driftfleet | [muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

[Ander's expression turns to one of surprise and a chagrined smile tugs at his lips as a brush of color lines his cheeks.]

That's playing dirty. You can't simply charm your way out of stealing my feathers.

[But he looks away and runs a hand down his face as though trying to wipe away the evidence of exactly how charmed he is.

There was nothing in any universe that he was more weak to than Hawke.]

Fine, keep them. Maker knows they're bound to be a better focus than a seed pod at any rate.

[The blond's acquiescence pulls a broad grin from Hawke.]

Thank you.

[Sorry Anders but there's no hiding that. Adalwolfe is well aware he's achieved his goal here.]

They'll be a good charm, but I do still need a focus that isn't going to burn up if I put a ton of mana through it. Maybe a crystal really would be best, none of these weird plant things.

[He purses his lips, blowing a bit on the feathers to make them float back and forth on their tethers, then grins slyly at his company.]

Maybe amber, like your eyes.

[Alright that's pushing it just a bit.]

[Anders' scoff says just that and he rolls his eyes.]

Now you're just laying it on thick. Don't be tacky.

How about we find you a crystal first and the color can be a question for then?

[Despite his brush off, a smile was tugging at the corner of Anders' lips as he turned to continue in the direction they'd been heading. Damn this man. Even with his deplorable flirtation, Anders couldn't help feeling a surge or warmth at the idea of Hawke's staff decked out in reminders of him.]

Alright, alright.

[Adalwolfe laughs, knowing Anders eats it up regardless. It's why he does it even though he knows his flirtations are sometimes a bit too saccharine. Or more than a bit. Actually Carver's reaction after they'd left meeting Anders the first time had been a cacophony of gagging sounds, but that's neither here nor there.]

More seriously, I wonder if the minerals here have elemental affiliations already or if they'll need to be attuned. If they do, it might be better to find a colder area, maybe south? An ice crystal would be best for maximum effect.

[Anders inclined his head in thoughtful agreement.]

It would certainly be easier if we could find something like that. This planet is so like the last forest planet we were on, but I didn't find a hint of ice anywhere in the area and I stayed on the surface the whole time.

But, ostensibly, each planet should be different, so it could be worth a look.

[He gave Hawke a soft smile.]

Wherever you'd like to go, love, I'll go with you.

For now, why don't we just continue our stroll, hm?

[He leans in and presses a kiss to Anders' cheek, taking his arm as if they're just going to take a pleasant afternoon walk and not foraging under a canopy of alien mushroom trees for a magical crystal.

Their lives are so weird.]

it might be a good time for a lesson, though, if you're up for it.

[Anders smiles to him and changes his stride to more easily match Hawke's.]

True!

What shall we discuss, then? Creation, Entropy, Spirit?

Hmmm... well, you are a master of Creation magic.

[He waves a hand as if it's an obvious fact of the universe.]

Maybe you can tell me what I'm missing that I can't get the hang of healing anything worse than a skinned knee.

[The chuckle he gives is wholly affectionate, but he doesn't exactly dispute Hawke's claim. He's not the master, but he was good. And...better than Hawke which is what mattered in this particular case.]

Well...[He thinks a moment, skimming through the lessons he'd received himself and trying to turn their book-based learning into something similar to how Hawke cast his magic.] I do think that part of the problem is that you need to know a bit about anatomy to be able to put it right. Beyond that, I think it's just about being able to focus all of that energy and raw power you have into something focused and controlled like Creation magic.

Creation is a lot more careful and precise since it's being used to heal or boost rather than harm.

I think I can do that.

[He shifts in closer, almost humming in Anders' ear.]

After all, I've already got a head start on your anatomy.

[You said so yourself Anders, he's impossible.]

[Anders scoffs, but the grin on his face is a touch too wide to hide his amusement.]

Yes, well...knowing that is certainly a step in the right direction. But you'll need to know more than just that. If I were to fall and slice open my arm just now, would your knowledge of my anatomy help you heal it?

[His brow raised with a smirk. His question wasn't meant to be cutting, simply perspective and a shift back to his attempt at a lesson.

Although...it did remind him of something he hadn't thought much about before when they'd first talked of this. His expression fell a bit.]

On that note...I'm not certain how to give you practice. The Circle had resources I don't.

[The sick ward, a place full of mages as well as non-mages who suffered various injuries and afflictions and needed healing. What better way for a healer to practice than on those who needed it? His memory played at the first time he'd stepped foot in that ward and his first attempt at Spirit Healing, but he brushed it away just as quickly. Perhaps it was better that Adalwolfe stay away from Spirit Healing, it wouldn't surprise Anders if he ended up giving too much of himself that first try. That was just Hawke.]

I can heal that at least, give me some credit. Or, well, it depends on how bad the slice was...

[Wolfe tugs his beard for a moment, thinking.]

Honestly I've always been a bit better at healing you than most others. Maybe that is where I should start. It's better motivation.

[He looks a bit uncomfortable with himself as he talks, but this does make the most sense.]

You know the last thing I ever want is for you to be injured, but maybe that's the best way to practice so long as it's controlled. And you can heal it right up if I get it wrong, too. But if you don't think it's a good idea we can think of something else.

[He almost wants to take it back but it does make the most sense. He's far more motivated to heal his loved ones then some random stranger. Not that he wouldn't still heal random strangers, there just isn't a personal stake in it.]

It does make sense. There's better result when you're emotionally invested. [He'd been able to scrape so deep into himself for every scrap of mana he could get when Hawke nearly died by the Arishok's blade, that Anders had been ravenous and ten times more exhausted afterwards than he'd ever been in his life. Luckily, he'd never managed that level of mana imbalance again.]

It is a good idea. Or, at least, the best one we have. It'll be alright, it's not like I haven't had worse than what a dagger can do and, like you said, it'll be controlled.

Would...you like to start that practice now? Or do some practice that's a little less bloody out in the middle of the woods.

Edited 2016-11-03 02:12 (UTC)

Maybe less bloody. I don't want anything to get infected. Who knows what kinds of germs there are on alien planets?

[Not to mention predators. If the nugs are big enough to ride and they're prey animals, what's around that's big enough to eat them? It's got to be enormous.]

Something besides healing while we try and find a crystal, then. That would be good.

Okay. Perhaps the paralysis spell. At least, in part. 'Glyph of Paralysis' is useful for attacking and running away and it's really one of the only offensive Creation spells. I can't teach it to you perfectly now because part of the training entails memorizing the shape and style of the glyph itself.

That said, the principle behind the spell is simple enough to be taught and then applied later. Remember what I said about precision? It's the same, you learn what the Glyph's properties are and channel your power into it. The glyph can't work without the mana and your mana being aimed without concentration is as likely to crush the target as it is to paralyze them. At least Paralysis is a little easier to focus on and manage than healing because the glyph acts as a conduit of sorts for channeling your mana.

Make sense?

[He was maybe enjoying this a bit more than he expected, in all honesty.]

I think so. So you use the glyph as the focus, instead of say a staff and it guides the spell into the shape you need it to take when you put your magic through it?

[A much more simplistic way to look at it, probably, but he dimly remembers Malcolm mentioning glyphs and how they can be used to focus. He'd skimmed over it though, telling Adalwolfe that they should be more worried about what he can cast quickly to protect their family and get them to safety as opposed to spending too much time on finesse work that may or may not help. He'd listened then without argument because father knew best, but he's older now and knows that perhaps that isn't the truth of it.]

Can a spell like that paralyze multiple targets if the glyph is big enough? Or would that take too much mana?

[Anders nodded, pride clear in his expression. Adalwolfe often feared his magic was somehow 'less' because he hadn't had access to everything he should have while learning, but he proved time and time again exactly how intelligent he was. Not that he needed to prove such a thing to Anders of all people; he'd never once questioned that.

He was reticent to say it, but Anders held no illusion that Adalwolfe would be just as much if not a better Enchanter than his father had ever been, if he'd had access to the resources he deserved.]

It can, but it'll be weaker at the edges, as the power is concentrated in the middle of the glyph. You can also hold multiple targets with multiple smaller glyphs, they'll hold better, but it will drain your mana faster to hold that level of concentration.

Is that something you'd be interested in learning more about later?

Or now, if we come across anything we have to stun, but yes. It seems useful in a fight, and non-fatal unless someone takes advantage of their being paralyzed with a sword.

[Which is also a useful trait, to be honest, especially with the sorts of outnumbered battles they tend to fight.]

What does the glyph look like? Do you draw it with your staff or project it in mana?

True.

[There's always a chance they'll come across something that wants to eat them, it wouldn't be the first time.]

You project it with mana which is why you need to memorize it's shape first. It would take too long if we had to draw it out every time. Here, take a look.

[Anders put his hand out and a bright glowing green glyph appeared on the ground.]

Just, you know, don't step on it or it'll activate and then I'll have to leave you here.

[muffled spooky scary skeletons playing in the distance]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject