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[ Lily is shockingly familiar with this sort of technology for a witch from 1981, but perhaps that's to be expected if one considers her recent history. This place is so vastly different from everything she's had to deal with lately that when she appears on the feed it's with an air of someone that's both exhausted and relieved.

She hardly looks like someone that's spent her last several months in space; her bright red hair's pulled up into a messy bun and her clothing is definitely a product of her proper era. There's a cat prowling around in the frame as well. Still, she's been looking around and figuring things out and still hasn't found a satisfactory answer to her biggest question. ]

Hello, everyone. [ A wave. ]

I've been asking around, but I can't seem to find a proper answer quite yet. I thought I'd ask people that may have experience with it. I see that on these devices there's an option to go "home" but what if you've arrived from a place that isn't your home at all? Do you go back to the place you last were, or do you go to your proper home? I understand the question is a bit unorthodox but I find I really must know. I would test it myself, but unfortunately I'm not in a position to be able to do so.

[ An explanation of that doesn't seem to be forthcoming: instead, she cants her head and smiles, ever gentle, ever pleasant. ]

Thank you very much.

[ And exeunt Lily and Cat. ]

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[ Lily is... frightfully familiar with young people that know the meaning of danger. She's only twenty-two herself, already marred by war. Her own son was marred even younger. She doesn't put him under scrutiny so much as take him and what he says in. Once, the cat seems to want to inspect the device, but Lily distracts her with a scratch behind the ears. ]

Both places are dangerous, though the one I came here from doesn't hold any immediate danger. As for my home... [ There's a brief pause here, suddenly, because she's not sure how to quantify the danger while maintaining at least some sense of privacy about her fate. Finally, she urges a smile back onto her face. ] As for my home, the danger is very close, very immediate, and very life-threatening.

Ah. I see.

[His expression goes thoughtful for a moment, as he recedes behind his pleasantness to consider. She doesn't want her situation pried into, that much is easy to tell from the pause and the dropped smile; he won't get anywhere that way. When he returns after just a slight pause, he's smiling, bright and warm as the sun.]

If you don't mind me asking, which would you prefer to return to? Not that the answer makes a difference in terms of the results; this place will do what it will do.

I don't mind, no.

[ She sighs, shifting slightly - she's still smiling though, even if the tiredness never leaves her eyes. ]

As much as it pains me to say it, I can't return home. There's nothing left for me there. [ Except death, she supposes, but she doesn't say that. ] As for the place I arrived from... If I could, even temporarily. My son is there.

[ So that'd be why. ]

[My son is there.]

[He doesn't . . . quite flinch. It's the draw-back that comes before a flinch, and he hates himself for letting even that much show to a stranger, honestly, but he can't help it. My son is there, and there are two problems with this: one, he has no way of coping with the idea of a mother so worried for her son that she'd go to a potentially dangerous place just to see him. Two, hearing the phrase my son sounds so different after you've heard it said referring to you for the first time.]

[So it's not quite a flinch. But it's a hesitation. That, at least, is very clearly there.]

I can . . . at least find out whether or not there's something on the other side. If you want my help. If not, I understand.

[ Lily notices his hesitation and something in her stalls - she feels very sorry, suddenly, that she's caused it even unknowingly. Her brow knits slightly. Just a little.

Then he's speaking and it looks like she's going to accept his help: she very clearly wants to. But something is holding her back; something very important. ]

You mean testing it with my device to see? I would appreciate that very much, but if it were to take you back to my home in the moment I left, it would be—

[ She pauses, glancing askance as though she's trying not to think about it. She looks so frustrated, mostly with herself. The worried, grieving mother. ]

It's too dangerous. I can't ask you to do that for me.

[ What the hell was happening to her when she left? ]

[Ah. And that is the moment when he's very certain he's going to do it no matter what. Because she's upset. Because she's afraid. Because she's trying to protect him. This is the moment in which a snap decision is made. He might reconsider it later, if he feels he needs to, but he probably won't.]

[When he shakes his head, it's much more confident all of a sudden.]

Not me. I can send an object I have a connection to. If it goes somewhere unsafe, if it gets damaged or ceases to be, I'll know. I won't be able to provide a terribly detailed report, but I'll at least know if any danger present is immediately lethal.

[ Lily isn't unused to kindness from strangers. It happens, and she's grateful each time, but something about this in particular stills her. She's quiet for a long moment, looking at him.

It reminds her of magic, though it's not something she's sure she could do, if only because of how hers works. But she can understand it and the concept behind it and finally, finally, she nods.

She has to know. If she can get back and forth between here and Harry, maybe she can still protect him. Make up for all the years she missed. ]

Thank you.

[ It's quiet. Not defeated, but grateful. ]

[Good. Good, he thinks, and shoots her a relieved smile.]

You're welcome. Just tell me when and where. I think this ought to take priority.

[Over things such as: running Italy, adopting stray dogs, and getting his hair done, among other things.]

[ She doesn't know what else to say for a moment. She's trying not to be overwhelmed, but it's a lot. She smiles at him anyway, though. ]

I'm still getting my bearings in the cities, so I'm not exactly sure where would be best. I can move very quickly if I know where I'm going though, so a place that's convenient for you will work.

[ She'll literally just apparate when she needs to. But also: wait until you meet the cat and dog, my dude. ]

Let me think.

[He glances to the side, looking at nothing as he considers his options. The smart move would be to go to McAran Tower, since it's the easiest landmark, but it's awfully exposed there — not somewhere he wants to be if they're going to be carrying out an experiment. After a moment, he picks the next best thing.]

In the City of Romance there's a park. Nicholson Park. Not very large, but there are plenty of signs for it. Think you can find it and meet me there?

CALL. video. un: igniferous.

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