flickerflash | [Written/Action]

[Has everyone forgotten she's here? Assumed she's gone home?

Katie hopes so.

She's been hiding long enough.

She's also been out of touch. For the first time ever, she's making a locked post. But as she never really worked out how to use locks, it's pathetically easy to break. And given she's also directing it to Wolfwood, of all people...

...the writing is scratchy and awkward, because honestly she takes a few moments to remember how to write.]

[Written | Failed filter to Wolfwood]

The cremation of a fireman goes unremarked, but his remains remade remove the gremlin. This is my remedy, my ceremony, and there will be no rematch, but I had to remind you. It would be remiss if I didn't remark on the remnant that didn't remain.

I'm not sorry, preacherman.

[Katie doesn't want to be seen by anyone, and so she does the sensible thing. It's very late at night when she lets herself into the stores-- more early morning-- and makes off with a pair of scissors. And possibly a fireman's hat, if it exists. Just because. And then very briefly, she heads past Cullen House to leave what appears to be a ball of brightly, multi-coloured string in the kitchen.

She's not brave enough to head south until the sun is up, and so morning sees her heading through the forest for its southern edge, scissors in hand, where a collection of brightly coloured string still flutters in a breeze that doesn't exist.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Goodness, and whatever would I use that for? [It's hard to tell exactly where Katie is going with this; she's lapsed into her own way of speaking, in a way. The sword does seem ordinary to her eyes, but for all she knew there could be some enchantment on it. Or maybe it was important for her to believe that there was.

Or maybe the entire matter of the sword itself was irrelevant.]

Diamond dust is used to take you to where the wild things are.

[She sets her jaw. And holds out her free hand-- the one with the scar all about one wrist-- lowering the tip of her sword almost delicately sideways until the very tip touches her forearm.

It's for just a moment. But the hiss of burning flesh is unmistakable.]

Katie, what are you -

[But her words are too late to stop the girl's actions. And... burning?] What -

[It's only for a split second. Yet it takes all the willpower she has not to fling the weapon away from her with a hiss. She needs it. Instead, Katie holds the sword away from her in a shaky hand, holding up her wrist to show the new burn as if someone had touched her with a hot poker.]

Do you know how to read?

I would hope so. [She frowns, but moves in to take a closer look at the injured wrist. Besides, as a healer, she wants to get a more critical look at it anyway.]

[Katie takes a step back, but doesn't keep backing away. She watches Raine approach and then glances off south.]

Then you already know everything there is to know.

We both know that isn't true. [Something that she couldn't read? Some sort of sign? Katie's puzzles were always unique.] Allow me to heal your arm, at least.

[Even better. She holds her arm out.]

Certainly.

[The ring around her wrist is testament to how effective healing magic is on an iron burn. But Raine will stop it stinging, most certainly. The scar will remain.]

[Raine had almost expected an outright refusal. In any case, she complies with her offer, using that careful mix of her magic and the filial magic for a soothing and more effective result.

Katie may even feel more refreshed in general, since Raine's magic would flow all through her, while the filial magic was more concentrated on the one area.]

[The wash of magic is a very tempting thing, and Katie finds herself wondering if she should just latch hold of what she can and take it. All for the better? Raine woudl be all right. She can't deny it would make things easier--

--and of course, that's the reason she's in this mess to begin with.

She steps away from Raine as she finishes.]

Thank you. Please, will you go? Find a good book to read.

And what are you not going to do, Katie, should I leave you?

I'm going to live up to my nature.

Meaning ... what?

[Gods dammit-- Katie gets visibly upset enough to stamp her foot, her frustration clear on her face.]

Do you really want me to explain that? Do you want to sign my death warrant ahead of time? Why can't you just take what I've given you and work it out for yourself!?

I've already been doing a fair amount of that, wouldn't you say? You used to at least meet me halfway before. Besides, there's still a little girl in there that I promised I'd look out for. Or have you forgotten that?

Who do you think I'm doing this for? You want your little girl back so much, I'll give her back to you!

[That is my apology--

Katie turns and starts stomping away into the forest.]

Katie -

Katie, wait -

[She reaches out, but the girl has already taken off. There's a flickering reminder of having made that same movement when the girl hurled herself off the rails and this all began. This spiral, of being on the edge of such a dangerous and glittering world.

Her hand closes on empty air as she stops herself, prevents herself from stumbling and pulls back. The girl is going, she's already gone -

But would she return? Should she just wait there, not knowing?

She could walk, try to watch from a distance. Would her presence be sensed even then? How much time would they need? It just didn't feel right, ending the conversation on a note like that.

A situation. Had she really been misunderstood that badly? But the time passes - she stands there and waits, debating, feeling inexplicable anxiousness on the matter.]

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