voidtreckernet | Can't be a wizard without a hat

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Can't be a wizard without a hat

[Video]

I have taken the time to figure out the use of this communication device for two reasons. The first is to show off my hat.

[She has a hat on. It's a wide brimmed pointy hat that looks exactly like the kind of hat a wizard would wear. She looks quite pleased to have it.]

I suppose a hat isn't that important in the grand scheme of things, but I like this hat, and having ANYTHING from home is something of a luxury, given our current situation.

Anyways the other thing I wanted to talk about isn't quite so trivial. I'm curious about magic.

I have spent the last few years devoted to unlocking magic's mysteries, you see, and I THOUGHT I was making good headway. But now that I'm here, I'm realizing that this is a MUCH more complicated subject than I thought it was. Magic works entirely differently depending on what world you come from. Some worlds don't even HAVE magic in the first place!

So if you know anything about how magic works in your world, I would be interested in comparing notes.

[And then, a minute later.]

Oh right also. Gladio, if you wanted to try teleportation, now seems like as good a time as any.

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[THEY MEET IN THE DINING CAR!

Samata is holding some chalk she got from...somewhere, and her spellbook.]

I almost feel like I'm overselling how interesting of an experience this might be. Hello Gladio.

[Steps into the dining car with a grin upon his face, he had been curious about this since Samata had spoken about it. Maybe it was silly but he couldn't help his curiosity.]

I'll be the judge of that. Hello Samata.

[Gladio moved toward her and nodded to her book.]

What's this?

My book of spells. Instructions and calculations on all of them. In so much as anything is, this is the source of my power.

[She opened the book to the start of the section on teleportation spells and handed it to him so he could take a look while she set everything up.]

I haven't figured out how to nail down a specific exit point without prior preparation. The dream is to just be able to instantly be anywhere I need to be, but until then, we make do.

[As she explained, she started drawing a complex geometric symbol on the ground with the chalk.]

[Gladio took the book and looked over it while Samata did her thing. He had no idea what he was looking at, but it looked impressive nevertheless.]

... What do you mean? You mean you won't know where I pop out?

[He wasn't at all interested in ending up stuck in a wall or in a toilet.]

I will, because I'm marking your target point now.

[She was silent for a minute as she finished up the anchor symbol, stopping at one point to reclaim and consult her spellbook.

When she finished, she stood up and duster her hands off.]

That ought to do it. Now we stand on the other side of the room, and when I cast the spell, you should appear right on top of that symbol.

Oh...

[Gladio grinned. He didn't know what the hell was going on, he was putting his life in Samata's hands and trusting that she knew what she was doing and wouldn't get him killed. He was kind of looking forward it it.

He watched over her shoulder once the book was taken back, admiring the strange symbols, and then laughed when she stood.]

So just over here...?

[He walked across the room and turned to face Samata.]

That will be fine.

[Samata shook her head, trying to get her hair to lie the way she wanted it to in a slightly self conscious motion, then took a step closer to the spell circle with her spell book cradled in one arm. She shot Gladio a quick smile before turning her attention to the book.

Her fingers flew, tracing quick and precise symbols in the air as she muttered a stream on what sounded like nonsense syllables. The whole thing took less than ten seconds.

If Gladio has expected flashing lights or a feeling of dissolving or anything like that, he was disappointed. The sensation of being teleported was like a small, quick shiver. There was no pyrotechnics or light show. One moment he was one place, the next he was another.

When he appeared on top of the little spell circle, he found Samata was standing just slightly closer than normal. Just a bit inside his personal space. She was looking up at him expectantly.]

[What he had been expecting was... nothing, really. He didn't know what would happen so his expectations weren't high. Maybe it would be dramatic or maybe it would be just as simple as blinking and he was suddenly somewhere else. Since Gladio had nothing to base the experience on, he was open to anything.

He watched with amused fascination as Samata drew symbols in the air and spoke in a language he had no hope of understanding or knowing.

So it was very amusing to have gone from watching Samata to standing right in front of her. All that he had felt was a little shiver that was almost a tickle, no pain, no discomfort, nothing. And yet he was now somewhere else entirely.

Okay, so it wasn't THAT far a distance, but it was thrilling all the same. And he was standing in the circle she had been drawing when he had arrived. He grinned broadly down into expectant dark eyes and lifted his hands to drop them onto her shoulders.]

That was amazing! Tell me, how far can you do that? Is there a limit?

[Damn he was tall. Samata thought of herself as average sized, but she felt short standing this close to him. And he had big hands...

Focus, Samata.]

Well, the furthest I've done it in practice was about two miles...

But in theory it should be able to go easily ten times that without uncertainty becoming a factor! Even then, all you'd get is some drift from the destination point.

Impressive.

[And Gladio really did look impressed. That was a hell of a distance to teleport someone in the blink of an eye. He was almost tempted to volunteer to test it out but since it was just a theory he definitely didn't want to end up trapped in a wall or something until she had that kind of magic more precise.]

That was amazing. Really amazing! Thanks for indulging me, Samata. I hope you don't think I'm treating you like some novelty magician doing tricks for my pleasure?

[It was something he'd worried about. With all the magic users on the train. He was fascinated because they didn't have this stuff where he came from. At least, not like this... He didn't want anyone, especially Samata, to think he just wanted them to preform for him.]

Certainly not. I'm always happy to show off for a handsome man.

[It was hard to spot a blush on her dark skin, but it was there. Samata was always the type to act before fully thinking through the consequences of her actions, though. There was almost no hesitation before she stood up on tip toes so she could kiss Gladio on the cheek.

If that wasn't okay, that was a problem for future Samata.]

[Gladio was a little surprised at the kiss, but his smile softened as he dropped his hands to take Samata's own. He lifted her hands and bent a little so that he could press a warm kiss to both of her hands]

Kind and flattering words from such a beautiful and intelligent woman. If I wasn't a taken man, well...

[His smile was warm and knowing, maybe he was wrong about the signals he was getting, if he was his words would be innocent, if he was right... it was a gentle let down. He lowered her hands and straightened back up.]

[Her smile froze in place.]

Th-thank you.

[Stupid stupid stupid, girl you never asked him you just assumed because he seemed so open to being flirted with. You always do this! You always leap before you look! Of course someone who looks like him would be taken!

She struggled to keep her tone merely curious as she pushed on the salient point.]

You’re taken?

[He'd kept hold of her hands, his smile was almost apologetic then as he gave a nod.]

I am. A mostly new thing... But I'm very much taken.

[He wanted to be honest, he didn't want to hurt Samata but he could see the shock in her eyes. He felt bad. He honestly hadn't realised she felt for him in that way, or had he been leading her on without realising?]

I like you. You've been a good friend and I love talking to you. I really hope that doesn't change... [But he'd understand if it did.]

Of course! we can still be- [dry swallow] -friends. It's a very lucky girl, you have.

[Pause.]

Or boy. I guess I never asked. I just assumed.

[Like an idiot.]

[Gladio felt awful. He took a step back, worrying that proximity would upset her. And putting distance between himself and Samata because all he wanted to do was hug her and apologise, but knew that would probably be a bad idea.]

I'm sorry. I am...

And it's 'he'.

[Not that gender had really been a key factor for Gladio. But in this instance he didn't want to hide anything.]

I'm just gonna...

[She made a gesture behind her, towards the door that led to the sleeper cabins.]

...Bye!

[Then she fled.

She'd be okay, honestly. It sucked, but she'd been through MUCH worse. Later today, she'd be back to normal. Right now, all she needed was just an hour or so to feel really bummed out.]

[Gladio just watched, hurt flashing through his expression for a moment, before he sighed and turned in the opposite direction. If she wanted him to leave her alone, he would. He felt awful...]

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Can't be a wizard without a hat

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