riverviewlogs | [open] who will go down to those shady groves

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[open] who will go down to those shady groves

who: Anyone
what: General CR building
when: September, post-Dragosta
where: Miscellaneous
warnings: ~~idk are the Taaco twins gonna be there~~

.I. Waterbending
[Barring a few unfortunate incidents (no offense meant), he was able to avoid most of the chaos that took over the city during the Dragosta festival. Not that he has anything against festivals. He participates in plenty back home, albeit usually for ritualistic reasons. This one just happened to outpace his willingness to assimilate -- primary reason being that if his soulmate is here, he'd rather not know about it.

In any case, he only retreats for as long as it takes all the fuss to die down (especially for those damn fairy lights to dissipate), and then it's back to regular scheduled programming of trying to get Riverview's damn elements to let him play.

The weather's still nice. And water tends to be the most reasonable element to negotiate with. So he's swimming. If that seems weird, then joke's on you, because it's starting to work.]

.II. All-nighters
[Aside from classes, errands and the odd venture into the city, Mordred can typically be found in just one place.

Gramarye has swallowed him. He had high hopes for the resources available within the magical research facility, and so far he hasn't been disappointed. The opportunity to venture beyond the wall for a more thorough pass has yet to present itself, and Mordred isn't so dismissive of Bryn as his guide that he's prepared to risk her extreme displeasure by simply strolling out there himself. What that means is, he has to rely almost solely on Gramarye for information, and he has thoroughly devoted himself to the task of absorbing it.

It's been a few days. And nights. Requiring significantly less sleep means that a) he gets more accomplished, and b) his roommate Draco basically has an entire apartment to himself, minus one corner cloaked in darkness and stars.

This evening (morning? afternoon?) Mordred is three stories up in the library, balancing on a ladder as he selects the books he wants to work through next. Every once in a while, he'll toss a book sideways, whereupon it spirals down and settles delicately on top of a stack accumulating at one corner of a large table below. There are a few plants gathered on the other end of the table, like specimens, preserved in bubbles of what looks like shimmering glass.]

.III. Cocktails
[Through the graciousness of Millennial Loki, Mordred has acquired VIP access at the club Trixie.

However, he hasn't actually used it yet.

He's been sort of systematically trying out all of the places in Riverview that serve alcohol, not because he is often in the mood for a drink, but should the mood strike, ostensibly it's best to know exactly where to go. Trixie has turned out to be one of those places, not just because he gets along with the owner, but because the bartender likes to experiment and Mordred is not opposed to judging the results.

He's there tonight, leaning on the bar, distractedly nursing something that is three different neon colors and has a name he didn't bother to hear before he started drinking it.]

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[Bryn had already been with Taako when they discovered she had powers, so there wasn't any need for her to reach out to him to let him know what was going on. This accounted for one of the two people she felt like reaching out to on the matter. She and Mordred aren't close at this point, but she tends to be a good judge of character and knows that he's likely to be a good person to speak to about this unexpected change in her life.

Besides that, he's good company, period. It's not a hardship to get to know him better.

As promised, she arrives at one of the larger gardens at Gramarye with a bag of food. It's not complicated fare but it's delicious, with fixings for sandwiches, a few bags of chips and sodas. There isn't any alcohol in the bag but if either of them want to spike their drinks, well, she's rarely without a flask of some sort.]

You don't mind sitting on the grass do you?

[She feels the sudden urge to kick off her feet and feel grass between her toes.]

[Despite his offer, prying himself away from the library took some doing. But it's probably a good thing that she's getting him out here, because next to the library, the garden is his second favorite thing and how long has it been, exactly, since he's seen the light of day? The fact that it's even a question is telling.]

Never. [Would have suggested it if she didn't, in fact.

Mordred takes some of the burden from her, helping her to lay out the spread between them on the soft grass. The garden of Gramarye is more tame than the wild jungles of Riverview, but there is a gentle thrum of magic all through it, like it has soft thoughts of its own, and likes peace and quiet. A good place for a picnic, provided everybody cleans up after themselves.]

Mmm... A-minus.

Edited 2017-09-13 03:36 (UTC)

[Bryn doesn't bother with a blanket but sits right down in the lush green grass and begins unloading things. It's beautiful here, and not a place she usually comes so it feels like the escape she could use right now.

His grade, however, earns him a lifted eyebrow.]

A-minus? Even when I've brought you this...[she reaches her hand into the bag again, and then pulls out a perfect, ripe...] pear?

[Because apples are a cliche even in her world and pears are so much more juicy and delicious.]

How can you give an A-minus to this?

[He will return that eyebrow, miss, and he will also be taking that pear thank you very much.]

Nearly perfect. But I don't see dessert.

[Points taken for lack of cupcakes! Maybe most professors wouldn't care about that sort of thing, but he likes to be thorough, and also he's never really been able to escape having a faerie sweet tooth.]

[Excuse you Mordred.]

That's because dessert is a surprise and we haven't had the meal yet. Unless you're a dessert before person in which case I could adjust my plans...

[Look these things are not set in stone so she'll adapt but you can't grade her when she hasn't even taken everything out of the bag yet mister.]

[WELL THEN. Not that he isn't very easily a dessert before person, but. He holds up a hand in polite surrender.]

I stand corrected. Don't let me disrupt your picnic agenda.

[In the meantime, then, he's going to take a nice bite of this pear and set up a sandwich to go with it. Don't mind him if he conjures up a couple glasses (with ice) in delicate wisps of smoke.

He gives her a chance to put together something for herself before he finally asks.]

Seems like you've got a lot on your mind since I last saw you.

[Bryn watches him use his magic with ease, conjuring glasses and ice that, truthfully, she appreciates a great deal. Drinking out of cans is all well and good but ice will keep the drinks cold. So much the better.

The dessert she keeps in the bag, pouring herself a soda while he makes a sandwich, then builds one for herself. At his question, she stills for a moment, then looks up. Offers him a faint smile.]

I've had a lot on my mind for months but chasing the thoughts around by myself wasn't helping me come to any conclusions. [She shrugs, taking a sip of her drink.] I'm not sure any of the answers I'll get in response will help either but it seemed worth a shot to check just in case. Plus there have been some new variables to take into account.

[She bites into her sandwich. She'll talk but not on an empty stomach.]

[That's certainly saying a lot without actually telling him anything. Mordred nods, without looking away from her for a while, but he doesn't press for now. Either she wants to tell him, in which case she'll do so when she's ready, or she doesn't want to, in which case she has a right to her secrets.

In the meantime, it's a good lunch. He leans back in the grass and enjoys his sandwich, trying not to think too much about the dessert that she's hiding from him until later.]

What about your expeditions?

The expeditions are...fine. They're good, really. I do something similar to what I'd be doing back home, I help the people here and I keep myself busy. It's nice to get out of the city every once in a while.

[Her lips purse together a moment, before she takes a deep breath and exhales just as heavily.]

I'll probably have to take a temporary break on them, honestly. They're looking for a teacher for me, here at Gramarye.

[She doesn't doubt for a moment that he won't understand immediately what she's revealing with that statement.]

[That certainly follows what he's learned about her since the first minor expedition they went on together. For that matter, he understands very well that it can get a bit claustrophobic in populated areas from time to time (often, in his case), and having a job that gives you an excuse to disappear into the wilderness for a bit can be a blessing more than a chore.

But she's not lingering on that line of thought. Mordred finds himself pausing mid-bite, wondering if he missed something.]

At Gramarye? [He is genuinely puzzled. After all, she'd been upfront about her complete lack of magical capability on that very same initial meeting.] For what?

[Oh, well, she may not have perfect control over her powers right now but she's not about to pass up the opportunity to surprise him a little. A grin spreads across her face as she lifts a hand. She makes a gesture with her hands, fingers wiggling as electricity starts to dance over her skin. She feels the tingling but none of the shock.

She also makes no move to touch him, as that would be quite rude, though the temptation is there.]

I knew that not having magic back home didn't mean you couldn't have magic here but I didn't realize it might take so long to manifest.

[Letting the magic fade from her fingertips, she gives a little shrug.]

Apparently all it took was slapping Taako around a little bit and suddenly it packed a little more zap.

[Well, that gets his attention.

Mordred forgets about the sandwich in his hand and sits up straight, watching with a clear mixture of surprise and great interest as Bryn summon electricity to her fingers. She does so like it's already becoming second nature, whether she can manage much more than that yet or not.

(They will have to come back to the part about slapping Taako around, which is objectively hilarious.)]

This just happened? No warning?

[A brief flash of satisfaction crosses her face that she's gotten his attention, though it's faint and gone as quickly as it arrives.]

No warning, no build up. And honestly I had no reason to believe it was some sort of latent power. I have two fathers, and it's the one that I'm not blood related to who has magic, and his particular school of spells, rituals, and tools are...entirely different.

And honestly I thought this sort of thing might have popped up when I first arrived, not months later.

[She looks to him for a reaction. For more questions or perhaps his own take on the situation.]

[He frowns. It's no wonder she has so many questions. Even if they were both in his own world, rather than one alien to both of them, something like this would still invariably come as a surprise.]

I can see why you'd be confused. [Mordred purses his lips for a moment.] I don't have any easy explanation for these powers, but I might be able to tell you a little bit more about them.

[He holds his own hands out to her.] Let me see your hands, if you wouldn't mind.

[Bryn doesn't hesitate a second. He offers his hand and she gives it at once, curious to see what he'll find if he searches. She doesn't ask if it will hurt or if she'll feel anything because despite the fact that they're still getting to know each other, she does trust him.]

Anything you can tell me, I'd be grateful to learn.

[It's as simple as that.]

[He's both pleased and not surprised that she doesn't put up a fuss; for all her sass and independence, Bryn is no-nonsense where it counts. It's a show of good faith that she lets him guide her without knowing for sure what he has in mind. Mordred hopes he can repay her with some answers.

He holds his palms out, just above hers, not touching.

She'll feel it almost immediately. Mordred's magic sifts across her hands, soft and delicate, like a warm breeze, just shy of a caress. It slips through her fingers, curls lightly across her wrists, until she may get the sensation that it's sinking in, beneath her skin, into her bones and blood. It doesn't suffuse her, but turns... coaxing. Almost a pull. It summons the magic in her to the surface.

Electricity crackles between their outstretched hands, little sparks leaping from her fingers to his like lightning in a bottle. Mordred watches intently, his brow still furrowed. His fingers spread slightly, the tingle of his magic rippling like water. The sparks develop a heat behind them, growing brighter, almost as if they catch fire for a single instant before they wink out. He flexes his fingers again, and the tips of hers start to grow cold, as if the circulation is failing. Mordred's gaze is sharp and bright.

Then, seemingly for no reason, Bryn's magic calms again and his own withdraws from her -- gently, like it's soothing the pieces of her it touched as it goes. Mordred clasps her hand briefly, making sure it's warm again, and then lets go.]

Well, I can assure you of one thing: this magic is definitely yours.

[Bryn's no stranger to magic, but it's the first time that she's ever felt someone touch her with magic and then something within her respond. The sparks and crackling electricity she expects.

The water. The heat of an inner fire. The solid sense of earth. All of that is quite unexpected and her eyes widen as she feels it all rise and fill her to the brim.

She looks shocked and uncertain as he pulls away, as if she can't quite understand what's happened and, honestly, she can't. One element, she can grasp. But two? Three? Four?]

There's too much of it. Too many--people only have one, maybe two elements to call to hand and even then, half of them have them Gifted by the deities. Are you sure it's all mine?

Very. [Had they been back on Earth, he might have been insulted. But Mordred just eases back, watching Bryn with that small frown still lingering.]

The natural magic on this moon is... augmented, and wild -- I expect as a result of the war. Land ravaged by conflict has a way of holding on to that memory. It becomes defiant. [He gestures to her.] Your magic was born here, so I suspect the nature of it is much the same. But it was born in you. No magical object, no outside source. It's in your blood and bones. All yours.

[Mordred looks at Bryn for a moment. From his perspective, this is a blessing anyone ought to be grateful for, but he's not so detached that he doesn't appreciate how overwhelming it could be as well.] Are you all right?

[Reaching up, she rubs her forehead, not certain how to answer him. Is she alright? Probably not. Is she not well? She wouldn't say that either. She's teetering between exhilaration and horror and discomfort from this embarrassment of riches.]

I will be. It's a lot to take in. Back home, people discover their abilities when they're children. They're born with it there and it manifests early enough for it to be second nature to them by the time they're my age. It was one thing to have just the one but to know there's that much more is...a lot to process.

[Pursing her lips together, she reaches out without looking for the nearest piece of food she can find and sticks it in her mouth, needing to do something while they discuss this.]

My father would be beside himself with joy if he knew. Both of them, really. My mother too.

[He watches her quietly, nodding as she elaborates. Growing up with magic is one thing. When people come into it suddenly later on in life, that's where complications invariably arise.

Fortunately, Bryn is not irresponsible, psychopathic, or stupid. And she has friends to help.]

That's wonderful that they'd be supportive of you. I can understand why you would be so overwhelmed, but until it's proved otherwise, treat it as a gift. [He smiles slightly.] ...is my advice, at least.

[She lets out a little laugh.]

It's a gift, just a complicated one. This power is like being given more than a fortune. It's a treasure trove. One that I couldn't take back home with me, should the opportunity arise. And I ought to go home the moment I get that chance but...

[Even trailing off, the look she gives him speaks volumes. Who would give up such a gift as this?]

[Mordred continues to regard her, silent for a few moments longer.]

You don't have to make that choice yet, you know.

Perhaps not, but when the time comes I'd rather know where I stand, have it figured out than have to rush the decision. For all I know I'll only have five minutes to decide the course of my life.

[And she doesn't want to fuck her life over on a gut feeling she hasn't reasoned out yet.]

[These are familiar words from her: she'd struggled with this same issue on the network, asking for opinions and receiving all kinds. He hasn't forgotten, and can't blame her, exactly. Nevertheless...]

Bryn, I understand you want to have control over this. It's a good trait to have, and from what I've seen you manage it better than most people would. But you can't let an uncertain future slow you down in the present.

[It's possible that she may recall their first meeting, when he expressed his own genuine disdain for prophecy and fate.]

Work with what you have, when you have it. It doesn't matter if it's five minutes or fifty years.

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[open] who will go down to those shady groves

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