[ lupin is the worst!! largely because her delicate maiden's heart is definitely solidifying that small crush into a much bigger one. Her smile stays playfully wry, as if doubting that he could help himself, but it doesn't linger long. ]
It's fine. I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't okay with talking about it.
[ Because it's really just in talking to a few people about it recently that she's realized that she had kept it secret, a little. She's not sure if that was intentional or not, but... People here are kind. Even telling someone who was a bit chillier (to say the least) like Damian, the response had been positive.
Which, of course it was. She's not sure why she had some fear that people would tell her she should be locked up. It was just that pang of fear like when she had looked through that mirror into her drawing room. What am I? ]
It's... kind of a long story, though. Can I make you tea first?
[ he hasn't forgotten what she said last time about her "tea," but he's hoping he was just jumping to conclusions about what she meant. He's way too polite to say no, anyway - at least to Elizabeth. None of that shows on his face, naturally; he just continues chatting lightly. ]
If you're planning to talk to me about quantum physics later, I'm sure I'll need all the energy I can get.
[ It's at least simple enough to prepare. The hearth is kept in their household (OR WHATEVER BC I REALIZED I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COOK ALL OF THE SUDDEN), so it's a matter of filling up a beat up kettle with water, then setting it over the heat to almost-boil. Once it's set, she turns back to face him with a laugh. ]
Well, maybe a tiny bit. But it's nothing too technical, I promise.
[ And once the water is hot enough, she prepares their tea. Or "tea". She brings some out for him, and at the very least, it's not the worst. Just incredibly weak, since there isn't much in town that has flavor. It's mostly hot water, but, ]
It... takes a long time to steep. [ Probably like. An hour. ]
[ indeed, it is mostly hot water... but it could be worse. It could be a lot worse. Lupin is relieved, a little, but wisely keeps that from showing on his face, too. He accepts it graciously. ]
What's that saying? Good things take time? I'll be patient.
[ it's probably not gonna be good though ]
In the meantime... I meant it when I said I was curious before about how you thought this was possible.
[ She smiles a little, since she's glad he's at least being kind about it. It's definitely not great, but when things have so little flavor, it's better than nothing. Probably.
However, that smile does turn to light surprise, since she thought he would return to the topic of her Tower first. It's not as if she minds. In fact,it's probably a little easier to explain when her Tears come first. ]
Oh— Well... Because it's not strange to me that there the people here are from such interesting places. Or even different times. I'm more used to the idea of multiple universes than most people, I think.
[ She laughs a little, since that's an understatement, but continues easily. ]
The "why" is the part I don't really understand, but it's definitely possible to just... make a hole between those universes. I've always called them Tears, but they're kind of like windows between the universes. Usually, you can only look through them but... Well, I can open them. [ Her voice gets a little more careful when says that, since she's much more careful with that information than when she had told Booker. ] So if I can, there has to be another way to do it. If you open up a Tear, you can take anything from it. I used to visit other worlds when I was younger, so people can definitely go through them. I just don't know why they would converge here.
[ this, Lupin listens to attentively - whenever he meets anyone here who has even passing familiarity with the idea of crossing into a separate world outside of fantasy novels, he always wants to hear what they have to say. He lets his hot-water-with-some-leaves "steep" for a while longer, setting it on the table and leaning over it as she speaks. ]
You can just... open them? How is that possible?
[ a beat. Can she still do that here? If so, couldn't she just send everyone home with her powers? It sounds pretty phenomenal - but he assumes there must be some catch, or she would have done that already. Elizabeth might be happy to get away from her tower, but not enough to let everyone else suffer here. ]
That's what I'd like to know. I don't know why I can, but I've always been able to open up the Tears. I used to be able to make them, but... I don't know. One day, I just couldn't.
[ Elizabeth turns the thimble around her pinky idly, and at this point, it's probably clear enough that this idle gesture is one she goes to when she's deep in thought. ]
I'll be trying again soon, though. I met a boy—Damian—and he's much smarter than you'd think, considering how young he is. But he wants to see if I can make them. I did stop trying after a few years, so... Who knows? If I can, I might be able to use the Tears to help people.
This might be a silly question, but... Is there a difference between making then and opening them?
[ it sounds like she used to be able to do both, but then lost one, somehow, for reasons even she doesn't know. But the terminology is unfamiliar enough that Lupin can't parse exactly what she's saying. ]
It's not silly. It's... a lot, I know. Honestly, the people I've explained it to here take it better than Mr. Dewitt.
[ who is a dumb garbage eating moron ]
It's different, yes. I always thought it might be because of me, since in Columbia, Tears would just sort of... appear. Apparently not, since I haven't seen any here, but that's probably better. You could look through them and catch a glimpse of a world on the other side, but you could interact with them unless they're opened. So something else was making them, and I could just pull it open to really see what was there.
[ She shrugs ]
But when I was a girl, I could just... I don't know. I could just make them appear wherever I wanted.
[ obviously, Lupin doesn't know anything about this - not about quantum physics, alternate universes, or anything in between. He can't say why she might have lost a power like that. But Elizabeth's explanation is straightforward enough; he nods. ]
And I'm guessing you haven't found any Tears here, even in the well.
I haven't. It's probably better that they're not here, but it's still strange to not see them at all. They've always been around as long as I can remember.
[ Elizabeth makes a thoughtful noise, but then shrugs ]
...But I think at least here, I can learn more about what they are. Maybe. With so many people that can do so many things, surely at least one person might know a little about it. If I can make the Tears again and control them, then I might be able to help anyone that wants to go home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
It's fine. I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't okay with talking about it.
[ Because it's really just in talking to a few people about it recently that she's realized that she had kept it secret, a little. She's not sure if that was intentional or not, but... People here are kind. Even telling someone who was a bit chillier (to say the least) like Damian, the response had been positive.
Which, of course it was. She's not sure why she had some fear that people would tell her she should be locked up. It was just that pang of fear like when she had looked through that mirror into her drawing room. What am I? ]
It's... kind of a long story, though. Can I make you tea first?
[ or, well. "tea" ]
no subject
[ he hasn't forgotten what she said last time about her "tea," but he's hoping he was just jumping to conclusions about what she meant. He's way too polite to say no, anyway - at least to Elizabeth. None of that shows on his face, naturally; he just continues chatting lightly. ]
If you're planning to talk to me about quantum physics later, I'm sure I'll need all the energy I can get.
no subject
Well, maybe a tiny bit. But it's nothing too technical, I promise.
[ And once the water is hot enough, she prepares their tea. Or "tea". She brings some out for him, and at the very least, it's not the worst. Just incredibly weak, since there isn't much in town that has flavor. It's mostly hot water, but, ]
It... takes a long time to steep. [ Probably like. An hour. ]
no subject
What's that saying? Good things take time? I'll be patient.
[ it's probably not gonna be good though ]
In the meantime... I meant it when I said I was curious before about how you thought this was possible.
no subject
However, that smile does turn to light surprise, since she thought he would return to the topic of her Tower first. It's not as if she minds. In fact,it's probably a little easier to explain when her Tears come first. ]
Oh— Well... Because it's not strange to me that there the people here are from such interesting places. Or even different times. I'm more used to the idea of multiple universes than most people, I think.
[ She laughs a little, since that's an understatement, but continues easily. ]
The "why" is the part I don't really understand, but it's definitely possible to just... make a hole between those universes. I've always called them Tears, but they're kind of like windows between the universes. Usually, you can only look through them but... Well, I can open them. [ Her voice gets a little more careful when says that, since she's much more careful with that information than when she had told Booker. ] So if I can, there has to be another way to do it. If you open up a Tear, you can take anything from it. I used to visit other worlds when I was younger, so people can definitely go through them. I just don't know why they would converge here.
no subject
You can just... open them? How is that possible?
[ a beat. Can she still do that here? If so, couldn't she just send everyone home with her powers? It sounds pretty phenomenal - but he assumes there must be some catch, or she would have done that already. Elizabeth might be happy to get away from her tower, but not enough to let everyone else suffer here. ]
no subject
That's what I'd like to know. I don't know why I can, but I've always been able to open up the Tears. I used to be able to make them, but... I don't know. One day, I just couldn't.
[ Elizabeth turns the thimble around her pinky idly, and at this point, it's probably clear enough that this idle gesture is one she goes to when she's deep in thought. ]
I'll be trying again soon, though. I met a boy—Damian—and he's much smarter than you'd think, considering how young he is. But he wants to see if I can make them. I did stop trying after a few years, so... Who knows? If I can, I might be able to use the Tears to help people.
no subject
[ it sounds like she used to be able to do both, but then lost one, somehow, for reasons even she doesn't know. But the terminology is unfamiliar enough that Lupin can't parse exactly what she's saying. ]
no subject
It's not silly. It's... a lot, I know. Honestly, the people I've explained it to here take it better than Mr. Dewitt.
[ who is a dumb garbage eating moron ]
It's different, yes. I always thought it might be because of me, since in Columbia, Tears would just sort of... appear. Apparently not, since I haven't seen any here, but that's probably better. You could look through them and catch a glimpse of a world on the other side, but you could interact with them unless they're opened. So something else was making them, and I could just pull it open to really see what was there.
[ She shrugs ]
But when I was a girl, I could just... I don't know. I could just make them appear wherever I wanted.
no subject
Huh...
[ obviously, Lupin doesn't know anything about this - not about quantum physics, alternate universes, or anything in between. He can't say why she might have lost a power like that. But Elizabeth's explanation is straightforward enough; he nods. ]
And I'm guessing you haven't found any Tears here, even in the well.
no subject
I haven't. It's probably better that they're not here, but it's still strange to not see them at all. They've always been around as long as I can remember.
[ Elizabeth makes a thoughtful noise, but then shrugs ]
...But I think at least here, I can learn more about what they are. Maybe. With so many people that can do so many things, surely at least one person might know a little about it. If I can make the Tears again and control them, then I might be able to help anyone that wants to go home.