regaining trust is harder than it seems ((Clark, Harry Dresden))

[slayers_desire]

It has been weeks since April's voices were returned to normal, thanks to the efforts of Clark, Ed and Cipher Nine. And while the voices returned to their everyday work, of providing assistance and advice to the Key, it seemed that she wasn't willing to pay attention.

April was scared, truth be told. She was scared in trusting her voices again.

It was J'onn who informed Clark that his wife was refusing to provide advice to the other JLA members. And while no one had suffered yet, it was like the team was missing a big part of their strengths.

Comments

[thepizzalord]

"I didn't think that was out of the ordinary," he says, a little confused.

[slayers_desire]

April struggles to explain for a moment. "In his role of Superman, Clark is seen as a becon of light, hope and goodness."

"And if my powers are darkness... tied to the darkness... then how could I..."

"I could be his worse enemy."

[thepizzalord]

"Lemme stop you right there because that is bullshit, pardon the French," Harry says. "If your powers come from darkness that doesn't mean you are darkness, and there's no way you'd ever turn against your man just because you see some rough stuff. Where your powers come from means nothing against how you use 'em."

[slayers_desire]

His hard truth is just what she needs right now. And she reaches out to touch his hand in gratitude.

"My belief was shaken... how do I get it back?"

[thepizzalord]

"I'm not sure," he says, but he is putting his mind to the task. "You might have to use your powers to do some good, but if you're too afraid to start using 'em again, that won't help." He thinks for a moment. There's two things he can think of to try, but each one is a very serious thing to do. "The way I see it, I can give you two options. Either I can use the Sight on you and let you see what you truly are... or we can Soulgaze."

[slayers_desire]

"What are the consequences and benefits of each option?" April is taking his suggestions seriously, but wants to know more.

[thepizzalord]

"A wizard's inner Sight is kind of a sixth sense that lets me see things that aren't visible to the naked eye. It's kind of like a supernatural truth-teller. I'd be able to see any darkness, anything hidden that you haven't told me about what you are. So if I didn't know you were a vampire before, the Sight would show me that, but it goes deeper than just physical glamour tricks. I had a cop friend, back in my world. She was the no-bullshit kind of gal, didn't hesitate to go up against the bumps in the night, that kind of thing. Totally mundane human being as far as species go, but when I looked at her with the Sight, she looked like an avenging angel. Blazing wings and everything. Even her pistol was a holy sword."

"The downside of the Sight is whatever I see, I can never forget. It's not like normal memories where they soften and fade over time. It'll be burned into my memory for the rest of my life, something I can call up at a thought. It's why we don't use it often."

He shakes his head a little, moving on to the next option. "You might've noticed that I don't actually look people in the eye, yeah?"

[slayers_desire]

"Sounds very serious. And no wonder you don't use it very often."

"I have noticed... that has to do with the Soulgaze?"

[thepizzalord]

Harry nods. "When a wizard and someone else with a soul look each other in the eyes, it triggers a soulgaze whether you want it or not. It can't be faked and it can't be changed by either person, and like the Sight, it'll be a memory that you can't forget. Except this time it'd be for both of us."

"When you're in a soulgaze, you see the other person for who they truly are, in a kind of... very metaphorical way. Lots of symbolism, usually. But you know if they're trustworthy, if they've been psychically harmed, what their true nature really is. But you don't get to see what your own looks like to the other person either, and mine ain't pretty." He still doesn't know exactly what other people see when they look at his, but they react to him differently when they're done. "Good thing is, it can only happen once between the same two people. So if we soulgazed each other today, I could look you in the eyes all day after and nothing would happen."

[slayers_desire]

"That sounds very serious too..."

It sounds like either would give Harry a true view of who April is, at the true core. And while the thought of that is scary, and unnerving, April knows that it is what she wants. A true glimpse at herself.

Only the soulgaze sounds like an exchange, for he would see her soul, as she would see his.

"I am willing for you to use either the Sight or Soulgaze on me. Whichever makes you more comfortable..." He might not want her to truly see his soul. It is his call.

[thepizzalord]

Harry doesn't want to make it seem like he's hiding anything, but he doesn't want her to have to see all his own inner darkness when she's trying to forget her own. Or at least he assumes that's what she'd see. Especially with Lasciel onboard. April just might run screaming off the ship.

"You sure?"

[slayers_desire]

April takes a moment of deep reflection. And then nodded. "I am sure."

[thepizzalord]

"All right. Sight it is. Let's go to the port observation deck. Less things to distract me there." His Sight won't just show him her, but also his surroundings. Here in the lab, with hundreds of objects around him and a good deal of electronics running under the bulkheads, he needs a spot of calm.

Harry turns down the burner on his potion and glances up at the ceiling. "Hey EDI, give me a heads up if this thing catches the lab on fire, would ya?"

The smooth female voice from before replies with a hint of sarcasm. "I will be sure to do that, Warden Dresden."

[slayers_desire]

"You would know the best place." April agrees to his suggestion.

"So, is she an AI?" April asks about 'EDI'.

[thepizzalord]

"Yeah, but don't spread it around," Harry says as he leads her out of the lab. The corridors of the Normandy are shiny and clean, with the same black and silver aesthetic as his lab. They have to take the central elevator to the next level down, only a short ride. "AIs are actually illegal under galactic law, so she pretends to be a Virtual Intelligence instead."

[slayers_desire]

"I won't breath a word." April just assumed the first, after her own experience with Clark's AI.

[thepizzalord]

"Atta girl. Knew you wouldn't," Harry says, flashing a grin. "This way." He turns down a short corridor, towards what looks like a silver wall. The wall folds up and out of the way, opening into a small lounge with a bar and futuristic entertainment center. The far wall ahead of them is one large window, and outside is the vastness of space, showing the stars as they pass by. The view is covered by a fluctuating blue haze of some sort, flowing past the viewport in a constant direction and speed.

[slayers_desire]

April carefully traces her finger against the window, looking out to the vastnes sof space. It is not often she gets to go into space. She had a chance with Cipher Nine. And of course her husband.

But she still enjoys the sight.

"Wow... you don't consider this a distraction?"

[thepizzalord]

Harry's been living in space for two years now, and it's still strange to him how quickly it's become routine. But every now and then, he does stop and appreciate the view. "Not to my Third Eye, I hope. Most of it's distant enough I won't get any impressions if that's my backdrop. Might get something off the mass effect fields, but I'll get that no matter where I am on the ship."

[slayers_desire]

"Well I am glad you have a place like this, to concentrate your Sight."

((been thinking of what he will see in his Sight. Since April is a Key, he might see many connections to unopened portals. Her tie to the Powers That Be, which is both light and darkness. Of course, her beastial side. The voices are connected to a rich history, and are almost timeless themselves. Feel free to add anything else appropriate))

[thepizzalord]

"Let's hope it works." Since she's already in front of the viewport, he doesn't have to ask her to re-position herself. "Ready?"

((I will make good use of those ideas :D))

[slayers_desire]

"Yes. As ready as ever..."

[thepizzalord]

Harry closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths to center himself, then opens his inner eye before he opens his physical ones.

The first thing he notices is the blazing hot energy all around them, almost searing his eyes through the window, and he almost has to squint to see through the sheets of energy. Standing in front of them is something he is sure is April, but it doesn't quite look like her anymore. Before him stands a blonde goddess with a Buffyverse vampire's face and fangs, and a golden aura all around her that stretches upward, vanishing into mysterious nothing. Her eyes glow white with restrained, measured power and a dark green cape hangs from her shoulders. In one hand, she holds a tarot deck, and in the other, a rope made of pure energy that splits into multiple strands. Each strand leads to a swirling portal, each one muted and dull, with a bright core just waiting to be unleashed.

To April, Harry's eyes take on a slightly distant look as he stares in her direction, but he's clearly focused on something. His eyebrows go up in amazement, mouth opening slightly at whatever he sees.

[slayers_desire]

She is quiet while he focuses on her, not sure what he is seeing, but is wonders what has amazed him.

[thepizzalord]

Harry takes a few moments to drink in all the details. Her image seems slightly damaged, her head scarred on the sides, but in the process of healing. There is a small darkness in her aura near her heart, but as he looks closer, he can see it's because she has a photo of Drusilla in a locket around her neck. An old darkness, but nothing new.

He takes in all those details, then closes his eyes again, passing a hand in front of his face. It doesn't actually do anything to close his inner eye, but the gesture helps him emotionally.