A response from Green Judy's Simon to the photoshoot Mirrors, Smoke, and Spidersilk.
Simon: **pausing to regain his balance** All right...here's the house...
**touches the mirrorframe** Dust...
**shivers**
Simon: Bother. Silly romantic notion; why, why did I come? He tangled himself up for a reason, you interfering ass. He's probably not here.
**pale, reddish light, rising from the end of a corridor, pricks at Simon's peripheral vision**
Simon: He's here. Daresay he won't appreciate my meddling. Well, done is done. I think that's the longest route I have ever traveled by mirror. Getting back will be a chore...ah...so he got himself down...**pats his handy scissors** Suppose I won't be needing these. Right. Let's not wait to be found, shall we?
**walks toward the light**
Simon: **to Umbrae** Hallo. My name is Simon; I'm a thaumaturge. I came to see if...er...you're all right.
Simon: **blushes deeply**
Umbrae: **frowns and pulls a bit of web off his shirt, then looks at Simon** I...if I am alright? **glances down at himself** Yes, I think I am.
Umbrae: **stares around, frowning thoughtfully** Hmmm...the woods on my estate? Very...well. I stayed in the webs far longer than I expected, it seems. **pauses, looks back at Simon** A...thaumaturge?
A moment's pause...
If we could simply keep our minds empty, perhaps it would not be so hard to be alone.
But our minds are never empty.
In the end...
With all this work...the Great Work...
If we are lucky, we see ourselves. If we're brave, we can use that seeing to reach others. Ride a mirror's reflection and meet another's eyes.
Everything else is ashes.
Umbrae...we deserve better than ashes.