01; open

[sagacity]

[Trying doors until one opens is tedious work. His old hands are throbbing. (No, really, don't give him that pitiful look.) But his efforts aren't in vain; Serge grins when a room finally allows him entrance, only to arch a brow at the decidedly bare and boring interior. The one thing that manages to sustain his attention is the smartphone, which he pockets. He figures he can take it. It doesn't look like anyone has been living there, much less own anything in it.

He doesn't stay for long. There isn't much to see. Not even a place to clean . . . After that sarcophagus business, he feels gross.

Then he's at the spring, and it's hardly an encouraging sight. Stepping inside, Serge sighs.]

Are they serious? I know communal baths used to be a thing, but that's in the past!

[ . . . Maybe he can get a nice view or two in the future. Provided they're nothing like Leslie, he's sure he'll be safe. Hopefully. Oh, who's he kidding; this is silly.

He pulls the smartphone out.]

What am I supposed to do with this, anyway?

[He manages to boot it up -- wow, it has his name. That means it's his, right? And it even has a list of other names. He recognizes a few. Serge proceeds to mess with someone while tapping his foot expectantly. And then some.]

( ooc: You can catch him at any part of the post! If you want Serge to call your character, let me know or hit up his phone post. He's hitting up names that sound like those of girls, but that doesn't mean his judgment is foolproof, or that he didn't click the wrong name, or that he didn't decide to diversify. )

Comments

wow, where am I.

[sagacity]

[Way to take his words the absolutely wrong way and offend yourself, Dynos.

Serge has heard enough of Dynos' incantations to know what's coming up, so he presses himself up to one side of the entrance in an effort to make himself marginally smaller. Please let those beams miss him. He can't just up and defend against that without damage, and it's too late to cast a spell, accelerated or not, though he manages to shout -- ]

Hey, hey, hey, what did I do!?

[ . . . this time?]

[guiltapalooza]

Fluctus, [she snaps from the doorway, and flicks her wrist in a quick, jerky motion. The water in the spring rises up in a cresting wave, and crashes down over Dynos, getting him soaking wet again.

Willow narrows her eyes at him, hoping that was enough distraction to break him out of the spell.] What do you think you're doing?! Are you seriously calling on darkness where we have to live?

[angsts]

[Fortunately, the sudden cold and wetness is enough to make him stumble over the Excel Act, the energy dissipating in his hands as he coughs.]

W-What—!?

[Once he's over the shock, he stares at Willow, trying to comprehend what just happened.]

[sagacity]

[Equally as surprised, Serge gives Dynos a quick glance before peeling himself off the wall and looking to Willow. He straightens, calm. Just to save the kid some unnecessary lecture or another . . . ]

I assure you, the darkness wouldn't have lingered or had a long-lasting side effect even if he'd cast it.

[guiltapalooza]

Maybe not for you, but trust me, I can feel it. [One of those things that happens when you're a former black magic addict is being exquisitely sensitive to the presence of it.]

Why were you even fighting? [Willow glances between them, evaluating and slightly tense. She's been through too many unexpected crises to relax just yet.]

[angsts]

[... Ugh. A third party.

Dynos looks away, crossing his arms.]

That doesn't concern you.

[sagacity]

[Feel it? . . . Interesting.

Serge waves dismissively.]

Sorry about him. He's not having a good day. If it helps, we weren't actually fighting.

[guiltapalooza]

... Well, if you say so. [She lets herself relax, sighing. It's easier to accept Serge's reassurances than stay on guard.]

I don't want to butt in. Everything's just so wacky here, it makes me nervous to feel something like that. --And I thought you were at least mildly sensible!

[Yup, that last part is definitely directed at Dynos. Willow can't entirely restrain herself.]

[angsts]

[At that, he whips around to face the two of them.]

You wasted my time by having me come over here and then drenched me in water, mocking me all the while. And then she—

[He points to Willow, flinging water as he does so.]

—does the same! You were testing my patience!

[sagacity]

That again? Look, there's no time to waste here. Sorry nothing big turned up, but don't be so angry all the time!

[Turning, he goes to pick up the fallen tape. Then he focuses on Willow.]

Sorry to you, too. For making you uncomfortable. [His tone becomes noticeably lighter. A sigh, and he rubs his shoulder again.] I can't say I'm completely innocent, either. Remind me not to tease him so much.

[Except it wasn't really teasing. Not in his book, anyway.]

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow rolls her eyes, unable to take this seriously anymore.] You guys sound like squabbling siblings that got caught by mom. Would you cool it?

If you get out of there I'll dry you off. Okay?

[angsts]

If I recall correctly, you said you wouldn't 'pick on' me...

[Grumbling, though he only moves a step or two away from the spring in case either of them soaks him again. He'd really just like to leave the area completely—but that would require moving closer to Serge and Willow.]

[sagacity]

[He would argue that point loudly and crisply, but Willow's already said her piece, so he doesn't. And a step or two's progress enough, ain't it?]

He's all yours.

[guiltapalooza]

Dry, [she says crisply, not bothering with anything but English. It's a simple spell, an easy command, but any moisture left in his hair and clothes suddenly evaporates. It might make him a little static-y, too. Whoops.]

Are we all good now?

[angsts]

[... Well. That was... unusual.]

This was still a waste of my time.

[sagacity]

[Wow, it's like magic -- oh. But he loses the chance to comment when Dynos so politely speaks up, the negative child. Of course, that doesn't mean he can't return to the somewhat original topic at hand as he turns his attention to Willow.]

Was that a spell? I'd never seen magic like that before!

[guiltapalooza]

You're so incredibly abused, I know, [she says sarcastically, and is perfectly happy to talk about magic instead. It used to be one of her favorite topics, before... well, everything; but now that she'd done some good and the First was defeated, Willow thought maybe it would be alright to take some joy in it again.

She perks up.] Yup, it was magic! Do you guys do it differently? I'm a little... well, a lot advanced, so the way I do it is not really indicative of much.

[angsts]

[... okay fine pinged by magic talk too. Trying not to sound too curious—]

Advanced? I take it you don't mean you synced it.

[sagacity]

[Good point, Dynos. Serge rests a hand on his side, shaking his head.]

Dynos and I use magic that's more suited for combat. It doesn't seem like you use the type we're familiar with, though. Does Ray mean anything to you?

[guiltapalooza]

[Magic brings all the boys to the yard, it's true.]

Um... no? Not a thing. We're from really different places, though-- I didn't recognize any of the places Dynos listed when we met.

I mean, I can use my magic for combat, too, but... it's less a list of spells and more a sixth sense, if that means anything to you.

[angsts]

... That sounds more like Excel Acts than magic to me.

[sagacity]

[Jovially,] Don't be so quick to discredit her! If we come from different worlds, then who's to say her magic can't be different? Besides, she said hers is advanced.

[He rolls his shoulders back, straightening.]

But all three of us, huh. If we're any indication, this place is chalk full of magic users.

[guiltapalooza]

Yeah, none of us here are exactly normal, are we? [She'd noticed that, too, and she's frowning slightly as if putting a puzzle together. No dice on the completed picture, though.]

I've never heard of Excel Arts, though; what I do is definitely magic, just probably not the way you think of it.

[angsts]

Normal seems to be rather relative. It doesn't seem to be the case where you're from, but magic is hardly uncommon for us.

And an Excel Act is something like what I was trying to do before I was interrupted.

[BITTER]

[sagacity]

[Dynos, you're kind of terrible at this explaining thing.]

Excel Acts are like a person's hidden technique. The kind of thing only you can do once you put the effort into it. Some are more magical by nature, but the distinction's there.

Almost anyone can use magic where we come from, but Excel Acts take more work. Does that seem anything like how your magic works?

[But speaking of . . . it's a good thing it got interrupted. Ugh. Just thinking about it gives him the jitters.]