milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Telemain hasn't been in the bar in months. Which is why he doesn't expect his door to open to it, which is why he doesn't look up from the book he's reading while he walks, which is why he collides with a chair.

"Oh my," he manages, a few long moments later when it's all sunk in.

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His distractedness attracts the attention of another magician sitting at the bar.

"First time here?" Dominic inquires.

"Heavens no, I've been coming here for..." Long enough that he loses track before he can finish counting.

"It has been a little while. Is the shell phenomenon still intact?"

"If you mean whatever's protecting us from that--" Dominic gestures toward the Main Window-- "it seems to be in good working order."

"Excellent. Then perhaps I'll stay a while."

Said with the absent tone of a researcher who is far too busy to die.

Dominic eyes the book curiously. "What are you reading?"

"An early work by a rather distinguished colleague, one I've been meaning to get my hands on for some time."

'Magic,' it's titled, simply, if a little pompously. But then, the man was young when he wrote it.

"...little bit thin on the specifics, isn't it?"

"It's a very interesting discussion on the theoretical measurement of magic, quantifically, and what circumstances procure its concentration." Most people would consider it dry, but Telemain is very fascinated, "Important to read, considering the work I'm doing in the field right now. I have a few theories I'm testing."

"Really?" Now he looks intrigued. "What kind of theories? My girlfriend is an experimental mage as well..."

"Obviously the concept varies on a world by world basis, but I'm discussing the fundamental ethical nature of magic, and whether or not it conforms to man's moral majority, or we conform in some way to it."

He sets the book aside.

"I have been collecting instances of magical growth where it evolved naturally to form some sort of protection or purpose. There are apple groves that defend themselves from those who would harm the trees, and beasts that are given the gift of speech and reason in exchange for taking guardianship of a pool or source. There are things that only the good can touch, else they will be turned to stone, and that evovled this way without outside interference. In most of these cases it could be deemed strictly functional, but the 'worthy candidate' motif does not fit that pattern."

"Hmmm. In my experience, magic is essentially amoral. Things that 'only the good can touch' generally turn out to have been deliberately enchanted by some mage or other, and are biased toward that particular mage's standards of what constitutes 'good' and 'evil.'"

"Ah, but I have at least three cases that I know were not. The King of the Dragons happens to be an acquaintance of mine, and she has given me access to their very good libraries, that chronicle the natural evolution of two of these very sites."

He pauses.

"Obviously this is in my world only, but I believe the 'amoral' standpoint is a preconception. What I wonder is whether these things evolved because of the subconscious needs of the dragons; good and evil being societally constructed concepts, and all, or whether the 'ethics' of magic imprinted themselves on our collective conscience and we call it 'worthy' because it is what lets us survive the task, and thus strive to emulate."

Because magic = sociology.

A thoughtful pause. "How is magic structured in your world? Is any of it elemental in nature?"

...they'll get around to introducing themselves sometime this decade, I'm sure.

There are clearly far more important things to discuss.

"Specific kinds are. We have a sort of person called a firewitch, which is just what it sounds like, and average spell casters can draw on elements to change the balances of their spells, and to use in rituals to amplify basic powers."

Dominic nods. "In my world, most magic is derived from the ten elemental planes. It's all completely morals-neutral unless it's derived from the planes of Heaven or Hell. And no one sane practices infernomancy."

"The act of deriving magic from other sources is, in my world, what really defines it. You can do it honestly, like a magician, or you can soak it up from surroundings like a wizard, which is inevitably harmful and generally considered immoral."

"Ohh, you're from that world. Magic doesn't work that way in my universe. If it did, I'd have melted into a puddle every time my mom made me do the dishes after supper."

"You're familiar with it?"

Does he know Morwen? Telemain can't help but wonder.

"I've met someone from your world before. A witch named Morwen."

A beat.

"You wouldn't happen to be Telemain, would you?"

Morwen. He grins, looking rather... well, younger and human.

Yes.

"I am. She mentioned me?"

"She did at that," says the seer with a wry grin.

"I suppose I should introduce myself. Dominic Deegan, Professor of Divination at the Quiral Academy for the Arcane Arts."

"It's an honour to meet you then. Telemain, travelling Magician. Yes, a friend of Morwen's, for all that her head is far more on her shoulders than mine."

This isn't saying much, though.

"A traveling magician?" echoes Dominic, curiously. "How do you earn a living doing that?"

He doesn't.

"Oh, I fix things, here and there, and I provide mostly for myself."

"Sounds like slim pickings to me," replies Dominic skeptically. "The wandering adventurer lifestyle isn't nearly as glamorous as it's made out to be."

[ooc: Must head bedward. Slowtime?]