nothing is as it seems

odalis the mirror. visual deceiver.

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zak-the-teller‌.     

“We are similar. What worked for you would most likely work for me.” Zak smiled at her confidence. He admired a woman who was confident in her own ability to the point bordering a sense of arrogance.  “I really do want to grow.” He listened to the recollection of her youth.  “There are people who just do not understand.”

“Everyone wants to succeed but no one wants to put forth the effort? I think you will find I understand the efforts required to succeed.” He noted the adamant way she denied responsibility for him. “It sounds like you want no responsibility for my failure or success. It’s strange because usually if there is success, people crowd in line for a hand in the pot.”

Zak felt the touch of her hand as if it were real. “This is amazing. You need to keep this gift tucked away.” He glanced at the real Odalis with concern in his eyes. “Vampires, Upyr; they will find a way to use you if you are not careful.”

“Well. I have been doing some odd-jobs in the morning with the artisans, but my afternoons are open,” Odalis replied. “Why don’t we meet tomorrow and go over some of your… challenges. We can see just how alike we are.” In her mind, the answer was going to be NOT VERY, but then again, Zak was insistent that they were, and he was the mind-reader. So.

Her lips quirked again when he asked her why she didn’t want to take the glory for his successes. Odalis covered it with a light scoff and a roll of her eyes, trying not to act as amused as she was. “No matter what I do or say, your successes are your own,” she replied, adamant about that fact. “My mom used to use this old saying –– really old saying –– you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. And I think it’s like that. I can lead you right up to the point of control, and give you all of the tools, but unless you do it, it’s not going to happen. And that means that you’re going to succeed or fail on your own. Own it, okay?”

The real Odalis ran a hand through her hair and tried to hide the biggest part of her smirk at his warning. He was so earnest. “I would very much like to see them try,” she admitted. “Sometimes, I wonder if they have the respect for Wicked blood that it deserves; if I have to be the one to show it to them, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

[themirrored-blog1]

ailes-de-corbeau‌.      

Things Are Not What They Seem  | Odalis & Lilita

Suppressing a sigh, Lilita waved off one of the Ravens when the latter couldn’t bring her any valuable information on the new Wicked in town. “Unless I do things myself, nothing gets done in this wretched town,” the upyress mumbled, flipping the page of a book she had been reading before the Raven had come in to deliver the news, or lack of it. With a snap she closed the book, after a few minutes of trying in vain to focus. It was time to take the reins.

The Blood District had been quieter than usual, the other Ravens could manage that, at least that’s what Lilita hoped while she wandered down the streets of the Tribe District. The wicked, Odalis, had quite conveniently chosen a house that was in the heart of the district.

Soon, the brunette found herself at the corner of the house that she had sought to snoop around in. From the looks of it, no one was inside; no sound of any human heart inside the house. Trying the windows, Lilita managed to find one that had been left open. Silly mortals.

Double checking her surroundings to ensure all the other humans were asleep and there were no eyes on her, Lilita prepared herself to climb in.

She had been in the town square all morning, working on a sketch of the roads that had grasped her attention for much of the last week. In her drawing, no detail was too small; she wanted to capture the Sanctuary as she truly saw it, and so she began to sketch every road, every stone, every door, every alley and turn with painstaking attention. Such excruciating detail did mean that she had to take breaks, however, and with a weary hand lightly grasping her notebook, she turned and began to make her way back to her abode, in the middle of the Tribe District. It was small, but it fit her perfectly; she liked being in the middle of the bustling people, even if she felt disconnected to large parts of their lives. 

Before she could make it to her door… she saw someone at her window, their back to her. She paused, still some distance away, and felt a small turn of anger building in her stomach. Her jaw clenched, and she took care not to let that frustration move toward her hand –– as it was wont to do –– into a fist, thus ruining her sketch. Instead, she let out a deep breath, pulling an illusion around her like a thick blanket, shielding herself from the senses. 

She stepped closer, gazing at the girl’s features. She was lovely, truly, but Odalis didn’t recognize her. She was certain that she wasn’t from one of the houses around her, and the only conclusion that Odalis could draw was that she was trying to spy on her. 

Her jaw clenched even tighter, and a grim smile played on her hidden features. 

She stepped even closer, close enough to see the girl’s eyes, and began to pull an illusion around the girl. Suddenly, to the interloper, she was already inside the house. Leaning closer, her voice unheard, Odalis’ head tilted. 

“And what, exactly, are you looking for, I wonder? Why don’t you go ahead and show me?”

[phoebtcnkin]

Stella Maeve as Julia Wicker in The Magicians season 1, episode 7.

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zak-the-teller‌.     

“A few pointers are better than nothing. I’m afraid that people will hate me more knowing what I can do. My own parents left me here when I was no more than 10 because I scared them so.” Zak smiled back at her, resisting the urge to search her thoughts for more than a pretty smile.

“Are you saying you don’t think I can grow?” He chuckled playfully, thankful for the lighter mood between them. It had initially scared him to be so publicly outed. “We have a deal.”

When she made her allusion so real and tangible, Zak’s head turned to his shoulder as she touched him, no not her. She was in front of him. “Extraordinary. Show me more.” His childlike curiosity took him over. He wanted to know more about this, about her. “Your gift is amazing.”

“I’m saying that I can’t know what’ll work for you,” Odalis pointed out, trying to hide too much of a reluctant smile. Her lips still curled up against her will, and she rolled her eyes, trying to play off a large part of her amusement with a shrug. “I’m sure you can grow, if you want to. –– Abilities aside, I grew up in a village where I saw the best of people and the worst. Some say they’re not scared of the hard work success demands.” She trailed off, her illusion on his other side making a sweeping hand motion. You can fill in the rest.

The Odalis-illusion continued speaking where the genuine article had left off. “I know nothing of you. You may rise to the occasion, or not: that is entirely in your hands, and not at all in mine. I can show you, and that’s all I can do.” 

At his request for more, Odalis’ smile grew a little larger, and she nodded an acquiescence. “Alright,” both she and her illusion answered. The Odalis-illusion lifted her hand to Zak’s cheek, placing a not-hand on his skin, and Odalis –– the real woman –– asserted her ability, leaving a trail of sensation on his skin for him to pick up. “I can add things to reality, like this,” she said. “For brief moments, I could make you think we’re somewhere else entirely. That takes too much energy for a show-and-tell, and I can’t hold it for very long.” 

[themirrored-blog1]

noah-the-strong‌.    

Noah had already raised his hand and was beginning to cause dirt and some loose metal and rocks to float. He heard her voice ring out again and caused them to simply stay there in the air as he looked at her. “Oh…” was his only reply as he dropped his hand and caused everything he was lifting to fall straight back down. It was a question he had gotten a few times since it came out he was a wicked. Hell, he even got it by the few that knew what he was before it became public knowledge.

“Well, over I was kicked out by my people for having this ability; I ran into a group of other Wicked. They trained me how to use my powers and even in unique ways. Mostly…. on vampires.” Of course, it would have been more accurate to say ‘against’ vampires. After all, they could heal from any injury that wasn’t fatal if they had blood in them. When it needed to be fatal… well… he was trained in that as well.

“Another group,” she replied, head tilting. It was a heady concept –– one she would be interested to hear. …Mostly, she wanted to hear about his journey from where he had been to here, and how he FELT about Sanctuary. She was deadly curious about… all of it. Every part. 

“Those with Wicked blood need to stick together,” she replied, answering more of his statement of being kicked out than anything. “More than anyone, I think. How many others experience being shunned on all sides? Our families kick us out like curses, and those who were born knowing what they were –– those with magic in their veins –– collect us like coins.” She sighed, feeling herself getting worked up when she didn’t WANT to be. As she deflated herself, she looked back up to him, offering a halfhearted smile. “I feel stronger about this than I thought.”

[themirrored-blog1]

zak-the-teller‌.      

“Easy to say figure it out but it is a lot harder when you have no idea what in the hell you are doing in the first place. Do you consider the fact that I do not want to pry on anyone, but it is like a constant buzz of white noise? If it makes you feel better, I didn’t hear anything.” Zak closed his eyes slowly, “Would you be interested in helping me? Honestly it feels so much better having someone who knows what I can do and shares a similar gift.”  

Zak wanted desperately to make it up to her. He knew how intrusive it was, but he had never been on the receiving end of it. Now she knew more about him than he had allowed her to know. “No one has ever known but those I choose to tell.  

“What is your power? Would you show me?” He chuckled at her revelation. No one was a saint anymore. “apparently I am no Saint either. I got caught using my power to intrude inside other’s minds and well…” He hoped his joking tone might be enough to dispel any residual anger she held against him.  

“I promise I will not intrude anymore but sometimes it does just happen and I am working on it.”  

Odalis flashed a small, grim smile, even as her head shook in the negative. “We all have been there,” she replied. “No one comes into whatever Wicked inheritance they’ve been given while KNOWING what to do, you know. So many learn what they know through blood.” Anything else she had to say, she kept silent, instead choosing to stare at the man, her gaze narrowing as the considered his request. 

Was she interested in HELPING someone hone their power? …Not really. It sounded… exhausting, and Odalis wasn’t even sure if what worked for her would work for a TELEPATH. Her ability was mental, yes, but it wasn’t the same. She exerted her will –– her imagination –– on the senses; his worked differently. 

After a pause, Odalis sort of… conquered herself. With a put-upon sigh, she nodded. “I’ll show you a few things I did,” she said. “I don’t really… I don’t want to be responsible for your growth. Only you can do that. I’ll show you what I did, and then you’re on your own.

“As for me, I can feel that you’re in my mind, but I cannot stop you from going in there. My power is…” She paused, her eyes flashing to his and creating an illusion of herself on the other side of him. The illusory-Odalis leaned an arm against Zak’s shoulder, an enigmatic smile growing on her lips. Odalis knew her abilities: he would feel like there was someone touching his shoulder. She would be as real as the true Odalis standing on his other side. 

Illusion-Odalis shrugged. “I can make things,” she said. “As real as real can be.”

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noah-the-strong‌.     

His eyes quirked up just a bit at the other’s question. He hadn’t really been expecting it if he was being honest. It wasn’t often at least recently that he had been watched using his powers. At least outside of the pits where he knew the eyes of some of the vampires were on him especially that of their king on at times, his lover. However, he also knew they had other reasons to watch him training with their people.

“Sure if you like. But you should probably keep a bit of a distance. Things will be a bit messy from it.”

Odalis rolled her eyes when he repeated his warning that things would get messy, and waved the warning away. “I don’t mind a little dirt,” she said, repeating herself. 

She leaned forward on her spot that she’d claimed, getting ready to watch him, but her nose crinkled before he even started. “You didn’t answer my question,” she called out, trying to get his attention before he began training again. “How did you get trained instead of learning on your own?”

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jaael-the-sun‌.    

Jaael was hesitant only for a heartbeat, before she laughed a little under her breath. “Not really, no. But I had some time, and enough energy, so I figured why not?” she offered, by way of explanation. She wasn’t certain how to proceed from there, but since arriving here she’d had plenty of opportunity to practice talking to people, so after biting her lip for a minute she continued. “It’s in my best interest to help people where I can—and most pass it on in similar ways. We hold each other together here, a bit.”

It was a pretty simple concept, but one she especially valued about her life here. The whole Sanctuary had been built on the idea that people could put in a bit of effort and co-operate for the sake of something greater, something new. She’d defend that ideal where she could. She tilted her head curiously at the other woman but her voice was soft when she inquired, “Have you, uh, been here long?”

“I’ve been here for a few months,” Odalis replied with a smile and a shrug. “In better terms: long enough to know how to get to places, but not long enough to be a long time.” It was the best way to put it: while Sanctuary no longer felt like a foreign place, it certainly wasn’t home yet, and those around her still felt more stranger than friend. Odalis had… spent so long trying to find her footing and figure out what was what that she hadn’t found any deep and lasting connections with those around her, and that made it feel like no time at all had passed since she had showed up in the middle of the night, soaked and asking for a place to stay. 

“I’d like to hear more about this passing it on thing,” she said. “Is that how you think Sanctuary runs; is that how it’s successful where other places fail, do you think?” She looked around at the space in which she stood, taking it all in. “You have to admit: this is sort of a unique place.”

[themirrored-blog1]

jaael-the-sun‌.  

This wasn’t the first time it had happened. Honestly, she should have resisted, she should’ve seen it coming—but as soon as she’d arrived at the well to get water for her and Kaheer that evening, and witnessed someone struggling to fill a substantial pot, she’d stepped in and taken charge with a gracious smile. And after they’d thanked her and moved on, the next in line had three buckets to collect, and the one after that needed some for washing vegetables, and so on, and well… Dinner was going to be a late affair, apparently.

She’d helped most of the people who’d come and gone from the well, raising and lowering the bucket with ease thanks to her Affinity. It was scarcely any effort on her part, and saved them all a bit of time, so why not? Where was the harm, she thought. The guards hadn’t stepped in to stop her, though it still sometimes shocked her how easily the humans and Wickeds lived together, how accustomed they seemed to seeing her power in the open. As she registered another person approaching from behind, and didn’t even pause to see who it was before inquiring, “Would you like me to draw a bucket for you?” 

Odalis hadn’t been watching for long, but she’d seen the Wicked woman drawing buckets of water from the well with ease and a gracious smile. She took in the Sanctuary residents who easily embraced her affinity; she took in those who assumed she’d help them as well, watching for a short period as it ate up time. Odalis’ chin canted to the side; she didn’t have a bucket, and didn’t need water, but she approached. 

She shook her head at the question, her lips twitching when she realized that the woman was going more off of a gracious habit than actually looking at her –– and that she had offered her assistance before even glancing up –– instead of being discerning in who she offered help. “I’m fine,” she replied, waving a small hand in a no fashion. “Do you do this every day? Pull water for other people?”

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zak-the-teller‌.    

She fixed her sleeve. Zak could feel the annoyance meshing with his growing embarrassment. “I’m sorry about…” He waved his hands as if the very words might make him into some sort of monster. He was so distraught, “I am so sorry for this. This isn’t me at all.”

“You did tell me….sorry….” He felt a tinge of shame settling into his bones, eyes dropping to the ground as a result. He had never touched another person that way, so rushed and panicked. “I can’t control it. It’s always been this big secret kept bottled up inside of me. It hurts physically. I’m sorry for invading your mind. Truth is that is the one thing about my gift that really bothers me.” 

That cool threat that tore into the space between them. She meant it. He could sense the strength behind it. “I can’t promise it won’t happen again.

Odalis didn’t take kindly to the rough treatment she had gotten both physically and mentally. He’d barged into her thoughts with the subtlety of a ram, and she was worried that she would have a headache from the intrusion later. Not for the first time, she wished that she could block a phsychic intrusion rather than sensing it.

She could see that he was contrite, and she wanted to be forgiving. The intimacy of his intrusion had been jarring, but she wanted to be more gracious about it than she felt. She nodded at his apology, her jaw only ticking with tension when he shied away from a challenge for control. 

“Figure it out,” she replied. “We all have to learn how to do that at some point. It takes practice and a lot of failure, but the alternative is me getting mad enough to start using my power when I feel my brain being tickled.” She shrugged, knowing that she was petty enough to do that if she was intruded upon enough times. “I don’t want to do that,” she continued. “But I’m no saint.” 

[themirrored-blog1]

ailes-de-fleurs‌.     

Chuckling at the Wicked’s words Ayanna replied, “Yes, that’d be a little sad a way to start things. But, looking on the bright side, a bit of laughter always helps thaw the ice, so all awkwardness will soon be gone.” She meant it as a joke and hoped that she was able to aptly convey it to the other woman. The last thing she wanted was to offend her in some way.

Extending an arm towards their left,  she started to walk with their newest citizen. “How are you finding it here? I hope no one has been… unwelcoming?” She asked casually. “Usually the people are very welcoming, so I’m hoping you haven’t had any problems. But, if you have encountered any, let me know. I might not be the Wicked Envoy but, I do care equally for all races.” She smiled as she led them down the dirt street to the metal-smith.

Odalis walked, mostly silently, with the human Keeper as she navigated through the streets with some ease. She was paying more attention to the ways the streets wound and bent than she was her exact words. She wanted to know how Sanctuary was set up; she wanted to know how each street turned so she wouldn’t get turned around once again. 

At the questions turned her way, Odalis shook her head in the negative. “No one has been unwelcoming,” she replied, though she was also not certain that she would unload her woes on the other woman if others had been particularly belligerent. She was glad that her words were true: people had either kept a polite distance –– something she didn’t blame them for –– or were perfectly polite. No one was lining up to be best friends… but then again, neither was she. She was still finding her bearings… she was still trying to find where she belonged. “What is it that you do here, by the way? All I know is that you were part of the company who saw me when I got here.”

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noah-the-strong‌.      

Family was never something he liked to think about these days. At least, that was back when he thought his family was long gone. Having kicked him out and either moved to parts unknown or were wiped out by the dangerous outside the walls of this place. At least, until the blood king got him noticing his apparently very likely connected to his lover. Even Noah had to admit, there was a resemblance there and it crept in his mind every now and again.

“Ahhh… sure. Not like I’m not used to it. I had people watching me train how to fight before my powers manifested. And then I had people watch him train them once they did come out. I just…. well, can’t guarantee it would get dusty or otherwise dirty around here.”

Odalis hummed her assent to possibly getting dirty, moving to sit on an exposed root near the periphery of where Noah had been using his power. She crossed her hands dramatically, moving through the actions of settling in to pay attention. “Dust doesn’t make me nervous,” she promised; she was used to getting a little dirty. 

“You said you were trained,” she added. “How’s that happen? I haven’t really –– I haven’t heard much more than people figuring these things out on their own.”

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noah-the-strong‌.    

“Friends and family… yeah, most of those are either dead or threw me out the moment I held back a wall of fire with my mind.” Noah heaved his chest a bit, holding it for a few seconds before exhaling with a heavy and slow sigh. For all he knew, those that exiled him were probably dead themselves at this point. Either way, his family was gone save maybe…. if it was true about that vampire…

Looking back up at her, Noah gave Odalis a smirk. “I’ve had it since I was a teenager. So I guess having more than a decade to use it and training it to fight with has given me an edge in what I can do. Well, I still got to train my stamina and fighting with the vamps later. Right now, I’m just well… lifting things to build up my strength and control. Concentration is key, literally the key to what I can do.”

She gave a small shrug at the talk of what was left of family; it had been a story that she’d realized was more common than not. People were AFRAID of Wicked blood; there were some, even, who reviled it. There wasn’t anything she could say to make it better, so she shrugged. What else was she to do? One day, her story would match his all-too well. 

“Can I watch more?” It was absolutely fascinating, watching someone use their power. It was just…cool… to see an ability which was so physically seen in the world. “I mean, is that alright with you?”

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noah-the-strong‌.    

“The first one eh? I take it they removed you from the village as well then?” It was something that was a common part of most of their stories. People finding out about them, what they could do, and that they weren’t normal like them. It was easier to fear the thing that was different and to cast it out so that it didn’t bring any trouble or simply to make their fear go away. “I wasn’t the firstborn into it with my people. But I was the first in my entire family from what I’m told. They hated that someone who was trained as well as I was had turned out to be…. well, what I am.”

“It was less of a removal and more of a choice to go,” Odalis replied, her dark eyes flashing with memory. She sighed, toeing a small bit of the dust that had settled by her foot. “It’s no matter now,” she said. “The past is the past, and that’s all behind me. Friends, family, choices… all that’s left is…” she gave a small laugh, letting her hands gesture over herself. “The clothes on my back, and that’s about it.” She nodded to the dirt piles. “What you are is powerful,” she said. “Were you going to do any more?”

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zak-the-teller‌.    

“What the hell did you just say?” Zak entered panic mode faster than he had ever done as he guided her into a more secluded area to talk. He wasn’t threatening her, or at least he wasn’t meaning to when he backed her into the side of the building with a wide eyed glare.

“You can’t say that….how? No one knows and I don’t want them to…..not yet. Do you know what my power would be worth to someone like Milena…….” He ran his hands through his hair in a panic. What would Aya think of this?

“You sound incredible. Sorry if I ….” He took a step back from her, giving her back the space he had totally invaded, “No one has figured it out. I have told a few people but you….wow. Can you keep my secret?”

Odalis wanted to remind the man that, if he wanted something secret, then he needed to know what another person could do before brazenly using that secret ON her. Instead, she tightened her fist and let him yank her toward the side of a building, her jaw clenching for a moment as she took stock of everything around them, considering if she should push him off of her when she was trying to play nice. 

“I just told you how,” Odalis said. “Psychic meeting psychic: I can feel psychic energy when it’s used on me. You might be able to, too, some day.” The breach into her mind was rather crude, though Odalis knew that refinement wasn’t ENTIRELY necessary when a non-psychic mind was being broached. 

When he finally gave her back her space, Odalis fixed the sleeve of her jacket and glanced back at him. “Don’t dig into strangers’ thoughts,” she replied. “Any stranger. If I feel you poking around in there again –– invading my mind just like you did my space –– then you’d have brought whatever comes onto yourself.” She didn’t like making threats and ultimatums… it wasn’t really in her nature; but he’d so far pushed into her mind without permission, thrown her against a wall, and demanded her silence. So she stood her ground.

[lucybaird]

i lost my friends. i lost everything. he turned me into a monster.

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zak-the-teller‌.    

“You are quiet.” Zak was a bit talkative but hearing her thoughts on the subject was an eye opener. Perhaps he might be getting on her nerves. Shrugging it off, he nodded despite going out of his way to escort her. “I’ll take you. What are you needing exactly?” He never really understood what it might be like to be thrust into this different environment. He had never really had to share more than he wanted to and Ayanna had always been there to shield him from those who might fear the unknown.

“Did your tribe…..” Maybe too much, too soon? He stopped to think through the question as guilt bubbled to the surface, “Some people have a hard time seeing past the uniqueness. All they want to see is the fear. Anyone more powerful than they are…..well it’s a threat, but with power there is a responsibility and a choice. Outside of these walls it is hard to trust anyone to do right by anyone but themselves.”

His smile radiated past the dark subject matter. He wanted to be more than the welcome wagon. “Would you share with me your ability? I would love to understand it.”

“–– And you are reading my thoughts,” Odalis replied. “I didn’t think you wanted to hear everything twice.” She glanced his way when she spoke, her lips quirking upward. She could be quiet, certainly. If she didn’t have something important to say, often enough she didn’t say anything at all. But she was earnest enough, and he was helpful enough, and she appreciated that he was helping her. 

“It’s part of my ability,” she replied, tapping her temple. “I have a strong mind, or something. I couldn’t stop you from reading, but I can tell when you’re in there. I can create things that aren’t there: that’s what I do.” She kept her chin held high –– almost a challenge –– when she talked about her ability. Wicked blood was an often highly-disputed topic, and one that wasn’t understood. She’d heard a woman who was incredibly old in her village once call Wicked blood damned. Damned or not, she wouldn’t bow her head in front of the man who had peeked inside her mind without asking. 

“My village loved me enough to let me leave,” she said. “It was out of respect for what I had contributed as a villager, and out of love for my family. They did right enough.” She offered a shrug, a what can you do sort of shrug, and continued walking. “I need a hinge,” she said, finally giving him an answer to her need for the smith. “And a latch. Nothing too exciting, I’m afraid.”