[ video ]

[ananym]

[ there's a pretty vampire, looking into the camera curiously before speaking. ]

I have been meaning to ask. Is there anything that you have learned here that has changed your lives?

Comments

[ananym]

It is a mirror that allows you to speak to whoever is on the other side. Some will even allow you to travel that way.

[theirondragon]

Oh, magic mirrors. Why not?

[ananym]

Is that so surprising?

[theirondragon]

Not surprising, no.

[He shook his head slightly, which was typically all he did when shaking his head. Those horns could cause some damage.]

Says a lot about people who rely on magic like that, though.

[ananym]

[ alucard raises a delicate eyebrow. ]

And what would that be?

[theirondragon]

What else do you use magic for?

[ananym]

I have seen many kinds. Magic combined with science. Magic married to intent. Magic born in blood.

I try not to generalize.

[theirondragon]

I don't care where the magic comes from. It still gets weird. [And creepy.]

[ananym]

[ completely polite. ]

Well. I'm not surprised if people can't grasp it.

[theirondragon]

Nah, I get it just fine. Doesn't make it less weird.

[ananym]

[ alucard almost rolls his eyes. ]

You must be the pinnacle of normality in your reality then.

[theirondragon]

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

Not even close, but when I want to build a wall, I pick up bricks and build it. If I wanna tear one down, I use siege weapons, not fireballs.

[ananym]

[ alucard cocks an eyebrow. ]

And . . . ?

[theirondragon]

[He smirks.]

I don't cheat.

[ananym]

[ is this really something to boast about . . . ]

I fancy it is a little hard to cheat at carrying bricks, but I'm not much of a layman.

[theirondragon]

I mean with magic.

[ananym]

I may not be a student of magic, but I would imagine magic spells aren't particularly used to make buildings or cheat at menial labor.

[ but he can tell iron bull doesn't know a lot about magic. ]

[theirondragon]

You'd be surprised what a whole country led by magic users will do to get out of working.

[ananym]

I suppose I would be if such a thing existed in my reality.

But barring that and the location we're in, I don't think it's likely.

[theirondragon]

Good. They get power hungry, start taking slaves, thinking they're better than everyone. It's not pretty.

[ananym]

[ dryly. ]

That really seems to be a problem relegated to your world. I haven't seen many magic users here who would do such things.

[ and honestly, it really sounds like a prejudice. ]

[theirondragon]

Maybe not. Maybe they wouldn't do it here. Funny thing about corruption, though. It happens to the best of us.

[ananym]

Corruption is not simply linked to magic. It is linked to power.

[theirondragon]

I never said it was simple, pal, but magic's a lot of power, and it's not like an army or even just a really nice ax. Anybody could get those.

[ananym]

[ alucard rolls his shoulders, careless. ]

Yes. Like a mob in fear of magic-users.