Llama 19

[sciencegirl]

Video

[Entrapta is in the gym car again. Even if Claudette is complete, she still likes to play, and she leaves her there when she's off mission. The little dinosaur looking robot with purple lighting is running around in the background of the ICPs view when she has it on, chasing a ball with little dancing emu kicks.]

Hi! I'm Entrapta if I haven't met you yet! I've been doing a lot of research into magic to see what similarities and dissimilarities exist between worlds. So I was going to ask if anyone could do me a favor and allow me to record you. If I find more general similarities it might be able to help us block specific types of hostile attacks, specifically mental ones. [Because their last encounter was so specifically mentally targeted she wants to help in the protection department. But maybe as generalized as possible.]

This includes qi, aether, traditional magic, any sort of energy that can be manipulated by living beings into solid objects, methods for healing, or offensive attacks.

[Claudette moonwalks through the background balancing the ball on her head.]

I also really need to speak with some people that might have experience researching souls attached to items. I want to see if it's possible to re-establish the connection to the original body. It's a relatively new idea to me, but in my world most Princesses are inherently connected to their Runestones. It's a trait that passes down through generations. But our Runestones can be destroyed and we still maintain some of our magic, though not at maximum capacity. I still have powers even though Dryl's stone was destroyed long ago.

[She points to herself with three different locks of hair as if to say, 'Yes, this person with these hair abilities, that's me.']

I've also recently integrated an atmospheric analyzer into Claudette. If you see her on mission and she starts making a siren noise? Then you might need to seek safety. I'll write out a list of the new sounds I've installed.

[Claudette honks in the background. And Entrapta looks exasperated.] They all know you can make that one! I'm talking about the ones you can only make when there's trouble.

[Honk honk.]

...Also if someone can take the time to come by the gym, could they use her for target practice? Don't destroy her or anything, please. She was very difficult to make. But she has good shields and can regenerate some injuries and she loves to play dodge. Just be sure to tell her she's a good girl.

Comments

[sciencegirl]

[She is, at this point, in her room. So when she uses the ICP to respond it's a much more mundane background and her only robotic company is a volleyball-sized silver ball that's quietly inhabiting a corner.]

Sure. What notes of your own do you have?

Seeing the different ways magic can be manipulated has been pretty great so far.

[mustknow]

Only my observations and theories from my own world, over the past while. I don't know if it'll actually be of much use but of course you're welcome to it. Most of it is on a single element, however.

Has anything interesting come up?

[sciencegirl]

Mostly that there's been a disappointing amount of magically related technology. I've always liked to incorporate magical items into my robots. They've always infinitely improved their function. But there are a number of worlds that rely predominately on magic rather than any sort of technological advancement.

Chi studies have been pretty interesting, too. I'd definitely observe people that can use it if I were you. It's probably one of the more accessible energies for people from predominately industrialized worlds.

[mustknow]

As far as I know, the power we use is purely non-technological, but I'm also fairly certain anyone could learn it if they wished to. There is some magitech.. I don't see why more places don't incorporate both. Then if something goes wrong with the tech, or the magic, you have a backup.

'Chi', hm. I've not heard much of that one, I'll have to investigate. Who's currently practicing it, that might not mind being watched? Or if they do mind being watched might not notice a camera.

[sciencegirl]

I've asked people and they haven't minded being recorded if I shared them!

[She wouldn't have asked before, but she's worked on it mostly because taking the time to ask makes her consider what her priorities are. She gets carried away.]

I know of a few people. Trunks and his family, Cassie. Sanzo. I'm sure there are others. Their fighting style is usually mostly composed of powerful and forceful strikes, but they can do things like defy gravity or generate matter.

Aether's also an interesting one! I noticed most of the users have a flow to their combat.

I've not learned that much about summons yet, but I have gotten quite a bit on magical transformations!

[mustknow]

[Speaking of note-taking, he's going to just jot those names down for later reference and asking around.]

Oh good, hiding a camera can be tricky sometimes, and people get so mad when they find it.

It sounds suitable for melee combat! That's not something I've bothered with much, but there's no harm in seeing what others do with it, especially if there's a common thread with how people fight.

[A pause. Transformations? He's not from a place where magical girls are a thing!]

... Like.. shapeshifting?

[sciencegirl]

Kind of. But rather than imitating an existing being it's changing forms to a combat-superior one. Most of them call upon the person's own infused magical energy or a particularly potent soul. It's really pretty neat.

There are shape-shifting species on my planet but I've not had the chance to study them.

[Which is very unfortunate, but a side-effect of isolating yourself.]

[mustknow]

That's too bad, I've always wondered if werewolves are real. Still, this other form of transformation is interesting sounding too. Yet another thing to investigate when I can find the time.

But it seems there's no dearth of volunteers to be had on hand, a refreshing change! I envy the jumpstart you've gotten.

[sciencegirl]

...I'm pretty sure werewolves are real. I think Casper said he's dating one, but I don't believe any are on board. If they are, moons are in short supply so they haven't mentioned it.

[She's now pondering this and wondering about secret werewolves.]

I pretty much got started as soon as I arrived. There was too much new data to miss a moment of collecting it!

[mustknow]

If there's no moon, we wouldn't know if there are any werewolves though. They could be worried about the reaction others might have, some of the people onboard are very .... skittish.

[That's the politest way he can put it!]

How long have you been here?

[sciencegirl]

That's what I was thinking, as well. And' I've been here about three months! Three missions.

They are, but a lot of people on board are constantly forced into close quarters with each other. It leads to volatile tempers and fears that are easily aggravated.

If I meet a werewolf I'll let them know you're interested!

[mustknow]

... I've seen that, yes. And I've only been here a handful of days. Oh but speaking of interesting, there's a man here somewhere named Elidibus, I am certain he has far more interesting things going on than he's so far demonstrated.

I can't... offer anything specific, but do you ever get the sense that if you follow up with something, it's going to wind up really worthwhile later?

[sciencegirl]

Yeah! I can take a look. I'll ask if I can scan him with my magical scanner. Maybe he'll let me.

[That would at least give her some idea of his magical potency.]

I have no icon for 'squee'

[mustknow]

I don't see why he wouldn't oblige you, he acquiesced to my asking him to repeat a spell several times so I could study it better. Being able to record it at the same time might make figuring it out much easier!

He at least has fabulous hair to make up for the squee.

[sciencegirl]

What was the spell?

[Now she's curious. Even if it might be strange to run up to someone she hasn't technically met and ask them to perform... y'know... she's getting better but she's nowhere near perfect.]

It's true!

[mustknow]

Site to site teleportation, I believe, using only darkness. If I can figure it out, it's going to make traversing this train much easier, and of course if you or anyone else could learn it as well, all this foot traffic might be considerably lessened...

..It is a rather ominous looking dark cloud one must interact with however, which could be offputting. How do you feel about ominous looking dark clouds?

[sciencegirl]

I've seen a few people use something like that. [Though she doesn't know about the difficult history between him and them.]

Ominous is typically in the eye of the beholder. And sometimes I behold things as ominous and I'm still interested in what makes them, so I don't feel like that matters as much.

[mustknow]

That simplifies things, then. I've encountered now and again people who will avoid something only because it looks scary. Let me see about copying over my pertinent notes and I'll bring them to you. If I can find you.

[sciencegirl]

[She gets up and picks up the volleyball shape, which uncurls into a fat little scorpion robot in her arms.]

Sure! I'll head to the library. That's easier to find.

[And Sandra can keep audio logs, so she'll just bring the little bot along with her.]

[mustknow]

Fantastic, I'll be there short--

[He cuts himself off and visibly reconsiders.]

... within an hour, most likely.

[sciencegirl]

Is something wrong?

[She genuinely knows nothing of any reputation or difficulties. She's been busy with her own stuff. But usually if someone takes that long, there's something serious detaining them.]

[mustknow]

No, not wrong really. I just have a lot of extraneous things to sort through to get to the actually useful parts of my notes, and then copy those over..

[Xerox machines would be godlike but he doesn't know what those are.]

And there's a non-zero chance I'll just get caught up re-reading what I wrote previously, so it's better to overestimate and appear early than underestimate and arrive late..

[sciencegirl]

You should type them out in the standard car and save them and print them when you need them! I'm sure you should be able to afford a small computer soon. The points system is strictly related to size.

But okay! Don't worry I'm good at distracting myself.

[mustknow]

[There's a bit of information here that's relevant, by the way his attention sharpens.]

I hadn't noticed such a typewriter or computer even was present, I'll be sure to investigate.

[...Later, because if he starts messing with it the next thing he knows it's dawn and he's back in his assigned cot.]

One way or another, I'll have these to you within a hopefully reasonable amount of time!

[sciencegirl]

I'm still going through the mana drive guide as thoroughly as possible, so take your time.

[And when he gets there, she'll be sitting sideways as if she's in a normal chair, but it's hair curled under her and supporting her like a desk chair, book sitting in her lap. Sandra is scampering around on the floor of the library, looking for garbage she can take to the can.]

Hi! How did it go? [She asks in her slightly nasal voice without looking up just yet.]