn down by time. But he was definitely Harry. She approached. “Harry.” *** Harry was getting used to this thing of someone knowing his name. He turned, warily, eyes sliding away from hers. And then he felt… something odd. What was that? he cocked his head as he looked at her. There was something different about her, but he didn’t know what. “I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are. If I did, I would likely be far happier than i am,,here.” Which he meant sincerely, as he currently kind of hated the place. *** This was also a more open and less jaded Harry than what she was used to. Even better, there was no air of Winter to him. No touch of frost, no bite of cold, no trace of the Winter Knight’s Mantle. Sarissa relaxed, her own Mantle settling down at the absence of a threat. “Do you hate it all that much?” *** “So far it’s been kind of a not-nice set of circumstances. Wake up in someone’s shower, finding one’s self completely revealed to a total stranger who knows you and your life ahead of you. Then finding out you have been apparently assigned to her with her as your guardian. Run randomly into some know it all girl in the forest who confuses even more, and a girl in the town who also knows a future you… it has been a weird, upsetting, and overall insane day, so yes, I really hate it.” His voice had gotten a little louder as he spoke and he sighed. “Sorry. I am just… tired.” He smiled at her. “I am sure you are amazing.” *** “There are a lot of people who’d disagree with you,” Sarissa said drily. She’d listened to his litany of complaints with barely concealed amusement. This may be a younger Harry who had yet to make her life so complicated, but she was enjoying his suffering nonetheless. The man - or boy, as it may be now - needed some humility. “But if it bothers you so much to have someone know you when you don’t know them…” She turned to go, confident that his curiosity would get the better of him. *** “I’m sure there are, and I’m sure there are quite a few people who would be in agreement with me. Not to mention the thousands of natives whose lives have been disrupted.” Yes, despite his angst and self-interest, he had been paying attention. He arched an eyebrow and for a moment he wanted to call her back, but stubbornness, and anger, and a little more self-pity crashed in. And he just lowered his head, shoulder slumping. Everyone left anyway. What was one more stranger to add to the mix? She may know him, but he didn’t know her, and she definitely wasn’t a friend if that was how she acted. To the stars with that. As quickly as it had come, the anger bled out, leaving behind tiredness and a bone-deep sadness. He sighed, trying not to listen to the part of him that told him this just proved what Justin had always said. That he was a loser, and trash, and that the reason people kept leaving him behind was because of him, not them. He took a long breath and shivered, eyes looking inward and unsure as he sat there, unable to yell out, unsure of himself, and feeling once more self-pitying. *** The Harry she knew would’ve called her back. Maybe even shot a puff of wind to get her attention. This Harry did neither. There weren’t even any cries of alarm from bystanders to indicate he’d moved at all. Curious, Sarissa looked over her shoulder - and saw such an abject sight she couldn’t help but sigh and turn back around. “It’s not so bad here, Harry. If nothing else, no one is trying to kill you every minute.” *** “Let me guess., that starts happening in my future?” Great, something else to look ahead to. With an effort, he pushed himself to ask. “How did we meet?” He wouldn’t mind talking, if he could keep himself out of his own head. He was trying, okay? *** “We were introduced by Queen Mab,” Sarissa said simply. There was no need to mention Harry had died, or that Sarissa had nursed him back to health. There was no need to tell him if his impending Knighthood. The poor kid - and he was a kid - had enough to deal with. *** Harry gasped. He had never met her of course, but the knew about her. All the wizards did. Justin had hated her, of course, Justin hated almost everyone. Harry was trying, hard to not be that man. “Why would we want to do anything with her?” Incredulity and shock filled his tone and face. Were we friends?” *** “You and Mab?” Sarissa laughed at the very idea. “No. I don’t think she has anyone she considers a friend.” Although she had certainly gotten friendly with Harry at one point. The entire Nevernever had watched that little bit of friendliness. Sarissa decided not to mention that, either. “You become powerful enough to get on her radar. But Harry…” Her voice softened. “Maybe you should focus less on the future and more on the now. You can’t do anything about the future yet. But you can decide what to do now.” *** Harry felt a little confused and utterly unsure of what the heck was going on, but he tried to keep up. Harry nodded. He Listened as hard as he could as she spoke, Ands yes, don’t mention that to the nearly virgin, thanks. That would not sit well. “Me? That’s crazy!” he wasn’t strong! He was a nobody!” What? “I have no idea what to do. My teacher isn’t here, my guardian is going to look someone up, but who knows how long that will take, and I am… unsure how to deal with this place.” *** Oh, he really was a kid. And a confused, frightened kid at that. It was strange for Sarissa to see him so young and vulnerable. “Deal with it like everyone else does,” she advised. “One day at a time. It’s less daunting that way.” *** “Seems like smart news.” He sighed. No magic for that, then likely. Ugh, life. “I have no idea how to do that, but I’ll try.” He eyed her. “What do you do here?” He was trying to not come apart here. *** “I’m a florist,” Sarissa replied. But it would be clear to someone as young to his magic as he was now that she was much more than that. Fae magic cling to her, as did the scent of summer. *** She reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t remember who until suddenly the light caught just so, and he stared. “Oh.” He squinted. “Are you like Leanansidhe? Do you know her?” *** “I do know her.” Sarissa’s smile turned wry. “Although there’s no one quite like her, is there?” She hadn’t lied. But like all fae, she was very good at prevaricating. *** Harry, for once, noticed something, but figured, this time, it wasn’t his business. This Harry, unlike his older self, was almost mannerly. “True. Do you like this place? It’s very odd to me.” *** “I don’t mind it so much,” Sarissa said with a small, elegant shrug. “It’s quiet and peaceful, more or less. That’s really all I’ve ever wanted - to be left in peace. Here, I am.” *** Harry cocked his head, curious. Eyes full of wonder, he continued to ask questions. “Is it such a peaceful place, then? No threats? No… no people attacking or, or trying to control you?” There was absolutely not a tremor in his voice there, and he was absolutely not feeling a surge of both fear and hope as he remembered living with Justin DuMorne. *** “Whatever force brought us here still has influence over our lives here,” Sarissa admitted. “Sometimes by way of bringing threats to this place, sometimes by way of changing our lives. But those episodes are short-lived. On the whole, you can spend most of the time here being not-attacked.” Of course, this was Harry. Sometimes he brought it onto himself. “As long as you don’t instigate anything yourself, of course.” *** Harry nodded. I’ve no intention of going anywhere near anything dangerous. I have had enough of that for a lifetime.” he was inbetween lives, this Harry. Part abused child, part unsure adult, still unsure in huis magic, and without a clue what he wanted to do. He had not yet begun walking down the path of the hero. And he was hopeful that he would be allowed to be at peace here. At least as much as being trained by Sigrun would allow. “What do you do, then, in a place free of threats?” *** “Whatever you want that you couldn’t have done back home,” Sarissa said simply. It was probably a strange idea to someone who had only lived one kind of life, one full of fear, as it seemed. But older Harry had managed. Younger Harry might, as well. “Me, I learned to make some very pretty flower bouquets.” *** Harry blinked, confused, still, but nodded. He didn’t want to make her mad by questioning her words, but how could such a world exist? So many strong women here, defying everything he knew to be true. So many who were strong and… scary. He nibbled one lip as he looked at her. “I don’t know what I want to do. I haven’t had… I uhm… what do---” Give him a minute. It’s been years since he had actual dreams of goals other than survive and get free. Now this? “How do you know what you want to do?” *** “You give it time,” Sarissa replied. “If you haven’t had a chance to think about it, it might not immediately come to you. But give this place a chance, and you might figure out what you want to do without the expectations of the Council to live up to. And if you ever want to talk, come by the flower shop.” She smiled at him. “I’ll give you something to grow.” *** Harry nodded. “I… I’ll try.” He blew out a long breath.”Thank you.“ Man, all of this was so confusing! “I might do that.” he smiled shyly, and nodded to her. That sounded kind of nice, really. “As long as you show me how to grow it.” *** “Of course,” Sarissa replied, smiling warmly. “It’s all part of the package. And that was probably enough mind-bending for him now. Sarissa inclined her head to him. “Good luck, Harry. Let me know if you need anything.” *** “Thank you. I will. I, ah, hope you have a good day.” He hoped that was a good good bye, because wow, he had a headache. This place liked to do that to him, it so did. He did not flee, but he did perhaps walk quickly away. Yes. *** FIN |