Test Drive #3

[magicademymods]

Test Drive #3



Lightning Crash

The weather over the floating island of Ascelion during spring months is best described as "hellacious"; its elevation puts it right among the worst of stormclouds and fuels their thunderous fire as they sweep past it and electrically scrape against its sides. Rain is frequent, but lightning is almost constant, along with thunderous rumbles that roll across the city and the open spaces of the Magicademy like waves.

But today is particularly bad. Webs of electricity crackle through the sky, jumping from cloud to cloud or grounding themselves on towers of the Magicademy angrily. None of them seem to endanger the students, but there's a first time for everything, isn't there? As titanic fury threatens to tear the sky in half, do you risk stepping into the outside? Does the infrasonic rumbling trigger fear or terror in your gut, as such deep waves are known to do? Perhaps you've learned a spell that will protect you. Or perhaps you've poorly learned a spell that may or may not protect you...

Wand Wrong Way

The rumors around campus speak of a small and musty store deep in the Merchant District, on a side road to a side road, where only those in-know go to find items that would surely draw too much notice if displayed publicly. Powdered dragon tail, eye of sphinx, swords Forged with magic-cutting spells, and most valuable of all, the Gateway Wand. Surely this legendary wand, in which the full power of Sundering hums, could get you and your friends back home.

Rumors are pretty lousy with directions, though. The Merchant District offers ample chance to get lost, to get distracted, or to stumble down the wrong alley and find hoodlums all too eager to extract "tolls" from the lost and seemingly helpless. Does your adventure become disaster? Does this rumored shop even exist?

Pantalones Giganticus

At its heart, Modification seems like the most simple of schools. What could be more simple than arithmetic? Therefore, Modification also has the steepest and most shocking learning curve of all, as it rapidly balloons to more complicated mathematical expressions, more variables in the formulae, and above all more chance for error.

So really, the mistake is an honest one. Any hurried student, probably in their third or fourth year of study, could accidentally introduce an unnecessary factor into their equation. That is probably why your pants are now sized for someone four times large than you. (Not four sizes. Four times.) Worse, this has happened to EVERYONE -- the entire population of the Magicademy, student and staff and faculty alike, are trundling around in blown-up bloomers, too-large trousers, not-conveniently-sized knickers... you get the idea.

Now the bad news: to fix the error in formula and restore your pants to normal size, someone else has to get in them with you.

Labwork

Not every magical disaster is caused by some wayward student you don't know. Many of them are caused by you instead. To wit: you're on the spot in one of the magical labs, being called on to demonstrate a technique more advanced than others you've mastered so far. Failure is expected, and the wards should prevent any injury to others from a miscast spell. But will the sparks of your magic just sputter out and die? Or will you inadvertently mispronounce, misform, misshape, or miscalculate in a way that brings chaos to you and your lab partner?

(You could also manage to succeed in casting the spell, but that isn't very fun.)

Comments

Labwork

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion was still trying not to be seen much. She couldn't help it, it was habit. And she still didn't know who would be able to see her and who would see just a blank puppet. So she kept her hood up. All the time. Axel wasn't in this class, so she had almost skipped, had wanted to skip, but with Saïx sniffing around, she figured that with other people around he couldn't corner her so easily as he could if she were out on her own in the halls. So she had come to class.

And was already regretting it. She had mostly been staring at her hands throughout the lesson, listening without watching or attempting anything. When the other student got called up she tried even harder than ever to be invisible. When he turned to snap at her, she realized that her hand had been out to one side, a desperate attempt to conjure a dark corridor to RTD. Her hands came up to make sure her hood was secure as she flinched back from the boy... and the imminent disaster.

I'm sorry, did you expect Xion to be able to FIX anything? A broken mirror like her?

What would determine if he can see her as 'not a puppet' :0?

[noasark]

[[OOC - I'm canon familiar, but my memory is fuzzy on this point...]]

Whether he sees anything, or even realizes what she's been doing, Noa's irritation takes most of the priority for his reaction. There's no magical disaster incoming at least; that much is certain from the spectacular lack of Anything he was able to conjure.

Unfortunately, an irritated Noa is one who will readily jump any number of conclusions to lash out. "What! You can't even look, is that it?!"

It's at this point that he's told to return to his seat- fine and grand, except for the part where he wasn't exactly sitting far away from Xion to begin with.

So the boy sits in what will be Xion's visible range, face red and fuming as he glares rather accusingly.

A combination of willingness to see her as existing as much as they do and expectation.

[nobodys_puppet]

She tried to shrink in on herself. HEr hand flickered out again, but still no dark portal. When she glanced up and saw him glaring... she broke. She stood, sadly knocking things aside with enough noise to guarantee EVERYONE was looking at her, and fled the room.

As soon as she was in the hall she pressed her back to the wall, gasping for air, wishing she could just RTD and not have to face anyone again until sunset.

-thumbs up-, Thanks!

[noasark]

That...

Is not a reaction Noa has ever seen. For the most part he's used to people snapping back. Or perhaps even just protesting some reason or other that he doesn't especially know about (or care about, even). Someone running away is...

Different. It's weird even, and Noa is left blinking off the shock for a moment as everyone manages to forget about his incident and instead focus on the doorway.

(Or at least that's what he would prefer to think- but the reality is that people definitely then looked back at Him from the Door, given that he was very obviously the reason Xion left.)

It's a very odd thing and he's not really sure he likes how he feels about it.

Noa, 'proper' student he is, asks to be excused before he follows out into the hall to see where Xion went. From there... ...he stares in silence, speaking only when he finally accepts that he can't sort out what just happened on his own.

"You know..." he begins, tone almost drawling, "If anyone was going to get shouted at in there, it was probably going to be me, right? I'm pretty sure you weren't going to be next up for being embarrassed in front of the class..." He's certain of it, at least. Not that he's about to outright admit he was in the wrong, but he's able to accept that he was the one 'overreacting'. Also, she didn't make his mistake and laugh. That definitely guaranteed an option to avoid the front stage.

The boy pauses, tapping his arm. "...And I'd at least like to hope I'm not driving classmates to a panic with a single look..." He is Absolutely assuming it was panic, on that note.

Welcome!

[nobodys_puppet]

She froze when he came out, staring at him from under her hood. What had she done to make him want to go after her like this? was he about to attack? She didn't have her Keyblade, she could barely use her magic... and the one spell she had back wasn't really good for use indoors. She pressed herself further against the wall, braced for an attack.

She hadn't expected words. So it took her a moment to process.

It very much was panic. And her shoulders hunched. "Whatever I did to upset you, I'm sorry, okay. You can just forget you ever saw me." And then she winced at her own words. She was past that. She had succeeded. But in the far of the moment the words she had been saying her whole first month here came out. Oddly... before she knew she had succeeded, the thought that he was about to cut her down would have been a relief, now that she knew she had pulled it off? Whatever small fraction of an existence she had... she wanted to keep.

Axel had a heart now, and he'd be hurt if she was snuffed out. She had to keep going for him. And for the chance that she could help find Roxas.

[noasark]

It's a bit of a ping-pong match between them- but instead of a ball, it's being surprised and having to process whatever is being said. And done. And Noa of course is now doing that, once again blinking rapidly with a somewhat stunned expression.

"What you did?" he repeats, before scoffing at the notion. "Please...you can blame the teacher for most of that," Noa mutters, not quite ready to admit that maybe, just maybe, he shouldn't have laughed to begin with. "All you did was sit there...I'm plenty over it, trust me."

Which of course implies anything was done at all, but. Well, again, he's not about to admit he was wrong out loud. ...Not yet anyway.

"...Who are you, anyway?" he finally asks, not making any motion to look for anything under the hood.

[nobodys_puppet]

She wanted to say but you didn't glare at the teacher like that but didn't. Talking back never worked well. Not for her. Axel seemed to get away with it, but... that was Axel.

But if he was over it, did that mean he wasn't going to attack her? She hoped so. Axel kept telling her things were different here than they were in the Organization... that this world wasn't divided into friends and jerks, that some people were just... in the middle. Maybe he was in the middle too?

She looked down at her gloves.

"Xion," she said, softly.

[noasark]

It's the power of directional anger. The teacher was the one to bring him up there. But having laughed before, his mind thought 'someone else will laugh at you now'.

Xion was just unfortunate enough to have been moving in that moment. A target that his mind decided was going to be next to laugh. (even if she wasn't)

He is definitely closer to the Jerk end of the general world scale, just by virtue of honestly having no idea how friends even work, sadly.

"...Xion," he repeats calmly, mentally logging it away. "Hmm. I, am Noa then," the boy introduces. "Kaiba, Noa. ...Planning to sit out here until the end of the class?" he adds, unable to keep from making extra remarks.

I honestly don't recall if she got Seto's name, but it is a TDM so.... >.>

[nobodys_puppet]

"Kaiba?" didn't she know that name? That boy who had found her when she had been sneaking out. Hadn't that been his name? Why were there two people with the same name? Weren't there enough names to go around in his world?

"I can leave... I won't be in anyone's way," she said quietly. If he would move, she could go back and hide in the dorm, or she could head for the beach....

TDMs are good excuses for things like 'ah shoot did I get that tidbit', thankfully <u<'

[noasark]

Surnames are an illusion Xion. A dastardly illusion.

The more they talk though, the more her attitude absolutely baffles Noa. "I would hardly think you were in anyone's way before," Noa insists with a shrug. "The only reason I took notice was because I was paranoid..." Ah, well there, he said it.

He at least stands in a way that he can be walked around though. The halls can't be so narrow that it's impossible right? (A small blessing, that.)

Yep. And I'm sure they'll meet differently in game!

[nobodys_puppet]

"Paranoid?" did she know that word? She was trying to remember it, if she did.

Oh for sure (hopefully on better grounds lmfao...)

[noasark]

Well. "...That's what I said isn't it?"

That's not helpful at all, but alright. "You weren't the one doing anything." Hopefully she can work with that context, because he doesn't even consider the fact that she might. Not know that word.

Snort. With Xion? Doubtful.

[nobodys_puppet]

"Oh.... then.... you.. do not want to destroy me?" Having Isa here has her really shaken, okay?

sobs it's true,,,

[noasark]

...

That takes a minute to sink in. "I-"

His eyes widen. "...D...Destroy?" he manages to choke, looking up at the other. "...Why on earth would I want to destroy even the teacher over that..!?" Maybe embarrass, but destroy?? That's a little overkill. A lot overkill.

That's Very Very Shaken, Xion.

"...Why would you assume it at all, for that matter?"

Still, it'll be fun for us, even if it isn't for them.

[nobodys_puppet]

No for her, that is a little shaken. He should have seen her when she arrived.

"Because you were clearly upset..." And because Xion knew she wasn't even really a person...

Also, a little bit the hair.....

It's true \o/

[noasark]

It's probably for the best he was not here when she arrived.

With an eyebrow raised, Noa studies the other.

And then he laughs. "Pffh! Hah! If I were to destroy everything that ever upset me, I would be surrounded by ash...not to mention far stronger than I am now," he adds more at a mutter.

Ah, well. Regardless. "Destruction is an immature response anyway. If you spilled a glass of milk, would you destroy the glass? Ridiculous! There is always a simple, less destructive solution to being 'upset'."

Is this maybe a bit hypocritical from him? Oh absolutely.

But to be fair, he does intend to actually try living by those words.

and listen it's not his fault his hair makes him look like a cabbage

Re: It's true \o/

[nobodys_puppet]

"Saïx would..." she muttered, not intending to be heard. But she shook her head. "Then... you'll let me go?" she asked in a small voice.

[noasark]

Saix? ...Name noted for later... But!

"If you intended to leave, you could have done that already- I'm not about to do anything after all."

A pause, and- "...You should probably report the names of anyone who tries it, though..."

[nobodys_puppet]

"Who would stop him?" she asked softly as she tried to slide past to see if he would really let her go. "Xemnas?" It was clear she thought that would never happen.

[noasark]

He's certainly not stopping her. But-

"I don't know any Xemnas...but I would have a little more faith in the mages here, at least." If she can't, then heck! How's he supposed to feel safe!!

He should probably try not to rely on Xion's faith in things

[nobodys_puppet]

He really should not.

"The mages here have never fought L... Xemnas," she said, shaking her head. "And I am done letting him hurt my friends." The most strength he would have heard in her voice so far!

[noasark]

Hmm.

Curiouser and curiouser...but! He refrains from asking. "...I see." Well.

"If you're not going to have faith in them, then, you might as well just make sure you can fight someone on your own, hmm? If you're not intending to let anyone help, I mean."

[nobodys_puppet]

"I don't let strangers fight my battles for me," she whispered. She would fight alongside Axel and Roxas, though.

Though Axel seemed content to not go after Isa... Saïx. But Xion didn't trust him, was sure he was just waiting to revert to form. Of all the things for Axel to be wrong about, this was what he chose? Maybe it came with having a heart, wanting to think that Isa wasn't just Saïx playing a role.... Maybe.

She wasn't used to Axel being wrong, however. That in and of itself was disturbing.

[noasark]

"Fair enough." He wonders, a bit, about how different or similar the idea of having others fight your battles is to when he...'hired' some others for his own.

He hadn't thought they'd win, mind...but...

"I'll keep that in mind. ...Good luck on your way to wherever you go, hmm?"

[nobodys_puppet]

"Good... luck?" she asked, confused. She had started to walk away, but that had puzzled her enough to turn back.