fourth entry ⊗ magical inquiries

[flamekthunder]

Sender: Eustace
To: Everyone
Subject: Sealing and Teleportation Magic

I have two inquiries to those who are familiar with magic.

RE: SEALING MAGIC
I'd like to know if anyone knows a way to cast some kind of sealing or restraining magic on an accessory or item that could be used to suppress one's own magic or curse. If need a more specific situation, an emergency case where one's powers are running out of control and needs to be contained. The ideal goal would be that it could affect nightmare energy, but that might be more difficult without further knowledge.

[He is definitely asking for specific reasons, but good thing there have been several occasions where things went wildly out of control last month that it won't seem too random.]


RE: TELEPORTATION MAGIC
Similarly, I wish to create some kind of portal that would allow me to easily traverse between my home and other locations that I currently own with potential to add on in the future. [Because it's about time he just accepts he owns these dogs and getting to the Corgi Tree and the Flowers home more instantaneously would be ideal. Though already future proofing? What could he be considering...] Ideally it would be a door with a function to change the location.

This might be a complicated request, if it's even possible, but even just information on how it might work will be appreciated.

[He'll get his portal door one way or another—]

Thank you.

Comments

[hearthwarming]

[ She glances down at the dogs and shakes her head before looking back up at the actual Dog with a capital D standing in front of her. ]

You're setting a bad example in front of your kids.

[flamekthunder]

Some of them are older than me.

[In dog years, anyway. ...Though really he's not sure what their true ages are.]

Besides, we don't normally play our "games" in front of them.

[Maybe having a little bit of fun here.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Games... ]

Spirits, I should hope not.

[ She just... closes her eyes and shakes her head some more. ]

Anyway, did you want to learn how to talk to your dogs or not?

[flamekthunder]

[He just chuckles.]

You were the one who asked.

[And then he deliberately subtly overshared so she would stop.]

But all right. Teach away.

[hearthwarming]

[ She totally rolls her eyes at him before she turns her attention back at the dogs. ]

Okay, so, when I first started speaking to animals, it was really hard to have actual conversation. The spell I use lets me understand what they say, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll understand what I say, or that they'll be able to speak back in a way that makes sense to me. It kind of depends on the animal. Luckily, these guys are pretty smart, but it can't hurt to start with something simple.

[ She goes ahead to take a seat on the floor, folding her legs beneath her and gesturing for Eustace to join her. ]

Since we're doing this with dreamotion, maybe... We can start by imparting feelings, instead of words?

[flamekthunder]

[He'll sit next to her, and immediately the corgis crowd around them. THERE ARE OPEN LAPS and the youngest ones are definitely going to immediately clamber on them while the rest either sit or plop down in various positions of lying down, including a few sploots.]

Hm... That seems sensible, especially given how sensitive they are to emotions to begin with. Should I just focus on an emotion towards them?

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori chuckles as the dogs immediately take advantage of the free real estate on hers and Eustace's laps, and she's more than happy to scoop up a corgi or two, scratching one between their ears even as their attention remains solely focused on Eustace. She nods at him, meanwhile. ]

That's right. Why not think about love, then? They say it's the most powerful emotion, after all, and you clearly have no shortage of it when it comes to your dogs.

[flamekthunder]

[The dogs hear this...and for some reason seem anxious, squirming and whining a little—]

Love, huh...

[It doesn't take much really. Between his love for Tifa and the dogs, there's just going to be a loud POOF as hundreds of flowers blossom and burst everywhere around them, the pollen turning into glitter, as if a storm of petals had just exploded within the room.

...

........

This is probably why the dogs had tried to escape.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Oh.

Well.

That's not quite what she was expecting from Eustace, of all people. Especially not the glitter. Ori can't help but laugh, especially since the display is quite reminiscent of something she would do if she were thinking about things like love. Which means... ]

You thought of Tifa, didn't you?

[flamekthunder]

[Just a grumbled mutter before he does the very mature act of throwing some of those petals at her face.]

Let's try something else.

[hearthwarming]

Really? I thought it was working really well.

[ She so wants to continue to be deliberately obtuse about this - but she can't ignore the dogs' yapping and whining in her ear, their words just jumbled and frantic enough that she can't really make out what they're saying. ]

Okay, so maybe not love. Then how about thinking about how proud you are? [ After a beat, she adds, with a teasing smile: ] Of the dogs, I mean. Or will you end up thinking about Tifa again?

[flamekthunder]

[Another sound of discontent.]

Of course not.

[Maybe

The dogs are looking at him with so much doubt that he doesn't need words to understand what they're thinking.]

Here, I'll prove it.

[And he'll focus on all his thoughts on how he been very proud of the dogs handling themselves well despite him not always living with them, and how he's especially proud of them for how they were able to survive and stay strong when he first found them alone after their original guardian's unfortunate demise.

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, perhaps understanding, the dogs are now looking at him with biiiig wibbly eyes.]

[hearthwarming]

[ She rests her chin on a hand, tilting her head a tad and looking at him so very expectantly, waiting for him to do exactly that - prove it.

Ori is, of course, not privy to the exact thoughts and feelings that Eustace relays to the dogs with dreamotion. But she can see, based on how the dogs react, that whatever they are, they must be reaching the furry little friends.

So, hey, speaking of that feeling of being proud of someone - Ori looks quite proud of Eustace in that moment. ]

I think it’s working. You’re doing great. Now, try to put those feelings into words to tell them.

[flamekthunder]

[A small glancing nod as he did the same back in Avalon.

So with the dogs gathered around, he reaches out to pet the nearest ones.]

You've all had to go through a lot...and I don't always say it, but I think you know that I'm always proud of how you're all able to take care of yourselves and was able to hold out until I came along. You're the strongest dogs I kno—!!?

[He couldn't even finish saying his words before they all whine and bark and dogpile on him, tails wagging and butts wiggling as they lick his face. Sorry Ori, Eustace is kind of drowning in dog affection right now.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Well, she certainly wouldn’t think that the situation calls for an apology - after all, one of the reasons she came over today was to teach him how to communicate with his dogs, was it not?

So she watches on with glee as the dogs swarm in around him, clearly having understood the verbal message Eustace conveyed to them. It’s hard to make out all that they’re saying with all the excitement flying around, but— ]

They’re really excited that they were able to understand you, dad.

[flamekthunder]

[He'd retort, but he has a corgi in his face hold on— Once he's managed to push them away so that he can at least sit, he just gives Ori a bit of a look.]

Are they really calling me that?

[hearthwarming]

Well, maybe not in that exact word, but that's definitely the feeling...

[ She glances back over at him. ]

Now that we've managed to get you to talk to them, we should see if you can understand them in return, too. To be honest, since they aren't ordinary animals, my spell doesn't translate everything perfectly, but I know we can figure it out with dreamotion too just like we did with talking to them!

I'll ask them to speak to you, and you just focus really listening to them. You might not be able to understand every word at first, but that's what practice is for!

[ Then, at the corgis: ]

Now, why don't you all tell your dad here what you're feeling?

[flamekthunder]

[The corgis sit in rapt attention as they converse, some looking at Eustace, some looking at Oriphi. They then tilt their heads in unison at her words...and then look at Eustace in unison.

...In a way it was a bit...ominous? Are they going to start barking all at onc—

DAD HUNGRY

DAD WHERE'S MOM

DAD THIRSTY

HEY YOU KIDS STOP SAYING USELESS THINGS




Maybe something like that.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori can't help but laugh as they do, indeed, erupt into a chaotic cacophony of barking. Surely some of those sentiments are in there, can we have treats please, tell us another story, where's mom, hey get out of my face you pipsqueak, but there are a few gems: we want to be with you always, we love you so much dad, and so on, so forth.

Curiously, Ori watches Eustace's face for any sign that he's understanding what they're saying or at least what they're feeling. She really hopes that he does. ]

[flamekthunder]

[HE'S HONESTLY TRYING but there's just—so much. He can definitely tell the ones that just want something like attention or snacks, but somewhere in there he feels something else. A warmth, a feeling of longing and love. It's conveyed more directly when Rhonwhen quietly brushes up against his side, and it's there he thinks he hears words and turns to look down at her, but...

...

The barking.]

Okay, one at a time. I can barely hear my own thoughts.

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori lifts her shoulders in a shrug. ]

... Welcome to speaking with animals! But, don't worry, it'll get easier to sort through all the simultaneous barking the more you practice.

[flamekthunder]

Mm... I'm vaguely remembering this. I had to tune out insects back in Camelot...

But I think I almost heard...Rhonwhen? She was the one closest to me before it got drowned out.

[hearthwarming]

It can definitely feel like a lot... But you're right. I think you heard Rhonwhen, too. She was saying something about love and wanting to spend more time with you, I think?

[ With her hands on her hips, she looks at him proudly. ]

You did great! What do you think? Do you feel like you'll be able to start understanding them with more practice?

[flamekthunder]

That's what I thought I heard...

[A small smile as he reaches over to pet the corgi's head, her expression content.]

And I believe so. It helps that now I can remember the general feeling for it rather than trying to start from nothing like before.

[hearthwarming]

Of course! Any time I'm trying something new with dreamotion here, I always try to think about similar experiences from before with magic from home. That usually works out.

[ Ori nods, very sagely. She may not look or act it most of the time, but she does have a high Wisdom score! She's more than happy to try and impart some of that advice to help Eustace with something that's clearly quite important to him. She earnestly believes that he'll manage to regain his ability to speak with animals in due time.

With a smile, she reaches over and pets some of the dogs with both of her hands. They deserve some praise as well, after all. ]

You guys did great, too!