001 ✶ audio/action

[scarletcast]

For those of you who have [ pause, a low hum, ] superpowers. Has this place ever taken them from you?

​​[ A beat. ]

If you wish to speak in person, I will be in the park. In the red jacket.

​​[ She has ways of being completely private, but that's a little invasive and not something to advertise. Anyone heading to the park to speak to her or in the vicinity will see a young woman on a bench, with a thermos full of tea next to her, steam rising off the cup clasped in her hands. ]

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[scarletcast]

So we are in a world cut off from all others, and the only way in and out is through the Door.

[ She frowns. ]

Your dreams. What if you stayed near the Door when it was open?

[whichend]

[ Arya nods. Wanda is correct, on that count. ]

That wouldn't make a difference. Nymeria is not here, and she is not near the door.

[ But enough about Arya. She's given a lot of information already. ]

What can you do?

[scarletcast]

[ A display of her power is not going to end well for a distrustful person. Wanda, however, doesn't entertain anything but the truthful answer. ]

Point to something here.

[ The trees, the bench, the piles of leaves, the cup in her hands. ]

[whichend]

[ Arya points to one of the smaller trees, then looks back to Wanda. She's not sure what's supposed to happen, but she has her free hand on the hilt of her sword, just in case. ]

[scarletcast]

[ She sets the cup down, spreads her fingers apart. The wind rustles through the leaves. Thin threads of red curl around her fingers, slowly forming a small, bright thing the size of a tennis ball. Wanda lets it go — it heads straight for the tree, the light spreads until there's nothing standing there. ]

That is what I do.

[whichend]

[ Arya watches closely, her eyes growing wide as Wanda casts her light. ]

You are Lightbringer -- or Azor Ahai -- or --

[ Arya gasps. ]

Are you the Red God himself? Herself? Itself?

[scarletcast]

A red god?

[ Arya said the. Wanda frowns. The abilities are certainly not unique, and Lilith is similar to her, but -- to claim godhood... ]

No, I am not. It is possible they have magic like mine.

[whichend]

The lord of the light. [ Arya mimics Wanda's hand motion. ] You have a light power, too.

[ Not a god? But those powers are godlike. Arya's brow furrows. ]

Do you see prophecies in fire, too?

[scarletcast]

[ A light power. Funny way of describing it. ]

No. What else have you seen this Lord of the Light do?

[whichend]

Revive a dead man.

[ And then, hopefully: ]

Can you do the same?

[scarletcast]

[ Her hope stings. Wanda shakes her head. ]

No, I cannot. What does — [ she hesitates ] who serves this god, that we may know them and ask them?

[whichend]

[ Arya's face falls, back to her carefully blank mask. ]

No one here. His priests are all in my world.

[scarletcast]

[ She nods. ]

I was only curious. Where I am from, I alone can do this.

[whichend]

How do you know that you are the only one?

[ Just because Arya hasn't met any other skinchangers doesn't mean they don't exist, after all. ]

[scarletcast]

[ Wanda starts. Arya's right. ]

I don't. Perhaps I'm not, and I will meet them someday.

[whichend]

[ Arya shrugs. ]

In any case, you're likely rare. That's an advantage and disadvantage.

[scarletcast]

[ Someone will find out how to make another, even if the Mind Gem is now with Vision. ]

And you? You are human?

[whichend]

Sometimes.

[ Wanda showed Arya her power. It would be rude to deny Wanda the same information. Arya isn't good with trust, but she knows the importance of an even exchange. ]

[scarletcast]

[ The importance of an account settled. It tells her something about Arya. ]

Is it a secret?

[whichend]

It is. Hidden from certain men. I don't know if you're one of them.

[ If Wanda asks to hear the secret, Arya will tell her. ]

[scarletcast]

[ A nod. ]

Then it is better I not know, so I will tell no one.

[ She has no burning need for Arya's secrets. ]

[whichend]

[ Arya flashes Wanda a toothy grin. ]

No one already knows.

[ It's Arya's own personal joke. She tips her head politely. ]

It was good to meet you.

[ Arya says 'good' like someone would say 'useful.' ]

[scarletcast]

[ It doesn't bother her. The world is complicated, and people always were. Arya is young. People do not hide without reason. ]

And you.