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[lieabilities]

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Kleken

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un: jaycetalis | text

[hexcope]

So, Mr. Auction Winner;

[The most humor he's attempted in ... months. Obviously, he's rusty.]

I can assume you have magic abilities, hence the discussion we had. I'm keen on seeing them, if you'd allow for it, with my best intent on keeping my manners. You seemed keen on letting me do that. So my questions are: when, where, and can I bring a notebook?

[lieabilities]

[ The attempt is appreciated and quite honestly amusing. ]

I'm free now if you're available. As for the where, I believe Crane's Respite would suit best. Or perhaps Mating Season, if you'd prefer a private room. And a notebook would be fine.

[hexcope]

A bath house seems a little ill-conductive to having a notebook, but you know this place better than I do.

[For how rugged he looks with the longer hair and beard, Jayce is still maybe... a little too trusting.]

[lieabilities]

You'll have a far more interesting observation with water around.

[ Just the way Kleken likes it- ]

[hexcope]

[Jotting down: water based magic?]

If you insist. Later tonight?

[lieabilities]

After dinner.

continue into action here or elsewhere? 👀

[hexcope]

8PM, then. See you there.

here is fine!

[lieabilities]

See you then.

[ At least Jayce won't have any problems spotting the man. His skin is pure white, he has red eyes, and he has giant tentacles loitering in the shadows of his coat. Not exactly blending in. ]

[hexcope]

[He sure doesn't have any problem finding him, the appearance is a tip off just as much as someone wearing a coat in a bath house. Not that he can really point that out, since he's also still wearing his clothes, despite the fact it's pretty warm already. He's already feeling little beads of sweat on his neck.]

You know, I don't think I got your name.

[lieabilities]

[ Kleken's not just wearing a coat, he's wearing an entire three piece suit under the coat, like a man you'd see prowling the casinos rather than loitering around a bath house. But oddly enough, he doesn't look at all bothered by the humidity. The tentacles trailing the ground by his ankles look positively pleased by it, in fact. ]

[ He offers a hand in greeting. ]

My name would be Kleken.

[hexcope]

[He's not sure how the other's not sweating in all this, but even him in just his t-shirt and gym shorts feel a bit overheated. Still, he shakes the offered hand, eyes glancing down to the tentacles only once, to his credit.]

Jayce. But you knew that already. Lead the way?

[...A second glance, to the tentacles.]

[lieabilities]

[ If he notices the glances, and he most certainly does, he doesn't say anything about it. Simply holds on to Jayce's hand to lead him along and letting go once they start on their way. ]

Of course. I know of a more private alcove this way with seats that aren't in the water.

[ It's a cooler pool as well, so while it's no less damp within the area, it's at least less humid. ]

Do you have any questions you'd like to start with?

[hexcope]

[The moment his hand is held, even temporarily, brings a slight blush to Jayce's cheeks. He won't comment on it, nor the hand-holding, and he settles himself down once they're no longer in physical contact. At least the place they're heading toward seems to be a little cooler.]

Of course. I'm working on some assumptions but- water magic, right? If I had to guess, with the... tentacles, I'd assume something to do with manipulating water, or maybe also full body transformation? Into a sea-creature or Oceanid? Your skin's also very pale, so I'd be leaning on guessing a deep-sea affinity. How am I doing so far?

[lieabilities]

[ There's a long lingering temptation to lead Jayce astray so he can have the man believing Kleken has abilities he doesn't possess in order to protect himself. But in this particular case, he imagines the truth might be more entertaining with someone so studious in their approach. A guessing game based on observation would let him know more about the man doing the observing. ]

Right on some, less so on others. I don't transform myself, I'll correct that part. As for my children...

[ He opens up an edge of his coat, showing what appears to be the simple dark lining of the interior of it. Until several tentacles spill out from it, as if passing through the material itself. At the same time a pair of tentacles rises from a nearby puddle, reaching out to tap the tentacles from his coat lining for a moment before they all retreat. Leaving the lining exactly as it was before and only ripples in the puddle. ]

They are rather more unique to me.

[hexcope]

Oh, wow.

[Jayce is completely enthralled, watching how the tentacles seem to appear from nowhere, and then retreat just as quickly.]

"Children," so they aren't connected to you physically? Something you conjure and command?

[He taps his fingers over his lips in thought, staring hard at the now tentacle-less coat. He takes a half step closer, wanting to touch it himself, but... holds himself back.]

And without runes, magic circles, or spoken word? A mental connection- does that mean you're using spirit magic?

[lieabilities]

Conjure would be a way to put it, but command is a tad more controversial of a term.

[ They quite literally have their own minds, though they're not as fully developed as his own. Identical to the way an actual octopus would work, each tentacle has its own 'mini-brain' to act independently when Kleken isn't focused on them, but fall under control of his own mind if he were to force it. But they might also rebel, if they feel like it, which makes them unruly children to him. ]

[ He catches the small motion with a smile, moving to peel off his coat and offer it to the other man for his curiosity. It's a completely normal coat, of regular make and material, the only notable feature to it being that it's slightly damp. But could that just be the humid air around them? ]

No runes, magic circles, or spoken word, but I don't believe we have anything like spirit magic in my world either. They... appeared once I learned how to use Luminatics, our version of magic.

[hexcope]

[Jayce takes the coat when offered it, and does reach out to touch where the tentacles had last been seen. Nothing comes out of it via his touch, and he's a little disappointed to only feel the light wetness. He doesn't hide the disappointment well either, his lips twisting into something of a pout as he slides his fingers over the fabric.]

Appeared, as in you didn't summon them on purpose?

[Accidental uses of magic, especially amongst new users, is to be expected.]

You touched upon magic, and maybe... they're what answered you?

[lieabilities]

They'll appear as they please when left to their own devices. I could direct them, if they're amenable to it.

[ To highlight his point, he holds up a palm, a tentacle sliding out from under his sleeve to dangle over the edge of his palm. A couple others soon join it to pile into his hand, curling lazily there as if in silent invitation for Jayce. ]

Aurorians in my world, those like me who can wield Luminatics, all develop their own unique ways of doing so. Perhaps the sole commonality between them all is that we all shape it into one of four elements.

[hexcope]

[Ah! There they are again. This time Jayce doesn't hesitate, clearly given the go-head by Kleken's open hand. He approaches carefully, not making sudden movements so he doesn't scare them off, and reaches out to touch one of them with the tips of his fingers.]

Let me guess; water, fire, air, earth?

[lieabilities]

[ The tentacle is just as eager to reach back toward Jayce, its semi-translucent body feels very much firm, like touching a real octopus, as it stretches itself out to curl partially around his finger. ]

[ Kleken on the other hand raises a brow with some interest, noting the other man's guess to himself as a possibly common set of elements in his world. How interesting. ]

Water, fire, forest, and thunder.

[hexcope]

[Jayce breaks out into a wide grin with the tentacle wraps around his finger, clearly enamored with the interaction.]

They're cute.

Forest and thunder... variations on the same concept. Maybe the difference in magic structures from one universe to another? Easier connections to some elements like water and fire being consistent, but deviations depending on the world and it's connection to the magic planes? One of those things we'll probably never know, now that we're here.

[Meanwhile, he's now petting the tentacle with his other hand.]

[lieabilities]

[ It behaves more like a wild but curious creature, winding its way along Jayce's finger to settle in a curl over his hand, than the extension of a limb questionably attached to a man. It's docile for the moment, the other tentacles that hover around them both more active in their 'peering' and exploration of the area around them. ]

Perhaps. If it's of any relevance to your theories, upon reaching a certain level of experience, many Aurorians take on a secondary elemental attribute, while others develop enhanced abilities in their primary element. As far as I'm aware, there is no controlling which will happen.

[ But he's certainly seen it enough to know that it does occur, and felt it in himself when his own abilities expanded. ]

[hexcope]

Would you say the magic decides for you? If so, that does align somewhat with a theory my partner and I had about how the arcane— Luminatics— is a force of it’s own sort of will, and that mages— or Aurorians in this case— channel that power but are ultimately catalysts more than sources.

[He’s more absentmindedly playing with the tentacles now.]

So what else can you do? Do you have that ‘certain level of experience’?

[lieabilities]

Perhaps. Most individuals I know have unique abilities that well suit them in relation to their element.

[ There are some he would say wouldn't, if only because he knows them mostly from a professional level, and the icy aspect of the element suited those cold-hearted businessman more to him. Then again, he hardly knew about their personal lives, and had little interest in getting to know more about them. ]

[ The tentacles are more than happy to lounge about on his hand, a few others shifting to join the first, adding more weight to his palm while Kleken considers the question he's given next. Just how much he'd like to reveal to this man. ]

I do have another ability, yes. Though it is one I would typically consider a 'secret weapon' of mine, so I'm rather reluctant to share it.

[hexcope]

[To Jayce, this is more educational than revealing of anyone's deeper secrets. He has little to compare it to, both in this type of magic, and in Kleken's own personality itself, so one might even call him oblivious. All that seems to matter right now to him is that he's learning more about magic, and having fun being around Kleken.]

Is it dangerous?

[Is it still asking someone to share it if he asks more pointed questions about it?]

You don't have to if you don't want to, I won't push, but...

[Jayce looks to Kleken, eyes half-lid. Maybe he's not the best at seduction, but he's usually pretty good at getting what he wants when it comes to negotiation. While one hand still idly plays with the tentacles, his still free hand cradles Kleken's own.]

Who am I going to tell?