folklorist | ϡ - Chapter Twenty; those who have gone missing [action/voice]

Entry tags:

ϡ - Chapter Twenty; those who have gone missing [action/voice]

[ There's a clear strained sigh coming from the opposite end of the transmission. A few moments later some shuffling as someone moves about in the background. ] Frederic's been...taken. He, um, has been for awhile. I-I wasn't supposed to make anyone worry, I'm terribly sorry for not saying so sooner. [ There's a clear tone of guilt in his voice. It goes against Frederic's wishes but he has been gone for awhile. Helios will pull out a chair and take a seat next to his journal. ]

I'm not sure when he'll back, but I thought his friends should know. I apologize for this--especially before the holiday. [ A pause accompanied by a sigh. ] I don't understand why they do such things in the first place.

[ Filtered Poorly, lol how does I technology, to Poland ]

Frederic left you a letter. He asked me to deliver it to you. Do you mind if I stop by?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He does note that and is a bit worried. How can you not be when there's heavy breathing coming from someone over the journal? He'll finally speak after hearing the other. His tone of voice will be one of concern when he finally speaks over the journal. ]

Robert are you alright?

[Robert's voice is... tired when he gets enough breath to reply. He leans against the foot of the first staircase.]

I... I am alright. Somewhat. I-It's just that I simply do not have the... c-constitution, for all this walking. [His voice just makes it more obvious that he's anything but alright. Despite this, he's actively trying to walk up the stairs - though he stops when he reaches the top of the next flight.]

G-Gah. I... I a-apologize for my condition. [Robert's ashamed of how out of shape he is, and how much it shows. He even considers filtering the journal, but doesn't have the energy to think of a filter right now, so he stands there trying to recover some semblance of breath.]

[ Well he feels rather bad now. ] Would you...ah, like assistance? I do feel bad having you walking up so many flights. [ Fifth floor, poor Robert he will be half dead by the time he gets up here. ] I-I'll be down in a moment.

[Robert wouldn't have asked for help himself, but the fact that Helios is basically insisting on it makes it easier to just accept.] A-Alright. ... Th-thank you.

[For the time being, he braces himself against the wall, face flushed with both exertion and shame, and just focuses on breathing, cursing every fibre of his paltry muscles.]

It's no trouble at all. I just hope you're alright. [ And he'll be coming down that flight of stairs now. ] Ah! There you are. I'm terribly sorry for this. You could have said something. I-I would have stopped by instead if this was the case.

I... didn't anticipate feeling this weak. But this is a route I have not used before and I suppose I... g-got too overzealous.

At any rate, it is my fault, not yours. [Robert shifts to a standing posture, looking a little better now that he's had time to recover.] My physician would likely be most alarmed by my lack of sense.

[Robert looks over at Helios.] I did mean to visit you at some point... though I do wish it was in less discomforting circumstances.

Maybe some food and some tea will give you back some stamina. [ He'll be eying Robert with a rather concerned look. ]

Ah, well, I'll apologize now the mess back at the apartment. I did try to tidy up a little before you came. [ Because there were papers and crap all over the floor. ] At any rate shall we be going? Are you well enough is the important question.

I... I think so. I seem to be fine enough now. [Robert turns and begins to make his way up the next flight of stairs with a mildly grim look. He's... slow, and cautious. But his breathing doesn't seem to be as laboured as it was.]

It's rather pathetic of me to be having so much difficulty here... but I am not used to having to walk everywhere.

Ah that's good then. Very good! [ A slight smile coming from him. He's relieved at least the other wasn't hurt or anything. He'll be keeping an eye on you just in case any...mishaps occur. ]

Not at all. If your world isn't like this it's no wonder that you wouldn't be used to it. To be honest I do enjoy walking around town...but I sometimes miss transportation like cars and such.

[~~Robert is one big mishap. :|~~ Robert continues to pick his way up the stairs, mindful of how slow he's going but nervous to go any faster. His breathing is still heavier than it should be.]

W-Well... back on Terra there would be high-speed transport pods running throughout the city. There's... absolutely nothing of the sort here, which is d-disconcerting.

High speed transport pods? [ He'll regard the other with a curious glance. ] That sounds rather fascinating. We didn't have anything like that on Earth. Though one could compare a teleportation spell to such things. It's a very quick method of traveling--er well besides drawing out the spell circle.

Yes, high-speed transport pods - essentially flexible polymer pods travelling through tubes that run throughout the residential and economic regions of Terran cities, where pods are deployed at will from a central hub.

[Robert looks over at Helios at that.] I had teleportation magic demonstrated to me by a certain Ms. Iris... But she did not need any sort of extraneous object for it. It was quite near instantaneous...

Hrm. All of this implies more difference between magical physics in worlds than I thought. That could compound the difficulty of my eventual studies.

They actually made tubes to cover entire areas? So you have no cars? Ah, but what about planes? To get to other places, perhaps across oceans or something.

[ He'll be rubbing his chin thinking. ] Is that so? Hm teleportation without a circle, that's rather impressive. Certainly not something easily obtainable in my world. [ A small smile. ] I guess that just goes to show you how different worlds can be. [ He'll give Robert a curious glance. ]

Studies? Ah, so you're going to take up learning about it then?

[Robert looks a little surprised.] Well, there are some aircraft - most are powered by solar panelling or hydrogen fuel cells, though. But they generally are only needed in rare events because the planetwide Internet generally covers most of what would otherwise necessitate direct contact.

[He nods at the second part.] Since you and Doctor Mizuno both seem to think there are principles behind magic, and since I had that conversation with you about how spells function, I have been considering trying to do some sort of report on magic and its physics. If I had my nanocomputer it would be much easier... the journals are one thing, but they lack the robustness of a good nanocomputer's holoprojectors, and are completely without any tools for study.

[While they've been talking, the two have managed to make it up most of the stairs. Robert glances around himself.] Ah. We're nearly at the fifth floor...

Solar powered hm? [ He kinda sort got the rest of that...no, wait, he didn't nevermind. Just a look of confusion dots his face before it turns to one of subtle surprise. ]

Really? [ He sounds pleased at that thought. ] Reminds me of my time learning such things back when I was younger actually. [ Have a smile at that. ] Well, there are some books from my world here on such physics, if you'd like to look at them. Admittedly they're a bit...old in terms of diction but you're certainly welcome to use them.

[ Helios will blink noting that. ] Oh! We are, aren't we? I didn't even take notice.

[Robert can't help but be mildly amused by Helios' confusion.] Ah, I suppose one day I must explain to you the concepts behind such energy sources. On the off-chance we may remember, you would do well to take them to your world.

Yes. I have rationalized to myself that if magic does exist here, then it must surely have a logical process. Hence studying the process will do me some good towards understanding this place better. [Robert looks questioningly at Helios.] If you have studied this yourself, surely you would be aware of the logistics of teaching it.

At any rate, I am quite curious to see your apartment.

[ Don't laugh at his obvious technology fail! ] I've heard of it, power obtained from the sun, water, and wind. But for the life of me--I just cannot understand how they do it. They use solar panels correct? [ He's trying not to fail too hard but hopefully he was right on the mark with that one. ]

Certainly! You're absolutely right about that. I wouldn't mind helping you in said studies if you'd allow me to, of course. [ Helios will be going over to the door of the apartment and opening it; motioning for Robert to enter. ]

Pardon the, um, mess. [ Mess meaning papers strewn about the table an floor. A lot of them will have symbols and designs that probably make no sense, and have little meaning to Robert. ]

[Robert nods.] Yes, solar panelling is used to collect solar energy. Terran solar panels mimic the organic process of photosynthesis to maximize their efficiency at solar energy collecting, but otherwise they should not be too different from the solar panels you are knowledgeable of.

I would appreciate any and all help I could recieve on the matter, Helios. Especially from someone who himself works in an educational institution.

[Robert kind of stops in the doorway, noticing all the papers all over the place. He makes an expression that's somewhere between mildly amused, mildly concerned and mildly disturbed.] Ah, that's... quite a bit of, er... paper, there. [Definite note of disturbance on Robert's voice on that paper. But the symbols are extremely intricate and therefore immediately interesting. The scientist stoops down to check the nearest one out with a curious expression.]

Is this your work? It looks very nearly like some sort of diagram.

Mimicking plant functions? That's rather impressive for something that's inorganic and not plant like at all. You're world certainly has interesting technology, Robert. [ Even if he understands little to none of it, he is genuinely curious about it. ]

Hm then consider it done. I've already helped Frederic learn spells after all! [ Helios obviously likes this idea. It's been awhile since he's taught, especially magical theory and physics, to someone. ]

Oh! It is, isn't it? [ Just rubbing the back of his neck, yep. He does note it looking a bit confused. Helios will nod as Robert looks over one of his spells. ] Yes it is! A simple...teleportation spell actually. [ He'll go off into the kitchen for a moment. ] The water for tea needs to re-heated I'm afraid. But do make yourself at home! [ There is the clinking of cups and plates coming from the kitchen.

I would be pleased to one day show you examples of it in person, Helios - should that ever become possible to do. [Robert can tell Helios is curious and that makes him happy, actually.]

... You helped Frederic Chopin learn spells? ... And this is the same Chopin from my world? [Robert sort of stares a bit.] ... Perhaps he is not, then. Unless this implies I could learn them as well. [Slightly freaky to think about - but also mildly fascinating.]

A... teleportation spell? And simple, no less. It hardly looks simple. In fact, it reminds me much of the structure of some diatom-like organisms recovered from one of Gliese 581... Most curious.

[Robert resists commenting on the fact that if it were his home he'd be organizing the papers. In fact, it's very difficult for him to resist doing so - even though the idea of touching the paper is a minorly squicky one.]

And I certainly wouldn't mind--if, ah, it doesn't interrupt your work of course.

The famous composer, yes, but his circumstance are a a bit--complicated. [ Helios will laugh as he brings out a tray with some food on it and two cups of hot brewing tea. ]

Simple in that it's a shortwave teleportation spell. Meaning the distance one can cover is one to two miles at most. There's different patterns for different length spells. The more ground you wish to cover the more complex the spell becomes. Why I used to make some to take me halfway across the world sometimes. It all depends on which one you draw.

I'm certain that it would hardly be an issue.

Complicated? I suppose at the moment you... would be rather adverse to discussing it, though. [Robert seats himself primly near the tray, picking up the tea and sipping some.] ... Ah. I definitely could get used to fresh tea.

[The next part fascinates Robert.] How does the process of drawing actually relate to the magic? Does it serve to distort the force... somehow? [Obviously this is difficult for him to comprehend.] I am afraid I have trouble understanding how drawings would relate to magic...

Adverse? No, but I think it's best for Frederic to tell you himself when he returns. [ There's a small sad smile on his face, but it's quickly discarded as Robert asks his next question. Said features are now a brighter smile together with a nod. ]

Well it's something like incantations. Specific spells evoke specific forces and magical capabilities within said person. A fire spell will allow a person to tap into their magical capabilities and use said spell. [ He'll pick up another piece of paper with an entirely different circle drawn on it. ] Each symbol and each circle has it's own method, it's own...equipment to carry out said result. [ Helios will pause, tapping his chin as he thinks of how to relate it to something more...Robertish. A small 'aha!' will escape his lips with a snap of fingers too. ]

Think of it as a science experiment. You have several methods and procedures to abide by in order to get a result, correct? And certain chemicals work together with others to yeild said results. It's something on the same lines, only with certain symbols evoking certain forces into play.

[Robert listens, curious - if not a little skeptical, but he's seen Helios do these spells. However, he hasn't seen him use one of these spell-circle based ones before.]

Well... with procedures in science, one generally constructs a model and then aims to explore a hypothesis using said model. What you are describing seems similar in some ways... But, does everybody using these methods obtain the same result? Could I theoretically even use these symbols to do so? [Robert sort of wrinkles his brow at this.]

See, were I to model a hypothesis for you using standard equipment, in theory we would get the same results with the same conditions - or at least similar results. So is this possible to replicate in the same manner? Indefinitely, even?

Technically, yes, everyone in my world gets similar results. I'm sure you could here, I'm not sure back in your world or even mine. Magic seems to be openly obtainable by everyone here, so, who is to say you couldn't?

I think the only way to truly find out would be to test it, hm?

[Voice/Action]

Re: [Voice/Action]

[Voice/Action]

Re: [Voice/Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]