transgressings | inbox for duplicity;

[ It would come as no surprise to her to discover yet another person who is skilled in the way of herbalism or merely even tending to plants — but there had been so many more of them before, and those who have helped her keep the greenhouse tamed have dwindled in number since the beginning of her time here. Ultimately, being up there on the roof soothes her, so it is a pursuit she is happy to take on more often until they can encourage others to participate. ]

I will send them to you as soon as I find them.

[ She pushes away from the doorframe, steps into the kitchen more purposefully, and then seats herself at the small table within it, clasping her hands together in front of her. ]

Her name is Wanda Maximoff. She is... young, curious. Very new here, and full of that sort of wide-eyed impressionism about the city and everything in it. But the strength I was able to discern from her... [ She trails off, briefly, with an imperceptible shake of her head. ] It's staggering.

The city seems fond of the young and curious.

[His tone is a bit dry for it. Life was often difficult enough without being brought into a city like Duplicity while still able to believe the best of things...but perhaps that was his pessimism soaking through.]

Still...there are few better hands I would elect to guide someone like that and if her power is as great as you suspect, she'll need help guiding that as well. Being here is difficult enough, sometimes, add in youthful naivete and highly powerful magic? I can only imagine.

[He crossed his arms, though the kettle began the faintest rumble in warning as the water warmed.]

I'm curious: did she tell you any of her world? Whether she is from a place where magic is common or more either an accident or manipulation of nature?

And yet everyone becomes more knowledgeable very quickly.

[ There is almost no opportunity for anyone who is brought here to remain naive for very long; even someone raised with as much propriety and decorum as herself, who had still been exposed to certain illicit behaviors, had faced a bit of a learning curve, and not merely in terms of the technology either. ]

She may need more than one guide, if that's something she would be willing to entertain. Someone who can help her hone and control her power. I cannot imagine the city would have not already imposed limits on some of its potential impact, but what she is capable of may even be beyond my own ability to instruct.

[ She shakes her head briefly, quickly, in response to his question. ] She seemed surprised that I was even able to read it from her. I suspect it may have been something she has either been taught to hide or chose to out of necessity.

She has my sympathy. [It comes out a bit more dryly than he'd meant and he flashes an apologetic look her way as the kettle begins to sound behind him.

He turns to tend to it and pour the water for their tea as he talks.]

I know more than a few things about having to hide or keep quiet in plain sight as well and I certainly wouldn't mind helping if she or you ever need it, though there's plenty others who would likely help as well. I won't be offended if it's not me. I hope she takes up what help she needs; I've found there's plenty of differences in magic and magic users from world to world, but one of the handful of commonalities is a need to have full confidence in what you can do and how to do it. [Otherwise you were as much a danger to yourself as you were to everyone else around you, no matter how well hidden.]

He offered Vanessa her mug of tea and took up his own as well.]

Back to your sitting room?

I do wonder if she's divulged the truth about herself to anyone else here. It took me... rather a long time to be anywhere near comfortable enough to speak of such things publicly, let alone to discover that I was not alone in what I possessed. It is as you say, that no two of us are exactly identical, but there's a certain kinship to be found in knowing that others hold strengths that are far beyond normal capabilities.

[ She lifts her hands to accept her tea from him, both encircling around the warm ceramic, the sensation in and of itself a comfort to her, and nods at his inquiry before rising to her feet. ]

Yes, thank you.

[ Before she turns to move into the adjoining room again, she reaches out to place one of her hands against his forearm, fingers briefly curving against his sleeve, a moment of understanding passing between them; her gratitude is not only linked to the tea he's prepared for her. ]

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