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[ the video feed shows Lina looking right back at the screen with a dubious expression on her face, as though she’s unconvinced that this terminal thing actually works. ]

Well, this thing doesn’t look like it’s powered by magic, but it’s definitely not like any machine I’ve ever seen. Where’s Zel when you need him? I guess I’ll just have to trust that it works.

[ And then her disposition shifts a little. Lina draws herself up, smiling winsomely at the screen, hands clasped in front of her. ]

Well! Who cares about that anyway, right? Since I’m in a totally new world and none of you have probably heard of me, I guess it’s up to me to enlighten you all! Standing here before you is none other than the world’s most beautiful, intelligent, magnificent sorcery genius extraordinaire, Lina Inverse, at your service!

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[A bit of a smile.]

Vehicles like cars. Carriages without horses. They have an engine instead, which is a machine that powers it.

[ Color Lina TOTALLY FASCINATED. She leans forward a little, her face filling up more of the video feed, with a look of intense curiosity on her face. ]

Engines? What is that powered by, some kinda magic? 'Cause if not, then I definitely have to hear about this.

Edited 2012-10-22 04:18 (UTC)

Engines are powered by chemical combustion, usually. Sometimes it can be electrical, but all the ones I've seen here use chemical-based propellants.

[She shakes her head.]

The combustion causes the propellant to expand at a high velocity, which in turn creates a mechanical reaction - usually the movement of pistons, which are like, um... it's like a metal cylinder inside a sleeve cushioned by atomized ethylene so its motions are really smooth? And then--

[She can talk about this forever, Lina. No. Really.]

[ Are you kidding? Asami has Lina's rapt fucking attention. She's curious about this, and okay, maybe non-magical tech isn't her forte, but it sure is interesting. She peers at the screen, pursing her lips in thought. ]

That definitely doesn't sound like anything we've got in my world. It seems...complicated.

It is a little! But it just takes a little time and exposure to get up to speed. Once you understand the base concepts, everything sort of... falls into place, I suppose.

Huh. Tell me something -- how cost effective are these things? I mean, it needs some kind of fuel, right? Are they expensive to make?

They're definitely not cheap. Resources are so difficult to come by here, and the supply is nowhere near as high as the demand. We're a little better off, since most of the local kedan would rather sell to a foreigner, but...

[... she's been working fourteen hour days (which is quite the shocking change from her life in Republic City) just to cover the costs.]

And yes, they take fuel cells. Some work on a solar battery - usually smaller vehicles, and they can't go as fast - but some work on hydrocarbon fuels. I think they must get it from the mainland.

[ WHAT wow okay Lina's interest just plummeted. If you can't make money off of it, what's the point? ]

Well, that's disappointing! If it's so expensive, then what's the point? Magic's a lot cheaper.

Can you use your magic to travel?

[CHINHANDS.]

You bet! Spells like Ray Wing and Levitation aren't all that hard to learn, honestly. But that's not all! Magic can be used for all sorts of things! I bet you could make an engine powered by magic, too. It'd probably be cheaper, that's for sure.

Now that I'd be interested in. Would you like to try?

[omg she actually looks sort of giddy at the prospect.]

Would I! I bet between the two of us, we could make magical engines that are way cheaper, and probably more durable too! And people would pay good money for that kind of stuff!

[ If Lina looks like she's doing calculations in her head, that's because she's already fantasizing about the mountain of juulan she could amass doing this. Money?? MONEY. ]

And if you want, I'd be happy to do a magic demonstration for you! You know, show you what I can do and all.

I'd love to! Just name the time and place.

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