1st Circuit - Text for Both Courts, Video-locked for Unseelie

[zerotohiro]

[There's probably a better way to do this, but at least he can put out feelers and see what he's working with. Since the decimation of Caer Scima Hiro's been a little more than bitter toward the Seelie and while he doesn't want to have anything to do with any of them, he realizes that as a scientist he needs to gather as much information as possible.]

It's been a long month, hasn't it? I'm not used to any of this. Monsters? Destroying people's castles? It's weird. I was getting ready for class one day and the next I came here and then the fighting started. I think I'm going to fall really, really behind in my homework.

Makes me wonder…what do you miss most about home? I can't be the only one who really misses advanced tech (computers, video games, even the old stuff like VCRs would be okay at this point.) And I know, I know, the Station exists but it's not the same.

So, what about you guys?

[If he can figure out what people value? Maybe they can use that to their advantage, too.]

[Unseelie Locked]

[Now comes the hard part. With that out of the way the video function of the locket clicks on and it's obvious that the locket's hanging from something in front of Hiro. He's in a room at the Station, ever-recognizable blue hoodie hanging loosely on his frame but the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. More importantly than that? He looks a little nervous.]

…hi. My name is Hiro Hamada. I don't know most of you, but I hope you're listening anyway.

[He pauses and looks to the side, evidently looking at someone else who's in the room with him. Deep breath, Hiro.]

It's not a secret that we lost this battle pretty bad. That's a fact, but I think there's something we can do about it to help recover. I know there are other people that don't know how to really fight, or there are people who can only fight with weapons. What if we could do something more than that?

[Give him a second and he's holding up his hand. It looks as though he might completely freeze up but after a short moment a small fireball appears in the palm of his hand. He wants to put it out immediately, but he pauses long enough to at least look at the locket again.]

I couldn't do this when I first got here. [And the fireball vanishes.] Think about how much stronger we'd be as a court if everybody could wield a couple of spells. Even if it's not something you want to use for offense even picking up a few for defense is better than nothing. I know there're a lot of magic users here but…well, Lemina and I have been working on something pretty cool.

[He's going to lean forward and pick up what looks like a piece of paper with a class list and a list of elemental spells written on it to show the camera.]

The Guild's designed to not only teach people how to unlock their own magic ability but hone it and build up to becoming a better magician. We have a few ideas how to use it to help our side of this war. We're going to start classes soon for anybody who's even kinda curious. [A pause.] Look, I didn't even really believe in magic before I got here and knowing the little bit I learned saved me back there. It'd be really cool if you guys considered it and you can always ask Lemina or me if you have questions.

[Actually…he looks off screen toward where Lemina's sitting.] Maybe we should do that now?

[ooc: This is actually going to be open to both Seelie and Unseelie because of the mage university being started by Tzilan just outside of Redgate. Lemina's been putting up flyers around the Station and Hiro just doesn't realize it and has a very strong bias against the Seelie. You can check out more about said-Guild in the class link above, and you can sign up your character here. As an aside, Lemina will also be teaching classes at said-university on her own, but will be keeping the Guild as something separate. edit: also Lemina might pop into some threads as well!]

Comments

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[zerotohiro]

[Shruuug.] There might some "for nows" you should be concerned with but I don't think this is one of them.

The castle? [...yeah that's true. It's gonna need some help, isn't it?] Didn't think you were the builder type, too. [Inventor yes, builder no. But then again he just did exactly the same thing. He has no room to talk.] Maybe we can start you with earth magic, too.

...that is a question for Lemina. I don't really handle the finances. [Otherwise they'd probably be broke.]

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[stickseller]

Am I allowed to drop out of it if you start trying to make me wear a cape and worship something? I'm not really a fan of the worship thing.

Yeah. It's kind of destroyed. I want to be tasked with rebuilding the library, but I need to see if I can gain an audience with one of the monarchs first, to see what they want. (Howard really wants to please them, he recently learned of the whole boon thing, since he was down for the count last time the imps came around.) I don't necessarily mean picking up the hammer and nails, but i know a little about architecture and design for purpose, I'm sure I can do something to help. (He raises an eyebrow.) Earth magic? (His nose wrinkles just a bit.) Maybe. I don't want to take too much on my plate right away. (Because magic is one of those things that he's still not sure he trusts, or thinks he'll actually be able to do. So it's better to focus on one thing at once. Maybe two. But flying.)

Do they have scholarship programs? (He snorts just a bit.) Either way, sign me up. What's the worst thing that can happen?

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[zerotohiro]

Depends on if we own your soul by that point or not.

Yeah, I heard. I was sorta there when it was starting to fall apart, definitely not a pretty sight. [Oh. Oh but that's very smart, good job Howard.] You think there're still books left in the remains or we'll get new materials for the library when the castle's rebuilt? I've thought about going back to check it out but haven't had the time. I don't know when we'll get to talk to the monarchs though. They seem to be pretty hands-off lately. [Shrug.] Just a thought. My magic's helped a lot with my own projects and I know Lemina's going to teach Ariadne some earth magic and she's an architect.

The worst thing that can happen is you can't use magic at all. Or you blow up. But probably just the former. If I have my way we're starting out with the base-level magics for free. We can work out payments for higher classes later. [Is he joking, is he serious, the world will never know...]

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[stickseller]

Depending on who you ask, my soul is worth a lot, or nothing at all. I'm going to stick to worth a lot, if that gives me a better deal.

(But he's been called heartless and soulless and a lot worse for his involvement during the war. He's trying to make a joke of it. Does it work? Probably not, but he can't do anything else.)

Were you? I don't think I saw you, but I was sort of in the zone of trying to get things together. (And then not leaving until it was too late.) I'm going to go back and go through to see, but I doubt it, considering one of the last things I remember was being surrounded by fire. I'm looking to fill it with new knowledge, new books. I'm curious to see if they can just magic it all back together, or if I have to physically go collect new books. That too could be interesting, but with the anti-shardbearer movement, it might be easier said and done to get a new collection going. (He nods.) They're probably licking their wounds. I would be too, if I was in there position. (Another nod, he's going to definitely keep it in mind, he's just not sure how much use it will be.)

At least that's no different than my daily life back home. I could blow up, it might fail, that's the life of a scientist, isn't it? (Howard thinks he should be an exception either way. All he needs is a book about it.) How did you start learning?

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[zerotohiro]

Hey, I'd believe it. You don't have to tell me twice. [That is to say that Howard doesn't have to justify himself. It's okay. Hiro's already decided that no matter what he's perfectly acceptable for now.]

Yeah, but not for long. Just long enough to grab some stuff and leave. Kinda glad I left before the fire hit though. [Just because he's a fire user now doesn't mean he's comfortable around it. That's a good question though and there's a thoughtful little hum to go with it.] Where would we even find new books though? I think they can probably magic a lot of it back together but there's always room for more in the collection. Just another thing to add to the monarchs' plates. How bad are the anti-shardbearer movements around the world anyway? Do we know?

[That gets a small laugh from him. Blowing up isn't good by any stretch of the imagination, but that is the life of a scientist. Trying and failing.] Lemina tricked me into it. [A look off-camera says he's looking at the girl in question, shooting her a devious grin.] She told me she could teach me and made it sound really, really cool and so I asked her to teach me. Can't hurt to learn everything I can, right?

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[stickseller]

(WELL THEN. Howard is just going to go ahead and salute him a little for that.

He is just going to nod sagely. He didn't blame anyone who left early. He had just held on too long, thankfully some of the imps had stayed with him. He assumed they were the ones who got him out, too, even if he wasn't sure.) I'm just glad I haven't heard of any casualties from it. (And that he wasn't one, too. He nods again.) Around? Raid the Seelie library? I was talking to someone about a library of old, but apparently that's been completely obliterated. Though I'd be interesting to see if there were traces of them somewhere. Have you heard of The Drabkeeper? (He wrinkles his nose.) I don't, but we're both relatively new here so we should talk to some of those who've been around.

Not at all. I am definitely interested, after all. I want to learn as much as I can, too.

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[zerotohiro]

I didn't know anyone personally who was killed in action. I'm just hoping it stays that way the next time the fighting starts. [Hmm. That's a good point, and he may or may not be thinking of how to break into the Caer Glaem library and steal some books. Sounds like a fun challenge.] I have absolutely no idea who or what that is. The Drabkeeper, I mean. I should start asking around about the anti-shardbearer sentiments though…see how careful we have to be in the next couple of months. I don't like it, but we're seriously outnumbered here.

I had a feeling. [Kindred spirit, this one.] Even if you don't want to work with the class Lemina or I could probably provide you with a one on one lesson to get started.

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[stickseller]

I didn't either, fortunately, but then again, I hadn't really had the chance to meet anyone of note. But I'm sure I would have recognised faces. (but let's not dwell on that. Hiro. Hiro no. Breaking in is a terrible idea. He meant that as a joke.) Some rich guy, apparently. (that is a correct response right. Sort of. And then he nods.) I wonder if that means that the next time they...do whatever it is they do to bring in more people, they'll try to get more of us? Or if we'll just be outnumbered.

(Bro fist?) I'll come by for a few, at least. To get started, and then take it on wherever I end up going.

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[zerotohiro]

We still don't really know what happens to people when they die anyway. [But that's morbid so let's not dwell, indeed. Howard seriously if they didn't want him to take the challenge of breaking in, they wouldn't leave things locked up. Duh.] Sounds like he might be useful to helping fund some of our causes. [Maybe. He frowns though at the idea of more shardbearers.] I know they bring in Seelie and Unseelie shardbearers but I don't think they know how many of each kind they want. It seems pretty random. As far as the natives go though we're always going to be outnumbered. They've just been here forever.

[Balalalalalala.] Sounds good. We'll see you then...like. A week maybe.

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[stickseller]

They die. (That's it. There's nothing after. Or rather, Howard tries to convince himself of that, because anything else is too complicated to think about. Heaven and Hell, the idea of that he doesn't like, especially since he's quite sure that if that proves to be true, he's going to hell. Hiro, no.) I'm pretty sure he's dead. His whole castle was destroyed, so he's long gone, from what I understood. (shrugging. Death, again, they should not do this? Yet here they are. And then he nods.) That's how it's always going to be when you invade someone else's land, even if we'e not exactly voluntary invaders. We just need to try to learn to work with them, but that seems to be easier said than done.

I will see you then.