The Wizard is [IN].

[noonlight]

Who: Illumination & You!
What: Lu has offered to help various people with their complaints, concerns, and general magical inquiries. If they've offered this to your character, or you just want to see what they're up to, feel free to post a top level.
When: A few days after the return to the Library.
Where: Some side room in the library.
Content warnings: None yet, but probably some mention of substance (alcohol, drug) use.

Somewhere in the library, Illumination has commandeered a small side room and set up a series of chalkboards, note paper, and various other materials used for magical testing. (Salt, stones, a couple of the gems from Link's stash, ink, a magnet, etc.)

Comments

[wantinghope]

She's still in snooping--oops, exploring--mode, though she's at least moved past the need to say 'whoa' at every new thing.

Well, outwardly at least. She stands in the doorway, trying to take it all in. "Is this a school?"

[noonlight]

"Oh, darling, no. I can teach, but I am not a particularly kind or patient teacher." If Katara would like to argue about the merits of particular subsets of magical theory, that would be more than welcome.

[wantinghope]

"I mean, have you met Master Pakku?" Waterbending 'trap you in ice just for fun' Master Pakku? She can Handle It.

Maybe. "So, uh, what are you doing here?" What is SHE doing here all up in this other's space might be a better question but shhhh.

[noonlight]

"I have not, no."

And getting trapped in ice is one thing, but arguing over calculus is another.

"Preparing to go on-stage at the 'Tail o' the Dog All-Topless Revue'. What are you doing here?" Lu scribbles on the board a bit more, until they've written down the last bit of whatever they had been working on.

[wantinghope]

"Well." Wait, where had she been going with that? "You probably would like him." Sokka was the one with the zingers. Sometimes.

"You're a performer?" Katara's sixteen, she has no idea what that was. "I guess I was just, you know, looking around." She does at least, unlike Sokka, know how to look with her eyes and not her hands.

[guilliman]

None of what he's requested of Illumination is particularly healthy. Hell, some new arrivals would consider the request itself to be evidence of corruption, and decide that both he and the daemon he's consulting with will need to be put down. But he's curious if they can do it. And if they can? Maybe he'll learn something about what primarchs really are. Or maybe he'll just manage to carve out a little diversion from his endless duty. Another imitation of humanity's folly.

And if he shouldn't be doing it, the damned corpse can tell him to his face.

"Good evening," he greets them politely, as he steps through the uncomfortably-accommodating door. "You had said you'd reached a 'testing phase'?"

[noonlight]

"Darling, come in, come in. Have a seat." Illumination has set up a sort of soft(ish) spot on the floor for Roboute made of a blanket and a couple of pilfered cushions. If they're going to do a little experimentation, it's best that he's closer to her level.

It's quite difficult to be scientific when someone's knees are at eye-level.

"I wanted to go through a few things with you, run through how I think this should work, and the safeguards, and if we're both lucky, get you a drink."

[guilliman]

Oh! His face lights up in the most adorable way when he sees that cozy little spot. For him? How considerate of them.

"Of course."

He sets himself down slow and gentle, and shimmies a little to get comfortable.

"Few of us were ever trusted with any explanation of our construction. I have learned a reasonable amount from my archmagos' efforts over the past millennia. But I know much more remains."

[noonlight]

Of course, it is for him! It is a difficult thing to never have furniture the right shape or size, and while Lu can't stretch a chair to suit, they can make a little nest.

"I am no healer, and I can't promise the sort of knowledge that you would get from someone knowledgeable in those arts, but drink is a poison." Illumination smiles and shrugs; pleased, but almost bashful in their enjoyment. "I do know magical poisons and the magical enhancement of poisons rather well."

"Now, if you could tell me what you do know about your tolerances?"

[guilliman]

"That is true," he agrees easily.

...oh! Right! Since they'd asked... he pulls a bottle out of the leather pouch he's managed to make. "Lemon cordial-water."

(Lemonade. It's fairly weak, but definitely lemonade.)

"Tolerances are exceptional, and exceptionally adaptative. Though influenced partly by psychological state, I have begun to suspect. Not only the chemical, but the desire and belief." The implications are unpleasant, but he forges onward. "To drink a social substance in the company of other celebrants, versus an unintended environmental exposure."

[unsheathedfromreality]

The convenient thing about the Library is occupied rooms are much easier to find, so it doesn't take Illarion long to find where the mystery mage on the journals is set up.

He slips inside without announcing himself, evaluating the contents of the room even before the other occupant. Not anything like he'd expect for a mage -- unless it was one with an effort-gift in mathematics, or physics -- but then the Library's been a crash-course in exactly how wide a category of abilities the word magic encompassed.

"So you don't do socks," he finally says, by way of greeting. "Have anything to ward against unnatural persuasion?"

[noonlight]

"Tragically, I only have enticement resistant stockings." They look him over before nodding decisively. "I do think you can pull off a thigh-high and garter, so we're in luck."

Illumination, no.

No, Illumination.

"...that is to say, I might be able to. What flavour of persuasion are we talking about?"

[unsheathedfromreality]

He gives a considering tilt of his head, abrupt as a curious bird. "You're not wrong," he replies, after a moment. "Do they have to be on display?"

Or can he wear them under his uniform most of the time, feeling pretty?

The faint smirk he'd worn for that bit of yes-and vanishes at the question. Explaining in specific detail might give away a vulnerability; leaving it too broad might not get him a usable solution. Finally, tonelessly, he says, "So far, direct puppeting of mind and body, vampire hypnosis, and whatever the primarchs -- those giant humans? -- are doing to make people love them."

[noonlight]

"Ah, that." It's a bit of a problem, Illumination can't deny it. "I can put together something that ought to work, and work most of the time, but I can't swear to infallible strength."

"Too many different flavours of magic here, and the rules aren't the same as I'm used to, not to mention strength and ability level."

[unsheathedfromreality]

"'Most of the time' is better than what I've got." He reaches into his sabretache, coming up with a glowing hunk of stone. "Magic as I know it wouldn't be a help for years."

And how would it even develop, in the overlap with his necromancy? No. Not worth contemplating.

"You mentioned binding spells to gems." He offers the rock. "What else do you need?"

[deinoswitch]

Dionysus is spending most of his time in the garden, but he can still get bored. He wanders in to where Illumination is set up, looking over their array. "Is this your magic?" he asks, at a moment where it doesn't seem they're in the middle of something.

[noonlight]

"Darling, come in, come in. And, sort of? It's the preparing for the magic, the designing of the tool I plan to use to crack a particularly tough nut." It does look rather a lot like a bunch of strange calculus or geometry, complete with multiple graphs, diagrams, and partially completed sigils.

They don't look or do much for anyone who isn't versed in wizardry, but Dionysus might feel something around the intentionally unfinished sigils.

[deinoswitch]

Dionysus takes a look over them- he doesn't understand them, but he can feel there's something in the air around them. It's a different magic from what he's used to, but he can still pick up the life in it. Very interesting indeed.

"I assume I shouldn't touch anything," he says, with the tone of someone who will definitely touch something if given permission, "What is this tough nut of yours?"

[noonlight]

"I'd prefer if you didn't, but if you absolutely must, stick to this board and not the one with the sigils." Odds are nothing would happen, but wizards that don't take precautions are commonly called 'dead wizards'.

"You've seen the members of the Big Boy Club?"

[deinoswitch]

"Alas. I suppose I can behave myself." For now. Until he knows better what can be messed with safely.

He tilts his head at them, considering. "I take it you mean our especially tall friends?" He's used to being the tallest around. This has been a fun surprise.

[birdchasingecho]

It takes Mei a while, after finishing the pickling and the baking, in the showers to get mostly clean, and then another little while to find the formerly empty side room where Illumination had set up.

She looks exhausted, but if there's anyone who can properly work cursebreaking, she could do worse than a self-professed expert.

She's also arrived with her satchel, with its nanotech first aid kit, laptop, and a killer new accessory-- a physical chain, the remnant of a curse she broke earlier in this Library visit; composed of Chthonic iron and Hellish brass.

"Hello?"

[noonlight]

"Hullo. Come in, come in." Illumination has transferred some of their notes from chalk to pen and ink. The better, more refined notes are worth keeping, but the wild, weird test ideas deserve to be turned to chalk dust.

"Did you want me or the room?"

[birdchasingecho]

"Ah-- I'm not sure. You seem to be who I'm looking for."

There's a pause where she tries to judge how to speak without the curse on her neck going off. "I asked after a magic-user who specializes in curses."

[noonlight]

"Oh, yes, grab a seat and let's talk." There are a couple of chairs, and Illumination pulls one up beside a table.

[birdchasingecho]

Mei nods, taking a seat. She taps her throat twice, and then says, "Understand that I can't speak about my condition directly. But I may learn, and teach."