folklorist | ϡ - Chapter TwentyThree; In which one deals with tricky spells [video/action for housemates/voice]

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ϡ - Chapter TwentyThree; In which one deals with tricky spells [video/action for housemates/voice]

[ You can have a view of Helios leaning back in his chair, rather comfortably actually. He's in his room and in said background are scattered papers and objects. Incidentally he doesn't have his glasses on today, might be due to the fact that he's conducting a delicate experiment in his room. Keyword being delicate. If you catch a glimpse of any of the papers in the background it'll make no sense if you can't read runes. Though one in particular has the diagram of a ring with various lines and runic lettering on it. Helios will lean forward smiling at the journal. ]

Ah, I hope it's on. Erm, yes. [ Clearing his throat he still doesn't get these things. He just brings a hand to his chin, characteristic thoughtful pose is go! ]

I wonder...many of you know about magic, of course. But how many of you can actually apply magical attributes to an inanimate object? Like--ah, enchantments! They're rather tricky and if done wrong they can well...blow up in your face- [ Or you colleague's faces. ] -but they can be used for all sorts of things. Like making a sword into a flaming sword by applying a fire spell to said sword, and when the right incantation is spoken it alights!

[ A thoughtful hum. ] Also are there any myths or legends in your worlds based around objects? Like Excalibur, hammer of Thor, or maybe even the holy grail? Just wondering...all out of curiosity. [ And possibly to further his own research, maybe even get some help on the little project he's been doing since Halloween. Except during his little questioning session the spell he was trying to place on said inanimate objects will begin to sizzle in the background. Smoke is going to start clouding the video and sparks can be seen as well. His eyes will widen as he turns abruptly knocking the journal on the floor and turning off the video function but not the voice. ]

Oh! No-no not again. This wasn't supposed to--! [ There's a very loud bang and the room shakes with it. Sorry housemates there will be a spillage of black, with what seems to have shards of diamonds sprinkled throughout it, smoke coming from Helios' room as he slams the door open. Helios' face will also bear the marks of said explosion as he tumbles out of the room, face and clothes covered in black soot, but he at least has journal in hand. Also people over the journals can hear him coughing rather a lot. Before long you'll hear him laughing though, replying rather amused. ] Ah, yes, very tricky!

[ Going to be brushing off the fact that just happened. You didn't hear anything, everything is fine. Okay, well, Frederic and Giles might be a tad bit annoyed. ]

Um, right, welcome to Luceti all of you who've just been brought here! It takes a bit to get used to everything but we luckily have a nice welcoming committee! You're free to answer those questions as well if you want to! Anyone can as they are open to everyone to answer.

[ Don't mind the fact he just blew himself up, nope. A brief pause on his end. ]

Hm...oh, is that on fire? That is on fire. Just-just a moment. [ Going to go put that out now yup and you can just...talk to him after wards. Derpy derp nice way to introduce yourself to all the new people, Helios. ]

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Oh I think you might be right. I-I guess a slight explosion isn't...so bad. It used to be much worse. I even put up a barrier and it still did this. A-at least the fire was concentrated. Back to the drawing board I suppose. [ Because that would have been very bad. Sigh as he rubs his eyes. ] Ah, if you wouldn't mind.

[ He might feel a bit sorry about this whole thing, derp. ]

A slight explosion isn't "so bad"? While cracking a barrier of yours' in the bargain?

Your world is very strange, Helios.

...granted, back home, we tended to favor explosions that were far from slight. So I'm not in a position to comment.

[It's almost disturbing to Giles that he can reach the closet without any difficulty. But he does, and he pulls out two of the spare towels before going back to Helios' room and holding both out for his friend to take.]

Here. Are you sure you're all right?

It could have been worse. This really isn't the biggest of explosions I've...seen. [ Caused. ] I'll try to be more careful next time. O-Outside...probably should go outside next time.

[ Just going to start cleaning up yep. ] Y-Yes I'm positive.

[ Another sigh as that silence goes on a bit too long for him. ] I...I finally spoke with Frederic today. [ It's a bit mumbled because if Giles could figure they haven't exactly been talking to each other at all lately. ]

I finally...apologized at least. He didn't seem angry as far as I could tell.

[Oh, Giles has figured. And he's been confused and upset by it all, because coming back to his two best friends not speaking was stress on top of stress and most of the reason why he's been spending as much time as he can out of the apartment.]

I'm glad you did. And I didn't think he would be.

...granted, I still have no idea what's had you two playing Germany and France this past while. But I like to think I both know you well enough by now, at least enough to hold out hope that you're capable of forgiving one another.

[ An audible relieved sigh. ] I'm just...glad he wasn't.

If-if I ruined anything because of that...that stupid experiment. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. [ He will be scrubbing the walls now a bit harder than he should be. He's obviously not paying attention today. ]

He-he said he needed time to sort things out. And I suppose it's my fault as well for avoiding him. [ Like he avoided Robert for a few days. ]

You do have a problem with that, yes.

[Giles listens patiently to the sound of Helios' voice, to the sound of the towel scrubbing almost feverishly against the wall.]

...I thought the both of you still got on rather well during that experiment. It wasn't like with you and Robert.

[ Giles stop confirming his faults! ] I know. I should really try to stop that.

I attacked him...the same night I attacked Robert. It happened before that though. [ Just going back to scrubbing now. ]

[This is what he does for his pseudo-family. Deal with it.]

I think you might find it gives you and everyone around you less cause for misery and anxiety, yes.

[...wow, that was blunt, even for Giles on a bad day. He'll just...try to amend that.]

And it might help do away with unfortunate misunderstandings. Such things can be just as damaging as a fireball.

[Then, his voice much quieter and softer:] I'm sorry. I didn't know.

[ It's actually nice if that makes sense. ]

I'm not used to people caring so much about me. Especially not enough to cause them misery or anxiety of all things. The most I've been before here is a nuisance. [ Just a light chuckle he'll lean back from his scrubbing wiping the sweat off his brow. ] It's a nice change...I'll have to start remembering and getting used to it.

[ He looks back over at Giles a small smile on his face. Even if Giles can't see his face he can probably still hear it faintly in his voice. ] It's fine, Giles. If anyone should be sorry it's the Malnosso, but that's likely to never happen.

[Giles is actually well aware that it does.]

Sometimes? You are. But I'd imagine that Frederic and I have been nuisances right back, sometimes.

It's part of being friends. You're allowed to be a nuisance to the people you care about every so often. It's practically expected.

Just look at Buffy and I.

[Granted, he and Buffy aren't exactly friends - they've passed that, in a way - but "friends" is the easiest word.]

But as for people caring about you enough to fret over you? Yes, you are going to have to get used to that. The sooner the better.

[But he does hear that smile in Helios' voice - Giles has gotten good at reading voices over the last of weeks, even better than he used to be.]

No, it won't. Still. Dare to dream.

You're right, you're right. I imagine Varron would agree wholeheartedly with that. [ Just a bit of a wider smile at that. ]

I just...never thought I'd really make so many good friends here I suppose. [ That brings him to thinking about what will happen when they finally leave. He would go back to his own world...it wouldn't really be the same. ] Then again not many people took what happened to Elise as well as you and Frederic. I wish the people back home did.

But there I go dreaming again! [ It's a small, possibly latent with sadness, laugh. ] I guess it be would similar to asking the Malnosso to take responsibility for their actions.

Edited 2011-05-19 19:28 (UTC)

He sounds like a smart man, this Varron. I'd love to meet him, one day. [And, although he can't see Helios smile, Giles' faint smile will also widen slightly.]

Getting snatched against your will into an entirely different world isn't supposed to do wonders for your social life. Or so I would have guessed before coming here. But in many cases, it seems as though it has. Certainly for me, I know that much. Before I came here, Helios, I'd spent months on end traveling with just Faith for company. And while Faith has many fine qualities, communication isn't always one of them.

[Granted, then came the war and they were all together again, but...that doesn't really count. Not like this.

Now that the crisis seems to have passed, Giles will lean back against the wall.] Getting them to take responsibility for their actions isn't the problem. They love taking responsibility for what they do to us. It's getting them to make amends that's the fever dream.

I think you two would get along rather well. He's, um, a bit more level headed than I. And he actually can't use magic either. He found out about me and my own skills on accident! Freshman year in college I believe. I have to give him credit he didn't fully believe what he was seeing at first. But he took it amazingly well after a proper showing.

Faith you've mentioned her before. Is she...like Buffy then? [ Though he does want to ask why Giles left Buffy in the first place but it doesn't really seem his place to. ]

The fever dream indeed.

Being "levelheaded" isn't your problem, Helios. Absentminded, now, that might be another matter.

A dose of healthy skepticism is probably to be expected, under those circumstances. It's good that he came around so quickly, though - people can be remarkably adapt in that fashion, can't they?

I take it this was an ordinary school, then? We've never had much experience with ordinary schools, any of us from Sunnydale. Every school Buffy and the others attended was influenced by the Hellmouth, and Oxford was a prime recruiting ground for the Watcher's Council.

[Giles did not leave Buffy. Buffy declared, in no uncertain terms, that she wanted nothing more to do with him or Faith.

Despite everything, Giles...would still probably lie about how he and Buffy came to the point of parting company, though. Because he sincerely wants Helios to think he's a good person, still, as long as he can.]

In some ways, yes. Seeing as how they're both Slayers, that was probably inevitable. In most ways, absolutely not. And they both prefer it that way.

Oh, yes right. Absentminded... [ Yeah he is, he can't even deny that. ]

They certainly can...though I think Varron is one of the many who took it so well. I-I don't know how much different the witch trials were in your world...but mine they were horrible. Entire bloodlines wiped out in a single swoop. But I like to think that people have changed from that time. Varron and my students give me some optimism on that front, though.

[ Helios will still think Giles is a good person regardless of what he tells him. It might be a bit of naivety on his part...but he honestly can't see Giles being any worse than himself. He has a very poor outlook about himself when it comes to thinking he's a good person. ]

So there's multiple ones. Well people do have different upbringings and the like, so it's only natural.

Not quite so terrible in mine. The Council has done extensive research into the subject - casualties in the form of actual witches happened, yes, but were fortunately rare. Granted, a few of the victims might have had the knack for sorcery without having fully realized their powers, but by and large fully fledged magic users were able to escape any unwelcome attention.

...people have moved on from that by my time, at least. Not necessarily for the better, if the price is a vampire lauded for draining people on national television.

[Giles shakes his head, bitter.

You blew up the apartment while giving a lecture to the New Feathers, Helios. You're absentminded. ~~And this totally doesn't count towards the bet.~~.]

Multiple ones, yes. Thanks to Buffy - when the Shadow Men first created the Slayer, they didn't expect such miraculous advances as CPR.

[And they most certainly didn't expect Willow Rosenburg, who is the real reason why there's an army of Slayers by Giles' time rather than one girl in all the world.

...but that's an entirely different kettle of fish, and Giles will quickly move on to other subjects.]

So. Do you know what you did wrong, then?

It was a bit of a mess for us. But like I said many people have moved on from it. Our people though...took it as a warning. Hence the keeping magic a secret for the most part. It's more like a separate underground life now really.

Mm I hope it doesn't come to that. At least...I'm trying to not let it come to that. [ Then again vampires are completely different in both worlds. ]

Modernization, you never know what they'll make next. Like those...computer things. Still don't get them. [ And he should probably mention the ~~horror~~ machine known as a nanocomputer. It was like staring down Ra after someone disrupted his sleep. Terrifying! Helios will blink looking back at his desk and room. ]

Wrong symbols I think. S-Something. Ah, I don't know. [ Just rubbing his temple. ~~Also this totally does count, don't be a sore loser Giles.~~ ]

Edited 2011-05-20 16:28 (UTC)

[Please, god, don't mention the nanocomputer, Helios. Giles would be so very scared of the nanocomputer. Giles never mastered the desktop, even with Jenny's best efforts. Better the Mayor or Adam than even a desktop, better facing the Master or Angelus all on his own than the nanocomputer. Especially now that he's depending even more on his sense of smell.

So he laughs despite himself at Helios' first anxieties, whether or not they're serious.] Nor have I. Useless, bulky contraptions. I still don't understand why they haven't passed into obscurity like every other fad.

[But Helios' second batch of anxieties? That's sobering, especially when an errant thought strikes Giles that...might not be so errant, under the circumstances.]

...maybe the Malnosso have found out what we're planning.

[ But it's fascinating! In a scary never want to encounter way. But still fascinating! ] I'm not sure. My students do like their laptops which aren't as bulky...but who knows! I guess you just have to have a knack for it.

[ There's a moment of silence because that...that actually makes him a bit scared. His stomach might even drop. ]

There's...there's no way. It-it's not as if we've been publicly making it known.

I think you do. God, look at Willow - even before she'd thought of casting her first spell, she was doing all sorts of complicated and barely legal things on that infernal machine that I never understood.

[He sighs and shakes his head.] Need a knack for magic, a knack for technology...thank god I wound up with music, at least. I'd hate to think I was entirely hopeless.

[No, it's just scary. And it doesn't smell like anything.]

...they've been inside our heads, Helios. Maybe they saw something. And it's not as though we even had much of a reason to keep it quiet during this past experiment. I know I mentioned it to some of the students. Not over the journals, of course, but it isn't just between us three anymore.

I don't think you're hopeless Giles. [ He says that with a genuine tone of voice. Because Helios thinks you and anyone else can learn magic at least here. ]

Well they-they haven't exactly done anything about it. S-So maybe there's a chance they're too busy with other things? It's not as if we've made much progress. [ Slight grumble at that. ]

Who have you spoken to about it?

[Whether he can and whether he will are two totally different and entirely unfortunate kettles of fish. Giles could probably learn magic, if he wanted to - he just won't, beyond what the spirits have to teach.

Still, it's a nice sentiment, and he nods in acknowledgment of it.]

Xion, and Link.

I was considering bringing Link in on the plan from the start.

...I thought they might have taken to sabotaging you, actually.

Oh! Xion and Link? I've spoken to both of them briefly before. Link knows how to play an Ocarina so that actually might be helpful.

Y-you wouldn't be wrong in thinking so. [ Just a sigh. ]

Link knows how to play an ocarina, yes. Xion knew how to play the violin, but I'm not sure how much of that would have been the experiment.

...perhaps we should ask another magic user to check for interference, at least? To see if they really are interfering?

Well different tones and pitches can definately be useful. Especially when fitting the range for what sounds can be canceled out.

That might not be a bad idea, actually. But how would we even begin to test for something like that?

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