5 ✦ video ✦ unseelie lockets

[erythristic]

[when the feed comes on, Grell looks calm, put together, in more practical clothing than her favoured dresses. it's early morning, and the sunlight is illuminating the space outside where she is.]

Right then. The call to arms has been proclaimed once again, and I'm more than aware that there are those of us who either know little about what's expected of us, or who have let their joints rust over in the calm.

That ends today. Preparations at the Ward have been re-established for the month, and if you are uncertain in your abilities, wish to try something out, or need to know which end of a sword to grab, attend the training sessions that will be held there for shardbearers and natives alike. Beginner's sessions are in the morning like always, eight thirty sharp, and that's being generous. Advanced sessions are in the afternoon, but that's hardly an excuse to sleep in too late - if last time has taught us anything, it is that we need to be the sharpest we can.

Those that are confident enough in their skills that believe themselves capable of giving instruction, wherever you are in Allaidh Darach, please make yourself known to me - I can hardly carry out this task on my own. I'll be running on good faith, but if I hear that you can't live up to your claims, you will be ousted and I'll see to it that you know exactly what I think of you wasting students' time.

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[erythristic]

Right.

[and she raises her hands in front of her, tracing out a complicated symbol on the air as she speaks.]

If you'd asked me the same a few months ago, I would have been able to be far flashier in what I could show you. But then another disaster had to hit, and one thing leads to another and now one of my favourites has been cut off. Truly though, it's a bit of a blessing...

[and with a spark, it's complete. what she hasn't said is that she's doing this in a deliberately show-off fashion just to gain approval - of course it's something she could have shorthanded and done quietly, but why when she had an audience. the world around her doesn't visibly change, but she begins walking up, slowly ascending what her movements show to be something like an invisible spiral staircase. there's no strain on her face when she pauses, suspended in mid-air, and twists her wrist, pulling back-

it's much like Eggsy will have been gently lifted up in an invisible embrace to come stand next to her. no ground beneath his feet, but the air will still hold his weight.]

Because my other favourite branch of study is very versatile.

[madeover]

[ With this being the first example Eggsy's had of real magic, he makes sure to pay close attention. Does all of it involve having to trace symbols in the air? That seems like a lot to keep track of, but also a small price to pay depending on what it does.

It sounds like Grell had somehow lost access to one of her spells, and while she's vague about the explanation, Eggsy's curious. How easy is it for something like that to be taken away?

All of his thoughts about that fall away when the true magic starts, though. She's walking on air, no, climbing the air, and he glances up to watch it with his mouth hanging open.

And then, next thing he knows, he's floating up to join her. For a split second Eggsy's heart jumps in his chest and he flails his arms around, but then he "lands" next to Grell and all seems to be well. It's almost a little like when he'd gone skydiving, except without the sensation of falling.

He looks around them, takes in the ward from this elevated position. Then looks back to Grell and grins. ]

Holy shit.

[erythristic]

Exactly.

[it'd be easy to play it as cool, collected, something she did all the time. but even two years later, magic is still a joy to practice. maybe it's just the honesty of his response that gets her to smile brightly, not hiding the thrill of pulling this off.

(don't ask how many times she'd miscalculated or failed and fallen flat on her ass while learning it.)]

Some people can do things like this with air magic - mine's an interpretation of what you can do with force.

[madeover]

[ The genuine response is something that Eggsy appreciates. He'd feel a bit silly if he was the only one freaking out over this, but Grell seems to be just as taken with her own abilities. As she should be, Eggsy assumes she worked hard to learn it all.

There's no real sense of fear, he doesn't seem to be worried that he might fall out of nowhere. Apparently he has some level of trust in her, even though they've only just met. Then again, they are on the same side, and they're supposed to be in this together. ]

So it's like... using force to push yourself up? [ It makes a weird sort of sense to him, actually. He blinks at her, curious. ] How many different kinds of magic are there?

[erythristic]

In all honesty? If you're clever enough, the possibilities are endless. I've seen magic woven from lightning, from the earth, wood, metal, heat, cold, and forces beyond imagining.

But you say it like you want to start learning it.

[madeover]

[ If he's clever enough...

Eggsy's not one to toot his own horn most of the time, but he's pretty sure he is clever enough. And he's only going to know for certain if he tries it.

At Grell's observation, Eggsy is quick to nod. ]

Yeah, I do. Gotta figure out what I wanna focus on first, though.

[erythristic]

Fair enough, one never knows what they'll take to until they've found it. But if it ever interests you and you ask nicely, I could tutor you in my particular arts.

[it'd be a decent change of pace than just instructing in shards and swords. and it'd give her more excuses to refine the techniques she's been working on.]

[madeover]

[ If he asks nicely. It always comes back to manners, doesn't it?

But Eggsy gives Grell a playful smile and nods. ] I'll kept it in mind. What else can you do with this? [ Walking on air is certainly neat and could be of help in a stealth situation (so often people forget to look up), but he's curious to know what other uses it has. ]

[erythristic]

If you're giving me license to brag...

[as if she needs permission, and she hops down (though Eggsy remains up, it's not a problem to maintain it as it's at the beginning of the day) while drawing a dagger from her belt. aiming at the nearest practice target, she throws it, but before it can hit or not, she seizes it, as she's come to think of this form of magic. her hand is open, but she pulls the dagger back, keeping it at least a meter away from her before turning and sweeping with it - if there had been enemies, it could have sliced across their eyes - and casting it upwards while throwing her head back. it came hurtling down, the point poised to hit her exposed neck-

and it stopped where it was, an inch from her throat. Grell plucks it from the air and sheathes it again, before leaping back up to him.]

There's hundreds of other uses. Getting something from across the room or that you can't reach, casting your foe aside or dragging them closer to you, holding someone in place, reinforcing your attacks to make them hit harder...even an interesting concept I've read about and been working with is using it to act as a sort of armour, though that requires drawing a precise set of runes on your body and is not a full substitute for true armour as metal doesn't rely on the amount of energy you have to sustain itself.

There's what's written about, but sometimes, what matters more than remembering the exact right sequence is what you intend to do. That holds true for many branches of magic, and I've found that the more you practice, the more you can improvise under pressure. Magic alone won't sustain you through things - there are places in this world magic cannot function - but with care and strength, it can be a reliable ally.

[madeover]

[ Eggsy certainly doesn't mind watching someone show off, not when that someone is skilled enough to make it entertaining. Watching Harry put those thugs in their place had been a delight. This isn't quite as violent as that, but he still flinches when he watches the knife stop so close to Grell's throat. She's got an impressive amount of control, to be comfortable doing a trick like that.

Not to mention the ease with each she jumps back up to her mid-air perch. Eggsy nods along as she lists all the different uses this brand of magic could have. He isn't too worried when it comes to armor, since he's got that handled already, but the rest of it could do a lot of good in a close-combat fight. ]

Practice makes perfect. Just like with anything else.

[ Eggsy can be disciplined when he wants to be, and it looks like this might be worth it. He slips his hands into his pockets and tilts his head at her. ]

Might have to take you up on your offer, then. Assuming I have the time for weapons training and magic training, anyway...

[erythristic]

How about this - you figure out what weapons training works best for you and your time after that, and then you tell me what you have free? There are parts of it that are simple memorization, things you can practice by just throwing five minutes at it here and there. Not impossible, and I'm not one of the other instructors who'll set you out to run yourself down before the Seelie get the chance.

[she'd learned most of what she knew on her own, after all. lessons had to be self done in whatever time she had between what else was needed - and lord knows she knows about budgeting time.]

I'll only make you promise one thing - that if what I think is true and we're facing another collision of forces soon, you come out of it alive. Just a touch hard to give instruction when you're not, hm?

[madeover]

[ Eggsy may not be an expert in time management, but he has all the time in the world here. His only job is to help out his side of the court, which means throwing himself into everything with all that he's got. That's the only way he can be sure that his world will be safe.

It's still nice to hear that Grell isn't going to be a total hardass about this, though. Eggsy's capable of handling that kind of "tough love" (Merlin, anyone?), but it's not like he prefers it.

Though Grell's request takes him by surprise, and there's a moment of unmasked shock on his face before he covers it up again. Eggsy hadn't figured anyone would really care whether or not he lived or died. ]

You got it. I've no plans to get myself killed anyway. But I'll let you know how my schedule works out.

[ He flicks a lazy salute at her. ]