Who: wanda and others When: november-december Where: solvunn, nocwich, horizon What: catch-all for both months! closed and open prompts within. Warnings: none at the moment, will mark as needed.
[ Carl nods, making a mental note to look for something along the lines of a nurturing spell next time he's in the library. Even a small idea is a better way to channel his focus than limitless possibilities. Maybe having some kind of healing or soothing kind of magic would be good. It's something to look into. ]
That's okay, I'm probably not the best at learning it. I just want to understand it even if I'm not good at using it.
[ Intention, huh? It makes sense enough- you have to want something with all you've got or it won't turn out the way you think it will. Carl takes her command into consideration and closes his eye so he can better focus on what he feels. He clenches his fingers in the grass as he contemplates. He can't say for sure what his intention even is.. Maybe just a gentle 'hi, nature'? ]
The uh.. grass is soft? Kinda chilly. The breeze isn't really around, the flowers smell nice. It's quiet except for us.
[wanda smiles at him, at how open carl is to wanting to understand something that is otherwise so unknown to him (and perhaps impossible in his world).]
Remember not to put limitations on yourself. Magic is about confidence in the unknown.
[and that gentle intention of his, of just greeting nature? she catches onto that, and she thinks it's sweet. instead of making a comment about it, as she is sure will embarrass any teen his age, she listens to what he says.]
Good. [softly,] That's good.
Now, as you are, remember the color of the grass—of the flowers. Their size, what they look like, every small imperfection. Mold that into your mind — just from what you remember, no need to be perfect.
I mean, I can be confident all I want. Doing it is different.
[ He says it, but there's not much motivation behind them. He wants to be able to do it. To harness something he'd never dreamed of before. If he couldn't do it, why did he suddenly have the ability after he accessed the Horizon? It's probably like strengthening a muscle- you have to start small and practice or it won't grow. Magical potential is probably something to factor in, too, but Carl's not about to let that stop him.
His eye is still closed so he can put all his concentration into what he's doing. ]
Is it okay that I don't know the name? [ He pauses. ] Do plants have feelings?
[ While he talks, he creates an imperfect picture in his mind. It resembles something closer to a painting than a photograph as he tries to recall every flaw with clarity. The grass is green and there are little white flowers nearby that look kinda like baby's breath? Maybe. The clover flower is something he recognizes. He can't remember exactly, but there are probably some insect bites taken out of some of the leaves. ]
[wanda can almost barely contain herself from laughing at his questions, but there's something instead firm about the smile on her face. they are questions enthused forward by someone who means well.
that much is a lot of what magic is. good intentions—which cannot be forced, no matter how much one may try.]
You don't need to know the name, but yes—I suppose you could say they have feelings. Just not quite as dimensional as those you and I feel. [they will not wilt over someone not knowing their names.] You're doing great.
[a light breeze helps the nature around them stir a bit, and wanda takes note of a bud unfurling slowly. she cannot tell if it's being boosted by her magic, which is thus being boosted by carl's own attempts at it, but she wants to reckon that it's quite something.]
—don't push yourself.
[is what she says, pressing a gentle hand onto his back.]
It takes practice and building stamina for it. You never want to run yourself dry when trying out spells, otherwise you'll just collapse. [once he opens his eye, she motions around.] Some buds opened up.
[ There is a lot Carl doesn't understand about Abraxas and how this world works, so it doesn't feel silly to ask questions like that. Especially if things have inherent magic, unlike they do at home. He wants to try, and even if he's not great at it, it's something he can work on.
Okay, plants have feelings but like.. Not? Maybe it's more like a presence? Like they know what to do and know when they're hurt or need water and sun? Really, that part is just science, but he gets the idea behind what Wanda is saying.
He doesn't realize how hard he's thinking about this and trying to will it to happen until that hand touches his back lightly and he drops his shoulders and opens his eye to look at her. ]
Oh-- oops. [ It's weird. He feels like he's just run a mile and they've only been sitting here. He wants to keep going until he can get it right, but he knows it's like how hard he had to work getting his depth perception back. It takes time like building a muscle. Carl is surprised the flowers responded, but he doesn't know whether it was him (probably not) or Wanda's presence (more likely) that was the cause. Either way, he grins, feeling accomplished. ]
Cool. [ He's quiet for a moment, considering the buds and reaching out to brush his fingertip against it. ] I'd like to learn more when you're not too busy. Maybe you can help me do something with the other thing I can do now?
[wanda remains seated on the ground, surrounded by nature as they are, and watches as carl comes back from his deep focus on his attempted spell. she can tell that he's a little tired from all that, but he should recover easily enough.
maybe that's one thing she should keep in mind teaching others: that magic is finite, and once that threshold is crossed, it can start to take from one's own physical reserves.
a note for later.]
We got nothing but time here, so you can come find me anytime.
[it's nice—spending time with carl like this.]
And I happen to not be busy right now, so— if you feel up to it, you can show me this other thing you can do?
[ Magic may be finite, but he's young, so he bounces back a little quicker than some. Still, he's eager to make this something he does every day so he can be powerful like Wanda. He doesn't think he could ever be as strong as she is, but maybe if he could have the power to help defend this place and hold his own. That would be good enough for him. ]
Yeah, you're right about that. This is home now, so better to make the most out of it.
Oh, I'm up for it! [ Carl beams and stands up, brushing off his legs. Looking around for a good target, he spots a bird on a nearby branch and points toward it. ] Okay, now watch that bird. It might take me a second.
[ He takes a deep breath and shakes out his hands as if that would help shake the spell out of his fingertips. He waves his arm in its direction, which doesn't really do anything. Instead of getting dismayed, he focuses a little harder and thinks about how he's seen magic cast before. When he gestures his hand kind of like Wanda does, a faint blue glow surrounds the bird and he throws his arms up and lets out a whoop from his success. ]
Edited (i forgot what colors my own spell does, sheeeesh) 2023-01-22 23:30 (UTC)
[wanda watches from where she sits, waiting for him to show her what he can do. she sees the bird, and though she's very tempted to look at him, she wonders if she'll miss the actual display of magic if he takes her eyes off the bird.
she waits, seeing from the periphery of her eyes that he's really working at it— and then the bird glows a faint blue.]
Hey, look at that.
[wanda gets up, brushing off the dirt from her knees. she keeps her gaze on the bird, then back to carl.]
[ He turns to Wanda and beams in delight at her. ]
I think it just lights it up. I was playing with the family I'm staying with and I just.. I dunno, gestured at one of the kids and the same thing happened, but green.
[ He shrugs. ] I guess that sort of thing just happens with the Summoned after they go to the Horizon, I heard. Maybe it's that.
[there's no denying that crossing into the horizon means pushing through some kind of magical threshold, and perhaps that, too, grants those who were not magically inclined before to have the ability to do so, now. like monica passing through the hex's walls and getting those powers of hers.
she smiles over at him.]
Might be useful in the pitch black. Like a — sort of flashlight?
[ But still, it's a few minutes more than he could do before. And the matron of the house had been pretty proud he could do it at all and said with practice, he'd get better at it. The praise from Wanda feels a little more impactful to him, especially right now. ]
Flashlight is a good way to put it. I can't control what color it turns, but so far I've seen green and blue.
Nah, my favorite color is yellow. I don't know the reason behind it.
[ He nods in agreement. It's something he's going to keep practicing alongside what Wanda has already shown him. He wants to make something of himself with magic. While it's a lofty goal to want to live up to her skills, he can't help but look to Wanda for inspiration. ]
In my experience, your magic can be anything you want it to be, if you set your mind to it. If you practice, I'm sure you can choose the color.
[—though it's kind of cute if it's randomized...
she straightens a little, thoughtful.]
Though consider the value of things. Does the color matter at all for the spell, or is it simply part of the aesthetic? If different colors mean different things, different — boons, then maybe it's worth focusing on which one you can choose. Otherwise, I wouldn't put too much energy in getting a specific color at any given time.
I'm definitely going to try, if only because why not. I have no idea what the color choice means, but I'll try to figure it out. It's not a 'living versus not' thing, either. The first time it happened was with one of the kids in the family I'm staying with, and then the bird.
[ He shrugs. It doesn't really matter to him what the color is. The point of it all is he can do magic! Michonne would probably be proud of him, too. That more than anything is motivation enough. He's missing her something terrible, so maybe he'll start writing letters that can't be sent. ]
What else can I work on that's easy to start with?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
now it's my turn to lose a tag |':
That's okay, I'm probably not the best at learning it. I just want to understand it even if I'm not good at using it.
[ Intention, huh? It makes sense enough- you have to want something with all you've got or it won't turn out the way you think it will. Carl takes her command into consideration and closes his eye so he can better focus on what he feels. He clenches his fingers in the grass as he contemplates. He can't say for sure what his intention even is.. Maybe just a gentle 'hi, nature'? ]
The uh.. grass is soft? Kinda chilly. The breeze isn't really around, the flowers smell nice. It's quiet except for us.
no such thing :')
Remember not to put limitations on yourself. Magic is about confidence in the unknown.
[and that gentle intention of his, of just greeting nature? she catches onto that, and she thinks it's sweet. instead of making a comment about it, as she is sure will embarrass any teen his age, she listens to what he says.]
Good. [softly,] That's good.
Now, as you are, remember the color of the grass—of the flowers. Their size, what they look like, every small imperfection. Mold that into your mind — just from what you remember, no need to be perfect.
no subject
[ He says it, but there's not much motivation behind them. He wants to be able to do it. To harness something he'd never dreamed of before. If he couldn't do it, why did he suddenly have the ability after he accessed the Horizon? It's probably like strengthening a muscle- you have to start small and practice or it won't grow. Magical potential is probably something to factor in, too, but Carl's not about to let that stop him.
His eye is still closed so he can put all his concentration into what he's doing. ]
Is it okay that I don't know the name? [ He pauses. ] Do plants have feelings?
[ While he talks, he creates an imperfect picture in his mind. It resembles something closer to a painting than a photograph as he tries to recall every flaw with clarity. The grass is green and there are little white flowers nearby that look kinda like baby's breath? Maybe. The clover flower is something he recognizes. He can't remember exactly, but there are probably some insect bites taken out of some of the leaves. ]
no subject
that much is a lot of what magic is. good intentions—which cannot be forced, no matter how much one may try.]
You don't need to know the name, but yes—I suppose you could say they have feelings. Just not quite as dimensional as those you and I feel. [they will not wilt over someone not knowing their names.] You're doing great.
[a light breeze helps the nature around them stir a bit, and wanda takes note of a bud unfurling slowly. she cannot tell if it's being boosted by her magic, which is thus being boosted by carl's own attempts at it, but she wants to reckon that it's quite something.]
—don't push yourself.
[is what she says, pressing a gentle hand onto his back.]
It takes practice and building stamina for it. You never want to run yourself dry when trying out spells, otherwise you'll just collapse. [once he opens his eye, she motions around.] Some buds opened up.
no subject
Okay, plants have feelings but like.. Not? Maybe it's more like a presence? Like they know what to do and know when they're hurt or need water and sun? Really, that part is just science, but he gets the idea behind what Wanda is saying.
He doesn't realize how hard he's thinking about this and trying to will it to happen until that hand touches his back lightly and he drops his shoulders and opens his eye to look at her. ]
Oh-- oops. [ It's weird. He feels like he's just run a mile and they've only been sitting here. He wants to keep going until he can get it right, but he knows it's like how hard he had to work getting his depth perception back. It takes time like building a muscle. Carl is surprised the flowers responded, but he doesn't know whether it was him (probably not) or Wanda's presence (more likely) that was the cause. Either way, he grins, feeling accomplished. ]
Cool. [ He's quiet for a moment, considering the buds and reaching out to brush his fingertip against it. ] I'd like to learn more when you're not too busy. Maybe you can help me do something with the other thing I can do now?
no subject
maybe that's one thing she should keep in mind teaching others: that magic is finite, and once that threshold is crossed, it can start to take from one's own physical reserves.
a note for later.]
We got nothing but time here, so you can come find me anytime.
[it's nice—spending time with carl like this.]
And I happen to not be busy right now, so— if you feel up to it, you can show me this other thing you can do?
no subject
Yeah, you're right about that. This is home now, so better to make the most out of it.
Oh, I'm up for it! [ Carl beams and stands up, brushing off his legs. Looking around for a good target, he spots a bird on a nearby branch and points toward it. ] Okay, now watch that bird. It might take me a second.
[ He takes a deep breath and shakes out his hands as if that would help shake the spell out of his fingertips. He waves his arm in its direction, which doesn't really do anything. Instead of getting dismayed, he focuses a little harder and thinks about how he's seen magic cast before. When he gestures his hand kind of like Wanda does, a faint blue glow surrounds the bird and he throws his arms up and lets out a whoop from his success. ]
no subject
she waits, seeing from the periphery of her eyes that he's really working at it— and then the bird glows a faint blue.]
Hey, look at that.
[wanda gets up, brushing off the dirt from her knees. she keeps her gaze on the bird, then back to carl.]
Do you know what that spell does?
[it's important to make sure you know yourself!]
no subject
I think it just lights it up. I was playing with the family I'm staying with and I just.. I dunno, gestured at one of the kids and the same thing happened, but green.
[ He shrugs. ] I guess that sort of thing just happens with the Summoned after they go to the Horizon, I heard. Maybe it's that.
no subject
[there's no denying that crossing into the horizon means pushing through some kind of magical threshold, and perhaps that, too, grants those who were not magically inclined before to have the ability to do so, now. like monica passing through the hex's walls and getting those powers of hers.
she smiles over at him.]
Might be useful in the pitch black. Like a — sort of flashlight?
[glancing back at the bird, she wonders,]
How long does it last for?
no subject
[ But still, it's a few minutes more than he could do before. And the matron of the house had been pretty proud he could do it at all and said with practice, he'd get better at it. The praise from Wanda feels a little more impactful to him, especially right now. ]
Flashlight is a good way to put it. I can't control what color it turns, but so far I've seen green and blue.
no subject
Is that because they're your favorite colors?
[she wonders... maybe it's randomized?]
I imagine other than a flashlight of sorts, it could help with pinpointing targets. You could use it in different ways. I'd say it's worth practicing.
no subject
[ He nods in agreement. It's something he's going to keep practicing alongside what Wanda has already shown him. He wants to make something of himself with magic. While it's a lofty goal to want to live up to her skills, he can't help but look to Wanda for inspiration. ]
Maybe with practice, I can choose?
no subject
In my experience, your magic can be anything you want it to be, if you set your mind to it. If you practice, I'm sure you can choose the color.
[—though it's kind of cute if it's randomized...
she straightens a little, thoughtful.]
Though consider the value of things. Does the color matter at all for the spell, or is it simply part of the aesthetic? If different colors mean different things, different — boons, then maybe it's worth focusing on which one you can choose. Otherwise, I wouldn't put too much energy in getting a specific color at any given time.
no subject
[ He shrugs. It doesn't really matter to him what the color is. The point of it all is he can do magic! Michonne would probably be proud of him, too. That more than anything is motivation enough. He's missing her something terrible, so maybe he'll start writing letters that can't be sent. ]
What else can I work on that's easy to start with?