Video

[crackedreflection]

[The video clicks on, and wow that's certainly a faceful of angry metal child scowling at the mirror. MT is sitting slouched against her bed, one hand holding a crowbar poised to smash the mirror and the other pointing somewhere offscreen. The natural light streaming in through the open window is a harsh contrast to the bags under her eyes.]

[MT just sits there in silence for a full eleven seconds, eyeing the mirror suspiciously, before she sighs and lowers the crowbar to her side. (She doesn't completely let go of it, though.) Then, she picks up the mirror and turns it towards where her arm is pointing. Which is towards a wall almost entirely covered in messy black spray paint. Which is shooting out of her index finger and through a glowing magic circle at its tip.]

How do I stop this.

[She sounds very, very tired.]

It's been going for thirteen hours without stopping. I just want some sleep. Is that too much to ask?

Comments

[strangeandunusual]

What are you trying to stop, exactly?

[crackedreflection]

The paint, dummy. What else?

[strangeandunusual]

[rude. but she lives with ruder, depending on Mal's mood. and Aziraphale has his moments too. she's gotten pretty good at ignoring it.]

Well ... how did it start? What were you doing?

[crackedreflection]

I was trying to cast a spray-paint spell. Apparently I'm supposed to Ruby Slippers my way into magic or whatever, so I thought of home and now... [She gestures wildly to the almost entirely-black wall.] this.

[strangeandunusual]

First magic never goes right, if it makes you feel any better. My roommate tried to dye our hair and everything started turning purple. I'm able to heal stuff, though, so I might be able to help you stop it ... what room are you in?

[crackedreflection]

[That mental image actually manages to get MT to snicker a little bit, and the stream of spray paint lessens ever-so-slightly.]

I sleep in 6B. If you've heard somebody jumping up and down on furniture right above you, that's us. Or BJ, more accurately.

[MT was too heavy to join in. Unfortunately.]

[strangeandunusual]

Oh yeah, I definitely know him. [unlike most MT may have spoken with, she doesn't sound beleaguered by the fact]

I'll be right up.

[true to her word, she knocked on their door and grinned at the new nameplate. two roommates who went by initials. and MT didn't sound like she hated her roomie, either, which was good. he needed more friends, Lydia thought. the positive reinforcement would be good for him.]

MT? It's Lydia, can I come in? If the door's open, you don't have to wrestle with it...

[since if she were a walking paint fountain herself, she'd want to reduce the damage area as much as possible]

princess healing powers also have a soothing element right

[crackedreflection]

DOOR'S OPEN!

[When Lydia enters MT's room, it's even more of a disaster than what was visible through the mirror; it looks like a nomadic raccoon suddenly had to get acclimated to living in the same place. And that's not even counting the paint that's everywhere. Thankfully, MT had enough good sense to open the window, but the smell is still overpowering.]

[(Curiously, there are no reflective surfaces anywhere in the room other than the magic mirror. Some habits are hard to break.]

[MT somehow manages to make a wave sardonic as Lydia enters.]

Hey.

[She's trying to sound casual, but it just makes her come off as even more tired.]

they sure can!

[strangeandunusual]

[luckily, Lydia is used to the smell of spray paint. even so, she waves back before putting her sleeve to her mouth.]

I'm amazed you can see me.

[the smile in her voice is clear: MT has made perfect Deetz camo. the joke comes with a warm glow from the green scarab beetle jewel on her choker: healing energy meant to cut the tension in the room and clear the air in more ways than one. she moves to open a window before turning to address MT]

I know this is a strange question, but... What does safe feel like, to you?

[it's how her healing magic generally works for other apprentices: she tries to project that feeling of being safe, home, and happy]

[serpentinthegarden]

That is... something.

[ Crowley stared blankly at the scene on the mirror. ]

What are you exactly, a spray painter?

[crackedreflection]

Something like that.

[MT wasn't exactly the most artful with her sprays back on the train, but they served her purpose. (And she may have grown attached to the can. Like a security blanket.)]

I lost my paint when I got here, tried to be clever when I got around to replacing it, and... here we are.

[serpentinthegarden]

That's a mess.

[Very helpfully said.]

You can't just... Stop pushing the fire button?

not a gagtag

[crackedreflection]

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR THE PAST THIRTEEN HOURS YOU DWEEB

[serpentinthegarden]

Thirteen hours and you've only now decided to ask for help? HA! And you called me a dweeb!

[ Said with the biggest demonic smirk. ]

Try imagining it stopping, throw in a wish or two.

[crackedreflection]

YOU THINK I HAVEN'T TRIED THAT?!

[Tulip might have been the type of nerd to use interrobangs, but MT certainly isn't.]

[serpentinthegarden]

I have no idea what you've tried. I only picked up the mirror and saw your message. How did you get that thing started in the first place? It was magic, wasn't it?

[crackedreflection]

Yeah, it was. I lost my spray paint when I got here, tried to recreate it with a spell, and... here we are, I guess.

[originaldragoon]

Soa... How did it start?

[because if they know how it all started, they can figure away how to stop it.]

What were you thinking about at the time?

[crackedreflection]

Tried using a spell for the first time. Since they don't sell spray paint to kids for some reason.

And I was thinking about...

[Something like nervousness passes over MT's face.]

Uh. Home. Yeah.

[originaldragoon]

I think that is because they worry that kids will miss use the spray paint.

I am already going to assume that you tried to will the spell to stop... [That would be the first thing she would have done anyway.]

What does paint have to do with your home? There is probably a connection there.

[crackedreflection]

I used it to protect myself.

[Being stubborn about revealing her backstory to anyone even while in this dire situation will absolutely help MT, yes.]

[originaldragoon]

To protect yourself? How is paint supposed to protect you?

Never mind. That is none of my business.

[Rose can relate to not wanting to reveal her own backstory.]

What seems to be going on is that you are too tense, especially about whatever was threatening you in your home realm. Know that you are in a completely different world, so whatever threat you faced before is not here now.

So take a deep breath, and not think about you home and whatever threats that are there.

[crackedreflection]

You know what? Fine. [MT closes her eyes and takes several deep, shuddering breaths. In, out. In, out. Her shoulders start to relax, the paint begins to taper off, and she opens her eyes...]

[Only for a brief moment of panic to overtake her when she spots the magic mirror again, and the paint comes back in full force.]

[Damn those instincts.]

Gah! It didn't work!

[originaldragoon]

No, it was starting to work, but then you tensed up when you opened your eyes.

Try it again, and keep reminding yourself that your home threat is not here when you open your eyes this time.

[crackedreflection]

Alright. Alright alright alright.

[MT takes another deep breath, and closes her eyes again.]

...you ever try not to think about a pink elephant? That's exactly what this feels like.