Who: Vanessa and Presto When: March Where: Vanessa's home What: Magical practice Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Vanessa and Presto had set up a regular meeting/training session since the last time they got together. She’d shown him some relaxation techniques to try and centre himself and she wanted to see how he was getting on. They’d set up a connection to her home so it was easier for him to get there and she’d promised him dinner afterwards. At least that way she could be sure he ate at least one decent meal without forgetting.
Waiting for him to arrive she was sat in the living room reading, she’d had a couple of clients that morning though she was still practicing with the cards he’d so thoughtfully given her but so far they were getting along well.
***
There was a soft ringing of the air, as his arrival tone sounded, and then in the corner where the connection had been set up, there was a shimmering, and Presto appeared. He had been working on the teleport spell, adding, well the bells and whistles, so to speak, and making a ritual of things made for it to be easier to make right. He wanted this to be right.
Since he had started studying with her, he felt more confident, more in control and he felt like he was slowly gaining more ability to bring his powers under real control and understanding. His head wasn’t hurting nearly as much as it used to.
And he found himself thinking that she was a little like what his mother maybe would have been like, in this situation. And that just made him smile. He was sure his mom wouldn’t mind being compared to Vanessa.
When he appeared, he swept a bow and stepped forward, grinning.
“Hello!”
*** “Hello” Vanessa replied with an amused smile, “I do like your little bells, it’s a nice announcement of your arrival” she complimented him. She’d noticed that his confidence was increasing as they spent more time working together and she was so glad to see it. The decreasing headaches was something she was definitely happy about, she worried a lot about him.
Had she known Presto was comparing her to his mother she would have been overwhelmed, she couldn’t deny she felt a kind of maternal instinct for him but for that to be appreciated and welcomed was incredibly moving.
“How are you today?” she asked him.
***
“Today? Very well. I’ve been looking forward to this meeting and to talking to you., and working with you. “
He grinned at her, warmth and relaxation in his eyes. He was tired and looked it, really, but around her and here, he relaxed more than in most places. He believed in her and what she had been teaching him, and how he had been learning to control, even if he felt he was a long way from complete control or mastery.
There was so much to learn!
“How are you?”
***
“I always look forward to our sessions” Vanessa replied, “Though it seems you haven’t been sleeping as much as you should” she added laying a gentle hand on his cheek, “I hope you’ve been eating better” her maternal instinct was always close to the surface when it came to Presto and the more time they spent together the more obvious that became.
“I’m well myself, thank you. I’ve been working with the cards you gave me and they’ve been incredibly responsive” she told him, she truly appreciated his gift.
***
He blushed. “I try. There somehow seems to never be enough hours in the day.” He blew out a long breath. “Sorry?” He smiled a little, sheepish-like.
“Really? Cool! I was hoping something like that would happen. Most of the time, the things from the dreams are weird, and those were no different.” He had gotten magic books, and the game car that had taken him to the Realm in the first place, and more.
***
“It’s okay, I just need to keep a closer eye on you obviously” she told him, “I insist you stay for dinner once we’ve completed our lesson today. I believe it’s pasta” she added, tempting him.
“Dreams are strange things by nature but these are beyond even that” Vanessa nodded, “But good things do come from them, our gifts are the most obvious but also new friends” she smiled, without the dreams she would most likely have never met Presto as she wouldn’t have been reading tarot for a living.
***
Presto blushed, and nodded, hesitantly. “I, ah, okay? Most days are fine, really, and I’m okay.” And he was, most days, even if he didn’t sleep or eat as much as normal people. Sometimes, he just got caught up. He forgot to take time for the things needed.
But he made time for Vanessa and for Destiny. They kept him going, made him feel renewed.
Presto nodded as she spoke. “I’m glad to make the new friends and when the magic works, it does help, too.” Even making extra hours in the day… sometimes. Accidentally.
***
Vanessa smiled at his agreement, “I am sure you are but a little extra care is never a bad thing, isn’t that correct?” she asked him, making a mental note to make sure she arranged to take him food more often.
“I feel the same, I’m not sure what I would do without it now. It feels so natural to call on my abilities” she agreed, “It’s part of us now I think”
***
Presto flushed, but smiled. “Thank you. That’s true. You make things better.” He liked seeing her, and hearing her care. She was… she was good.
He smiled warmly.
“I know the feeling. Magic seems to be occupying more and more time for me, and more of my mind.” He pursed his lips.
“Not always in a good way.”
***
At his comment Vanessa flushed herself, “Well I do try” she told him with a smile, glad he didn’t seem to mind her caring which mainly consisted of checking on him and making sure he was eating and sleeping. And, of course, enjoying his friendship.
“Have you been struggling again?” she asked, “Anything specific we can work on?”
***
“I… well… not like before. It’s… I feel a little like the magic knowledge is crowding the tech knowledge in my head.” He flushed, looking down, then back up at her eyes.
“It feels a little harder to think of tech ideas and facts lately. Like I am fighting to remember things that I used to know by heart.” He was worried a little. “Meanwhile, the magic, the spells, and all of it? Is becoming stronger, and more… solid. Like it was always there, like it is what I’ve known all my life.”
***
Vanessa nodded as she listened to Presto speak, “Even a mind as incredible as yours has it’s limits to how much it can hold” she said softly, “Still I imagine it’s disconcerting, maybe the next few sessions we have should be focused on balance? Finding a way to balance the magic and the tech knowledge, if we can” She wasn’t sure how but perhaps meditation could assist, or perhaps by focusing on helping Presto use magic without as much thought the other things in his mind could come easier too.
***
“I’d like that, please?” He smiled a little.
She was amazing and smart, and he had faith that she would manage to help him. He smiled warmly at her, and nodded again.
“I think that would be a good idea. And I guess we should get to work, huh?”
***
“Of course, we can work on anything you like. I’m no expert at all, but together I think we’ll work things out” Vanessa told him with a smile.
Nodding she agreed, “I believe getting to work is exactly what we should do”