"Oh man, never say that word around my brother," Tommy says reflexively. "It means liar, or betrayer. He's just a witch."

It really is a reflex at this point. Because the guy might be from a world where warlocks mean something else entirely. Still, he stops to look at the guy and sees the weird stick come back out.

Really weird stick. Looks like something someone cosplaying as a wizard would use or some shit. But he's paying attention. He nervously hands over the birthday gift necklace that had first been a birthday gift to his boyfriend, and waits. At least the glow makes sense. Magic all glows in his experience.

Still, the news makes his shoulders sink with relief. He hadn't even realized how tense they were.

"So he's... alive? Fuck. Thank you. Whatever magic you did, thank you."