→ ( CLOSED - she said at night in my dreams you dance on a tightrope of weird, )

[aberth]

WHO: Adam Parrish & Sabriel.
WHERE: Nonah.
WHEN: Backdated to the 8th.
WHAT: Angry child considers magical ability.
WARNINGS: N/A.

[ Adam gets to Nonah way before noon. It's not out of an over eagerness, but more that he is a paranoid son of a bitch and needs some control over the situation. He spends a good portion of an hour scouting the place out while trying to tell himself that this is at least one of his better ideas and the only thing he can do to be more useful.

When it gets closer to the time he agreed to meet Sabriel, he actually makes his way back across the street to the porter city. Adam sits on the pavement, back to the wall and a book over his knees ( because if things seem to go south or a friend just happens to miraculously turn up then he can pretend he was studying ). He watches the people and waits for someone to look like they're meeting an anonymous person.

The girl who scans the crowd like he did seems like a safe bet and Adam pushes himself to his feet and crosses over to her, book now tucked under his arm. ] Sabriel?

Comments

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel arrives fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled time, dressed in dark clothes that are just a touch old-fashioned for someone her age. She has sharp features, but what really stands out is her height and unnatural pallor.

When she sees Adam head over to her she nods, her thoughtful expression shifting to something more friendly.]

I take it you're the one who was interested in lessons?

[aberth]

[ Her look does imply magic in a way that Adam used to find clichéd. But being here and seeing the kind of people the Porter attracts, he's slowly beginning to realise that these things are stereotypes for a reason.

It's easy enough to put that out of his head when she doesn't look like she's about to skewer him. ] I am. I'm Adam. [ He extends his hand, all southern politeness, because some things are not forgotten. ] I'm real glad you could meet with me.

[bindsthedead]

Sabriel. I'm glad you came. [Sabriel takes his hand, giving it a firm shake. Her hands are calloused.]

It's nice to meet you. Would you prefer to speak here, or... somewhere else? The imPort training facility might be best if you want a demonstration.

[aberth]

Sure.

[ He doesn't want to have this kind of conversation out on the street, regardless. He's just hoping that none of his friends have any reason to go to the facility why he's there. ]

I hope you weren't too freaked out by the secrecy. It's just kind of a delicate situation. [ He just hasn't figured out how to talk to Gansey yet. Maybe he won't ever figure it out. ]

[bindsthedead]

I see. Are some of your friends cautious about magic, or are you simply not interested in advertising your powers?

[With her destination in mind, Sabriel starts walking in long strides, looking back once to see if Adam is following her.]

Are there any particular spells you'd like me to demonstrate? Fire, lightning, other common battle magic? I can teach you to heal, or incapacitate, but you can't really demonstrate those on a dummy.

[aberth]

A little of both. I don't want to jinx anything just yet.

[ Gansey wouldn't approve, or at least Adam doesn't think he would. And he doesn't want the inevitable fall out, the assurances that he really didn't have to do this, that he was fine as he was. Powerless, useless, the same Adam Parrish he had always been. ]

Lightning sounds good. [ Did he just say that? Is he really all about the aesthetic now. No, he has his reasons. With a quick grimace. ] I'm pretty much flying blind here. I thought something I could combine with my own porter power? I give off an electric charge. So maybe it would be easier if I used something like that.

[bindsthedead]

That's true- especially if you gain more control over it. But let's see.

[When they finally reach the training center, Sabriel heads for a room lined with targets.]

Stand back and watch.

[And once she's certain he's standing far enough back, Sabriel holds out her right hand, fingers pointing to one of the targets. The marks flow easily from her mind down her arm, gathering at her fingertips like sparks of electricity- then she speaks, her voice crackling with power, a word that's not English, nor any other language of this world.

Lightning arcs from her hand to the target for a few seconds, blindingly bright- until she ends the spell, dropping her hands to her side.

There's a badly damaged target and the smell of ozone.]

[aberth]

[ The air on his body rises with a thrill as she uses her magic, the sound of it, the sight of it, the sharp crackle of electricity, it feels like power just by being close to it. Adam isn't even aware he's holding his breath until she turns to him and he lets it out in a rush. ]

That --.

[ A pause. ] Shit, that was impressive. [ Adam may be a clever, put together boy. But he's still a boy and sometimes that shines through. ]

I want to learn that.

[bindsthedead]

What, you're not going to ask me to show you something else? [Sabriel's tone is slightly teasing- it's just a little flattering, how impressed Adam is.]

But I suggest you take the time to think about it. Becoming a mage isn't a choice that can be undone.[She's eager enough to take him on as a student, but best to make sure it's what Adam wants too.]

[aberth]

I figured that.

[ He looks serious for a moment, something otherworldly and angular in his face. Even though Cabeswater cannot reach him here, it still rests in the furrow of his brow and twist of his mouth, a strangeness that makes him look alien. Adam knows all about sacrifices and ultimatums. ]

I know it's going to be hard, but I'll do whatever it takes.

[bindsthedead]

Then consider a little longer, and speak to me when you've made your choice.

[There are times Sabriel seems far older than a teenager- this is one of them.]

[aberth]

Can you show me what else you can do?

[ He sounds careful, polite. He wants this badly, but Adam Parrish knows to be cautious when it comes to showing that. ]

[bindsthedead]

Well, without any injuries, healing is out- would you like to see a glamour, or more battle-magic? I suppose if there's any locks about I can show you the spell to open them. [Sabriel hmms thoughtfully.]

Well, there's weather control, and diamonds of protection- wards and bindings are useful, but they're trickier to demonstrate...

[aberth]

I need something I can use to protect other people.

[ Lightening would still work, but Adam knows that Gansey would not be too happy with him if he just electrocuted the next person to come after them. At least if he learnt something a little less violent he could soothe over what else he knew. ]

[bindsthedead]

Well, there's always healing, and a diamond of protection is useful if you have at least a few minutes of forewarning... But if you don't have that and don't want to harm your attacker, blinding and immobility spells would be best- would you mind being a guinea pig for those?

[Because even if the spells are harmless, being caught unawares with them isn't much fun.]

[aberth]

[ He definitely wants to say no to that. Both send a frisson of fear up his spine at the thought. But then, this is the same boy who promised himself he would never get hit again and has Saya currently throwing punches just to make him stronger.

And so he sets his jaw and nods. ]

Sure. I need a demonstration, right? Makes sense.

[ His heart might just explode out of his chest though. ]

[bindsthedead]

Good. This might be- unnerving, but I promise it won't hurt.

[Sabriel gives him an apologetic look. She'd been subject to the spells before- but she was already a Charter Mage then, had been able to feel the marks and known- in theory- that she could reach into the Charter for the counterspells to free herself and restore her sight.

And several seconds later, she flings a handful of Charter Marks at him. A few settle over his eyes, and there's a flash of light- and then no matter whether they're open or shut, he'll see the same thing- nothing.

Others wrap around his limbs, pinning them in place- he can breath, and speak, and his heart pounds in his chest, but beyond that, Adam can't even twitch a muscle.]

[aberth]

[ It doesn't hurt physically.

But Adam's sure the way his heart physically seizes inside of his chest in panic is going to leave some lasting damage. He doesn't speak for a long, long moment, because he's trying to break it. But then his voice comes, sure of itself but weak and shaking underneath. ]

Okay.

Okay, I don't think I want to learn that.

[bindsthedead]

I see. [Sabriel brushes the spell away easily- it unravels in less than a second, the marks leaving glowing afterimages that slowly fade. Sabriel doesn't seem displeased by Adam's choice- instead she nods, as though she'd asked a question and he'd answered correctly.]

My teacher taught me that you should always understand the magic you use- the damage it can cause, and what it's like to be affected by it, even if it causes no physical harm. It keeps you from using spells when they're not necessary. [Which had kept some of Sabriel's more thoughtless classmates in check.]

[aberth]

[ He nods slowly, his expression now turned to something shell shocked and a little afraid. It's not her fault. Adam has clung to his freewill like a port in the storm and to not be able to move had shaken him to the core.

( And that had been nothing compared to the sudden loss of another sense. ) ]

I wouldn't use anything unless I had to. [ Cabeswater's raw power had been available to him for a long time, and yet he had been terrified of wielding it. He still would be if he had it here with him. ] But I don't think I want to have that available, even if I know how it feels.

[bindsthedead]

Then you are wiser than many imPorts. [There's a note of approval in Sabriel's tone.]

Unless you'd like to see a diamond of protection, I think I've shown you what you need to make your choice.

[aberth]

[ He doesn't thank her for the comment because there's little point. Adam is always trying to be smart about things, it's a natural way of things. ]

I think maybe I need to go away and work out a few things? But I can reach you on the network, right? So it shouldn't be too long before I'm getting back in touch.

[ He just has to make sure he's ready for all of this, after Cabeswater. ] You've been a real help though. I appreciate you taking the time out to show me what you can do.