It's true, I do vastly prefer city life. I don't think I'd be quite as content in a countryside villa as I would be in an apartment in a bustling city.
[Joshua looks a little amused when Ryan suggests learning to defend himself, and then shrugs at his comment on where a safe place might be.]
Honestly, I don't expect a completely safe place when this world is embroiled in a war. It's only a matter of time before somewhere else is attacked or attacked again. War eventually arrives on everyone's doorstep. Sadly, it's human nature. As far as defending myself goes...I'm afraid I don't have what it takes for the more physical types of weapons. Far too much hassle. Magic is something I might have a better talent for.
Well welcome to the Drabwurld. It's about as far from the city as you can get, sadly. [But living in a castle isn't bad. He sort of snorts in response to Joshua though.]
I wouldn't say that's entirely human nature. Some humans are too humane to let war get that far. [He looks over Joshua again, tilting his head just slightly.] I dunno, you could probably get away with a bow and arrow set. Ever used magic before?
The bow would likely be the better option to a sword or lance from me. As far as magic is concerned, that depends entirely on whether you would consider psychic powers a type of magic.
And yet a spirit of the city can change based on wherever you are, don't you think?
[There's a distinct difference. Also there's a distinct difference in what Ryan was thinking and what Joshua says because he just winds up with a look.]
That probably depends on how real the psychic powers are. Are you a real psychic, or are you somebody who runs a hotline at home and tells people that a tall, dark and mysterious stranger will appear in their lives while charging $3.99 per minute?
The mannerisms change, of course, and I doubt that these cities are as packed as most modern day ones, but you still have the bustling crowds, mixing cultures, dreams, and new ideas. The flip side is that it also has the same city problems, the crimes, poverty, the broken people, and the desperate need for survival in a cruel world.
[He giggles and, in all fairness, the idea of Joshua being a phone-in psychic is pretty funny.]
There's more to being psychic than just seeing the future or knowing another person's thoughts.
Sounds just like New York. [There's a wistful little hum as he waves it off, not entirely sure how comfortable he is thinking of his new home compared to this one. When Joshua phrases it that way though? That's exactly what it is.]
Is there? Let's pretend I don't know what other kind of psychics there can be. Explain it to me.
Indeed, and I was only describing the part of Tokyo that I lived in.
Telekinesis or psychokinesis, the ability to move objects with your mind. Levitation is a form of either magic or psychic ability. Empathy, the ability to know or manipulate another person's emotions. Astral projection, the ability to send your spirit elsewhere. True sight, which allows one to see into other planes of existence, such as what's commonly referred to as the 'astral plane,' where ghosts reside. [He ticks each one off the fingers of one hand.] Just to name a few.
Well, if you do go there, I recommend the Shibuya district. It's the most influential part of Tokyo, and I swear it's not because of personal bias to my hometown.
[Another giggle.]
Oh, goodness, no. True sight, yes, very much so. I've had that since I was a child. Telekinesis and levitation are in my repertoire, too, but those didn't develop until later in life.
But I'm pretty sure your personal bias has a little bit to do with it anyway. People always make their homes sound better than they are, that's why tourists exist. [It suckered him into New York, didn't it?]
I've heard about them, but I've never seen them. Can you prove it?
And that's true enough. You can't help feeling proud of the place you love to call home.
[The request isn't an unwelcome one. If anything, it's a perfect opportunity for Joshua to see how well his powers will work in the Drabwurld, away from Shibuya and technically stuck in the RG to boot.
He glances at the table closest to them, piled with food. A piece of bread flies up and away to them. It stops to hover in front of Ryan. Joshua takes care not to show it in anything other than a slight tightness around his eyes, but the strain is something more strongly felt than normal. While not unexpected, it's an irritant to him. He'll have to be very careful using it in combat situations.
Just to show off, or to just prove to Ryan that he can multitask, he even levitates at about half a foot off the ground.]
It's not like I can exactly prove to have true sight, but I do hope that this is enough.
I wouldn't say I'm proud of Albuquerque, but there are worse places.
[If he pegged Joshua right (and he hopes he did), the boy would be willing to show off his powers just by that slight little jab. He allows his eyes to shift slightly to look off to the side for only a short moment but he immediately locks back on the moment he finds the bread in front of him. He reaches up to take it, looking at Joshua's hovering act with a mixture of intrigue and doubt.
Stranger things have happened, but he almost makes it look so...easy.]
It's more than I can do. [It's not so hard to admit, though he can't help but wonder if that's the full extent or if this world hindered him. Who was Joshua, really? ] You might do just fine here.
Think it's something you can solely rely on though? [Because Ryan gets quick getaways. Those make sense to him and he's relied on those themselves but he's still learned to fight.]
For the time being, I believe so. It'll neither be the first nor last time I'll ever use it in combat. [Just the first time it's been more of a strain than usual.] Even so, it's largely dependent on the situation. At home, I would channel my telekinesis through my cell phone, but that doesn't work here. Most likely just because it's technologically advanced.
Your phone. So...you'd call people and they'd move on their own? [That sounds weird, Josh. You know that sounds weird right?] Maybe you can ask them for something similar...I know it's probably a little weird to ask the monarchs for presents but sometimes they're helpful. It's all about exchange, you know? Do something for them, they give you a reward.
[The more he thinks about it of course it's a system he's not sure he likes (thank you, Jack), but he knows better than to dismiss it entirely.]
Wouldn't that be a riot? [Please, Ryan's talking to a kid with a natural eye color of purple and can levitate without being possessed by a ghost.] Ah, so they operate on a rewards system? Interesting. I would presume that it's to both encourage their shardbearers as well as subtly let them know that their actions don't go unnoticed.
[It certainly has its uses, though it means Joshua will need to move carefully in certain areas.]
Yup. They call them boons...usually one a month the fairies come to us and take down our requests, go back to the monarchs and there you go Instant presents. It's sort of like that whole idea of the carrot and the horse or whatever but it doesn't always work. Some people are smarter than that.
[He's not. But he's also not stupid enough to ignore the hand-outs just yet.]
A good way to get something better, then. I would imagine that some would get all that they need, then cut and run. I'm also going to guess that there are limits to what they can give you.
Yes, and yes. You can't ask for people for one thing. Trust me, I tried. [Which is still kind of stupid but whatever.] It's sorta like the three wishes a genie can't grant you but they're pretty reasonable depending on how much you give them first.
You're smarter than most people who show up. They bring new shardbearers in every couple of months? Then they hold the feasts and then they drop the bomb on you about the war.
How kind of you to say! But that makes sense. That gives us enough time to acclimate before they get in another batch. It also gives them two months to find those shardbearers.
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[Joshua looks a little amused when Ryan suggests learning to defend himself, and then shrugs at his comment on where a safe place might be.]
Honestly, I don't expect a completely safe place when this world is embroiled in a war. It's only a matter of time before somewhere else is attacked or attacked again. War eventually arrives on everyone's doorstep. Sadly, it's human nature. As far as defending myself goes...I'm afraid I don't have what it takes for the more physical types of weapons. Far too much hassle. Magic is something I might have a better talent for.
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I wouldn't say that's entirely human nature. Some humans are too humane to let war get that far. [He looks over Joshua again, tilting his head just slightly.] I dunno, you could probably get away with a bow and arrow set. Ever used magic before?
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[Joshua shrugs.]
The bow would likely be the better option to a sword or lance from me. As far as magic is concerned, that depends entirely on whether you would consider psychic powers a type of magic.
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[There's a distinct difference. Also there's a distinct difference in what Ryan was thinking and what Joshua says because he just winds up with a look.]
That probably depends on how real the psychic powers are. Are you a real psychic, or are you somebody who runs a hotline at home and tells people that a tall, dark and mysterious stranger will appear in their lives while charging $3.99 per minute?
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[He giggles and, in all fairness, the idea of Joshua being a phone-in psychic is pretty funny.]
There's more to being psychic than just seeing the future or knowing another person's thoughts.
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Is there? Let's pretend I don't know what other kind of psychics there can be. Explain it to me.
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Telekinesis or psychokinesis, the ability to move objects with your mind. Levitation is a form of either magic or psychic ability. Empathy, the ability to know or manipulate another person's emotions. Astral projection, the ability to send your spirit elsewhere. True sight, which allows one to see into other planes of existence, such as what's commonly referred to as the 'astral plane,' where ghosts reside. [He ticks each one off the fingers of one hand.] Just to name a few.
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So what are you saying, that you're capable of all of those things? [He lifts an eyebrow., not quite buying it.] No wonder they brought you here.
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[Another giggle.]
Oh, goodness, no. True sight, yes, very much so. I've had that since I was a child. Telekinesis and levitation are in my repertoire, too, but those didn't develop until later in life.
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I've heard about them, but I've never seen them. Can you prove it?
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[The request isn't an unwelcome one. If anything, it's a perfect opportunity for Joshua to see how well his powers will work in the Drabwurld, away from Shibuya and technically stuck in the RG to boot.
He glances at the table closest to them, piled with food. A piece of bread flies up and away to them. It stops to hover in front of Ryan. Joshua takes care not to show it in anything other than a slight tightness around his eyes, but the strain is something more strongly felt than normal. While not unexpected, it's an irritant to him. He'll have to be very careful using it in combat situations.
Just to show off, or to just prove to Ryan that he can multitask, he even levitates at about half a foot off the ground.]
It's not like I can exactly prove to have true sight, but I do hope that this is enough.
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[If he pegged Joshua right (and he hopes he did), the boy would be willing to show off his powers just by that slight little jab. He allows his eyes to shift slightly to look off to the side for only a short moment but he immediately locks back on the moment he finds the bread in front of him. He reaches up to take it, looking at Joshua's hovering act with a mixture of intrigue and doubt.
Stranger things have happened, but he almost makes it look so...easy.]
It's more than I can do. [It's not so hard to admit, though he can't help but wonder if that's the full extent or if this world hindered him. Who was Joshua, really? ] You might do just fine here.
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He lands gently back on the ground, looking for all the world as if hovering and moving pieces of bread with his mind happens everyday.]
Maybe, maybe not. It's enough for self-defense or to make a quick getaway if things get too rough.
[Seriously, a rock to the head is enough to distract most living things.]
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[The more he thinks about it of course it's a system he's not sure he likes (thank you, Jack), but he knows better than to dismiss it entirely.]
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[It certainly has its uses, though it means Joshua will need to move carefully in certain areas.]
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[He's not. But he's also not stupid enough to ignore the hand-outs just yet.]
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[Joshua can respect that.]
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