tushanshu | [radio]

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[radio]

[A few days after this conversation took place, Zatanna chose to make a rare public appearance on the radio network. She would have used the public consoles, if the subject wasn't too delicate for certain ears:]

Okay, so...I have an idea.

[~~Fair warning, at this moment, it was a fairly terrible plan. And almost certainly won't work. Unless it does~~.]

Remember that Vision we all had a couple of days ago? [Rhetorical question. Of course they did.] Well, it got me thinking. What if Tu Vishan really is still alive, only...trapped? Buried within his own mind so deep that he wasn't able to reach out to us until we went looking for him.

So let's look. Magically, I mean.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that...if you have any magical abilities whatsoever, would you be down to try something with me? It's not too dangerous. Probably.

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[Raine hesitates briefly, then nods.]

At home, the source of mana is the Great Tree. Tu Vishan has always felt a little like that to me. Without mana, the world withers-- it's the essence of life.

The fact that what there is of the land still has life in it, that I can still use healing artes...

[She lifts her free hand, turns it over absently, focus on the ebb and flow of mana. Still there.]

I agree with you. If he was dead, I don't think I would be able to do what I can.

[Abruptly her focus is on Zatanna again, her eyes sharp and thoughtful.] I wonder. If we could combine our perceptions as well as our powers somehow, perhaps we might be able to achieve some better definition of the magical landscape. I've only previously been able to do such a thing in the Dreaming, but it's not completely out of the question.

[She nodded in full agreement. That wasn't far off from what she had been suggesting in the first place. Just...more specific, since it sounded as if their abilities had the potential to be compatible with one another.]

How'd you pull it off in Dreaming? ...if you don't mind my asking.

[Raine shakes her head. It's a little personal, she supposes, but she doesn't mind.]

It's imprecise, I'm afraid. In both cases, I was specifically trying to share my sense for mana with a human. I took my companion's hand, focused on that goal and simply... extended myself.

[This makes much more sense when Dreaming.]

It doesn't seem to require a deep personal connection, either. Neither was much more than a friendly acquaintance at that point.

[...the fact that she later started courting one of those people is entirely irrelevant, probably.]

[Of course.]

[Just like it was pure coincidence that the person she had gone after in Dreaming was...someone she would eventually start dating as well. Probably.]

Does it require physical contact? Or just close proximity?

[Coincidence. Of course. Completely.]

I would assume physical contact, as in each case the transfer ended when the contact did, but with only two subjects, it's hardly a proper scientific trial.

[There could be literally no other explanation whatsoever.]

So, what...do you think we should all hold hands around the circle, then?

That's not a bad idea. [Not one she'd initially meant to suggest, but now that Zatanna mentions it. Even if she didn't do so completely seriously.] Especially since magic sharing is the goal. Unless there's a significant gestural component to the way you cast?

Not that I'd ever been taught.

My magic... [She leaned back, sighing. It wasn't any big secret, but for some reason, the knowledge felt much heavier than it usually did.] ...it's unique to my family, but I've known people who were able to imitate it before. Mostly from my world, or worlds with another 'me' in it.

[Parallel universes. Her mind briefly flashed back to Kyle. It had been years since she'd seen the guy, but they had been through so much together...grown so close...it was hard not to miss him.]

No, it doesn't involve touch. Not the way you were talking about. It's all verbal, but it requires a special language.

Is it a matter of your bloodline, or simply a tradition that's only ever been passed down within your family? [This is, admittedly, mostly just a point of curiosity.]

[All of her other questions are points of curiosity, to be honest. She may be getting a bit derailed from the initial reason for their meeting.]

Does your world have instances of alternate dimensions, or do you refer to the worlds of people you've met here?

[Both. All of the above. No, really, she had no idea just how many nails she'd hit right on the head.]

Bloodline. Where I come from--whether it's me-me, or any other alternate version of me other people here have known--my family is descendant from a sub-species of human known as homo magi. The magic's in our blood. And, in my father's case, the language was a tradition passed down all the way from an ancestor of mine way back during the Italian Renaissance.

[Leonardo da Vinci. Which, to anyone familiar with their history, would explain why her family had to speak all their spells backwards. Just as the great Maestro wrote all his journals and scientific notes backwards as a form of code.]

And yeah, we've done the alternate dimension thing before. It's kind of a long story, but I'm guessing you've been here long enough to guess some of the details.

I see. Bloodlines seem a common way to pass on that trait. In our world, only those with some measure of elven blood can use magic.

[In other words, a different species close enough to interbreed successfully. Though humans are more likely to be considered the sub-species.]

How long ago was the Italian Renaissance?

Yes, I can guess; there's no need to go into detail if you'd rather not. [No matter how curious she is.]

[She did a quick mental calculation in her head. Trying to remember the exact dates.]

About...five hundred years ago--from my time, I mean. Give or take.

Past a certain point, decades if not centuries become a close enough measurement.

[Hey, it's not measured in millennia. That's something. Raine nods, tucks the information away. She will probably never use it, but she never knows.]

...at any rate, I believe I can help you.

I kind of figured as much.

[That was the only direction this conversation could have led to. Given Raine's experience and their similar understanding of the situation.]

But I'm still glad to hear it.

[And a little smile.]

Do you have a time and place in mind for this attempt? I'll be there.

Couple days from now. Timing, depending upon whether or not anybody involved has powers sensitive to that sort of thing. Otherwise, I'm thinking...after lunch?

[That way, people would be well rested and fed. In theory.]

All right. That should work.

[It's a little imprecise, Raine supposes, but she's reasonably sure that if Zatanna's concerned she'll follow up with specifics.]

Is there anything else I should know?

[Otherwise, she won't take up any more of Zatanna's time.]

If there is, then I'm as in the dark as you are right now.

[Any remaining information, they'll find out that day.]

[A short nod.]

Until then, in that case.

[They both have things to be doing.]

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