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[eagletears]

Testing.

All current transported residents, Anchor City.

Attempting headcount. Please respond with identity and statistics if possible.

Warmest appreciation for your invaluable support. We are stronger together.

     Captain Steve Rogers.

Comments

[eagletears]

Difficult is just another way to say challenging, and I don't know about you- but I can appreciate a challenge.

We've got a lot of time on our hands so we might as well keep them busy.

[mayorness]

I like a challenge so long as the rewards are worth the efforts. I'm sure you understand.

[Another pause, and then she texts back.]

I might have been trying to work on a few things.

[eagletears]

I'd like to think most would consider their freedom worth the effort.

I'm still figuring out the facts, and I think it would be good to share our findings and what we've been up to.

Going in circles won't get us very far.

[mayorness]

That depends. I value my freedom, but the thing I truly want the most is something I can't have, freedom or not.

But I've been working on a few spells when your friend isn't leering over my shoulder.

[eagletears]

We all want things we can't have, ma'am, but that doesn't mean we have to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

He's not a big fan of magic.

[mayorness]

Considering what I want, that's a very, very poor choice of words.

I got that. I compromised. All the really explosive stuff, I've been trying outside.

[eagletears]

So you're the one who scorched the kitchen ceiling.

I thought Tony had tried to use the stove.

[mayorness]

That actually wasn't me.

But if there was a green stain on the carpet in the common room, that might have been.

[eagletears]

Getting that out took some elbow grease.

Do I want to know what it was?

[mayorness]

It would have just cleared itself up overnight, you know.

It was potion. Or an ingredient, at least.

[eagletears]

May I ask what for?

[mayorness]

I'm not sure yet. I wasn't sure when I was making it. But I've been preoccupied with trying to make something new, something useful.

Maybe something to cross worlds, as impossible as it is.

[eagletears]

Hope you don't think I'm being too forward, but are you some kind of witch, ma'am?

[mayorness]

No, I'm not a witch. I just use magic.

[eagletears]

You wouldn't happen to be friendly with a guy named Loki, would you?

[mayorness]

The name doesn't ring a bell. What's he like?

[eagletears]

Obnoxious, dangerous and/or psychotic come to mind.

[mayorness]

I know a lot of people like that, but none of them are named Loki.

Why do you ask?

[eagletears]

He's the only other magic user I've ever met.

Wasn't sure if you all had some sort of club.

[mayorness]

As if I'd be in a club with any of the other magic users I know. We all tend to keep to ourselves.

I'm not even a very big fan of my own magic teacher, speaking of obnoxious, dangerous, and psychotic.

[eagletears]

Power has a way of corrupting people.

[mayorness]

Yes. It really does.

[And that's a difficult subject - she doesn't exactly want to out herself as the Evil Queen just yet, to discuss her own darkened heart.]

So what are your big plans once we're all unified, Steve?

[eagletears]

Contrary to popular belief, I don't have a plan. Not yet.

We'll come up with one together.