![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
inbox @ comesailaway
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
no subject
I mean it'll help protect you against magic.
[Which feels...extra pertinent after everything, even if Rita certainly doesn't plan on chasing Clarke down with magic again. She thrusts out the dress once more with a huff.]
Change in the bathroom if you really want--but if it fits, don't even think about leaving it!
[Is this the most threatening way she's ever given someone a gift? Well, it's probably fine. She's trying to impress how obviously useful it is! Really, it's lucky she received something like this, and in a size that looks appropriate for Clarke, too.]
no subject
but yanno what? they've reached a good point in this conversation. clarke has overcome her initial revulsion enough to listen to rita, hears protect against magic, and basically all the remaining resistance drains out of her body. vaguely, she might remember drunk texts; more at the forefront is the increasingly realized disadvantage she feels as a plain ol' apocalypse-steeped-but-very-mortal human being attempting to exist on a magical plane.
there is absolutely no resistance when rita shoves the dress at her this time. a whole lot of confusion, and a brief aside to stare down at the unassuming layers of fabric being bundled into her arms, yeah. but if this is something along the lines of what she thinks it is... )
I —
( ... )
...thank you.
( is this what she thinks it is? )
Can we take a minute, and can you explain a little bit more... what I'm holding?
no subject
She's almmost surprised that Clarke finally seems to come around--you mean this would've been a whole lot easier if Rita had been less awkward about it from the beginning? Surely...not...]
...It's obviously a dress, for starters.
[Rita puts her hands on her hips, pointing out the obvious in case it's not clear, but she does continue a more thorough explanation for Clarke's benefit this time.]
The materials used are sourced from monster parts, many of which can provide all sorts of magical properties. There's nothing particularly special about this one--it won't protect you from specific elements or anything--but it does have decent resistance against magic. It's likely due to a combination of aer-aer and aer-matter interactions, and--well, basically, if you get hit by magic, some of the force should be dissipated by the dress instead of causing any injury.
[Yeah maybe Clarke doesn't need an entire lecture on magic-matter interactions, so Rita manages to bring it back and focus on the main point here.]
no subject
the absolute journey that clarke's face goes on just now... first, flat eyed and unamused (yes, obviously it's a DRESS), then a mildly morbid but fascinated eyebrow arch at the mention of monster parts. those same eyebrows pinch and furrow in confusion because, what's aer-aer? air? air-air? then, slowly, a dawning realization that wipes every negativity from her features, and drags her gaze back down to the dress.
she did want an entire lecture on magic-matter matters actually, rita; you discount how long she's probably sat listening to palamedes lecture on the finer points of necromancy. )
So... it's essentially warded against magic. ( no, that's not quite right; made of monster parts doesn't seem the same thing as specifically attuned to prevent certain disasters. this is more — ) It's inherently magic resistant. This is anti-magic armor?
no subject
That little language hiccup where aer is indeed pronounced identically to air and subsequently always leading to confusion... That aside, Clarke does accurately sum up Rita's brief rambling.]
Um, duh. That's what I've been saying.
[Like, yeah, it's also partially in the synthesis method used to make the dress since just sticking monster parts together won't work exactly the same way, but they've still arrived at the main point.]
So are you going to try it on already?
no subject
but the argument is dead. clarke's once again dragging her gaze from the other girl down to the bushel of black and white cloth in her arms, and she feels her heart start beating out of sync and hard. fascination weakens at it borders, threatens to turn into unbridled excitement tinged with delight. her whole body is tense, weirdly surprising she's not shaking like a leaf in the wind.
you know, when she'd fadedly texted jade curtiss that she wanted "magic everything", there'd been no real expectation that she'd get magic anything. and now this?
when clarke finally does manage to look back at rita, it's with fiercely lit eyes; specks of darker blue practically dance inside her irises, and her chest rises dramatically with each breath. when she manages to speak, it all comes out in a rush. )
Oh my god, Rita, this is so cool! Do you realize how cool this is? It's — I'm going to — thank you. It's still the ugliest thing I've ever seen but yes, I'm going to try it on.
( and with a flurry of ruffles she... doesn't even make for the bathroom, just briefly drapes the dress over the coffee table and busies herself with pulling her shirt up and directly off her head. so much for not changing in front of the other girl, but nobody panic there's a full coverage sports bra and she's not going to be taking off her pants. the new serena eterna aesthetic is apparently maid costumes over capris and we're all just gonna have to learn to deal with that. )
no subject
...Okay, Rita's about to start worrying that maybe she's done something wrong or that the other girl has, like, a fear of magic or something, because Clarke looks like she's on the verge of a breakdown, maybe-
Only for that breathless rush of excited to flood the air, and Rita's left blinking as the other girl jumps straight to finally changing. She's not so prudish to be bothered by the stripping--only baffled at Clarke's sudden change of heart about, well, changing in front of her--and it's not like she's taking everything off, so what's there to be bothered about?? Instead, she's just going to ramble a bit more out of confusion...and a little bit of caution.]
You, uh...you don't need to be that excited... I mean, it's not exactly high-end, and I don't know how the effect will change when it comes to other forms of magic.
[Basically: don't expect too much from it.]
no subject
but that's mostly just excitement, which does a lot to smooth over previously rocky ground. not willing to change in front of rita? no longer a factor. not excited about the fit or style of the dress? also not a fact, who even cares, it could be a skintight catsuit and she'd put on the matching ear accessories and everything. )
It doesn't have to be high-end, it's still an improvement on just my own skin, ( she calls out from behind layers of fluffy undercoats while halfway wiggled into the bodice. then with a few yanks, the neckline is down over her head and sleeves left to be adjusted around her shoulders. it really is a... conveniently good fit.
clarke sets dutifully to fussing with the laces or zippers, securing the maid dress with all the diligence and respect as an actual plated metal armor piece. )
How much cover should I expect this to give? Based off the forms of magic you know it works against, give me a percent. We can figure out how the effect changes with different magicians later. ( oh palamedes~ )
no subject
...It's still jarring just how quickly she went from looking at it in abject horror to diligently tying the lacing. It takes Rita a moment to blink and consider the question.]
Huh? Oh, well... It's not that simple, since it still depends on the power of the spell and the mage casting it, too. For someone like me... [Nevermind that she can't actually use any magic presently.] I'd estimate it would give you...maybe fifteen percent protection, as long as it wasn't one of my more powerful spells. It's still not really something you can put a number on, though.
no subject
15% isn't bad, ( clarke says thoughtfully, finally breaking eye contact because she has to actually look down and figure out how to work this lacing into place. 15% isn't amazing, either, but she figures it'd take a total kill shot and at least keep her alive. )
Do I have to be hit in the dress, or could I get hit in the face and still expect the same result?
no subject
No, not bad--especially against a powerful magic-user.
[Like Rita. Even if she never intends to let that be a problem again.]
Due to those aer interactions I mentioned earlier, it'll still offer some protection even on areas that aren't directly covered, as long as they're near the fabric. Let's say... [Rita comes close and crouches in front of Clarke, bringing her pointer finger to the hem of the skirt before dragging it down her leg, because when she's explaining something like this she doesn't really have a concept of personal space. And Clarke seems to want specifics, so!] ...Every couple inches further you go, expect the protection to diminish another fifty percent or so.
no subject
a lot of social niceties and hang-ups fall away in times of practical application and research or instruction. rita's dragging fingers down her leg in abject violation of the personal space code, and clarke could literally care less because she's learning. it's not entirely unlike slitting the back of her hand to lend blood to palamedes' camp summoning without really knowing what she was getting into. somethingsomethingreference to: this is making up, not making out. )
So, 7.5%, 3.75%, then 1.8% just above the knee? Probably worth pennies against the Captain, but allowing for the complexities of magic between different worlds, could maybe hold a candle against others. Shouldn't be relied on to protect my face. I follow you.
no subject
Well...you should already know how well this sort of thing protected me against the captain.
[As in: not at all. But since it sounds like Clarke isn't getting any reckless ideas regarding that avenue, she's quickly moving on.]
Maybe if there was a hat or hairband to go with it, but... [She motions to a pile of gold- and fur-trimmed purple fabric and in a corner of the room, topped with matching knee-high boots and a pointy hat. Rita's new set of war gear, so to say, for when she feels it's necessary to have.] Anyway, having your torso protected is way better than nothing.
no subject
it's not like clarke ever forgets really, or at least she tries very hard not to. but there's nothing that undercuts initial excitement and cheerful pondering like the memory of rita mordio without her full arm. on the beach during the battle royale, that's the image seared into her brain most of all for some reason. some of the air exits her lungs, and equal parts enthusiasm melts from her shoulders. but yes, right; that is a very effective cautionary tale. )
You're right. ( clarke had just died most recently from a magically inflicted torso wound... you live, you learn, you better equip. that's survivalism in a nutshell. aaaaand, casting a look in the direction rita had motioned — )
Does your world have something against, like. Magic cloaks or full plated armor? ( hadn't flynn worn full armor??? ) ...or is it just on women?
thank you clarke for calling out the female jrpg character equipment choices...
Anyway! At the question, Rita blinks.]
I mean...obviously, there's stuff like that, but... Don't tell me you'd rather be lugging around a bunch of useless weight. How are you supposed to move in that?
[Look, the dress is both easy and breezy!]
SOMEONE HAS TO OKAY?
( she just sort of shrugs, because what's there to do? maybe if she ever gets a kevlar vest she'll make rita and palamedes sit down together and see what they could work out regarding anti-magic-fying that as well but in the interim... )
Seriously though, Rita. This is really great, and you didn't have to give me this. But I appreciate it a lot.
TRUE let girls wear full plate armour!!
when you're not a JRPG final boss or whatever. Besides, Rita feels tired and constricted just thinking about wearing a getup like Flynn's.Well, it's quickly forgotten regardless, because Clarke's genuine appreciation has heat rising to her cheeks, as she tries to wave it off.]
I-it's not that big a deal--it's not like I had any hand in making it show up. The timing was just convenient; that's all.
no subject
( rita seems flustered, but clarke holds pointed eye contact — or at least, the heavy heat of her eyes on rita's face, even if the other girl looks away — for a good few seconds after she's done speaking. but then politely drops her gaze to the hem of the skirt, and swings her hips experimentally to make the fabric rustle. swish, swish, swish... )
no subject
[Why does she have to make it so...weird?! Ugh, being all sincere and everything... Also, yeah, Rita's definitely not meeting Clarke's eyes there, not glancing back over under she hears that light fabric rustling.]
Anyway...I guess if I end up with any matching accessories or anything...I'll let you know.
no subject
swish swish — )
I don't care if they match, but thank you. ( ... ) Do you think I could have Palamedes put blood sigils in the petticoats to up the percentage? Or carve some protection wards into the sole of my shoes? Stitch something into a shirt? I like this idea of magically reinforced clothes, shouldn't everyone have some?
no subject
She tilts her head in thought as the other girl spitballs ideas, and while she could respond that's something better asked of Palamedes--who actually properly knows sigil magic--instead...it sparks some interest in Rita.]
Hmm...if it's using that sigil magic, maybe it'd be worth experimenting... I mean, it doesn't really matter what you draw, as long as it links your intent with a concept, right?
[From what she recalls of the moon weirdo's little lesson. The idea of learning from Palamedes doesn't sit well with her; she bets he'd be as insufferable as always...and his brand of magic's so creepy, too...]
no subject
( you can be friendly with someone and still blatantly lie without so much a bat of the eye. this has become oddly second nature to clarke over the last few months. )
I think it should work, but guess we'll have to wait and see.
no subject
[She gives Clarke a brief, considering look. Ah, there is one other conclusion here-]
Or you didn't have any talent?
no subject
There's no magic in my world, as you know. I've no natural aptitude.
( only hard-won, blood-sweat-tears-and-theft skills. )
no subject
As far as you're aware, you mean.
[It's just like Natsuno said, since apparently he has the aptitude to channel magic for the Dioscuri--he just doesn't know how.]
You know, people can't naturally use magic on their own in my world, either.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)