driftfleet | (no subject)

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felix harrowgate

(no subject)

Who: Felix Harrowgate (& any crew/visitors)
Broadcast: none
Action: SS Starstruck
When: Today-ish

[It's the first time in weeks that Felix feels like himself, rather than a ball of misery. The only benefit to his extended bout of sickness, outside of an increased sense of sympathy for his brother who attracted winter colds like a magnet, was the extra time it gave him him to work on a project he's had in the largely conceptual stages for months. The somewhat delirious wandering about the ship, which Wanda chided him for repeatedly, served more than just his stubborn nature.

Today, the wizard is in his usual station in the Starstruck's kitchen, carefully placing a small stone sculpture on the center of the table to serve as a focus - regrettably in the form of a large chicken, but he'd long abandoned the idea of finding something more dignified. There are intricate chalk circles and symbols around the statue and marks that are a companion to this centerpiece can be found on various key points on the walls of the ship itself.

He's tried for a moment when he believes most of the crew is out and about, but as long as they don't touch anything they shouldn't, it won't matter. Standing at the edge of the table he gathers himself, back straight and eyes closed. What's more, power gathers as well, palpable even to those without any kind of ability as a density in the air, along with the slightest whiff of ozone. Placing his hands on the stone, he mumbles to himself, letting the magic build, mentally connecting all the points of his spell mentally and physically.

And then the tension snaps. The stone glows as if it were white hot, though his hands remain in place, and all the symbols on the table and all around the ship do the same, burning with heatless, sourceless energy. A small current of static sweeps through the air before everything extinguishes in one final incandescent burst, the symbols gone. The statue, against all reason, now gleams like opalescent opaque glass, shimmering just slightly under the surface with light that casts a halo into the air but illuminates nothing else beyond it.

Felix wobbles and sits heavily into a chair, vision swimming.]

There. Done.

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[Wanda'd gotten used to finding Felix out of his bed now that she honestly can barely muster up the energy to sound annoyed when she once again stumbles upon him in the kitchen. She mistakenly assumes he is still feeling indisposed when she finds him, given his general slumped-looking state. She lets out an exasperated sigh, crossing her arms as well.]

How many times I have I told you now to stay in bed? I am honestly asking as I have lost count at this point.

[She walks over to him, getting ready to hoist him up again and walk him back to his room. She does not even notice anything out of sorts at first.]

If you are hungry, I will get you something. You do not have to keep dragging yourself to the kitchen like this.

[He sees it coming the second she starts speaking and attempts to sit up a little straighter.]

Your concern is noted and appreciated, but I am just fine, thank you. I don't need you to mother hen me any longer.

[The fact that he looks a bit pale might belie that statement]

Besides, I had something more important to attend to.

[He gestures at new centerpiece on the table]

[She cocks an eyebrow, hands now on her hips (striking a very scoldy-mother looking pose). Did he just call her "mother?"]

Really? And what was so important that you felt the need to get out of bed and jeopardize your health even more?

[They're friends now, which means he's obligated to give her a hard time.]

Powers. I'm not made of glass, and I believe the sickness has largely passed. I thought I might make use of my time and install the wards I've been planning.

Oh yes, you certainly appear to be the pinnacle of good health.

[Hey, if he can give Wanda a hard time, then she very well do the same to him.]

And I assume your "planned magic" only served to make you feel even better, yes?

[Obstinately, because outside of the fact that it might be true, deep down, he'd been hoping for some recognition]

They are separate conditions entirely...

[She gives him a judging look, completely disbelieving him.]

Yes, that certainly seems to be the case.

[He sighs somewhat in defeat, but attempts a less catty response]

Exhaustion from large expenditures of magic isn't uncommon. [He didn't pass out, so that's a win in his book.] The only reason I attempted it today was because I felt capable to do so. We've been without protection for too long...

[Wanda sighs, clearly exasperated with this argument that they've been through one to many times.]

As noble as your intentions might be, do you really think it is a good idea to do something that would exhaust you so when you are recovering from illness?

[She adds a slight dig for good measure.]

I thought being a scholar or whatever meant you were smart.

[The dig is a good one, and he lowers his gaze]

Not about everything.

Edited 2016-01-11 20:06 (UTC)

[Okay, too far on that one Maximoff. Got it. She sighs, a little exasperated, but her tone is apologetic.]

You were trying to keep us safe. Protect us. I understand. And I thank you for it.

But if you really want to do me and all of us a favor, [She smiles now, kind and sympathetic.] please just get some rest.

I will [And he means it, at least right now]

Though if you'd permit me, I'd like to tell you about the wards so you know what to expect should they perform as intended...

[She pauses for a moment. Something about the way he said that seemed a little foreboding to her.]

All right. Go on.

[Not intentional in this case. Just pessimism]

The wards are essentially an incredibly simplified version of a one used at home. The wards themselves cover the entirety of the ship, inside and out, and I constructed the spell to prevent damage from sources both physical and energy. Meaning, that if we get shot at, it should mitigate or outright stop it from affecting us. Fires should not be able to catch or spread anywhere on the ship, either.

This...[The points at the glowing statue]...serves at the focus. The point of anchor. If it breaks, the wards will dispel. It also needs to be charged with magic from time to time. This likely means it will only work as long as I remain on board the fleet to maintain it. Though...other sources might also suffice. [He gives her a assessing look out of the corner of his eye]

I see.

[And actually, for the most part, Wanda understood Felix's entire explanation.]

So then, can we move this "anchor?" Or does it have to stay in this one spot?

[This is why he didn't use terms like 'architectural thaumaturgy'. Even he doesn't entirely understand it]

It should stay here. It was the most central location I could find. Luckily, the working will have also, ah...fused it to the table.

So then... it is okay here? It will not easily be tampered with?

[Wanda, you're going to make him paranoid.]

I...ah...that depends on what you mean by tamper? Manipulation of the spells would require a lot of effort and knowledge of magic from my work. Unless someone simply decided to hit it with a hammer...?

[But why would they?]

I was more concerned about the second possibility.

[She giggles a little.]

Though a hammer might be a little too extreme. I think someone tipping it over accidentally would be more likely.

Ah... [He stares, somewhat wearily, at the table]

We should probably ensure it's probably fastened to the floor. I'd rather not lose it to tampering or turbulence. [He finds the latter more likely]

Yes, I think that would be best.

[She giggles a little more. Despite Felix's efforts, the idea that he potentially hadn't considered fixing the "anchor" to the surface of the table was a little funny.]

Your good humor is invigorating.

[The deadpan, however, is at least half act.]

I suppose we'll have to think of something.

[Ahsoka senses it immediately. She goes in search of Felix.]

... What did you do?

[Already with the suspicion. He'd hoped they'd have moved beyond this, but clearly she needed proof of his intentions. As it happened this might actually do the trick.]

[With weary amusement] I see your faith in me persists...

But since you ask, I have installed ship-wide wards to protect us in the event of another attack. Considering our continued lack of an ability to attract or maintain the presence of an engineer, I thought it might be of use. Quite nefarious, I know...

Edited 2016-01-04 20:45 (UTC)

... Oh. ... Nice.

I'm actually working on a defensive addition to our ship at the moment. But this is good.

Oh? Has the veneer of evil worn off already? [The bout of infirmity probably didn't help. Not that he really wanted that, but still...]

I can't be certain how effective it will, but hopefully it will be better than nothing. What is it you're working on, then?

[Ahsoka ignores the snide remark. She knows better than to respond. Instead:]

Ion cannon. It's sort of like a-- do you have EMPs in your world? [She's used the comparison with other people here successfully before. It's worth a shot.]

[Fun ruiner]

I am not familiar with the term, so I imagine not. My world was not what you might called terribly advanced, but if it helps to explain, I am familiar with the basic idea. [Thanks to Paradisa and the Fleet]

Well an ion cannon is kind of like that, only it's not restricted to shorting just electrical energy. It lets you aim and shoot a beam that short circuits most forms of power on modern spacecraft.

In practical terms, that means you can aim it away from yourself at an attacking vessel and stop them dead in their tracks while you make a quick getaway. It doesn't harm anyone, either-- the enemy ship's functions can be rebooted after a short time, so they don't run out of oxygen.

The down side is... they're incredibly hard to build.

I commend you on not taking the easy route... [Not that he thinks she cares one shit about his commendation, but it's still true. It's clear she could have opted for something deadlier, and choosing to avoid killing was sometimes harder than not fighting at all.]

What about building it is difficult? Is it a matter of skill or resources?

[With some annoyance at her current predicament:] Both.

[He had a feeling]

Well, not much we can do about the latter, but perhaps you could recruit help from the other ships? Or even among our own crew. I understand one of our number is a renowned weapons manufacter. [That last thing is said with the slightest hint of venom]

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