driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Remus Lupin
Broadcast:
When: January 14th, early evening

[Remus sits on the floor in James' room, back against the bed, holding the communicator in one hand. The other is tangled in his hair; he pushes his hand through the tangled curls again and again throughout this little speech. Still, he smiles pleasantly enough. This first part is easy, after all.]

Right, hello. My name is Remus Lupin, I've been here a few months, and I've noticed a bit of a trend among those taken. There's quite a few of us with-- well, abilities, for lack of a better word. Abilities that most human beings don't have. They vary, of course, but-- it's an odd consistency. I've met more people with magic than I usually do in a year. Something to think on, perhaps.

In any case: even if it's a meaningless connection-- something that has no significance beyond sheer entertainment value-- I'd be interested to hear what everyone can do. Whether you call it magic or alchemy or even if it's-- god, I don't know, if you have a talent for juggling, I'd be interested. I want to know more about what kind of company I keep.

[His smile fades, now, and he hesitates visibly.]

For example, I, ah. I'm a wizard. Wand and all. I can do magic, which means anything from transfiguration to charms to knowing what plants to use to brew a good cold remedy. It's hardly infallible, but it's certainly useful. And, ah . . .

I'm a werewolf as well. The sort that only changes once a month. It's lasted here, but I seem to have control over it. I take quite a few precautions, so-- so it won't be a problem. I'm not the only werewolf here, nor the only other supernatural creature, but--

[He shrugs. His face is pale, now, the little scars standing out sharply against his skin-- but he forces himself to keep talking.]

I'm used to keeping it a secret at home. And I'm sure others are as well. So I suppose this is a . . . a way to let everyone know. Even if they don't want to tell anyone else, they know they're not alone.

[His mouth twists in a wry smirk.]

That, and I'm tired of keeping it a secret.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you.

[A little awkwardly said, but he truly appreciates the sentiment. His heart is still hammering, but people . . . they seem all right with it. It's far better than anything he'd gotten at home.]

In any case-- [Ah, teaching: much more his speed. Remus settles in, his smile melting into something far more relaxed.] -- transfiguration is, indeed, changing one object into another. It's hardly infallible, but it essentially takes the basic properties of an object and rather . . . let's call it convinces them that they'd rather be something else. It's easiest when it's similar objects-- a bolt into a needle, for example. It'll always want to be a bolt, but I could make that stick forever if I truly wanted to, because they're both metallic. However, something sentient-- a toad, say-- into an object-- a cup-- is far trickier, and a bit more dubious. We're taught it, of course, but they don't last for more than-- Merlin, probably half an hour, if not less.

James is better at it than I am. Charms, too-- that's spells that add certain properties to a person or object. Modify them, in essence, although they don't always last.

Fascinating. So the objects themselves possess some kind of sentience and you manipulate it in a way that it allows you to change its shape.

[ His Master had always said that the Living Force was around them. What an ingenious application of it. ]

What kind of properties do Charms add?

It can be anything, really. There's sticking charms, for if you want to put something on the wall-- or cheering charms, if you want to cheer up, or there's the homonculous charm, to keep track of people's movements-- honestly, it's a very broad field.

So you can invent one as well, I assume.

Oh, yes. Whether it's successful is another matter entirely, but I could devote myself to trying to invent a spell if I truly wanted to, and found a need for one. There are rules to magic-- I can't make food out of thin air, for example.

So what are the rules, exactly? I'm afraid magic is something I've never fully understood.

[ Space wizard Force-bender notwithstanding. Mostly he's thinking of the Nightsisters. ]

Though I have known people who can use it, albeit for darker reasons.

Well . . . I suppose that depends if you want to hear about the rules for magic itself, or the laws my government has put into place for us. Magic itself is . . .

[He tips his head. How to explain it?]

Well, it's not infallible, for starters, nor is it a solution to everything. It's more of an extension of oneself-- you can effect things, change things, defend and attack with it, but it isn't an instant solution. It gives me an advantage, certainly, but it's not going to stop me from dying. It can be used for dark purposes, of course-- I should think any power could. But we don't . . . there are Dark magics, but anyone sensible stays away from them.

To be honest, the war I'm fighting at home is against those who would use magic for dark purposes.

That . . . sounds a lot like the Force.

[ The Force is no nursemaid. Only a guide, a presence that exists in everything. ]

The Force is both Light and Dark. While it is not as . . . creative to use as magic, it has its uses.

What are they? Are you a-- I don't know what you would call it-- do you use your Force, then?

I am a Jedi. I serve the Light side of the Force. But with all things, it must come with the dark.

[ He shrugs lightly. ] I can lift things, move them with the Force. There are other applications as well.

I'd love to see, if you ever feel up to a demonstration. I wonder if we're not talking about-- well, nearly the same thing. After all, many cultures have magic, but called it different things.

The Force is not magic.

[ And he suspects he'll be saying that a lot. ]

I have seen magic, albeit not the kind you use.

[OKAY BUDDY Remus knows what he knows, all right, he knows when he hears about magic. Call it what you want.]

What kind?

[ He rubs his beard, trying to put it into the right words. ]

I suppose it defies explanation at times. Bringing people back from near death, invisibility of sorts . . . Not being a Nightsister myself, I'm not privy to their secrets.

I don't know about the first-- aside from healing, which isn't so much magic as cleverness and knowing physiology-- but the second isn't so hard, for a short time. Then again, I think all magic rather seems beyond explanation until you do have an explanation-- even science seems miraculous until you know what's going on.

I wonder. The Nightsisters are extremely close-lipped about their secrets.

The Force isn't magic, though. It's life, power . . . you could say it's a bit like listening and taking fate into your own hands.

How do you mean? I-- what, like precognition?

Yes.

[ He rubs his beard. ]

I have the ability to peer into people's hearts at times. Plucking out lies, sensing danger . . . it's all part of being a Jedi.

Is it infallible? Or select? Could you do it to me, now?

It is dependent on one's willpower. I have done it with several people in a crowd or animals, but it is not an easy task. And I certainly would have to be physically present to do it.

[ So, no, he can't do it right now. ]

Fascinating.

[He murmurs that to himself, thinking on all he knows of legilimency. He can't do that, of course, but it's somewhat comparable.]

I should imagine that comes in handy a great deal.

It's certainly gotten me out of plenty of tight spots. Never underestimate the power of the mind.