[ OPEN ] Do you believe in magic?

[universal_charm]

WHO: Jim Kirk & Anyone
WHAT: Catchall through Harvestmere (October)
WHEN: Timing (backdated, covering a span, etc.)
WHERE: Location
NOTES: Content warnings, OOC notes, links to other relevant posts, etc.

A - The Magic Man's Come and He's Here to Stay
The morning that changed it all had not begun like he'd expected, obviously. It had been rather embarrassing actually (not that he would be recounting that particular part of the story, especially when he would be apologizing for it for the rest of the month most likely). But ever since the change had happened, he began to make regular trips outside of the walls of Skyhold and out into the forests, away from the immediate eyes and ears of the general masses.

After all, he didn't need everyone looking in on him as he pointed his shard-embedded hand at a tree, waiting for something to happen. He felt terribly foolish, but he knew he had shot a beam from his shard - several times, in fact. Whatever was happening, it wasn't a fluke, and he had better learn to control it less it get away from him in a critical moment.

"On!" Pause. "Fire!" Another pause. "Damn it, do something!"

Pew!

"Please don't let that be my trigger phrase...."

B - Listen Up, I Never Say Anything Twice (Classes)
Currently, Kirk run three classes, all at varying times. It made for an interesting schedule, but it kept him busy, and he enjoyed it. All three classes were open to anyone who wished to join, which meant his classes often had mixed skill levels.

Mathematics had Kirk walking between the students, grouping them according to kill level and doing mini-sessions. With the smallest ones or those with no knowledge he focused on the basics, patiently pointing out how to handle the equations. The groups went up from there, and after a bit Kirk clapped his hands to get their attention.

"All right, who wants to play a game?"

--

Once math was over, he moved on to the sciences. His focus for right now was an understanding of the human body (he was not comfortable enough in the physiology of the other races to teach it), and overall health, along with natural science such as how weather worked. Really it varied, and every lesson could get easily derailed as students asked questions and he expanded.

"All right, all right - anything else before I move on?"

--

And of course there was self defense classes, focusing on hand-to-hand combat. Like his other classes, he paired skill level with skill level. Unlike his other two, he was far more strict here, walking between partners, critiquing and demonstrating.

"Come on, go at it for real!" he called. "This is practice for a real life situation, so better treat it like one!"

C - The Man About Town
When not practicing with his shard or teaching his classes, Kirk was running errands around Skyhold, acting as a sort of courier for businesses. It wasn't the best pay, but it saw him through the days. It meant he ran between businesses in the market and even around the medical tents.

He spent time at the stables as well, working on his horsemanship, or visiting with Boggie. He could often be seen talking to him and petting the bog unicorn, sometimes with his cats, Leonard and Nikita, in tow.

Of course he would make appearances at the tavern, happy to sit and enjoy an evening of music and song with drink in hand. Some nights he could convinced to sing of his strange, other-worldly songs too.

Comments

B

[circleprodigy]

Inessa expressed interest in Kirk's classes before, and takes him up on it as soon as she has time to spare. It's not a lot of time, sandwiched between missions, but as she'll make do. As to her skill level, she isn't quite the prodigy she is with magic, but the elven woman remains a quick learner nonetheless. Garahel is there, too, napping or providing stress relief by letting people pet him and rub his belly. Such a Giver.

At mention of a game, Inessa raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Please elaborate."

Re: B

[universal_charm]

Kirk beams, more than happy to see Inessa present at the lesson. It often helped the younger ones not feel so foolish when they saw adults in the room working with them and learning too. The other students go quiet, waiting intensely as Kirk looks at them all with a wicked grin.

"It's a team game," he announced. "I'll count you off as number one, two, or three and that will be your team. Each team will be given one of these sheets." He held up a small spread of papers, letters and numbers written across them. "Each team must work together to solve the problems on the page. The first team to correctly answer all the questions is the winner, got it? And yes, before you ask, the winning team does get a prize."

[circleprodigy]

The game sounds simple enough, and Inessa smiles at mention of a friendly competition. She nods, fairly confident in her own skills, enough to help others as part of a team. It almost reminds her of her Circle days, though the games there were centered on magic.

"Very well. I'm ready. Let's see what comes of this."

Garahel perks up, hoping the prize means something for him, too. He's helping!

[universal_charm]

Kirk went around, tapping the students and counting off 1-2-3. By the time he finished, the teams were more or less even, and he set the papers down on three different desks and set them to it. He leaned against his desk, watching them, enjoying the high murmur of voices as everyone tackled the problems - they ranged from straight equations to word problems, and varied in skill levels, but weren't overly difficult either so that everyone could more or less participate.

"Come on, come on, someone has to be first!" he encouraged.

tavern

[theproperglove]

The feedback she had received from her friends and associates these past few months had been clear: she needed to get out more. While the tavern hadn't been the first place people associated with the elegant ambassador, she came often enough these days, nobody so much as batted an eye anymore.

It's with a cup of wine in hand that she approaches Kirk, a sly smile on her face. "I do believe I heard you singing the other night."

tavern

[universal_charm]

Kirk looked up at the woman, brightening when he recognized his chess partner from before - only to have the good grace to flush at the mention of his impromptu musical performance.

"Oh did you?" he asked with a laugh. "And what did you think? I find the things I sing either tend to go over well or get me a lot of confused looks."

[theproperglove]

"I enjoyed it!" she exclaimed with a laugh, leaning forward in all her earnestness. "It is good to hear something different; even Oh Grey Warden loses its appeal after its thirtieth rendition." Taking a sip of her wine, she asked, "Will you sing again tonight? I would quite like to hear you once more."

A

[hattergonnahat]

Clandestine comings and goings are definitely something Jefferson's keeping an eye on, particularly when it comes to people he knows. Is acquainted with. Whatever. Kirk's being suspicious. So slipping out after him on one of his little outings and following along behind him? Was bound to happen sooner or later.

Turns out, it's as soon as now. And once he gets a good look at what that shard is capable of, why he's sneaking out to test it suddenly becomes much clearer. It damn near startles him out of his hiding place from behind a tree, some yards away.

[universal_charm]

Kirk frowned, looking away from the tree that had been serving as a target, searching the forest around him with his eyes. He licked his lips, rubbing his shard-bearing hand.

"Hello?" he called warily.

[hattergonnahat]

Well. Shit.

Rather that be caught hiding and have to explain, Jefferson steps cautiously out from behind the tree, hands lifted. "Only me, friend," he calls, eyes flickering down to the glowing green mark on Kirk's palm.

Yeah. He saw that. But if you can't trust a fellow Rifter, who can you trust?

C - tavern

[leadseasy]

"Sing another of those songs!"

Yael might look imposing and strange, huge and powerful with horns and skin like a demon, but the smile on her face was bright and sweet, and her voice was soft and high. She'd seen and heard Jim around the tavern. His songs were so strange, but she loved them.

[universal_charm]

The sudden shout takes him by surprise, making him jump in his chair. He peered up at Yael, not really concerned with the horns or dark skin so much as her eagerness for a song. He laughed and rubbed the back of his head, surprised to get a request.

"What kind would you like?" he asked, taking a heavy swallow of his beer to begin working up his courage.

[leadseasy]

She was sitting near him at another table, and leaning towards him with weight on her elbows. "One of the fast ones!" she urged. "You know, the ones that are all...upbeat!" It was hard to really categorize the different songs he sang, they were so far from what she knew, but she was doing her best.

B.

[eternalsquire]

He's a Squire, he's not exactly helpless... but he's not great, either. And when things were hand-to-hand, Kif stands at a disadvantage. Literally. 4'8" is not a great height to attack from, in his opinion, so when Kirk tells him to go at it, Kif gives him a rather flat look.

"I'm going to break if I go at it for real. I'm going to break if he," he gestures at his opponent, a human with a definite height advantage if lacking in coordination advantage, "goes at it for real. I prefer not breaking."

Re: B.

[universal_charm]

"Your opponent in a real fight is going to be looking to break you," Kirk reminded Kif. "Better to learn how to avoid it in a controlled setting. That's why you're here isn't it?"

He motioned for Kif's partner to join a group, stepping in to take his place in front of his student.

"I'm going to come at you now. Do what I've shown you - redirect the attacks, got it?" He asked, relaxing into a neutral starting pose.

[eternalsquire]

He's here because he's not very smart, he decides. But that's not something to dwell on as he gets into a position in return.

"Redirect, don't absorb them as if you have a shield, try not to get broken," Kif lists. It's exhausting, trying to better one's self. It would be so easy to just go back and find out what list of chores Zapp currently has for him... but he wants to see if there's something more out here.

"I'm ready." He exhales and braces, watching Kirk.

C - Stables

[conqueredhearts]

The stables held a large black horse that seemed to tower over other horses there. He was a beautiful creature who was calm until a man who had to be seven feet tall walked in. Then the animal seemed to almost vibrate with joy at the sight of his master which brought a hearty belly laugh from Iskandar.

"Yes, yes! I am here! You see me each day and yet you still are so thrilled to see me, my friend!" He was just walking towards the horse when he paused to let the two cats walk in front of him first. "Ah and it seems we have a pair of find feline warriors visiting today, Bucephalus!"

Re: C - Stables

[universal_charm]

The beast was hard to miss, and Kirk had wondered who would both need and keep such a massive animal. In some respects, he was jealous because the horse was quite beautiful. The cats, however, were far less impressed. Upon being addressed, Leonard turned and meowed at Alexander, which no doubt in cat speak was something like 'we are the finest warriors', since cats had no concept of humility.

"You'll make them both impossible with compliments like that," Kirk chuckled behind Alexander, saddle and bridle balanced against his hip.

[conqueredhearts]

"Hm?" Seeing the young man now, he turned to face him with a large grin spread across his face. One could definitely say that he was a very friendly person right off the bat at least! Then again, that was the sort of thing Iskandar preferred anyway. "I see no problem with this. Cats are meant to be impossible. It is their lot in life, yes?"

He laughed then and nodded toward the saddle. "Are you going for a ride, my friend?"

A

[wontforgetyou]

Kirk isn't the only one who's been out trying to find secluded spots to practice in. Now that he's no longer forced to stay in the healer's tents, Jamie's been feeling the need to try and get a handle on his own shard, and even though Korrin did promise that she'd practice with him, he's still loathe to try and do so with her in case something goes wrong.

So making his way to out-of-the-way spot it is, only he's left it longer than Kirk has, mostly because he's still got to go a bit slower thanks to his injuries. As a result, by the time he's gotten to what looks like a likely group of trees it's just in time to see a bolt of light leap out from the other man's hand and go slamming into a tree. There's really not much in the way of surprise on his end - he knows some of the others have been able to develop shields - but he does make sure to take some precautions, just to be on the safe side.

As a result, he makes sure to wave to get the man's attention before heading over. If that beam's anything like his, it's unpredictable, and the last thing he wants is to wind up back at the healer's tents. Once he's there, he goes to tuck his thumbs behind the belt that keeps his sporran in place, resting his fingers on his kilt as he goes to take a better look at the damage that's been done to the tree.

"Good shot. Take it you've gotten stuck with with blasting things with your shard as well, then?"

[universal_charm]

Probably a wise decision, Jamie - the taking some precautions. Kirk had come out here precisely to avoid people because he lacked control. He knew he did, and if he wasn't scared enough of accidentally hurting people, he was more worried about what people might say if they discovered a Rifter who had no magic before had suddenly developed it. There were already enough murmurs against them, no need to add fuel to the fire.

He looked up when Jamie got his attention, rubbing his shard. Thank you for not spooking him, Jamie.

"You have it too?" he asked him, coming closer to inspect the spot.

[wontforgetyou]

"Aye, unfortunately."

Maybe some people would be pleased to know that they could shoot wee bits of light out of their hands, but Jamie preferred to fight using more traditional means - hand to hand, sword, guns from time to time. Granted, he supposed that he could look at it as having a gun in his hand - but it was too much like magic to him and he'd seen people's reactions to that enough times that he wasn't entirely thrilled about having the ability to be able to do something like that when he'd never been able to before. It showed on his face in the twist of his mouth, although the expression was a fleeting one, there and gone by the time he held out his hand to the other man.

"Jamie McCrimmon. Found out it'd changed the hard way a few months back, and I've been trying to sort out how to get it to work properly ever since. It...ah, doesn't have a trigger phrase, though, as least as far as I know."

THAT embarrassing event

[el_tybs]

It was the feel of the bed shifting and the slip of the blankets that slowly pulls him into the waking world. Sam mutters under his breath and snuggles further into the bed, trying to stave off waking up just yet and getting a bit more sleep before he needs to actually wake up. Realistically it is just him keeping his eyes closed just a bit longer before needing to climb out of bed.

Now that he is awake the familiar ache of sore muscles greets him, though it is the kind that has his smiling slightly. Like most nights, Kirk had kept him up rather late, in the most pleasant of ways. "Morning," he mutters softly, just in case Jim wasn't awake just yet.

[universal_charm]

Jim was sleeping still, though not as sweetly as Sam. Shadows gnawed at the edges of his dreams, gnashing their teeth. His brows knotted together in sleep, not quite distressed, but not peaceful. Something, he felt, was coming, right on his heels, just out of sight, pulling together, rising up, a swarm, a swarm -

He jerked and gasped - and his hand flared bright green, a bolt bursting out from the gem embedded there and right into Sam's ass.

"What the-?!" Kirk sat up sharply, flailing, and over balanced, tumbling out of their bed with a hearty thunk,

[el_tybs]

The distressed noise that answers his morning greeting has Sam furrowing his brow, though before he can even think about doing anything something hits him square in the ass.

"Fuck-!" Before Kirk even hits the ground Sam has already used his magic to Fade Step out of the bed and end up by the railing. He is quite awake at that moment, eyes wide and on his feet, with a hand lingering over the patch of skin that has been blasted. There is no longer the ache of sore muscles, but the flaring pain of being shot.

It was safe to say that he was rather distressed.