GENO
"Is 'no' even an option here?"

Your vocal synthesizers give the question a wonderful deadpan inflection. If Antlers takes your sarcasm to heart, it doesn't show. His rigid posture and features suggest a whole lot of nothing as he turns to you.

ANTLERS
"I can't force your hand, or sphere, as the case may be."
"You managed to penetrate the barrier once. I would not be so audacious as to claim you couldn't twice."

His tone is mild, but disingenuous, and Geri shifts awkwardly where she stands.

GERI
"Still, we'd really appreciate the help, granting it's safe and all. Wouldn't we, Geno?"

GENO
"How much mana do you think creating a portal would need?"

You swivel from Antlers to Geri and back again, suggesting you'd like both their input. Geri's quick to answer, as though she's been preparing for this question -- perhaps in the context of a test?



GERI
"It depends on the distance between our current location and the target location, plus the caster's efficiency channeling mana, and how much the barriers of the 'to' and 'from' planes resist being torn a new one."

She takes a deep breath.

GERI
"If you're asking how much mana we'll need to get home from here, specifically, then... shrug?"
"We landed here by accident. If this place is off the grid with all this fancy security, I figure we'll probably need—"

ANTLERS
"Quite a bit."

Another smooth chuckle from Antlers.

ANTLERS
"Chronospatial magic is a complex art which few have the innate capacity to perform, and fewer have learned to perform through practice. That you tore your way into this plane by sheer chance is fascinating, girl, especially given that you're both unharmed."

GERI
"It's 'Geri'. And we're not completely unharmed? Geno's weirdly weak, my memories are all jumbled and patchy, and my wand..."
"Rest in pieces, wand."

She produces the remnants of her wand from her pockets for emphasis. Antlers' eyes narrow with interest.

ANTLERS
"I beg your pardon, Geri. That's a curious piece of work. May I?"

GERI
"Go ahead. Pick your teeth with it if you want. It used to be super pretty crystallized Worldtree sap, but it's worthless now."



Antlers takes the wand's warped stem in his claws. He's quiet for a moment, turning it between his fingers. It seems somehow duller when Geri takes it back.

GENO
"We want Geri to make the portal."

GERI
"I want some practice too, but you know I can't. Didn't you just see my wand?"

She looks hurt, as though you said something she hoped you wouldn't. Antlers interjects with a hint of curiosity:

ANTLERS
"Is that such an issue?"
"Chronospatial magic doesn't require the use of a focus."

GERI
"I know, I know. It's kind of a 'me' thing, but it's important. Sorry, but, um, I'd rather not talk about it with someone I just ran into."

ANTLERS
"Consider the topic unmentioned."

GENO
"We're setting a mana limit if you borrow ours, so don't try your shenanigans here, you little shit."

GERI
"Geno! The nice deer man wants to help."

ANTLERS
"No, you're wise to be suspicious. Perhaps Geri should borrow some of mine instead? You might find a focus unnecessary in such dire times."

Geri seems hesitant.

GERI
"It's you or him who's the mana bank, I guess! I mean, I can try if you aren't comfortable being handled by someone else. It'd be pretty rude of me to force you into it since we, like, just met."