[open] life is a magic thing

[eternalmagic]

who: Anyone
what: Intro post (and class registration)
when: A week prior to September 1st (Slightly pre-TDM post for anyone who was there)
where: Community housing/Around the city
warnings: None

.I. Move-in Day
[Communal housing. Isn't that a dream. But a blessing in disguise, perhaps; Mordred knows better than to take any significant actions until he has the lay of the land. Riverview is full of green and large, larger than the population it contains, and he'll be able to hollow out his own little niche in time. Including accommodations that would afford him a degree of privacy.

He can't be the only one who had to worry about that when they got here.

He arrived with no possessions through the portal, but that's not much of an issue, other than the tension of leaving his valuable collection behind. Then again, doesn't he do that more than often enough? Everything will be fine without him, suspended in faerie time until he returns. If he ever does. If he even needs to. There is, after all, a reason he's here.

It's not... bad. Shared, but undeniably functional. And yet, there is one thing he does first: in the space where he will sleep, Mordred raises his hands, palms outward, and brings them gently down; with a ripple in the air, a swath of what appears to be the night sky itself shimmers into place like a veil. Anyone who tries walking into that veil will find themselves walking right back out again.]


.II.Network
[Link to network post here.]


.III. Class Registration

[Early one morning, and for the next several days after that, a message will appear and remain on the network, as well as cropping up around town in the form of strangely incorporeal posters. The message reads:

_________________________


REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Classes will begin September 1st
on a weekly schedule
This course is designed to familiarize novice magic users with their abilities
and provide techniques for developing greater skill and control
Experienced magic users are welcome to attend

THOSE INTERESTED MUST FILL OUT AND SEND IN THE FOLLOWING FORM
Questions may be addressed to the instructor
MORDRED
UN: medraut
_________________________
The 'form' is available both as a link on the network and as a collection of scrolls hooked beneath the posters around town. Once the interested party has signed or keyed in their name at the bottom, electronic submissions will automatically send, while the scrolls will promptly roll themselves up and, in a little puff of multicolored motes, blink away.]


.III. Exploring the City | Wild Card

[What are you up to? Mordred is getting to know his new home and might come check out what you're doing. Or, you could always approach him.]

Comments

move in

[judicia]

( Privacy is never much of a concern for Anders. He isn't used to having it, not after living most of his life in the Circle, then in the Wardens, then in the refugee camp in Kirkwall. He almost prefers it this way, though, having people around.

At least then it doesn't seem so strange when he drops into someone else's living space. Or bothers them when they're in the middle of weaving a spell. Anders stops where he is, then, watching as the other man calls forth his magic. )

That's very impressive. ( He remarks, moving closer once it's all set in place. ) Are you afraid someone's going to break in?

[eternalmagic]

[Thank you, Anders, for such a prompt validation! Mordred smiles slightly as he looks around.]

Just a little extra touch of privacy. I don't expect it'll be necessary, but it makes me feel better nonetheless.

[Now, Mordred has a knack for perceiving magic. He can read it off a person like an aura, whether they are the conduit or the source. He looks Anders over, briefly, and is immensely pleased that one of the first people to greet him here has magic rolling off of him in waves. It's only right to offer his hand.]

Mordred. It's a pleasure.

[spellslots]

[Taako, in the interest of being an asshole, turns up at 7:05 on the dot, despite the fact that when left to his own devices he usually turns up on time.

But no, he wants to be five minutes late with Starbucks (or at least, the Riverview approximation of), dressed not exactly appropriately for a magic fight, considering today's outfit consists of a mini skirt and a gold blouse. He does, at least, have his umbra staff hooked over his arm, and his wizard hat on his head, illusioned to match the colours of his outfit.

He doesn't bother actually like, approaching anyone, just finds a nice spot to sit and drink his coffee. Taako's working on the assumption that between the wizard hat, elf ears, and bright red umbrella, he'll be noticeable enough to this Mordred person.]

[eternalmagic]

[Mordred is, in fact, properly five minutes into some cursory introductions when Taako arrives. He says very little about himself to his new students, particularly by way of qualifications, other than that he's been practicing magic his whole life, with many different tutors. All in all, he's found it possible to condense certain facets of magical study into techniques that work across a wide variety of forms.

The flare of color catches his eye. How could it not. And sure, they may not have met face-to-face as of yet, but he's willing to bet those colors would call him 'pumpkin' if he wandered over to check.

Strange, how someone can be nothing like you expect and yet exactly like you expect at the same time.]

The first exercise may sound obvious, but it is nevertheless crucial in strengthening your sense of your magic, until it becomes like a muscle instead of a twitch. Show me what it looks like -- your magic. How you use it. Familiarize yourself with it, how it feels when you summon it, what parts of you respond to it.

[He holds up a hand as he speaks. Like an illusion flickering away, little motes of soft, iridescent light begin to drift between his fingers, like dust through a sunbeam in a hundred colors. The motes appear almost aimless, but they follow his hand when it moves, until they rise up and fade away.]

Practice control by starting as small as you can. Work with each other -- I'll be around to help you. And if you feel you're struggling, I believe we have the greatest wizard in the world available to provide some insight.

[spellslots]

[Aww, lovely, not only has he been recognized, but the proper introductions have been given as well. He grins as he gives a little salute with his cup of coffee.]

What's up, dipshits? [He's a very nice person.

And then, without missing a beat, he asks:] Are we talking about magic or like, jerking off, cause I got a little lost halfway through that spiel?

[Stop this.]

[eternalmagic]

[Promptly:] I can't speak to individual techniques.

[He turns back to the class, such as it is, and gestures encouragingly for them to start practicing. Everyone is coming from different areas as far as how their magic works and what it does, but anyone sensitive to it would notice the protective spells warding the area around them, meant specifically to prevent poorly-directed magic from flying out of hand.

Then he looks at Taako again.]

So, do you have a name, or should I pick a fruit?

[spellslots]

[That gets a laugh, and an internal little tick of approval, since Taako likes people who don't get flustered easily.

Or, well, he's plenty fond of people who get flustered easily, because they make good targets, but that's a different kind of liking.]

Oooh, pick a fruit, I wanna see what you come up with!

[eternalmagic]

How about 'watermelon.'

[Don't test him, he'll do it.]

Nice hat. And thanks for coming. [Less for calling his students dipshits, but he has to wonder what he was really expecting.]

[spellslots]

Not the worst thing I've been called, for sure.

[In the interest of not being a total ass, Taako gets to his feet and wanders a little closer, offering his hand to shake.]

Taako, and you're very welcome.

[eternalmagic]

[Mordred accepts the hand, watching Taako the whole time.

There's something... off about him. The aura of his magic, possibly? Maybe a little bit that, it's still new to Mordred, but there's something else. He almost squints, but instead he just squeezes Taako's hand firmly and lets go.]

If you're interested in showing off, you might have to wait until they get into the swing of things. Unless you're just here to watch.

[spellslots]

[Despite the general air he puts off, of someone who'd prefer not to do a single second of hard work, Taako's handshake is firm and his hands are a little rough and calloused. He doesn't have a very good cleric, so minor injuries aren't always healed in time to avoid scarring.]

If I remember correctly, I was promised a demonstration.

[He can show off too, that's absolutely fine, but he's curious about what this guy can do.]

[eternalmagic]

[Hmmm yes well. Perhaps he suggested that, although he could probably wiggle out of it if he really wanted to right now... Not that Mordred doesn't adore the chance to show off to someone who will appreciate it, but for one thing, this guy is a total stranger and still significantly a question mark. For another, the energy of the land here in Riverview is... very strange. He still doesn't fully trust it.

Of course, there's Serious Magic, and then there's just general fucking around.]

You're not exactly dressed for strolling around on the river. [He gestures to the mini skirt, the gold blouse... then his fingers spread, and like a curtain unrolling, that sassy little outfit becomes a distinctly pumpkin-colored gown.

Mordred clicks his teeth.] Definitely overdressed.

[spellslots]

[First of all, rude.

But Taako doesn't really seem all that worried, just arches an eyebrow as he looks down at the new dress, then looks back at Mordred.]

This is the ugliest shit I've ever seen. Can't you like - make it slutty?

[eternalmagic]

[God Taako that's kind of the POINT

But whatever, he can be a team player on the weirdest fucking team ever.]

How slutty?

[spellslots]

[Deciding to ask that question is probably regrettable, because it earns a smirk from Taako, as he winks.]

Surprise me, sweetheart.

[eternalmagic]

[Oh you can fucking bring it with that smirk, kiddo.

Mordred pretends to give this request some serious thought, before he finally makes a gesture with his hand like he's catching something -- the fabric, perhaps, without touching it -- and ripping it away.

Obviously it's still orange.]

Hmm.

[As an afterthought, he shrinks in the chest area a little bit.]

Better?

[spellslots]

[If the goal was to embarrass him, it's done the opposite of succeed, because as soon as Taako looks at his new outfit he laughs before doing a little twirl, clearly trying to see the whole thing.]

Still not a great colour, but I can work with this.

[eternalmagic]

[Embarrassment would have been nice, but Taako isn't the only one who respects a person's ability to take a joke. Mordred does get a kick out of Taako running with it.]

Surely the world's greatest wizard can negotiate the color?

[spellslots]

Oh, for sure.

[It doesn't take much to gently rearrange his disguise self spell to cover the outfit as well, changing the colour from orange and black to a dusty pink with silver accents.

Much better.]

Super quick question, my man, am I gonna get my actual clothes back at some point? Cause Lup can and will kill me for losing her skirt.

[eternalmagic]

Sure.

[It's a good color. He might have gone with blue, had he been asked, but that's really more of a personal preference than anything else. Possibly he might have been criticized for that too -- but there's just no pleasing some people.]

At some point.

[spellslots]

[Taako takes a second to adjust the corset, since it's a tiny bit uncomfortable, but then seems to just plan to move on with his life as though he's not dressed like a stripper, right now.]

So you got pointless flashy shit down pat, can you do any useful magic?

[He's a rude boy.]

[eternalmagic]

Absolutely not. You've just witnessed the extent of my talent, unfortunately.

[Never mind that they are literally standing inside a giant, warded magical bubble.]

But I can fetch you a pair of scissors, or something.

[spellslots]

[Without messing a beat:] Why, are you gonna cut me outta this?

[He doesn't for a second buy that this is the extent of Mordred's power, but that's not really the point.

The point is having fun.]

[eternalmagic]

You might have a little trouble otherwise.

[Just, y'know, maybe.]

[spellslots]

I dunno about that, but if we're getting sharp objects involved maybe we should start with like, safewords, you know?

[Will he ever stop? Probably not.]