Practice makes perfect, or something like that...

[lightningbearer]

Who: Geddoe and Jacques
What: Geddoe offered to help Jacques learn to use his newfound Dragonsworn magic; Jacques takes him up on that offer
Where: Out in the woods somewhere
When: early July
Warnings: none

*he'd told Jacques he'd do what he could to help him learn to use his new abilities, and so when Jacques had indicated he was ready to try, Geddoe made sure he made it to the appointed meeting place in plenty of time. It wouldn't do to make a comrade from home wait, after all*

Comments

[ninjacques]

[Clouds were easier to picture than mist since, let's be honest, Jacques probably watched clouds a lot during his unoccupied hours.

He pictured a small but billowing little tuft of green clouds over the bush, but so far, nothing seemed to come up.]

[lightningbearer]

*Geddoe will wait until Jacques is done trying before saying anything*

[ninjacques]

[He was trying very hard, but when you were just standing there staring at something, it was difficult to tell.

Although he said nothing, Jacques did seem to have given up finally, his shoulders sagging as he sighed again.]

[lightningbearer]

*can't say he didn't expect that... which is why he has something a little different in mind now*

Is it hard to picture?

[ninjacques]

[Jacques shook his head.]

...picturing isn't difficult. It's...whatever should happen next...

[lightningbearer]

*that's about what he expected... fortunately he has another idea to try*

Then instead of picturing it, just focus on what you want to happen.

*turns so he's facing away from Jacques (and Hawk, for that matter), and holds out a hand, focusing briefly before small spear of ice forms and is launched forward, smashing into a tree trunk*

These abilities we're given seem to be innate somehow, not like other magic, so using them is more like some kind of reflex.

*nods towards the bushes Jacques had been practicing on*

Just think about making it sleep, not how you're going to do it. Close your eyes if it's easier to focus, maybe. But you have to want it to happen, as strongly as you'd want to hit your chosen target with your bow.

*it was, of course, the more reckless approach to it, since the lack of visualization would also probably mean a lack of control... but hopefully Jacques wouldn't quite realize and worry about that part yet*

[ninjacques]

[He watched the display of magic, blinking. It wasn't something he was used to seeing Geddoe do, so it was still a little surprising to see.

Instinctual, then. Jacques was silent for a moment- not like that was anything new- before he nodded. That sort of made more sense. He was able to get plants and things to grow because it was something he had (perhaps naively) come to expect.

Turning back towards that bush, Jacques, and it wasn't a beat later that a blue haze formed around it, which apparently startled the hunter since he took a sudden step back.]

[lightningbearer]

*raises an eyebrow*

You weren't expecting to be able to do it?

*if anything, though, there's a hint more of satisfaction than amusement in his tone*

[ninjacques]

...I didn't think it would happen so easily.

[lightningbearer]

*shrugs*

You can judge that once you've learned how to control it.

[ninjacques]

[Maybe now that he knew what to expect, he could do that. Jacques nodded slowly, looking back towards the bush where the blue mist had already mostly dissipated.

Hearing Hawk screech his encouragement, the hunter, decided to give it another shot. The thin blanket of blue mist began to form and spread lightly around the bush, and slightly beyond.]

[lightningbearer]

*keepinng a close eye on that now; he doesn't want to get caught in it by accident if Jacques ends up overdoing it*

[ninjacques]

[Yeah, that would be bad. At least Jacques at this point has figured if things started to spread too much, that he should just stop thinking about it. His targeted area was reached, and began to thin and clear out before it could spread further.

Hey, so far, so good?]

[lightningbearer]

*it's definitely a start, at least! which really was most of what Geddoe was aiming for; the rest can come with practice*

[ninjacques]

[When he was sure the last of the mist had dissipated, Jacques glanced back at Geddoe. For approval? Further suggestions?]

[lightningbearer]

Think you'll remember how to do that now?

[ninjacques]

[The hunter nodded. It wasn't all that hard now that he had the concept down.]

[lightningbearer]

*good; Geddoe's pretty much out of other ideas now, anyway*

Learning to control it should just be a matter of practice. And if I'm not mistaken, your "dreamwalking" probably works in a similar way.

[ninjacques]

[Jacques suspected that dreamwalking would be a lot trickier than this, but at least he had an angle to try tackling it from. Again he nodded, although he supposed the best thing to do would be to ask Rose about that since he knew she had been able to make use of it already.]

[lightningbearer]

Do you want to practice more now? You've caught on quickly, but trying to do too much at once isn't always for the best.

[ninjacques]

Understood...

[He considered, then shook his head.]

...I think for now, that's enough.

[lightningbearer]

*nods*

All right.

[ninjacques]

...thanks.

[lightningbearer]

... Don't mention it.

*was that a hint of a smile before he shook his head dismissively? nah, surely you must've imagined it...*

[ninjacques]

....