Unethical alternate solutions

[aestrix]

In an estate in the twilight belt of New Kystle, a group of mages have become annoyed with the Third Bloodline. Their lack of children, their continual refusal to have them - and the clock is ticking. They're worried about what happens if another half-blood's born, and there's no one to stop them from their rampage.

So they research alternate solutions.

They do some scrying, planning to summon whatever something interesting when they find it. Predictably, they find something interesting. Also predictably, they summon it.



------------


With Lazarus and Kolya.

With the Admin.

Comments

[nonbird]

"It's my... magic," he says. "Sorry for the unexciting terminology. Where I'm from, some people just have one particular magic thing they can do, and this is mine. It's not really seeing, but I don't think there are better words. Yes, I would like a translation spell if you would like to give me a translation spell. I work as a translator; I like languages."

[darkest_evening]

"That's... Not how it works here. You do not accidentally get magic, not unless you're a half-blood, and those are extremely dangerous. I'm curious if you can tell why."

He retrieves a book of cheat sheets and thumbs through it for the translation spell. Fairness, and all.

[nonbird]

"I wouldn't say the magic we get is accidental," he says. "Although I don't think it's genetic the way yours is. What am I supposed to be telling, exactly?"

[darkest_evening]

"Well, the last three we had were absolutely insane and most of us think that has to do with their pedigree." He turns another few pages, finds the correct one, and then starts going over the translation spell. "I'm fairly certain it's correct, but I'd also like to know why and if there's a way to - save their sanity."

[nonbird]

"That might be a little too vague for me to go on. How much is a half, relative to you? In what way were they absolutely insane?"

[darkest_evening]

"Well, I am technically a quarter, so you may use me as your measurement. They were - absolutely insane in different ways, each new and exciting. The first was a serial rapist and mass-murderer, the second was bi-polar, eternally child-like, and domineering, and the third was bi-polar, somewhat sociopathic, and fixated to an extreme on a long dead man and killed millions to resurrect him." Pause. "That last one was my mother, I can give some better examples of her if you need them."

[nonbird]

"...Eep," says Lazarus. "I can see magic but I'm not particularly an expert in how minds work, is the thing. Being twice the amount of magic that you are seems vaguely hazardous, but I can't tell exactly how. Does 'uncomfortable amounts of information' sound relevant? I'm not sure it's a perfectly accurate interpretation, but it's hard to be specific without a direct example to go on."

[darkest_evening]

"It... Sounds vaguely relevant. Do you know what sorts of information they get?"

He finishes studying the translation spell, and - there it goes.

[nonbird]

"Ooh, nifty," says Lazarus. "Thank you. Um... not any kinds that are different than the kinds you get, I don't think. Are you planning on letting me out of this magic bubble at some point?"

[darkest_evening]

"You're welcome. I will possibly let you out, but just because you are pleasant and helpful doesn't mean that you're not incredibly dangerous," points out Adarin. "Around five hundred years ago there was an invasion that killed billions when someone let something out that they shouldn't have. I'd like to not have a repeat incident."

[nonbird]

"That... does make sense," he says. "Um. ...Is it theoretically possible that whatever these people did to bring me here, if insufficiently specified, could have brought someone else along accidentally?"

[darkest_evening]

"... Yes, but I'm not seeing anyone else besides you?"

[nonbird]

"Yyyyes," he says. "Well. You wouldn't. Kolya I'm very sorry but I really would not like to be sent home without you. I have an unnoticeable roommate," he explains. He doesn't break rhythm at all for the interjection in the middle to the mysterious Kolya, but he does shift from addressing Adarin to addressing nowhere in particular, and then back again for the next sentence. "He's not dangerous - I don't even know for sure if he's here - but if he is, he is probably stuck outside your bubble, because the previous version would have let him through and this one won't."

[darkest_evening]

"That... Is concerning, can he make himself noticeable?"

[nonbird]

"Yes but he's probably not going to anytime soon because he is very shy and you are somewhat alarming."

[darkest_evening]

"Er. If he's here I can't exactly send him home without knowing where he is, I don't tend to teleport people by accident. I promise that I'm nonviolent and friendly?"

[nonbird]

"Kolya?" says Lazarus.

[ignorable]

...and now there is someone standing in a corner of the room, away from any other people but especially away from Adarin. He wasn't apparent before, but there is no exact moment in which he appears; he just... is.

[darkest_evening]

"Well, hello there," says Adarin. He does not trap Kolya in another bubble, he would like to keep the unnoticeable person unfrightened, and there's really no use now, he's already out and about. "I'm Adarin, you've probably heard, it's nice to meet you."

[ignorable]

"Hi," says Kolya.

[nonbird]

"Thank you Kolya," says Lazarus.

[darkest_evening]

Adarin thinks a bit, then sighs and waves a hand - bubble goes away.

"This entire thing is a disaster, if you two end up being world-eaters or something I will eat my hair."

[nonbird]

...Lazarus giggles.

[darkest_evening]

"Possibly also my staff," drawls Adarin. "With pepper and some garnishes."

[ignorable]

Well, now Kolya is giggling too.