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Yeah, I'm not sure I'm gonna freak out about anything ever again, honestly.

[Which might be a good thing, might not be.]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this place just...desensitizes you to pretty much everything.

( good thing? bad thing? it's definitely a thing. )

And we say that with the knowledge that we might not have seen it all just yet.

Especially since some people have been here for years and still seem to be surprised by things that happen.

[Although by 'things' he means one specific thing that shall not be named. But it had apparently been a shock even to those who'd been around a long time, which he's not sure if comforting or terrifying.]

( yeah, that whole years thing still...jars him to here even if he knows he's fast approaching a year here himself.

he takes a breath. better here and alive than back home and possibly dead? that's what he tries to tell himself. )

Guess that's a good thing? If they don't get desensitized than maybe we won't either?

I guess so.

[And as much as being desensitized might seem appealing, he logically knows it's best that it doesn't happen. It makes it easier to deal on an individual level, but its impact on people overall and the way they interact takes a sharp downward turn.

He also didn't miss that breath, and the topic is veering a bit too serious and too close to recent events, so he draws it back a little.]

At least magic's still pretty amazin' to see. I'd be okay with that never gettin' old.

You tried to use it yourself at all?

( that took him a little while to get used to. even now, knowing that he's got some magical ability is a strange thing. )

Horizon is a pretty good place to practice.

I haven't tried learning anythin' formally yet.

[Though he plans to. But informally--]

But I heard about how Summoned sometimes just find themselves with new magic, and I think that's somethin' that happened for me.

[Because he definitely didn't have magic before.]

Fortunately, I've had a friend be around to sort of...guide me through it. It makes it easier if you have something like that.

( thank goodness for wanda. )

I do most of my work in the Horizon. Because you can't screw up too much there.

Yeah, as soon as I start learnin' anything dangerous I'm definitely planning to practice in the Horizon.

[He knows it could probably be dangerous there too, at least in a sense, but still. The opportunity to practice somewhere like the Horizon is very convenient.]

Has your friend been here longer? Or just more used to magic in general?

She's been here...over a year, I think.

( which is kind of terrifying to think about being possible. but, he knows wanda's been pretty happy here in comparison to where she came from. )

So, it's both. She's been here awhile but she came from a magical background. She was magical before she got here.

Oh, double advantage.

[Not that being here a long time is necessarily good, but at least it's convenient in this sense.]

What kind of magic have you been learnin'?

Nothing too big. Mostly just working within the Horizon.

( he shrugs. )

I managed to create some beer there. Tastes almost real.

D'you mean a separate sort of magic from just creatin' stuff in the Horizon in general? Or is that what you're talkin' about?

[He's been making a mental distinction between the two, though he realizes that may not actually be the right way to think about it.]

I haven't...really tried something outside the Horizon but apparently it's possible.

( he's just very stuck in his ways, very fine with what he can do. )

People are able to get abilities like that.

Mm, yeah, I had some experience with that. I'd show you, but it's annoying.

[The power he ended up just getting out of nowhere. Kind of fun, since any sort of magic is fun, but also a little ridiculous.]

An annoying ability?

( matt can't help but chuckle a bit. )

You used it here yet?

A little bit, yeah. It's still kind of surreal.

[He's actually practiced a lot more than 'a little bit', both in the Horizon and out of it, but whatever. The newness still hasn't worn off.]

What's the ability?

( he kind of has to ask now. )

You've got me curious.

Summonin' up a little personal raincloud. It just hovers over me, or someone or somethin' else, and rains.

[He says it with a hint of humor it deserves.]

I know there's some practical uses for that, but I think it's easy to see the downsides.

Oh, wow.

( that does sound pretty annoying. matt manages to withhold laughter at the mental image and then shakes his head. )

Guess it'd be good if you were ever on fire? Wouldn't need to stop, drop and roll.

[It's fine if Matt's willpower gives out when it comes to refraining from laughing, because it really is pretty funny, and Jayden can't help but laugh a little himself at the offered suggestion.]

Y'know, I hadn't thought of that, but you're right.

[He's been considering practical but somewhat depressing things, like when the water supply had been so low in the pit, being able to summon up some rain would've been convenient. But more fantastical ideas are a lot more fun, and he adds--]

It'd probably also be good for some really petty revenge.

[Just the thought of being able to summon a raincloud over someone who's annoying him is almost as good as the idea of actually doing it.]

Remind me to stay on your good side.

( since matt would like to avoid getting rained since his luck is pretty unfortunate without that. he laughs a little because the thought is just ridiculous. )

Can I ask how you found out you can do that?

Don't worry, you're one of the least likely people here to get any unexpected personalized rainclouds.

[It's a compliment, sort of??? It seemed nicer to say than 'you're one of the least annoying people I've met here', although that is true, but of course he couldn't just say something like 'so far you're one of the most pleasant people to talk to'. That'd be something that involves actually acknowledging a positive relationship and Jayden absolutely can't just be a normal person that way.

But it's because of the unspoken positive relationship that he gives a somewhat truthful answer to the question, if a bit abbreviated.]

It just sort of happened when I was feeling kind of down. Like a cartoon or somethin'.

[Literal personal raincloud of sadness.]

Must have been a surprise.

( and all things considered, matt's been down a lot lately and it hasn't happened to him so maybe whatever sort of talent or ability he's gonna pick up won't be that.

or maybe he will now that he's said he won't. )

A friend of mine in Solvunn told me about someone there who had their own theme music happen from time to time. Sounds a little bit like what you've got going on.

It was. Kind of helped my mood, though; it was a little too weird not to.

[Annoying, sure, but also very funny. Which is similar to what he feels about the idea of theme music.]

It does, though I think I'm glad I got this one instead. Theme music would get really old really fast.

[A pause.]

And it couldn't put out a fire.

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