elnysa | ( one. ) voice • scientia potestas est [ id: nightingale ]

[ thomas nightingale does, in fact, know how to use a smartphone. he's owned one for quite a while before the end of the world; google maps in particular has always struck him as rather useful. the knowledge of how to operate such a device comes in handy now as well, though he's not entirely sure yet why he's bothering.

(the answer is peter; peter would want to know and nightingale would hate not to have any answers at all by the time his apprentice wakes up. because peter will wake up, surely. eventually.)

so there is no fumbling, no pauses when the device clicks on except deliberate ones, and a smooth, very british and posh-sounding voice inquiring: ]

It seems magic is not out of the ordinary, here. Someone has already inquired about those who believe in or practice magic, but I'd be interested to hear how magic was regulated, if at all, in your worlds. That, and whether there were particular ill-effects to it.

[ here, there is one of the aforementioned deliberate pauses. ] I'd also appreciate hearing of your experiences with employment.

Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, "and shit".

[ says the nightingale, very dryly in his posh and proper british accent. ]

[omg omg omg omg OMG OMG OMG???]

Dude, you have to show me! I wanna see!

[ well, the excitement is certainly better than being accused of being heartless. nightingale almost musters a smile. ]

Well, all right.

[YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS]

Sweet! When and where? Do you need anythin' like a target or like... I dunno, some kinda magic potion or whatever?

I am free tomorrow.

[ today, too, but he's not sure he wants to keep an eye on his— phone, really, that's what it is, isn't it? a smartphone—and demonstrate magic to a second person.

one demonstration today is quite enough, and madam lutece was first. ] And no, I don't require anything for it.

Tomorrow?

[MMMMMM yeah okay, he can do tomorrow.]

Sure thing. I gotta see you fry somethin' or set somethin' on fire. Can you do more than one kind of magic?

No. The only type of magic I can do is Newtonian.

[ but he can set things on fire and procure little rainclouds to follow you around all day, so how's that? ]

[Ummmmmmmmm bro what?]

....Is that something I'm supposed to understand?

No, I'd imagine not. What did you have in mind when you asked about different kinds?

Uh, you know, like fire, wind, ice, electricity, nuclear, psychic damage, that sort of thing?

Why are we talking about newts? Newtons? Whatever it was you said.

Are you familiar with Isaac Newton?

Um.....

[UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]

Is that the apple guy?

The very same. Newtonian magic is named after him.

....So do you shoot apples out of your hands or something?

[He is not a school guy.]

No. But Newton systematised the use of magic, hence Newtonian.

Wait, so he was a wizard or something, too? [Wtf, they should have told them that in school. He might have actually paid attention then.]

Why didn't I hear anything about this?

It isn't something the general public knows about in my world. And it may not exist at all in yours.

Huh? [....Oh, right.]

Ah shit I keep forgetting about the "different worlds" thing. But why keep it a secret? Magic seems pretty damn cool.

People often fear what they do not understand.

[ and, ah — ] It's recently come to my attention that it may have been to preserve an air of exclusivity, as well. [ and superiority. magic is very much something of the rich white man's club. ]

But magic is so cool? [Except yeah...the first time he went to the Metaverse, he thought he was either dreaming or tripping. He couldn't wrap his head around what he was seeing at all.]

And wow, so it's kept quiet so a bunch of rich dudes can keep it to themselves? Lame.

That is certainly one way for it.

[ does he mean 'cool' or 'lame'? perhaps both. ]

Dumb. I hope you decide to do better'n show it off a little more.

I did agree to show you, did I not?

Oh yeah, right. Well, a promise is a promise, so be seein' you soon, aight?

Of course.

(no subject)

sakabroto - 2017-11-04 15:01 (UTC) - Expand