marlow (marlow) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-08-12 19:03:00

Entry tags:

Questions needed answers, even if Marlow didn't know how exactly what she needed Matt to tell her. With Doctor Strange unavailable, she needed to talk to /somebody/ who might understand. The increased power bothered her a little with the ease she had performing magic that used to require more concentration. Clea said it would happen over time, not practically overnight. Was it dangerous? Would someone get hurt?

Finding her destination wasn't that hard. She knew the general area and having met Matt Walker once already let her transport herself to his location.

She appeared in a simple shimmer of the air and put on a smile. "Hi?"

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	marlow 2010-08-16 01:50 am UTC (link)
	"Vampires." Marlow said the word with some distaste. "Is it dead? Do you need help tracking it down to finish the job?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

this_fire_burns
2010-08-16 02:10 am UTC (link)

Matt shakes his head. "No, he got away in the confusion. We were fighting in a burning nightclub and Shelly was in a bad way." Matt says.

"I plan on going after him to finish the job, but I don't want to drag anyone else into it. My feud with him is personal, and it has to be me that stops him." Matt says grimly.

"Thanks for offering; I'll let you know if I need anything. Now, why don't we talk about you? You've grown in power recently and you said Strange is missing. Is there a rescue effort underway yet?" Matt asks.

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marlow
2010-08-16 02:20 am UTC (link)

The green, as much as she liked it, wasn't Matt's color and not suitable for going out to get lunch. She made another color change to a less faded shade than the original.

"Doctor Strange has disappeared in the past for periods of time. There's no reason now to think he's not regrouping after the fight with Dormammu. I need to know if what's happening to me is safe. Not for me, but for the people around me."

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	this_fire_burns 2010-08-16 02:35 am UTC (link)
	Matt considers her words as his clothes change back. "Can you give me an idea what, exactly, is happening to you? Are you suffering any power fluctuations? Are you able to do a high ritual one moment and can't manage a cantrip the next? Are creatures coming to your call that you didn't summon?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

marlow
2010-08-16 02:54 am UTC (link)

She shook her head. "Magic is flowing easier and more. I don't need a ritual set up for most of it anymore, just a thought and it happens. There's no backlash if I overextend myself because I haven't been able to find that limit. I found you because you and I have met once and you're magical. The wards you have up? I barely felt them."

A sigh. "I guess I look different now. I'm behaving differently, from what I'm told. The biggest change I've noticed is.... well..."

Three Marlow illusions shimmered into being around Matt. "Them," she said with sigh. "They're not just images anymore. They're becoming, I don't know, conductors of sorts."

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this_fire_burns
2010-08-16 03:14 am UTC (link)

Matt reaches out to touch the illusions and his eyebrow raises when he notes he can feel them. He looks thoughtful as he considers everything else she's said thus far.

"It sounds like you've tapped a new plateau of power, Marlow. You're definitely stronger than when we met and my wards are not trivial wards. While this is a good thing, I worry what happens if you excel too far, too fast. We may need to take you out for a practical test of sorts. You may also need a mentor to get you through this time. I can think of a couple of people who fit the bill, but I'd need to make a call." Matt says, hoping that Ian isn't away on business right now.

"Is that something you'd consider? Do you need to go back home for a bit?" he asks.

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	marlow 2010-08-16 03:31 am UTC (link)
	"Would a mentor be able to come to the Defenders compound? I have responsibilities to my team." One by one, the images disappeared. "Sydney has to be in the loop about everything, and Titan. He would worry about me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	this_fire_burns 2010-08-16 03:46 am UTC (link)
	"I can't say for certain, Marlow. It would really be up to that person. You don't think Sydney and this...Titan would be okay with you taking a little time off to get yourself in order?" Matt asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

marlow
2010-08-16 04:03 am UTC (link)

"I am the only experienced sorceress they have. It's true that we're not much in demand, but when we are, it's bad." Without a big, green lucky charm to touch, she instead turned to lavish affection on Whisper. "But I need to make sure that I don't accidentally send them all to the moon or worse. Maybe I can come to some accommodation. I wouldn't need to if I could get back to the Dark Dimension but for some reason it's closed to me."

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	this_fire_burns 2010-08-16 04:26 am UTC (link)
	Whisper happily accepts all of the attention Marlow is willing to give, licking her hand and sniffing her. Matt just shakes his head at his dog. "You can't get to the Dark Dimension, either? All right, I'm definitely calling Ian. We'll figure out how to work this all out for you." Matt says. "How do you feel right now, Marlow? What do you want most?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-16 04:37 am UTC (link)
	She thought about that, her hand stilling in mid-stroke on Whisper's neck. "I'm scared," she admitted. "But right now what I want is lunch. Later, I want to figure out how to be me safely." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	this_fire_burns 2010-08-16 04:46 am UTC (link)
	"Hey, we're going to make sure you get through this safely. You won't hurt anyone you care about. Now, let's get some food so we can get your mind off of this for a bit." Matt says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-16 05:15 am UTC (link)
	The smile returned. "So if I start showing signs of taking over the world, you'll be around to stop me?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	this_fire_burns 2010-08-19 01:29 am UTC (link)
	Though he knows Marlow is joking, Matt realizes that if it comes down to it, he really will have to stand up and deal with Marlow if something goes wrong. It's what he's been trained to do since he was younger. It doesn't mean that he likes the idea of it at all. "Well, it won't come to that. We won't let it get that far." Matt says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-19 01:47 am UTC (link)
	"Of course it won't," she said cheerfully. "Are you sure we can't take Whisper? Should I transport us or do you want to handle that?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	this_fire_burns 2010-08-19 03:17 am UTC (link)
	"How about you teleport us there so I can see just how powerful you've become. Mac's is designed to mess up magic, so teleporting us to the front door will suffice. And Whisper shouldn't come. Mac will give us an extra steak sandwich for him anyway." Matt says. Whisper barks happily at that. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-19 04:38 pm UTC (link)
	A big dog has a big bark, and Marlow leaned away from Whisper when he voiced his happiness. Then she hugged him again. "Did you want to change clothes or put on some shoes?" she asked Matt. "I don't mind, but Mac might." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	this_fire_burns 2010-08-20 01:15 am UTC (link)
	"Ah, you make a good point. If some demon tries to kill us, I'd like to say I was wearing my duster, at the least." Matt comments, heading for his room. He returns shortly after with said duster, his staff, black t-shirt, jeans and boots. Nodding at Marlow, Matt grins. "All right, beam us up, Marlow." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-20 02:05 am UTC (link)
	Before Matt would have the time to take a breath, Marlow had them outside of Mac's place. She did it without a gesture, spoken spell, or smirk that she could do it so easily. "I came back a couple of times after the first time I was here," she said by way of explanation that she found it so quickly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

this_fire_burns
2010-08-20 02:36 am UTC (link)

Matt just stares at Marlow for a moment. Very few wizards could pull off something like what Marlow had just done. Ian could do it, and so could Strange, very likely.

He reassessed his thoughts on the need for Marlow to have a new mentor, in the tune of she needed one /asap/.

"Yeah, sure. No problem." Matt says, going to open the door for her. A part him wants to ask her to try a spell inside Mac's, even with all of the precautions taken to inhibit spell-casting.

Still, he won't do that. No reason to piss of Mac, who nods at them in greeting. He offers a smile for Marlow.

"You still hangin' around this bum?" Mac asks, referring to Matt, then grinning.

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marlow
2010-08-20 02:50 am UTC (link)

Marlow grinned back. "When he can stand me." One the two visits she'd alone she had sat at the bar and made idle silence with Mac. It would have been rude to not pay respect to the excellent steak sandwiches and ale.

"I kind of surprised him today and twisted his arm to have lunch with me." The new Marlow had some talent for the little white lie; the old would have related how she'd popped in on Matt just after his shower and given the wrong impression.

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	this_fire_burns 2010-08-20 04:43 am UTC (link)
	"First, my dog, now my bartender? Are you trying to turn Chicago against me, woman?" Matt asks, mock-plaintively. Matt pulls out a chair for Marlow, then sits down himself. "So, you mentioned a Titan earlier. Please don't tell me you mean an honest-to-badness Greek God type Titan." Matt says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

marlow
2010-08-20 02:26 pm UTC (link)

"But I love your bartender," she protested, laughing. "And your dog. They're friendly."

She clasped her hands on the table's surface. "His name is Titan, although if my mythology is up-to-date, his great-grandfather is one of those honest-to-badness Titans. But that's not relevant. Titan is a new member of the Defenders. I wonder if Mac would be all right if I brought him here for lunch sometime..."

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	this_fire_burns 2010-08-20 03:00 pm UTC (link)
	Matt just shakes his head. "As long as the money is good and he doesn't start trouble, Mac won't have a problem with him. How long have you known this guy? Does he treat you well?" Matt asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marlow 2010-08-20 03:25 pm UTC (link)
	"My money is good and Titan is perfectly friendly as long as no one provokes him. He joined the Defenders a little while ago. We get along really well so far. I like him, he's different. Can't have too many friends, right?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)