Nathaniel || John Mandrake (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
knew_anyway) wrote2011-11-14 10:29 pm
knew_anyway) wrote2011-11-14 10:29 pm
Entry tags:
- awkwardturtling,
- burning the candle on three ends,
- faisal the slightly boring,
- funsucker,
- how is this not about government,
- it's not girly it's *civilized*,
- knowledge is power,
- needs more government address,
- oblivious or socially ignorant?,
- political moves,
- summoning is serious business,
- what are girls,
- what is a social life,
- where are my demons
Eighth Summoning [Voice] || Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk
-right.
[There's a small pause, and Nathaniel takes a deep breath, before starting to speak.]
As you all know, there is a festivity of sorts, held on Friday. For preparation, I am willing to teach a class on the basics of dance Thursday evening. Though I am not a certified instructor in the matter, I have attended several galas which required such... things, and I have had instruction on- dance. [God, it sounds so girly when he says it like that. But with friends like Makepeace, he knows the basics, which is far more than you barbaric lot.]
I will also be attending the prom of sorts if anyone wishes to speak to me face to face- on any matter. Thank you.
[Private to Hino Rei || Unhackable]
[There's a long pause, as if he's not sure if he really wants to say this- but he goes with it anyway, taking a deep breath.]
...I have located another spirit that I believe to be residing in Adstringendum. Something a bit more powerful than Faisal. If... if you like, [a deep breath] you can watch the summoning.
[He lets out a soft sound, like he's nervous, maybe.] Um- not that I think it would be particularly entertaining, but you seemed... curious about that sort of thing. It would be easier than trying to explain everything.
[There's a small pause, and Nathaniel takes a deep breath, before starting to speak.]
As you all know, there is a festivity of sorts, held on Friday. For preparation, I am willing to teach a class on the basics of dance Thursday evening. Though I am not a certified instructor in the matter, I have attended several galas which required such... things, and I have had instruction on- dance. [God, it sounds so girly when he says it like that. But with friends like Makepeace, he knows the basics, which is far more than you barbaric lot.]
I will also be attending the prom of sorts if anyone wishes to speak to me face to face- on any matter. Thank you.
[Private to Hino Rei || Unhackable]
[There's a long pause, as if he's not sure if he really wants to say this- but he goes with it anyway, taking a deep breath.]
...I have located another spirit that I believe to be residing in Adstringendum. Something a bit more powerful than Faisal. If... if you like, [a deep breath] you can watch the summoning.
[He lets out a soft sound, like he's nervous, maybe.] Um- not that I think it would be particularly entertaining, but you seemed... curious about that sort of thing. It would be easier than trying to explain everything.
[Offline]
Nathaniel reminds himself that it is unprofessional to laugh in front of a djinni, and covers his smile by pretending to wipe at his nose.]
...put some clothes on, firstly. [THERE ARE WOMEN PRESENT.] And she's right- you look like someone tried to make a bird Utukku and got the parts all wrong.
[It deflates even more, before puffing up its chest.]
VILE HUMANS-
[Nathaniel holds up his hand.]
There'll be none of that. I hereby charge you to go forth and memorize the layout of the streets of this city. When that is accomplished, I command you to go the walls at the center and observe any comings or goings, as well as the power fluctuations and aura changes. I will summon you again in one week's time- I expect a full and detailed report of any and all changes to the area.
[A pause.]
You are to stay hidden and out of the way; let your presence be unknown. Under no circumstances may you injure any living thing, unless it is in self defense. [With every command and stipulation, the bird man shrank further and further, until he was smaller than the both of them and very, very put out.]
Now go. [He waves his hand once. A dismissal in Czech.] If you disappoint me, the Essence Rack awaits.
[The djinn did not wait to be dismissed again. It vanished with a flutter of feathers and smoke.]
[Offline]
It's interesting, though, how the spirit grew smaller with each command, and she watches with some vague amount of satisfaction as the djinni dwindles down to something shorter than herself -- and she glances towards Nathaniel in slight surprise at the orders. The center wall of the Inner City? That's what this was about?
-- she lets it go, for now, and lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding when the spirit vanishes -- before she snorts in abrupt laughter.]
What an arrogant jerk.
[Offline]
[He shakes his head.]
And people pity them. Imagine! [Nathaniel steps out of his circle and begins to gather up the candles and bowls again, nodding at her.]
It's been Dismissed- you may step out of the circle now.
[Offline]
[Sigh. Though she has to give him some credit, that spirit was something of an asshole.
Rei steps out of the circle, with a moment of hesitation, and she stoops to pick up a bowl, but pauses as she straightens, looking down at her own little circle.]
-- so that's it? He'll listen to you now?
[Offline]
[He doesn't comment on the first statement, though his mind immediately and unwillingly flees to Bartimaeus.]
He's been bound by the circle- he must obey my words. If he finds a way to twist them, he will be met with magical punishment.
[Offline]
[She picks up a candle in the middle of the question, but she looks back up at him, curious. And a little wary, but it's the senshi of justice inside of her. Punishment is a serious thing. 8|]
[Offline]
[He shrugs.]
Only a fool would waste a spirit in anger. There are ways to kill them with disciplinary magic, but- it's complicated and not to my tastes.
[Offline]
[There's something weirdly unnatural about killing something called a 'spirit'. Ending their afterlife seems cruel, to her -- but she doesn't bother explaining it. Instead, she shifts the bowl and candle to the crook of her arm before she steps forward, toward the circle where Tibor had been residing, and hesitantly extended her free arm, though her fingers stop just shy of the circle.
It's a powerful amount of energy. Everything leaves a signature. And she looks almost thoughtful, as she looks into the circle, to remember how it feels, before she recoils her hand, a soft 'hm' escaping.
Life in Adstringendum got weirder every day.]
[Offline]
[He moves to take the candles and things from her.]
I was right to think that you were responsible enough to watch. Though I'd like to ask that you keep some of this summoning secret- the specific mission I sent Tibor on, and his true nature. I don't want the civilians to be frightened of me because of the spirits I control.
[Offline]
[And she hands them over when prompted, nodding at the request.]
I wasn't planning on telling the world anyway.
[Maybe just Castiel. He would find this sort of thing interesting. It's what he's best at in his world. And as she contemplates this. Rei offers Nathaniel something of a slight grin.]
I have to give you credit, that was pretty cool.
[Offline]
Thank you- I think. It's nothing to be trifled with, but... Well, you can see how many magicians vie for more power to summon bigger and stronger creatures like that.
[Offline]
[Somewhat thoughtfully.]
-- but useful.
What did you say to it, to summon it?
[Offline]
[A pause at the next question. He moves over and opens the blinds, letting light stream into the room.]
It was in Czech, since the spirit was originally Slavic in origin. I had to fortify the circle first- guard it against the oncoming spirit, put magic behind the runes. Then, I had to call the spirit itself- very tricky because in the midst of calling upon it, I also had to bind it to the confines of the circle. That's the part where a mispronounced syllable can cost you your life- that and the original fortification.
[He thinks for a moment.]
Because the spirits are from Adstringendum, rather than the Other Place, I have to modify the summoning to change the location I call it from. And finally, the calling itself- you give the command 'to come'.
[Offline]
So... you have to call them in their own native language?
[It sounds almost amazed.]
How many languages do you speak?
[Offline]
[He shakes his head.]
It's more of the language the magicians use when they originally invent a specific brand of summoning. It's like... Swimming. You can use many different strokes to go the same distance, but they each have their own use and protection. Often, you'll have to layer two or three summonings- so two or three languages with their own unique syntax- that's when it gets a bit complex. The Shriviling Fire, the punishment I told you about that kills the spirits, requires five languages and several minutes of speech.
[A little pause though as he thinks.] Fluently, I'd say six. But in old, dead languages, a complete dialect was never recorded, so I only know of those what is necessary for summoning in about five others.
[Offline]
It's too bad I can't swim.
[But Rei moves on, from the joke -- the point is made. And she looks somewhat impressed.]
I can barely manage two.
[And, more importantly -- ]
You kill spirits with fire?
[Offline]
[Is that the right word for it?]
It's just a magic. Ordinary fire doesn't harm them- they're beings of air and fire, at the worst, you might tickle them a bit.
[Offline]
[Hino Rei: Focusing on the important things since the 1990s.]
[Offline]
[He frowns.]
It's just- magical fire.
[Offline]
[She sits in a chair, looking at him pointedly. EXPLAIN YOUR SHIT. 8|]
What makes yours special?
[Offline]
[UGH WOMEN.]
It's disciplinary magic. Invented specifically for destroying spirits. It literally tears their essence into shreds.
[Offline]
[It's a fact, not an opinion. 8| Fire is life. Not destruction. But she pauses for a moment to consider this, and then -- ]
Who discovered it?
[Offline]
[Offline]
[She's frowning, still... bothered. Fire for mindless destruction is wrong, to her.]
[Offline]
[Shifting a few books under his arm and motioning for her to follow him out of the room.]
There are always magicians in my world. They are always researching new ways to use their magic, new ways to advance it. It's an art that will never be outdated. So someone puts a lot of effort into a punishment spell- it's just another brand of magic, and another way we try to progress and advance our knowledge base as a whole.
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]