might as well do it with style

[starving_artist]

Henry doesn't want to go back home.

Yes, his money's beginning to run out. Yes, his friends probably want nothing to do with him. Yes, he's gone from living in the lap of luxury to sleeping on the street.

But he really, really can't go home.

He can't seem to sleep anymore. The sounds of stray dogs or passing drunks sound like footsteps. The police, coming to drag him back, or some magician's demon, or even his mother herself. She's rich and powerful and a lot smarter than him, he was deluding himself when he thought he could escape for good.

There's one small glimmer of hope. One thing he can think of that she wouldn't expect.

The chances of this working are infinitesimally small, and failure is more than likely to kill him.

But Henry cannot go home.

So Henry decides to summon a marid.

Comments

[between_worlds]

"Step back," Alex says, mild exasperation in his voice.

[starving_artist]

"Oh! Right! Sorry!"

He steps.

[between_worlds]

The books burst into flame, perhaps a little more ostentatiously than is strictly necessary.

[starving_artist]

A small "wow" escapes from Henry's lips before he can stop it. He's a little self-conscious about that, but...it's impressive!

"Um. Anyway. Feel free to grab whatever you like to read. I don't know if you're interested in...I mean, if you feel like reading about something other than magic there's other books here."

[between_worlds]

"What books did you use to become a magician?"