therookery | (no subject)

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(no subject)

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Carlos
RECIPIENT: OPEN
WHAT: Carlos has a question
WHEN: This eveing
WHERE: His room in the Gallows
NOTES: None yet

Hey everyone. So, I know Mal and I have both been pretty vocal about wanting to go back to Circles once they are brought back, and I still feel that way, but...

Well, I think a lot of you do have a really good point about being able to learn things we weren't taught in the Circle. Then we can take those skills back with us once we find a home. It will help to make everything so much better, I think.

[He still isn't sure what a reformed Circle will look like, but he is sure that's still what he wants. He just also sees the point that now is a good time for him to learn new skills. Maybe that will also help him feel more comfortable with eventually getting his own dog. He hasn't yet because he's been so worried that he'll have to give it up once he goes back to a Circle.]

Anyway, I would really like to learn how to bake. It would be great to make cookies and cakes and breads and just everything else like that.

Is there anyone around willing to teach that? I'm not sure what I can pay in return. Maybe we can trade for healing potions?

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Hey there, Jane here. I'm not a good cook, but I do know someone who is. Dolores, blue dress with a holster and six-shooter. She's a great cook, and I think she likes to teach. But I actually had something else to ask you about.

I'm new here, to this whole...world, what are circles? I've heard some different stories about em, from them being study groups to being a boot on the neck of otherwise free people. I mean, I'm a mage, mainly self taught, but these circles, are they voluntary? And also, if you'd like to learn my style of magic, I could give it a go, but not sure how well it'd translate over to ya'll.

The Circles are there to keep people safe. They were compulsory but a whole lot of people have been working to change that.

I miss being in mine. It was safe and way better than where I came from. I know not every mage had that experience though, so when they return we'll need some pretty extensive reforms.

You miss being in yours? But I mean...How did they keep people safe? Seems like they kept others feeling safe by making sure that you and yours were locked up. What was so great about 'em? I feel like I'm missin' part of the story here.

Have you heard about blood magic? Or demon possession?

Blood magic, yes, a bit. Something about using blood to power spells, not really my thing. And as for demonic possession...lets just say Yes, I know a lot about that. Not that bad though, they're awful at poker.

I'm sorry what?

Oh yah, they are completely awful at it. Can't bluff to save their lives, really a five year old could beat most of them. Every now and then you get a clever one, but really, they're mostly intrigued by this new interaction. Beats chess, am I right?

Are you seriously talking about playing games with demons?

Why, how do you get power from em? Just ask? That's ridiculous.

[That question is utterly horrifying to Carlos. It causes a tightness in his chest and he feels a panic coming on that he's going to have to step away and deal with.]

I...

I can't talk to you anymore. [And he ends this conversation and won't reply to her again.]

I can bake. Tolerably well.

Hey, that's better than anything I can do.

Are you willing to teach at all?

That'd be rather obnoxious, wouldn't it. "Yes, I can bake; no, I won't be teaching you a thing." Of course I'll teach.

[He chuckles in an embarrassed sort of way.] I know it probably would have been, but I also don't want to be obnoxious in assuming you'll give me your time...

So, I don't have a lot of gold to repay you, but maybe you'll take some potions? Or a promise to heal you no questions asked?

[ Mm. ]

Heal me how? With magic?

Oh. Yeah. I'm not a spirit healer, but I'm really good at the Creation school.

Unless you'd rather not have magic touch you. [As some people think even healing magic is evil] In that case, potions it is?

[ To be fair, it's only one-quarter anti-magic paranoia. Three quarters of it is that - well - healing just probably wouldn't work on her. So - ]

Potions, then. Those don't work by magic?

They're mostly made from plants.

Mostly. So - they're part magic, then?

The other parts are water and stuff like that. A non-mage can make a potion just fine, which is good for little villages and stuff, so no magic needed.

So - you make those yourself?

Yeah! From plants I find myself too. It's one of the few things I'm really good at.

I kind of love how putting the right ingredients together in the right order with the right measurements can make something that can help people, maybe even save them. It's pretty amazing when you think about it.

That's basically literally baking, you know.

I know! Except different techniques. That's why I want to learn! It just makes sense, right?

[ Aw, he's kinda cute. Especially for a mage. Kitty relaxes a bit, saying - ]

Yeah. Makes sense. Anyway, I'd be happy to teach you.

Thanks! I really appreciate you coming forward to offer. We should make plans... probably after I figure out what kitchen we can use.

[ She's just going to neatly avoid talking about the Circles in any way, shape, or form here. ]

Baking is a wonderful skill to have. I am self-taught, but I would be thrilled to have a student to pass on what I've learned.

I would love that! You've been really excellent teaching me how to handle the healing tents and such, so I wouldn't mind learning something completely different than that.

Oh, you flatter me.

[ But keep it up because that's her bread and butter. ]

We should makes plans. What is your schedule like?

Uh... I should be free Thursdays? Maybe we can plan for some baking lessons the next couple weeks? Then I could bring anything we make to Mal and make her taste test.

Ah, yes. [ Her voice is light and amused. ] It is the mark of a good baker if they force their creations on their friends.

Thursdays will do nicely. We will start with something simple. Now, would you prefer to come over to my apartment in Lowtown for the lessons?

Yeah. I think some privacy would be nice. In case I really mess up.

Have a little faith in yourself. If you have determination, all will go well. Besides, I already know you to be a fine listener of instructions.

At least most of the time, yeah. [He offers her a smile, showing he means it as a joke.]

Someone pointed out that potion making and baking isn't all that different. Both of them are just following a recipe and coming up with something that makes people feel better. Maybe that will help.

Comfort food certainly helps in times of strife. At least I have always found it to be so.

Baking is more exact that cooking, however. With cooking, you can alter ingredients and measurements without much going wrong. With baking, however, you must be exact or things won't turn out right.

That is probably why baking appeals to me more than cooking. I like it when things come together like that. It feels... right. [He isn't sure he can think of a better word to describe the satisfaction and comfort he feels at that level of order.]

I like it when things are as expected.

[ Which is probably a boring thing to say, but Christine has never claimed to be one for a life of excitement. ]

Well, we can discuss it more when you come over. I am looking forward to it.

I've learned a lot since the Circles fell, I've been told I'm a pretty crack up baker. I'd be happy to share what I know!

That would be great! And it would be pretty fun to learn from another mage too.

Forgive the off-topic question, but is there any particular reason why you want to go back to a Circle? I'm a Rifter, so the concept is more than a little alien to me.

Because being the Circle was the only time in my life that I felt safe. I never wanted to leave it. [He sounds willing to talk, because he understands that Rifters aren't totally clear on a lot of this stuff, but there is a certain level of distance here.

Discussing his past is something he's getting better at, but it's still difficult to talk about.]

How did it make you feel safe?

I ask to satisfy my own curiosity; I didn't grown up in one of these Circles nor have I ever needed one.

I came from a home where mages had no control and no one to stop them from using their powers to abuse others.

Then they took me away from that and brought me somewhere were I could learn to use my magic to heal, where there were people looking out for me, where I could have my own bed, where there were other mages around me showing me that we aren't all monsters.

Then they went and forced the rebellion on us and we had to either fight or die. I don't ever want to use my magic to hurt people again. The best way to ensure that happens is the Circles.

An interesting perspective. I come from a world with no circles, but much magic. There is... a marked less chance of demons or spirits causing problems, however. Some people use their magic to heal, others to harm. But no one usually thinks of them as monsters for it, except in rather extreme cases.

I find the mindset here... very interesting. If alien from my own experience.

I don't get how you can see someone use such an ability to hurt someone else and not see them as a monster.

I'd call someone who tortured another with a blade the same thing. Magic just makes it easier and tempts even the best of us.

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