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

[ettersberg]

[ 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.

Comments

[originallutece]

[She inhales sharply, her eyes widening for a few seconds, but that's the only reaction she gives. To be perfectly fair, she's seen that kind of magic before (though it wasn't magic, but rather the product of science).]

I don't suppose you could, say, levitate a man in midair, hm?

[ettersberg]

[ nightingale inclines his head, not unaware of her reaction, slight though it was, but not interested in commenting on it. ]

I could.

[originallutece]

Inflict your will upon his and make him do as you commanded?

[She seems to have a few specific ideas on what she's after here.]

[ettersberg]

[ ah. he pauses, here. ]

That's very specific.

[originallutece]

A man-- a very greedy man-- in my world once made and sold eight vigors. Drinking them could grant a person seemingly magic abilities. You could have fire at your fingertips, or lift a man from the ground, or control him for a few minutes . . . and other miracles.

It was shoddy science, but it was science nonetheless.

[ettersberg]

And you think that is where my abilities derive from as well. [ the implication is clear. nightingale considers, for a moment. ]

In that case, I doubt any further demonstrations would convince you otherwise, nor do I have any particular interest to. [ whether she thinks it magic or science, whether it is magic of science, matters relatively little to him. it works. ]

[originallutece]

No. No, I don't, because your abilities are far smoother and less painful than his. But I find the similarities between worlds endlessly fascinating-- and I admit, I hadn't expected to see something similar to home here.

[ettersberg]

Making someone else bow to a practitioner's will is considered very unethical.

[ nightingale says after a moment, which is as good as admitting that yes, he could do it. ]

[originallutece]

It was theoretically meant to be used on machines. So you can, then. Even if you won't.

[ettersberg]

Yes.

[ no point in denying it. ]

[originallutece]

Have you ever before?

[ettersberg]

No. [ not even during the war. ] Nor do I ever plan on it.