(video) two.

[traitre]

I suppose it's too much to ask that whatever's dropping all this incredible technology on our heads continues to do so. [ a dismissive little wave. ] Hordes of hostile spirits aside, of course. Not a situation any of us should hope to repeat, but it certainly is hard to argue with the payoff...

[ "payoff" indeed. qilby's hat takes up most of the screen, but under a horn a bit of burnished metal or mechanical something-or-other may be visible. apparently he's put his little botany project on the backburner since some new toys fell out of the sky.

and although he'd normally be all for showing off what it is he's tinkering with, he's got a more pressing matter at hand. ]

It's rather short-sighted, in retrospect-- but until now, I hadn't truly considered the scope of the universe outside the turtle's shell. Docking on the mainland is one thing, but the stars are quite another. [ he shakes his head almost mournfully. ] But Tu Vishan sustains us yet, and it seems to be quite impossible to travel very far beyond his presence.

Several months have passed, and I still know so little-- have seen so little of this world. The idea that I may never know more than what I'm told is... Disheartening. [ an embarrassed little laugh; as if even he realizes it's a silly thing to be hung up on. but still. ] Surely I can't be the only one that feels that way.

Comments

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

Wh-wha?

[ Jack boggles at the now-blank screen ]

video --> action?!?

[traitre]

[ yeah, he's gone.

but true to his word, not a minute later he's knocking on the café window closest to jack, having apparently made the forty minute-long journey in a fraction of the time. drawing stares, he cheerfully motions for him to come outside! ]

action!

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack turns to look out the window and boggles, quickly hopping up from his table and hurrying outside. ]

You weren't kidding!

action

[traitre]

When have I ever joked about anything? [ he says, jokingly. ]

Forgive me for the abrupt-- [ departure? ] --arrival. I figured it'd be a suitable first demonstration.

Re: action

[wintershepherd]

You've got me! If your sense of humour was any drier, we could beach a whale on it. So they're like North's snowglobe portals but really small...

Re: action

[traitre]

So you're familiar with these, then? Another one of your friends?

[ he sweeps his hand in a circular motion, as if tracing a circle in blue light with his palm. another portal's drawn forth, nearly opaque with no hint as to where it leads. ]

In any case, you're half right. They're capable of being as big as I wish -- although at a certain point, it just takes too much of my energy for me to manage unaided. [ a little smile! ] There're tricks for that.

Re: action

[wintershepherd]

Mm, North somehow makes snow globes that open portals to wherever you tell them to go. But he studied under a wizard from Atlantis so... it's not like it's something just anyone can do.

[ Jack gets close to the portal without actually touching it, like a curious bird popping all over the place. ]

So how do you know where one goes?

Re: action

[traitre]

Sometimes it's as simple as creating a second portal... [ which opens up behind jack with only a faint sound. qilby reaches through the first one and taps him on the shoulder. it's a timeless eliatrope practical joke! ] But for longer distances, a bit more thought is required.

[ could a wizard from atlantis manage that? apparently so. he should've expected there'd be people from other worlds with similar talents. interesting. ]

Where I'm from, it's not an ability that can be taught to those without it. Not that it matters-- every Eliatrope is capable of producing portals. It's only skill, and power, that sets one of us apart from the other.