paradisa | 9th Card [dictated]

Ah. Yes, they're in here somewhere...

[And that might be the sound of a great many books toppling over]

Well, I'll find them. Shall I bring them by?

Do. I'll put tea on - I assume you'd prefer black?

Black is fine. I'll be by once I've dug it all out of this pile.

Best of luck with that. I'll make sandwiches too, if I have time.

[Which from the sounds in the background there, he's pretty sure he'll have.]

[It does, in fact, take Howl nearly a half-hour to collect all those notes and put them back in order. But once that's done, it doesn't take him long at all to make it to Clow's room and knock in the door.]

[Which is plenty of time for Clow to prepare tea and some food. He opens the door with a smile]

Come in.

I haven't kept you waiting, I hope.

[He didn't actually care that much if he had, but... manners.]

I kept myself busy.

[He gestures to a small table with the tea, some sandwiches, and a small plate of biscuits on it]

Help yourself~

So I see.

[But hey, tea and biscuits. Who can say no to that? But before he sets about helping himself, he holds out the slightly messy stack of papers covered in questionable handwriting]

I went into a bit of theory on those, as I'm not sure what you're already familiar with.

[Even back home, spatial magic wasn't particularly common.]

[Clow takes them, glancing over the first page or two]

I kept up with some of the scientific literature of my time, though how outdated that is, I have no idea. I'm more familiar with time magics rather than space - comes hand-in-hand with the divination, I suppose.

[He looks up from the papers to raise an eyebrow at Howl]

You know, I think I've seen eight-year-olds with better handwriting than you.

I haven't dabbled in divination myself, so perhaps we have something we can teach each other.

[He goes to pour himself a cup of tea, and scowls a bit at that remark, but keeps his tone almost condescendingly cheerful.]

I wasn't aware I was being graded. Shall I bring a red marking pencil along for you next time?

If you wish to learn, I'd be happy to. It's a fickle art, though, and seems to favor some more than others.

And I think the pen will be unnecessary - I've seen worse. There's a certain class of mage that seems to revel in security through obfuscation. At least you didn't invent your own cipher for this.

I honestly doubt I have much use for it, but that's really no excuse for ignorance, now is it?

[He laughs a little]

No, none of that. I'm not some hermit living in a cave.

[Clow smiles at that]

An attitude I can appreciate - I'll forewarn you, though, trying to use scrying or divination against the castle seems to be a dead end at best.

And you'd be surprised - or, well, given the sorts around here, maybe not. Some of the most paranoid mages I've met were the ones best off. Too much too lose, I suppose.

I can't say I'm terribly surprised. It seems to guard its secrets rather jealously.

[He shook his head a little]

Oh, no, not a bit surprised. I've seen all types. I've just never seen the point in hording something that anyone with half a brain and the proper books could work out for themselves. It's rather miserly.

Some of them are miserly, small-minded people. They tended not to like me very much either, though I can't possibly imagine why.

[He sets the stack of papers aside for the moment and pours himself a cup of tea]

I'll have to look over your notes more thoroughly and see how well they mesh with what I know of bending space - your attempt is more evidence for the conclusion that something insulates this plane from any others, though.

Oh, I have no idea at all why that might be.

[But he's smirking over his teacup, so at least he's not looking for a quarrel today.]

Mm. Rather, although I've yet to test it within the confines of this world. I can't use the same spell, but I have a similar one. If that doesn't work, either, well. It could mean my magic is simply being neutralized, and there could be no barrier at all.

Hmm, point. I never did ask Vanyel if he'd tried his spell within safe confines - I was rather more concerned with whether or not he was still breathing.

I suppose questioning might have been considered a bit rude, at that junction. I don't suppose he'd be willing to talk about it now?

[He didn't really know the man well enough to know how touchy he might be on the subject of past mistakes.]

I'm not sure I'd have gotten much of an answer, frankly. I could probably ask now, though.

Likely not. Well, if you can't coax it out of him, I might give it a shot, though I'm sure he'd prefer your charming personality over mine.

Most likely~

I do have to wonder if Felix or Duke have tried anything similar - I haven't gone through all of Felix's records, yet.

I'll have to ask around.

[When it came to magic, at least, he had no issues collaborating... so long as no one tried to actually rope him into anything resembling a commitment]

It's worth knowing before I attempt something. I'd hate to accidentally turn a room inside out, or misplace it entirely if someone's already proven what a dreadfully bad idea it is to meddle with those sorts of things within the castle's sphere of influence.

I think trying to shape the castle itself is a lost cause at the very best. The reaction I got from scrying was... not harmful, but unpleasant to say the least, and I think that was simply a warning.

You know, that just makes me want to try it all the more.

[Because Howl and Bad Ideas were old friends at this point.]

[And that gets a raised eyebrow in return]

Well, I can't say I wouldn't mind seeing the effects - but don't say I didn't warn you.

Don't worry, I'll fully accept whatever scolding you have to offer if it all goes horribly wrong.

And you can look terribly smug at me if it succeeds, of course.

Oh, I fully intend to.

Which doesn't surprise me in the least.

[Clow sets down his cup, and settles in his chair a little more solemnly]

As for the other reason I wanted to talk - you've mentioned being good at set-spells that don't require magic to activate, no?

[Howl took a rather more relaxed approach to settling in, and arched an eyebrow at the question.]

It's the bulk of my business back home, yes. Why?

I had an idea for a bit of a project, but I'm not as used to making set spells that can be used by people with rather different schools of magic than me.

It would be for Duke.

For Duke? [He had an idea he knew what sort of request this was, now]

What was it you had in mind?

Something to keep him from getting lost or running in to things.

A pathing spell is fairly simple, but tying it to something physical makes it a little more complicated.

I don't think that should present much of a problem. Did you have an idea of what you wanted to bind it to?

A pendant perhaps, or some other sort of jewelry. Something that touches the skin - I think talking jewelry would get rather irritating for everyone.

It would be rubbish for sneaking up on anyone, certainly.

[Not that he thinks Duke's fond of doing so, but you never know]

I don't think that should be a problem at all. I'll need to see the spell you want to use, though. Or do your type do everything in their heads?

[Clow laughs]

Half in my head, half in arcane notes only I tend to be able to understand. But I can try and map it out a little more clearly for you.

That would be helpful. I like to have some idea what I'm working with before I start meddling with it.

[Not much, but some]

Of course - I'll drop the notes by when I have them written up. Later today, or tomorrow at the latest~

9th Card [dictated]

Filtered to Clow [dictated]

Filtered to Howl [dictated]

Filtered to Clow [dictated]

Filtered to Howl [dictated]

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