witchofthechalk | Post Thirty Three: Sorting Things Out

[Tiffany is tired. No, worse. She's not tired, at least not properly tired. Properly tired was spending two days on your feet without sleep. It was helping a new mother give birth to twins. It was when you spent your time on something that made the sheer exhaustion feel like an accomplishment rather then a weakness. No she wasn't tired. Not really.

But she was worried. And she dreams of eyeless things, angry music and gingerbread houses in the woods. And she decides since she's a witch she's going to have to do something about all this. Or a few things.

A. Housemates: Tiffany is sitting on the living room floor while she goes through the small wooden box of her small things from home.

B. Tiffany is walking down the street with a broomstick floating in the air behind her. She's holding onto it by a string as she walks along.

C. Susan, people at Susan's house. There is a witch knocking on the door.

D. There is a girl and a broom on a hill. While that might be a little odd, the strange thing is that she's flying. Rather low to the ground but still flying. It helps her think.

ooc: Tiffany is now able to hear spill words.]

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[ Ilsa is walking from the opposite direction. No, she isn't on patrol what would ever give you that idea? ]

Good morning! Taking the broom for walkies?

[ ...hope it isn't because there's something wrong, I never worked with brooms.... ]

[A completely polite and straight face. Oh she just loves condescending adults...]

It's easier then carrying it.

And flying in town would be impolite? [ or showing off? ]

I like flying on the hill, you can see more.

I've heard it's got a good view, and quiet. [ Might have to try flying there if I get enough control back to practice. ]

[ There's also a bit of curiosity concerning the mechanics of the broom, but instead she asks a different question. ]

Back home, did you usually work alone or with a group?

Alone. Though we pay each other visits.

[ Ilsa nods. ]

Always good to check up on each other, sometimes a new pair of eyes can see something that has been sneaking up on you. [ ...or sneaking up inside you. ]

How long have you been working for your town?

The past few years. But I'm the witch of all of the Chalk area, not just one town.

That's a lot of work. [ Not sure I could handle Atlanta for more than a few months by myself. ] How many people?

[ She really is interested, on a professional level. ]

Not that many. Mostly small farming towns.

[They certainly keep her busy though.]

I don't know an exact number.

[ Ilsa nods. ]

It sounds an awful lot like riding circuit in my world. At home, we also need to hide the work at the same time.

Really? Are you a witch?

That's one of the names the use for it in my world. I got cross-trained by a lot of different relatives, because they wanted my sister and me to find the methods that worked best for us.

[ She shrugs, diffidently. ]

It also meant I knew about a lot of different types of herbalism and such when I went to medical school.

I see. And it's hidden in your world is it?

Well, yeah - easier to get things done, most times. Lots of people don't understand the costs involved. The energy has to come from somewhere.

What do you mean?

Well, I'm not sure how it works everywhere, but at home, magic has to follow rules, like the laws of physics. Any action needs a certain amount of energy to make it effective, whether it's physical or magic. You just have to know which tool is best for the job.

I see.

But why does this mean you have to hide from people?

History - witches have been hunted a couple of times in my world, and if it weren't a really widespread thing, we might have gone extinct. Then the pendulum swings back, and we're revered instead of reviled... and it seems there's people who don't listen to explanations, and just want you to fix everything.

It's a lot easier to protect people when they aren't underfoot.

I see.

Well, we manage well enough in my world and people know what we are.

[ Ilsa sighs. ]

I hate to say it, but there are a huge number of idiots in my world. Luckily, I'm a psychiatrist, and qualified to make that diagnosis. Though honestly, most of the people in my world just can't see most of it.

See?

[Rather interesting.]

It's odd, but there's a lot of people who are blind to magic, or their brains won't accept it... their subconscious edits their memories of the event to fit their view of the world.

[ Ilsa shrugs again. ] Most of the time, it's actually a blessing. Luck, good or bad, gets blamed and they go on with their lives intact.

It's when one of the horrors is in their face that they remember, if they survive.

Yes. That would make it hard to explain then.

Most of what my group does is try to keep the peace, maintain the balance, and protect the ones that need it.

What responsibilities do you have in your circuit?