(Mostly for Jade being a hothead. Also for going on a badly-disguised rant about the American school system.) *Jade has already inserted earbuds, and is using their phone* Cara: ...f**k, they put in the earphones. *turns to everyone else* Give them some time to cool off. Sapphire: Anyway, I know the question wasn't directed towards us, but we have magic, so I think we're qualified. Where we come from, magic's kinda the norm. Plenty of people are born with some sort of power--in case you couldn't tell, for me it was water and for Kathryn it was air. There's lots more, though. Someone once showed up at Dad's shop, used their magic to grow all our flowers, and left. It was really weird. Of course, not everyone's born with magic... *her eyes get a distant, faraway look, like her mind is elsewhere*
Hellant: I wouldn't recommend punching him, but I'll see if he can come. *Hellant steps into a portal made of darkness, a few seconds later, he returns with an older man with a beard* Cutler: These are those people you've been telling me about, the ones that think they have it tough? Hellant: I didn't say that exactly, but this one, wanted to meet you, Vanna, this is my teacher, John Cutler. Cutler: You look like someone with more knowledge than the average person, do you recognize this? *He pulls out a stark white dagger and presents it to her* Hellant: Maybe you should put that away, she doesn't know a lot of magic, if any. She wouldn't know what that dagger is.
Vanna: I remember you, you came here before but didn't stay for very long. I'm Vanna, and Mr. Hellant's right - I haven't seen that dagger before? Ophelia? Ophelia: No. I highly doubt that it's part of our book's lore. Vanna: Good point. Henrietta: That's all very well, but what actually is it?
Cutler: It's a dagger made of fire, pretty useful, stab it into anything and it will usually die. It was forged from a demon's horn and cooled in dragon's blood, very hard to make. Hellant: Yes, that's all good, perhaps you should put it away now, it is very dangerous after all. You wouldn't want to accidentally stab something. Cutler: I don't think I'd have to worry about that, but might as well sheathe it. *he places the dagger back into its sheathe* These people seem weird, they aren't like us. Hellant: Cutler, they are good company, you shouldn't speak to them like that. Cutler: Eh, you, girl. Cast a spell. Hellant: I don't think she can. Cutler: I'm not a teacher for nothing, eh? I just want to see how it flows.
Vanna: Oh, I don't know any magic. Ophelia? Ophelia: No. I've had my warning, and I'm not doing it again. Underage magic is very dangerous. Jasmine: Come on, Ophelia! Henrietta: Yes, do! I'd love to see a spell! Elsie: I'm certainly very interested.
Sapphire: No, don't do stupidly dangerous things because people want you to. Kathryn: Yeah, I don't think you should do that. Magic over in our world doesn't seem to function the same way yours does, but it can be dangerous, that's for sure. Don't do dangerous things. For all of our sakes.
Cutler: Well, this place seems like it wouldn't matter. What'd be the harm if it never happened? Hellant: I'd have to agree with him, it seems this place won't let you change your story, I don't think it'd be harmful to cast magic if its dangerous.
Vanna: Go on, Ophelia! You heard him! Ophelia: Fine. Because my friends evidently have no survival instincts whatsoever, what would you like me to do?
Cutler: How about moving small objects, that seems a bit simpler than trying to produce a flame. Hellant: I'd agree, producing a flame is more difficult than it seems, at fire magic's basic level, it's hard to control. First rule of fire magic, figure something else out before resorting to it.
Sapphire: (very, very serious) Don't light a fire. I don't care what you do, just don't bring fire into it. Kathryn: She'll probably extinguish it if you do. Sapphire: Can you blame me? Kathryn: Well, no.
Cutler: Why? Are you scared of fire. I can see why, fire is unpredictable and dangerous. But tame it, oho, it'll be one of the most powerful tools you have. Hellant: But still dangerous, I must warn you all, even though our magic may be different, fire is still unpredictable. Once summoned, you won't have complete control over it. I was burned too many times before I realized that. Cutler: I could've just told you. Hellant: Then why didn't you? You were there when I nearly burned my arm off. Cutler: But then the dangers wouldn't have become real to you. Hellant: Oh well, that is the past. Again, I'd recommend moving an object or maybe summoning... never mind, that would be a bad idea.
Makha (as she brushes the candlewick with a fingertip, setting it alight): It's not that bad. Katie: What the-- Grier: Hey, no swearing.
*Sapphire turns away, and Kathryn takes her hand* Cara: Jeez, why does everyone here have magic? Isabel: It's because their author actually knows how to make up stuff like that. Cara: Fair point.
Hellant: I meant more like this *He points to the candle and fire erupts around the it, melting it completely, only to reform in an unmelted state on a nearby table.* Without proper control, that spell would've burned your entire hand and most likely parts of your arm, to a crisp. Cutler: He's right, he's one of the greatest sorcerers alive, though technically the only, and he still refrains from extensive use of fire.
Sapphire: Please, stop it with the fire! Kathryn: You won't like what happens if you don't stop, trust me.
Katie: Jesus, why does everyone have to act soooo tough? "You won't like me when I'm angry!" Wait, what movie is that? Grier: Why the hell would you ask me? Katie: Aren't you older and wiser? MUCH older... Grier: ...and wise enough to kick your ass! Katie (snickering): See?! You see what I mean? Everybody just chill out. No one's forcing you to be here anyways.
(Sapphire looks to be on the verge of a mental breakdown) Kathryn: Oh, she's not going to fight you. I will. Sapphire: Kath, don't… Kathryn: Sapphire will tell you I'm the kindest person she knows, and I won't deny that I'm a pacifist. But if you hurt those I care about, I will fight you. And if you keep going with the fire, you're not going to like how Sapphire reacts and what I subsequently do to you. Are we clear?
Vanna: Alright, calm down! Look, if Sapphire's uncomfortable, let's leave it alone! Ophelia, you were going to move an object? That doesn't need a potion, does it? Ophelia: No, it does not. The spells are all in our tongue, which shares a root with Latin, so our Latin lessons at school really help. *Says a word in a foreign language, speaking slowly and clearly, but authoritatively. A book flies off the bookshelf and shoots across the room to land gently next to Hellant's candle.* See? Simple. Vanna: Much better than the last spell you performed! Ophelia: ENOUGH! Elsie: I'm very impressed. Rather impressed that you didn't hit anyone in the head, actually. But Mr. Hellant, while that's an impressive trick, what would you actually use it for?
Katie (rolling her eyes): Seriously... "I'm a pacifist, but I'm the one doing all the threatening." Grier (laughing): I really hate when you have a point. You're like the evil little devil on my shoulder. Katie: You're like that wimp with the halo. Makha: I swear no one has any idea what you two are talking about. And yeah, why would anyone bother melting a candle and putting it back together?
Kathryn: I'm typically a pacifist, but if someone hurts someone I care about, then the pacifist stuff goes out the window. I like to warn people about that before they hurt anyone close to me so that I don't actually have to fight anyone. Okay?
Grier (stepping in front of Katie, who looks annoyed): Fine. You're big and tough. We get it. Go bully someone else. No one did anything to you or anyone you care about. Katie (before being shushed by Makha): Hey! I can handle-- Makha (pulling both Grier and Makha away from Kathryn): The two of you together are like sparks and kindling... Why don't we sit down and have a drink? You like mead, right? Grier (who starts to resist but then doesn't): Mead? Makha, even if they served mead here, I'm not sure you're old enough to drink it. Makha: Don't be ridiculous. Katie (smirking): Someone should explain to her how that works.
(Sapphire has recovered) Sapphire: Kath, don't do this. They're done with fire. I'm fine. Kathryn: I--(she's still reeling from being called a bully) Jade: I leave for five minutes…what the f**k happened over here? Cara: Fires were lit, PTSD was a b*tch to Sapphire, and Kathryn is aggressively protective. Jade: I think I can piece that into the basic idea of what happened. Everything cool now? Because we can't really afford to have more than one hothead in this character set, and I think it's pretty clear that I've filled that role. Isabel: I have no idea. Maybe we should stay out of it. Cara: Yeah, that sounds good.
Katie: A candle! A candle was lit! Grier (whilst kicking Katie under the table): We know. Drop it. You're just antsy because you actually do want to fight. Katie (glaring back at Grier): You want it, too. Makha (who made the mistake of sitting down first in their booth): Hey, why don't I sit on the outside? In case I need to pee... Or something. Grier (rolling her eyes): Oh good grief, we're not about to go punch her. Makha (nonplussed): Or the two of you could just fight each other.