5th [action]

[splitthebaby]

[The Park]
[This time, the park isn't a partially ruined mess.

Nope, today is a science day. Multiple tables have been dragged together. Along them are sticks, stones, pipes, and a few other random items. Truly an assortment for the scientist. Well, one table does have a microscope at the end. Microscopes are needed for SCIENCE.

Of course, there are papers with badly, badly drawn diagrams. Don't make fun of Merem's art skill!

What's all this for? He's waiting for Marisa to show up, as promised. She's got a few things to learn so her own training can continue.

If you're not Marisa, you're free to chill out with Merem. He's more than willing to share his knowledge of nature, at least. It's his biggest love aside from history.]


[1125 Taylor]
[Welcome to the kitchen of Ciel's house.

Where Merem and Marisa are finished with making curry and are now chowing down.

Don't you want in, Ciel?]

Comments

[adropofjupiter]

Okay.

[And look... it blows up!]

...lemme try that again.

[splitthebaby]

You like blowing lots of power, don't you?

[Tossing over another stick.]

[adropofjupiter]

Magic's supposed to be flashy and full power. Kinda hard to not do that after forever of going full tilt all the time.

[She takes the stick and manages to make this one last a few seconds before blowing it up.]

[splitthebaby]

Magic can be flashy and at full power but you can exceed your own limits by learning a level of restraint.

Did you manage to understand it's makeup?

[adropofjupiter]

...I think so. [She tilts her head at the burned bit still in her hand.]

[splitthebaby]

Could you make that image in your mind without an issue?

[adropofjupiter]

[Marisa nods, still looking at the burned bit.]

[splitthebaby]

I want you to take that image and imagine filling in the gaps between molecules with mana. Trying together various parts to make them more solid. This is where great care is needed. Don't use enough magic and the object will stay weak. Use too much and it'll shatter like brittle glass.

[adropofjupiter]

...that's all? [such an easy concept.]

[splitthebaby]

Don't get overconfident on me.

[Throwing over yet another stick.]

[adropofjupiter]

No... The concept and theory is just so simple. Of course practical application will be hard.

[She catches the stick and just looks at it for a long time, no mana being added to it. Who knows what she's up to.]

[splitthebaby]

Good luck.

[Of course Merem's not going to rush her. He'd rather his investment not blow up on him by accident.]

[adropofjupiter]

Don't need luck...

[Luck never got her anywhere; she's not Reimu. After a moment longer of staring at the stick, Marisa slowly started transferring mana into the stick. A couple seconds and she stopped, letting it dissipate. She tilted her head at the stick and chewed on her bottom lip. Closing her eyes, she added mana to it again. She stopped after a second, but held the mana this time.

Eyes opening, she looked at the stick. Just a bit more...

SNAP!

Fuck.]

Hmm...

[splitthebaby]

[Have another stick.]

This part may take time.

[adropofjupiter]

[GOOD THING MEREM HAS A LOT OF STICKS.]

...yeah. Probably. Fine manipulation isn't exactly easy for me.

[splitthebaby]

[HE CAME PREPARED.]

Just wait until you start learning to apply it to your own body.

[adropofjupiter]

That I can sorta do, ze. Just not though this method and only for short bursts. It's an older form of magic Byakuren uses. I adapted a little from her back when were at odds in Gensokyo...

[But she falls silent and tries to get the stick to BE STRONG.

...

...

...

...

.............SNAP.]

Grr.

[splitthebaby]

You'll find this more reliable once you get it mastered.

[ANOTHER STICK]

[adropofjupiter]

[Marisa made an acknowledging sound as she concentrated on the newest stick.

...

...

...this one seemed to harden after a few moments.

Marisa's eyes widened and she grinned, looking up to show Merem. And then it exploded because she lost her control in her excitement.

Now she's pouting.]

[splitthebaby]

Thankfully, we have a lot of sticks, hm? Keep going.

[Throwing another.]

[adropofjupiter]

[That stick hits her in the head because she'd been too busy pouting to catch it in time. She sighs and grabs it before staring at the stick like it was going to blow up on her.

Thankfully this one didn't.

It also didn't look like it changed much. Marisa frowns.]

[splitthebaby]

If you think you've made a mistake, do try to explain where it went wrong.

[adropofjupiter]

I tried a different mana arrangement. I tried lost of little burst - kinda - instead of a long steady stream.

[splitthebaby]

An interesting improvisation. That might work with other things.

[adropofjupiter]

...not sure it's compatible with wood.

[Marisa sets the stick down and closes her eyes. A moment of recentering herself later, she takes the stick again and tries again.

After a moment, Marisa throws the stick at Merem. Have a slightly harder than wood stick coming at your head.]