sixthiterationtexts | UN: Former Pilot

I used to tell my little brothers bedtime stories, back home. They used to tell me I was pretty good at it, but your mileage may vary.

For what it's worth, I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping here, too. It's hard to stop thinking a mile a minute. I've gone for a loooot of late walks.

If only walks were enough. The military sorta skews that.

I wouldn't mind hearing something. If nothing else, learning experience.

They don't really help all that much, but it's harder to miss my magic when I'm counting steps or trying to find new constellations. Mostly, anyway. Magic would definitely help with the not freezing parts.

What sort of stories do you like? Matthew always liked the ones about heroes fighting monsters, but Lucas liked the magic stories the best. Everyone's got something they like to hear about.

I was never all that good at spells so I miss the magic less than I'd expect. It's the other power I had that it's annoying not to have. Even with the costs it came with.

Space stories actually. Space in general. When you fight monsters yourself or can access magic, and your boss and his friends literally saved the world from monsters and a crazy Sorceress it gets a bit... Rote?

Which I know not everyone here gets.

Oh man, you are definitely talking to the right person. I mean, it's all about your world, right? Some of the people I've talked to here don't come from places with magic or superheroes or monsters, they're just totally normal

Then there's the world my brother and I come from where there's Atlanteans and mutants and like a thousand different superheroes and a new alien invasion or schism or intergalactic war every six months

I just spent the last two months living on a spaceship that runs on belief traveling though different dimensions with a girl who can kick through space-time so, I get you

Can I ask about the other power you mentioned? Sorry, I know I promised you a story, I'm just wondering

Normal is a relativistic word, now isn't it? But in the defense of 'normal' people, I'm not normal. The vast majority of people on my world don't have magic or fight monsters. Well, I suppose the military does some monster clean up but that's something else.

That sounds pretty intense, all you go through. All I have is Sorceresses repeatedly trying to take over the world, including one from the future who attempted to collapse all of Time-Space to a single point in which only she could exist. Having your entire existence wiped out for a brief moment is a lot easier to forget if, you know, you don't know what's going on. But hey, we all came back, so small victories.

Actually, I suppose that's a big one.

Wait... Okay, I just finally read the next part and you've lived in space. On a spaceship. In SPACE? Okay, I'm sorry, but you have to tell me about that. The space station Esthar put up to monitor the Sorceress tomb only just got active again for real science and I so can't get clearance to go up. So please, I will bribe you whatever you need to get stories about space.

Even if all you need is stories about my world. Because it would take a bit of time to explain Guardian Forces in any really satisfying way other than 'spirits that live in your head and make you magic'.

That part at least isn't so different from mine. Most people ARE just normal. I'm just not one of them. I mean I wouldn't give it up for anything now, but...sometimes it's nice to think about being one of them instead of being in the middle of all this

That Sorceress thing sounds really rough. We had a guy do something kind of like that? He basically wiped a bunch of people out of existence with these things called Infinity Gems, including all of the Avengers, but they all came back. I'm glad things turned out okay for you. I mean, aside from the horrifying nightmares, but I think those are just...kind of a side effect of being on the less-than-normal side

I will 100% trade you stories about space for stories about your world. That's one of the things I think is actually pretty cool about this place. Meeting people from different universes

All the ones I've met before were kind of trying to kill me and my friends so

OKAY I will definitely tell you about living in space, I mean the circumstances are less than great but the actual space part was kind of awesome

What do you want to know?

Who said anything about horrifying nightmares?

[Oh right, that might have been implied by putting together the insomnia and the asking publicly for help and all that he's said. But really, he's walked away with a good deal less trauma than he'd expected. Probably no PTSD. Probably.]

Explaining magic in my world is not the easiest, but I will happily go into it at length from all my magic theory and history classes if you could just... I don't know. Did you ever get to experience being weightless? Also, just marking this off my checklist. If your world has a moon, does it have monsters?

[So far no one else has said yes.]

Maybe that part's just me

[There's reasons he's not exactly been sleeping well, even before this place, after all. Guilty consciences don't bode well for easy sleep.]

We only did the weightless thing once or twice, the gravity on the ship was pretty solid. We did a few trips out, though, like the time we went after these guys we thought were Skrulls, only it turned out they were another group of aliens who thought it would be cool to be Skrulls

Kind of embarrassing

You know, I don't think so, but I can't be positive. There's new weird stuff happening or being discovered all the time back home, but I don't think moon monsters are a thing. Yet. At least in my dimension. Is that where yours come from?

I'd say that nothing in dreams can really hurt you, but I've heard weird stories so I guess you can't throw that out.

But yeah, monsters from the moon. I wish I was kidding. Turned out all my life I'd been fighting aliens. Fun. But you know what? Killing dragons almost makes it worth it. And a number of them are edible, so that's good. Because large scale livestock can be hard to manage thanks to aforementioned monsters.

What was your favorite thing about being in space?

[Somehow this seemed to be turning into trading question for question. Nida had no problem with that either.

At least you guys found a way to make the best of it. That's definitely one way to kill two birds with one stone. Or two dragons

Hmm, my favorite thing...

Do you mind if I switch over to voice? I'm definitely not used to texting like this anymore

It would be counter productive to kill dragons with petrify spells. Couldn't get useful parts or meat from them then. And both Ruby and Blue dragons are pretty immune to those spells anyway... Unless we're talking spell stones, which I suppose would make that possible and now I'm getting too far into tactics.

Yeah, we can switch to voice, but I'm definitely going to seem more flighty then. You'll actually hear how stupidly excited I am about space.

There is nothing stupid about enthusiasm.

[There's a little laugh to Billy's voice, even if it is a little hushed, like he's trying not to wake someone in the next room, because that's exactly what he's doing.]

First, that's an Earth metaphor, like you're solving two problems with one solution. It's okay, it sounds weird even if you're from there. Second, you're definitely going to have to explain to me how magic works where you're from, because I've never heard of a system like that and it sounds like something out of my DM manual. But it can be another time. I promised I'd tell you about space, right?

[There's the sound of a breath in and out, contemplative as he thinks.]

I think the thing I liked most about space--you know, besides being out in space, on adventures like I used to just read about in comics--

It sounds cheesy, but I think the thing I liked the most was being there with my friends. It was so easy to just look outside at all those stars, all those planets and feel so ridiculously small and alone, especially after Teddy left, and just--every time I started to feel too small and too lost, I just had to look back, and they were there with me.

Pretty silly, right?

[Well, at least the guy has a nice voice to listen to. Not even rasping. Extra points from Nida. Of course he doesn't really have the same issue of having to be quiet. Instead he's a bit breathless. Has he been texting Billy to give him breathers from chopping wood? Yes, yes he has.]

That doesn't sound silly. That sounds pretty nice. Really, it's the stars that get me. That and the limitless nature. My dad used to take me up onto our roof when I was a kid and we'd look up at the stars through the trees. I think. It's sorta foggy.

[Chopping noises take over for a moment, then a sigh.]

There are a number of different classes of magic in my world. Sorcery, Paramagic, Limit Magic... Hyne I don't even know how a lot of them work. How Quistis can absorb knowledge from a gear and BAM! Blue magic spell? No sense. So I guess the question is, like, what kinds of magic interest you? Because when I really break it down, we've got a swath.

[Nida doesn't sound bad, either. Younger than he expected, maybe, and a little out of breath, but not bad, and the eventual chopping noises explain it. It's easier to talk knowing he's not talking to some grizzled 40-year-old combat vet like Frank. Although it wouldn't stop him, anyway.]

The stars are pretty great. It's hard to see any at all, in New York. Light pollution, you know? I love living in the city, but it's never dark enough to see the stars. And they look so different out there. Different colors, and the way galaxies look when you don't have to look through an atmosphere or a telescope... it's definitely amazing. I hope you get a chance to go, when you get back home.

[When, not if. He's trying for optimism. The question that follows is a little softer, more hesitant of stepping on toes.]

Do you not remember him well? Your dad, I mean.

[It's none of his business, maybe, but he feels like it'd be rude not to address it.]

[Wait, light pollution? Nida stills at that concept, leaning against the axe and now there is only the sound of his breathing for half a second.]

I get how you can pollute the water and the land and even the air. But how do you pollute light? And I probably won't get to go. I'm not Esthari. I'm not much of anything actually. I'll have to content myself with flying. They're supposed to be sending us a small set of low occupancy air craft for tactical insertion and rapid response. That will be nice. Getting the skies a bit better.

[Dad... Well here comes a hard one. Nida sighed, because it wasn't really as much stepping on his toes as Billy would think. There would have to be toes invested.]

I suppose that is a wonderful transition to talking about magic. Paramagic specifically. I'll get to that in a moment but I will say no. My parents were killed when I was eight, eleven years ago if you're curious. I don't remember their faces, and their names only barely. I remember some of what they taught me that ended up being relevant to my work. Advantage of being here is removal from my form of magic means the memories I do have won't degrade anymore. Downside, I had a bracelet of my mother's, it was the last thing I had of them, and that of course is gone. So who knows how long those memories will last without the reminder.

Oh--it's actually a pretty recent concept. Guess it's a little confusing, too, the light isn't polluted, it's the thing doing the polluting. There've been studies and stuff, artificial light at night actually messes with the circadian rhythms of plants and animals. Like, the pigeons in Central Park can't tell when they're supposed to sleep because to their brains it looks like the sun is always up, if that makes any sense to you. It's just--never dark, not really.

[And then Nida says what he says, and Billy falls silent for a while, not sure what exactly to say. Well. That's a lie, maybe. There's only one thing to say, and it's sincere. He might not know Nida at all yet, really, but he thinks of losing his entire family at Lucas's age, and his heart hurts at the thought.]

I'm so, so sorry. About your parents, but especially your memories. When that's all you have of someone... I'm sorry.

[A deep breath, then, one that catches a little in his throat.]

My mom--she's a psychologist, a pretty good one, I think--she says that talking about memories can make them stronger. Makes it easier to keep them, or something, I'm a little fuzzy on the science. But I'm pretty good at listening. If you ever want to talk about them. Or anything, I mean.

Huh, interesting concept. I imagine that must mess things up in Esthar. The city glows.

[Yeah, people tend to react like that. Good thing, he's gotten to the point where the pity rolls off his shoulders like water. Which makes it hurt less.]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm not sure that would work. What I've lost I've lost because of magic. Paramagic specifically. One of the two forms of magic I used back home. Still want to hear about it?

[There may, just MAYBE, be a touch of eagerness to change subjects there.]

[Billy might argue that it's not pity, it's compassion, but it's not his place to argue. He's been trying harder to stop making things about him and his experiences, to pay more attention to other people, and even if he wasn't paying attention it's really hard to miss the desire to change the subject on Nida's end. Of course. He doesn't even know you, Billy.]

Uh, yeah, yeah definitely. You said...sorcery, paramagic, limit magic, and something about spells from gears??

[And you've had bad luck, Billy. Already Nida had vulnerability thrown back in his face by someone he did know, and the other person he knows is too upset to bother with his own issues.]

The best one to start with, to at least understand what I can do, is paramagic. So...

[A huff of breath as the axe is hefted again and look, he's going back to his zen place of physical workouts.]

There is a reason we call it 'para' magic. Because it's not like real magic. People typically can't use magic. But when I was a kid it was discovered that these great spirits in our world have some unique abilities. We call them Guardian Forces, and I can go into that more later. What matters right now as that these spirits are inherently magical, but their anchoring to our plane of existence can be tenuous. As such they often seek energy sources to tie themselves to so they can be maintained. One of those power sources actually turns out to be human memories. If you find and create a bond with one of these spirits, we call this junctioning, you take them into your mind and in return you get access to a few things. One thing is the ability to use paramagic. You could call it spells, but really what we do is draw elemental power and the like of different potencies into our bodies. You can stock a finite amount of various sorts of 'spells' like this, and we use the magical force of GFs to 'draw' the magic from monsters, people, and natural upwellings of magic in our world.

It sort of makes you wonder, of course. Everyone has at least two spells their bodies naturally produce, but you can only very rarely tap into them without paramagic. I, for instance, am a natural font of Aero and Water spells. The former I could actually cast without a junction if I worked at it hard enough.

So... still want me to keep going or am I rambling too much?

[Billy's quiet while Nida talks, listening intently, the only sounds from his end faint rustling and the very quiet sounds of breathing. Guardian Forces, magic spirits that anchor to the mortal plane of existence by latching onto and feeding off of memories, for one. Bonding with them and willingly sacrificing part of yourself in order to tap into elemental powers. Magic always means sacrifice, no matter what world you're in. He knows that intimately. But he isn't sure it's a price he'd be willing to pay.

When Nida pauses, Billy makes a thoughtful noise, ordering his thoughts.]

You aren't rambling. I'm following you so far. Guardian Forces are magical spirits that can grant you access to elemental power and abilities you wouldn't normally have access to in exchange for providing them with an energy source so they can stay in this plane of existence. Everyone has a natural affinity for certain kinds of elemental magic, and your affinities are Air and Water. Do I have it right so far?

[And a question occurs to him then, which he asks a beat later:]

Do you know, when you junction with them? About the cost, I mean. Did you know?

Sorry, I mean if you don't want to answer that you don't have to. I know it's probably personal.

Not really affinities, but more what the body generates. I just happen to be good with my spells.

[It's a good question, the one Billy asks. Nida is cringing and shakes his head. But that doesn't stop the explanation.]

No, we didn't know. There is a belief that some people knew, and there was denial even after we figured it out. But we use them anyway. Just less junctioning now, just have them ready. But the power is worth it. You can take the magic energy you stored to enhance your body too. Speed, strength, durability. Even luck, if you're willing to believe that. And of course there is the summoning of the spirits. Nothing like calling forth Shiva, watching her freeze everything around her and the ice explode and the shards cutting up monsters.

It's part of what we had to deal with. It was what made SeeDs so effective, the powers given to us by junctioning and the paramagic spells.

[Worth it? He doesn't know. But it isn't his place to say that, to make those kinds of judgements. It isn't his world, and he doesn't know the situation or the circumstances. Billy's beginning to realize more and more that his life experience has definitely been in the minority, and just because he can't imagine a cost doesn't mean it isn't worth paying. All he can do is listen, and try and understand. At least he's paid attention so far, and doesn't apologize again, even if he wants to.]

It sounds like an incredible thing to see. There's summoning rituals in certain kinds of magic where I'm from, but it's nothing like that.

SeeDs--is that your branch of the military?

More like... the elite levels of a paramilitary organization.

[Well that was sugarcoating it. He just doesn’t want the guy to stop talking to him because he’s a sword for hire so to speak.]

So I’m kind of like an officer. Anyway there are other kinds of magic too. Paramagic and junctioning is just one kind. Everyone has a limit, after all. Power they can access when adrenaline runs high. Sometimes that is magic too. I can use mine to coat a weapon I am using in elemental energy to attack a lot in quick succession. Boom, weapon on fire. Useful.

[Billy wouldn't stop talking to him just for that, especially since there's also talk about him fighting monsters. Maybe if Nida started talking about murdering civilians for a paycheck that might change, but right now? Definitely no judgement.]

I get you. I'd say you sound kind of young to be an officer, but then I'd sound like Captain America talking about my friends and I. So, SeeDs are elite soldiers, and you're an officer. Got it.

[Despite his attempt to remain cool about the whole thing, some of that impressed tone creeps back into Billy's voice as he listens to Nida talk about limit magic.]

That does sound useful. Also, super cool. I can do something similar, with my magic, but it's more electricity than anything else. Although I kind of wonder if I'd be able to do other elements...

So, paramagic, which used Guardian Forces, and limit magic, which is basically adrenaline-powered magic, right? Are there others, too?

no subject

no subject

un: wiccan

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject