[ War is-- awful, wasteful, and defining. Earth has been at peace within itself for so long, in Jim's world, and yet war still defines their culture. War with Romulus, war with the Klingons. He hopes this planet can pull together and avoid being carved in such a permanent, crushing way. ]
In a way, [ Jim says, of magic. ] We don't tend to call it that. Some people just have abilities others don't, either because that's just how their race is, or because of a fluke of genetics.
Some beings I've met on other planets have called things magic, though. So maybe.
[ Just to be cheeky, he holds out a hand. With a sound like the tinkling of broken glass, a sword of white, crystalline light appears in his hand. He wraps his fingers around the hilt, giving it an experimental swing. When he releases his grip, the blade shatters and vanishes. ]
Where I come from, magic is the ability to manipulate the life force of the world – called aether – and shape it into a physical effect. Some use this ability to create fire or bolts of lightning, others use it to heal. Others still use it to reanimate the dead or summon Voidsent into the world. 'Tis a wide variety, not all of it good.
[ Jim's not one of those hard-line, 'all magic is unexplained science' people, as that's obviously untrue, but a lot of the mystery has been sucked out of these kinds of abilities for him purely because he understands the physiological mechanics behind them.
Some of them. He watches the light show with obvious interest, and the smile after reaches his eyes. Very cool. ]
There's always gonna be someone who'll use a spade to hit somebody instead of garden, [ he says, which is probably a Bones-ism he's picked up for whatever tragic reason. He remembers Solas explaining blood magic to him, and this sounds a little similar. ] Can everyone manipulate the aether where you're from?
[ He smiles in return, deciding all at once that he likes Jim. He has a good head on his shoulders, and he can appreciate someone unwilling to shove things into a particular box just because he may not understand them. ]
Not everyone, but I would say that those who can vastly outnumber those who cannot. Still, it is like any skill, some may be naturally better at it than others, but with work most can learn to wield magic if they so choose.
[ By now, they have reached the platform where the battle with Lilith is taking place. He and his companion are shouting warnings and instructions at one another, as the Voidsent presses the attack with her sword and dark powers both. ]
We did not venture past this place once the battle concluded. I would wager that moving deeper into the city might cause the memory to unravel.
[ But if Jim wishes to stay and watch, he won’t begrudge him that. He lived it, and it still strikes him as quite the sight. ]
[ It's interesting, and not unlike the 'supernatural' abilities he knows of at home; for example, he thinks of Vulcan telepathy, which is considered the norm, but some individuals never show any aptitude at all. ]
That seems to have been the pattern so far.
[ Ending memories. Though Jim's accidentally triggered new ones to appear, sometimes, in his quest to be free of something. He looks out at the battle, and can't help but ask - ]
[ He inclines his head towards the memory of his pupil, still restrained by Lilith's magic, for the time being. ]
Aye, she did. 'Twas myself and her fellow student that destroyed Lilith's body, true enough, but 'twas Arya's own will that destroyed her spirit, and at last freed herself.
[ Arya, then. Jim watches - fractionally relieved that this isn't the memory of someone's demise. He wasn't overly worried about it in the first place, with how calm X'rhun seems, but still. Nice to know. ]
Hell of a thing, [ he guesses. Jim's never seen anything quite like it. ]
I am. [ Something of a pause, there, but he decides no to go on; X'rhun is probably well familiar with how badly she was harmed, and maybe doesn't need to hear details about how Jim dragged her out of there. Last he checked in, she was on the mend. So instead, ]
She's a tough kid. [ His tone sounds approving. Stepping over the uneven terrain of the ruins, half his attention is still on the ongoing memory-battle. ]
Why 'red' magic, in particular? Just what you prefer?
[ Ah, so he was right in his guess. And he does know very well the state poor Alisaie is in, but she’s healing, so he can’t ask for more on that front. ]
It does largely come down to preference, yes. There are many schools of magic to choose from, for one who wishes to hone their craft. White magic harnesses the powers of nature, with a strong focus on healing. Black magic is about offense and destruction, where one commands powerful elemental spells. Red magic lies between, a combination of the two. It is an ancient art, one that was all but lost until myself and some comrades chanced upon writings on the subject and took up the red ourselves.
[ Just watching the battle play out, it’s true that X’rhun’s particular brand of magic seems rather piecemeal. A lightning or fire spell here, a wind or earth spell there. A hodgepodge of elements of earth and forces of destruction. ]
[ Jim makes a sound of understanding, impressed by the pioneering initiative. ] Hey, I feel you. I'm all about being well-rounded.
[ Captains wearing a million hats, or something.
The memory continues to be interesting from a technical standpoint - but Jim doesn't want to be invasive, really. And who knows how long they'll be stuck in here if they don't make headway. He nods further towards the edge of the phantasm scene. ]
We should probably get going. We'll probably walk out to everything going nuts again, if we take too long. [ Dryly. Good old This Hecking Planet. ]
[ Jack of all trades and master of none, as the saying goes, but red magic still gets the job done. His past self and his student are certainly giving Lilith a run for her money. ]
Aye, I agree. I’ve not seen the Weeping City past this point, so I suspect things will unravel rather quickly as we venture forth. Let us hope we do not emerge into the middle of a riot or some such.
[ He turns, expecting his companion to follow as they break away from the scene. Behind them, Lilith’s dying cries can be heard, and the concerned shouts of X’rhun as Arya lies still in his arms, still unconscious as she fights off the influence of Lilith’s will.
X’rhun’s guess proves to be true, however. Once they move away from the platform, across crumbling stone walkways, the memory gets blurry and frays at the edges. None too soon, the shadow of the Weeping City of Mhach gives way to the real world, and they find themselves back where they began. ]
Have somebody keep an eye on you when you get to ruffling, [ he says, though his tone is more Professional Shop Talk than fussing. ] Some of the hostile forces here have no problem with kidnapping and torture. Plenty of refugees - what they call us mysterious arrivals - are still recovering.
[ Rough times. Jim wasn't taken, but he was a part of the rescue squads. (With Clark, fun fact!!) Some truly awful shit. ]
All times, all worlds, [ he agrees. ] Earth in the twentieth or twenty-first century seems to be pretty common, but there's plenty of us from other times or unrelated worlds.
[ This time, Jim has to grab onto her to keep from being thrown off, and he does so instinctively. It's a small miracle the shift doesn't disturb them both, but he's good on his feet. (Even while his feet are-- ok I'm over that metaphor already.) ]
The light? [ Of course the light, Jim. He squints, trying to make out anything in the sandy, heated air. ]
I don't even know how we got here, [ he says. Psychic disturbance of some kind, they're clearly somewhere of her's, but.. ? ]
[ Honestly, she barely notices getting grabbed. SOLID MUSCLE, BABY. Urbosa's watching that wavering sliver of light like a hawk. Whatever it is, she doesn't like it. ]
That isn't supposed to be here. I wonder...
[ Uh oh. That smile can't mean good things. The Gerudo Chief angles them back around towards the weird light, wrangling the seal back into line when it tries to shy to one side or the other. ]
[ All wry humor. Still, she shifts in place a little to raise one arm over her head, zeroing in on that elusive shimmering spot with all the laserlike focus of a hunting falcon. When their seal curves away sharply in clear refusal to move any closer, Urbosa snaps her fingers --
-- splitting the "fracture" wide open with a thunderbolt that strikes so close as to rattle bones and deafen bystanders. The memory can't hold together under the assault and unravels, leaving Jim and Urbosa standing (albeit awkwardly close) precisely where they were before the memory took over. It seems like nobody else noticed their brief absence. ]
[ Uh huh. Don't think she doesn't see that internal struggle my dude.
Points for the segue into introductions, though! Urbosa can't help but chuckle a little at the understatement (Just "hi", huh? Cool as a cucumber. She likes that!) but gives him a polite nod in return. ]
Great. [ Genuine, that, and he smiles. ] Thanks for navigating that, I'd have been - well, I have no idea, frankly, if anything in that would have stuck, but it's probably best not to have found out.
[ Illusion? Psychic disturbance? Doesn't matter, Jim is keen on avoiding being stepped on regardless. ]
It never is, so I've heard. My group had to use transport ships, and both cities shot us out of the sky.
[ A thrilling adventure he'd like to avoid seeing a repeat of. But: ] I'm actually not sure what's worse, struggling out of that, or having memories broadcast everywhere against our will.
There aren't any quiet days on this planet, though.
Not the best way to endear themselves to outsiders.
[ Some of the tech here still throws her off, but there's not much Urbosa can really do about it aside from a stare, shrug, and move on. The usual. Getting shot out of the sky, though? That's some next-level stuff. ]
Do they honestly expect people to forget an incident like that?
Outsiders aren't the most loved population, here, no matter where they're from. The two cities have a history of hating each other, and extreme nationalism on both sides.
[ Jim shrugs. ]
I'm not sure if they even know refugees were the ones in the transports. Tensions were so high at the time we all had to be smuggled into civilization. All this-- [ the display for the new refugees, the posturing, the events. ] Is because of they way you all were beamed down. They think it's some kind of religious sign.
[ He thinks, anyway. Jim's grasp on religions and spiritual cults is shaky at best, being so unfamiliar with anyone believing in that sort of hocus pocus. ]
Tossed to the Lynels. What a waste. [ Rock and a hard place, etc etc. ] There must be unclaimed territory somewhere. Relying on charity with strings attached leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
[ How does that saying go? "We the unwilling, led by the unqualified, to kill the unfortunate, die for the ungrateful"... ]
I did. Although I can't say I agree with their decisions.
[ Disseminating a "peacekeeping" or pioneering force between a rock and a hard place isn't very good strategy. Even the vanguard of a group needs a stable place to work from. She shakes her head, making a helpless gesture with one hand and heaving a sigh. ]
[ But she's not unaffected, and Jim knows that. He understands her a little better now, but it feels cheaply won - she didn't share this with him voluntarily. It feels a little bit like a violation.
So he nods. ]
Your business is your own.
[ For a quick moment he looks like he's going to say something else, but it passes. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@verflair
[ War is-- awful, wasteful, and defining. Earth has been at peace within itself for so long, in Jim's world, and yet war still defines their culture. War with Romulus, war with the Klingons. He hopes this planet can pull together and avoid being carved in such a permanent, crushing way. ]
In a way, [ Jim says, of magic. ] We don't tend to call it that. Some people just have abilities others don't, either because that's just how their race is, or because of a fluke of genetics.
Some beings I've met on other planets have called things magic, though. So maybe.
no subject
[ Just to be cheeky, he holds out a hand. With a sound like the tinkling of broken glass, a sword of white, crystalline light appears in his hand. He wraps his fingers around the hilt, giving it an experimental swing. When he releases his grip, the blade shatters and vanishes. ]
Where I come from, magic is the ability to manipulate the life force of the world – called aether – and shape it into a physical effect. Some use this ability to create fire or bolts of lightning, others use it to heal. Others still use it to reanimate the dead or summon Voidsent into the world. 'Tis a wide variety, not all of it good.
no subject
[ Jim's not one of those hard-line, 'all magic is unexplained science' people, as that's obviously untrue, but a lot of the mystery has been sucked out of these kinds of abilities for him purely because he understands the physiological mechanics behind them.
Some of them. He watches the light show with obvious interest, and the smile after reaches his eyes. Very cool. ]
There's always gonna be someone who'll use a spade to hit somebody instead of garden, [ he says, which is probably a Bones-ism he's picked up for whatever tragic reason. He remembers Solas explaining blood magic to him, and this sounds a little similar. ] Can everyone manipulate the aether where you're from?
no subject
Not everyone, but I would say that those who can vastly outnumber those who cannot. Still, it is like any skill, some may be naturally better at it than others, but with work most can learn to wield magic if they so choose.
[ By now, they have reached the platform where the battle with Lilith is taking place. He and his companion are shouting warnings and instructions at one another, as the Voidsent presses the attack with her sword and dark powers both. ]
We did not venture past this place once the battle concluded. I would wager that moving deeper into the city might cause the memory to unravel.
[ But if Jim wishes to stay and watch, he won’t begrudge him that. He lived it, and it still strikes him as quite the sight. ]
no subject
That seems to have been the pattern so far.
[ Ending memories. Though Jim's accidentally triggered new ones to appear, sometimes, in his quest to be free of something. He looks out at the battle, and can't help but ask - ]
Did your friend make it out okay?
no subject
[ He inclines his head towards the memory of his pupil, still restrained by Lilith's magic, for the time being. ]
Aye, she did. 'Twas myself and her fellow student that destroyed Lilith's body, true enough, but 'twas Arya's own will that destroyed her spirit, and at last freed herself.
no subject
Hell of a thing, [ he guesses. Jim's never seen anything quite like it. ]
You're a teacher?
no subject
[ It’s a guess, but a well-founded one since Jim was among the rescuers in the tower, as was Alisaie. ]
She is a pupil of mine as well. A student of Red Magic.
sorry for the delay x_x
She's a tough kid. [ His tone sounds approving. Stepping over the uneven terrain of the ruins, half his attention is still on the ongoing memory-battle. ]
Why 'red' magic, in particular? Just what you prefer?
no worries!
It does largely come down to preference, yes. There are many schools of magic to choose from, for one who wishes to hone their craft. White magic harnesses the powers of nature, with a strong focus on healing. Black magic is about offense and destruction, where one commands powerful elemental spells. Red magic lies between, a combination of the two. It is an ancient art, one that was all but lost until myself and some comrades chanced upon writings on the subject and took up the red ourselves.
[ Just watching the battle play out, it’s true that X’rhun’s particular brand of magic seems rather piecemeal. A lightning or fire spell here, a wind or earth spell there. A hodgepodge of elements of earth and forces of destruction. ]
no subject
[ Captains wearing a million hats, or something.
The memory continues to be interesting from a technical standpoint - but Jim doesn't want to be invasive, really. And who knows how long they'll be stuck in here if they don't make headway. He nods further towards the edge of the phantasm scene. ]
We should probably get going. We'll probably walk out to everything going nuts again, if we take too long. [ Dryly. Good old This Hecking Planet. ]
no subject
Aye, I agree. I’ve not seen the Weeping City past this point, so I suspect things will unravel rather quickly as we venture forth. Let us hope we do not emerge into the middle of a riot or some such.
[ He turns, expecting his companion to follow as they break away from the scene. Behind them, Lilith’s dying cries can be heard, and the concerned shouts of X’rhun as Arya lies still in his arms, still unconscious as she fights off the influence of Lilith’s will.
X’rhun’s guess proves to be true, however. Once they move away from the platform, across crumbling stone walkways, the memory gets blurry and frays at the edges. None too soon, the shadow of the Weeping City of Mhach gives way to the real world, and they find themselves back where they began. ]
@flakjackets
Have somebody keep an eye on you when you get to ruffling, [ he says, though his tone is more Professional Shop Talk than fussing. ] Some of the hostile forces here have no problem with kidnapping and torture. Plenty of refugees - what they call us mysterious arrivals - are still recovering.
[ Rough times. Jim wasn't taken, but he was a part of the rescue squads. (With Clark, fun fact!!) Some truly awful shit. ]
All times, all worlds, [ he agrees. ] Earth in the twentieth or twenty-first century seems to be pretty common, but there's plenty of us from other times or unrelated worlds.
@thunderblight
[ This time, Jim has to grab onto her to keep from being thrown off, and he does so instinctively. It's a small miracle the shift doesn't disturb them both, but he's good on his feet. (Even while his feet are-- ok I'm over that metaphor already.) ]
The light? [ Of course the light, Jim. He squints, trying to make out anything in the sandy, heated air. ]
I don't even know how we got here, [ he says. Psychic disturbance of some kind, they're clearly somewhere of her's, but.. ? ]
no subject
Urbosa's watching that wavering sliver of light like a hawk. Whatever it is, she doesn't like it. ]
That isn't supposed to be here. I wonder...
[ Uh oh. That smile can't mean good things. The Gerudo Chief angles them back around towards the weird light, wrangling the seal back into line when it tries to shy to one side or the other. ]
no subject
I don't see any other ways out, might as well give it a go.
[ Or wait and get stepped on by the mecha camel. ]
no subject
[ All wry humor. Still, she shifts in place a little to raise one arm over her head, zeroing in on that elusive shimmering spot with all the laserlike focus of a hunting falcon.
When their seal curves away sharply in clear refusal to move any closer, Urbosa snaps her fingers --
-- splitting the "fracture" wide open with a thunderbolt that strikes so close as to rattle bones and deafen bystanders. The memory can't hold together under the assault and unravels, leaving Jim and Urbosa standing (albeit awkwardly close) precisely where they were before the memory took over. It seems like nobody else noticed their brief absence. ]
Hah! So much for that.
no subject
Jim wobbles for a brief moment when the illusion of momentum is yanked away, and then looks up at the woman he's still squished up against. ]
Nice.
[ --Uh, the lightning bolt, not. (Though she's smokin' hot lbr.) He takes a step back. ]
Hi. Jim Kirk, pleasure to meet you.
no subject
Points for the segue into introductions, though! Urbosa can't help but chuckle a little at the understatement (Just "hi", huh? Cool as a cucumber. She likes that!) but gives him a polite nod in return. ]
And you as well. I'm Urbosa.
no subject
Great. [ Genuine, that, and he smiles. ] Thanks for navigating that, I'd have been - well, I have no idea, frankly, if anything in that would have stuck, but it's probably best not to have found out.
[ Illusion? Psychic disturbance? Doesn't matter, Jim is keen on avoiding being stepped on regardless. ]
Did you just come down from the station?
no subject
[ I mean. Worst case scenario they get flattened by robomecha. No big deal, right?
Urbosa shakes her head slightly, giving him a rueful smile. ]
I did, yes. Wasn't quite the welcome I was expecting, though.
no subject
[ A thrilling adventure he'd like to avoid seeing a repeat of. But: ] I'm actually not sure what's worse, struggling out of that, or having memories broadcast everywhere against our will.
There aren't any quiet days on this planet, though.
no subject
[ Some of the tech here still throws her off, but there's not much Urbosa can really do about it aside from a stare, shrug, and move on. The usual.
Getting shot out of the sky, though? That's some next-level stuff. ]
Do they honestly expect people to forget an incident like that?
no subject
[ Jim shrugs. ]
I'm not sure if they even know refugees were the ones in the transports. Tensions were so high at the time we all had to be smuggled into civilization. All this-- [ the display for the new refugees, the posturing, the events. ] Is because of they way you all were beamed down. They think it's some kind of religious sign.
[ He thinks, anyway. Jim's grasp on religions and spiritual cults is shaky at best, being so unfamiliar with anyone believing in that sort of hocus pocus. ]
no subject
Tossed to the Lynels. What a waste. [ Rock and a hard place, etc etc. ] There must be unclaimed territory somewhere. Relying on charity with strings attached leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
[ How does that saying go? "We the unwilling, led by the unqualified, to kill the unfortunate, die for the ungrateful"... ]
no subject
[ Not anywhere viable at the moment, though, as far as Jim's aware. He shrugs. ]
The situation is - well, you heard the Natha when they woke you up, right?
[ Shit's crazy and they're all supposed to help build the future. ]
no subject
I did. Although I can't say I agree with their decisions.
[ Disseminating a "peacekeeping" or pioneering force between a rock and a hard place isn't very good strategy. Even the vanguard of a group needs a stable place to work from.
She shakes her head, making a helpless gesture with one hand and heaving a sigh. ]
Well, no point in complaining. We'll make do.
no subject
[ Or eaten by the universe. Whatever. Jim huffs a laugh and nods. He likes that attitude, because it's one they share. ]
No other choice. [ Upbeat! ]
@originallutece
[ But she's not unaffected, and Jim knows that. He understands her a little better now, but it feels cheaply won - she didn't share this with him voluntarily. It feels a little bit like a violation.
So he nods. ]
Your business is your own.
[ For a quick moment he looks like he's going to say something else, but it passes. ]