That's reassuring. [ What an introduction. (An inkling of what this might be about. How many other ways has he made an impression so far..?) ] Give me twenty minutes, I'll make time. Where should I find you?
[ Nacho will approach him a little slowly, waiting to catch his eye, then waving. He looks slightly apologetic and, well, about as friendly as Nacho is capable of looking. ]
Hey. I'm Nacho. From the... thing...?
[ He reaches out a hand to shake, if Strange wants to take it, before he glances up at the gate. ]
Sorry, man. First place that came to mind. We can walk and talk if you want. Go someplace else. [ Sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. ]
[ This isn't the first time he's been back here. He came after he'd faced his dressing down from Deimar, came to see if there was any way left for him to help. But by then the people who could be saved had already found aid and the bodies that could be salvaged had been salvaged, and all that was left was the rubble he'd created.
It's much the save now. They've cleared what they could to make the passage passable, but it still bears the scorch of his spell, the great gates themselves shorn from hinges - moved aside but otherwise left where they fell.
Stephen pulls his attention from it on a man's approach. Nacho. From the thing.
The offer is met with action instead of answer. Stephen's face a poorly made mask of indifference - brow too tense, jaw too tight - as he steps out to lead them into the offered walk and talk, deeper into the Crossing. Away from the aftermath of his Clawing. ]
What is it you wanted to talk about?
[ He can guess. But at the very least, it doesn't seem like he brought Stephen here to hurt him. ]
[Nacho remembers. He was there. Not close enough to be badly hurt. But close enough to see the blast, and more importantly, to see who did it. At the time he'd done what he could to help. First letting those injured but able to walk lean on him while they searched for medics who could help, then helping clear away debris as much as he could to at least make the area navigable again. But there was only so much that could be done.
He can read the tension in Strange's face easily. The other man isn't doing a good job of hiding it, and Nacho can read people who hide their feelings much better. It makes him feel a twinge of guilt about his choice of meeting places, and about wanting to talk at all.
But he's just... got... to know.
He follows Strange deeper into the Crossing without objection. He's grateful Strange was willing to meet at all, and he's not doing to try to direct where they go unless the older man starts to seem lost.]
About what happened. [Quickly, he adds:] Not the way you probably think. I know it wasn't your fault.
[Because it wasn't, right? Between the message he saw on the network and Strange's demeanor now, he can guess that Strange wasn't in his right mind. Anyway, Strange is right that Nacho has no intention of hurting him. Not like he could even if he wanted to, anyway.]
[ He manages not to flinch. Not at the desire to talk about what happened so much as the rescinded blame. There's a not inconsiderable part of him that would always choose to argue that point: his body, his power, his mind unprotected enough to come under thrall. His lack of research and preparation.
But not his will. To that much, to keep going, he has to agree.
A small nod instead: acknowledgement of kindness, assent to the topic at hand. ]
[Nacho's expression is blank. But his fists clench at his sides, out of anxiety more than anger. He just wants to know, if it happens to him, will he feel it coming? Will he have time for someone to stop him? Does it come on all at once?]
Not that it should come as a surprise, really, after deciding Nacho comes in peace. But it still takes him a second to line himself up with the question. With its implications. A glance at him yields a carefully blank expression, but the tension in his shoulders born of balled fists tells stories. ]
You're worried.
[ It isn't an answer, but this has caught him a little off guard. He wasn't expecting anyone to ask him for advice. ]
[Nacho sucks in a breath, sharply. He feels like it gets caught in his chest, though. Anyway, he doesn't deny it. Why bother? It's obvious enough. Why else would anyone be asking?]
Yeah.
[He forces himself to hold Strange's gaze, even though he doesn't want to. He tries to sound matter-of-fact, although he's genuinely unsure if he succeeds.]
I can't do anything like what you did, but I can still hurt people, if I get caught up in it.
I don't want to hurt anybody. [No matter what Jimmy is implying on the network!!!]
[ It's a sentiment he very much understands. A pause from Stephen, looking inward and thinking back, and then - ]
You'll feel it. At least, you'll feel something. A draw. Ignore it and you'll follow it sooner or later, without necessarily realising what you're doing or why, and then you're his - but if you catch it, there's time.
[ He hadn't caught it. There hadn't been time. But it does at least mean that he can help with this. ]
Do you have anyone you can rely on to keep you contained?
[ It's a small question with big implications. Stephen holds Nacho's gaze through the discomfort, the conversation important enough to warrant it. ]
[Strange's words bring Nacho more comfort than he can possibly know. He'd been afraid of what the answer would be. Had been halfway expecting it to be, 'No, you won't know, and it happens in an instant.'
When Strange says there's time, there's some visible relaxation. Although, it's not all sunshine and roses. Nacho is still a relative newcomer here. He doesn't know how many people here can be trusted yet.
He sighs and rubs a hand over his face.]
So, like. Not dead, you mean?
[Or a wizard, or a voodoo daddy, or...]
Yeah. There might be one person.
[It's lucky he can think of at least one person here who is a known quantity, who won't want to see innocents hurt, and who just so happens to have three tough bodyguards.
Jimmy won't like it just like Nacho doesn't, but it seems like it might be his best option.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Sure. What do you need?
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[ No matter what Jimmy is saying! Anyway, based on what he saw earlier, Nacho is pretty sure this guy could swat him like a fly anyway. ]
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[ Bad memories? Sorry, man. ]
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Alright. Okay. ]
Fine.
[ He'll be there. ]
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Hey. I'm Nacho. From the... thing...?
[ He reaches out a hand to shake, if Strange wants to take it, before he glances up at the gate. ]
Sorry, man. First place that came to mind. We can walk and talk if you want. Go someplace else. [ Sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. ]
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It's much the save now. They've cleared what they could to make the passage passable, but it still bears the scorch of his spell, the great gates themselves shorn from hinges - moved aside but otherwise left where they fell.
Stephen pulls his attention from it on a man's approach. Nacho. From the thing.
The offer is met with action instead of answer. Stephen's face a poorly made mask of indifference - brow too tense, jaw too tight - as he steps out to lead them into the offered walk and talk, deeper into the Crossing. Away from the aftermath of his Clawing. ]
What is it you wanted to talk about?
[ He can guess. But at the very least, it doesn't seem like he brought Stephen here to hurt him. ]
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He can read the tension in Strange's face easily. The other man isn't doing a good job of hiding it, and Nacho can read people who hide their feelings much better. It makes him feel a twinge of guilt about his choice of meeting places, and about wanting to talk at all.
But he's just... got... to know.
He follows Strange deeper into the Crossing without objection. He's grateful Strange was willing to meet at all, and he's not doing to try to direct where they go unless the older man starts to seem lost.]
About what happened. [Quickly, he adds:] Not the way you probably think. I know it wasn't your fault.
[Because it wasn't, right? Between the message he saw on the network and Strange's demeanor now, he can guess that Strange wasn't in his right mind. Anyway, Strange is right that Nacho has no intention of hurting him. Not like he could even if he wanted to, anyway.]
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But not his will. To that much, to keep going, he has to agree.
A small nod instead: acknowledgement of kindness, assent to the topic at hand. ]
Go ahead.
[ The floor's open. He's taking questions. ]
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[deep breath; brief pause]
...was it like?
[Nacho's expression is blank. But his fists clench at his sides, out of anxiety more than anger. He just wants to know, if it happens to him, will he feel it coming? Will he have time for someone to stop him? Does it come on all at once?]
sorryyyy you got lost in the depths of my inbox
Not what he was expecting.
Not that it should come as a surprise, really, after deciding Nacho comes in peace. But it still takes him a second to line himself up with the question. With its implications. A glance at him yields a carefully blank expression, but the tension in his shoulders born of balled fists tells stories. ]
You're worried.
[ It isn't an answer, but this has caught him a little off guard. He wasn't expecting anyone to ask him for advice. ]
no worries <33333
Yeah.
[He forces himself to hold Strange's gaze, even though he doesn't want to. He tries to sound matter-of-fact, although he's genuinely unsure if he succeeds.]
I can't do anything like what you did, but I can still hurt people, if I get caught up in it.
I don't want to hurt anybody. [No matter what Jimmy is implying on the network!!!]
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You'll feel it. At least, you'll feel something. A draw. Ignore it and you'll follow it sooner or later, without necessarily realising what you're doing or why, and then you're his - but if you catch it, there's time.
[ He hadn't caught it. There hadn't been time. But it does at least mean that he can help with this. ]
Do you have anyone you can rely on to keep you contained?
[ It's a small question with big implications. Stephen holds Nacho's gaze through the discomfort, the conversation important enough to warrant it. ]
Better if they're not vulnerable themselves.
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When Strange says there's time, there's some visible relaxation. Although, it's not all sunshine and roses. Nacho is still a relative newcomer here. He doesn't know how many people here can be trusted yet.
He sighs and rubs a hand over his face.]
So, like. Not dead, you mean?
[Or a wizard, or a voodoo daddy, or...]
Yeah. There might be one person.
[It's lucky he can think of at least one person here who is a known quantity, who won't want to see innocents hurt, and who just so happens to have three tough bodyguards.
Jimmy won't like it just like Nacho doesn't, but it seems like it might be his best option.]