eluvio | Project 1: [voice] un: hello

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Project 1: [voice] un: hello

[The Eluvio definitely made him nervous, bringing back memories of a different highly technological setting, but Emil had already made the decision to keep his weird skull-like head up and carry on. That was all there was to do, right? So even though he was scared, he was not only going to wear the strange clothes they gave him and try his best at his first ever real job, but he was going to... try to talk to new people.

It still felt like a real accomplishment, even if he did feel a lot safer not using the video feed. He just didn't want to scare anyone..]

Hello, everyone! My name is Emil.

[There. A perfectly normal thing to say! He could do this. He was going to ignore his anxieties and be brave like his friends.]

This is really confusing, but... as long as I'm here, I want to help! I can use magic, and I can fight with it, so if anyone needs a helping hand, like in a dangerous situation... I could do that.

[He can feel himself growing more and more self-conscious, so he hurries to wrap it up.]

Oh! And... does anyone know where I could get some gloves? Really small ones?

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( He figures out fairly quickly that his new friend Emil isn't used to these things, and so he sits and listens, smiling to himself, standing up and walking away to tidy around the office and shuffle a few invoices around to look at later. It sounds like the kid has managed fairly well, which, all things considered, leaves him a better place than those who weren't even familiar with phones when they arrived.

Thus he laughs after he's addressed, setting down the papers he'd shuffled around and walking back over to where he'd propped up his comm. )

I was, but don't worry about it. Now you've learned about conference calls too, without even meaning to! I'm glad the staff was able to accommodate you so quickly.

[Emil relaxes more when he realizes Victor's not annoyed with him, but he's still really embarrassed.]

I guess so... but I'm sorry! I'll be more careful from now on. I guess that takes care of everything I needed for right now, so...

Are you from around here, or did you show up in the tubes too? This place is pretty confusing, even after watching a whole picture show about it.

( He laughs again at that, shaking an unseen head. )

No, not from here, I don't — I arrived around two months ago in one of the tubes, as you say. The Eluvio is a... surprising? Place. Have you been in space before, Emil?

In... space?

[Oh, right. The show had addressed that, but he'd been too busy looking around at his new surroundings and trying to see if his friends were here.

He'd heard that part, but he hadn't taken the time to digest it.]

N-no, never. I mostly stayed in the manor, where it was safe.

I see. Just the one manor?

( he must be young. or shielded. or ill. the question with the gloves, avoiding outside crowds; maybe a weak immune system? )

This is all very different from what you're used to; if it gets overwhelming, please ask any of us for help.

Do people normally have more than one manor? I mean, it was just me and my butler Sebastian for a really long time, so we didn't exactly need more space.

[The question just surprised him, that's all. Were people expected to have lots of different oversized homes?]

Oh, no, more that people usually travel outside of one... manor. Or any house.

Oh! I mean, most people definitely do, but I stayed in most of the time because it was too dangerous.

[For other people, that is.]

Dangerous in what way?

( he's still thinking this poor kid has some kind of terrible immune system. to be fair, one of his good friends he's made here is an idol with a congenital heart condition, so... )

[Emil's voice, soft to begin with, drops even lower.]

Well, for a very long time... anyone who saw my eyes would get turned to stone. It was terrible and there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening, so I started wearing a blindfold. And I just didn't go anywhere.

I mean, there wasn't much point if I couldn't even risk taking a peek, right?

... Wait, what?! Like with Medusa?

( he sounds surprised? he's very surprised. magic is something he's starting to see and understand, but he's still far away from fully understanding it, or something like this being so casually true. it's an ongoing battle; he can't say he denies it, but he doesn't... know how to swallow it down so simply. )

Wow, that's... very unfortunate?

( THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO LIFE??? )

[To be fair to Victor, magic and powers aren't super common in Emil's world either. He's just lived with it long enough to take it for granted.

Misunderstanding his tone, Emil hurries to reassure him.]

Oh, don't worry! I can control it now. And I can even reverse it, too! Not that I plan on using it, of course.

( Victor hadn't even thought about magic being something outside of a person's control, though now thinking about it, why wouldn't it be possible? like any skill, one needs to train to control it, but — he laughs, a little strained. aaah. )

I'm glad to hear you have good control over this now. Though, uh. Is there any other kind of surprising... magic? You've been struggling with?

[From the sudden silence on the other end of the line, it's apparent that Victor inadvertently struck a nerve.

For once, Emil is less than forthcoming when answering a question. He doesn't want to think about it. And he definitely doesn't want to scare people off.

When he speaks again he sounds cheerful enough, but it rings a little hollow.]

Not... that I can think of!

Hey, Emil, I'm making this line private for the moment.

( not asking for permission, in this case. he's just keeping him informed. )

I won't pretend to know anything about magic, because I don't. Are you being entirely honest right now?

You can do that? Wait, does that mean it wasn't private before?

[He's not that concerned about it, but that's good information to have. It was probably deeper into the tutorial than he got out of excitement, but he was definitely going to have to read the whole thing at some point. If someone got it in their head to crosscheck his network conversations, they're very likely going to be extremely confused or have a much better idea of what he is.

Or both.

There's a bit of uncertain hemming and hawing on the other end, Emil sounding for all the world like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar and trying to think of a way out of it.

There isn't one.]

No... I wasn't. I'm sorry. I haven't had all of these powers for long, and there's so much of it...

I got really worked up and the weapon me took over and I lost control once. People died... a lot of people.

[His voice wavers a little, but he keeps talking.]

I'm so sorry...

It wasn't private before, no. Captain Andor wrote this encryption, so he and likely anyone else with the skill or inclination can read this... hello, friends! But when you activate it, most people will be kept from reading, seeing, or hearing what you say. Well, if they're not already nearby.

( It's an absent minded explanation for what he now presumes to be a magically gifted young man. Who is not completely in charge of his own skills, as happens, when... well, when these things are new. )

I don't think you need to apologise to me. Emil, what had you get worked up at that time? Do you have any training that you work with to improve your control, so things like that don't happen as easily?

( Please don't say they have a good natured magical nuclear warhead child on board, that would be entirely too appropriate to how things have gone lately... )

[That's kind of exactly what just happened. Sorry for your lots.

There's a delay before Emil answers. Thinking about what happened to the Aerie still hurts, and he sniffles and puffs a bit first as he gets himself back under control. His voice wavers a bit, but he doesn't sound quite as brittle as he did a second ago.]

Training? Um... I mean... if that was possible I'd be okay with it, but I don't think there are any other weapons here. Everyone I talk to just sounds surprised and kinda curious.

[Which he doesn't mind; it's been refreshing to get to talk to people and connect with them without fear.

But he's not sure how to go about getting control of those instincts. His effort to get ahold of himself last time was about like trying to hold back the ocean with your hands.]

( He rubs at his face, reminding himself he doesn't need to have all the answers, but as a community, they need to work on finding all kinds of solutions. This is just one more challenge to face. People are good at overcoming those, aren't they? )

We come from a great many different worlds. Which still feels incredible to say, but... it's possible that one who uses magic from another world may be able to help you learn how to work with the talent you have. Are you saying that trying to train will only work if you're... well, training can be done in all different ways, for a sport or something like that. Is magic so different?

Y-yes?

[He doesn't sound too confident in his answer, but he's quick enough to clarify.]

Sports are like... games that you really like, and that interest you, and that you want to get better at. Magic, to me, is...

[An unfortunate condition. A senseless accident, at the heart of it.]

...I guess you could say it was given to me, even though I didn't ask for it. And I'm just trying to figure out what to do now. As long as I don't get worked up and have to use a lot of power all at once, everything is okay. I'm not like a bomb about to go off or anything.

[But training? If there's even a chance that's an option...]

Do you know anyone like that? Like a... magic coach?

I know a few people here who work with magic and say they're well accomplished. If you want, we can try asking after anyone willing to work with you, and see if they're able to help.

( It's about the only way he knows how to tackle a problem like this. )

Other than that, what about working on how to keep you feeling calm and handling ... stress to not get worked up?

( He's fairly sure people can do that. It's not generally a problem he has, but it is for others, and he knows that much better these days. )

[He doesn't know what to say at first. His friends back home were always supportive, but they were jaded, world-weary fighters whose main solution to problems were to brute force their way through and never look back. Survival via momentum. They kept him going, but in a lot of ways they just weren't equipped to help.

As far as his weapon abilities went, he was more or less on his own.

The idea of having people to guide him, the chance to learn how to keep everything under control and never have a repeat of what happened then...

He's almost too nervous to hope, but he can't keep it out of his voice.]

Do you really think that could work? Would people really help me?

Hmm...

( he considers before responding, knowing that being flippant here might be dangerous for a whole slew of reasons his mind still can't quite wrap around. in the end, he chuckles, feeling immensely tired. he's not equipped to handle any of this.

so he'll muddle through, since he's not much of a quitter either. )

I think the only way we learn is by doing. It's not in anyone's interest to not help. Let's find who's interested in helping.

[Well, Emil can't argue against that point.]

Okay! Let's do it! But... even if nobody can, don't worry, okay? I can work hard on my own and figure some things out for myself, too. I won't give up, no matter what.

[And it's encouraging, just knowing someone's in his corner.]

( now that attitude is one that's easier for him to support; it's closer to how he thinks. giving up isn't an option. figuring things out as you go is sometimes the way you must move forward. he allows himself to smile, so that it changes his voice, letting him sound more upbeat when he responds. )

Good. I'll hold you to that. No giving up, no matter what.

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unluckynumberseven - 2017-02-26 12:29 (UTC) - Expand

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genice - 2017-02-26 12:32 (UTC) - Expand

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Project 1: [voice] un: hello

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