driftfleet | selvin-9 system mingle

[Felix smiles a little bit more widely, though his gaze also drops to the ground then flickers over to and scales the nearest building.]

Thank you, sir. [Here, he looks back at Anders. He's polite as hell, especially when he's a little nervous.] There was a while when I thought I wanted to be an architect...I still like doing the drawing.

That's a good talent to keep up with. Art is good for expression. And it's just fun.

[Like drawing your enemies being eaten by a tiger in the margin of textbooks, his personal favorite.]

You said you wanted to be an architect. May I ask what changed your mind?

[Possibly just youth. Kids always dreamed about what they'd do with their lives and few ever actually followed through. Or were allowed to follow through.]

[Anders' assessment of drawing makes Felix smile just a little bit more. It's not that he's not supported in this, at home. His parents are supportive of just about everything he does. They're good parents. It's just...people don't always understand now. They assume things about him because of how good he is at science and math.

The question make him tilt his head a little. Trying to figure out how to explain it.]

Oh. I guess I figured out that I liked science even more than I liked architecture. Plus I'm pretty good at it.

...That, and I want to join the military. They don't really need architects there.

[He nods. That makes sense, at least. It was similar reasoning as to why Anders had perused his healing over elemental or entropy works like most mages learned. But the second part has him cocking his head inquisitively.]

No? Correct me if I'm wrong, I've never been all that familiar with how military works, but don't they need people to become architects of their ships or tools or weapons? You could even say people who make the tactical plans for attacks are architects in a way. I don't see why you couldn't do both.

[Hm. Felix definitely looks like he's absorbing that question. The statement. He's quiet for a few long seconds as he thinks about it.]

You're right...I mean, yeah. When you look at it like that. Though... [He sneaks a glance over at Anders, a little worried that Anders is either playing with him a little or...that Felix will insult him by specifying what he's about to.] People who build ships and weapons, those are engineers.

[Is he being too rude? Felix ducks his head and lets out a small hum.]

I...might do that. Be an engineer. I'm not sure yet.

Ah…

[Now its Anders’ turn to look a little sheepish.]

Yes, that makes sense. I apologize, the closest thing in comparison back home are those who build ships that sail on the sea, not the stars.

[And those who made contraptions like what an 'engineer' might were more likely to be called artificers or smiths.]

Either way, for what the opinion of a stranger might be worth, I think it sounds like a fitting course for you, considering your passions.

Yeah, it does. Though, I don't think engineers get to be officers, not on Battlestars, and I--

[He cuts himself off abruptly, with a small, polite (but maybe a little apologetic) smile. There's no reason for a random adult to really want to listen to him rambling about his future career path.]

Maybe, though.

Where is home? For you, I mean.

[He's talked enough about himself. Plus he's just naturally curious.]

]Anders is clearly sympathetic with whatever obstacles the boy might be facing, but he doesn't press for details. Mostly because he was fairly certain a lot of it would end up going over his head anyway just starting with 'battlestars' and the absurd mental image that name conjured.

He hesitates very briefly at the question, but then moves to sit as well since it seemed this would be a touch more of a conversation than something in passing; not that Anders minded, children were often times far more aware, perceptive, and open-minded than most adults.]

Home for me is far less a place and more a person, I've lived a lot of places in my time and only a few have ever been 'like home.'

But where I come from is called Thedas, the technology level is far lower than what it sounds like you're used to. There's knights and kings and simple machines and, as I mentioned, the only ships are ones that go in the water. But there's magic and dragons and creatures of magnificent evil. I feel there are some things about it that are simpler than this more 'modern' time, even while other things now are far easier and kinder.

[His tone is a touch wistful. He meant what he said about home not necessarily being his homeworld, but that didn't mean he doesn't miss Thedas in some ways.]

[Felix shifts over a little when Anders sits down. Not to move away, but just to give him space. The look on his face is open, curious.

When he gets the description, his eyes end up widening a little. Felix is more of a sci-fi kid himself when it comes to the stories he consumes but that doesn't mean that he hasn't read some fantasy. Or that it isn't fascinating to him anyway, the idea of that kind of thing being real. There's no fear, only interest. And it's the way Anders puts it all, like he's weaving a story.]

Oh. [The way that Anders is wistful engenders a softer kind of wonder in Felix's own voice.] That sounds...that sounds really cool, actually. Dragons, really?

[Really. [Anders shakes his head.]

I promise you it's far less magical when you're staring down the throat of one, but from afar they are quite impressive.

[A pause.]

Thedas was not perfect by any stretch, there's plenty I would never miss if I were away another hundred years, but there are many wonders and beautiful things as well.
I suspect that's true of just about anywhere, though.

[He gave a self-depreciating smile.]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to carry on, I'm sure you've plenty else to do besides let me take up your time.

[He nods along with that part about wonder and beauty. It makes sense, because there are good things and bad things about every place, aren't there? Not that Felix says that, because he's sure Anders knows that and doesn't need a kid telling him.

When Anders apologizes, Felix shakes his head. His expression is a little awkward, but still friendly.]

I don't mind. You, um, said something about magic?

[The way he asks clearly begs more explanation, and it's all curiosity.]

[When Curiosity and magic came up together, it was a combination Anders could rarely resist. He could remember his own younger years, perhaps around or a little younger than Felix is now, and how he'd been so enthused at the sight of the wondrous gift mages had. At least until he'd discovered he had it himself. It was one thing to admire from afar, another to suffer society's expectations of those gifts yourself.]

Yes. There's magic in Thedas, it's a gift granted by our Maker, though not all see it that way.

[A brief, considering pause-]

Here...

[-and then Anders' hand comes up between them and a light the color of a clear sky swirled in his palm like a slow moving tempest of energy.]

[Felix's eyes widen as Anders makes his display of magical ability. Absolutely no fear, just curiosity and a hefty bit of awe. His hands are clasped in his lap over the sketchbook, but he leans in just a little. Not too far, because he doesn't know what the magic is or what it does and doesn't want to mess anything up. But it's so cool.]

What does...is that a specific spell?

[...He's kind of forgotten Anders' brief reference to mage oppression, oops. Maybe he'll remember later.]

[This is nice, someone simply appreciating the beauty and use of magic rather than looking at it with disgust or distrust. Kids were like that, a lot of the time, usually it was the adults whose minds had shut down from anything different or ingrained prejudice.]

It's a healing spell, not a very powerful one, but effective. It can heal a scratch or sooth pains and strained muscles. Healing is what I'm best at, followed by electricity.

[At the mention, the blue fades away like falling silk and a burst of purple crackle and branching energy dances in Anders' hand before lacing it's way around his fingers and then pooling again in his palm. He snuffs it out quickly, though, curling his fingers in to close on the spell.]

I guess... [Felix starts talking, and then blushes a little, because he almost immediately realizes how silly his observation is going to sound...but makes it anyway.] I guess you don't need to, uh, use any sort of incantation to make your magic work?

[His expression is awkward and curious at the same time.]

That's mostly how it is in books back home. Words or, uh, wands.

[He smiles and shakes his head (a valiant effort not to laugh, he didn't want to scare off the kid from his curiosity.)]

Not so strange as you might think, one of my closest friends uses a wand and a lot of the spells she uses have words or incantations attached to them. Mages back home don't need those things, no, but most mages need the focus of a staff to ensure their spell doesn't hit a friend instead of an enemy.

Mine didn't come here with me and I've yet to find the components I'd like to make a new one, so for now I stick with what I'm good at. Once I find a focus, I'll be able to do things I have less of an inclination for safely.

[His smile turns from amused to thoughtful.]

You're a very curious young man. I must admit, it's surprising to find someone your age so eager to learn more about things unusual to them.

[Felix smiles at the observation, though it's still just a touch awkward. Which is about standard for Felix (this Felix) anyway. So it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.]

I mean, I think it's just...good to learn as much as you can, you know? To try and understand things.

selvin-9 system mingle

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