[There's a glint in Jean-Phillipe's eye that says he's looking forward to it. What can he say? He likes to brag.]
As easy as one lifts a finger then, eh?
[It does occur to him he may simply have a mental block against it. He's hardwired not to believe in anything, after all, let alone magic, and yet he's seen it at work. Cid here has no reason to lie to him, either.
He's overthinking this, definitely, but there's a part of him still raging at the impossibility of it all, that he would be capable of magic.]
Aye, exactly. Just a little nudge is all it takes to activate the core. Of course, more magic will create a stronger reaction, but we don't need to worry about that here.
[A grin.][Making it sound like a challenge, perhaps?]
[Outwardly, he only stares at the crystal, or at the least where it would have fallen if Cid hadn't caught it. Inwardly, his thoughts, and those of his second and even third brains, form something of a static in his mind until he can sort through them. He can't deny magic exists, he's seen it even before coming here, but it's always been something of the natural world.
Something he is not.
His third brain reminds him that the tattoo from this place might explain why he can here, to spite their origins. It's enough to allow him to focus, to shift his gaze back to Cid with wary interest.]
Don't patronize me. It shouldn't be possible. I'm not a fully organic organism.
[He's not even sure that's going to mean anything to Cid.]
[His eyes dart toward Cid, clearly he hadn't expected the man to accept the idea so readily, but he does breathe a sigh before reaching up and pulling off his mask. Now Cid knows what he looks like: chiseled features, dark and very fluffy hair, a few days worth of stubble.]
To be succinct, I am a bio-synthetic humanoid organism replicated from the DNA of mutants and assembled using nanites. Mutants are the next stage of human evolution beyond what you are now, possessing of powers both mundane and extraordinary. Nanites are microscopic machines, or machines that cannot be perceived unless one possesses the means to magnify their vision to see them.
[At first he doesn't really see much of a difference, but then his eyes widen at the explanations. Especially the nanites... It sounds familiar, and he'll stroke his chin in contemplation.]
That does sound quite extraordinary, and perhaps a little difficult to comprehend. But I think I have the gist of it.
[Now he just looks at him curiously.]
Does that mean you don't have the usual bodily functions of a human body or...?
Yes. I was cultivated in a way, in an artificial womb.
[Which means he has no father and his mother was a machine.]
And I'm not like the others. I can actually assure you, with information received from a man who monitors such things, that I am unique in all the multiverse.
[There's a rise of his brows in surprise, but he just nods. There will definitely things that go beyond his imagination, proving how vast the universe and these different worlds can be, but not really much to do other than try to understand and continue on.]
And because of your "unique nature," magic is supposedly not possible?
[Now that he says it, Jean-Phillipe really has no idea.]
Magic is, supposedly, some natural fabric of existence, correct? By that reasoning, a being created completely artificially shouldn't be able to touch it, should it?
Perhaps in some worlds, but even in my world there are "artificial creations" that were capable of using magic to some extent. There, and it seems here, "magic" is just harnessing the elemental energies and properties around you.
[Ahahaha.... Even after the years here, he does find the irony in himself and his group about the use of tattoos considering their own world's use, but that's neither here nor there—]
To an extent, aye. Of course not without limitations.
Dark... Last time I knew someone who could use something like that here, they were able to wield the shadows. Otherwise, it's commonly related to death and hexes.
[Good news for JP, Cid knows a little bit of that.]
Aye, that is exactly what I am saying. And based off what you've said and your expression, sounds like you'll need some lessons to do it. Wouldn't want you firing off some spell and cause an accident.
Although I'm not familiar with your particular brand of magic, I can at least help show you some basic control. Otherwise you should find someone who would be more familiar to understand what risks or useful ways to use it.
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[Ever the one to learn things!
But he just chuckles at that.]
While one's will does play a part for larger spells and abilities, when it comes to the tattoos, there's a bit less of it for a basic use like this.
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As easy as one lifts a finger then, eh?
[It does occur to him he may simply have a mental block against it. He's hardwired not to believe in anything, after all, let alone magic, and yet he's seen it at work. Cid here has no reason to lie to him, either.
He's overthinking this, definitely, but there's a part of him still raging at the impossibility of it all, that he would be capable of magic.]
Or the flicking of a switch...
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[A grin.][Making it sound like a challenge, perhaps?]
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That or he's very good at scamming people but Jean-Phillipe doesn't get that impression from him, either.
And so he takes the crystal again, raising it before his eyes, focusing on that minute thrum of light at its center, and wills it to brighten.
It's a fire crystal, though. He's not expecting the heat, even through his gloves, and he starts, dropping the thing.]
Gads! It worked!
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See? Not so hard now, is it?
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Something he is not.
His third brain reminds him that the tattoo from this place might explain why he can here, to spite their origins. It's enough to allow him to focus, to shift his gaze back to Cid with wary interest.]
Don't patronize me. It shouldn't be possible. I'm not a fully organic organism.
[He's not even sure that's going to mean anything to Cid.]
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Part machine?
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To be succinct, I am a bio-synthetic humanoid organism replicated from the DNA of mutants and assembled using nanites. Mutants are the next stage of human evolution beyond what you are now, possessing of powers both mundane and extraordinary. Nanites are microscopic machines, or machines that cannot be perceived unless one possesses the means to magnify their vision to see them.
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That does sound quite extraordinary, and perhaps a little difficult to comprehend. But I think I have the gist of it.
[Now he just looks at him curiously.]
Does that mean you don't have the usual bodily functions of a human body or...?
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[He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms.]
But yes, Cid, for all intents and purposes, functionally, I am a real boy.
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Didn't mean anything by it. I've encountered a number of a different "humanoids" now, so just curious how you were like the others.
But you said you were...replicated. Does that you weren't born naturally and instead "created" in a different sense?
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[Which means he has no father and his mother was a machine.]
And I'm not like the others. I can actually assure you, with information received from a man who monitors such things, that I am unique in all the multiverse.
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And because of your "unique nature," magic is supposedly not possible?
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[Now that he says it, Jean-Phillipe really has no idea.]
Magic is, supposedly, some natural fabric of existence, correct? By that reasoning, a being created completely artificially shouldn't be able to touch it, should it?
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[Which he did. It's like a little reward!]
...the implication here is that I might be able to manipulate magic in general.
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To an extent, aye. Of course not without limitations.
What element is your tattoo?
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[There is something similar in his world, at least in one failed future. He'd understand.]
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Then what kind of tattoo do you have?
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[It's shadow, but he really didn't think anything of it at the time.]
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Dark... Last time I knew someone who could use something like that here, they were able to wield the shadows. Otherwise, it's commonly related to death and hexes.
[Good news for JP, Cid knows a little bit of that.]
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Are you suggesting I'm not only able to activate these crystals, but that I can actually do magic?
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Aye, that is exactly what I am saying. And based off what you've said and your expression, sounds like you'll need some lessons to do it. Wouldn't want you firing off some spell and cause an accident.
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And that has never been an issue for him before, though such things definitely plague young mutants who've just come into their powers.]
No. No we would not.
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