RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

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[spellbent]

[ A set of runes on either wall flare to life, erecting a barrier between the wizard and the mage. The flames spread over the invisible wall, but it holds. Warren slams the wards back into place with a snap of his fingers ]

Next question: how do you do that?

[cultivations]

[ When the wards come back into play, it briefly knocks the breath from him, and Dorian lets out a soft grunt. He braces his arm around his middle again, leaning back against the wall.

When he's caught his breath again, he responds dryly with, ]

Magic.

[spellbent]

I only have so much patience for your sarcasm.

Where does the magic come from? You don't use our runes, and every time I cut you off from your power you react like it's a physical blow.

[cultivations]

[ He hesitates again, reluctance written on his face. He settles at last on the short version: ]

I-- have a connection to another plane of existence. I expend energy to draw power, and when you put up these blighted wards, you effectively drain that energy from me.

Happy?

[spellbent]

[ There’s that grin again, and he grabs a notebook from the top of his pile to jot down some notes. ] Another plane of existence? Fascinating. Is that where you’re from or are you simply connected?

And if it’s the latter, where are you from?

[cultivations]

[ He finds he dislikes that smile the more he sees it, which is why he answers simply: ]

Yes.

Middle-Earth.

[spellbent]

[ Warren gives him a flat look for half a second before sketching out a quick spell- it’s not enough to throw Dorian around this time, more like the equivalent to a punch in the gut. ]

Don’t get cute with me.

[cultivations]

[ He can't help the quiet noise of pain from escaping him, and he silently curses himself for it. After a second, he grits out, ]

I'm not often called "cute." And I imagine neither are you used to calling someone such. New experiences all around. Hurrah.

[spellbent]

[ He doesn’t deign to reply to that. ]

I’m going to ask you one more time and then I start breaking bones. Where are you from?

[cultivations]

[ his lips draw into a thin line before he speaks again. ]

Minrathous. [ and because he can't help himself, ] It's a land of fairies and pixie dust and blessings of unicorns as far as the eye can see.

[spellbent]

[ Warren is nothing if not a man of his word, which is to say that he doesn’t find that answer sufficient so he casts yet another spell and promptly breaks Dorian’s wrist. ]

[cultivations]

[ Ah.

Well, then.

The shock of it is enough to rip a cry from his throat, let alone the pain, and he hunches forward, clutching his wrist to his chest.

Coherent thought? What's that? Can you eat it? ]

[spellbent]

[ For his own part, Warren merely sits back and sips his coffee as he waits for Dorian to come back to his senses. ]

[cultivations]

[ It takes him a while, but eventually it occurs to him he was attempting to be a smartass. So at long last, he pants out, ]

That-- was unnecessary.

[spellbent]

I found your little comment to be pretty unnecessary, so I guess we’re even.

[cultivations]

Eye of the beholder.

[ he means it to sound defiant, but it falls flat even in his own ears. For another few seconds, he tries to breathe through the pain. When it dulls to a throb, he drags his gaze to Warren. ]

Whatever it is you wish to learn about my magic, you won't be able to use it. No one here can. You're physically incapable.

Save us all the trouble and let me go.

[spellbent]

[ Warren glances up, a frown tugging slightly at the corners of his mouth. ] That’s disappointing. Are people born with a connection to this other plane and that’s what gives them the ability to use magic?

[cultivations]

Yes. [ and while he wants to simply leave it at that, experience tells him he should elaborate. ]

Drawing power from that other existence is how I cast. The wizards here lack that connection. It's why our schools are so wholly different. No matter how much you learn, no matter how much you want to, you'll never be able to cast spells as I do.

[spellbent]

It figures we’d have to do this the hard way.

[ He heaves a sigh, pushing himself away from the table to stand. ] Thank you, Dorian. You’ve been very helpful, if not entirely cooperative.

[cultivations]

[ he's not so naive as to believe this is over. Not by a long shot. It's why he goes rigid, eyes narrow with undisguised wariness. ]

What do you mean, "the hard way"?

[spellbent]

I told you, didn’t I? I either figure out how to use your magic or I figure out a way to make you use it for me.

The former would have been much easier.

[cultivations]

And the latter is impossible, if you honestly think I'd willingly work for you.

[spellbent]

How stupid do you think I am? I’m not talking about willingly.

[cultivations]

[ He'd been rather afraid of that. ]

Don't.

[ it's the first thing out of his mouth, and he wants so very badly to panic, but he keeps it at bay by sheer force of will alone. ]

Whatever you're thinking of doing, don't.

[spellbent]

You're not really in any position to tell me what to do.