[ The urge to apologize, to wave it off, dies in his throat. This guy wants him to infodump. ] I'm a biotic. I can create mass effect fields with my body. It lets me lift and throw objects and people, create gravitational vortices and protective barriers too. But it makes me staticky because you create mass effect fields through dark energy, eezo—sorry, element zero—and electrical currents.
No amount of anti-static protection gets rid of it completely. So don't bother with the fabric softener. And umm sorry if I messed up your hair. Or beard.
[By all means, infodump! Give him unfettered access to your lore!]
Fascinating! I'm familiar with magic that bears similar qualities, but it is hardly universal— largely limited to storm-oriented spells. The terminology may be different, but I imagine the theory of it all is comparable. Magic is a sort of energy all its own, a force of nature; I suspect that mass effect fields are similar in that energy cannot simply vanish or be destroyed.
Never you mind about the hair, by the by. Nothing a bit of prestidigitation can't set right!
Storms? Man, that sounds amazing. Afraid I'm not that good just yet. Best I can offer is ripping people apart the old fashioned way. [ As opposed to turning them into a soot stain with lighting. But not the point. Stop thinking about your childhood stories of wizards and dragons. ] "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." But if you define magic as an energy, a force of nature... what a beautiful way to look at the universe. [ Behind his screen he's whistling in awe. ] And I'm a lucky guy to experience so much of it.
[ Okay, now he has to ask: ] Prestigi-what? [ Is that Latin? He's trying to break it down—there's digit. And pre, prefix (ha!), but the ti complicates it a bit. ion, suffix, is familiar. Before hand action something? The etymology is stumping him. ]
Edited (fucking up the html...2!) 2025-02-05 07:40 (UTC)
Magic at its very heart is as much a part of this world as the air we breathe, I've always felt. It is omnipresent, and I consider myself fortunate to be as connected to it as I am. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with some affinity, but I do believe that anyone who wishes to learn should have the opportunity to, the same as any science or language. Magic is to be shared, explored.
[They're going to be great friends, he senses.]
Ah, prestidigitation! A bit of magical sleight-of-hand, as it were. A flick of the wrist to tidy up, snuff out a candle, or other such small-scale tasks. So much of magic is taking intent and making it reality.
You can't teach biotics to people born without the nodules in their bodies, but I get what you mean. [ And it's giving him an idea as a matter of fact. If there already exists mass effect field applications in an industrial scale, what's stopping them from creating a portable version people could use? ] Are you a teacher too? I've taught other biotics how to use their powers. You're right. Knowledge should be shared.
[ This is the most mentally stimulating conversation Kaidan's had in a while. Best of friends. ]
Fancy name for such a mundane thing. I learned the candle trick back in Brain Camp. That's the place where they tried to teach us about our powers, before my people knew much about them. Wasn't all that pleasant, but it did teach me how to float a glass of water without getting a nose bleed. [ Intent and making it reality. ] So, mnemonics devices? Or is this more of an 'I think it and it happens' situation? What's the process for casting magic in your world? I'm told my gestures are 'economical'. Some people are more showy with theirs.
A scholar, rather than a teacher, but I have given some thought to the latter as of late. Once, I would have insisted I did not have the patience for it, but I suppose we all change as time marches on.
Is it fancy? I've never given it much thought, but I do suppose you're right— it has endless uses, however. One of the first tricks a young wizard or sorcerer ought to learn, if you ask me! Now, I'll admit the name 'Brain Camp' certainly doesn't mince any words. It tells you precisely what it is.
Nearly all spells have both a verbal and somatic component, and some may even require reagents, particularly those that have to do with summoning. Especially skilled practitioners may be able to cast spells without speaking, but it is quite rare. The somatic gestures are a necessity, though not all will perform them equally.
Funny, I once thought I couldn't teach others either. Now? Apparently I did so well they want me back to teach the next generation of biotics. It's quite an honor. And they wouldn't take no for an answer!
[ Kaidan wishes talk of Brain Camp didn't come with such conflicting feelings. It's true: BAaT developed much of the methodology now followed by most human biotics. But its cost was too high. Yet it seems a greater sin to not used such hard won knowledge. Or so he told the committee when they asked him what his thoughts were as a graduate of the ill-fated program. ] Yeah. Floating books came in handy when I needed to study for my degree. My mom hated it though. Said it was cheating.
Wow, so it really is like in those adventure books. Neat! The needing reagents, that is. We biotics use eezo—element zero, that is. Too much of it call kill us though. Today I learned I glow bright blue when I use my biotics , which is funny because I have a friend who glows green instead. So it's not just the gestures that differ from person to person. Magic in your world like that too?
Edited 2025-03-08 04:33 (UTC)
no worries in the least, I have been perishing but love to see Kaidan
A testament to your skill with both biotics and rhetoric that they've been so insistent! You must be quite the talent.
[It's not often he gets to speak with another prodigy who's just as eager to discuss their respective crafts!]
It stands to reason that too much of any sort of power could be damaging, I suppose, though I'm certain a number of biotics have learned that lesson the hard way. The same could be said of many wizards and sorcerers alike. [He may know a little something about that firsthand...] The details do vary between individuals, however. I imagine that just as each caster's spells might take on a bit of their personality, each biotic is unique, as well.
One-in-a-million, I was told. But I try not to let it go to my head. Hard work matters more, I think.
Exactly why I try to keep a level head. Worst I ever heard was, uh, self-immolation. Instantaneous. Biotics is electricity based, so... [ Yeah, zapping yourself to death isn't how Kaidan would like to go. Tell me all about that Karsus, Gale. ] We are. Biotics falls into three broad categories: telekinesis, kinetic fields and spatial distortion. I'm good at the first two, but I've never gotten the hang of the third. I'm told I overthink it, get hung up on how cool it is that I'm making a pocket singularity...so it doesn't happen.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@ bigplace
You mean that quite literally, don't you? You have my attention.
no subject
No amount of anti-static protection gets rid of it completely. So don't bother with the fabric softener. And umm sorry if I messed up your hair. Or beard.
no subject
Fascinating! I'm familiar with magic that bears similar qualities, but it is hardly universal— largely limited to storm-oriented spells. The terminology may be different, but I imagine the theory of it all is comparable. Magic is a sort of energy all its own, a force of nature; I suspect that mass effect fields are similar in that energy cannot simply vanish or be destroyed.
Never you mind about the hair, by the by. Nothing a bit of prestidigitation can't set right!
no subject
[ Okay, now he has to ask: ] Prestigi-what? [ Is that Latin? He's trying to break it down—there's digit. And pre, prefix (ha!), but the ti complicates it a bit. ion, suffix, is familiar. Before hand action something? The etymology is stumping him. ]
no subject
[They're going to be great friends, he senses.]
Ah, prestidigitation! A bit of magical sleight-of-hand, as it were. A flick of the wrist to tidy up, snuff out a candle, or other such small-scale tasks. So much of magic is taking intent and making it reality.
no subject
[ This is the most mentally stimulating conversation Kaidan's had in a while. Best of friends. ]
Fancy name for such a mundane thing. I learned the candle trick back in Brain Camp. That's the place where they tried to teach us about our powers, before my people knew much about them. Wasn't all that pleasant, but it did teach me how to float a glass of water without getting a nose bleed. [ Intent and making it reality. ] So, mnemonics devices? Or is this more of an 'I think it and it happens' situation? What's the process for casting magic in your world? I'm told my gestures are 'economical'. Some people are more showy with theirs.
apologies for how slow I am but I am loving this
Is it fancy? I've never given it much thought, but I do suppose you're right— it has endless uses, however. One of the first tricks a young wizard or sorcerer ought to learn, if you ask me! Now, I'll admit the name 'Brain Camp' certainly doesn't mince any words. It tells you precisely what it is.
Nearly all spells have both a verbal and somatic component, and some may even require reagents, particularly those that have to do with summoning. Especially skilled practitioners may be able to cast spells without speaking, but it is quite rare. The somatic gestures are a necessity, though not all will perform them equally.
This notif got buried
[ Kaidan wishes talk of Brain Camp didn't come with such conflicting feelings. It's true: BAaT developed much of the methodology now followed by most human biotics. But its cost was too high. Yet it seems a greater sin to not used such hard won knowledge. Or so he told the committee when they asked him what his thoughts were as a graduate of the ill-fated program. ] Yeah. Floating books came in handy when I needed to study for my degree. My mom hated it though. Said it was cheating.
Wow, so it really is like in those adventure books. Neat! The needing reagents, that is. We biotics use eezo—element zero, that is. Too much of it call kill us though. Today I learned I glow bright blue when I use my biotics , which is funny because I have a friend who glows green instead. So it's not just the gestures that differ from person to person. Magic in your world like that too?
no worries in the least, I have been perishing but love to see Kaidan
[It's not often he gets to speak with another prodigy who's just as eager to discuss their respective crafts!]
It stands to reason that too much of any sort of power could be damaging, I suppose, though I'm certain a number of biotics have learned that lesson the hard way. The same could be said of many wizards and sorcerers alike. [He may know a little something about that firsthand...] The details do vary between individuals, however. I imagine that just as each caster's spells might take on a bit of their personality, each biotic is unique, as well.
2x on the perishing (college)
Exactly why I try to keep a level head. Worst I ever heard was, uh, self-immolation. Instantaneous. Biotics is electricity based, so... [ Yeah, zapping yourself to death isn't how Kaidan would like to go.
Tell me all about that Karsus, Gale.] We are. Biotics falls into three broad categories: telekinesis, kinetic fields and spatial distortion. I'm good at the first two, but I've never gotten the hang of the third. I'm told I overthink it, get hung up on how cool it is that I'm making a pocket singularity...so it doesn't happen.