Second time’s the charm

The door beeped, and a second later Mercy strode through. The blonde walked in and tossed a granola bar to the beseated Dani who had turned around to see the not-so surprise visitor (Athena had kindly warned her of the incoming presence).

“Breakfast. Follow me. You can eat while we walk.” With her purpose delivered, she turned about and started to leave. Dani, who had caught the plastic wrapped bar, cradled it to her chest and attempted to follow. She almost tripped on herself getting up, as usual all matters physical being an utter horror imposed by the darkest devils, but managed well enough and made quick time across the room.

“Where are we going?” She knew where they were going. Athena had oh so graciously notified that they were returning to the common room (the common room being the name of the room where she had ungracefully fallen into and having nothing to do with the common language or anything related to rarity for some utterly bizarre reason).

Mercy didn’t reply, seemingly content to just quietly march the two of them along. While companionship was lacking, Dani chose instead to tinker with the plastic construct between her hands. Her host had said it was breakfast, so that implied it was edible. She raised it to her mouth and was just about to bite down when a voice whispered in her ear.

“Not like that. You have to tear it open first.” Athena had helpfully provided a hidden device which she had placed in her ear and was at the moment using to communicate incognito.

Oh. It was like a pouch. There did seem to be something hard inside, a kind of tack perhaps. She fingered the folds, looking for a point of entry, but alas, the device was clearly devil made.

“Could you open this for me? I don’t know how to.” She asked Mercy with all the sweetness of a summer child.

Mercy looked at her with all the disdain of a parent of ten children and then without wasting a single unneeded second of her precious time, grabbed the bar from Dani and tugged it open.

Dani let out an appropriate gasp of awe and took it back. Its contents did look rather more appetizing than the grey shell, and a quick bite later, proved their deliciousness upon the field of mouthly battle.

This didn’t slow them down, and before she knew it, the two of them were returned to the common room, just with a slightly more crumbly-faced and well-rested Dani.

There were a few new faces in the room that hadn’t been there before, each dressed as fantastically or more so than the last. At this point Dani wasn’t surprised however, as she had presumably correctly guessed their nature, and of course heroes would be dressed in a manner befitting their heroic nature.

Mercy motioned for her to sit on the far edge and she obliged. The rest of the room’s eyes were glued to her as she made her way and it did bring out a note of nervousness in the subject. A wizard was naturally a secretive sort, and Dani even more than most, partly because of her specialization and mostly because of her nature. For all she complained of devils and the like, well, hmm, the thought wasn’t too appetizing so she wouldn’t dwell on it.

“Let’s get this rodeo started.” The cowboy motioned broadly. “Athena, reckon you got anything to share?”

“No further results were found in any of the many information channels available. However, the nature of her claims to magic have been partially verified. She demonstrated a spell the previous evening and their effects are objectively observed. The source is disputed.”

“So she is a witch, ha! Right out of a fairytale.” The large man laughed a belly deep kind of way that set Dani’s heart at ease. He did have a comforting sort of manner to him, and despite his clearly martial proclivity, he seemed almost like the elder, grandfatherly kind of wizards she had encountered at the old mystics enclave at Tirmont. She still remembered fondly listening to their stories in front of a warm hearth and supping on their illusory feasts.

“That’s not what she said.” And this was from the strangest member of the troupe. A talking gorilla, or perhaps a shapeshifted mage, dressed in a white loose fitting coat and spectacles. “Indeed, I have trouble believing that ‘magic’ is the cause. Rather, a more scientific explanation is likely the culprit. To that effect, would you mind demonstrating a ‘spell’, Danrielle? Something simple, please. Perhaps something along the lines of telekinesis?” The gorilla had started off dryly, but Dani detected a creeping note of eager curiosity as he had progressed to his request. And rightly so! Magic was an inherently interesting topic, and Dani was happy to acquiesce.

She stood up and conjured her book, making sure to do it with a minor cantrip of sparks to really show off. And then she was about to proceed into an actual spell, but was interrupted by the gorilla.

“Stop! Stop! Wait, did you get any readings from that Athena?”

“Yes, as with the last occurrence, I detected an electrical pulse at the location of interest. The origin of the pulse is unknown. The book appears to be constructed of physical, known materials. The language is unknown.”

“I see.” The gorilla pushed his glasses up his nose. “A mystery then! We’ll have to do more rigorous testing later, that is if you don’t mind?”

He was asking her? Dani had rather thought this whole thing was more mandatory than that, but perhaps there was a bit more wiggle room. Or maybe he was just being kind as was his nature. She nodded affirmatively, which elicited a great, toothy (and probably not meant to intimidate) grin on the gorilla.

“Fantastic! Now, on with the spell.”

Right. She steadied herself, and then resolute, turned to the page in question. The spell on the previous page had dimmed back to its normal sedate self, but the one on page sixty-four remained alight. She put a finger on it and traced the incantation in her mind. Her thoughts drifted for a moment back to her interrogation of Athena, and the assurance that everyone on the team was present in the room. These kinds of things had to be done all at once or else they risked too much. Right.

She spoke the words out loud, words which could be translated as “Charm Person, Greater” and an array of beams shot out to touch each of the room’s occupants in the forehead. Some surged to motion, while others were caught by surprise. Either way, they all slackened after being charmed, eyes blank for a moment while the spell took hold.

And then, with a couple blinks of the eye, as if from a long sleep, they awoke.

“So, did you enjoy my spell?” Dani asked.

“It was marvelous!” Winston cheered her performance. “You’ll definitely have to do a few more.”

“Oh, but I can’t. I only prepared that one. I’ll have to sleep to recharge. But for that matter, does that mean you don’t mind keeping me around?”

“Mind? You’re our honored guinea pig. Haha! Don’t mind me, just a scientist joke. Seriously though, stay as long as you like. I’d never let such an interesting research subject go.”

“So I’m not a prisoner anymore?”

“Prisoner? What made you think that?”

“The whole ‘put her in the brig’ talk?”

“Oh! No, assuredly not. The brig is just what we call the guest quarters. Mercy, did you give her the wrong impression?”

“I… I... “ The blonde was clearly struggling with the thought. She seemed to have a stronger will than most of Dani’s victims, but even that tiny flame was soon extinguished under the constancy of the charm’s enveloping truth. “I… suppose I may have given that impression. My apologies.” She bowed slightly to Dani. “We don’t get many guests like you, my dear.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. We just met, but that being said, I’d like to think we’re friends now.”

“Friends...?” Mercy mulled it over. She supposed that made sense. Overwatch was all about fraternity and overcoming odds together. One more friend couldn’t hurt.

“Yes. And as friends, I’d like to ask for one little tiny inconsequential thing. You see, if I’m to be staying here, I’m sure I’d get bored doing nothing but sitting in my room all day.” The room nodded in unison. That made sense. It wasn’t like Dani would lie to them about something like this. “And I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind me contributing?”

“Of course, dear. Do you have anything in mind?” Mercy asked kindly.

“Why, nothing too onerous. When I wasn’t casting spells, I often acted as a psychic healer back in my world. I’m told by Athena that the closest analogue here would be ‘therapist.’ I’d be happy to do the same here.” Dani grinned as wide as her mouth allowed.