voice, all responses voice;

[payback]

Say, if you're an alien, I have a question for you. What was your world like? Do you miss it? Please tell me about it if you feel like it. Did you get to fly a space ship? Was that fun? What kind of fun things did you do? Are humans weird? What's the weirdest thing about them? Do you like humans? Did you ever meet humans when you were an alien?

[Okay, that's a bunch of questions. But she doesn't self-correct.]

Also, does anyone here know how to do magic? And if you do, is it magic you can teach to anybody? I think it would be pretty neat to know how to do some magic, and it could come in handy sometime. If you do please let me know.

Comments

[payback]

[SURE WAS]

You are not going to discourage me. Besides, all you did was make some vaguely scary remarks. That's not telling me all about the dangers and deceptions.

[futurarex]

[wow another rude girl just what he needs]

Magic kills when it is meant to help. Magic poisons when it is meant to heal. Magic murders, sews dissent, confuses the clever, turns good and honest people to evil and sets them against those they once called friend.

If you want examples, there are many I can give.

[payback]

Yeah, I want examples, if you're making a big claim like that.

[futurarex]

My father's kingdom, Camelot, has suffered such attacks and betrayals. Even within his own court. A woman dear to him betrayed the kingdom and turned her back on us all.

[payback]

Are you sure she wasn't a lousy person to start with?

[futurarex]

[MIND YOUR TONGUE but he can't say that because he doesn't care about Morgana any longer.]

Of course she wasn't. She was a lady of virtue and honor. A lady of Camelot. It was magic that changed her and twisted her and took her from everyone that she loved. And now she cares for no one but herself, and nothing but her own ambition.

[payback]

Oh. That does sound too bad.

[perhaps a disappointing reaction]

[futurarex]

[a pause.]

That's it?

[payback]

I dunno. That sounds really sad, but I don't think magic necessarily works the same in every world, so I might as well search around some.

[futurarex]

Yes, because that does not invite trouble at all.

What sort of powers would you look to gain?

[payback]

I don't know. Useful things. Somebody mentioned scrying, so looking far away... that sounds useful. Healing would be good. I don't know.

[futurarex]

Useful things can be learned without the aid of magic or sorcery, you know. Healing is an art practiced by more than sorcerers--and practiced more honestly.

[payback]

I think magic might be a little faster. Since we're fighting a war, that's useful.

Look, maybe your reasons for disliking it are understandable, but that's not the only kind of magic here I think...

[futurarex]

Blind trust and aimless curiosity never earned anyone anything good. Just because something can be done faster does not make it more trustworthy. If anything, it makes it less. You can only trust yourself.

[payback]

Naturally, but I'm still going to try it.