[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.
[He shrugs again.] Something like that. The blueprints are still in my journal if you ever really wanna look at 'em. It's actually pretty cool. But..I know. I used to have a friend here. Her name's Korra, and she's from a water tribe in the south pole, but she could control the elements, too. She told me the same thing and she's used water for healing before.
[He lingers in front of the ice cream parlor then, clearly debating where to go with the conversation next.] Even in its natural form, if you could be powerful enough...you could have complete control couldn't you?
I'm not sure I'd understand them without explanation. But I think I met a Korra once? Back when I arrived. But it's probably something that's similar for every world. The books we have in the magic shop haven't really shown other possibilities yet, anyway.
[ He looks confused when Hiro doesn't just walk in--but the question makes him freeze. ]
...If I could be powerful enough, probably. You saw the magic show, didn't you? The dragon I created out of the fire, but if I were more powerful I could probably do it on a larger scale.
It's possible. Korra didn't disappear that long ago. [He huffs lightly.] She was one of my first friends here since she liked to check in on people. It wouldn't surprise me if you met her. But if magic's supposed to work with the universe or whatever then I guess it'd make sense that it mirrors in all worlds. All worlds have to have elements don't they?
[It seems to be a rhetorical question before he reaches out to grab the door so they can enter the shop.]
...good point. The fact that there's a "yet"? It's something. [But his mind's already working out a new plan.] Maybe I'll pick up a couple of books this week, too. [But first, ice cream.]
Really? Sorry, then. I wasn't sure how long she was here before that. But you'd think so. I wouldn't say the Labyrinth has that anymore though. It felt dead in comparison.
[ He's answering it for him though, because maybe not... It might not always. ]
Books for what?
[ He doesn't know what Hiro's planning but he's definitely down with ice cream first. There are... so many flavours though?! ] Which do you usually get?
[A shrug.] People disappear here a lot. Sometimes I know 'em, sometimes I don't. [He's already looking at the ice cream display case to see what he wants today.] And isn't the Labyrinth technically where things go to die...? I wouldn't think there's a ton of natural magic out there anyway.
[He points to what looks like a disgustingly sweet mint chocolate chip sort of ice cream.] That's usually what I get. Do they even have mint back in your time? [He's mostly just teasing to be a shit. But...right. Books.] And I'm thinking books to try and study a little about magic. Why?
Is it? I thought something had happened there that just made it that way? [ He looks a bit thoughtful there, but he doesn't know for sure. ]
From what I've read about other planets though, don't they all have different components? [ ... well you can certainly tell who he spends too much time with, can't you? ]
Of course we have mint. It's a plant. I'll try that as well though.
[ But after ordering as well, he glances down at him. ] If you drop by the magic shop I can probably help you choose the ones that would be most useful.
Maybe, but all I know is that that altar was probably there a lot longer than we knew about. And maybe they do but...I don't know. I'm still learning about all of the different worlds out there but isn't that the point of things being universal?
[It's too complicated. It's way too complicated but with the ice cream ordered there's nothing left but to wait for the moment.] I think I just want ones to understand the theory behind magic. And maybe how to learn it to control it. Your shop sells books like that?
It isn't the only one though, is it? [ But "universal" isn't always the case. The world of the She that he knows of at home... he doubts that's anything like his own world. Everything is magic there. They, themselves, are fairy people so... uh. ]
Theory we definitely have, though I don't know if you'll get a manual on how to control magic. [ He grimaces. ] It's mostly trial and error, usually with supervision of someone who has mastered it a bit more.
[He's still trying to figure that out, too, and so there's a shrug. Okay, fair point. He's more interested in the books now, and soon their ice cream is served over the counter as well.]
And if somebody's never shown any kind of magical gift before, would it be worth studying at all? [Hiro you can't learn magic. Just stop. It's not even so much learning magic that he wants but rather knowing how to control against it.]
Then I'll figure something else out. [But he has his ice cream and Merlin pays for them and he bows his head a bit.] ...thanks, by the way. You didn't have to actually do that. [With that, he spoons some ice cream into his mouth before mumbling around the spoon.] And sorry for kinda freaking out.
Something else. [That's all he says on the matter. When there's a will there's a way, and Hiro has a very, very strong will. He keeps the spoon in his mouth and shrugs again, not sure how he feels about approaching the subject, too.]
You and me both. [He frowns slightly.] ...it's not a big deal. Just...you know. Sometimes things happen and it sticks with you for a really long time. Think about it like that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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.
/)_(\
[He lingers in front of the ice cream parlor then, clearly debating where to go with the conversation next.] Even in its natural form, if you could be powerful enough...you could have complete control couldn't you?
/)u(\ you mean
[ He looks confused when Hiro doesn't just walk in--but the question makes him freeze. ]
...If I could be powerful enough, probably. You saw the magic show, didn't you? The dragon I created out of the fire, but if I were more powerful I could probably do it on a larger scale.
I'm not there yet.
u are correct uwu
[It seems to be a rhetorical question before he reaches out to grab the door so they can enter the shop.]
...good point. The fact that there's a "yet"? It's something. [But his mind's already working out a new plan.] Maybe I'll pick up a couple of books this week, too. [But first, ice cream.]
heh heh /////
[ He's answering it for him though, because maybe not... It might not always. ]
Books for what?
[ He doesn't know what Hiro's planning but he's definitely down with ice cream first. There are... so many flavours though?! ] Which do you usually get?
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[He points to what looks like a disgustingly sweet mint chocolate chip sort of ice cream.] That's usually what I get. Do they even have mint back in your time? [He's mostly just teasing to be a shit. But...right. Books.] And I'm thinking books to try and study a little about magic. Why?
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From what I've read about other planets though, don't they all have different components? [ ... well you can certainly tell who he spends too much time with, can't you? ]
Of course we have mint. It's a plant. I'll try that as well though.
[ But after ordering as well, he glances down at him. ] If you drop by the magic shop I can probably help you choose the ones that would be most useful.
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[It's too complicated. It's way too complicated but with the ice cream ordered there's nothing left but to wait for the moment.] I think I just want ones to understand the theory behind magic. And maybe how to learn it to control it. Your shop sells books like that?
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Theory we definitely have, though I don't know if you'll get a manual on how to control magic. [ He grimaces. ] It's mostly trial and error, usually with supervision of someone who has mastered it a bit more.
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And if somebody's never shown any kind of magical gift before, would it be worth studying at all? [Hiro you can't learn magic. Just stop. It's not even so much learning magic that he wants but rather knowing how to control against it.]
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In my world it is, but it takes years upon years to get anywhere with it. Only the druids are usually born with the powers.
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You don't have to apologise, I didn't realise it'd have a reaction. ...Did you want to talk about it?
[ Part of him isn't sure he wants to know the reason for it though because that was freaking out... ]
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You and me both. [He frowns slightly.] ...it's not a big deal. Just...you know. Sometimes things happen and it sticks with you for a really long time. Think about it like that.
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