voice

[corundrum]

[A ponderous, quiet sound of crystal tinkling against crystal comes through the feed for a moment or two before someone takes over. It's a deep, androgynous voice, calm and somewhat light, as if with no concerns to speak of.]

I think that display earlier in the month taught us all a little bit more about these "talents" we grasp in coming to this world, huh? But I wonder if anyone knows even more than that yet. Do you think Dreamfolk past have written about this for us?

A strange thing happened recently, too. I felt as if I'd been leaving aside this so-called talent of mine, almost...but in my absence from it, it seems to have become ten times as powerful. It seems like even a neglected talent can flower unexpectedly.

Now I'm wondering whether all the people training so hard earlier this month know that as well. [There's a slight, rolling laugh before the message ends, with another shimmering sound like falling ice.]

Comments

[powertotearer]

Is it good or bad that it's getting stronger?

[ilda]

I’m not sure I’d like my talent to become more powerful.

Oh, and hello!

voice

[rutility]

[ The soft churn of water in the background is accented by the chirping of crickets - this was recorded very late or very early; it's anyone's guess which. Rutile's words are pensive, but distinct. ]

I've yet to really peruse the libraries around here for anything about talents. My own observations have been... [ here they pause, and then their words are laced with some frustration ] poorly timed.

Has anything changed in the last several weeks? It's possible your inclusions are reacting to something external, amplifying you power.

... Though I couldn't say for certain without more research.

[corundrum]

[There's a faint, almost amused hum down the connection.]

I'm wondering that a little myself. It can be hard to tell with these things, right?

[corundrum]

Hello there. [Padparadscha's tone remains untroubled and faintly amused as they answer.] Why do you say you wouldn't want it to get stronger?

[There are certainly types of talents here that one wouldn't want to get too strong...their own being one of them, really.]

[corundrum]

[Padparadscha laughs softly, as if appreciating the predicament before answering Rutile's question.] Nothing I can think of, no. I don't think the sudden increase of people around from that tournament would trigger something that strong.

[It takes more than just being out of one's comfort zone to trigger inclusions to react. They're fickle things at times, but not that fickle.]

Have you encountered your own "talent" yet, Rutile?

[ilda]

I don’t know how, but I can cause earthquakes. And the first time it happened this rock person ended up poking a hole in the glass pane of a tailor’s shop. What if it gets stronger and I make houses fall on people?

[corundrum]

[There's a slight hum of interest at that comment.] What kind of rock person?

[It could, of course, be Rutile, but best to make sure.] Instead of thinking of what-ifs, little one, perhaps you should be acting to stop them while you can.

[If she has control over her talent, then she shouldn't need to worry about those kinds of accidents.]

[powertotearer]

Yeah. I guess, you really can't know until something happens.

ohai new roomie :3

[ilda]

She had, like, reddish golden hair. And long legs, like a model!

I don't know where to start, though. I've been trying to remember what I did to cause it, but... I was really just admiring Valdis. Before that, I was just walking around the city.

[corundrum]

Have you experienced that yourself, little one? I don't think I've seen your talent yet.

oh hey i didn't realise rooms had been reshuffled

[corundrum]

Ah, that sounds like Rutile. [Padparadscha laughs slightly at that. No doubt they would have been singularly unimpressed by that turn of events.]

Nobody else can tell you that but yourself, but consider how you were feeling at the time and you might find your answer.

no worries, we have the other thread to take care of it :3

[ilda]

Oh! Is she a friend of yours?

[ She pauses, considering. Then nods thoughtfully. ] You're right. I just need to think of it a little bit more, which is gonna be the hard part... thank you, though!

What's your talent?

[corundrum]

You could say that. [Lingering amusement colours Padparadscha's tone. It would be more obvious if they were meeting in person what the connection was, but they feel they can leave it for now.

There's a slight hum at the question.] I'm not completely sure how to describe it, but it's a Destruction talent.

[rutility]

Hmm. I believe you are right, but I don't want to rule anything out just yet.

[A pause, and then their words are deliberate. The truth is that they haven't considered it beyond some passing thought.] I haven't. I don't have the faintest idea what it could be, either. It's clear to me that I must have one, but I wouldn't know how to begin seeking it out.

What did you do?

[corundrum]

[Padparadscha gives a very soft laugh, though it's one that isn't quite genuine.] Someone encouraged me to try and find out what it was, and it happened accidentally when I touched them. It's a little annoying to be introduced to something that's not quite in your control, huh?

[Obviously now that they're more aware of it, they can exert more command over it, but that first time hadn't been one they'd much appreciated.]

[rutility]

[It's a shame they're not on video, because Padparadscha would be treated to the comical grimace that twists Rutile's features. Instead, they'll have to do with Rutile's sullen reply.]

I've had quite enough of things that aren't in my control lately. I don't know how keen I am on finding another. [They sigh.]

[ilda]

Oh. And is it... well, set off by your feelings, too?

[powertotearer]

Yeah, um...it's restoration. It hasn't gotten stronger, but...well, I can restore rotting things to good condition if they haven't gone too bad. Usually, I do it with food, so I can help donate things that are otherwise going to be thrown out.

The downside is that it also works on bacteria and stuff like that. That's what happened with the parasites. I got the treatment, but because of my talent, all it did was weaken them. I had to spend over a week at a research facility getting constant showers of the stuff to kill all of them, before my Talent could restore them.

[corundrum]

I think it'll find you one way or another. At least searching for it yourself means you choose when it comes.

[Padparadscha certainly knows the feeling, and they can understand Rutile's exhaustion with that, but it seems to be a fact of life here, unfortunately.]

[corundrum]

I'm afraid not. That's all yours to figure out, little one. [Then again, Padparadscha has enough self-control that it's wildly unlikely anything would set off based on their emotions, so they're not the best source for this anyway.]

[corundrum]

[That makes Padparadscha laugh slightly.] Well, that explains a lot. You were awfully determined to believe you'd been cured before, but I suppose something like that is hard to predict, huh?

[They can't imagine he would've found that out for a while after their unfortunate meeting during the infestation.] One way or another, you know about it now.

[rutility]

... You're right.

[Padparadscha is always right.]

I'll have to be more active about it. It would probably be safer too to discover it on my own, instead of the middle of the city where windows can break. Just in case it's dangerous.

[powertotearer]

Yeah. It's scary, though. I don't know how this might affect me in the future, so I don't want this to get stronger.

[corundrum]

I've heard quite some tales of talents already, so a dangerous one is certainly something to consider. But then again, maybe you'll avoid sharing my kind of talent.

[Padparadscha's tone seems faintly amused at that, though it had been somewhat less so when they'd finally discovered the meaning of their marking to be that of Destruction.]