video;

[astralling]

Hi.

[Prue looks less than stellar- eyes slightly rimmed with red, makeup just barely smudged enough to indicate that she was probably crying a while ago, or came close recently. She's frustrated and has a small smear of ash on one cheek.]

Does anyone have any experience with their magic or- or powers from home not working right here?

I can't make any spell work. I've tried everything I can, and almost nothing I've done since I came here has done anything but almost destroy my ceiling.

[She makes an almost painfully frustrated noise in her throat, teeth on edge and eyes watering angrily.]

This is ridiculous, I'm stronger than this.

Comments

[hulkbusted]

Who calls you to it?

[astralling]

Now there's the million-dollar question- we have no idea.

[hulkbusted]

Do you want to tell me more details or do I get another 16 questions out of 20?

private

[astralling]

-No, you can have details.

[But she locks it anyway.]

We were foretold by a prophecy as a force of good destined to fight evil. I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but it's true. And honestly, now that I've been doing it for a year and a half I don't see how I can just go back. I'm somewhere different now, but I still have a responsibility to protect the innocent.

private

[hulkbusted]

[Ohhhkaaay.]

My alter ego beat up a Norse god. Should we have a battle of ridiculousness?

It sounds like a lot of pressure to be a prophesied power for good, but how is trying out magic that's above your pay grade going to help the innocent?

private

[astralling]

...It isn't.

I was trying to summon my sisters.

private

[hulkbusted]

Did you consider that you might, oh, I don't know, rip open the space time continuum trying things like that if you don't actually know what you're doing?

Re: private

[astralling]

I'm not that powerful.

private

[hulkbusted]

You can't have it both ways. If you have enough juice to bring them here, you have enough juice to do that damage.

private

[astralling]

Obviously I'm not, or they'd be here already. Besides, if by myself I could bring them here and cause some kind of damage, then the three of us together would be strong enough to fix it.

[The logic is not strong with this one right now. :|]

private

[hulkbusted]

Can you take a step back and imagine that someone else just said that to you? Would that be about the time that you would wonder if they'd had a recent head injury?

private

[astralling]

[. . . This would be Prue. Sighing deeply and dragging her hands over her face. It's super rude when you're right, Bruce.]

Yeah, probably.

private

[hulkbusted]

I'm glad we can agree about that. These days I'm in the mood to stay alive.

private

[astralling]

And I'm in the mood to not be stranded without any backup.

private

[hulkbusted]

You and the rest of the imports here, but I'm not going to support them in endangering every soul on the island either. How's that going to protect anyone?

private

[astralling]

I can't protect anyone if I don't have all my magic.

private

[hulkbusted]

What does that have to do with trying to call other people here?

private

[astralling]

[...Nn.]

My magic is weaker without my sisters here. It's how the three of us work. Together, we're supposedly unstoppable.

private

[hulkbusted]

[Yeah, he's got nothin']

I don't know a thing about that, but as someone who's been getting to know people on the island who I know don't want to die, be careful.

private

[astralling]

[She takes a deep breath- and lets it out on a shuddering sigh, showing more than she means to.]

I know. It's selfish of me to even try. Do you have any family, Bruce?

private

[hulkbusted]

No. [Not true, but close enough.]

private

[astralling]

[She shakes her head, pulling herself together again.]

It's hard to explain.

private

[hulkbusted]

I'm sorry you're separated from your family or your power base or both.

[astralling]

Thanks.

I'll be okay. I've been through worse.

I guess I just needed a reality slap.

[hulkbusted]

Have you had it now?