001 [Video]

[corundum]

[So, Ruby's been here awhile but hasn't bothered to make many comments--or any posts--on the network. But she's definitely been stalking them, and learning as much as she can about Hadriel and the people in it.

So that's why she feels confident in making this post, opening with a friendly smile and broadcasting from one of the abandoned shops.]

Hi, everyone. I've met some of you here, but for those I haven't talked to yet, I'm Ruby.

[She smooths a small segment of her hair between her fingers, looking as innocent and nonthreatening as possible.]

I'm helping out with the pickling and jamming and other food preservation efforts now that we have the new orchard, but that's not really what I wanted to talk about. Something totally different, actually.

[She pauses a moment, like she's gathering up her nerve to continue.]

I've seen that a whole lot of people here have magic, or supernatural powers, or some combination of them. I know that there's a lot of reasons why you might want to be private or secretive about them--I have been--but those of you who don't mind sharing, I thought it might be useful to what each other knows. Maybe we can even figure out ways to combine our skills.

[Mostly Ruby wants to know what other people are capable of and how she can use that to her benefit but close enough, right? RIGHT?]

Some of the magic in my world is teachable, too, so I'm willing to talk to anyone who might be interested in that. I can't guarantee anything, but the more we can all take care of ourselves the safer we'll all be.

Comments

| video. this can only go well.

[dedikated]

[ She's seen this woman about, mostly thanks to Bruce's orchard project when she occasionally drops by for non-poisonous fruit, aka lunch. Kate is - for once - not in the clinic, actually looking pretty relaxed at home with all her piercings in and her hair braided over one shoulder. ]

Seems that way. [ Neutral agreement is one way to start it. Kate's pretty open about her powers though, mostly because they'd never work down here without people's co-operation anyway. So she inhales and adds; ] Enchantment. [ Hell, her last post on the network relied on this, so why keep it quiet? ]

video. oh yeah so well

[corundum]

[Likewise she's seen Kate around, and definitely saw her latest post. She didn't miss her involvement in the whole silent hill thing, either.]

I saw your post about the healing charges. They're really incredible; healing powers are pretty rare at home. When you say enchantment do you mean you're making an object magical in general, or that you're specifically making it able to do some specific purpose like the healing?

video. the most. well...

[dedikated]

[ She leans forward to pluck something off the coffee table and fiddles with it just out of view. ] ... The second. [ That seems to be the most accurate description. ] I make any item react to super- [ She catches herself before saying human ] -natural powers. Those were designed to store and release healing power.

[corundum]

Do the supernatural powers have to be provided by someone else, or do they come from you?

[Either way, very interesting. Ruby can enchant weapons but it's a long and annoying process, so this is potentially very useful to her.]

[dedikated]

[ She tilts her head for a moment. ] Have to get them provided. [ At least for something like those trinkets. The basic monitoring package she likes requires nothing but her own power. ]

[corundum]

That's really useful. There's probably a lot of people here with powers that might be handy to have in a form like that.

[More power is always better.]

[dedikated]

[ That she can agree with, but she doesn't really have anything to say about it. So it's time for something different. ] And what's it you do?

[corundum]

Whatever is most useful at the time. Fortunately, I don't need to use my magic very often, but there are some practical things like protection that I get more use out of than others.

[dedikated]

[ That's... not really an answer. ] You're saying you've got no limits? [ But that's what she gleans from it, anyway. ]

[corundum]

Theoretically, yes. Practically, nothing's unlimited.

[Even the most skillful witches and powerful species like angels have their weaknesses.]

But generally, if you have the time and knowledge you can put together a spell for almost anything.

[dedikated]

[ Magic sounds a whole lot more useful than powers every time she hears about a place that calls it that. ] So why bother trying to combine things? [ Because, really, if her powers were any use without others', she'd probably never bother talking about them. ]

[corundum]

A few reasons; I don't know every spell in the world, there are limited supplies here for spells that take components, and surely my magic isn't the only kind that can be used here. Combining our skills and knowledge can benefit all of us; witches in my world work together all the time for the same reason.

[All relatively true, although Ruby is being a lot more practical for herself than she is altruistic. The more she knows the better.]

[dedikated]

[ Fair points, all of them. Although witches is still a bit odd to hear, since they were complete works of fiction back home. Hooked noses etc. ] S'pose you wouldn't even know if the stuff would work th' same... [ Today, on random musings. But she does wonder, since so many things are just slightly off from what Kate is used to, whether that would be a problem if you needed items for your work. It doesn't affect her enchantments, but she's been wondering about the applications for things that are available down here in healing.

But they need someone who could actually create medicines to even attempt that, so it's a far off dream. ]

[corundum]

Right. I know one type of supernatural power is limited here, though I haven't encountered anything with my magic yet.

[Though she hasn't done a whole lot of testing. And unfortunately although Ruby does know some herbal healing--standard for a witch from her time period--there aren't exactly the same plants here and it was never Ruby's specialty anyway.]

[dedikated]

Anything that stops us getting out. [ That's the best conclusion she can draw, but it is clearly based on a very cynical view of things, judging by the bitterness that seeps into her - until now - relatively neutral voice. ]

[corundum]

So it seems. I can't teleport out of here, anyway.

[Though at least she can manage it if she stays in the boundaries of the city, which means it's still useful.]

[dedikated]

[ she's heard similar stories before and merely inclines her head at it. yep. it really does seem that way. ] Another one of your powers, then? [ for a brief moment, kate wonders how carl would cope with this place, as hooked on his teleportation as he was. he would certainly deal with the situation, but the restriction of his power, for a man used to flitting across continents with the help of her enchantments? he'd have a fit, she'd think. ]

[corundum]

Yeah. I don't use at home much, but there aren't any cars here so...

[She grins a little; it's a joke, but not a lie. She does like her car, but without it here there's no way she's walking everywhere unless she feels like it. And with the threats here not being the type to be able to nullify or anticipate her teleportation, it's been really useful in monster encounters.]

[dedikated]

[ She's seen one, but she's pretty sure Hakkai doesn't let just anyone ride the jeep. ] Prob'ly a good thing. [ Can you imagine the pollution, Rubes? ]

[corundum]

[Sucks for all of you who'd be affected by pollution but her demon self couldn't care if she tried. Alas.]

People would probably be running each other over left and right.

[dedikated]

[ it's alright for some. ]

Among other things.

[corundum]

Road rage would probably be an issue.

[Though the goddess would probably like it.]

[dedikated]

Would need proper roads as well. [ these streets don't exactly scream 'made for cars'. and making Rage stronger is something they could all live without. ]