[wanda was not certain as to how she could exactly be helpful to the ADI; she found herself not really compelled to join any of the departments and, even then, she did not enjoy the idea of bureaucracy. she had done it once, with the avengers, and the experience had not been stellar. however, she does find interest in the idea that witches and witchcraft are present in this world.
well, 'were present' would be more apt.
an inkling of rumors of a witch in dogtown has led her to both the public library and the ADI's research library. rumors, information, anything would be helpful to peruse over. she's made photocopies of what newspaper clippings were relevant and borrowed a few history books with the particular information she sought for, and now wanda is back at ADI's research library where she can sit down at a table and go through her findings.]
Sorry, everywhere else is taken.
[figures that it's nerd o'clock, and every other table and meeting pod is occupied, except for this one with only one individual—a woman whom wanda thinks she's seen in the ADI's quarterly meeting, maybe.
with a sigh, she slumps down on the chair and sets her books and papers down, adjusting her seat and trying not to look so aimless about it all. this isn't really her forté, but wanda is willing to give it a try.]
sorry for the wait, my ability to write left me for a bit
[Honestly, Abby is in the same boat - none of the departments immediately jump out at her as the right place for her, or even somewhere that her abilities would be all that helpful. Currently, she's dabbling a little bit in research, but it's reminding her way, way too much of university in a really bad way. The book is in front of her, but she's not really paying all that much attention, constantly reading and re-reading a line of text trying to make her brain take it in.
When someone comes to sit down near her, she barely glances up at first, just shrugging.]
No problem, don't mind me. I was actually about to go...
[But then the clippings catch her eye - or rather, the word 'witch' jumps out at her. For a moment, she just squints, trying to read the clippings from a little too far away and upside down, and then she just gives up on it.]
You got an interest in witches? Hunting one?
me ;-; had a bit of a stint at hospital, but all's good now!
[wanda mutters as she flips another page, not quite catching on to the otherwise strange show of interest relating to witches—at least to the point of actually stopping one's own planned departure and consequent interacting with a stranger.
she stops, thumb down on a particular article of interest for reading later, and raises her eyes to look up at the other young woman.]
I have an interest, yes, but not for hunting. Witches are apparently not a thing in Gloucester anymore. [but—] That just sounds like they might be really good at hiding.
[no, she really has no idea what exactly she is looking for.]
I thought I could probably make some sense of these... [oh, her language quandary is showing. urban legends? myths? what's the word again...?] folk tales, I think.
[When the other young woman glances up at her, and admits to having an interest but not for hunting, Abby raises her eyebrows. Well, that's interesting. They don't seem to like magic or supernatural people or whatever else here, so it's nice to hear there's someone on her side.]
Probably really good at hiding. At least most of them.
[Leaning in, she looks down at the book that the book, noting the story that thumb is pressed down on, curious.]
You need a hand? I'm not really doing anything special and I guess you could say I have a vested interest in witches myself.
[A pause, but just for a moment, because she's never been all that good at, or comfortable with, being 'in the closet' about anything in her life.]
[wanda is glad that at least someone agrees with her. it's a little hard for her to share about her own experiences—having come to the realization quite recently of her status as a witch—and she is not exactly confident on the reaction people might have about it.
she considers the offer for a moment, only to find that the admission of being a witch by the woman across from her throws away any worry about being seen different.
however, wanda's track record with witches is not exactly... the best, so far.]
You are? [it has got to be a gift, to be a witch and not be 'sensed' unless magic is being used. her expression does not give to exceptional surprise.] ...well, that would certainly help.
[Coming from where she comes from, Abby is used to people being pretty ambivalent about others being witches. It's common enough and there's obviously still prejudice, but it's at least looked down on to be prejudiced.
When Wanda asks her to repeat herself, Abby nods.]
Yep, since I was born, though I haven't really trained with magic much until the past few years. My parents had different goals in mind for me, you know?
[A pause.]
Help? You mean with finding other witches? Maybe, yeah, if I did a spell to seek out magic, that can just kind of a mess around here. And yeah I am alright with just telling people. Guess I'm used to my world, where it isn't a huge deal. There's lots of us there. But uh, you have a point there, maybe I shouldn't here.
but for the sake of abby+wanda friendship, i'll backtag forever
[wanda keeps eye contact, listens to abby speak. there is certainty and confidence in who she is even if her own journey into witchhood wasn't exactly entirely devoted to it.
and yet abby speaks so casually of it, like there is no shame or worry to speak it out loud. she can't help the small smile that crosses her features, biting inside her cheek to stop her from being so obvious. 'it isn't a huge deal' sounds kind of nice, and wanda would be willing to exchange it being a normal thing than the fanfare for when she realized who she really was.]
You probably shouldn't, especially if these records show that people aren't too excited about witches.
[...]
What if another witch would help you with the spell?
[Abby catches that little smile, and wonders what it's about. Maybe Wanda comes from one of those places where witches are frowned upon or something, but then again...if she did, would she be smiling about it? Doesn't make sense, but she figures it'll all come out in the wash.]
Do they? Man, that's a bummer.
[Leaning over, she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks at the books Wanda has stacked up in front of her.]
I don't get it, who cares if someone is a witch? I mean, fear of the unknown, I guess, I get it a little, but people should be penalized for what they do, not who they are.
[That last bit catches her by surprise.]
You mean if someone helped me with a spell to find magic? Maybe...could make it more powerful and accurate, I think? But I'd be kind of guessing at how to actually do it.
[people should be penalized for what they do, not who they are. and, with that, wanda is sold. she isn't exactly on the clear, what with unknowingly using her powers to hurt others. a shot for redemption, though—that's an opportunity she is keeping an eye out for.]
People can also change, I believe, despite their pasts.
[misguided as one may have been, such as herself and her brother pietro. her smile grows, leaning over too, conspiratorially.]
Turns out that I am also a witch. I've never been friends with one before, but I think we could both benefit from each other.
[listen, she's not exactly good at making friends. disaster usually strikes first before she gets close to others, so if this sounds like some weird recruitment, it's not her fault!]
Oh yeah, I totally agree about that. And also, extenuating circumstances count for something too.
[A little nod, and she looks over at Wanda for a few moments, thoughtful, wondering if the other woman said that for the same reason Abby cited extenuating circumstances. A cannibal can't be forgiven unless there's a reason she became one. Maybe Wanda needs a chance to change.
Abby's willing to give her a chance.]
Oh really?!
[That part has Abby smiling immediately, and she leans in a little closer.]
I don't have nearly enough witch friends, to be honest. The only other one I know is the younger version of my old history teacher from high school, which is weird as hell.
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▶ ABBY
well, 'were present' would be more apt.
an inkling of rumors of a witch in dogtown has led her to both the public library and the ADI's research library. rumors, information, anything would be helpful to peruse over. she's made photocopies of what newspaper clippings were relevant and borrowed a few history books with the particular information she sought for, and now wanda is back at ADI's research library where she can sit down at a table and go through her findings.]
Sorry, everywhere else is taken.
[figures that it's nerd o'clock, and every other table and meeting pod is occupied, except for this one with only one individual—a woman whom wanda thinks she's seen in the ADI's quarterly meeting, maybe.
with a sigh, she slumps down on the chair and sets her books and papers down, adjusting her seat and trying not to look so aimless about it all. this isn't really her forté, but wanda is willing to give it a try.]
sorry for the wait, my ability to write left me for a bit
When someone comes to sit down near her, she barely glances up at first, just shrugging.]
No problem, don't mind me. I was actually about to go...
[But then the clippings catch her eye - or rather, the word 'witch' jumps out at her. For a moment, she just squints, trying to read the clippings from a little too far away and upside down, and then she just gives up on it.]
You got an interest in witches? Hunting one?
me ;-; had a bit of a stint at hospital, but all's good now!
[wanda mutters as she flips another page, not quite catching on to the otherwise strange show of interest relating to witches—at least to the point of actually stopping one's own planned departure and consequent interacting with a stranger.
she stops, thumb down on a particular article of interest for reading later, and raises her eyes to look up at the other young woman.]
I have an interest, yes, but not for hunting. Witches are apparently not a thing in Gloucester anymore. [but—] That just sounds like they might be really good at hiding.
[no, she really has no idea what exactly she is looking for.]
I thought I could probably make some sense of these... [oh, her language quandary is showing. urban legends? myths? what's the word again...?] folk tales, I think.
glad to hear you're feeling better. sorry I'm slow yet again!
Probably really good at hiding. At least most of them.
[Leaning in, she looks down at the book that the book, noting the story that thumb is pressed down on, curious.]
You need a hand? I'm not really doing anything special and I guess you could say I have a vested interest in witches myself.
[A pause, but just for a moment, because she's never been all that good at, or comfortable with, being 'in the closet' about anything in her life.]
Considering I'm one.
this is our curse..slow,,
she considers the offer for a moment, only to find that the admission of being a witch by the woman across from her throws away any worry about being seen different.
however, wanda's track record with witches is not exactly... the best, so far.]
You are? [it has got to be a gift, to be a witch and not be 'sensed' unless magic is being used. her expression does not give to exceptional surprise.] ...well, that would certainly help.
You're alright with just telling people that?
[being a witch, that is.]
true....this time it was a house guest
When Wanda asks her to repeat herself, Abby nods.]
Yep, since I was born, though I haven't really trained with magic much until the past few years. My parents had different goals in mind for me, you know?
[A pause.]
Help? You mean with finding other witches? Maybe, yeah, if I did a spell to seek out magic, that can just kind of a mess around here. And yeah I am alright with just telling people. Guess I'm used to my world, where it isn't a huge deal. There's lots of us there. But uh, you have a point there, maybe I shouldn't here.
but for the sake of abby+wanda friendship, i'll backtag forever
and yet abby speaks so casually of it, like there is no shame or worry to speak it out loud. she can't help the small smile that crosses her features, biting inside her cheek to stop her from being so obvious. 'it isn't a huge deal' sounds kind of nice, and wanda would be willing to exchange it being a normal thing than the fanfare for when she realized who she really was.]
You probably shouldn't, especially if these records show that people aren't too excited about witches.
[...]
What if another witch would help you with the spell?
same, though
Do they? Man, that's a bummer.
[Leaning over, she pushes a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks at the books Wanda has stacked up in front of her.]
I don't get it, who cares if someone is a witch? I mean, fear of the unknown, I guess, I get it a little, but people should be penalized for what they do, not who they are.
[That last bit catches her by surprise.]
You mean if someone helped me with a spell to find magic? Maybe...could make it more powerful and accurate, I think? But I'd be kind of guessing at how to actually do it.
no subject
People can also change, I believe, despite their pasts.
[misguided as one may have been, such as herself and her brother pietro. her smile grows, leaning over too, conspiratorially.]
Turns out that I am also a witch. I've never been friends with one before, but I think we could both benefit from each other.
[listen, she's not exactly good at making friends. disaster usually strikes first before she gets close to others, so if this sounds like some weird recruitment, it's not her fault!]
I'm Wanda Maximoff.
no subject
[A little nod, and she looks over at Wanda for a few moments, thoughtful, wondering if the other woman said that for the same reason Abby cited extenuating circumstances. A cannibal can't be forgiven unless there's a reason she became one. Maybe Wanda needs a chance to change.
Abby's willing to give her a chance.]
Oh really?!
[That part has Abby smiling immediately, and she leans in a little closer.]
I don't have nearly enough witch friends, to be honest. The only other one I know is the younger version of my old history teacher from high school, which is weird as hell.
I'm Abby Kim. Pleased to meet you, Wanda.