003 ; video

[bossily]

[Hello, Wonderland. Clara is currently sitting at the desk in her room, looking very much like a miniature and much less threatening version of the Godfather. She's got her device sitting up on a nearby shelf recording, so it leaves plenty of room to have her hands clasped together and resting on the desk. There's piles of neatly stacked papers resting near her hands, all of her recent notes on a certain subject.

And what is that subject you ask?]

Magic.

[Yep, as much as it pains her to talk about magic, she really has to. But then she realizes that she actually has no idea what she wants to say, her mind's gone totally blank. And she fumbles.]

Magic, magic, magic, magic.

[She buys herself some time with that as uncertainty settles in, but she keeps her business face on.]

Thought I'd hold a bit of discussion on it, magic. Got a few questions about certain kinds of spells, if anyone's experienced in the field.

Comments

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Magic always comes with a price. At least, where I came from. It doesn't seem to apply in others.

[Text;Locked]

[bossily]

The bigger the spell, the higher the price? That sort of thing?

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Not always. But no matter what magic you use, there is always a price.

[Text;Locked]

[bossily]

Is it unheard of for that price to change someone? Also, how do you know so much about this sort of thing?

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[doctorweevil]

Hoping to find out why you never got your Hogwarts letter, Clara?

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Absolutely not. Rumplestiltskin's price was his mind. He was once a kind man but he changed into someone more selfish once he gained his power.

[He wasn't going to call him mad. He was his grandfather after all. But the statement was there subtly.]

I know too much about the magic of Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest. It's not the most pleasant subject but I have a vast knowledge. If you want more information as I don't know everything, you should try my mom, Regina Mills. She knows the most about this type of magic, from the people who are currently in Wonderland.

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[bossily]

Oh, yes, you've figured out my hidden secret that not being a part of Ravenclaw is my one biggest regret.

[Honestly, Owen. Honestly.]

[doctorweevil]

You seem a bit more like a Gryffindor to me. Ravenclaw's more for geeks, isn't it?

[Pause.]

Not that I would really know about things like that.

[bossily]

Uh-huh. Of course not.

[She is so onto you, Owen. And she is entirely amused. Therefore, she's going to mess with him a bit.]

Also, they're not geeks. They're smart. Are you saying I'm not smart, then?

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[no_nonsense]

[Oh, oh Clara, let Susan explain you a thing.]

I can't do much of it, myself, but if there's one thing I've ever gotten from Magic, it's the experience.

What do you want to know?

[doctorweevil]

[Yeah, he knows what you're doing, Clara.]

Yep. That's quite clearly exactly what I'm saying, you've caught me.

[Note the sarcasm and the smirk.]

[Text;Locked]

[bossily]

Regina Mills. Got it. I'll contact her as soon as I gather a list of questions. Thank you, Henry. You've been keeping yourself safe since you've been back, haven't you?

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[bossily]

[Susan is just the sort of person she was hoping to speak to.]

Negative effects of using it, and how to reverse them. If it's even possible, I suppose.

[bossily]

[She laughs, waggling her eyebrows. He's good at avoiding her traps now.]

Honestly? I think pigeonholing children into a house with set personality and behavior expectations is cruel and unusual punishment. I've got a bit of all the houses in me. Bit of an impossible case to sort, really.

[doctorweevil]

I'm not sure why you'd rely on a talking hat to put ten-year-olds into houses based on personality traits that haven't even settled yet, anyway. Seems a bit daft, if you ask me.

[oh god why is he even having a conversation about Harry Potter this is impossibly nerdy]

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[no_nonsense]

[That was refreshingly specific, unfortunately it's also just a touch outside of Susan's expertise. She pauses and thinks it over for a second and answers.]

I'll assume you're not talking about botching it, of course, because there usually isn't any coming back from those sorts of negative effects...but if you're talking about the sort of thing that happens automatically, that's where it gets a bit...sticky.

[Susan frowned thoughtfully.]

As far as I understand it, using Magic is rather like playing with an open flame while you recline on a bed of matches soaked in something explosive...and that flame, for whatever reason, dislikes you, personally.

So, when I say that, yes, all negative effects of Magic can be reversed--apart from those that kill you--it's important to remember that using Magic to reverse Magic is like putting out a fire with more fire...and, unfortunately, that's usually what you have to do.

[And, because no conversation that involves an explanation like that can go on without it, Susan asked:]

Why do you want to know?

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Just a quick warning: She might not be very nice. But if you mention I pointed you in her direction, she might open up a little more.

[Henry's mind is cast back to the shadows and he shudders slightly.]

As best I can be.

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[emboldened]

I've been told I can do wonders in the sheets, but something tells me that's not the magic you're referring to?

[ everybody with me now, groan, really kirk, shut up. ]

[bossily]

Not that you would really know about things like that, though?

[She is so utterly charmed by him right now. She rests her chin in the palm of her hand, smiling.]

Think we agree the concept's a bit bonkers. No children of mine would be sent there, that's for sure.

[Text;Locked]

[bossily]

What do you mean? Has something happened? Other than the recent event.

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

Just the event. But I mean you can't be completely safe here anyway. Are you okay? Why do you want to know about magic anyway?

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[bossily]

[She thinks over a response, especially given everything Susan's just said. There is a reason for her curiosity, she's not just suddenly fascinated by magic. But she can't really give much away, as she's promised she wouldn't. So figuring out the right things to ask and say is a bit tricky.]

I know someone that might need help. Something's a bit off, but can't say for sure that it's magic. Think it is, though.

[She's not sure if something needs to be reversed, a spell be broken, or a new one put on him. She just isn't really sure what to do yet, her case is still in the early stages of being figured out.]

If it's a spell I'm looking at fixing, it'd have to be some sort of darker magic.

[A hand goes up to her mouth and she sighs, unsure about this whole magic business. It really isn't her area of expertise at all.]

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[bossily]

[Oh, Jim Kirk, you crazy diamond. Keep shining on. Clara looks momentarily horrified, but that quickly dissolves into something mocking and very clearly about to poke fun of him.]

Careful. Never know when you might get laughed at for lines like that. I'd hate to make you cry so early in our friendship.

[Silence for a beat, and then she's laughing, giving him an oh you sort of look.]

Definitely not the magic I was referring to, though, just so we're on the same page.

[Text;Locked]

[bossily]

I think I might need to help a friend. Not too sure yet, but thought asking about something I don't understand wouldn't hurt in any case.

[Text;Locked]

[geneticallyscrewed]

I'm not overly fond of magic. But if you need some help, I'm always up for helping a friend. Would you mind telling me who was in trouble?