Why would I be kidding about something like that? [ He glances back to give him a smile that's definitely trying to hold back a laugh. ]
It depends on the spell. If I've used it before, I have complete control, if it's new it's a lot more unpredictable. That's why I come here to test things.
Makes sense to me. [He gestures for Merlin to follow then. Come on, off to find more monsters.] Think you could learn more spells in Cerealia that aren't in...wherever you're pulling the other ones from?
I've read some tomes, grimoires... even just general theory books in the shop I work at, but I don't really know how my own magic works to compare. I had to learn by myself for the most part because of the whole... ban on magic at home and everything.
[ He follows Hiro along, wiping at the back of his neck with a cringe. ]
It's no different than any other research. [It's said idly as he thinks this through.] You start making diagrams and charts and comparisons and start running tests to see what does and doesn't work...magic as a whole is still magic isn't it? [He pushes his sweaty bangs up from his forehead to see, nudging Merlin to point out what looks like a giant scorpion monster not too far ahead.]
Besides, it's not like we don't have a ton of time on our hands here. I don't think there's a whole lot actually banned in the colony anyway.
That sounds like a lot of effort, why can't I just... try it? [ Hiro... if you want legitimate research on this you might have to be the one to observe. He'll literally try something and say "yes" or "no" and that's it.
And why is it always giant scorpions... thank god he hasn't met them at home yet. ]
It doesn't seem like it.
[ He does indicate for Hiro to stay behind him again though this time it isn't because of the risk that he'll be swept into a tornado, just that he isn't sure how damaging the spell will be. ]
Ástryce! [ It seems like nothing happens at first, until the blast hits the scorpion thing like a harsh gust of wind. Harsher than anything natural. If it were human it might have died on the first try from being crushed by the force of it. It skitters slightly. His hand raises up then: ]
Ic þé wiþdrífe [ This time the force is harder, sends the thing flopping to the floor even further back probably with a broken tail and limbs. There's little chance of it moving again. ]
Because if you try it and it backfires you might end up dead, dude. [Just a thought. This is how the analytical mind works.] Trust me, I know what I'm doing. I drafted designs for my team's armor over, like, a couple of days. [Because clearly that's a Long Time. Also the fact there are giant scorpions in Merlin's home world disturbs me, I'm so glad. Anyway.
He's absolutely observing the spells as Merlin goes and tests and practices, nodding in approval.]
…they're all spells I've never heard of. [The language, he means. He doesn't recognize it at all.] I almost want to strap a camera to you and send you out to fight real monsters. They never said you were capable of this kind of magic.
Hasn't happened so far! [ That sounds way more cheerful than it should be, especially as he gives Hiro a smile at the same time. ] I haven't really needed to worry about it. [ Serkits are actually poisonous even for him, too, so funtimes!!! Though at least here it's... dead now. ]
Well it's probably nothing that exists for you anymore. I doubt the Old Religion means anything to you, anyway.
...Though I'd rather you didn't do that. But uh... who is "they"? Are you talking about the legends?
"So far." [Just a look.] The Old Religion and new religion don't mean a lot to me, no, but legends are pretty timeless. [So yes. Those.] I know it's weird and you probably don't wanna hear about them but this is way cooler than anything else they've ever said.
[ I couldn't find a better picture but YEAH THEY ARE... They're deadly even for him, too... ]
Exactly. [ He gets a look in return. ] A lot more things try to kill me other than my own spells, you know. But really it doesn't bother me that much. [ In fact-- ] It's more of a relief to hear that this is actually... cooler. Better. [ He looks at bit sheepish now. ] No one has really said anything other than that I'm well known in the future, so I wasn't even sure what people were expecting.
People are probably worried about freaking you out by telling you anything they know about you. [You have his vote, Merlin. It's enough for him to take magic a little more seriously now.] You're kind of like synonymous for the word "magic" in our world.
[He pauses, squinting ahead against the sun.] I think we've got at least two more mini-bosses before the big one. You think you can handle that?
I'm not sure I want to know everything either. I already saw... or was told some things and they aren't exactly rainbows and unicorns. [ Or something like that.
But Hiro has a point. ]
We probably should keep moving before I melt to death first. But... probably.
Melting to death would seem preeeetty lame. Come on, let's head this way. [And away they go to fight more insane monsters Hiro's programmed and for Merlin to destroy them with his powers.]
[ The next one he uses the earth to grow vines from the floor. It's harder with the lack of water, but given the distance he starts from there's little danger there. The one after he uses a storm with. The storm doesn't actually reach the sky, but the rain pours out of a cloud that seems to form, and lightning strikes down between the cracks.
All that's left, is the boss.
The giant snake uncoils itself, hissing louder the closer they get. This time he raises both hands. ] Lyft sy þe in bǽlwylm ac forhienan se wiðere.
[ His eyes flash, and this time Hiro will feel hot air rushing from behind them both before the air itself sets on fire. It works a bit like a flame thrower, Merlin's glare staying on the snake as it tosses from side to side, the fire rising until it engulfs its entire body.
It thrashes, the sand even crisping under the heat of the spell as it sticks to it like glue.
[He's absolutely monitoring all of Merlin's moves, pinpointing what he can do and the elements he's using. Air, earth and water so far, and it all makes sense, and it's probably good for Merlin's ego to hear Hiro cheering now and then each time a new spell shows up to obliterate the NPCs he's created.
But like most things, all good things must come to an end. The snake itself is tall, towering stories above both of them and while he's not worried, he knows that if Merlin doesn't stop it soon it'll strike. But he recognizes the eye flash and he lingers back, anxious to see what will happen next.
Except...no. Nonono, he feels the heat before seeing it and there's a startled yelp as he jerks back and stumbles along the sand, mostly trying to get away from the heat and the open flame. He knows this is an effective way to kill the snake. He knows that, but at the same time he has to wonder...this is what it's like to watch something burn? Is this what happened to Tadashi those times?
The idea makes him sick, really, and it's dizzying to watch as the skin of the snake sizzles and pops under the flames and it eventually becomes so engulfed that it doesn't even resemble its original form, still trying to desperately escape. He takes a deep gulf of air to pull himself out of his own reverie but when he yells at Merlin his eyes are still shut.]
Dude, enough! [The almost cheery victory music is remarkably inappropriate right now, but it's a sign that the snake sure is dead.]
[ It is good for his ego, though he's also trying to not get too smug until they're out of the desert and safe again. It's because Hiro is behind him that he doesn't really know what's happening until it's too late and that enough! rips through the air. He fire starts to die down, but it's very much alive. His hand drops as he turns to look back at Hiro, worried because he expected Hiro to be right behind him, not on the floor with his eyes squeezed shut.
He steps towards him, trying to block the now dead snake that's lying limp on the ground. The fire is slowly starting to disappear, but it won't be instantaneous. ]
...Sorry. [ He reaches to pat Hiro's shoulder then, not knowing what was going on, but not wanting him to think he's doing this on purpose. ] Turn with me, alright?
[Even with his eyes shut he can see the flames from behind his eyelids. As it dies down he cracks open an eye to stare and it's then that he finds Merlin directly in his line of vision instead. He nods, though he's not exactly moving since he's staring straight ahead.]
...should disappear on its own since that was the final boss of the level. [The tone's nearly robotic itself like he's focused on what he's saying rather than what's happening.] There are extras that I programmed in but that was it.
[ You know what? Okay. Okay. He changes his tactic here and instead says. ]
Sorry, I didn't know it'd... [ He sighs a little, looking out at the remains as his hand moves into Hiro's hair, muses it up a bit. It's a gentle affectionate touch. ] We can exit now, right? I can take you for something to eat if you want?
[ He doesn't know what triggered it, but he can tell something went badly wrong there okay. ]
[...weirdly, he's okay with that. There's an echoing sigh but he seems to relax a little under Merlin's hand and he nods to himself more than anything.] Yeah, me either. [It's mumbled to himself almost inaudibly so, but it's enough that he can open both eyes and look up again.]
...that's probably not a bad idea. [There's a lack of appetite, but he has questions anyway and he's not entirely sold on bailing just yet either.] Like all ViViD games, you beat the boss you can log out whenever you want. And you should probably replenish your energy anyway.
[Yes, good job, Hiro. Deflect this back to Merlin instead of focusing on your freak-out.]
[ There's a little relief when he seems to relax under that little ruffle, and he gives him a smile. ] Ice cream? [ You know, for sure but also to help him feel better. ]
Log out first if you want, I'll be right behind you.
you underestimate how mean I can be to my characters tbh
[It definitely helps to ground him back to where he is and not spiral out of control with letting his imagination picture things. So, he seems to be back to normal when he nods again.]
Yeah…yeah, there's this ice cream place a friend of mine works at that makes some pretty okay stuff. We can go there. I'll meet you outside in the lobby?
[He hardly waits for an answer though before there's a fleeting smile and he logs himself out. By the time Merlin appears again Hiro's sort of digging his toe into the ground and running his hands through his hair to calm down a bit. He really needs to get over this stupid fear…but ice cream's a priority now. It's only when Merlin appears that he grins again.]
So…you definitely have all four elements mastered. That's almost impressive. [He's trying to be a cocky shit again, but it falls a little flat considering.]
well i say this but characters i play are traumatised in some way so ...
[ That's good at least. He keeps doing that for a moment longer, head tilting as the other seems to calm down a bit. ]
I'll meet you outside the lobby.
[ His hand drops when Hiro disappears and after glancing around at the landscape Hiro created, he logs out as well. He aches a bit when he's on the other side, but it isn't as bad as some of the other ViViD sessions he's lived through. ]
I really don't. A lot of that is... pretty basic. I can do more I just have to practise more. [ He laughs faintly. ] But thanks? Come on... [ He gives Hiro's shoulder a light pat as he starts to walk, stopping only when he realises: ] Which way?
well see then you have no room to talk. poor traumatized everyone
[Listen, sometimes being a supergenius superhero with a hefty backstory is really hard. But still, as soon as Merlin's out of the game he's also pocketing the chip. With that, he smirks slightly and takes the lead to head for the ice cream shop Roxas works at. It's the closest anyway.]
If that's considered basic…I'm almost scared to ask what advanced is. Lighting the entire arena on fire?
[ He knows that, he knows... But ah. He follows him pretty easily considering he's god knows how much taller than Hiro, but he does look sheepish at his question. ]
Most likely, yes. That and fireballs, firewalls... the list goes on. ...I take it you aren't a fan of fire? [ His voice goes quiet as he asks that though, well aware that Hiro might not want to delve into it that quickly. ]
[To be fair almost everyone is taller than Hiro, such is the tragic life of a small bean. It's not much of a reaction as Merlin continues, though his eyebrows knit together as he pictures that. It sounds really, really cool in theory, and part of him wants to see it just in the name of science.
On the other hand, if he couldn't handle watching a snake be lit on fire and struggle for life, how the hell could he manage that? Still, the question causes him to inhale sharply through his nose, shoulders bouncing in a haphazard shrug.]
I mean...I made a supersuit for one of my friends that allowed him to be a firebreathing lizard. It's a little different if you can control it, isn't it? [He pauses, licking his lips slightly even as the ice cream parlor's up ahead in view.] Figured it'd all be the same but…[Guess not.]
[ This is true... a small good bean. Though Merlin bites his lip at Hiro's explanation with that experience, because no, it isn't really all the same. ]
Do you mean like a flamethrower? [ Thanks to that horrid intro last time, he's learned what one of those is. ] It isn't the same. With a man made weapon you're projecting the flame in one direction, right?
[ He pauses then. ] Magic comes from the earth itself, it's natural form. All I do is trigger it, the rest is... [ He reaches up, rubs the back of his neck. ] Kind of, anyway. Either way, fire is the most dangerous of the four. The most destructive. Water is usually only for healing.
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Why would I be kidding about something like that? [ He glances back to give him a smile that's definitely trying to hold back a laugh. ]
It depends on the spell. If I've used it before, I have complete control, if it's new it's a lot more unpredictable. That's why I come here to test things.
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[ He follows Hiro along, wiping at the back of his neck with a cringe. ]
I'd like to try sometime though.
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Besides, it's not like we don't have a ton of time on our hands here. I don't think there's a whole lot actually banned in the colony anyway.
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And why is it always giant scorpions... thank god he hasn't met them at home yet. ]
It doesn't seem like it.
[ He does indicate for Hiro to stay behind him again though this time it isn't because of the risk that he'll be swept into a tornado, just that he isn't sure how damaging the spell will be. ]
Ástryce! [ It seems like nothing happens at first, until the blast hits the scorpion thing like a harsh gust of wind. Harsher than anything natural. If it were human it might have died on the first try from being crushed by the force of it. It skitters slightly. His hand raises up then: ]
Ic þé wiþdrífe [ This time the force is harder, sends the thing flopping to the floor even further back probably with a broken tail and limbs. There's little chance of it moving again. ]
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He's absolutely observing the spells as Merlin goes and tests and practices, nodding in approval.]
…they're all spells I've never heard of. [The language, he means. He doesn't recognize it at all.] I almost want to strap a camera to you and send you out to fight real monsters. They never said you were capable of this kind of magic.
[Okay but who's they? We just don't know.]
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Well it's probably nothing that exists for you anymore. I doubt the Old Religion means anything to you, anyway.
...Though I'd rather you didn't do that. But uh... who is "they"? Are you talking about the legends?
[ Too bad he's asking anyway. ]
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"So far." [Just a look.] The Old Religion and new religion don't mean a lot to me, no, but legends are pretty timeless. [So yes. Those.] I know it's weird and you probably don't wanna hear about them but this is way cooler than anything else they've ever said.
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Exactly. [ He gets a look in return. ] A lot more things try to kill me other than my own spells, you know. But really it doesn't bother me that much. [ In fact-- ] It's more of a relief to hear that this is actually... cooler. Better. [ He looks at bit sheepish now. ] No one has really said anything other than that I'm well known in the future, so I wasn't even sure what people were expecting.
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[He pauses, squinting ahead against the sun.] I think we've got at least two more mini-bosses before the big one. You think you can handle that?
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But Hiro has a point. ]
We probably should keep moving before I melt to death first. But... probably.
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one ptsd delivery
All that's left, is the boss.
The giant snake uncoils itself, hissing louder the closer they get. This time he raises both hands. ] Lyft sy þe in bǽlwylm ac forhienan se wiðere.
[ His eyes flash, and this time Hiro will feel hot air rushing from behind them both before the air itself sets on fire. It works a bit like a flame thrower, Merlin's glare staying on the snake as it tosses from side to side, the fire rising until it engulfs its entire body.
It thrashes, the sand even crisping under the heat of the spell as it sticks to it like glue.
...It's kind of horrific, tbh. ]
what a thing to wake up to
But like most things, all good things must come to an end. The snake itself is tall, towering stories above both of them and while he's not worried, he knows that if Merlin doesn't stop it soon it'll strike. But he recognizes the eye flash and he lingers back, anxious to see what will happen next.
Except...no. Nonono, he feels the heat before seeing it and there's a startled yelp as he jerks back and stumbles along the sand, mostly trying to get away from the heat and the open flame. He knows this is an effective way to kill the snake. He knows that, but at the same time he has to wonder...this is what it's like to watch something burn? Is this what happened to Tadashi those times?
The idea makes him sick, really, and it's dizzying to watch as the skin of the snake sizzles and pops under the flames and it eventually becomes so engulfed that it doesn't even resemble its original form, still trying to desperately escape. He takes a deep gulf of air to pull himself out of his own reverie but when he yells at Merlin his eyes are still shut.]
Dude, enough! [The almost cheery victory music is remarkably inappropriate right now, but it's a sign that the snake sure is dead.]
you wanted this...
He steps towards him, trying to block the now dead snake that's lying limp on the ground. The fire is slowly starting to disappear, but it won't be instantaneous. ]
...Sorry. [ He reaches to pat Hiro's shoulder then, not knowing what was going on, but not wanting him to think he's doing this on purpose. ] Turn with me, alright?
ok fair
...should disappear on its own since that was the final boss of the level. [The tone's nearly robotic itself like he's focused on what he's saying rather than what's happening.] There are extras that I programmed in but that was it.
:( i feel so bad
Sorry, I didn't know it'd... [ He sighs a little, looking out at the remains as his hand moves into Hiro's hair, muses it up a bit. It's a gentle affectionate touch. ] We can exit now, right? I can take you for something to eat if you want?
[ He doesn't know what triggered it, but he can tell something went badly wrong there okay. ]
never feel bad for terrifying a Disney :|
...that's probably not a bad idea. [There's a lack of appetite, but he has questions anyway and he's not entirely sold on bailing just yet either.] Like all ViViD games, you beat the boss you can log out whenever you want. And you should probably replenish your energy anyway.
[Yes, good job, Hiro. Deflect this back to Merlin instead of focusing on your freak-out.]
shouldn't that be "always"?!?!?!
Log out first if you want, I'll be right behind you.
you underestimate how mean I can be to my characters tbh
Yeah…yeah, there's this ice cream place a friend of mine works at that makes some pretty okay stuff. We can go there. I'll meet you outside in the lobby?
[He hardly waits for an answer though before there's a fleeting smile and he logs himself out. By the time Merlin appears again Hiro's sort of digging his toe into the ground and running his hands through his hair to calm down a bit. He really needs to get over this stupid fear…but ice cream's a priority now. It's only when Merlin appears that he grins again.]
So…you definitely have all four elements mastered. That's almost impressive. [He's trying to be a cocky shit again, but it falls a little flat considering.]
well i say this but characters i play are traumatised in some way so ...
I'll meet you outside the lobby.
[ His hand drops when Hiro disappears and after glancing around at the landscape Hiro created, he logs out as well. He aches a bit when he's on the other side, but it isn't as bad as some of the other ViViD sessions he's lived through. ]
I really don't. A lot of that is... pretty basic. I can do more I just have to practise more. [ He laughs faintly. ] But thanks? Come on... [ He gives Hiro's shoulder a light pat as he starts to walk, stopping only when he realises: ] Which way?
well see then you have no room to talk. poor traumatized everyone
If that's considered basic…I'm almost scared to ask what advanced is. Lighting the entire arena on fire?
but that wasn't by me!!! originally... i guess
Most likely, yes. That and fireballs, firewalls... the list goes on. ...I take it you aren't a fan of fire? [ His voice goes quiet as he asks that though, well aware that Hiro might not want to delve into it that quickly. ]
but are you making it worse that is the question
On the other hand, if he couldn't handle watching a snake be lit on fire and struggle for life, how the hell could he manage that? Still, the question causes him to inhale sharply through his nose, shoulders bouncing in a haphazard shrug.]
I mean...I made a supersuit for one of my friends that allowed him to be a firebreathing lizard. It's a little different if you can control it, isn't it? [He pauses, licking his lips slightly even as the ice cream parlor's up ahead in view.] Figured it'd all be the same but…[Guess not.]
probably //////
Do you mean like a flamethrower? [ Thanks to that horrid intro last time, he's learned what one of those is. ] It isn't the same. With a man made weapon you're projecting the flame in one direction, right?
[ He pauses then. ] Magic comes from the earth itself, it's natural form. All I do is trigger it, the rest is... [ He reaches up, rubs the back of his neck. ] Kind of, anyway. Either way, fire is the most dangerous of the four. The most destructive. Water is usually only for healing.
/)_(\
/)u(\ you mean
u are correct uwu
heh heh /////
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