[ 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

[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.

[theirondragon]

It's not about fear. It's about power. I raw power isn't controlled, it should be destroyed.

[ananym]

Even if it resides in a person?

[theirondragon]

Otherwise, everyone's in danger. So yeah, even if it's in a person. If it's not controlled, it controls them. Sometimes, that means having it controlled for them. If that doesn't work, it's best for everyone if they're put down. The strongest realize that and take care of it themselves.