Harlan Halliday (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ghostlocked) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hadriel2018-12-04 07:38 pm
ghostlocked) wrote in hadriel2018-12-04 07:38 pm
Entry tags:
♫ video
[Behold, a unicorn: Harlan making a public post that isn't text. What he's got in mind is more of a show don't tell thing, so it's necessary, although it's pretty clear he's not comfortable with this video thing. He's sitting on his couch with his phone propped up on the coffee table, and he's got a glass of water in his hands.]
Hey, good news, I have a spell that'll help everyone out while we're stuck here without gods. It's one of the first spells they teach you when you're a kid where I'm from. I'm thinking most of you should be able to pick it up pretty quick. It's called Prestidigitation.
[A beginner spell with like the most tongue-twistery name in the entire spell dictionary. He holds up the glass.]
It's your basic catch-all spell and you can do a ton of shit with it, but mainly, you're gonna be able to change the temperature of shit. Small shit, though. Your workable area is about a square foot, give or take, and it doesn't work on anything alive. Look.
[The water in the glass starts to boil. It doesn't look like he's done much to it—this spell is second nature to him anymore, so he doesn't need to put much effort into casting it. He sets the glass down on the table.]
Right, so... Go get your own thing of water, I guess? I don't fucking know. This is so much easier in person. Okay, uh, so magic is just another type of energy, like heat or electricity. The difference is that magic is malleable. You can control it. With a spell like this, it's all about visualization. You want hot water, so you're sort of willing the water to heat up by channeling the magic into it. It's not gonna work on the first try, but keep at it. It takes focus and confidence. If you're having trouble, scale it back, or try freezing the water instead of heating it.
[He belatedly realizes he's supposed to be demoing this, so he gestures to the glass and, ta da, there's a soft tinkling sound as the steam dissipates and the water freezes.]
Prestidigitation can clean stuff in a similar way too. If you're going insane because our showers are out of commission, this spell is gonna change your fucking life. Let's see, uh, you'll be able to start a fire, flavor your coffee, conjure hand-sized illusions... It all works on the same principle, though. Picture what you want to do and will the magic into doing it for you.
[He snaps his fingers and now there's a flame in his palm and he feels infinitely goofy for putting on a magic show on his couch. Hopefully it's helpful stuff, though.]
If you have questions, let me know. If you want to learn other shit, I'll link my spell list and we'll talk. Cool. Later.
[And he's shutting off the feed. Thank you for coming to his TED Talk. As promised, he does attach his spell list for anyone interested in further magical pursuits.]
Hey, good news, I have a spell that'll help everyone out while we're stuck here without gods. It's one of the first spells they teach you when you're a kid where I'm from. I'm thinking most of you should be able to pick it up pretty quick. It's called Prestidigitation.
[A beginner spell with like the most tongue-twistery name in the entire spell dictionary. He holds up the glass.]
It's your basic catch-all spell and you can do a ton of shit with it, but mainly, you're gonna be able to change the temperature of shit. Small shit, though. Your workable area is about a square foot, give or take, and it doesn't work on anything alive. Look.
[The water in the glass starts to boil. It doesn't look like he's done much to it—this spell is second nature to him anymore, so he doesn't need to put much effort into casting it. He sets the glass down on the table.]
Right, so... Go get your own thing of water, I guess? I don't fucking know. This is so much easier in person. Okay, uh, so magic is just another type of energy, like heat or electricity. The difference is that magic is malleable. You can control it. With a spell like this, it's all about visualization. You want hot water, so you're sort of willing the water to heat up by channeling the magic into it. It's not gonna work on the first try, but keep at it. It takes focus and confidence. If you're having trouble, scale it back, or try freezing the water instead of heating it.
[He belatedly realizes he's supposed to be demoing this, so he gestures to the glass and, ta da, there's a soft tinkling sound as the steam dissipates and the water freezes.]
Prestidigitation can clean stuff in a similar way too. If you're going insane because our showers are out of commission, this spell is gonna change your fucking life. Let's see, uh, you'll be able to start a fire, flavor your coffee, conjure hand-sized illusions... It all works on the same principle, though. Picture what you want to do and will the magic into doing it for you.
[He snaps his fingers and now there's a flame in his palm and he feels infinitely goofy for putting on a magic show on his couch. Hopefully it's helpful stuff, though.]
If you have questions, let me know. If you want to learn other shit, I'll link my spell list and we'll talk. Cool. Later.
[And he's shutting off the feed. Thank you for coming to his TED Talk. As promised, he does attach his spell list for anyone interested in further magical pursuits.]
no subject
I can? Yay! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! [she hesitates a moment] So, is this a one-time thing, or are you taking students?
no subject
You're welcome. Enjoy your new perks. And it doesn't have to be a one-time thing if you want to learn other shit. It's not like I'm short on free time these days.
[Plus this teaching thing is pretty fun. It makes him feel useful, which is the best way to spend his time.]
no subject
[because no one ever accused Tinya of not throwing herself into anything]
no subject
[Sure sounds like magic, but then again, he's met other people in town who can use what looks like magic to him even though they claim it's abilities or whatever. Same thing, in his mind. It's just semantics.]
Sure, or I can come to you. It'd save you a trip in the cold.
no subject
[it's not magic. humans and Bgztlians evolved similarly, but Bgztlians have an extra portion in their brains that lets them perceive the dimensional differences and cross over]
I don't mind the cold. My uniform adapts to whatever climate it's in. And if all else fails, I can phase and avoid the cold entirely.
no subject
no subject
no subject
[Magic is way cool, but also not as mystical as these nonmagical folks seem to think.]
Cool. Let yourself in, but watch the cat.
[Aaand when Tinya arrives at Harlan's door, she will indeed find a small tuxedo cat zooming toward her at full speed in a desperate attempt to duck between her legs. Freedom!!!!]
no subject
[her teammate, Zoe, would be green with jealousy. oh, well. it would match her uniform.
and when she arrives, she does indeed need to watch the cat, but reflexes honed by years of training kick in and she's able to catch the cat.
she comes into the apartment with the cat cradled in her arms]
Hi. I think this belongs to you.
no subject
Hey. Good catch.
[Harlan is honestly impressed. JF is a wily bitch and has managed to skirt between the legs of many a visitor. It's a fun sport she invented.]
You can throw her wherever. What do you want to learn?
no subject
Thanks!
[maybe those others weren't Legionnaires. she's sure she's the only one of those here]
Okay. [she goes over to the couch and lets JF go] And probably something that would let me go on the offense. My powers are purely defensive, so something a little more in your face would take people by surprise.
no subject
Anyway.]
Take people by surprise? Who are you planning to fight, exactly?
[It's a casual question, but also, if he's gonna arm people with magical weapons, he wants to know why.]
no subject
yes, anyway. she smiles]
Sorry, I could've said that better. Monsters. I fight monsters. I'm with the Guard.
no subject
Gotcha. Acid Splash is gonna be your best bet, then. I don't know too many offensive cantrips these days, and that one should work against the Null if they ever come back.
[Which is why he's hung onto it.]
As much as I don't want to go outside, practicing that shit indoors isn't a good idea. Have you ever teleported before?
[He heads for the closet to grab his coat.]
no subject
That sounds good. My own powers are strictly defensive, so it would be a good idea to have something else I could use against the Null.
[at his next words, her eyes widen slightly]
No, I haven't. You can teleport?
[fortunately, the fabric of her Legion uniform adapts to the climate]
no subject
[He considered fucking with her because obviously he can teleport or else why bother bringing it up, but he stops himself. He tries to be nice to people who clearly aren't familiar with his brand of magic. They're excited. It's cute.]
It'll take years of practice before you're at that level, though. Don't get too excited.
[But also: Get excited because you're about to experience it!!! He zips up his coat and closes the distance between them. They don't need to be too close for teleporting, thankfully, but proximity helps.]
It feels a bit like riding an elevator, but it'll be disorienting at first. Since suddenly you're in a different place, and all. Ready?
[She doesn't look like she'll be warm enough in that, but that's none of his business. Clearly she made it over here okay.]
no subject
[yes, please don't mess with her. she's an earnest little thing, but she has her pride and once wounded, it stays wounded]
I won't. Promise.
[but she looks excited anyway. all of this is so new to her and it's like something out of a fantasy holo. she smiles at him brightly when he comes over to stand closer to her.
and she nods at his next words] Ready!
[she'll be entirely warm enough, no need to worry]