[Log] Same Shit, Different World

[skyward_eyes]

Who: Nida, OTA
What: Explorations and Seeking Magic Out
Where: Around the city
When: July
Warnings: None planned, will update as needed



There's a lot to be said about how weird it was to be in a place like this and still be able to feel. Feel in a way he had lost so long ago, the world feeling warm and distant somewhere in himself that didn't... didn't fully make sense. Which of course only led to him wandering, his head spinning with a sense he had forgotten. With the curl of a voice caressing his mind, cradling him with warmth and promise, the touch of a seaside breeze caressing him with all the comfort he could offer.

Magic. He can taste it in the air, and as he wanders the city, Nida will sometimes stop, abruptly, to look at people near him, or some bauble on display. Sometimes his head snaps up quickly, and he moves quickly down an alley or behind a building, only to be visible walking the top of the structure moments later. All of it with an aura of someone watching. Seeking.

"Hyne," he curses as he moves through the Historium, trying to find just what was setting his senses off there.

Or he's there on the top of the Red housing building, his eyes flirting over the city as he draws a map of the place from the high vantage, mumbling under his breath in another language.

There's even a moment when he nearly trips over someone in the market, dancing quickly aside at the last moment because his eyes had been caught up toward the path leading down toward the Curio shop.

In the end, though, he settles down near the fountain, sitting in a meditative position, eyes closed. Until, though, someone started to get close. Then his eyes flashed open, a brief flash of bronze light in his eyes before it settled back down, leaving attentive dark eyes gazing at whoever has approached.

"You feel like magic."

[OOC: Nida is capable of sensing magic, and because of his own abilities, drawing magic from the people around him. That means everyone not-native to the Aterat pings on his senses some because of a natural spell welling up from them in his senses. He can draw a small amount of that power from them, but only with permission which he will seek in-character permission every time. Feel free to message me here or on churbooseanon to discuss.]

Comments

At the fountain, just for Nida

[arroganceandangst]

Aragibal was, surprisingly, chill with the current change in scenery. He wasn't entirely convinced that this wasn't some shard from home and it was just a matter of figuring out how to get back home. Things were different, but not so foreign that it couldn't be just an adjacent shard. Money was weird? His sister showed him money from the First, which was also weird. No linkpearls? Crystals instead, same function, seemed to work very similarly - for some reason it was just one linkshell with everyone in it. The technology wasn't particularly advanced, but the world had just gone through a Calamity, so that wasn't entirely off, either.

He had chosen to take a walk and had found himself back at the fountain, curiously looking up to the portals. He caught himself wondering what built them: was it this shard's version of the ancient Allags? He almost caught himself thinking about these things like his sister would, but he was pulled out of his own head at the sound of someone's voice. He stopped walking, looking around and spying the man who was looking directly at him.

"Please forgive me, but I'm not sure I heard you right. Did you say I feel like magic?" His confusion is written on his face: this was a man who was not the kind to hide his emotions. Surely enough, however, he had aligned himself to the wind before leaving for his wanderings. "I fear you may be mistaken, I am not a mage."

[skyward_eyes]

Well of course he had said it. Those were literally the words that had come out of his mouth, weren't they? Was he not speaking an understandable language? This place seemed to have a stabilized SOMETHING to it that meant people could understand each other. But he watched the man as he approached, raising an interested eyebrow at the skin tone, hair color, the color and shape of the eyes.

Not human? Perhaps.

"Given you just repeated back what I said, clearly you heard me correctly. And you still feel like magic. It pulses under your skin. Not everyone here feels like that, but there's something in you that is reading as magic to my," he pauses as there's a pulse in his head and blood from Siren, a soft correction and a flicker of bronze light over his eyes, "to our senses."

[arroganceandangst]

The correction might strike the ire of someone else, but Aragibal patiently sat through it. He shook his head a little as the man assured Aragibal that he had magic under his skin, his smile shifting more into disbelief. "I am not really sure what to tell you. My sister is the mage of the family, not I. I utilize my inner darkness to protect my friends, and I manipulate my chakra so I can punch things hard and fast."

The tone of his voice implied that he was not as dense as he was letting on to be, but he was - for some reason - unwilling to admit that his disciplines might be defined as magic to those from other worlds. He seemed uncomfortable to be connected to being a mage. "Who is... the other part of 'our'?"

[skyward_eyes]

The other part of our isn't exactly speaking to the outside world, so does she really matter? Well, of course she does, to Nida. To others? It doesn't matter. Or shouldn't. So instead he looks to the man and tilts his head.

"Even those back on my world who don't use magic, who could never access it, have magic under their skin. People are fonts for it, a means by which the magic of the world issues forth."

[arroganceandangst]

In a world where bodies can be possessed by the Ascians and made puppets to advance their own nefarious plans the idea of an 'other' is quite worrying. It's clear in the way Aragibal set his jaw that he definitely noticed that the man didn't answer the question, but he relaxed out of it. If it were important it would be mentioned, right? It must not be as big of a deal as Aragibal thought it to be.

"Where I am from... You are describing what we call aether. Aether is like the world's energy, your energy, and mine. It's what makes magic possible. It's what makes life possible." He wasn't as eloquent as others on this topic, but he hoped it made sense. "If what you're talking about is aether, then yes?" He wasn't quite sure where this was going if they were talking about aether, because everyone should have it. They'd be dead if they didn't.

[skyward_eyes]

"Perhaps... I can show you?"

Nida frowns as he considers the other man, standing and gesturing toward Aragibal carefully.

"The process... doesn't hurt. But it does feel strange. A pulling that is hard to explain."

[arroganceandangst]

Despite his general trusting disposition, this gave Aragibal pause. He had no clue what this would entail and this made him nervous.

"I do not fear pain, but I admit that I am wary of what is to happen." This is one of those times where he wished his sister wasn't who she was and he could be a bit more ignorant. "Throwing one's aether out of balance can have disastrous effects on their person." The way he said it implied it would kill him.

"I hope you can understand my hesitation and forgive me when I ask for a small explanation of what you're about to do."

[skyward_eyes]

"It's never killed anyone I've known before, but if that is your concern, then I will not do so. I wouldn't use this power on anyone who wasn't willing."

Even though that often happened back home. Though it was mostly to monsters.

"Harm isn't what I'm setting out to do here, nature aside."

someday ara will have icons where he doesn't look mad

[arroganceandangst]

It was less that Aragibal worried he was malicious, and more that he'd seen what his sister had done to herself when experimenting too much on the edge of it all, but if this man had never killed anyone and he wished to only operate within the confines of consent it was likely something that Aragibal did not need to worry about.

"I did not mean to imply that you would kill someone on purpose." It sounded like he wanted to say more, but he cut it off there. "I would like to see what you mean." He wanted to understand.

[stickyflippers]

Caelan had spent the better part of the last little while trying to get a feel for the city and the layout in the ways that would be useful to him, following canals where they lead on foot and memorizing the landmarks or parts of the city that could be reached by them. Good, fast getaway routes if he ever needed them. Easier to access, safer to travel than the sewers. Though he would certainly like to make use of them as well, once he knew a little more.

The waterways taking him through the fountain square provide a distraction of sorts. He recognized the man from his first day in the city who had been so kind as to warn him near the harbour district of the watch. He’d also seen him around the red housing building as well of course, they were neighbours, but Caelan was keeping busy and Nida seemed to have a lot to do himself.

The selkie was going to simply offer a greeting, in the mood for socializing after his own focused wanderings, when the man spoke up.

That was... an odd thing to say the least. This was not a usual occurrence given that naturally sensitive humans were rare enough where he was from, unless they were already gifted by fae or descended from a union with one.

Smile light, he responded instead with a little raised brow, silver and black sea-glass bracelet jangling as he drew up a hand at himself. “I think you mean ‘look,’ given the distance. I do like that better than the ‘Caelan ye’ look nice today’ that I usually get from my friends though.” Yes, he’s absolutely playing dumb and pretending that he doesn’t know what Nida means.

[skyward_eyes]

Neighbors? Nida probably hadn't noticed. He was horribly prone to getting into his space through windows. Second story didn't bother him at all. Because of that, he hadn't noticed what people were where. Getting used to people, getting connected... it was pointless.

Nida offers the man a smile, though, a hand coming up to brush his hair back a bit, the mass of bracelets and his communication bracelet and crystal all striking each other in the morning.

"No. I say what I mean, Caelan By-the-Way," counters. "You feel like magic. Two of them, though. Most people only feel like one. I don't know why I didn't notice it before."

[stickyflippers]

He lets his eyes dance over the collection of bracelets for a moment, Caelan was rather fond of such accessories when he wasn’t getting down to some business that required a little more subtlety. Today was not a day for subtlety though, which was why he had adorned himself with that and the other little accessories he was fond of that had made the trip with him. Hair done up in pins that matched the bracelet, a brooch at his collar, and a ring. There were things missing, but what could you do when you were scooped up without warning?

Of course, he turned his attention away from Nida’s bracelets to focus instead of his words. Damn, this one really was gifted, and gifted people were so much harder to hide from. He does laugh though, unable to help himself at the addition of ‘By-the-Way’ to the greeting. “Now what have I said? No need to use my full name, it’s a bit of a mouthful.”

The amusements give him time to stall a bit, a chance to study the man more closely. “Two magics? That so...? Wonder what that means then?” He asks, the curiosity genuine though more that he’s trying to work out just how much Nida can work out and what he ‘feels.’

[skyward_eyes]

It was less that Nida was overly fond of accessories at their core. It was part hiding things in the leather cuffs around his wrists. The rest of it was... memories in the form of jewelry. Silver for a woman he doesn't remember. Silver for the mother he barely knows. Fun, right? Grounding too.

"But it's a mouthful I like," he muses. then offers a soft smile as he looks over Caelan. Interesting. The man is glittering and twinkling, a beauty in his own way, decked out in glitz like he's trying to keep attention. Interesting. And it says a lot about Caelan, does it not?

"I don't know. But I can feel it. Like I could reach out and call the magic into me, like I could at home. Like there is something to draw"

[stickyflippers]

Holding attention, keeping it fixed on one aspect of him and off of others (lot of good that did today). Accessories were a glamour in their own natural way, with no need for effort or focus on his part. It also helped with impressing the mark, a human noble was far more likely to try to impress if they thought you were like, show off things that they shouldn’t be showing off... and missing the strangeness that followed him. Sleight of hand here, a candlestick turning into a rat there, or a crab scuttling along the floor under doorways.

And of course, it helped that he just took to liking how they looked. Too much time among humans and other silly-minded fae, his father often said.

“Well if you like the taste enough to savour it, who am I to discourage you further?” He responded with a little dramatic lift of his shoulders, smirking a little despite the curiosity and concern over this little conversation. “Maybe I walked through an enchantment around the city, you did say you didn’t feel it before?” A weak excuse given Nida’s next words, of course... To draw from a well of power was definitely not something you could do with a spell casted on one by an outside party.

“You say much that I’m not sure I follow, Nida. I’m starting to wonder if this is what a jellyfish caught in a whirlpool feels like.” He keeps the charade going, curious but at least a little cautious for now. Caelan liked the guy, he had proven to be fun company and he was definitely becoming more intriguing the longer he knew him. “Just what do you mean by draw, and what would you do once you had?”

[skyward_eyes]

Oh boy, there is a lot to... say about this. How did he even explain magic? Nida closes his eyes and holds a hand before him. And light starts to coalesce around his hand, before he releases the spell, uncast.

"I mean calling part of the magic that wells up within you, and using it as a spell. I maintain a few. Healing spells, protective spells, elemental spells. That's what you feel like. Not like an enchantment. That feels more... like a blanket curled around the shoulders, not like a fountain when you're pushing its button."

[stickyflippers]

Caelan is careful to keep his reactions genuine, like he honestly hadn’t much of an idea about magic beyond what he’d seen since arriving here. His reaction to the light being surprised but intrigued, without being too over the top. His head tilting slightly at the sight in some awe, before he shifted his focus back to Nida and the conversation once it had disappeared.

He draws up a gloved hand, tapping his fingers on his chin lightly as he seemed to be connecting the dots and forming his next question on the subject. “I think I follow? So you're saying that it’s something I’ve got naturally, that you could tap into and use for a spell?” He hummed lightly, before tilting his head to add, “What kind of element? Or can you not tell that much.” And, the more important follow up questions, “If you're drawing it from me to use, would I notice? Would it affect me somehow?”

[skyward_eyes]

"I don't know. Until I call to the magic in you, I won't be able to tell. Touching the magic will feel like warmth flowing through your body from your heart and outward from there through your veins. If I draw, it will feel like a pulling that... That you really can't define."

You have to feel it, the way it pulls at the essence of the soul without damaging it. It's not the most comfortable, but it's not truly PAINFUL and definitely not harmful. He hopes. Because here, in this world, he doesn't know how it would work.

[whereishe]

Yuna was familiarizing herself with the strange city when she spotted someone sitting near the fountain. At first he looked a bit like Chappu but she knew that it couldn't be. Upon closer inspection, she found that his hard was the wrong color and his eyes... were staring right at her. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, uncertain at what the direct remark could mean. Magic was dying in Spira but she was a summoner --an ex summoner now that all the Aeon's were gone-- magic was in her blood.

"I do?" Her voice was curious but light in its question. "Are you looking for magic? I am sure there is some all over. Maybe-" Her finger brushed thoughtfully against her lower lip. "-the speaking crystals."

It was a strange world; both similar and different to Spira. It held its own sort of magic but from what Yuna could conclude, there might not be access to the farplane from here. Which meant that the souls of the dead were trapped and could lash out at those who lived here. There were also other oddities that didn't completely feel magical but didn't seem like they were mechanical either. In fact, she'd noticed a lack of machina in the city.

[skyward_eyes]

Something about her reminds him of... Of Rinoa. Not that he was close to the new Sorceress at any point, but Nida had seen the woman around Garden and the self-possession was something he recognized in her. Made him intrigued. Almost as much as the feeling of magic around the woman.

"I'm not looking for magic. It doesn't mean I can't find it," Nida shrugs as he considers the woman. "But the air around you almost... sings."

[whereishe]

Yuna smiled back at him. "Really?" She hadn't ever heard her magic described like that. It was nice; it was as if it was another verse of a song. There was power in music. A power that she'd only begun to explore because of Lennen.

Her fingers laced behind her back as she continued. "I was a summoner before the calm and use the sphere-grid now. It's all magic." Yuna paused thoughtfully and fully considered this strange boy.

"What are you looking for?"

[skyward_eyes]

Power in music? Perhaps. That wasn't true where he was from, except with Siren. And even now her power reached up for him, singing. Only to die down again. But what she says doesn't make sense. Sphere-grid? No, that doesn't sound familiar. But the term summoner makes him frown.

"I'm not LOOKING for anything. But what do you mean 'summoner'?"

[whereishe]

"Oh."

Yuna's head tilted to the side, her fingers lacing behind her back as she slipped into her thoughts. "A summoner is a practitioner of Yevon. They travel from temple to temple to pray to powerful entities known as Aeon's. They were spirits. When the will of an Aeon and a summoner aligned, the Aeon's would grant the summoner with the power to call them." She didn't mention Yevon because a person's faith didn't matter. The Aeon's responded to those who they found worthy of their power. Yevon had nothing to do with it.

"Do you have summoners in your world?"

[skyward_eyes]

Yevon. The name means nothing to him. Nor do temples. But Aeons... Nida taps a finger against his lips as he listens to the idea of the Aeon. Because that sounds, in some ways, like a Guardian Force. A lot like a Guardian Force. What if... what if this woman was just a part of the past of his planet? From the time when Hyne was still sleeping, when they called the Magician God something else?

It didn't seem impossible.

"Not in the way you describe it. But those of us who commune with and welcome the power of Guardian Forces into us can summon them. Does a spirit of wind and sea called Siren mean anything to you?"

[whereishe]

"No but it's possible that we aren't from the same world because..." Her fingers danced across her lower lip as her mouth dipped into a frown. "The Aeon's are gone now. I used the magic of the Sending to allow them to rest. They've been awake for so long, trapped and I do miss them but I'm happy too. They're able to rest now."

It was easy to forget that the spirits of the summons were alive and never ending.

"I can't summon here but my summoner's arts are still with me."

[skyward_eyes]

Sending? That's... not a concept he's familiar with. But he is intrigued.

"I carry the spirit Siren within me, and she can be summoned."

But he wonders if that will make her sad. That he has what she doesn't.