vila_restal | A new friend!

A dragon-mage... with *magical* abilities... oh, now, I am intrigued... I suppose this is an interstitial universe and it mightn't matter that I'm a shadow from the future, or a reflection of the past... [grins]... the Mumak crew always said I wasn't 'all there', and now it's quite true.

I wonder if it's not a matter of intersecting realities. I have read theories that there are infinite numbers of universes, all lying in the same place, just in slightly different planes. It might explain a lot.

She grins. Hi. Kasumi Karen, pleased to meet you!

Kerr Avon. [Not quite certain of her culture's greeting rituals, Avon bows to her and grins.] I've sometimes been called a 'Computer Wizard' but the title is purely honorary.

Karen bows back politely, surprised and a bit delighted that he knew her country's customs when he's from such a different time. An honorary title of that sort is probably safer. You would not believe all the trouble a girl can get into with people who think they stand a chance of using her abilities.

[Avon smiles.] I have a shirt imprinted with 'No, I will not repair your computer'. Perhaps there is something similar for firemages?

'No, I will not bring about the end of time for you'. Karen smirks. I might have to try putting it on a tee shirt sometime. Though mostly that was when I was younger. It's stopped now, though I think that's just because I've learned how to flirt so outrageously with my would be recruiters that they run away.

I'm surprised, I would have thought that would have the opposite effect. In my universe, at least.

With most people! But people from the sorts of cults who think that the world needs ending have usually been taught to be horrible prudes and can't handle strong flirting. They can't handle strong drink either, so if they keep with you through that getting them very drunk and leaving them with a friend who tends bar generally works.

[Shakes his head] I can see why they want the world to end, they don't know how to enjoy the one they've got. Of course, in my universe, the world has come to an end, quite often. Auron murdered. Cephlon dying. Sinofar's planet and Obsidian suicided... too many to name...
[Frowns] Not Earth, yet, but I do not put that past Servalan... if she can't rule everything, then I suspect she'd be just as pleased to see it all end in flames.

Karen laughs. No! No, they don't. I can't understand religious people who want to live in the end times. I mean, I know it's a very good chance that we are, and I don't like it. Creation can't be over yet!

I'm sorry. I... I rather meant the universe, time itself, and all the rest, but... Planets dying are tragic too, particularly when they're destroyed by those who should be protecting them.

Time itself? [Avon blinks.] Yes, well... that would put the loss of a planet or two into perspective.

Well, I for one, will not badger you to destroy this continuum. For all its faults, I should prefer to let it muddle along. You never know, people might become truly intelligent one day.

Well, I suspect it's all the same to the people on the planet. The children keep thinking of our current dilemma as being one facing only Earth, but I suspect it may be more far reaching.

Exactly! If we stop the universe now, we'll never know what might have happened. Granted, mortals never really know much of what might have happened, but it's still better to know some than none.

Besides, no good scientist would stop an experiment before it had reached a conclusion--- just think, we might have to start all over and go through the whole business all over again. [Shudders] I really wouldn't care to rerun my childhood again.

Karen winces. Would anyone? I doubt even planets and stars would want to repeat their early stages.

Being a ball of condensing matter can't be very exciting. [Avon smiles.] Then again, I've never tried it.

I suppose it might hold a strange sort of interest. But there must be a thousand attendant embarassments at your imperfections.

Only if you know what you're supposed to be evolving into. I doubt an ameba worries that it hasn't the proper sort of flagella.

But a star might have a notion what sort of shape stars are meant to be, and you know how teenagers are. Always certain they'll never look right or think or have the proper core intensity...

Oh, you're sweet! Did I mention that? Karen hugs Vila impulsively. Really very sweet.

Hello! I'm Karen, ex-public schoolgirl and magic worker.

Hello! I'm Stark! Er... Ex-slave and Stykera. [Stark gives her a wide, crooked, rather goofy smile.]

Pleased to meet you, Stark! Karen smiles her best, most charming smile. What's 'Stykera' mean, if you don't mind my asking?

And I'm sorry about the slave part. I'm glad it's 'ex'. Slavery's always seemed to me to be one of the more awful things people do to each other.

[gravely] It is. But it's over now, at least for us.

A Stykera is a, a holy man. Or woman. Mystics, we've been called. [He touches his hand briefly to the metal mask that covers half his face.] I have... an affinity for the dead and the dying. It's my job to give comfort, ease pain, see them safely to the Other Side.

What does a magic worker do?

That sounds... Karen pauses to look for words. Hard, but worth it.

Oh, well, it's really just a description. In my case, it's a certain control over and kinship with fire. I can create it and manipulate it.

But I'm a Dragon of Heaven too, and that means I'm part of an old foretelling. Seven Dragons of Earth and seven Dragons of Heaven are supposed to decide the fate of the world. I don't really understand entirely what the prophecy means, but I'm pretty sure that the Dragons of Heaven are intended to protect people, and the city. It's what we're doing, anyway.

"Hard but worth it." Yes. [He smiles a little.] Yes, it is. [He makes an odd little ritualized-looking gesture with his hands.]

[a little puzzled] You make fire? Like a Sheyang? [He gestures towards his stomach.] They generate it, here, and breathe it out, very dangerous! Or is it a spiritual gift?

Protecting people is good.

Karen bows formally, somehow feeling that it's the right response to this sort of conversation.

No, it's a spiritual gift. I... Hmm. She snaps her fingers and tiny flame pops into being directly over her hand. Fire magic. This is nothing. I'm much more impressive in an open area. But I never need matches!

It is. I'm afraid we're not as good at it as we might be. It's hard to fight a battle constantly on the defensive.

[Stark returns the bow, a little uncertainly, as if not sure he's doing it right.]

[He smiles as she makes the fire appear.] That's useful!

Who are you fighting?

Karen grins, brightly and reasurringly.

It is! I've always thought I got the most practical power that I've seen. Dreamseeing isn't much use, since it's very hard to change a future that's likely enough to be seen, and Sorata's affinity for electricity mostly gives him major shocks when he opens doors. As well as doing odd things to all the electronics around him.

Part of the problem is that we don't really know. They're called the Dragons of Earth, and they're attempting to bring down the major places of power in the city. Aside from the fact that this could have some fairly nasty arcane consequences, destroying a place of power tends to destroy most of the buildings around it. And since the city's built so densely...

Changing futures is dangerous, anyway. [He gives a brief, sad shudder, then perks up again instantly.] He can make electricity to open doors? And scramble electronic? [ruefully amused] I could have used that. I spent two cycles once trying to open a door.

Some people don't care who they hurt, what they ruin, to gain power.

I know. But I hope the one that Kakyou has shown Kaumi doesn't come to pass. It's... distressing. Karen winces, then shakes her head and smiles. I'm not sure how good Sorata is at scrambling locks, but he probably could force a door open if he wanted too. He has a much broader range than I do. Though, of course, he does have to do most of his class work long hand or on a mechanical typewriter.

How long is a cycle? It sounds like a long time.

No. Some people don't. I don't know why most of them do it, though. They'll die like the rest of us if they win. Fuuma makes sense. I've decided he's simply insane. But the others, particularly this rather pleasant young man I met once... Well. I can't see what they have to gain.

A cycle is a year. About the same as a year on Earth.

[He looks puzzled.] They want everyone to die?

Ah. That is a long time to be trapped, then.

I don't know. Maybe? I haven't exactly had long talks with any of them. Maybe they just feel they can't escape fate. Well. Not Fumma. I think you'd have to be quite mad to understand him.

OOC: I have to head for bed. Continue later?

It was a very long time. [He looks like he doesn't want to talk about it any more.]

Fate.... fate... [He considers this and shakes his head.] There are divine ends. There are forces... But I'm not sure I believe in fate.

Many people say I am mad.

[OOC: Good timing, as I'm about to be off, myself. Reply in Vila's new thread when you get back... I'll see it there. :)]

Oh, you're sweet! Did I mention that? [Karen hugs Vila impulsively.] Really very sweet.

[blushes and ducks his head] Thank you!

smiles cheerfully You're welcome!

[smiles and holds out her hand] Hello, Karen, pleased to meet you! I'm Vila's bond-mate. I used to be in Space Fleet, then I was a gunhand, but it seems I'm now a rebel and free-trader like my Vila. [gives Vila a fond look.]

Pleased to meet you! Smiles back and takes Kerril's hand. It's good to meet you. Vila's already mentioned you more times than I can count.

I've always thought that being a free-trader sounded like a great deal of fun - though admittedly when I thought about it I was dreaming about the old age of sail. I hope you enjoy it!

[grins] It's a better name than smuggler, but really we just meet market demands. Not that I've done much of it. I only joined the crew recently and I've done more rebelling and fighting really. Much more my style. I think I'd prefer to be Vila's bodyguard while he does the sweet-talking; I've always been a bit too blunt to cut a good deal. Did he tell you about the wood coup? He stole the Mumak, full of pine--

[Vila cuts in] --and fine pine products!--

--yes, those too, and sold it all to a planet called Trantor where wood's so rare it's worth more than gold.

Swashbuckling! That also always sounded fun.

Oh! Karen laughs and claps her hands. That is fantastic! No, he didn't tell me. Clearly an example of him being hopelessly modest. But that's just so keen it's funny!

We made so much money from that deal, we're still living off it!

Vila-- [she slips her arm around his waist] is quite modest. Except when he's opening a lock.

And then I'm just being honest! Best cracksman in the galaxy, me!

I'll believe it!

Oh good. It's always nice not to have to worry about finances.

Karen grins. I'd noticed. Did you know, he was surprised I said he was too cute to be really annoying?

[laughs as Vila blushes bright red] Well, it's quite true! I just have to look at him to go all soft inside. [she tousles Vila's hair] And believe me, it's not that easy with me.

Karen smiles. I do believe you. I'm a sucker for kind eyes, myself, but I'm not so squishy as to have bad judgement about them, and Vila has a very nice pair.

[fondly] He does! They were the first things I noticed. [Kerril kisses Vila on the cheek and whispers] Puppy-dog eyes. [to Karen] Aww, look at him! We'd better stop teasing him.

A new friend!

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