driftfleet | twelfth labyrinth

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twelfth labyrinth

Who: Felix Harrowgate
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Iskaulit library
When: Today!

[Felix opens the video standing in the library, as can be clearly gleaned from the bookshelves behind him. He gives the camera a slightly more somber version of his usual charming smile]

I wanted to save this announcement when I had completed this particular project, but it may be of benefit to give some of you a preview of my plans.

[With a sly quirk, he pivots, showing the open doorway leading into a connecting room, which he carefully proceeds to back into. Behind him, the room is mostly bare, but with a rare external window opening out into the void. A small shelf and an armchair occupy one wall, and another door is open to what appears to yet another room beyond, though Felix stays where he is.]

This...study...if you will, is meant to be a home for magic users like myself to research, practice, and craft. But, as you can see, things are still a bit lacking. The first reason I bring it up now is, frankly, that I could use some assistance in putting it together. If there is anyone that sees merit in this idea and could craft, conjure, or help purchase furniture and supplies to complete the room, I would be...grateful.

[His grin gets a bit sharper for a moment, because it's impossible to resist. Honestly, the only thing he's good at when it comes to this kind of thing is spending money, and that only goes so far.

His expression grows more somber after a bit, however, and he turns just a bit so the audience can see the other doorway.]

The second reason I broach the subject is that there appears to be a glitch going around that is granting various people in the fleet magic abilities where they did not have them previously. The secondary rooms here are intended for safe practice of magic. I was not going to ward them until later, but under the circumstances I have accelerated those plans.

If this glitch is affecting you and you wish a place to stay or practice, the wards in place should contain the magic to the immediate room. [A beat] And if not, at least this area of the ship is somewhat isolated.

I may also be able to offer basic instruction in control. Likely my magic is different from your own, but years of studying and observing the systems have taught me that at the core, it is always a factor of willpower.

((ooc: even if you don't tag in here, feel free to use the warded rooms for your characters in the future. They're just empty rooms for now. I won't have an official description of the establishment until it's finished, however))

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This is a good idea.

[Hawke looks exhausted when the video comes up, but for someone who's recovering from hearing the music of every star in the universe at once very suddenly, it's surprising that he's not a drooling mess of madness instead. Still, there's a reason why he's making this call from bed instead of up and at work as he's supposed to be.]

I know a few people got hit with magic and had no idea what to do with it, but also in the future when this all blows over it'll be a good place to study. I've never really gotten the chance to just study magic, you know.

I cannot conjure or craft furniture, but I can help purchase it. I think it is a worthwhile investment.

[a quiet place in the library to work on magic? Yes please]

[Yuan's demeanor is calm and curious as he appears onscreen.] That sounds like an excellent idea. I admit I'm still new here, but so far no two people I've encountered seem to practice magic that follows the same rules; it certainly can't hurt to come together and see if we can establish some baselines, even just a definition of what 'magic' consists of, with so many different examples. I'll be happy to assist with what I can, as well.

[Some people never do change.]

I am gratified that you think so. About as much as I hate to admit this will take me far too long to accomplish alone.

[He glances behind himself again, showing more of the sparse furnishings and a few boxes of odds and ends yet to be placed]

Obviously it depends on encountering a planet or waystation that has such things.

[For a moment Adalwolfe gets something of an odd look for answering the call from his bed, but it matters more that he answered at all.]

I'd like to hope I have some of those from time to time. [Good ideas, that is. His brother would probably tease him about the opposite being true]

That might depend on how you define study. But I was the impression your world had proper schools for magic.

There is nothing wrong with asking for assistance, especially from those who may use it.

[she hums a bit in agreement]

I imagine finding the pieces to make it by hand may be easier.

That remains to be seen. And money can still help buy the raw materials. In the very least, will pay for transport to the ship.

[The less he has to move them himself the better.]

Why pay when one can do it oneself? Don't be lazy, Felix.

[callin' you out, bro]

[That much is obvious immediately, as well as two other things. This is beyond doubt the Yuan he once knew and the man does not remember him at all. On Yuan's end, this moment of recognition is difficult to disguise. He stares at the screen for a couple seconds too long with a brief flash of wounded surprise before he masters it]

...and your help would be more than welcome. I have my own theories on the matter, of course, but my suspicion is that there is more we have in common than not, it simply takes the thought to ask why an individuals magic functions as it does, rather than accepting that that is simply the way it is. After all, we can sense or detect magic from other worlds as magic. The form it takes does little to change that.

[He gives Yuan a tiny smile.]

It's not laziness to delegate tasks. That's intelligent use one one's resources.

[Though his smirk says it might be a little bit lazy. It's also true that he suffers from a textbook case of squishy wizard]

That is a waste of money, you lazy thing. If you need things "transported", I can do that. I am stronger than I look.

[says the twiggy mage]

[...That's an interesting look. He got one like it, if much subtler, from Crowley, when he asserted that he didn't remember the castle. He suspects he might know what it means here, too, but for now he just nods decisively as if he hasn't noticed.]

Exactly so. And the more we can understand the better.

[A pause, and then he continues,] ...If there's enough interest, I might also suggest studying dimensions like this one. I'm given to understand that the Atroma are not the only ones pulling people from their homes for mysterious purposes; some of the people I've met here even say that I was in another such place, for a time.

[His terrible poker face works against him once again. At least he doesn't have to be the first one to broach this subject.]

In that you would not be mistaken...[A flicker of old mischief makes him smile a little larger]

Hello again, Yuan.

Edited (I can words) 2016-11-29 22:42 (UTC)

[He lifts a somewhat skeptical eyebrow at her. He doesn't entirely disbelieve he claim, given her history, but still...]

I'm sure you are, but pieces like bookshelves and cabinets are surely still a two person job.

[Yuan's skill at reading people is hard-won: he survived running a rebellion right under his boss' nose for eight hundred years by becoming quietly hypervigilant about mood shifts.]

[But what to do now? Part of him wants to scowl and pout over all these people who know him when he doesn't know them back. It's aggravating, and honestly a little nerve-wracking. But he isn't completely lacking in empathy: the smile he's getting is a greeting to a friend, and another part of him wishes he could return it wholeheartedly. After a month and a half here in space, gradually moving farther from the familiar-but-not-home planet, without a single face anywhere he's sure he can trust and without even the comforting authority of being respected as one of the Seraphim, he's feeling lonely, out of sorts, and homesick.]

[In the end, he smiles back tightly.] I wish I could reply in kind. I don't even know your name.

It would entirely depend upon how big they are. But I have friends I can ask to help as well.

Strong ones, I would hope.

But, that matter aside...[He gestures widely and partly off screen]...is there anything in particular you can think of that you would like to have in here? Some installation or material that would be useful in your work?

[He'd held back for exactly those reasons. Fenris was another old friend who had forgotten him and his first impulse was to try for the honesty he thought that friend deserved, but in the end the trust he'd earned was minimal and left the elf feeling like Felix held all the cards. He hadn't wanted to repeat that with Yuan, but the man was sharp and Felix, as always, wore his heart on his sleeve. He's also wary, distantly, that this Yuan might be different that the one he once knew. But, so far there's no sign of deviation]

My manners are suffering the longer I'm away from home, it seems. [For old times' sake, he gives the camera a tiny, somewhat sarcastic bow] Lord Felix Harrowgate. But you can simply call me Felix. [It's an intentional callback to their first introduction and one of the many metaphorical cards he holds, but he can't resist.]

We did trust one another once. I'll do what I can to earn that again.

[He processes this introduction with a faint smirk; he can guess that he once reacted sharply to that title, as Felix has pre-emptively displayed the sarcasm Yuan felt rising when he heard it. It's still strange to be known by a stranger, but demonstrating an ability to operate on his wavelength isn't a bad thing at all, and Felix is thus far the most polite and considerate reintroduction Yuan has had. That's not anyone's fault - Allen called out to him without stopping to wonder if Yuan remembered anything, and Crowley is Crowley. But the maturity Felix is displaying is doing him a lot of good in Yuan's eyes anyway, and so is the acknowledgment that he'll have to earn Yuan's trust again.]

Well, making yourself useful is never a bad start to that. ...As far as organizing communication and study, perhaps a particular shelf or workspace should be dedicated specifically to comparing different types of magic? That way those who are interested can add to it at their convenience.

Strong ones, ones with powers, I have all sorts.

[in one sense of the word. She tilts her head, glancing past Felix and at the parts of the room she can see, before she shrugs a shoulder]

As long as there is somewhere comfortable to sit and things to write with, I cannot think of anything. I have a spell that can silence the room to those outside of it, but I have not worked out how to make it stay when I am not there, or else I would offer it.

Well...[He gives the camera a slightly gleeful smirk]...that's something we may be able to work on. Warding spells are a specialty of my school.

My, is that so? If you can figure it out, I'd be very thankful.

Afraid of prying ears?

[Felix's maturity here is hard won after years in the castle, though it's fair to say that he's always been hyper-sensitive to how people perceive him. He also did not usually care if that was negatively.]

That was part of my plan, yes. The problem comes in acquiring those sorts of texts. So far the only ones I have been able to acquire were generic, or native to the planets I found them on. It will likely be up to us to assemble that information, unless we get terribly lucky. Or Atroma feels generous. [He's not holding his breath, though]

Oh, yes. [Yuan nods, following along.] That's more or less what I was anticipating - anyone interested in comparison can take notes, either on the tests they run or simply on their own magic. It might take time to accumulate enough to then compile them into proper texts, but as far as I'm aware, time is something we're not particularly short on.

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