2023-02-16 - Questions and Cures
| Title: Questions and Cures | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Levin is in the middle of a training exercise, when her activity is noticed by Setsuna on patrol, who transforms to check it out. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: World Tree Plaza (Tama Outer City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 2/16/2023 - Thursday, February 18, 2016 | |
.****************************** Tama Outer City *******************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* World Tree Plaza +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
The World Tree Plaza is both a social and mystical center in Tama Outer
City, a huge concourse with chairs and benches and shopping situated beneath
the eternally gentle shade of the titanic World Tree. The tree itself is a
100-meter behemoth that commands the local skyline, visible from many miles
away. Stairs and walking paths - first concrete, then hewn into the bark and
branches - allow climbers and hikers to clamber over a dozen meters above
the ground. Its size makes it a reliable landmark, popular both for giving
directions and for meeting friends. Although visitors find the World Tree a
stunning sight, for citizens of Tama, it's simply a beloved local landmark.
The World Tree's true identity is the sacred tree Bontou, a site of enormous
natural magical power. Every 22 years, Bontou releases a tremendous rush of
magical energy. The city around the tree has been groomed by the Magic
Association for more than a century, and so six points of power harness the
Tree's power at all times: Five in a pentacle around the tree, and one in a
cavern beneath the trunk itself. At the moment, the Infinity Institute sits
directly on top of one such control point; the Institute's Library Island is
in charge of another. Another point supposedly contains the local Magic
Association headquarters...although an unwitting visitor would find only St.
Ursula's, a small church and Catholic school with distant ties to the
Infinity Institute.
COMBAT: Raiko Takashima transforms into Witch Levin!
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
It's a relatively peaceful night in the city, and at street level people are going about their normal tasks and routines. It's chilly, but for the moment the skies are clear and there's no snow or rain threatened, so people are bundled up but not in any particular rush.
Of course, those who might try to stargaze on such a clear night will likely be foiled by the light pollution of the city, but there might be other things to spot, for those perceptive enough to notice.
On a rooftop, a certain witch and her familiar have escaped the confines of the Infinity dorms with the goal of also escaping the trials of studying for entrance exams. Levin is transformed, her cloak pulled about her for warmth as she studies her handiwork. A large, intricate circle has been drawn on the rooftop (it's chalk, and she'll clean it up when she's done), consisting of several concentric rings inlaid with all manner of complicated runes and sigils, and in the middle of it all, in a circle that dwarfs the target of her working, is... a single thimble.
The familiar is watching from atop an air conditioning unit, silently observing as Levin nods to herself, and then grabs her staff, which had been standing upright next to her. "Okay, let's see if this works..."
From below, at street level, several flashes of blue light might warrant an odd glance and a quick dismissal from an ordinary person... but those aware of such things might recognize it for what it is: magic.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna Higashi likes to check around the city in case of trouble; sure, there usually isn't much on a lot of her outings, but it's good exercise too, and the times where there is a problem more than justify the trips. It is chilly, but Setsuna has a red coat on to account for that, and tights for her legs. She is likewise in no rush, but she does spot the light from the rooftop...
Curious.
Setsuna tilts her head--and thinks about it. The flashes of blue light suggest there's something, and while it could be nothing...
A MOMENT LATER:
Cure Passion disappears in a flash of red light, and reappears in a flash of same, a blip of crimson announcing her presence on the rooftop, at the edge, where she looks to the... thimble?
"...?" she inquires.
It doesn't 'feel' like evil magic.
She doesn't notice Levin at first. "...Is someone there?"
Cure Passion stands in a red dress, with white angelic wings at her head over her ears, with a multicolored clover at her chest. The cloth is armor; she has big sleeves, too. And she has voluminous pink hair tumbling down her back in waves.
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin is, almost undoubtedly, a witch to look at her: The black hat is, of course, classic, and the rest of her garb suggests 'witch', but perhaps a more modern take than the traditional black dress: black vest, dark gray shirt, a layered, frilly black skirt, cloak, and leather boots and gloves. Her long blue hair is tied back in a braid secured with a silver ring.
She is currently clutching her staff (polished black wood, inlaid with silver and a crystal on top in a silver setting), and currently has her head bowed and eyes closed. She's standing at the edge of the circle, chanting an incantation softly under hear breath. Blue magic is coursing through the circle, the lines glowing with power as she slowly constructs a working, piece by piece...
Only for it all to dissipate in an instant as Passion asks her question.
Levin jumps, exclaiming a little and instantly bringing her staff into a battle ready position, with the crystal on top sparking with potential. "Who's there?!"
For her part the familiar, a tabby calico cat, was observing the casting with her eyes open, and noticed Passion's arrival, but didn't have a chance to try and signal the new arrival to remain quiet--instead, she just sighs softly and shakes her head. "Relax, dear, it's simply another magical girl."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Cure Passion hasn't known a lot of witches, but she's met one or two. For this reason she can identify the look, even if she lacks the cultural background of being generally familiar with them. She notices the way she's standing, and wonders what she's doing with the magic, but--
"Ah," Passion indicates when Levin seems ready for a fight. She will if she has to, but she doesn't think this is her enemy...
Shiori the familiar helps to hopefully defuse the situation. "Excuse me," Passion says. "I apologize for interrupting; I noticed magic, and I was patrolling... So I came to investigate. But it doesn't feel like dark magic to me. You're a magical girl, too?"
She puts a hand to her heart. "I'm Cure Passion. I fight Labyrinth."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin seems to calm down when the feline familiar assures her there's no danger--and in fact grows a bit excited when she finally sees Cure Passion. "Oh! I recognize you! Shiori, this is one of the magical girls I fought that vending machine monster with!"
Shiori, with an amount of patience that can only come from being long-lived, simple says gently, "Yes, dear. I was there, if you'll remember."
"Oh, right." Levin then seems to realize there's another person she should be talking to and clears her throat. She takes a deep breath and gives a little bow with a flourish of her cape, all while holding onto her staff. She tries to put on a more refined and mysterious air as she replies, "Ahem. I am The Witch of Wise Levin. I fight The Hungry Queen. This is my familiar, Shiori." She indicates the cat.
The familiar nods, "Greetings."
Levin almost manages to pull off the refined, graceful affectation she's going for... and it drops a moment later as she steps around the circle to approach Cure Passion, slipping right back into excitement. "You and that other girl you were fighting with were so cool! And the way you kept doing all of those combo attacks was awesome!"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Oh!" Passion says. "I didn't recognize you at first, in the shadow. It's very nice to see you again, in better circumstances." The way she speaks is very deliberate; she thinks about what she'll say before she says it, which means she's sometimes a little slow to talk.
"Greetings," Passion says in return to her. "I don't have a familiar... but my friend Tarte knows a number of familiars and others like them."
The Hungry Queen... a dangerous opponent. Passion remembers...
"Thank you," she says. "We've been friends for some time now. We work together against Labyrinth, and because we're friends we can fight together effectively, too. ...It helps that we've had a lot of practice."
"She's Cure Pine. And our other partners are Cure Berry and Cure Peach!"
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
While Cure Passion may be more delibarate with her speech, Levin is trying again, valiantly, to put on the mysterious air, saying, "Indeed! I am glad no... ill will... imperils the city on this night."
Shiori just sighs and gives a little shake of her head at Levin's antics, but to Passion she extends the a blink. "Familiars are something of a tradition for witches," she comments.
"Oh, cool!" Levin responds excitedly as Passion describes her friendship, excitability winning once again. "I haven't really done a lot of... Hrm." She lets go of her staff, which floats in the air by itself, and searches the pouches on her belt until she fetches out a notepad and a pencil. She mutters to herself, "... talk... to... Ivy... about... combo... attacks..."
She looks up again when Passion names the other people on her team. "There's more? Oh, I hope to get to see them someday! Right now the only other person in my..." She frowns a little, and looks over to Shiori. "... Coven?"
Shiori nods.
"Coven is The Witch of Lost Ivy. And our familiars."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It is indeed a heroic effort! "Yes," Passion agrees, without even blinking at Raiko's... manner. She seems to take it entirely seriously. "I'm also glad."
Then Shiori clarifies for Passion, and she nods. "I see. Witches have familiars..." Pause. "Are they always cats?" Pause. "Excuse me. I shouldn't assume that you are what you look like."
The staff is very neat. Passion regards it pleasantly. She likes to see the items that empower other people, too.
She wonders if there's a fairy in it, like her Linkrun.
"Yes, there are four of us, and then a number of other Pretty Cure teams. Cure Black and Cure White are like senpais to most of us, in particular." Coven... A name for a group of witches.
"I hope I can meet her sometime as well. Maybe we'll both get those wishes."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
"Many do, though not necessarily all," clarifies Shiori. And to Passion's follow-up question she gives another little shake of her head. "Cats are a frequent choice, but many others are also popular, such as ravens, owls, toads, and rodents." Unlike Raiko's forced attempt at putting on an air of mystique, Shiori's transition into a didactic tone is natural and well-practiced. "I am as you see me, dear. But thank you for your concern."
There is no fairy inside the staff--at least not to the best of Levin's knowledge. But the Staff of Wise Levin is quite content to wait until needed once more.
"Other Pretty Cure teams? Oh, cool! Are they all as amazing as you and your teammates are? I hope I get to see some of them in action someday!" Now that she's got her notepad out she's scribbling notes about what Cure Passion is telling her.
"Yeah, I hope so! Ivy is... well, she's amazing too! I..." She looks at her notepad, excitement muting for a moment. "I wouldn't be a magical girl if it wasn't for her."
She brightens up again. "But anyway! Sorry if I caused you any worry." She gestures to the magic circle. "You're right, it wasn't dark magic, I was just..." There's a faint blush on her cheeks, that she tries to hide by ducking her head a little. "... practicing, actually."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"I see." Passion nods thoughtfully. She is an attentive student, as a rule, and this is no exception. "Of course," she answers as to the thanks. "I have known fairies in other forms who are very sensitive about being mixed up with animals," she explains.
Then, Passion smiles. It's a small expression, but a happy one. "Every one of them," Passion says confidently. "I'm sure you will!"
She considers the matter of Ivy for a moment. "She wounds wonderful." Pause. "...The same is true for me and Cure Peach," she settles on.
"It's all right," she says, and looks thoughtfully to the circle. "Practicing... Yes, if you use ritual magic that would be useful, wouldn't it?"
"May I watch? I'm very curious."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
"Ahh, I see," acknowledges Shiori. "Shapeshifting is not an ability I enjoy."
Levin looks up when Cure Passion acknowledges a similar bond between herself and Cure Peach. There is a part of her that wants to ask--as she wants to ask about everything magical and magical girl-related--but for this one issue she is content to share a small, quiet smile of her own as acknowledgment of the shared bond.
Levin blinks a bit in surprise at Cure Passion's request. "Oh! Um..." She bites her lip and looks to Shiori.
The familiar simply says, "It's up to you, dear."
"Then... sure! If... you're sure I'm not keeping you from your patrols?" She snatches up her staff and walks back over to the circle. "Ritual magic does take practice, but in this case... well.. I'm not practicing to learn something new I can do, I'm practicing to learn how to do something using more power, if that makes sense? I'm still learning how to channel all the magic my staff has."
With that she inspects her spellwork again, making sure she didn't disturb anything when she was startled before.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"I've only done it a few times," Passion explains. But she does not elaborate when Levin imploies that she might want to know more; she just shares that quiet smile with her for a moment, and that is good enough for now. As to her request...
"I was nearly done," Passion answers. "I just needed to head home in a while. Which I can still do quickly."
Practicing... Hmmm.
"Yes," Passion says. "I know many magical girls who need to get a feeling for what they can do." She implicitly states that she isn't one of them, of course. Then she steps out of the way, over by where Shiori is seated, to watch and be quiet. "Thank you for the opportunity."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin nods to Cure Passion as she explains she was almost finished. "Well, as long as I'm not keeping you from something more important, then..."
She finishes her inspection and then takes up her position once more, staff at the ready. There's a moment where she cringes a little internally--realizing she's just implied, by both what she said and Passion's response, that she's new at this. But Passion seems understanding, at least, so hopefully it won't be an issue.
But she just gives Cure Passion a shy smile, "Oh, you're welcome. I'll be honest, I don't usually have an audience for these things." Well, Shiori is almost always around, but that's different. And with that she closes her eyes again, starting to chant. Magic starts to fill in the ritual circle again, the lines coming to life with glowing blue energy.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Passion's patrols are fairly efficient, because of her teleporting abilities. She doesn't have to make the second round on the way back.
Passion doesn't even think to comment on Levin potentially being new to this; there are new girls, sometimes, but they are just as vital as the veterans. And it would be rude to comment, she's pretty sure.
She smiles back. "I expect not. Few people would come up to the rooftop..."
Passion watches; she has no affinity for this kind of magic, so it's very interesting to see!
Blue magic, that is. Hers is all red and pink.
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin doesn't have the ability to teleport, but she can fly. Slowly. In a straight line. That has to count for something. She also doesn't patrol as such--she feels a bit guilty, but her entrance exams are imminent, and staying in Infinity's MAgic program will undoubtedly help her with her extracirrcular magic as well.
"Y-yeah, that's why I picked this." Levin meant more that she hasn't had anybody to share any of her magic with for a few years now, but... best not to get into that now.
Once Levin has started her casting, Shiori leans down a little from her perch, commenting quietly. "The ritual circle she's drawn is used to guide and shape her magic in specific ways. But she still needs to regulate the flow of magic to make sure she doesn't release too much into the working."
Shiori's tail swishes softly as she glances to Cure Passion. "I must admit, I am rather curious. You have shapeshifted before?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It counts! Passion can't do that. She can only jump really high.
"Yes," Passion answers. She doesn't know much about the magic program at Infinity; it doesn't occur to her that Levin would have the chance to share her magic with others anyway, not knowing she attends the school or indeed much about that pgoram. But...
Shiori explains for Passion, and she nods thoughtfully. "I see," she says. "...Like pouring water into a bowl. If you pour in too much, it spills out..."
Then she glances at Shiori, and inclines her head. "Yes. The most notable time is the time I was transformed into a car. There was some magical effect on all of us; we had to perform a race to reach the end."
"...It was fun," she adds.
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin is definitely not about to spill all of Infinity's secrets, no matter how much she might accidentally hint at her own.
Shiori nods in response to Cure Passion's analogy. "Precisely so. One might also use the analogy of... overloading a circuit." Shiori, while not being intimately familiar with technology, has certainly learned a few things from Raiko over the years. "The staff is a vast reservoir of power, but fine control over that power is what Levin is attempting to learn."
When Passion says the words 'transformed into a car', Levin's head snaps up, but in the same instant Shiori also sternly tells Levin "Focus!", cutting off the distraction. Levin bows her head again and goes back to chanting.
"My, that certainly sounds like quite an interesting experience," observes Shiori as she keeps a sharp eye on Levin. "An intricate transformation spell, with a conditional release mechanism..." she murmurs to herself.
"I'm glad your experience wasn't too disturbing."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"A circuit," Passion says. "Yes, that does make sense. Especially with the intricacy of the circle... a circuit must have every section lined up appropriately, and must be carefully infused with power. That sounds important for her to learn, in that case." Mysteriously, a technological analogy is the one to catch Passion's interest. Well, maybe not that mysteriously.
Passion is stoic on the matter of Levin's focus.
"It was! It was less disturbing than it could have been," she says. "Because I had nice music..." An intricate spell... "A powerful magical item enabled it," she explains, "But I don't know that much about it. I was just part of it."
"I've experienced much more frightening magic than that, of course. But since I've lived here, I've seen a lot of wonderful magic, too."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
The technological analogy is definitely the one that would resonate with Levin, as well. It's probably why it was on Shiori's mind just then.
"Indeed," agrees Shiori, as Passion expresses her thoughts on how the magic must be regulated. She has the tone of a teacher proud of a student for grasping a concept quickly. "It is," she agrees with Passion's assessment of its importance.
"I'm glad you are able to experience the wonderful as well as the frightening, dear. We are fortunate that the former always swells to meet the former."
Finally, Levin has stopped chanting, and seems to just be concentrating now, eyes still closed, staff in one hand while the other gestures. "There's..." her eyes squeeze tighter as she focuses harder. "... three of them, I think."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Passion likes teachers, so this works out pretty well. She nods firmly.
"I agree," Passion says. "I've seen that a lot..." She looks distant for a moment, but she usually looks at least a little distant; she's a quiet, private sort of girl. She's been speaking a lot today because she's had a lot to say.
But she tilts her head curiously at Levin's focs, and looks to the circle to identify what she's noticing.
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Shiori has been one of Raiko's instructors for all of her life, so it's quite easy for her to slip into teacher mode. It also doesn't hurt that she's older than most of the mortals around her.
"Keep going," Shiori says to Levin in an encouraging tone. "There should be more within your range."
Levin just gives a rather distracted nod and goes back to focusing.
The familiar lowers her voice to explain to Cure Passion. "I've hidden several specially-prepared thimbles in the area. Levin is using sympathetic magic to attempt to locate them. Finding a delicate object requires fine control, otherwise your working can overpower the feeling of what it is you are searching for."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
More within her range? Passion crosses her arms to watch, tilting her head, her bright red eyes on the magical circle and on Levin.
But then Shiori explains for her, and the Cure nods, straightening. "I see," she says, also quietly. She decides not to ask how many there actually are. That would potentially influence Levin's spellcasting!
She doesn't say anything else for now; she's being quiet to watch!
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Finally, after a long moment, Levin simply says, "Five--no, six", with an air of certainty. And then, before Shiori can ask, Levin starts to point in several directions, naming estimated distances. The furthest one is about 40 meters, due directly south.
"Very good," says the familiar.
Levin suddenly sags, leaning against her staff as she catches her breath. Seems all that concentration took it out of her.
Very quietly, so only Passion can hear, Shiori relates, "There were actually 8--the first four were within her usual range, but I wanted to see how far she could stretch her senses." There is a definite hint of pride as she says, "Getting to six means she's making progress."
And after Levin's caught her breath she bounds over to Cure Passion, "You got turned into a car?! How was it? What kind of car? How many people were affected? What was the race like?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It must've taken it out of her! That's a lot. Passion looks on in interest as she finishes, and then looks to the magic as it fade. But Shiori explains to her, and Passion nods thoughtfully. "That's good," she murmurs back.
Then, when Levin bounds over, she nods at her very seriously. "Yes," she answers. "It was fun! It was a sedan of some kind. Many people were affected. The race involved a magical track that wound about the area, so we actually went very high..."
Answers, in order!
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Shiori nods in agreement at Setsuna's assessment. "Indeed." She sighs when Levin launches right into the questions, deciding to allow her a moment of distraction since she managed to stretch herself a bit.
Levin, meanwhile, has fetched the notepad out and is making notes on what Cure Passion has to say. "Interesting... And..." She looks at Cure Passion critically. "... no ill effects from being turned into a car?" Well she's not a car now, so hopefully not. "Oh! And what kind of music did you have?"
She pauses, and then sheepishly puts her notepad away. "Sorry, I just... get excited when I hear about unusual magic. Especially..." Magic that has anything to do with technology. But she doesn't clarify that part. "... Anyway, um... I guess it's only fair, if you have some questions for me...?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Notes!! Passion is surprised by this, but not disturbed. It is nice to have what you say considered important enough for notes, but it makes her slower, because she has to think even more about what she's going to say if it's going to be recorded.
"None to my knowledge," she says, "Except that I like cars now." A pause. "Dance music. The sort of thing I tend to listen to, and my friends work with. I can give you some sometime for an example."
Then she smiles, faintly. "I do not mind," Passion answers. "It was an interesting experience and you seem to be a student of magic." She considers. Questions for her...?
"I'm curious about what it's like to be a witch," she decides. "But that's a vague question. So I'm not sure what specific questions I should ask right now."
"I remember seeing your magic in action, though. It was very interesting. It's different from mine."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin doesn't seem to mind Cure Passion's deliberateness with which she speaks--she's excited, but remains excited in anticipation of the answers rather than getting impatient.
"I like cars, too! They're really interesting from an engineering standpoint, though I haven't really gotten the chance to work on one yet..." She blinks in surprise at the offer though. "Oh-oh really? Well, if you don't mind... sure!"
She looks rather sheepish as Passion accurately nails her as a student of magic, but she's still smiling a little. "It's... kind of obvious, huh?"
"To be a witch is to be a student of magic," comments Shiori, as if she were imparting some grand, mystic secret.
"Well, it's... Hmm." It's Levin's turn to take her time to consider her words. She exchanges a look with Shiori, who gives the slightest little nod, and then Levin continues. "It's a little hard to answer that, because... I've always been a witch, you know? Or rather, I grew up knowing about magic and learning about it."
Now would be the perfect time to bring back her witchy affectation, but she seems to have abandoned that in favor of honesty. "I guess it'd be like if you grew up being a scientist, studying all the ways the world works at the most fundamental level... but learning about magic, too."
She beams and takes a step back when Cure Parsion mentions her magic. She holds out her hand, palm up, and summons a crackling ball of lightning into it. "My staff and my powers are tied to the elements of nature! We are aligned with the element of air, which gives me dominion over the sky... which includes lightning. But there's many different types of magic sources and paradigms, so it doesn't surprise me if ours are different."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yes," Passion agrees. "I haven't worked on any cars, either..." Hmmm.
"I do not mind," she says again.
She doesn't understand why she'd be sheepish, because she was thinking the same thing as Shiori. She nods after a moment, though. And after that...
"Oh!" Passion says. "I grew up with a robust science and math curriculum myself," she explains, "So I understand from another perspective."
Levin's explanation seems to suit just fine for her. However, she's happy to hear about the things she can do, too.
Lightning!!
"Interesting," she replies. "Yes. Mine has power related to the Sweets Kingdom, and we're stronger when we work together, too. I have a fairy helper, and I can summon a magical instrument that helps me to call up greater magic. Other than that... as you saw, I largely engage in melee combat."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Given Raiko's passion for dismantling and reassembling objects... her grandfather very wisely put his foot down on working on anything larger than herself, especially cars.
Levin is mostly embarassed at being caught out as a witch-in-training, given that she tries, at leat, in battle, to present herself as being knowledgeable. But she perseveres regardless.
"Oh! Okay, then... kinda like that, I think, except with the difference that you had to keep all of that science and math you were learning about a secret from normal people."
Levin plays with the ball of lightning for a moment, letting it roll over the back of her gloved hand before dismissing it.
She looks at Cure Passion quizzically when she mentions 'Sweets Kingdom', and Shiori interjects, "The Sweets Kingdom is a fairy realm. You probably wouldn't have covered it in your curriculum unless you were specializing in the study of fairy realms."
"Ohhh, okay," says the witch. "That's so cool... Someday I'd like to see some of the other magical realms first-hand, find out more about their magic..."
She perks up. "Us, too! Our staves--mine and Ivy's--seem to resonate when they're together, and become more powerful. Oh, and a fairy helper, too? Are they from that fairy realm, too? And you used the harp against that vending machine thing, right? That last combo attack you and... Cure Pine? Did was so amazing. I'm not really... well, you saw. I kind of kept my distance, most of the time. I suppose I should come up with some contingencies in case I get cornered somehow..."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Mm..." Passion looks a little more distant even than usual at the matter of secrets from 'normal people', but she brightens at the look of the ball lightning. Shiori interjects.
"I've... seen a number of them," Passion says. "Some of them are beautiful."
Some are less so.
"Oh, I see. Yes..." Hmm. "Her name is Akarun; sometime I'll introduce you to her. She's shy, and I think I should probably be getting home soon after all." She smiles. "Yes, I did. It's called the 'Passion Harp'."
"I'm familiar with working with others who prefer to stay at range; that's one of the reasons I close in, to try to keep a monster's attention."
"I think that's a good idea, though."
Then she steps back. "It was nice to get to see your magic, Witch of Wise Levin. Thank you for showing me. And it was good to talk."
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Levin doesn't quite catch the one look that's particularly more distant than the others. Shiori may or may not notice, but chooses not to comment either way.
"You have?! Which ones?" Levin starts to get her notepad out again, but when Passion indicates she should be headed home, puts it away again. "Oh, okay. That makes sense. I should be getting back..." well, her dorms aren't exactly 'home', but... "... to my studies, as well."
That's safe and non-descript enough.
She gives Passion a wave, "I'm glad you enjoyed seeing it, Cure Passion. Thanks for answering all of my questions. And... yeah! It was really nice getting to talk like this. Have a good night!"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Shiori is kind about that.
Passion... will talk about other realms another day. That's a much more involved conversation.
"Another time," she says, and nods back. "Yes."
She waves back, with a smile. "You are very welcome. Take care of yourself. I hope to see you again under similar circumstances."
Then she steps back, and *blips* out of existence again.
<Pose Tracker> Witch of Wise Levin [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
"Me too!" she says, agreeing with meeting under similar circumstances.
And then when Cure Passion just blips out of existence, Levin runs over to the spot where she was standing. "Oh that was so cool. Shiori, do you think I can--"
"Perhaps someday, dear, but for the moment you have other matters that demand your attention. It's time you returned to your studies."
Levin sighs and nods. "Yeah, you're right." With a wave of her hand the thimble lifts itself from the circle and into one of her pouches, and with a wave of her staff she cleans up the chalk circle. Shiori jumps down from the air conditioning unit and into Levin's waiting arms, and together they lift off into the air and off in the direction of Infinity Institute.
