5th Spell [Voice / Action]

[slayersidekick]

Halloween's coming up soon, right? ...Why do I get the feeling something really bad's gonna happen soon?

U-uh, so... how are everyone's costumes? Did anyone else get one chosen for them? Instead of, y'know, choosing your own? Or a-am I the only one lucky enough to not be able to keep one on... Uh! I-I mean, not keep the original one... uh, there's no good way to say that, is there?

...I think I'll stop now... Maybe it's time for more leaf-cleaning efforts.


[ She's wandering around town today, looking at the various costumes and trying to find a way to get out of hers. It's not really the worst, but... well, it brings back some memories. So, if anyone's out and about, feel free to comment on her rather leathery look. When not in town, she's hanging around the house, probably testing out her new leaf blowing wind magic. She can be encountered pretty much anywhere. ]


((ooc: still on hiatus hoping to end it soon, so tags will be very slow in coming, but I had to get this up. For realistic efforts, she'll "gain" qualities of a normal Buffy vamp. Oh, hey are those real fangs, and oh, hey, did her face just change? Go nuts :D ))

Comments

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra shrugs, not very good at lying, but not wanting people to worry about her, either.]

It's just...I keep seeing things that aren't there. But I know it can't last, right? It's only for a few more days.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ It's okay. She gets it. ]

Oh.. you, too? Y-yeah, hopefully it'll all be over by Halloween. Is this the way it's been every year?

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[She's quick to shake her head.]

Oh, no. At least, I don't think it's a pattern. Last year, they had am amusement park during this week, and then Halloween night, we had to attend a party they threw for us. People had to be in costume, but we could at least pick them...and there was no creepiness.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

Oh, well... at least it's not a... yearly thing? This is kinda normal for Sunnydale, though.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

Then maybe you'll do better than most of us, this week.

...um, how's your wind magic?

[action]

[slayersidekick]

I-I don't think so.

[ Yeah, okay distraction over. She winces a little and looks uncomfortable. ] It's, uh, going okay, I guess. [ she demonstrates a little bit, just making a couple of leaves float, but that's about all before they fall to the ground. Her hand's shaking, though, and that might be fear on her face. ]

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[It's hard not to notice that, and Terra pick up on it.]

Um...Willow? What's wrong?

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ Yeah, this is kinda why she didn't really want to work on it, but did at the same time. She hesitates, looking at the leaves. ]

This is, uh... the first real magic spell I've used in months...

[ Which is very, very true. But there's more to it. ]

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

...really? Well...if you're worried about it taking a long time to learn, I don't think this will. Next to Nala's magic, Kipinn's is probably the easiest, once you get used to it. You just need focus.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

It's not that. [ She sighs and runs a hand through part of her hair. Even that feels weird in this outfit. It takes her a while to finally work up the courage to explain. Terra seems like a nice person, not someone who'll go rampaging about her... and it isn't like the people who matter don't already know, right? ]

It's complicated. The last time I used magic, I was really good at it... but I got addicted to the raw power and I hurt people I cared about. I hurt Buffy's little sister really badly a-and... I drove my girlfriend away. I don't want that to happen again.

I want to learn, but I don't know if I can.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra winces a little as she listens to the story. It's a little close to home, in some ways. Addiction to power sounds a lot like Kefka, but Kefka would also never have been remorseful about it.]

I...I can understand that. Trying to learn magic again after going through such an ordeal would be very intimidating.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ That wince is kind of like kicking the puppy while she's down. Willow sighs and leans against the house, sliding down to sit on the ground with her legs curled up in front of her and her arms resting on her knees. ]

Everyone seems to think I can, but I don't know. I mean... this magic feels different. It's not driven the same way mine is and it works with an element, not, like, everything.

[ She sighs to herself and tries again, making a few more leaves spin around close to the ground. Even if she makes this magic work, who's to say she can make hers work? Who's to say that magic won't backfire again? ]

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra moves to sit beside her, drawing her knees up.]

Maybe that's a good thing? Its power is limited, so you don't have to fear going out of control. The most you'll get from Kipinn's magic is a strong breeze.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

I guess so... [ She pauses and glances hopefully at Terra. ] I-It really can't do anything more than that? No hurricanes blowing everything over? I mean, it doesn't feel like it will. [ But it's best to make sure. ] Do you think you can help me work on controlling it? Since it's so different for me.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra shakes her head at Willow's anxious questions.]

It really can't do anything more than that. Though I'll help, of course. I could show you how I do it, and you can try to mimic me?

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ She nods. ] Okay. If you don't mind.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

Not at all.

[Terra takes a moment to concentrate, then uses her knowledge of Kipinn's art to nudge along a breeze where she will. She sends it in a rough circle, letting it swirl around the area and ruffle the leaves as it passes.]

Kipinn's magic lets you manipulate the air around you, not create it. You'll learn how to control the wind, though not to the point of creating tornadoes or such. Once you gain enough control, you can even use it to affect sound; either mute them or send them further away. I'm...not as good at that, but I can still try.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ Willow watches carefully, noticing how Terra controls it. She can't help thinking it's markedly simpler than her own magic. She can do this... right? ]

It's okay. I should, y'know, start small for now.

[ She takes a deep breath and concentrates, trying to coax the wind to form an upwards spiral. It works and the leaves start to move upwards in that spiral, but it soon flutters out. She tries a few more times, managing to at least make the wind move in different directions when she asks it to. The power feeling is different and her confidence is slowly returning. ]

It feels different. I-I can work with this. [ Confidence boost +1 ]

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra nods encouragingly.]

That's good. Try sending it at me, and I'll send it back to you? Let's see how well you do then.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

Okay.

[ She nods. This requires legs lowered and folded, which she does, sitting up straighter. Concentrating, she molds the air and sends a little burst of wind towards Terra. ]

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra, waiting for it, 'catches' the wind and lets it swirl around her before directing it back at Willow.]

With a bit of practice, I'm sure you'll be able to control it for longer periods, too. It's just a matter of time, getting attuned to the element.

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ Willow nods, concentrating on the feel of the wind rather than on the power coursing through her. It's not so much power as it is manipulation and she has to continuously remind herself of that. When Terra sends the wind back at her, Willow brings her arms out so she can 'catch' the return. She lets it slide around behind her to the other side before she aims it back at Terra. ]

I think I'm getting it. I-it's not so much what power's inside as it is working with what's outside. Totally different from what I'm used to. This is kinda nifty.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra smiles as she waits for the wind to reach her.]

That's exactly it. I know, it's different for me, too. But you're getting the hang of it just fine.

[The wind reaches Terra and she sends it back with a little more strength, just to see if Willow can handle a little more.]

[action]

[slayersidekick]

[ Willow gains a little more confidence this time around, catching it this time as well, though it's a little more than she'd expected. She smiles anyway and lets the thing do a little twirl all the way around her twice before sending it back to Terra. ]

You could make a game out of this. It's like Catch, only not with a glove and baseball.

[action]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

...baseball?

[The allusion might be lost on Terra, but she agrees with the general concept. As she concentrates to control the wind before it blows past her, she nods.]

I suppose it could be, tossing the wind back and forth, or between a small group of people. It's nice to use magic for something other than combat.

[She sends it in an arch this time, instead of being straightforward. Trying different angles and methods is half the fun.]