But yeah. I've just never had reason to go swimming in the ocean before, because it was too hard to get to. It's all new!
And, honestly? I'm not sure how Uncle Qrow met Uncle Break, but they were having sleepovers almost right away. I bet they saw some really cool movies together
The trick is staying pressurized. Then you're all right.
I'm trying to organize lessons, if you're interested. As has been pointed out to me, this is a coastal city.
[Oscar has too much experience to really believe the thing about movies. Paul empathizes. Maintaining the peaceful fiction that Augustine and Teacher are engaged in pious contemplation when the study door locks takes up plenty of his own capacity for denial.]
I imagine they did. Do you have movies on Remnant, too? We don't have anything quite like them where I'm from.
[Oscar wasn't trying to deny trauma-- he was trying to deny that there was less of the boy who left the farm in him than he was willing to accept at the moment. Maintaining silly fictions was a small way of trying to preserve his own sense of self... ]
I'd be interested. Just don't let me down.
We do have movies in Remnant. I've seen them both on the TV and in theaters. But, my first time going to a big, fancy one was when we were in Atlas-- the last place we were in before we went into the Dream. It was fun watching Jaune and Weiss argue about which movie to see... And I was happy when Weiss got the people at the counter to get me a new burger after they put the mustard I didn't want on it.
[Everyone has their fictions they get by on. Paul is no exception.]
You watch movies in theaters? Does everyone have an individual television for their seat, or are they shared in sections? Do you wear hearing devices to prevent overlap of sound?
It does sound like fun. What movie did you see? Have you ever seen any movies about boxing?
You'd be letting me down if you let me drown, so it's kinda both?
And we watched an action film in a big room with a big screen and a lot of people. It was a superhero one, because Jaune won the coin flip. I've probably seen some boxing movies? But I like the adventures.
That's true. I won't let you be eaten by anything in the water, either, to cover all eventualities.
If you like adventures, you might like the wizard films where they get rid of a cursed piece of jewelry. You reminded me of one of the characters in it, although without the beard.
The town organized itself. I just provided a structure. Anyone could have done it, if they set themselves to the task. I'm grateful that anyone listened.
But I am flattered to be compared to the Lady Ruby Rose, even if only a little. She's an impressive woman.
I don't think just anyone can do what you did... But I've seen Ruby do it. She managed to keep us working together even when our team got split apart in Atlas, and she's the one who sent a message out into the sky for the world to see.
... She's also turned Grimm the size of your Leviathan to stone. I don't think you can do that.
I can say without reservation I lack her particular panache.
She has a way about her. Charisma doesn't quite suffice to describe it. She inspires trust, doesn't she? It's the sincerity, the unequivocal directness.
A gift, whatever it is, well aside from any other power.
And yes. Yet.
I've been working on something else. Do you remember on the beach, the first time we met, when we talked about learning magic? You told me that what you do is innate, and unique to each person. I've found most magic seems to be like that, blood or otherwise.
She doesn't lack for bravery in any direction, does she?
[In the spirit of diplomacy, Paul decides to let the remark about the Moon Presence stand unchallenged; in the spirit of reconsideration, more tentative and new, he allows to himself that he does not have the context Oscar does for that hope.]
You wanted to learn to do more. To be of greater use. I remember that too. That's why I think you'll appreciate this.
Here. Watch this.
[The message comes attached to a video.
The first shot is of Paul's empty hands above a natural-seeming shelf of grey stone. He wiggles his fingers, almost playfully, and then picks up a small vial full of dark grey, gritty powder to tap a modest palmful of into his left hand.
Nothing changes for a while. His fingers twitch, slightly, right hand flattened on the rock as his out-of-focus chest rises and falls with measured breath.
And then the metal in his hand bursts into a shower of arcing sparks, a fistful of stars flung up in a flash of light that floods out the video to its final frame of obliterating brilliance.]
[Oscar watched-- and his eyes went wide with the explosion of stars that came with the video. It was unlike anything Oscar had seen in Trench. And, quickly:]
[The word would be laced with triumph if he spoke it aloud, but the brevity of revelation will have to suffice in this format.]
I discovered a book in the labyrinth that describes the summoning of flame, among other things. It's taken some deciphering, and interpolating of absent references, but I'm making progress, as you can see.
[He did see. But, the mention of it being related to a book put a few pieces into place in his memory...]
That's so cool! But be careful, okay? It might not be the same thing, but there were weird things happening with books in the Dream. I was too busy with my own problems to look into them too much, but they kept popping up and people kept getting in trouble.
...I know I'm telling you to be careful, but I AM interested. It would be nice to be useful like that.
[Especially since the full magic from Remnant was a mere fraction of what it was since they all woke up in Trench. All Oscar could access was his bird transformation-- and only because he had made that his own before the dream finally collapsed.]
I'm being careful. I know that's what someone who wasn't would say, but I am. I'm reading one page at a time and observing any effects it might be having on me with an external record.
If it doesn't have a negative impact on me, I'd be willing to lend it to you. The subject matter isn't always pleasant, I'll warn you, but it seems largely symbolic.
[It's not that Paul is easily prey to flattery; it's that he doesn't think Oscar would say anything like that unless he truly meant it, and that kindles a warm glow of hard won pride in him.]
[It had been a while since he had thought of cursed books, but the reference to them had him recalling a young art teacher with hair that had obviously been dyed too deep of a black to match his pallid complexion. The eye tattoos the man bore on every joint was impossible to forget-- and, even though he has refrained from joining them in Trench, Oscar still wanted to respect the man.
He frowned, fiddling with the safety pin he still wore in his ear.]
Everyone assumes Ozpin is my teacher... But he's not, someone else is.
He didn't come to Trench for his own reasons, but he taught me a lot more than the basics of art. He was magic in his own right, and could know basically anything if he wanted to.
... There was only one thing he was particularly firm about, so I've gotta ask even though he's not here:
The book doesn't say anything about belonging to a Jurgen Leitner, does it?
[Adages about playing with fire abound across all of history. Paul tenses at Oscar's mention of one point he is firm on, apprehension skittering under his nerves like stray sparks - only to be extinguished with a sigh.]
Nothing like that. It's from the Archives here in Trench, according to the label inside the cover. No author attributed.
I didn't assume Ozpin was your teacher at first, you know. I thought he was your father.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: described gore
[Fun facts with Paul Atreides.]
I thought your world sounded like it ought to have liquid surface water, since you grow crops there.
How did you find your uncle this boyfriend? For my notes.
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But yeah. I've just never had reason to go swimming in the ocean before, because it was too hard to get to. It's all new!
And, honestly? I'm not sure how Uncle Qrow met Uncle Break, but they were having sleepovers almost right away. I bet they saw some really cool movies together
no subject
I'm trying to organize lessons, if you're interested. As has been pointed out to me, this is a coastal city.
[Oscar has too much experience to really believe the thing about movies. Paul empathizes. Maintaining the peaceful fiction that Augustine and Teacher are engaged in pious contemplation when the study door locks takes up plenty of his own capacity for denial.]
I imagine they did. Do you have movies on Remnant, too? We don't have anything quite like them where I'm from.
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I'd be interested. Just don't let me down.
We do have movies in Remnant. I've seen them both on the TV and in theaters. But, my first time going to a big, fancy one was when we were in Atlas-- the last place we were in before we went into the Dream. It was fun watching Jaune and Weiss argue about which movie to see... And I was happy when Weiss got the people at the counter to get me a new burger after they put the mustard I didn't want on it.
no subject
[Everyone has their fictions they get by on. Paul is no exception.]
You watch movies in theaters? Does everyone have an individual television for their seat, or are they shared in sections? Do you wear hearing devices to prevent overlap of sound?
It does sound like fun. What movie did you see? Have you ever seen any movies about boxing?
no subject
You'd be letting me down if you let me drown, so it's kinda both?
And we watched an action film in a big room with a big screen and a lot of people. It was a superhero one, because Jaune won the coin flip. I've probably seen some boxing movies? But I like the adventures.
no subject
That's true. I won't let you be eaten by anything in the water, either, to cover all eventualities.
If you like adventures, you might like the wizard films where they get rid of a cursed piece of jewelry. You reminded me of one of the characters in it, although without the beard.
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And... You're not talking about the old wizard, are you? I'm nothing like him!
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You're not usually like him. Only when you're more serious. Mostly, you're like the gardener. Practical and grounded, and sometimes very brave.
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... Thanks for that comparison, too. I liked the gardener in that story. He's right, potatoes really are the best food ever.
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Potatoes are an excellent crop. Nutritionally more than adequate, and very palatable. They're no rice, but I'd almost put them at that level.
[Caladanin pride runs deep.]
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...I guess we're lucky the Pthumerians saw a way to put us together, too. I don't believe in coincidences. This works too well
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I wouldn't give the Pthumerians credit for that. If I recall, you were the one who reached out to me. More than once.
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That's.... Something. That kind of person hasn't existed in Remnant for a long time. And... You reminded me a little of Ruby.
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But I am flattered to be compared to the Lady Ruby Rose, even if only a little. She's an impressive woman.
private
With a silver eye.
Private
Even with her silver eye, she's one of a kind
I don't think just anyone can do what you did... But I've seen Ruby do it. She managed to keep us working together even when our team got split apart in Atlas, and she's the one who sent a message out into the sky for the world to see.
... She's also turned Grimm the size of your Leviathan to stone. I don't think you can do that.
Yet.
permaprivate
She has a way about her. Charisma doesn't quite suffice to describe it. She inspires trust, doesn't she? It's the sincerity, the unequivocal directness.
A gift, whatever it is, well aside from any other power.
And yes. Yet.
I've been working on something else. Do you remember on the beach, the first time we met, when we talked about learning magic? You told me that what you do is innate, and unique to each person. I've found most magic seems to be like that, blood or otherwise.
permaprivate
One that inspires hope like the Moon Presence herself.
I remember that conversation, Paul. Most of our powers back home are unique to us. Besides our Aura and ability to heal, anyway.
But it sounds like you've figured something out. What is it?
no subject
[In the spirit of diplomacy, Paul decides to let the remark about the Moon Presence stand unchallenged; in the spirit of reconsideration, more tentative and new, he allows to himself that he does not have the context Oscar does for that hope.]
You wanted to learn to do more. To be of greater use. I remember that too. That's why I think you'll appreciate this.
Here. Watch this.
[The message comes attached to a video.
The first shot is of Paul's empty hands above a natural-seeming shelf of grey stone. He wiggles his fingers, almost playfully, and then picks up a small vial full of dark grey, gritty powder to tap a modest palmful of into his left hand.
Nothing changes for a while. His fingers twitch, slightly, right hand flattened on the rock as his out-of-focus chest rises and falls with measured breath.
And then the metal in his hand bursts into a shower of arcing sparks, a fistful of stars flung up in a flash of light that floods out the video to its final frame of obliterating brilliance.]
no subject
What was that? How did you do it???
no subject
[The word would be laced with triumph if he spoke it aloud, but the brevity of revelation will have to suffice in this format.]
I discovered a book in the labyrinth that describes the summoning of flame, among other things. It's taken some deciphering, and interpolating of absent references, but I'm making progress, as you can see.
no subject
That's so cool! But be careful, okay? It might not be the same thing, but there were weird things happening with books in the Dream. I was too busy with my own problems to look into them too much, but they kept popping up and people kept getting in trouble.
...I know I'm telling you to be careful, but I AM interested. It would be nice to be useful like that.
[Especially since the full magic from Remnant was a mere fraction of what it was since they all woke up in Trench. All Oscar could access was his bird transformation-- and only because he had made that his own before the dream finally collapsed.]
no subject
If it doesn't have a negative impact on me, I'd be willing to lend it to you. The subject matter isn't always pleasant, I'll warn you, but it seems largely symbolic.
[It's not that Paul is easily prey to flattery; it's that he doesn't think Oscar would say anything like that unless he truly meant it, and that kindles a warm glow of hard won pride in him.]
no subject
He frowned, fiddling with the safety pin he still wore in his ear.]
Everyone assumes Ozpin is my teacher... But he's not, someone else is.
He didn't come to Trench for his own reasons, but he taught me a lot more than the basics of art. He was magic in his own right, and could know basically anything if he wanted to.
... There was only one thing he was particularly firm about, so I've gotta ask even though he's not here:
The book doesn't say anything about belonging to a Jurgen Leitner, does it?
no subject
Nothing like that. It's from the Archives here in Trench, according to the label inside the cover. No author attributed.
I didn't assume Ozpin was your teacher at first, you know. I thought he was your father.
What was your teacher's name?
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