001 ▲ video.

[sylvan]

[The video comes at an odd angle, all wild waves of vivid green hair, occasionally rocking nauseously to reveal pale, creamy skin and the flash of dark blue eyes or part of a nervous but friendly smile -- much like the voice that comes over the airwaves.]

I've... never used something like this before, so I hope it's working! [Her laugh comes soft, chiming a few times before dissipating. The screen shakes and a slender hand comes into view, gesturing as she speaks. Slowly her appearance becomes a little more visible; a sideways angle of about two-thirds of her face comes into focus. Though the angle is odd, it's clear that she is an attractive woman and while uncomfortable, she radiates warmth.]

I'm not really sure where I'm going with all of this, I hadn't had much of a plan in mind when I started. [Another soft laugh that implies she's lost in more than one sense of the word. It doesn't reach her eyes, nor does the smile any longer.]

I do have a question, though, if no one minds it. What now?

Comments

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles at her; summons are always a bit showy, aren't they?]

My abilities tend to be showy as well.

[sylvan]

[ Her hands swing around to her back and clasp together and she bounces, rocking her feet from side to side. ]

Well? You're going to tell me, aren't you? You can't just say something like that and leave a girl hanging.

[shadearchivist]

If you insist.

[Ienzo's tone shows that he doesn't really mind. The hallway around them seems to disappear, replaced by a garden lined with fountains and cobblestone paths. The sun seems to be shining above them, and looming above them is a tall castle with elaborate turrets.]

[sylvan]

I'm requesting, of course.

[ But in a roundabout way, yes. She does insist. And pauses in her step, looking around then inching a little closer as she turns to look the way they came. ]

What kind of magic is this? It's amazing!

[shadearchivist]

[The hallway appears around them again.]

It's an illusion. It's mostly useful either for peaceful things or in order to hide yourself. I can disguise myself or other things, but it isn't quite as impressive.

[sylvan]

No, I think it is! It's really amazing! [ She bounces in place, peering up at him with a wide smile, eyebrows raised still in awe. It's a passive skill, it doesn't hurt anyone. It reminds her of Edward, coincidentally who she has decided to name her Meow Wow after. ] Thank you for sharing that with me.

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo ducks his head; Theta liked his illusions but not everyone had been as happy to see them.]

I'm glad to have brightened your day.

[sylvan]

[ She wonders if his reaction has anything to do with how he'd spoken of Black Magic? Didn't he know that skills weren't inherently bad in any way? It's how they're used... ]

Will you promise to show me something like that again sometime? Even if it's the same thing? It must take a lot of concentration to do that. [ She wonders where it falls on the scales of magic -- is it Black or White? Or is it something completely unique, like her Summoning? ]

[shadearchivist]

[It has more to do with individual responses to illusions; some people don't like their perceptions messed with, understandably.]

Of course, if you like. It doesn't take as much concentration for smaller things but the more encompassing the illusion, the more difficult it is to maintain and do other things. And of course the more energy it consumes. [The one thing Ienzo does miss about Castle Oblivion was that the whole place tended to facilitate illusion magic.]

[sylvan]

Isn't that how all magic works? [ She lifts her hand, palm upturned. Ice begins to curl around her hand, crystallizing in soft sparkles as dances around her fingertips. With a flourish, it dissipates into the air. ] Blizzard is easy, but Blizzaga would take more. Fire is nothing, Firaga takes concentration. Meteor would leave me fatigued.

Magic's special like that. It's a part of you, right down to your blood and your bones. [ Her words are honeyed, almost cloying. Like she's impressed with him on a personal level. Magic, she thinks, is a commonality. It links them. ]

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles politely that that. Magic is complex...Even might get along very well with Rydia, depending on their first meeting, actually.]

I should introduce you to a friend of mine sometime. You might have interesting conversations.

[sylvan]

I think I would like that. Especially if it has to do with magic, I always love to talk about it.

[ She bounces a bit, rocking back and forth on her heels. ]

I used to think I would become a Sage -- you know, someone who could use all Black and White Magic, none of it lacking in power. But I lost that ability when I gave myself to Black Magic and Summoning. So I... suppose a part of me longs for that, if it makes sense?

[shadearchivist]

It's interesting...the system of magic in which I operate doesn't limit magic between white and black in the same way. People generally have specialties, but for the most part as long as you're capable of doing magic, you can do any of it.

[Ienzo looks into the middle distance, a bit lost in thought. He hadn't worked much with other people's systems of magic; it would be interesting to see what the differences were.]

[sylvan]

Most people can learn anything, but few go beyond base level or secondary level -- like Cura, Fira, Thundara, and so forth. Even then if you were to measure my Blizzaga against most others, the power would overwhelm it in comparison.

[ That's how it worked. But she basically breathed magic, as it were. ]

It's all about focus. That would be the easiest way to compare it.

[shadearchivist]

We'll have to compare notes, sometime. But you should settle in, I think.

[They would have to meet later, when there was time.]

[sylvan]

I'd very much like that, whenever you have a moment.

[ She pauses, fidgeting with her long sleeves. ]

Speaking of... um. Is there any sort of more permanent housing situation? Or are there just inns? [ A little rushed, like she doesn't want to sound ungrateful for what she does have; it's better than a tent or cottage, after all! ] I mean, I don't mind it! It beats the ground, after all.

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo nods; he understands the need for one's own space.]

There are various places where you can rent space to live, yes. People have houses and apartments in various areas of the worlds. People tend to start out here simply so that they can know the options before they decide where to live; since Traverse Town perpetually experiences night, people often prefer to live in Twilight Town, where there's sunlight.

[sylvan]

Do you think it would be beneficial to rent a place semi-permanently instead of nightly, then?

[ She pauses, tilting her head a little to the side. ] That's a strange way of naming things. You'd think those places would be named opposite, wouldn't you?

[shadearchivist]

I've chosen to buy space from the moogles for a shop and apartment; the hotel seems too impersonal to me.

[He considers the question for a moment.]

I think the point of Traverse Town's night is that one can always see the stars.

[sylvan]

Which implies you don't think you'll be leaving any time soon.

[ No reason to be delusional, she thinks. She doesn't plan on getting too settled in, but she doesn't want to lie to herself, either. ]

Is it? I'm so used to them back home. At least in the Overworld. You can't see them in the Underworld or in the Feymarch. I sometimes take them for granted. [ A beat. ] Do you like them?

[shadearchivist]

I've been here for some months, so despite my hopes of a quick escape, no, I don't anticipate that we'll get out quickly.

[He'd spent ten years away from home before. He can stand a few months away, so long as he can return again.]

I don't know how exactly the world works where you come from but each of those stars should be another world. It's the light from the hearts of those worlds that shines in the sky. So I suppose I do like them. It makes one feel less lonely.

[sylvan]

I'll try to make a conscious effort not to bring things up like that again. It's so normal to me that I forget that things are... different here.

[ She shifts a bit closer, rocking back and forth on her feet. ]

Hm, well. I think I'll probably stay here for a while and gather my bearings. [ She might be drawing the wrong conclusion from his words, but she thinks he's very melancholy. He reminds her a little of Edward. ] So you can call on me if you ever need company.

[shadearchivist]

It's hardly sensitive, just...depressing, I suppose.

[Ienzo smiles at her.]

Thank you. I'm not without friends here, but one does get homesick.

[sylvan]

How honest of you to say. [ Although perhaps brutally so. She wouldn't quite go so far as he had, not yet anyway. ]

You're quite welcome. I figured as much, though, since I can't imagine someone as helpful and interesting as you being without comrades. [ This really could easily come off as flirting, couldn't it? She's rather oblivious to that fact, simply stating how she feels -- which happens to be complimentary. ]

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles and shakes his head. He doesn't take it as flirting, because honestly he doesn't really expect to be flirted with.]

Thank you for that evaluation. I'm certain you'll make friends as well. But truly, I should be going so you can settle in.