eachdraidh | video;

I know we're supposed to be celebrating, but does anyone else feel like- you know, not wanting to do that at all? I can't be the only one.

[ as always, Rachel's got smudges of color on her face and her fingertips, but this time her expression isn't bright to match. she scratches at her cheek ( which leaves a bit of blue there, but whatever ) as she frowns, and it's clear she's trying to not look so sullen, but it's hard work. there are some ways this place is way, way different than her home world. but this feels too much like what it would be like if the Roman and Greek demigods really did end up going to war. if the quest failed, and everything crumbled and went to Tartarus and friends were forced to fight friends and Gaia won and that kind of sucks. so she's babbling at the locket network- why? because she's selfish enough to seek some kind of validation for feeling so bummed about this. for not finding that much comfort in a Seelie victory. and maybe also because she's managed to get her hands on a little fairy wine, and she's not drunk, but she's feeling more honest about her less optimistic side than she normally would be. woops. ]

I know the war is important, and unavoidable, but I guess I just thought- [ she huffs a breath ] I got to fight. I got to ride a pegasus into battle and fight, just like everyone else, which I never got to do in my world. And I always thought it was worse, having to sit on the sidelines when the rest of my friends were out fighting. But this- I don't feel any better. [ a beat ] Fighting doesn't scare me, I love knowing I can protect myself in a fight now, but that?

[ another pause, and she's pushing her hair back off her face even though it doesn't really do much to control all those curls ]

I don't think I can do that again. I want to help, I want to keep helping in any way I can, but just- not that. I don't think I'm built for that kind of battle. And I know I can't be the only one that feels that way, but- [ her brow furrows up, like she doesn't like admitting that. ] Does that make me useless here? 'Cause I gotta admit, it makes me feel a little useless. [ but yikes that's depressing. and Rachel Elizabeth Dare isn't depressing. so she shakes her head, lifts a hand like that erases that last bit ]

Anyway. If we're friends, or no matter what if you're a camper - Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter - check in, please. [ :| damnit campers she knows you were all probably way too involved with all of the fighting ] Let me know you're okay. Let's talk. I'm going a little crazy, it feels like everybody's scattered in different places.

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How? I don't have any magic.

[ she doesn't sound bitter or anything, but something more.. a little lost? ]

At home I had a place in the war that was going on, a way to help without fighting, but my stupid Sight doesn't work right here. Not in a helpful way, at least.

You can learn magic, here. It isn't so different from learning anything else. [Wait. Sight?] Do you mean you have visions of the future? [But it doesn't work, and he has to clamp down on his curiosity.] What do you do that isn't prophecy?

Past, present, and future.

[ she presses her fingers to each of her temples then does a sort of spirit-fingers gesture. all very mysterious ]

What you mean like... in general? I spent most of my time delivering prophecies and quests and trying to work them out with the campers, so. [ that was her part in the war, yeah. ] Besides that, um. I'm an artist, you know? I'm not a fighter. I paint and I sketch and I do performance art in the park. I love it, but it's not really useful in a place like this.

[Dorian tries to be kind, slow, and careful. He does not want to be overbearing, to push her hard. Certainly not in this state. He just wants to point her to other possibilities.]

I'm no artist, but I love it very much. A friend of mine back home was an artist. Here, it is possible to turn that skill to magic, if you choose to. Of course, I find much more value in art than that, yet it seems it can be made practical here.

[ ssssquint! blinkblink. ]

Magic art? I've never- How?

It's how I do it, with songs I learned on the piano. You use the art to help you channel the magic the right way. The library has plenty on it, some on painting magic, even.

[Not that he's intimately familiar with painting magic shhhh.]

That's kind of amazing. Why didn't I think of that? [ her grumpy tension is starting to drop away, at least. slowly! but surely ] I even asked the fairies for art supplies that one time, but I never thought to ask them for magical art supplies.

[ there's a pause, then her eyes widen ]

I wonder if they have runic magic here.

[Well hey!] That, ah, happens to be what I tend to use, to lay down the rules for the spell I'm casting. Then I use song to bridge the emotional connection and channel the magic.

What, really? So I could paint symbols and learn how to make them magical? Like protection runes, or invisibility runes, or-

[ seeeeems too good to be true... ]

I don't know. Anything. How does it work, tell me more.

[ practically chinhandsing over here!! ]

... If you want to, I can't make you do something you don't want to do.

[She isn't Gilgamesh, so he doesn't have to shout, "NO ONE CAN MAKE ME DO ANYTHING I DON'T WANT TO!" to try to continue to assert his independence against a domineering personality. In fact, she's so sweet and enthusiastic that he would practically trip over himself to tell her.]

I haven't studied the particulars of painting magic very much. There are books at Caer Glaem that explore it in detail. A few months ago I collected notes on the different kinds of magic that we have records of and books that people just learning those magics should start with, if you like. Ah, hold on—

[Ducking out of locket screen so he can dig for his pile of notes. There's a lot of rustling.]

The Art of Magic Artistry talks about art magic in general. It can be a little snobbish sometimes. [It throws a lot of shade.] But there is also Painted Evocations for different ways painting magic could work.

[ books. more reading! which sounds like the most difficult thing in the woooorld right now, but that's definitely the wine talking. she actually doesn't mind research! ]

That's kinda cool, that you did that. Looked all that stuff up. Where have I been? We need to be friends. I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

[ that train of thought was all over the place, but that's okay. ]

And hey, ever read a scroll written by a Greek god? [ big eyeroll. they're so dramatic. and so cocky. ] I'm okay with snobbish books.

Dorian Gray. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dare. [Even if he is meeting her under slightly libated circumstances.]

And . . . no I haven't? [That question sounds like it was supposed to be rhetorical but it feels like it shouldn't be.] But I suppose that means you'll manage.

Yeah, you too.

If it means I'll learn how to turn my art into magical art, I'll definitely manage. [ she sighs ] Somebody really needs to make a how-to guide about living here. Something that can be handed out at the feast or something. Or like, automatically set up to play when you first turn on your locket. There's books on the history of this place, but we're all just kind of left alone to try and figure out how to survive here.

Maybe I'll make it. It'll have pictures.

[The last line forces a real smile out of him. It's a sweet ramble.]

No doubt many would find it most helpful. I should like to see what pictures you would make.

I'd probably use a lot of watercolors. Educational, yet- pretty.

[ she grins, her body slouching a bit as she rests her chin in her hand ]

Maybe I really will try and make something like that. It'd be nice to have some kind of project to work on again.

It sounds as if it would be beautiful. If there is any way I can help, you need only ask.

[Also this project sounds better than drinking to deal with issues.]

I'll definitely be bugging you for help. You know stuff. I only know some stuff. Mostly stuff relating to Leathann's Oracle and-

Yeah, pretty much just that.

But also everyday life things, too. Which is what it'll be about.

-- Maybe I'll just paint the pictures, and peer pressure someone to help me write the rest. [ another pause ] Which isn't me trying to peer pressure you or anything, but I will be asking you for help. At some point. Like I said.

Like you said. [This is very endearing.] I'm not certain what you mean by 'peer pressure,' but you know you have my assistance.

Peer pressure? Peer pressure is when you're being pressured. By a peer.

[ now she's putting on a voice ]

C'mon, help me with my art project, all the cool kids are doing it. If you're a real friend, you'll help me.

-- Y'know, like that.

[a pause]

That sounds far more like a child than a peer.

[What is your non-British-aristocracy ideas.]

[ she laughs ]

Hey, I never said peer pressure was mature.

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