text; un: feal (forward-dated to the 17th)

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran has had some thoughts about the fallout of the Circle's experiments, and how he wouldn't have been able to do much to help that night even if he hadn't been occupied with something else. He's lucky that neither of his bonds were hurt in any lasting way, but... what about the next time danger shows up? Is he just supposed to cower at home and wait because fairies are a fragile species, especially against the Cwyld? It doesn't feel right to him.]

I'm looking for some suggestions on learning to fight. Long-range, if at all possible. I can't use magic, and none of the powers I have access to can be used offensively.

[He'll get some ideas on that later, but it's not really a weapon, per se.]

I was thinking about archery, but I don't know how easy it would be to pull a bow out in an emergency or anything. Do they have collapsible bows here? [Better not ramble too much on his thoughts, though.]

I'm basically a beginner with any kind of weapon, but I'm willing to put in the work. If anyone has ideas or can point me to somewhere I can learn, I'd appreciate it.

Comments

[noblegarnet]

Sure. The more complex computers and things have gotten, the more they can put in. I think they were even working on some where you could put on a headset with a screen, and it's like you're walking around in the game world.

[Ferran accepts the offer, grabbing a couple of berries from the basket to snack on. There's plenty of them, so he doesn't feel too bad sharing, even if they were meant for her.

He's just about to assert how unsuited he'd be to the task—his sheepish expression says as much—but Karin brings up another party and he pauses for a moment to process that they know each other and why it might be that Styx has issue with them.]

His hands are pretty big, aren't they? [Kind of an understatement, given the rest of the guy.] You'd think a bigger size would be fairly simple... I'm no engineer, but that's the impression I've gotten from things back home. I guess I'm used to tech changing all the time, though.

[sonnestark]

Like walking around in the game world...

[She can't help but echo him, that very concept so impressive that she takes a moment to express her awe over it. If there were games that weren't about combat, she thinks she might actually enjoy that herself— as good as she is at wielding a sword, she doesn't know if she would want to play a game that allowed to do the same. She got rather enough of that on a day-to-day basis.

She had mentioned Styx's name as though it were second nature, never for a moment stopping to consider that Ferran might not know him, until it becomes very clear that he does. She nods in eager agreement, pausing only to pop a berry into her own mouth.]

You know him, then. Yes— he gets frustrated sometimes. I feel like there must be a spell that could be used to enlarge them, but I'm no witch. I've helped him with some of his studies, but haven't come across anything like that just yet. Maybe there's someone we can talk to about making advancements in the next batch of watches, if technology changes so frequently elsewhere.

[noblegarnet]

[time to regain minecraft and sims so karin can play a game]

Right... transmutation is a thing, surely? Maybe the magic that makes them work is delicate. I'd say it's worth a try, but I don't know how expensive these would be if we wanted an extra to tinker with. [WOULD BE NICE IF HE COULD EXPERIMENT WITH THESE THINGS HIMSELF, BUT. He sighs.]

It seems like most of the tech comes from the Coven around here—they must have some kind of research and development group. Maybe they're busy with other things, though...

[sonnestark]

[get right on that, Ferran]

You know, I never really considered how much they might cost?

[Naive, perhaps, but they do just hand them out when people get here. She doesn't know of anyone who's ever had to buy one, but it stands to reason that they must have to get a replacement somehow if one breaks.]

That actually sounds like a pretty fun project. [She grins; she can almost see the wheels in his head turning.] It would certainly benefit a lot of people, if someone found ways to improve upon the existing model. Sure, they do a lot of what we need already, and they're pretty impressive in their own right, but progress never stops.

[Ferran seems like exactly the kind of nerd who would enjoy working on such a project, she thinks.]

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran hadn't missed how the network was largely Mirrorbound-only, himself, and otherwise he can't say he's seen a similar watch on many of the locals. It's not a simple piece of magitech compared to the rest of what he's seen, either, so he'd added it to the pile of things labeled "generosity to aliens" that he was suspicious of and likewise confused by.

Ferran might be interested in the theorycrafting, but he has neither magical ability nor technical expertise. He's an Ideas Guy only, as far as he's concerned, even if he'd like to help with that kind of thing in less essential ways. Still:]

Rikku's been tinkering with some of the things here, I know. She was really interested in my phone, too, when I showed it to her.

[sonnestark]

[Well Ferran, nothing wrong with being an Ideas Guy and finding someone else to do the hands-on part!]

That does sound like her.

[She smiles fondly; Rikku has been quick to poke and prod at whatever she can get her hands on in this place, always interested in how things work. She imagines that gives both her and Ferran a great deal to talk about. Though Karin had been guarded and concerned regarding Rikku's seeking out a bondmate through the watch network, those days are long past; obviously, she quite likes Ferran herself.]

Maybe a joint project is in order.

[noblegarnet]

[His boyish charms have won over yet another person. Even now, he is too powerful.]

Maybe so. It wouldn't hurt to bring it up, anyway.

[Ferran is always up for new distractions, and Karin would make the perfect tester, too. It would be fun to work on something together...]