longestnight | [Video] We don't need no water?

[ Tim's lost his communicator again. He's having the damnedest time holding onto it when he shrinks - even though his clothes shrink with him, it seems like contact is necessary to bring anything down with him.

The twitching full body spasm that accompanies shrinking, brief as it is, makes him lose his grip every time. So, for now, the device is on the floor, recording away up into the high, high ceilings of the center of the workshop.

About 20 feet up the wall, something black and curved is embedded in a post, flat side parallel to the ground. The shapeof it is easily discerned.

The fire that looks like it's coming from the unseen top of the batarang - that might be unfamiliar.

Tim's voice breaks in clearly. He's stealing a page from Branch and using an earpod like a giant microphone.]

Okay, I'm really hoping this is still connected. This was supposed to be a post complimenting the fabrication you can get here, but it's now a PSA because I don't want anyone to be alarmed by the fire.

[ Something small leans over the side of the batarang and waves. It's seen more in silhouette against two fiery wings.

He's trying to sound as cheerful as possible.]

So! Every single person I know with a hot powerset to be tempermental. I'll be up here, staying calm, and hoping I put myself out without setting off the fire alarm or being tossed in a snow drift.

Open to all advice. Not open to being Tinkerbelled into a lantern.

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Did something in particular trigger the appearance of your, uh, new accessories?

Also, how do you feel about meditation? I'm told it does wonders for the soul.

I’m glad you asked, Elle!

[ The light faux happiness is there, but not mocking. It sounds more like Tim’s a barker and Elle’s his plant in the crowd. ]

I was climbing up to get the ‘rang when I shrank again, and this time, I didn’t fall. Imagine my wonder when I sprouted flame wings and floated up! No mysterious chemicals, no deals with aliens, no promising my soul to a demon!

I don’t think this is the place for yoga. The side’s flat, but the edges are better than razor sharp.

Are you sure staying up there is the right call? If you suddenly turn back you could really hurt yourself, especially on your... thematically appropriate Shuriken.

You can always hide yourself away in a dark corner somewhere that you won't break your back falling from.

I’m not sure of anything right now. As you said, staying is less than ideal. Climbing down could set the wall on fire. Jumping - I do have have a better terminal velocity, but this is further than I’ve accidentally fallen. Again, fire.

And I can assure you the fire is hot. There are scorch marks, but it doesn’t seem to affect me.

Flying has similar problems to jumping. What if they snuff out?

Edited 2023-09-02 19:39 (UTC)

I could climb up there, and we can probably find something like an emergency fire blanket to make sure you don't set anything-- [or anyone] --on fire.

If this is caused by an emotional response, it'll probably be easier to calm down if you're somewhere safe. And on ground-level.

A fire blanket sounds like the right plan. They have to have one somewhere for the elves.

It might be. Every time I get magic, it seems to be want-based, but I promise you I didn’t want fire.

Maybe it's not that you wanted fire-- those are wings, right? So maybe you wanted to get somewhere you wouldn't normally be able to reach. Or you were worried about falling. Or--

Hi! Twinkle! I'm so sorry to bother you, but could you point me to an emergency fire blanket? I promise that this is not an emergency, nothing is actively on fire and we are not in danger. Okay, by the workshop? That makes sense, thank you!

Sorry about that, was just asking for directions. What was I saying?

How would you feel about an open lantern? [Loki wasn't even thinking of it, but then Tim had to give him the idea...]

I suppose I could retrieve you, but that is only a solution to your current predicament. How do you intend to avoid similar ones in the future?

[ There’s a heavy sigh. ]

They’re wing-shaped, and I flew, but I don’t know if that makes them wings. They don’t have any substance, so traditional physics don’t apply.

[ And that would be why he’s perched on the batarang. The complete lack of trust in untested flight. ]

It’s twenty feet. I’m not afraid of heights, and it’s very climbable. The most I can give you is maybe I wanted to get here faster?

I am against any lanterns, regardless of design. Also, no globe lights, domes, the solution isn’t locking me up.

[ Really, Loki, that’s not something he’s going to agree to. ]

I don’t know. If this is me causing it, then I need to practice. Shrinking is bad enough, but I can’t burst into flames at random. It needs to be at will or I’m going to carry a fire extinguisher at all times.

You would not be locked in an open lantern...

[Can you hear his playful pout?]

Well, if you are adamantly against the obvious solution, then the best thing is to fully study what is happening. Possibly requiring being under some form of observation at all times.

At least it's something. I'm not far out, now.

[Surely enough, a minute later Elle walks into the room. She looks up, spots Tim with unnerving accuracy, and whistles.]

You really got yourself stuck up there, huh?

[She takes a moment to examine her path upward before decide it would be easier in Sokto. The more claws and more feline anatomy will help her climb while still maintaining a mostly-human shape.

She shifts, essentially doing a very small "Hulk out". She grows a foot and a half, increases the size of her muscles by an absurd amount, gets hairier, and all her feature get slightly distorted and more unnerving. Her hands and feet gain paw pads and claws.]

Alright! [Her voice is higher and raspier too.

Elle grabs the fire blanket, easily rips it into a more appropriate size, and moves to the wall under Tim.]

I'm coming up!

[She climbs quickly and agilely; faster and more balanced than is possible for a human. It doesn't take her long before she's perched on a beam next to where the Batarang is stuck in the post.

She holds out the fire blanket for Tim to wrap himself in. Her unnatural, too-sharp grin is mischievous.]

Fancy meeting you here, Tim-kerbelle. Going down?

Funnily enough, I trust you... to be completely capable of finding some way to magically bend the situation so that the lantern would be open and I would still be locked in.

[ Have some playfulness right back. He knows that something would happen - not necessarily malicious - but still there is a sense that it's already humorous and Loki would make it moreso. ]

Are you calling sticking me in a lantern the obvious solution? Really.

I am not one for imprisoning others. [Shame on you for thinking otherwise!]

It was the solution you proposed first. And it would protect your surroundings from your flames. Though it is not the most mobile... Something like a hamster ball might be better...

I said I wasn’t open to it!

And how is a hamster ball better? A glass and metal hamster ball sounds like a death trap.

You still brought it up.

But, if you insist. No lanterns, no hamster balls. What other methods do you have to protect your surroundings from fire?

I don't know, but there has to be an option besides isolation.

[ Tim takes the blanket with an itty bitty hand - shrinking doesn't affect his strength, thank god, and wraps himself in the blanket. It's huge, so it cascades down around the batarang and well past. ]

Tim-kerbelle is not happening. I've been nothing but respectful of your name in this form.

Perhaps a fireproof cape?

[Elle fake pouts but doesn't argue.]

Fair enough.

[She holds out a hand.]

Climb on. Fuck, should I have brought up a bag or something? Do you think you'll be able to hang on by yourself?

[She could probably get down while holding him in one hand but that would probably be a... bumpy ride.]

It is. But I can’t live in my cape.

Besides, my clothes aren’t burning off. There’s clearly some sort of proximity rule, so who knows if the cape would smother it.

Edited 2023-09-21 23:09 (UTC)

[Video] We don't need no water?

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