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Tweak says, "Transform and roll out!"

Lily Evans (just_lily) wrote in silverage,
@ 2011-07-28 21:19:00

Entry tags:

!log, lily evans, susan sto helit

Ice Cream and Ducks
Who: Lily, Susan
What: a random encounter
When: Thursday late afternoon
Where: near a duck pond in a park
Rating: Low
Status: Complete

For nearly a week -- sometime tomorrow it would be a full week officially -- Lily had thought to pretend this was just some sort of spell gone wrong. She went through the motions of attempting to settle in, to find a job, to make friends -- for as well as that had gone. The longer she was stuck here, the more convinced she was it was all real, all true, that she truly was stuck here. She hated to think in terms of 'forever' but if no one knew how they'd gotten here (and no one appeared to), then what were the odds they'd be able to reverse it and send everyone home? Even if they managed that, would they be able to get the times right, or would she wind up in some different version of her own universe, some different time?

With no luck yet on the job front -- she was starting to think that 'we'll get back to you' was just code for 'thanks for wasting our time' -- Lily had spent most of the day just wandering the city. She'd bought a few groceries that morning and eaten lunch in her room before drifting out for more wandering.

Later that afternoon, she found herself at an ice cream shop near a park. It was a warm enough day that she'd appreciate the cool ice cream, so she'd bought a strawberry cone before heading out to sit on a bench near the pond. For a little while, she'd simply watched the people but it only served to remind her just how alone she was. She had no real friends here, and she envied the couples she saw walking, or the groups of friends chatting and laughing. It seemed wrong to be so melancholy on such a nice day, but there it was.

Once she'd finished the ice cream, she tore of bits of the cone, tossing them to the trio of ducks in the pond. Once it was gone, she licked the crumbs off her fingers along with the few sticky drops of ice cream on her thumb before she rested her hands on her thighs. She didn't know what to do with herself just then, and since she wasn't interested in going back to her room, she simply remained where she was.

Lily lost herself in her thoughts, unaware that her expression had fallen to reflect the intense sorrow that her thoughts had created.

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just_lily
2011-07-29 05:25 pm UTC (link)

"It's useful," she admitted. "The public transportation. I've been learning the subway and busses and the like." She wondered what 'the usual way' was, but reasoned it was what she'd mentioned before. It sounded intriguing, but she didn't want to pry too much.

Lily thought about Susan's take on magic, shrugging a little. "I suppose that's the heart of it, yes. It's just always ben taught that dark wizards practice dark magic and there are dark spells. It isn't as though we go about thinking of every-day magic as light magic." She smiled slightly before she exhaled softly.

"I've spent most of my time since school on the wizarding side of London," Lily replied. "We've got a diverse enough population that this place isn't so foreign in that regard, but we were a touch more advanced, I think. I couldn't be sure though. I think we would have appreciated a hero on our side of things," she agreed. The war was scary and disrupting so many lives and costing so many people friends and families and loved ones. A hero would have been welcome news.

"I can relate," she said again. "I only held a couple of jobs, over the summers. Waitressing, and as a cashier. Even if I'd had more experience than all that, I've no one to vouch for it here. It's making this whole job thing difficult." She hoped she found something soon before she had to resort to selling her coins. That carried a finality she wasn't ready to consider yet; long-term planning was still something she was avoiding as well as she could.

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ms_susan
2011-07-29 06:46 pm UTC (link)

"Useful, but slower than just going where I want. I did find I had to be careful not to appear in front of the locals. It seems to upset them."

Susan nodded. "Magic is supposed to have a light side and a dark side and stick the universe together, so the wizards at the Univerity claim. Very mythic. Sort of like Duck Tape. Magic just is."

"Oh, so you lived in the mostly magical side of your world. I can see how ending up in a place with so little magic could upset you, if you let it."

"There are employment agencies that are beginning to specialize in finding employment for those like us. Its where I got my job. You should look into that."

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just_lily
2011-07-29 06:59 pm UTC (link)

"We had that problem with apparating. It's ... a bit like teleportation, I suppose? We just will ourselves from one place to another. We also had a Floo network, through the fireplaces. Handy for getting 'round when the weather was bad and you didn't want to get caught out."

Lily smiled at the description; she'd always considered it something like that, even if they'd never really referred to their own as light. But they were the good side, the light side, of the war.

"Oh, don't misunderstand," Lily hurried to clarify. "I grew up without magic, and still tend to do things the Muggle way until I think about it. But my ... James is a Pureblood wizard and we ... I was staying in his part of the world, and of course much of the war was taking place on that side of things."

She nodded before sighing lightly. "I am. I'm researching all avenues. I'm sure I'll find something, sooner or later -- though sooner would be better."

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ms_susan
2011-07-29 07:17 pm UTC (link)

"Different names for the same thing. Grandfather and I had the added ability to and when to the where aspect. The when won't work for me at all, and the where seems to be limited to greater New York."

"Wizarding, muggle?" Susan smiled primly. "It sounds like a very we and they sort of society. Where I'm from almost everybody knows how to find a witch. Of course they also know better to go looking for one without good reason. And the wizards have the Unseen University, and turn up in the oddest places and at the oddest times."

She nodded. "I'm sure something will turn up as long as you keep looking."

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just_lily
2011-07-29 10:31 pm UTC (link)

"We have time turners, that let us go back in time. But they're not really readily available. The Ministry has them. I've only read about them." She wondered if it was like apparating into the past when a person used a time turner, and she smiled a little as she thought about that.

"Well, we're under a Statute of Secrecy, to keep magic hidden from the majority. We don't want the witch hunts all over again. So I suppose ... it is a bit. Some people live comfortably on both sides, but ... generally, the wizarding side does tend to stick to itself." It was interesting, this conversation. Learning about her world and sharing facts about Lily's own.

"Sooner or later. In the meantime, there's the welcome center so at least I have shelter and food. That's the important bit, right?"

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ms_susan
2011-07-30 12:54 am UTC (link)

"Witch hunts? Sounds unpleasant." Susan thought for a moment and then chuckled. "Although I have to say that anyone who tried to hunt Granny Weatherwax would be in for a most unpleasant surprise if he caught her."

"This secrecy thing. Does it apply here? Could you make a living with your magic? What sorts of magic do you do?"

Susan smiled at Lily. "I mean, my magic isn't really the usual, but as I said, I'm not a witch. My magic comes from having been born in my grandfather's Realm."

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just_lily
2011-07-30 01:30 am UTC (link)

"They were long before my time, but they were ... all over the world. People fear the unusual," Lily said with a little shrug before she turned her attention to watch the ducks swim about.

"I don't know if it applies or not. I haven't done anything yet that would have brought myself to the Ministry's attention, if the Ministry even exists here." She looked thoughtful, then shrugged. "I could find a way, I'm sure. I do ... all sorts. I'm best at potions, but I imagine that's going to be a bit useless here unless I manage to find some ... some magical plants and some newt blood." A slight smile tugged her lips as she thought of all the other things she'd need. "Anyway, I suppose I could do some things with charms, but I'm not quite desperate enough to start selling my magic yet."

She cocked her head to one side as she glanced over to Susan. "So what it is then, that you do? In regard to magic, I mean."

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ms_susan
2011-07-30 02:20 am UTC (link)

"Potions would be a proper sort of a thing for a witch, I suppose. Nanny Ogg used to do a few. I'm not sure what charms might be, but it sounds sort of the same."

Susan waved one hand in a dismissive sort of gesture. "Oh, I suppose just about anything I might wish to do. I really don't do all that much. Just a little of this and that to ease my way sometimes, or provide some interesting lessons for the children in my class. Its much easier for them to learn History when they can see it taking place. And I seem to have inherited all my Grandfather's abilities as well. Makes it easier to get around, and I have filled in for him occasionally when he goes on holiday."

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just_lily
2011-07-30 02:56 am UTC (link)

"Different sorts of things. Floating charms and cushioning charms and cheering charms and the like." She reasoned it could take hours to really explain all the various nuances of magic at Hogwarts, so it was probably best not to get into it.

"I likely would have paid more attention in my history of magic class if it had been visual instead of a droning voice," she admitted. The novelty of the class being taught by a ghost had worn off after the first week or so, and after that it was hard to stay awake in class.

Lily sighed softly, her eyes half closing before she tipped her head back. She reasoned she should head in, soon, but she was content enough for now to chat. It was nice to just talk to someone she could speak freely around. Making up and maintaining stories was stressful.

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ms_susan
2011-07-30 05:37 am UTC (link)

"So it sounds like you could find a place as a witch, if nothing else."

Susan stood up from the bench and looked down at Lily. "I suppose I should be headed for my apartment. You look tired, and I have a few new books to absorb. It was nice meeting you, Lily. I hope we can run into each other again.'

"You take care of yourself, and keep up your hopes. I'm sure something will come to you soon, as long as you keep trying."

She reached into her purse and pulled out a bit of notepaper and jotted the phone number of her new apartment down. "If nothing else, give me a call on the telephone and we can meet for dinner or something."

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just_lily
2011-07-30 05:58 am UTC (link)

"If push comes to shove," she agreed with a slight nod. "I'll work something out, either way."

She rose after Susan did; it seemed a reasonable enough cue for her to be on her own way. "It was lovely meeting you as well," she assured the other woman quietly. "I'm certain we'll cross paths again." For as busy and populated as the city was, she did notice that she saw several of the same people in her travels.

She accepted the number with a smile. "I'll be sure to do that," she promised. "Maybe soon I'll have good news about a job I'll want to share," she said, though she wasn't going to hold her breath for that. With a last smile and a little wave, Lily turned away to begin the trek back to the welcome center.

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	ms_susan 2011-07-30 06:01 am UTC (link)
	Susan concentrated for a moment as Lily turned to go, and Left, arriving almost instantaneously in her new room. Her whisper of "Goodby" was all she left behind her. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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