Themis stiffened slightly at the very obvious detail she ignored. She had loved Ancient Studies in school and excelled, but now she was ready to dabble in something else unknown without her fundamentals prepared. She knew better, but she slipped. She needed her wits about her and all she could offer in her defense was, “It seemed best to prepare for battle.” Wishing to regain her balance, and rein in her defensive sarcasm, she offered, “Do you advise me to change the color back? This seemed a practical choice. I’m not squeamish, but I did not enjoy the evidence of the ritual.” Themis had the sense that Crowley was too squeamish to handle more detail than that. Squeamish, but not fragile.
She took the box but looked to her host for better instruction. She should have known better than to expect a straight answer. Still, in the hours she had to consider this strange encounter, Themis had decided she would respect the direction she was led tonight. She would be wrong to assume any sort of leadership in this endeavor. Here, Themis was out of her depth and without any sort of reference. It was maddening, but she would do what she must.
She turned her attention to the box of keys she was given and was bothered by several questions about her colleague’s hobbies. Still, as she had decided, she would listen. Themis probed the box, sorting through keys. She felt her key before she saw it. She felt the metal filigree and etched detail and drew the key without further inspection. Seeing it made her confirm her decision, something uncomfortable itching at the back of her neck at how accurate this key felt. “This one looks like something from my dreams.” She tried not to voice just how much that unsettled her. She hadn’t told Professor Crowley what she dreamed of or anything about her elemental experiments. Why then was she holding an ornate key of copper and silver accented with gold? Those were her elements, or at least they felt something like ‘hers’ when Samuel had shown her how to pick at the fabric of reality. Copper and silver were essential parts of her first transmutations, she was drawn to them. Gold, she wasn’t sure why, but it was meant to accent the silver. There was no reason she knew; only that it belonged. “This is my key.” She confirmed, the object warming in her hand.
Dreaming meant sleeping and the idea of falling asleep with Morrigan Crowley and attempting to cross an unseen barrier into a shared dream world. It was one of the most ridiculous sentences Themis had constructed in her brain. This felt more dangerous than alchemy somehow. “And in this dream world are we capable of magic? Will there be a need for defense?” She wasn’t sure she would receive an answer, but she took the offered candy with a quirk of her eyebrow. She didn’t expect sweets from the woman, but she held the piece in her hand, not entirely sure she wanted to eat mystery sugar.
Themis watched the younger witch change, her sharp, angular body seeming to melt slightly, a softer quality appearing. She was relaxing somewhat just as Themis felt her body reacting in anticipation. She was tensing up and Crowley was looking more and more as if she was poured out over the cushions, all languid limbs and lively eyes. “I will follow you and I will trust you, but I want your assurance, we come back together.” There was no room for games. Themis understood she was taking a risk, but she wouldn’t jump in willingly if hints of a more elaborate trap were at play.
Ritual requires sacrifice. Her inner voice mocked as Themis felt her whole body rebel at the idea of granting this woman a hair on her head. It was ironic that she could take a blade to her skin, but the idea of cutting her hair had her balking. Reluctantly, she took the pair of scissors, gently separated out a few strands that were escaping her braid and cut them free. She handed them over with the scissors quickly, not wanting to dwell on how invasive her action felt.“Alright, show me what to do.”
She took the box but looked to her host for better instruction. She should have known better than to expect a straight answer. Still, in the hours she had to consider this strange encounter, Themis had decided she would respect the direction she was led tonight. She would be wrong to assume any sort of leadership in this endeavor. Here, Themis was out of her depth and without any sort of reference. It was maddening, but she would do what she must.
She turned her attention to the box of keys she was given and was bothered by several questions about her colleague’s hobbies. Still, as she had decided, she would listen. Themis probed the box, sorting through keys. She felt her key before she saw it. She felt the metal filigree and etched detail and drew the key without further inspection. Seeing it made her confirm her decision, something uncomfortable itching at the back of her neck at how accurate this key felt. “This one looks like something from my dreams.” She tried not to voice just how much that unsettled her. She hadn’t told Professor Crowley what she dreamed of or anything about her elemental experiments. Why then was she holding an ornate key of copper and silver accented with gold? Those were her elements, or at least they felt something like ‘hers’ when Samuel had shown her how to pick at the fabric of reality. Copper and silver were essential parts of her first transmutations, she was drawn to them. Gold, she wasn’t sure why, but it was meant to accent the silver. There was no reason she knew; only that it belonged. “This is my key.” She confirmed, the object warming in her hand.
Dreaming meant sleeping and the idea of falling asleep with Morrigan Crowley and attempting to cross an unseen barrier into a shared dream world. It was one of the most ridiculous sentences Themis had constructed in her brain. This felt more dangerous than alchemy somehow. “And in this dream world are we capable of magic? Will there be a need for defense?” She wasn’t sure she would receive an answer, but she took the offered candy with a quirk of her eyebrow. She didn’t expect sweets from the woman, but she held the piece in her hand, not entirely sure she wanted to eat mystery sugar.
Themis watched the younger witch change, her sharp, angular body seeming to melt slightly, a softer quality appearing. She was relaxing somewhat just as Themis felt her body reacting in anticipation. She was tensing up and Crowley was looking more and more as if she was poured out over the cushions, all languid limbs and lively eyes. “I will follow you and I will trust you, but I want your assurance, we come back together.” There was no room for games. Themis understood she was taking a risk, but she wouldn’t jump in willingly if hints of a more elaborate trap were at play.
Ritual requires sacrifice. Her inner voice mocked as Themis felt her whole body rebel at the idea of granting this woman a hair on her head. It was ironic that she could take a blade to her skin, but the idea of cutting her hair had her balking. Reluctantly, she took the pair of scissors, gently separated out a few strands that were escaping her braid and cut them free. She handed them over with the scissors quickly, not wanting to dwell on how invasive her action felt.“Alright, show me what to do.”
![[Image: Bka0H0x.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/Bka0H0x.jpeg)