InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "This cake is angry!"

magnustic (magnustic) wrote in rooms,
@ 2014-06-16 21:04:00

Entry tags:

!sanctuary, *log, helen magnus, nikola tesla

Log: Helen/Nikola
Who: Nikola Tesla and Helen Magnus
What: Checking out the underground Sanctuary
When: Nowish
Where: Underneath Old City, starting in tunnels but then here
Warnings/Ratings: TBD

It didn't take long for her skin to start itching and that giant house of hers to feel empty in a way she couldn't fill. Without her team it was a constant reminder. At first Helen simply appreciated her home was intact, and now she wondered if haunting the hallways was any better. After that she said 'get a hold of yourself, Helen, let's not be unnecessarily maudlin.' The first thing she did after securing the house was to go looking to see if her other project was there. It was a relief to see it was, considering it seemed this place jumped around time and space within the worlds. She did like a challenge, but starting all over again? A bit much even for her.

She promised Nikola a surprise if he went with her. Of all people, he might appreciate it the most, mostly because of the minds that went into creating it. Brilliant scientists chosen selectively through out the past century to offer their additions, all under the nose of her own self in the regular timeline. Helen kept some of that private, despite answering Nikola's general questions. She rarely answered all questions that were posed to her, and age didn't make her defenses soften. If anything she bolstered them up, stronger than ever, a fact Will pointed out with no small amount of disappointment before. She convinced him to pack a small travel bag and they went underground, finding the paths she'd blazed a way through.

Helen didn't give him much warning, because she thought it would be much more fun to wait and watch. Her hair was up and she was comfortably attired for a hike. They weren't far from the Sanctuary now, and she knew his sharp ears might pick up on the waterfall at the very least. The buzzing of electricity. "I think we might want to study this hotel more carefully, later on. Everything has to have a power source, even magic." She didn't believe in magic, not entirely. She believed in technology and the supernatural and what science could prove.

(Post a new comment)

This has taken me absolutely forever to get to. I am so, so sorry. I'm the slowest tagger.

thisisprogress
2014-06-22 08:07 am UTC (link)

Helen always had been stingy with the details. Sometimes for good reason. Other times, Nikola could swear it was just to make their lives more difficult. But in this particular instance, she had his curiosity peaked and he couldn't even bring himself to be frustrated by the lack of explanation. Whatever she wanted to show him, it must be big for her to have hidden it from him, from all of them. He usually had a good read on her, but this time it was taking a little longer to connect the dots.

Helen Magnus. What have you been up to?

He was as dressed down as he ever got. Which, for him, meant a slightly less expensive suit he didn't mind getting a few wrinkles in, and somewhere along the way, he'd shed the jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

As they drew closer to their destination, he could make out the distinct sound of rushing water up ahead in the distance, almost drowning out the faint crackle hum of electricity. Whatever it was they were to see was drawing power. And a lot of it, if he wasn't mistaken.

"And even if we find it, what do you propose we do, Helen?" He didn't think much of magic either. "We're still stranded in a world that isn't our own."

He'd seen the doors, the number of people posting to the network. Take into account different points in time they might have arrived from and you were looking at an impressively complex control mechanism. He didn't even know where you could draw that kind of power, let alone how to make it do what he wanted. He wouldn't even know where to begin, not that he cared to admit it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

i was late too don't worry!

magnustic
2014-06-27 04:00 am UTC (link)

Helen did enjoy having something over him, whetting his appetite for a surprise, and she was rather proud of what she accomplished in that extra century. Other people might have fallen apart, but she got it together quickly, and looked toward the future. There were aspects she barely resisted. Finding John earlier and helping him. Saving Will's mother. And the absolute worst, letting Ashley die. She kept away so she didn't have to see her daughter at all, certain the temptation would be too much. It was devastating when she thought about it, so she didn't. She focused on her future.

"If we find the power source maybe we won't be stranded. Come now, Nikola, you're the man of many ideas." She was also out of ideas, in truth, outside of looking and learning. This was a force higher than her, far above, to the level of the godly Abnormals. Or beyond. The house was empty and this sanctuary would be too, but there must be Abnormals somewhere still in their world. She would find them.

Finally they were approaching the entrance that looked over her prized possession. She smiled and quickened her step. As they got to the top she stepped aside, and let him pass her so he could see it with fresh eyes. It was large and impressive and the size of a small city. She took designs from the last underground city they were in, and it was fully functional all on its own. It was clean and self-sustaining and brilliant, if she did say so herself. Unlike the rest of the Five she never bragged, but it was there in her pride.

She smiled and watched him, curious to see his reaction.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

I just feel really bad for leaving you hanging so long!

thisisprogress
2014-07-08 05:47 am UTC (link)

Nikola shot her a look at that, his expression dark. If they found the power source, maybe they wouldn't be stranded. Of course. Because it was always that easy. Helen, Helen, Helen. Always the optimist.

He placed a hand to his chest, "And, once again, it's up to me to save the day." A rather dramatic statement coming from him, considering who he was talking to at the time. Even he had to admit she was usually the one coming to his rescue, every time one of his projects took a nasty turn. Just...never out loud. It sounded better if he was the hero in all his stories.

"Honestly, Helen-" Anything else he might have said was forgotten as they reached the hollowed out chamber that housed her underground facility.

It was magnificent. He'd never been shy about telling her she needed to upgrade, but this, this was better than he could have imagined. This was incredible. He was not a man easily impressed, and even when he was, his ego dictated he pretend otherwise; but she had managed to surprise him, leaving him off his guard. The wonder was evident in the way he seemed to forget she was there, moving past her and taking a few steps closer, taken with the view before him.

This time, the question was asked aloud, "What have you been up to?"

(Reply to this) (Parent)