as_damaged | ☤ fifty -two

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☤ fifty -two

[Cameron is out and about as she would be any other day. Life in the City marches on regardless of its Citizen's small troubles, curses and chaos becoming commonplace after a while. She not compelled to do anything ridiculous at the moment, so she's going about business as usual.

This means Cameron's fair game wherever you might bump into her-- on the way to or from the hospital, in City General itself, out for lunch or a cup of coffee-- so tell her whatever you want to tell her. She's a good listener.]

[ooc; open action is open! i would love to have her meet some new people too so don't be afraid to toss someone at her even if they've never spoken before. :3]

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[A wild Alester appears, interrupting Cameron's lunch.]

I used to be a wizard.

[This is said very seriously, because it is very serious business.].

[He's not the first to do this-- well, to say that, but she's sort of getting the hang of this curse. Still, Cameron does her best to pretend magic isn't real, so she stares a moment, fork still uplifted with a bit of lettuce clinging to it.]

Do you want to talk about it?

Yes.

[He sounds surprised, which he is, because normally it's about the last thing he wants to discuss.]

The thing is, I had my powers taken away a few years ago, and I basically lost everything. It was...my own fault, really. I don't know if I'll ever be able to move on from it all.

I'm sorry...

[Lucky Alester, Cameron has boundless compassion for those she doesn't know. She glances at the seat opposite her subtly, if he wants to join her at her table.]

I didn't know that kind of thing could be done. Magic-- isn't real. Not where I'm from.

[Alester sits down.]

Microwaves aren't real where I'm from. My roommate left and now I'm afraid to use mine. I'm not used to being intimidated by everything. Or anything.

I can imagine it must be difficult to adjust to. The City, I mean. How long have you been here?

Almost five months, which makes it longer than the last place I lived, though that certainly didn't require as much adjustment. There's no one here from the same world, let alone anyone I know--though, that could be just as well--so I've had to make my own way.

One of the few upsides to the City, I think-- [She sets her fork on the side of the plate now, thoughtful,] is that overall people do try to help newcomers. At least that's how it seems to me.

They certainly do try. It's my own fault that I'm not really one to ask for help and it's pure bad luck that two of my closest acquaintances are gone now.

[Alester realized that he is in a restaurant where he is not eating and orders coffee. Because that's sort of like food?]

Coming and going is the one thing that's really out of anyone's hands. [She leans back a little in her seat.] What do you do, now that you're not a wizard?

I've been working in the Library. I know a bit about caring for old books and I've been learning more. Before, in Adras, I was mostly living off my savings and before that I was working as a tutor and translator--of a language that no one here speaks, of course.

[His mouth twists into a wry smile.]

I don't think I'm truly suited to such quiet occupations, but with the headaches and fatigue, it seems to be what I can manage.

The headaches are a side effect of... whatever happened to your-- [The hesitation is slight but palpable, she hates having to say this kind of thing,] your magic?

I assume so. They started afterward, but not right away. I don't think it's something that always happens, but it's not like I can ask anyone. I mean, I lived and I'm sane so that's probably about the best that can be expected.

Do you mind if I ask how they did it?

[She's prying, and her eyes flick down briefly with mild embarrassment.]

There could be a physiological cause-- I'm a doctor, maybe I can help.

[Alester has been somewhat tense throughout the entire conversation, but the change in how he grips his mug is still evident.]

I probably couldn't even explain if I did know--but it's not the kind of thing that they teach you when you're still in training.

It makes sense to at least check. I just...don't know much about the medical system here.

I'm sorry if that-- I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. But if you're willing to come down to the hospital...

[She pauses here with a little smile, trying to reassure.]

Just ask for Dr. Cameron.

I think I might do that.

[He notices, finally, that he's been discussing his private life to a stranger.]

Thank you for listening to me.

I'm happy to help, any way I can.

[After all that's the advantage to other people's problems-- they're not yours, so they're often easier to solve. Or at least distracting.]

What's your name?

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☤ fifty -two

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