public channel, forward dated a smidge to the morning of d15

[kingsroads]

Months ago, during the Celebration, a few of us got together to talk about and compare the magic from our worlds. Well, it's been a while since then and we've certainly picked up more magicians, so why not revive that little discussion group?

[ he's phrasing it as a hypothetical but as Strange keeps barging on, there's nothing hypothetical about it: he is totally reviving that discussion group. ]

I've asked around and the smaller festival hall in the building closest to the carnival portal is available for our use. Anyone who's interested should meet there tonight, just after sundown, for an informal gathering to talk about magic. There will be space inside the festival hall and outside in the snow for anyone to demonstrate their techniques.

Likewise, anyone who wishes to learn about magic should come and visit as well. [ And there's a bit of a pause like Strange is trying his hardest to choose his words carefully. ] Magicians in the carnival have different types of magic drawing upon different techniques. While one school of thought might seem incomprehensible, another might seem as clear as day. This is a chance for those of us with magic to learn from each other and develop our skills and those of us who wish to learn magic to see what practice would best fit their needs.

[ There's a pause, because Strange has no idea how to end this. ] Sound off if you're coming, I suppose. Oh, and can someone bring snacks?

( ooc: this is an ic post about mage club, an idea floated around on the cr meme a while back. I'll put up a mingle log later in the week for the actual meeting itself. as for this post, feel free to threadjack around! )

Comments

[kingsroads]

And that is why I suggested you go outside.

[kingsroads]

I will warn you though, most of the people I know with shapeshifting magic can only transform into one thing. Still, if that one thing is useful enough it could still help in combat.

[kingsroads]

Of course that's alright. You should do whatever you think is the most effective way to learn something.

[atouts]

[ This is going to turn into a 'why didn't you tell me' moments, Childermass just knows it, but he isn't going to bother lying about it. That's stupid. ]

The Ringmaster. [ That should be a given. ] Lambert knows to an extent. Rita, as well, since Pythia decided to be chatty with her.

[kingsroads]

[ There's a brief awkward pause while Strange just purses his lips in a frown. ]

I wish I learned about this from you instead of from someone else.

[ childermass is 100% correct, this is straight up a 'why didn't you tell me' moment. ]

[atouts]

[ Yeah, he's wishing that right now, too, pal, wishing real hard, but that won't change a damn thing. It also doesn't change the boiling anger he feels, knowing he's something to gossip about here as well. ]

Did it ever cross your mind that I didn't want anyone to know in the first place?

[kingsroads]

[ Strange starts to say something, but bites his words back before he says it. Because he's got a feeling pointing out that he's not just anyone might not work in this situation.

He's already apologized to Childermass once on the moon, let's not have it happen again. ]

If both the Summerlands fae and the caravan changelings were able to recognize your changed soul then I truly am sorry, but you might not be able to keep it a secret in the first place.

[atouts]

[ Strange has him there. If even changelings can tell, wouldn't it only be a matter of time before the rest of the carnival could? He's not even sure. He never asked that, he never even thought to, and so his anger just collapses and for the barest of moments he struggles to keep his composure.

Though he had made his peace with Pythia in the end, that had been more akin deciding it was pointless to hate himself. It didn't fix the root of the problem. He could still hate that, the Winter Court, the Count, that entire world and it's god awful spell. ]

Then what am I supposed to do? [ As much as he hates to admit it, he doesn't know. ] The Ringmaster can't fix it. She doesn't even know if it can be fixed.

[periphrasing]

Sign me the heck up!

[She's actually super amped about this?]

[periphrasing]

Why do you two always get drunk? What's the appeal?

[kingsroads]

[ If the Ringmaster can't fix it, then that truly is worrying. For all of Strange's 'let's throw magic at a problem until it's fixed', he knows that he is very much outclassed by certain fae, the Ringmaster being one of them. ]

If it can't be fixed, then perhaps it could be dulled. A spell to hide that essence or to make you seem more human. Perhaps a reworked version of the glamor spell that the Ringmaster uses....

[ Strange is just tossing out ideas for the sake of tossing out ideas but the slightly worried frown on his face tells Childermass that he doesn't really know either. ]

We must find something eventually.

[dirthena]

( yeah ok, that part seems legit. she does the same. )

It might be useful. Continued magical education is one thing every magic user in my world can agree upon; it wouldn't do to just start and stop it over the course of months.

[whattaprick]

You're thousands of years old and you've never gotten drunk?

[atouts]

I am human!

[ Comes a very un-Childermass-like outburst, anger with no real target rising back to the surface for... seconds, really, before he grits his teeth and steps back, turning away from Strange a little. His feathers are definitely ruffled, but it's probably not so funny right now, in this situation. People are looking. Caravan people, thank god, but that's still too many for him, especially if they're a pack of gossips.

He grits his teeth, taking a moment to settle down again, then adds, much more levelly, ]

Or I should be. Did you have business in the market? I'm not sure this is the best place for this...

[whattaprick]

Sounds handy. Maybe you can show some of that off if you turn up for this 'discussion group.'

How are you with sneaking around?

[ Since she is, well, a scout. That's ostensibly what she's supposed to do... ]

[whattaprick]

Seeing you try to do magic drunk would be pretty good entertainment, though.

[lonesomewanderer]

[ There's that word again. Magician. It made it sound so trivial. ]

And what parlor tricks can the inquisitive expect to see if they attend?

[kingsroads]

[ But are they really? After all, all of them were changelings, turned by the Ringmaster's magic. And, at least in Portland Strange's mind, changelings weren't people.

Real Strange isn't entirely sure what he thinks about the matter. He lightly rubs the mirrored scratches on his wrists as he looks over at Childermass. ]

I don't. I picked it because this place was convenient to meet. Where shall we go?

[ Because of course they're continuing this conversation, why wouldn't they? ]

[kingsroads]

Wonderful! [ Strange is amped as well, so it's just a feedback loop of people pumping each other up. ]

You see, this is exactly why I wanted to arrange this meeting in the first place! I know that you've been exposed to all sorts of different magic in the carnival, but how often have you been able to sit down and have a proper talk with one of the magicians here? This meeting will let people who wish to learn do so.

[atouts]

[ Childermass would argue the difference is permanence. Isn't that how it was meant to work, with the Ringmaster's magic and contracts? But that's neither here nor there, perhaps an argument for later in this conversation, so he waves off down a path leading away from the market. Like he can settle on any one spot, so they'll just wander. ]

Anywhere, just not here.

[ And it's that way that he'll start walking, this time over a well-worn path in the snow rather than out into the wilderness like the last time they met. At least they won't need to trudge through any snow drifts this time. ]

[kingsroads]

Put enough alcohol in me and I'll give it a try!

[ magician to the king of england, everyone. ]

[kingsroads]

Precisely. There's only so much we can do with the year long contracts of the carnival, but even the start of an education can make a world of difference—especially when one doesn't have the opportunity back in their own world.

[kingsroads]

That depends. Which magic do you want to see in the first place? I've elemental spells, scrying, traveling magic, simply pick something.

[dirthena]

Out of practice. Most of my recent experience is more to do with leading small teams into situations where the majority of both sides were occupied elsewhere, and being discovered was less of an issue.

( she can go find cole if he needs references. )

[kingsroads]

[ They won't need to trudge through snow drifts and, to everybody's surprise, Strange is actually rested. He manages to keep up with Childermass, matching his pace as they head away from the market.

Strange isn't the sort to let a good silence stay put so he just keeps yammering as they walk away. ]

We didn't talk about you too much. Truth be told, she was more interested in the mechanics of magic and the spell that changed us in Portland over you and Steven yourselves.

[ oh right, Steven. Does Childermass know about that? Should he be gossipping about Steven in the first place? Good job Strange, you're blabbing about a teenager. ]