[audio]

[timestones]

[The start of the feed features sound rhythmic tha-thump-tha-thump-tha-thump sounds in the background. Is Stephen getting into ASMR broadcasts? Unlikely, but for a few seconds at least enjoy a steady stream of laundry sounds before he speaks.]

It'd be redundant to comment on who is missing right now since we've covered that so thoroughly, so I'm going to keep this particular curiosity brief: out of those of us who remain, how many of us are magically attuned?

[There's a slight pause, then a deep, resigned inhale.]

... All right, sure, call me a hypocrite, but I'd also appreciate it if anyone can tell me if they've seen Peter Parker lately.

Comments

[mysterioisthetruth]

He probably vanished through whatever unstable dimensional thingimee-whosi-whatsit with everybody else.

[He's not panicking just yet.]

It's like the Blip all over again. He should be back just like last time. Someone will save the day. Everything will be restored.

You know the drill.

[timestones]

Probably.

[He could sound more unconvinced, but he maintains a pretty neutral voice.]

But as you say, we know the drill, just not the particulars. Each of these situations will have its own set of criteria to discover and consider. The details are always the tricky part.

[mysterioisthetruth]

I have to ask though. With the dozens, maybe hundreds, of people missing - why did you single Peter out?

[timestones]

Because for all I know it's just that he really didn't like my holiday gift to him and he's giving me the silent treatment. Due diligence and all that.

[mysterioisthetruth]

The kid wouldn't do that. He's far too nice.

If he hated it, he'd probably apologize to you instead.

[timestones]

Awkwardly, I don't doubt.

[mysterioisthetruth]

Exactly.

[timestones]

I'm sure he'll swing by eventually.

[If he's still here.]

[mysterioisthetruth]

What are you now? The quipping wizard?

[timestones]

I always was. We just don't know each other that well.

[mysterioisthetruth]

That's true.

Despite how much we have in common, you never gave me much of a chance.

[timestones]

What is it that you think we have in common?

[mysterioisthetruth]

Showy magical powers?

Some people actually thought I was you, you know.

[timestones]

Can't say I see the resemblance, personally.

And 'showy magical powers' would mean I have something in common with the vast majority of imPorts.

[mysterioisthetruth]

Well, I am the more advanced version.

[Yes, he's going to actually arrogantly claim that.]

[timestones]

Really? How do you figure that?

[mysterioisthetruth]

I'm sure you don't care to know.

You think so little of me.

But Peter knows.

[And now he's conveniently gone.]

And maybe you'll find out one day.

[timestones]

Seems like a convenient dodge, but as you were.

video;

[constantdick]

Magically in tune? More like magically discordant.

[Deliberately misinterpreting that because he's an asshole.]

Getting a magical band together are yeh? Sounds you've already got a drummer.

audio;

[timestones]

[He gives a slight chuckle.]

Sadly, my drummer only knows the one tune, so I'm looking to expand my options. Or at least get a ear on things other than my own.

[constantdick]

Well then, if an extra ear's what yeh need, I might 'ave one to spare.

[Of course he means that literally, as in a severed ear in a jar. One never knows when a spell might call for such a thing, after all.]

[timestones]

Just the one?

[constantdick]

No need to get greedy, now.

[1/2]

[timestones]

Why go for a single when you can have a double, that's all I'm saying.

private;

[timestones]

Mostly I was wondering if others with magical sensitivities had felt the month of January felt especially... fractured. On a dimensional level. Differently so to the usual, I mean.

private;

[constantdick]

It always feels dimensionally fractured, mate. Multiverses colliding and such. Getting rid of the goddesses likely made it worse.

[timestones]

Multidimensional affairs are something of an occupational specialty of mine, so no arguments there.

I'm more interested in the current brand of fractured and how it feels to others.

To my eyes, it's not so much that it's in a worse state so much as changed. I'm trying to get more proverbial eyes on the changes, so maybe I should have asked for that instead of ears.

[constantdick]

Basically, it just feels more unstable than it used to be. I mean it always seemed a bit unstable, but it was more of a controlled instability if you get my drift.

[ voice ] »

[divaricate]

I've never done magic in my life. Ever. Not even once. [ The sarcasm. She has to troll a little, ok. ]

Also, no I haven't seen him, but also what is that in the background?

[timestones]

Oh, no, of course not! The opposite of supernatural, in fact. Very natural. Super natural, even. That's definitely you.

[He pauses thoughtfully, the banging taking up the silence.]

A very attention-seeking dryer. Seems like the kind that's nearing the end of its working life and about to move into appliance racing.

[divaricate]

No lies here. And, I'm pretty sure we could make the dryers race, for some mindless entertainment. [ A sliiight pause. ] Though, on second thought, maybe not, because apparently right before I showed up in this world for the first time, my son brought everyone's toilets to life. [ Billy Kaplan, everybody. ] And I don't know if I need to follow that legacy.

[timestones]

Your--

[There's a pause, though the washing machines in the background probably cover up several attempts at responding.]

It feels like there's a lot to catch up on here and I'm not sure I even know where to begin to unpick this.

[divaricate]

Multiverses. [ Which she knows she doesn't have to explain..like pls he saw a bazillion different ways to lose to Thanos... ] In one of them, a version of me has a set of twins with Vision, and those kids have magical and speedster abilities, respectively. I met the magical one here.

video

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

I would imagine Sith sorcery counts.

Though I have my doubts about its immediate suitability to anything you might be planning.

audio;

[timestones]

What makes you think I'm planning something?

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

Someone's always planning something. It's a fact of life.

And you're asking for magic users. On the heels of a mass disappearance we know little to nothing about.

[1/2]

[timestones]

Astute and I can't really dispute that.

private;

[timestones]

But I'd say I'm more leaning toward professional curiosity than out and out planning at this stage.

I'm primarily just wondering what others are feeling of late. Not on the level of emotions, but actually feeling.

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

It's what's kept some of us alive this long.

As for what I'm feeling; nothing unusual, aside from a distinct absence. One that arrived suddenly, at that.

Whatever caused the disappearances, it accomplished it instantaneously with all involved, at the same time. There was no time for any of the missing to notice or react.

Personally, I suspect it has to do with the weakened divide between universes we were warned of at the conclusion of the last calamity. Whatever force keeping them apart may be more unstable and vulnerable than we realized, and this may be a consequence of it. But, as I have only a pale imitation of the Force to call upon here, I have no means of testing that hypothesis.

voice;

[thecacophony]

What do you need magic users for?

audio;

[timestones]

Curiosity. A call for second opinions, mainly.

[thecacophony]

A pretty simple request. I should've expected it, since there's no dire telepathic magic this time to summon us all together.

[Still, it's better than...nothing and nobody, right? Sal mostly sounds resigned.]

Well shit, seems like there's a lot less of us now anyway. What do you need opinions on?

[1/2]

[timestones]

Lilith has a sort of magical club going, if you're into the whole coven aesthetic.

private;

[timestones]

I know a lot about inter-dimensional energies and this dimension in general has felt somewhat unstable or frayed at the edges since I got here. Granted, the worlds were about to end, so I'm not one to judge on that front, but.

There's been something that feels especially different on a mystical level lately. Like loss and presence at the same time. Like a haunting. I wanted to know if anyone else on this sort of frequency was feeling anything similar.

private;

[thecacophony]

Doesn't sound like you're far off. According to the bastards in charge of this place, after those goddesses split from this side of the...multiverse or whatever, the cosmic aftershock combined with the already poor structure of this place caused some kind of dimensional echo.

[She's looked at her own notes from that meeting with the government enough by now to have nearly memorized it.]

Whatever the fuck all of that means, but it was enough to send everyone off. Like some shitty going away gift, I guess. But I was there when we did the summoning spell for one of those goddesses last time, and that was with more mages and witches than what we've got now. It barely did anything but give us a handful of cryptic, birdshit riddles for our troubles.

I don't think we have even that kind of option this time.

text, ID reads 'tadashi'

[tadeadshi]

I haven't seen or heard from Peter in a few weeks. Messages have been bouncing back.

[Which means one thing.]

text;

[timestones]

[There isn't an immediate response, but it's clearly a message he's read. On his side of the device, Stephen gives a sigh that comes from a few different and conflicting places.]

I appreciate you sharing this.

You're a friend of Peter's, I take it.

[tadeadshi]

We met when I was ported back in.

[God Tadashi just be honest and stop overthinking.]

Yeah we were friends.

[timestones]

Then you have my sympathies. He's a good kid, well worth being friends with. But I suspect I neither need to tell you that, nor does it help if he has ported out.