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[mrballisticsdummy]

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[mrballisticsdummy]

Thank you. I might once I get something more fun than work in my head.

[no_innocents]

That will never happen without due cause.

[ A pause. ]

Would you be interested in learning magic?

[mrballisticsdummy]

Magic?

Uh, I don't know if it works like that. But I'm always up for a challenge.

[no_innocents]

Well, we'll have to see.

You'll have limitations, certainly, no witch blood in your veins. But it's not an absolute no.

[mrballisticsdummy]

I would love to figure it out.

[no_innocents]

At your leisure, of course.

[mrballisticsdummy]

Today? I - need a distraction.

[no_innocents]

And I'm doing fuck all at the moment.

As I said: at your leisure.

[mrballisticsdummy]

And there's Jacobi at his big door, knocking because he likes to see it magically open.

He is a man of simple pleasures.

[no_innocents]

They open, and now they open into a much grander, wider space. Into a central space with two floors, a lab beneath and books lining both floors.

Dracula is on the first floor, at a small desk not far from the door. The fireplace isn't far either.

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Hey MTV, welcome to Dracula's new crib..." he says softly, letting out a low whistle. "Perks of being a warden, huh?"

He walks inside, hands in his pockets.

[no_innocents]

"I hardly need a kitchen," he points out mildly as he stands from his seat, where he's been fiddling with a small... looks like a marble? It's not a marble. But it's carefully nestled in a box before he moves away from the desk.

"I much prefer the library. And the laboratory space."

A pause.

"...don't suppose I get to hear what's happened?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Oh, you know, normal things that happen around here. Someone showed up. Someone who has fucked up the people who are actually important to me. And then I - broke my warden over it." He shrugs.

"Basically, I'm making some really great choices."

[no_innocents]

A moment before-

"I attacked my own son," he offers gently.

He tilts his head to one side.

"At least you've figured out rather more quickly how much you've fucked up. That counts for something."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Yeah, that sucks, too," he admits. "And I - well, I don't think I fucked up that badly. I mean, with Tim? Yeah. But I don't think they're right about it. But - that's not why I came here. I really, really don't need the advice."

[no_innocents]

"You'll notice I didn't give any," he points out mildly, "just... sharing."

Instead, his clawed hand extends towards Jacobi to usher him over.

"What do you know about magic, incidentally?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"In my world? It's all tricks and illusions," he says, walking over. "Magic has always been just what isn't explainable."

[no_innocents]

Dracula, for his part, raises a hand and a box on one of the shelves opens as mirror shards slip out. They fly to the central corridor of the room and assemble loosely. He manipulates them with a hand.

"Magic is in many ways a science and in other ways an art. It sits between the two, an outward expression of internal intent, shaped by the means at one's disposal."

The shards suddenly reflect an image, one of the deck up above, the stars above them, and then it darkens and they slide together, returning to the box. He closes his hand to close said box.

"Magical blood is but one source of energy for such an action, but there are others."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Huh." He watches with fascination, turning to look over at the box with a bit of curiosity as he speaks.

"What are the others?" he wonders, hands still in his pockets.

[no_innocents]

"You can utilize concentrated, stored magical energy such as through the use of an enchanted artifact or item," he starts off, "which is quick and dirty but limited. Or you can utilize ritual, which takes longer but offers more opportunities and options."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"So, use a magical wand or draw chalk marks on the floor with spooky candles?" he asks. Despite the smirk, he takes all of it as seriously as if Dracula was giving a physics lesson.

[no_innocents]

"In a manner of speaking," he says with a spread of a clawed hand.

"Though both can take other forms."

He looks to Jacobi.

"Does either intrigue you more?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Listen, I'm all for quick and dirty in a pinch, but that's not usually my MO. I prefer to have a little more control over what I'm doing," he tells him. Even if it might not seem that way to an outsider.

"So, let's go with ritual."

[no_innocents]

"As you wish," he says with a dip of his head and a small smile. He holds up a finger and leaps up into one of the sections of the book shelves to pick out a few volumes before floating down effortlessly and holding them out to Jacobi.

"These will help with your understandings of the basics, the various sources of energy you can utilize, as well as the scripts often used and some of the common components." He gestures towards the little chalk board he has.

"But I can get you started on the basic ideology."

[mrballisticsdummy]

He takes the books and tucks them close, idly flipping through them. "Are these in English or am I also learning whatever godforsaken language you actually speak?" he wonders with a smile, turning towards the chalkboard with interest.

Because, of course, that's exactly what he would do.