Video 💗 Open

[ishisstrength]

Name: Justine
Date: September 3rd (-ish)
Format: Video

[The screen flickers to life as Justine finally resolves to reach out to this heartbreaking world of magic with a message of loss.

Her features are paler than usual, gaunt and stressed from a lack of food and sleep, but her face is no less lovely for it. She's laying on her side with long silky stands of black hair fanning around her cheeks. Her shoulders are bare and it's unclear if she's wearing anything at all.

Dark Hazel eyes watch the screen in a moment of silence before she finally finds her voice.]

For those who knew him, Wizard Harry Dresden is gone. Home, with any luck, but likely not to return.

[Her voice is as soft, sweet and delicate as her features.

It's obvious to all that Justine is not taking the lose well.

There is a gentle scuffle near her and then the video ends.]

Comments

video

[justbeingknife]

Justine, are you all right?

I met him for a little bit, during the snow... didn't realize you were close.

video - private

[ishisstrength]

[Justine gently switches the video to private, bringing the phone closer to her so it's only her and Majima's imagine flickering on the video screen.]

We weren't close. Not exactly. He is Thomas's brother... I was close to Thomas.

[Her mind is in a fog and she doesn't remember if she's told Majima much about Thomas or anything at all. She'd lost her one tie to home, the reminder that things could get better and now she's lost and uncertain.]

[justbeingknife]

Was he also part of... y'know, the house that had ya under wraps?

[ Man, Harry sure hadn't seemed like a vampire, but then... maybe he'd lost those traits when he'd come here. ]

text;

[loadme]

Is it okay if I stopped by for a little bit?

text;

[ishisstrength]

I wouldn't be very good company right now.

text;

[loadme]

I wouldn't be bothered by that. I'd just like to see you for a bit.

Is that okay?

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[plasticasshole]

[Connor comes into the room with a plate of sandwiches, and touches Justine's shoulder.]

If you want to visit people, my garden is open for you to sit with them. I know you don't want to go far. For now though, I want you to eat.

action

[ishisstrength]

[The feed is cut as Justine turns towards Connor. It's been... an odd number of days. She isn't sure how she feels aside from the pain she feels knotting in her chest. Her and Harry hadn't been close in the old world but they'd become close here. He was the only family she'd known.]

Thank you Connor. I don't... plan to go far.

[It's certainly easier to meet people here though her home is next door.]

I'm not hungry.

I'll eat later.

[Except she won't, it's a lie.]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor gives her a stern look.]

You have to eat, Justine. You can’t just lay here and eat nothing.

[He sits on the edge of the bed, smoothing her hair out of her face.]

text; un: socorro

[warfares]

When did he vanish?

text; un: little_doe

[ishisstrength]

Over ten days ago...

[It's been awhile, Justine just hasn't had the will to tell anyone.]

[warfares]

During the dream?

[voice], a couple minutes after the socorro text thread begins

[spaghettimonster]

[Papyrus doesn't especially know Harry Dresden, but someone suddenly disappearing... He might know something about that.]

Did you find, uh, any glass around his bed?

[voice], a couple minutes after the socorro text thread begins

[ishisstrength]

I hadn't looked.

[There is some scuffling and then the noise stops.]

Later... I'll check.

Why do you ask?

[voice]

[spaghettimonster]

Well, I saw that before.

My brother disappeared... and the magic scent trail, it led to the Looking-Glass House.

[And there it ended without a clear path, which was still far better than he'd been able to trace. There was no convenient trail of glass to follow, and the few people who'd seen him didn't follow him all the way.]

The Coven people said, they thought the mirrors took him back. If you find glass, that answers that.

video

[firewalled]

Justine... I'm sorry. If you want to be alone, I totally get it, but... would you like to talk for a while?

[He has been meaning to ask her something, but now he's not sure if this is the right time, especially considering how miserable she continues to look.]

video

[ishisstrength]

[Justine's lips tug into a soft frown.]

Please do not be sad for me.

[She pauses thoughtfully and then adds.] We can meet but only if you greet me with a smile. [She doesn't get to see it as often as she'd like.]

video

[firewalled]

[That... actually is enough to get him to smile already. A wide, toothy grin that makes his eyes crinkle and his freckles on his nose scrunch up. It maybe looks a little different with his fangs and the scales on part of his cheek, but at least it's genuine.]

I'll be there. And I'll be sure to keep smiling for you.

video;

[activatingcombatmode]

[This isn't great news to hear. He didn't know the guy but Justine seems pretty down about it. He must have been important and it's never great losing someone like this.]

You doing alright, Justine?

video;

[ishisstrength]

[Harry hadn't been anyone to her before but that had changed. He had been her tie to home, a hope that her future didn't end in death at the man that she'd loved... now she'd lost him and every shred of hope that he made feel real.]

As well as I can be.

[She doesn't have the energy to lie about it.]

[activatingcombatmode]

That's all we can ask for, sometimes. If you wanna talk, I'm all ears.

[She sounds tired.]

voice;

[wylderrant]

I'm so sorry, my dear. We'll carry on though, won't we?

voice;

[ishisstrength]

I suppose so.

[She pauses.]

I promised you, didn't I.

[Even if she currently isn't feel happy about it.]

[bleedinghare]

Adeline hasn't figured out how to work this little magic watch― this little portal to people, as she might consider it. She found Justine's post simply by fiddling with it, and it took her a little while to figure out how to reply... and how to properly set herself within the frame.

"Dearest," Ada begins gently, her brow knit in worry. "might you like a little company? Or, if not― is there anything else you might need of me?"

[ishisstrength]

"Thank you Adeline," for the offer and for truly meaning it.

Even with the sincerity of those she's met in this world, it continues to surprise her when she finds kindness in others. It isn't always readily available in her world and she has yet to come to expect it.

Maybe that's for the best.

"I would be happy for your company. Connor has gone out and Squip is asleep." She hasn't been staying at home. It isn't far but she can't bring herself to walk through the halls that Harry had sought to turn into a home for her. He always tried so hard. He was the first kind stranger she'd ever met and he was gone. "Though..." Justine gently bit her lower lip, hesitating.

"I might not be very good company." She's spent her waking hours drawing or completing little crafts. She hasn't been eating well and didn't feel up to leaving her bed.