Video - Seelie/Unseelie

[teenyoda]

[He might have thought to lock it if he hadn't been so excited with his news.]

Oh my god! Okay, okay. So maybe this place isn't so bad. I got magic. That's apparently my gifty boon thing for getting my ass handed to me by the invading hoard.

[He pauses, blinking and grinning down at the locket.]

I'm actually living a video game now. I feel like I just leveled up. Now all I need's a familiar. But look. Look!

[He waves around a staff, then points the locket at the books that had arrived with the staff, symbols emblazoned on them and looking exactly like what they were; spell books.]

Dude, I'm a freaking magician. Wizard? Sorcerer? I don't really know yet, but I can do stuff. See?

[He'd already poured through part of a book and had memorized one incantation. He repeated it, the tip of his staff glowing before the comforter on his bed caught fire.]

Oh... uh, no. No, shit. No, wait I didn't, hey! Hey! Stop. Finito! FLAME OFF! FLAME! OFF!

[He drops the locket and the staff and goes to pull the comforter off to toss in the fireplace. Have fun watching that debacle.]

Comments

[teenyoda]

... You're aware I just set my bed on fire, right? With magic?

i love stiles so much

[showmeyourwreath]

Yes, and I haven't forgotten about that, and there's something really important about that, too. [She raises a finger, her lips quirking for a moment.]

But more on my point: believing in magic, in that it exists, is one thing--a really wonderful thing, don't get me wrong, but it's not the best you can do. On its own, it's great, but it also means that you can believe that magic exists, but hate, fear, and misunderstand it and everyone that uses it.

[She smiles warmly.] Now, believing in magic, in that it's something that can and should be used for good, having faith in what it means, is another. That's the best you can do, but that takes time with some people and special effort.

[Potentially less and more here, she isn't quite sure yet, but she's prepared to do this all over again.]

[teenyoda]

That kind of doesn't make any sense, you know. Like, not logically. If you believe in magic at all, whether you hate or fear it or love it doesn't really matter. Point is, you believe in it. It's the ones who can watch a unicorn fart out a rainbow and call it science that are the ones you have to worry about. Or who can watch someone fly around on wings and say they're having visual hallucinations.

Sorry, lady, but you don't really get to say how someone gets to believe in anything, good or bad.

[Stiles, professional atheist all the way.]

[showmeyourwreath]

It's Flora. Please use it. [Which is honestly the only point of contention that ruffles her. Rude.

But she's perfectly calm and polite. There're things he's wrong about but she's not going to get anywhere arguing about it, and he doesn't have all the facts yet anyway. That's not exactly his fault.]

A lot of disciplines of magic aren't strictly logical, or rather they use a different sort of reasoning. But Stiles, when I was talking about time and special effort I was talking mostly about me and what I had to do. I haven't gone around telling everyone what I am yet, because I've seen how they react, and it's fine. That's just how things are. [She shrugs easily, smiling lightly.] I've actually done this all before, so I know who I need to focus on, and I'm not expecting to get what I'm looking for without working for it.

It makes perfect sense, and there's actually a world of difference between the two and what they mean. There are creatures and people that feed on fear and hatred and all sorts of negative emotions, but before that, what matters to me is helping people to not be afraid and hate the things they don't have to just because they're things they don't understand.

[She's quiet for a moment, deciding whether or not to give him something else.]

There's just a bit more to this instance than that, and a lot more that heads into Magic Theory one-oh-one, but basically I need people to believe in me and the good of magic, and fostering understanding is my duty. The feelings actually matter a lot.

[teenyoda]

Okay, so, what you're saying is that in a land of magical creatures and dragons and fairies, you somehow don't think that anyone's going to believe what you are?

...

Really think about that one there, Flora. Like... come on. You could say you were a one eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater and I'm sure you'd have people nodding and agreeing with you.

[showmeyourwreath]

That's the last thing I'd say. I wasn't born here, but there's still a lot that happens that isn't all that much different from what I'm used to. It's really just missing a good shopping district and better cell coverage. Or you know, actual cell coverage.

[She suddenly makes a mildly disgusted face, but it's not enough to keep her from getting a chuckle out of it.]

Yes, because telling them they might make a nice snack is a wonderful way to make friends, isn't it?

[She does go quiet herself for a few moments. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, even with everything she's worried about.]

Anyway, it's not that. Completely hiding what I am actually does me a disservice in a few ways, and I don't intend to do it forever. I'm just trying to sort of pace myself and gauge things. Even if people might not laugh or run away from me like I'm crazy, not everyone is used to or even okay all this, so I don't want to be even more in their faces about it.

[teenyoda]

... You do realize this is a really convoluted way of not answering a pretty direct question, right? Like, just tell me to mind my own business if you don't want to tell me. That's cool. It's why I asked in the first place.

[showmeyourwreath]

I'm really sorry, I didn't mean for it to get like that. The bottom line is you weren't being rude for asking me in the first place and I didn't mind it, things are just a little complicated right now. That's it.

[teenyoda]

Uh huh.

[Still not answering the question, he notices.]

Okay, well, semi-theological discussion aside, thanks for checking in. I'm good, blankets... not good, but it's in the fireplace.

[showmeyourwreath]

I'll tell you, sometime. [A beat, and her hand raises.] Scout's honour. ...That is how the saying goes, isn't it?

I'd offer to help with the blankets if you wanted it, but some of my powers are gone. Here's hoping it's easy to get replacements? Anyway, you might want to try training in some place a lot more fireproof, and with someone who can watch you.

[teenyoda]

Pretty sure the flying fairies that are all over the place are already off to find me one.

[They'd gathered to throw the basin of water he had into the fireplace, making a sooty, watery mess in the hearth. Good job, guys.]

I'm good. Don't need anyone around.

[showmeyourwreath]

Well then, that's sweet of them. Excellent.

[She can think of about fifty ways this can go wrong, but they all really revolve around the one: things being set on fire that shouldn't.

She knows she's just met him, but she can't help but feel very worried, even if she's trying to keep calm about it.]

Stiles, that sounds like an incredibly, potentially dangerous idea. You've never done this before and you don't want anyone else around?

[teenyoda]

Um, no. Why would I want someone else around who could potentially get hurt if I screw up?

[Clearly she doesn't know him very well if she thinks he wouldn't want to practice in private first.]

[showmeyourwreath]

What if you're the one who gets hurt? I didn't mean just anyone, but someone who could take care of it in case something happens or goes wrong.

[teenyoda]

I'd rather me get hurt than anyone else. I'm cool. I don't think I have any 'blow up the castle' spells in here anyway. They all look pretty tame.

[showmeyourwreath]

[She can't make him do anything, but she can't easily let this go.]

I can understand that, but it's still a little reckless. You're practising, not taking the heat on a mission. Wouldn't it be best if nobody got hurt if they didn't have to? You don't need incredibly destructive powers to do huge amounts of damage, anyway. Just the right amount in the right way.

[teenyoda]

Exactly, so why would I put anyone else in the path of potentially weak destruction. I'm cool. It's best if I do it myself. Honest.

[showmeyourwreath]

Well, I meant more that just because these aren't high-level destructive spells, doesn't mean you won't be able to do a surprising amount of damage with them. That actually happens a lot more often than you think it might, and you're just starting out. You might have quite a bit of power for this sort of thing and don't know it. Either way, if you have a wizard or healer or some other kind of magic-user with you, they'll be able to handle what you do just fine if it gets out of hand. It's admirable to be worried about other people, but you should look after yourself, too.

[She breathes slowly and rubs the back of her neck.]

I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being overbearing, you just learn not to take certain chances with these things, sometimes. If you're really insistent on doing things by yourself, would you mind or feel uncomfortable if I gave you something? You'd be able to shoot fire at it, but it won't burn, and it could keep you and your things fireproof for a while.

[teenyoda]

That... depends on what it is? I'd prefer to borrow something than have it for keeps if it's something like that. You might need it and I don't want to be keeping something like that from its owner. But I don't think I'm going to be doing anymore, ah, things like that until I find a place for it.

Don't worry.

[showmeyourwreath]

It's alright. It's a special flower, they're easy to grow for me, so you wouldn't be putting me out by keeping it. And if I place a charm on it, it'd keep a certain area fireproof. I can charm a lot of things and spaces, though, so the next time you're up for practising don't be afraid to ask.

[teenyoda]

Right...

And how exactly are you capable of doing this charm thing? Are you a witch?

[showmeyourwreath]

[If she were one of her other friends, that might have been insulting, but she's not, so it's not.]

No, I'm not. Witches are actually pretty different, where I'm from. They...don't typically deal in charms, for one.

[teenyoda]

No? There's a witch here. She's got a wand and calls me a muggle, but I guess I'm not a muggle anymore.

[Hah, take that, Ginny.]

[showmeyourwreath]

Is there? And she's got a wand, huh, that's interesting. [That is something to note, one way or another.]

What's a "muggle"? I'm guessing a person without magic, or something like that, perhaps, but that's not an insult is it? It doesn't sound very flattering, but that just could be a coincidence.

[teenyoda]

Yeah, exactly. And I don't think so. She called me it and she doesn't really seem like the type to sling insults.