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Post by Anya on May 25, 2016 19:30:17 GMT
"That's not what I-" Anya sounds irritated now. "I'm not planning on never associating with you again because you have issues with emotions. That'd make me a huge hypocrite. I just -" She makes a huff of frustration at not being able to articulate her thoughts properly.
She takes a deep breath in and out. "Pushing past your limits is one of the two major tenets of the path to Ecstasy. But I know what happens if you push too hard and too fast. It's not pretty. I was worried you were trying to do that. But." She looks at Alex again. "I think your plan is smart and will keep you from falling into old habits that you clearly hate. It'll probably also make it less likely that I snap and try to murder you one of these days."
"And don't look at me like that, I'm fine. I'm just trying really hard not to give you a hug right now."
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Post by alexander on May 25, 2016 20:14:18 GMT
He shakes his head again. "I wasn't really considering that you might leave. You'd stick beside the devil himself if you thought he was trying to be a better person. The rest of the group is a different story...I could probably guess where they fall, but my judgement seems to be compromised right now, so I'll wait to see what they think."
Alex's face sets into a grim smile. "Honestly, I was more concerned I'd snap and murder someone."
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Post by Dr. Stake on May 25, 2016 21:07:33 GMT
Dr S smiles, "You wouldn't be the first to try. But is OK. Am not planning on killink or being kill any time soon. Is sounds good to me. I am thinking we did OK the other night. We worked together well. Sorry about sink, by the way. Will help in making new one, with better disposal. Most disposals can get clogged, also chew up spoons. I can be making one that does not clog, and rejects spoons. Should be simple matter of aligning the magnet in the motor to recognize when field is disrupted by metallic object. Might also be good at catching rings. To be sure it does not harm a probing hand though, might require a bit of circutry that senses Kirliean field..." He notices everyone's staring.
"Ahem. Yes. Well. Go on."
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Post by alexander on May 26, 2016 0:14:43 GMT
Alex chuckles at Dr. Stake's response. "Don't worry about the apartment, I think I'll move somewhere that I'll cause less collateral damage. And of course we did well. We are really that damn good. But here are some good examples of how we don't work well together, though it's all from my perspective, of course. When Stake built his energy rifle, I actually could have saved him a step. I have a replica of the Baghdad Battery. I like to collect items that have shamanistic origins. I'm pretty sure I could have saved some copper piping and a jar of pickles, but I had no clue you could make low tech so high tech. I assumed way too much about how the Marauder would act without asking anyone if they had experience with them, then she totally ignored the bait. Dr. Stake fell a little behind and I wouldn't slow down, so he stopped covering me and started shooting zeppelins."
As he speaks, Alex seems to become more at ease. "I think what we need is more understanding of each other, how we think and feel, but also what we believe. More places like Chance and I being able to work together to build a circle of cards, or Anya being able to use my scalpel to take the blood needed for quintessence, or Dr. Stake figuring out how to reinforce a traditional rune-inscribed warding circle."
He stops and looks at the assembled group. "Any ideas on how to do that?"
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Post by Anya on May 26, 2016 0:23:58 GMT
Anya speaks up hesitantly, like she's afraid she's missing something obvious, "Talk about it? We've all got tricks up our sleeve and we all know how our magick works. But I can't wrap my head around how most of you do your stuff. But maybe there's more similarities than I know, especially if we talk about tool use? It's either talking or do a talent show or a competition between people who work the same spheres." Anya blinks. "Wait, can I change my answer?"
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Post by Chance on May 26, 2016 0:37:58 GMT
Chance has been listening to the whole conversation from his standing position near the food. He doesn't have much to say in the way of encouragement or admonishment for Alex's actions. He has seen the Doc act well and not so well, and that makes him human. After absorbing the questions around working together though, he pushes himself forward into the conversation.
"I'm probably not the best one to offer any advice, since other than Dodger as my mentor, I haven't done much with my magick with anyone. It's not really my style and it keeps me unattached." The musician lets out a frustrated sigh, pausing a moment considering how much to say. "I've really been dodgey with how I do what I do. I didn't have a lot of formal training like some of you. Dodger's talented and competent, but he isn't disciplined. I use my magick like I get through life, by the balls."
When he's said his peace, he shrugs and slides his hands into his pockets, "I'm hoping some of your skills rub off on me." When his moment of opening up is done, he smiles, "Except for the being a wanker part, Doc."
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Post by Anya on May 26, 2016 1:18:42 GMT
Anya shrugs. "You're not the only one making it up as you go along. I've got a couple things that I can do and they work every time, but it's just the most basic stuff. The rest, everything changes from time to time and situation to situation. My training was more about learning the basic dance steps so I can improv a solo later. Often, literally. So I always have to figure out what feels right."
Anya brightens, "Oh! But when you started playing your sax on the ship so I could check out the interns! That was brilliant! I can hum to myself in a pinch, but I work so much better when I don't have to think about making the music!"
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Post by alexander on May 26, 2016 1:31:23 GMT
Alex grows more animated as Anya and Chance talk, clearly very interested in this discussion. "I've been thinking about this for a while. Even if we can't necessarily work together, having a basic understanding should let us know what the others can do. I think the best way would be to determine two people we might have the easiest time understanding and working with them. Then three of us could work together using the intermediary."
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Venisha
Junior Member
Completely cool with having last-minute house guests. Completely.
Posts: 67 
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Post by Venisha on May 26, 2016 1:56:13 GMT
"That's probably the best way to make it work - by building bridges between us," Venisha says thoughtfully. "I'm... still learning how to use my abilities in this setting. I originally thought my awakening was a spiritual thing, and my mentor guided me through my magic by continuing my religious instruction. So if I'm not practicing kalaripattyu or healing someone, I'm often at a loss for how to help. But I'm willing to experiment and learn from you lot as well, if there are ways to do so."
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Post by Anya on May 26, 2016 2:12:36 GMT
Anya frowns thoughtfully. "You said something earlier, Venisha. 'If you don't start with the philosophy behind Do'...I think that goes for magick too. I can say that, um, wearing certain outfits makes doing some things work better, but if I don't talk about why, I don't know if it will help anyone work with me."
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Post by alexander on May 26, 2016 2:19:17 GMT
Alex starts pacing. "No. It actually does. Okay, let's do this example. Venisha, a man attacks you. Using life magic, how would you stop him? Then afterwards, how do you make sure he lives?"
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Venisha
Junior Member
Completely cool with having last-minute house guests. Completely.
Posts: 67
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Post by Venisha on May 26, 2016 2:21:05 GMT
"Well, the easiest thing to do is strike him at one of seven points along the column of chakras, and incapacitate him. I prefer paralysis. Afterward, I use the same ability in reverse. But more gently."
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Post by alexander on May 26, 2016 2:37:20 GMT
Alex nods. "I could do something similar, though I would need a knife or a scalpel. I would likely do considerably more damage, though I could try a syringe to knock him out. But I'm not looking at energy flow...I'm just looking at basic human anatomy. So it's not terribly difficult for me to imagine the connection between where my scalpel moves and what is damaged in the body. Simply put, I could put him down from a distance. Vulgar, but effective. Meanwhile, healing is simply applying medicine, first aid or even field surgery that turns out to be surprising effective. Might take slightly longer, but I've never worried about Paradox in that situation."
He holds his chin as if thinking. "Now, if I remember correctly, doesn't one of the chakra control emotions? Like, could you scare someone by controlling their energy flow?"
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Venisha
Junior Member
Completely cool with having last-minute house guests. Completely.
Posts: 67
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Post by Venisha on May 26, 2016 2:50:14 GMT
"Yes. There's one that is deeply connected to a person's fight-or-flight instinct. I find it somewhat dangerous, because instead of scaring them away, I could kick them into fight-mode instead."
She cocks her head to one side, looking thoughtful. "I've never tried to specifically affect a chakra from a distance. I suppose it's possible."
She sits down in front of Anya. "By the way, you can mess with my hair all you want," she tells her.
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Post by Anya on May 26, 2016 2:55:30 GMT
"Sweet!" Anya crosses her legs and starts unbraiding Venisha's hair, then running her fingers through it, carefully working out any knots.
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