driftfleet | Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

[Lup grins, not at all bothered by the tone, though she does ease the flames down a bit, making sure that they're aimed away from him. She knows it'd never hit him, but she knows it can look awfully intimidating.]

Relax, my dude, I've got spell-sculpting. You're totally safe.

[Okay, yes, better. He straightens up from the wall though he's just going to stay here for the moment. Now that the fire has died down he's more easily able to see where it's coming from. Which is... her hands. He had thought the light and heat were making it impossible to see the real source only it doesn't appear that way.

No amount of scanning is giving him an indication of a hidden flamethrower either. Damn.]

I don't know what that is. It wasn't exactly obvious when you came in here like that.

[Whether it's true or not, which he's still unclear on.]

[She gives first the cavern, then the stranger, a quick once-over. Yeah, maybe this is a good place to take a break, examine the area- do a little science, that sort of thing. With a flick of her wrists the fire winks out, and suddenly it's as if it was never there to begin with. There's no smoke, her hands aren't charred, and she's definitely not holding a flamethrower anywhere.]

That's fair! It's exactly how it sounds, though- I can shape my spells around other people so they don't get hurt.

[Spells. Magic. Ben had already mentioned the presence of magic but Connor had assumed the man was being sarcastic over the level of technology here. Only Sorey had also mentioned someone creating fire out of nothing. Seems like he shouldn't dismiss it out of hand immediately.

...even if he'd sincerely like to. Connor steps away from the wall once the flames go out, his LED blinking back to blue.]

You're talking about spells in the context of magic?

[Just to confirm, even if he can't keep a hint of incredulity out of his voice. He's considering Lup quite intensely.]

[Getting a confused reaction is still a bit of a trip; she's spent over a hundred years visiting various planes and universes, but all of them had had magic of some kind, or at least a plane of magic through which she could access her power. She can only assume this planer universe has it, too (how else could she cast anything?) but the sheer number of people who have either no experience with magic, or access to a very different kind, has been mind-blowing. Seems like this guy is in the former category.

She lifts a finger, and instead of fire she casts Dancing Lights- a set of four tiny orbs of glowing light manifest and gently rotate around her hand.]

Real magic. I'm a wizard, baby. See for yourself-

[And she flicks a finger so that one of the lights floats slowly towards him, though it'll stop before it gets too close. He looks kind of antsy, and the colour-changing light on his head has her curious. She hadn't missed when it was going all Red Alert there.]

[At least this time he's somewhat prepared for something to happen with her hands. His eyebrows had gone up at the 'I'm a wizard' statement, and honestly he'd been about to retort that there's no such thing. He's forced to shut his mouth though when the lights spring up around her fingers.

He's already scanning them before one starts coming his way. By the time the light comes near him he's already ascertained as much as he can - it's a light source visible in the optical spectrum but emanating from no discernible source, nor moving through any obvious mechanism - which leaves him to just stare at it with some degree of cautious wonder. The LED had spun back to yellow for a few seconds before settling into blue again.]

I... see. [No, no he really doesn't. He tears his eyes away from the light momentarily to look back at Lup, curiosity winning out.] You're sourcing these lights from magical energy?

[Look, there's still gotta be some logic behind it. And if he focuses on that he won't focus on how he really wants to touch the light.]

[She's reminded momentarily of when she used to do little shows in caravans, back in the day, for kids waiting for the real deal. It's a very similar childlike wonder, this sense of new that doesn't typically exist within adults. It's cute.

She'd intended to dismiss the lights once her point was made, but instead just gets rid of the three at her hand, leaving the fourth alone near him. She can't blame his fascination; she's watching that spinning light on his head now, too.]

That's how it works, yeah. I dunno if you can feel it, but this planet is leaking magic energy out of its ears. It's like I'm plugged in and getting recharged without even needing to rest.

[He's not alarmed by the light anymore, so he's perfectly fine for it to still be there. Energy, hm - he tilts his head as he looks at the light once more. It's definitely not anything he's capable of scanning, which shouldn't be possible for anything technological or organic. So, the theory holds weight.]

No, I can't feel anything like that. [He does raise an eyebrow at her likening it to getting recharged. That at least he understands.] And you get that feeling just from being here?

Yep. It's pretty weird, not gonna lie, but I don't hate it. It means I can cast as many spells as I want without running out of juice.

[Goodbyeeeeee spell slots! She's into it.]

It sounds convenient.

[Even if he is talking about magic right now. It might be best to think of it as an energy source he hasn't encountered before. That raises a whole host of follow-up questions that he could pursue, but first thing's first:]

What would happen if I touched it?

Oh, the light? Nothing, it's harmless. Might tickle a bit.

[She sends it scooting towards him again with a gesture, bouncing gently in the air like a firefly.]

[Good to know. He might have still tried it, because it's fascinating. When the light flickers back his way Connor raises his hand to brush through it. It's less surprising that he passes through it since it's made of light. Still... it's nice to try it. Even if he feels absolutely nothing from it physically.]

Thanks. [He looks back in Lup's direction, nodding.] I haven't seen anything like it before.

[The little orb floats back over to hang out behind Lup once he's done with it, and she returns the nod with a smile.]

Hey, no problem. Sorry for spooking you with my fire earlier, I didn't know anybody was down here.

It's all right. [Now that there aren't fire blasts everywhere, he can be a little more casual about it.] It looks like most people don't come down to these levels at all.

Yeah, that's about why I was down here myself. The road less traveled has better rewards, or something like that.

[She gestures in a vague direction towards some of the more twinkly-looking walls of the cavern. No obvious gemstones shining through, but the rumours had been real enough, so here she is.]

What's got you digging?

Gemstones.

[He tips his head towards the same walls Lup just indicated.]

I'm here to find undiscovered seams for some of the miners up top.

Oh, that's convenient, if a little more altruistic than I'm used to. Wanna tag-team it, then? So long as you don't mind me taking some for myself.

Well, I'm being paid for it.

[A pretty new arrangement for Connor. He considers the offer - he doesn't see any downsides to it, and it's not really his concern if someone else nabs some of the gems first. He's just here to find the stuff, not take it back to them. Getting a choice in that was important to him.

So he nods, stepping over to Lup.]

I'm fine with that. I don't need them myself. [He extends a hand then.] I'm Connor.

[Paid, huh? She laughs, not unkindly. It's more understandable than just doing it to help people- that's the life of a proper adventurer.]

That's more like it! I'm Lup, nice to meet you.

[She accepts his hand for a firm shake without hesitation.]

It's nice to meet you too.

[He lets go of her hand and gestures back down the cavern, where the ground continues sloping downwards.]

I was heading in that direction, since it's seen less recent use.

[Lup follows his hand, studying the shape of the rocks and the way the path carves down, and- yeah, she knows nadda about rocks and mining that isn't just raw experience with spelunking. One road's as good as any.

She shrugs and gives him a playful little salute.]

Sounds fine with me. Lead on, my good fella.

[That's... weird, but he's not going to object to being saluted either. Not like he can expect that at home. Connor's happy to lead since he was already going in this direction. With a tip of his head to indicate she should follow, he starts following that slant downwards.]

There's enough airflow coming from this direction that there should be another connecting passage on the other side.

Well, that's useful. I do like having air to breathe.

[She falls into step behind him, hands clasped together at the back of her head, studying their surroundings as they walk. It's been such a beautiful trip that she might consider it worthwhile even if she doesn't find any treasure to bring back, though that would be ideal. It's just so nice to go somewhere with decent aesthetics after a month on Trash Planet.]

Yeah - I think most people do.

[That's a little glib, coming from someone who certainly gives the impression he's breathing. He had nearly said 'humans' but Lup's ears haven't escaped his notice. It's fortunate he already spoke to someone who said they were an elf, otherwise Connor would have been asking questions much earlier.

The magic had admittedly been distracting.

Connor does look over at Lup again, now that it's back on his mind.]

If you don't mind my asking, are you an elf?

[Her response comes hand in hand with an easy grin- clearly not the first time she's been asked that question.]

Guilty as charged. What could possibly have given me away?

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