Invisible Is As Invisible Does [Trebias]

[seraaches]

El's response to the news was interesting, though it made it rather apparent that he wasn't going to answer her questioning glance. Ah, well. She wouldn't pry, even though she was still curious.

At his question, she tilted her head in thought before a small frown pressed her brow. "I don't think there's been any real change there for years. It's still Queen Lysara and King Varestes. There may have been an influx of Jacks awhile ago, but no real shift in power otherwise."

She glanced at him again before dropping her eyes to the newspapers. "And, of course, that leaves the Court of Clubs," she said softly. "Queen Aderlass kept King Anoushka on, but has also added Kings Ataxia and Gabriel." She hesitated for a moment. "Rumours say that he's exceedingly close to the Jack Pascha, and for awhile there was a hint that King Ataxia wanted The throne. But neither has come to much just yet."

For someone so shy, the skunk kept her ear close to the ground.

[Trebias]

El was surprised and pleased. Kel had summed up very nicely much of what he had wanted to know. There were more things, but he had names now that he could ask about in the Courts if he got the chance. Kel was definitely a good friend to have. He wondered if the shyness was real, or an act to set people at ease to get them to talk about it. Either way. . .

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant, Kel. I can tell that you are a valuable asset. What else are you brilliant at?" He was glad he'd bumped into her. "It's probably reflected somehow in your abilities. What can you do, if you don't mind my asking. If you need me to, though, I'll go first. You know, in case you're trying to keep them secret as an advantage in a duel. I understand how that goes. Good strategy."

[seraaches]

Elias, the woman decided, saw the world far differently than she did. First of all, there was basically no way she'd ever call herself brilliant, especially not for just listing off names and a bit of the latest Court gossip. It wasn't even really new gossip. She couldn't even remember where she'd picked up those pieces.

Secondly, wot sort of connection to brilliance were abilities? And strategy? She was more than a little flabbergasted and her expression portrayed that. "Uhm, no, I don't guess I'm strategically hiding my abilities. . ." It was just. . . a little strange to be talking about them. She tilted her head to the other side before confiding in the man about wot she was able to do.

"I do have the Diamond charm and the ability to use other languages, though I have not yet chosen one. You know I can turn invisible." She flushed slightly. "I can also detect lies, fly, and, uhm, run straight up a wall for about 15 seconds." That one she had discovered really on accident and it baffled her.

[Trebias]

"That's actually really pretty cool. It sounds like you could be a
pretty good spy or thief some day. The languages thing along with the
ability to tell a lie are pretty important themselves, even if you
choose a legal profession.

"I guess I'll go. You know how people feel about Clubs, not good for
much besides heavy lifting. I can do a little of that, probably about
average, but I'm not sure. Um, let's see. You know about my ability to
blend into crowds. I enjoy that one. Makes tailing easy. What else.
Oh, yeah, I can go two days without sleeping, I've heard of some who can
go more. Pretty useful, especially if someone's being stubborn or
paranoid. I know I can wait until they fall asleep to take action. I
can manipulate mud and soft earth. I really don't know to what extent,
but I know it has to be pretty soft to begin with. That's actually part
of how I killed that snake I was telling you about."

He didn't really think about his abilities like this often, just used
them when he needed them. Had he forgotten anything? Oh! Yes! "Oh,
you'll like this one. I've got a Club's ability to communicate over
long distances too. Here's the funny part, though. I need there to be
someone around the person I want to talk to, Suit doesn't matter. That
person relays the message. I've never seen it, but I guess they fall
into a trance and speak with my voice. Then the person I'm talking to
responds out loud, and I can hear it. Weird thing is, so far I can talk
to Diamonds, too. I'm not sure about Spades, I don't really know any I
care to call once a week. Hearts definitely doesn't work, I've tried
calling Queen Shinrai from all sorts of distances. So what do you have
to say about that? Oh, and I can throw my voice."

[seraaches]

Kel's brows lofted at his growing dissertation of abilities. He was a very talented individual and she found herself suddenly pleased that she'd run into him. Even if he was friends with the Queen of Hearts. And somehow knew Mnem. She would definitely have to ask the Yarrow Gardens canine about that; it was just. . . very strange.

"You can communicate with Diamonds as well?" She couldn't remember hearing of a Club that could speak that way with anyone but other Clubs. That was very cool. And then! "Wot do you mean by throw your voice?" She had on an amused and delighted smile as they talked. El was seriously an amazing man. She hoped that he would continue to find her an interesting person. She wanted to be his friend in actuality. Perhaps someday she could do something usefully worthwhile as well.

[Trebias]

"Yep, I guess I got lucky when I hit 10," he said to her first question. But how to explain his ability to throw his voice? It was straightforward enough, but as with many straightforward things, it was easier to just show her. "Well, I can make it sound like I'm talking from somewhere else, more or less. Like, listen over by the door there," he said. He threw his voice and spoke normally, but the voice came from near the exit. "So I can make it sound like I'm over there. Not always that helpful in a fight except for a quick surprise." He called his voice back. "Oh, watch this one." He got up and walked up the spiral staircase, and stood a good distance from her. "I can even make it sound like I'm whispering," he said softly into her ear. He came back.

"I have some others that I've been learning, but I can't use those too often," he said. They really were his most impressive abilities, but he had to be fairly selective when to use them. "Yep, none that are too impressive in a magical duel, but they can be pretty useful the rest of the time."

[seraaches]

For all that it likely wasn't his most impressive ability, Kelasia, for some reason, just found his voice-throwing exceedingly interesting. She glanced over towards the corner when his voice was over there and gave a small jump when it whispered in her ear. Her face showed her delight and pleasure at this 'trick' and she wanted to ask him to do it again, though she was just a little bit too embarrassed to actually do so.

"Wow," she finally responded and it was obvious that she really was impressed. "Do you practice a lot?" Because she certainly didn't. Her most used was probably Charm simply because of the number of people she had to deal with on a day-to-day basis. It was so amazing to hear Elias talk about his abilities and she wondered which one he used the most.

[Trebias]

"Well, I definitely practiced the voice throwing a lot. Before, the best I could manage was about 5 feet away from me. Decent for show business, but not much else. Now it's pretty useful, though. I don't really practice a lot, though, except for the mud-moving. Going without sleep just comes pretty natrual to me, and I only activate my heavy-lifting when I need it. I like the blending in, thoug. There's just not a lot to practice with it, that I've seen. Kind of like being invisible. Poof, you're invisible, and there's not much else after that, am I right?"

He stood up and stretched a little, deciding if he needed any more info for right now. Probably not. He could start gathering information now. More contacts, which was often something of a pain, but well worth it in the long run. He'd spend special time researching this Ataxia. He wondered if he wanted to let her even try to be a Queen and aim for the top spot. He couldn't do a lot, but he was sure he could arrange SOMETHING.

"What do you have going on now? You want to get out of here? Hear some stories?"

[seraaches]

Kel hrmed thoughtfully; perhaps it would be wise for her to start practicing her abilities, but, really, wot was she going to do with them? She was fairly happy living a mostly non-magical life. Elias was very impressive, though, and always trying to improve himself. It'd be nice to be as talented as he was. She filed that away to think about later.

Elias stepped back and stretched and Kel rose instinctively. They hadn't been here nearly as long as she was used to, but it was still nice to stretch out her own limbs for a few moments. She tilted her head at the canine.

"I don't know," she answered softly, giving him a shy smile. "I think it'd be best if I headed back to the Palace." Not that she didn't want to spend more time with the man; she did. She just knew that as soon as she stepped out of the library she was going to be entirely awkward all over again. "Your stories sound interesting, though. . ."

[Trebias]

“Yeah, you might have to get back, I’ve kept you too long. So, how about this? I’ll walk you to the Palace, whetting your appetite with one of my stories, and if you want to hear more, we can have lunch near the library tomorrow and I’ll give you some more story? How’s that sound? That way, you get to retreat back to familiar ground away from the loud green canine, and I still get to run my mouth. Everyone wins!” He rose to leave. “Oh, you might want to wait outside for a minute,” El said to her. When he was sure she was safely far enough to not be implicated in his blatant disregard to impulse control, he stood next to the door as a quiet, bookish looking sort was walking by, deactivated his blending ability, yelled “Booga booga booga!” and quickly retreated to the street, giving Kel an innocent look.

“So, what sorts of stories do you like?” he asked her, smiling. “There’s a good chance I have one for about anything. Anything Marsh related, at least.”