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[Level 1 and they didn't even give him a cantrip, went straight to teleportation. He lifts his gaze up towards the shop. Hm... does he need a street light, or would the daylight outside the shop be enough? Maybe it's time to find out.]

Sure, I can try that. Just let me focus.

[He closes his eyes, thinking hard on the shop; he's been there enough times that he can picture it in his mind perfectly, from the decor out front, to the sign, to the lacy curtain detailing in the window...

...As much as he visualizes, however, he doesn't vanish and teleport there. His form fizzles with light, flickering on and off as if the magic is attempting to work, but it's not powerful enough yet. Eventually he stops, blinking a few times as he wobbles in place from an overload of energy built up with no exit.]

...O-oh... I'm still here.

[Give Casey Jones Mage Hand cowards]

Oh darling!

[He only has to wobble once before Rue is right there, a paw at his shoulder, keeping him steady.]

My apologies, dear, that was too much, too soon. We'll have to build up to a leap that big.

No, it's okay! [He lifts a hand to grip their wing, though, just for a bit of extra stability while he regains his balance.] Good to try, anyway... I guess I can only go as far as I can see right now, too. It kind of felt like I should have been able to do it, though. Does that make sense?

[Maybe he can do it later?]

It does. Absolutely.

[Rue felt the strength of their magic long before they could ever fully control it. It makes perfect sense to them.]

But I think it's equally as important that you were able to channel and feel your power, weren't you? That speaks of a deeper understanding of it already. Hopefully that will keep you from popping up without control anymore.

Hopefully. I haven't teleported around randomly so much since that first day, though. Just once or twice on the first day back to school.

[Thankfully not while they were flying on the staff this time. Poor Hunter.]

Maybe it just really wanted my attention.

That does sound like fae magic.

[Teasing, but also maybe just a touch true.]

I think that is enough of that for today. Give yourself a chance to recover. Even after thousands of years, I still find myself wearing out when I must use repeated magic.

Really? You get tired after too many spells?

[That's amazing to imagine. Rue always seems so unshakeable, especially when putting together their elaborate parties. Then again he has no concept of how much energy is required for which spell.]

When they are higher level spells, absolutely! If what you are using is fae magic, I imagine it would feel very draining at first!

[The most recent memory of it had been healing Leo, but that's not the happiest memory for either of them, even now, so they'll politely duck around that one.]

Practically all of the spells I use for the parties I've put on are fairly low level illusions, so most of the spells you've seen me cast wouldn't drain me in such a way. But I have some more advanced magic in my back pocket to use when necessary, and I'm sure, without regular casting, it would tire me out too.

Hmm... yeah, that makes sense. Like doing anything physical- when I was training to use my grapple, big jumps took a lot more effort and stamina than little ones. So magic follows the same logic, huh...

[He pauses for a moment, thoughtful, then asks with some caution,]

Is there a cost with fae magic, if you try to push yourself beyond your limit? Or does it cut you off when you try to cross the line?

[Different magic has different rules... it's important to know what the rules are if you're going to work within them.]

[That is a very sharp line of questioning. Rue can't help the little swell of pride they feel for him in this moment.]

Forgive me if this is more information than you need, but fae magic works more differently than the magic that mortals use from my understanding.

[Rue shoots their son a soft, apologetic glance, before continuing on.]

In Faerie, there is only one pool of magic to be used among all fae beings there. However, some fae have lost all ability to use magic - such as the goblins - and other courts have had their magic unjustly taken from them. Speaking plainly, there should be more than enough magic for everyone to take from the pool equally, but some greedier courts have made it their mission to own more than their share.

So, in quite the roundabout answer, no, you should not have to be cautious of crossing a line. As long as the magic is flowing to you and you are not pushing yourself physically, you should be able to push to your limit. The only time we'd need to be worried is if both of us felt disconnected from the magic completely.

Edited 2024-01-05 21:49 (UTC)

[A sharp question nets sharp relief from the answer; Casey's shoulders slump a little, relaxing a tension he hadn't noticed had emerged when the thought came to mind. It's safe, then. Not that he'd ever, ever imagine himself possessing the sort of power Master Michelangelo had access to, even so, it's better to know than assume and get yourself killed doing something reckless. ...Or heroic.]

Okay... I think that makes sense. Thank you. That kind of makes it easier- like there's one less thing to worry about.

[Gently, their big eyes unblinking down at Casey, just the tiniest pinch of their own concern there on their feathery brow.]

What worries are on your mind, my love?

[Casey fidgets. He knows what's coming, it's yet another "my life is full of tragedy" moment, because, big shock, his life is in fact full of tragedy. This one was admittedly pre-loaded, though.]

You remember... when you opened your shop, we were talking about travel from New York and I had something I would tell you later? Well... I guess it's later now.

[He'd forgotten about it in the time since, but the subject is more relevant this time.]

Master Michelangelo was the greatest mystic warrior in the world, but I think I mentioned before... overusing his powers made him age faster. He was only a year younger than sensei, but the last time I saw him, he looked like an old, old man. And when he opened the gateway to send me to the past, it... took everything that was left. [He looks deeply uncomfortable.] That's why I was worried about Donnie making portals. And why I wanted to make sure fae magic was different. I don't want anybody to get hurt.

[Rue can feel it coming before the words even spill from his mouth.

To their credit, in comparison to some of the other Casey Lore they've learned, the owlbear doesn't jump to coddling or gentle apologies or blinked back tears. But the moment they see the path this is taking, Rue reaches out to take Casey's hand in their paw. Just a reassuring tether, they are right here at his side, listening, offering their strength. He can do this.]

I've heard of magic like that before. He must have been so immensely powerful to have to give up so much of himself in order to use it. That's well beyond anything any fae has ever been able to do. I can see exactly why you speak so highly of him as you always have, he clearly earned those titles.

I understand now. I do. I apologize if my comments about Donnie felt utterly insensitive. Of course, I didn't mean them that way, but I understand if that is how you felt. But I promise above all, Casey, this magic will not hurt you in the same way. It simply isn't powerful enough.

[Casey gives their paw a grateful squeeze. It does make him feel a little better again, that reassurance. Doesn't necessarily help with Donnie, but that's a bridge they can try to cross when they get there. As before, the urgency is different. Unless he starts trying to open portals to New York here, that problem can wait until they all go home.]

Thank you... and I don't think you were insensitive about Donnie, either. I know you'd never want any harm to come to him, or to any one of us. I'm not really sure if anyone would have guessed that portals could do that, since sensei can make them so effortlessly. I'm sorry I kept quiet for so long.

[It's understandable, sure - he hadn't wanted to think about let alone talk about that loss any more than the rest - but it's important that the warning be shared.]

[Let's be honest with ourselves. There's always going to be a Donnie problem. That's just how he is. They have time to figure this one out.]

You never need to apologize for not telling me something, Casey. I'm just so grateful you felt willing to tell me today. It helps me to understand and to be a better parent to you, which is always my goal.

[It's a learning process for both of them, but one that has always been more fulfilling than anything.]

Tell me, darling, how are you feeling now after having spoken?

[They say not to apologize for it, and in his heart he knows, but he still feels compelled. Maybe someday he'll get his head on straight about all of this. Right now it's just not in the cards.

Regardless, at their question, he chews on his lower lip with the snaggle and mulls over his own thoughts a moment.]

...Better? [Maybe try again with less of a question.] Better. Mostly for the fae magic... I'm not worried about practicing it now. Which is nice, I wanted to stay excited about it.

[Some anxieties are easier to alleviate than others, but this one at least was relatively simple. Different rules, different magic... no risk of getting himself wrecked by using it. He's in no hurry to grow up (or become an old man!) due to enjoying a bit of power for the first time.]

[Better is a perfectly acceptable answer.

Rue gives Casey's hand a gentle tug so they can wrap him up in their wings without warning, hefting the boy up into their arms and up off of the ground completely.]

Casey, I'm excited as well! Yet another sign of the bond between you and I. I feel that it grows stronger and stronger every single day. [A nuzzle of their cheek to his, anything to get their boy smiling and laughing and excited all over again. No more sadness, no more worries. Not today.]

Verily, my heart is so very happy.

[He laughs as he's lifted, the enthusiasm he'd started with trickling back into his expression and body language, as if Rue's own shift had given him permission to echo it. His arms sneak above their wings to hold the back.]

I don't know what verily means. [His tone is playful, like that is the least important thing to him right now.] Do you think it'll keep changing? First the owlbear, now this... what else could it do?

It is the same as truly or certainly. [get cultured] Such as, verily, I love you with all my heart. Or, look there, I verily believe that is the ugliest sweater I've ever seen!

[His smile always makes everything worth it. While the rest of the city is staying warm in their homes, Casey and Rue have all of this space alone, so prepare to be just gently spun in the owlbear's arms. They don't mind being silly when it's just the two of them to see it.]

I think the answer is quite obvious, dear.

[Lo, he is cultured. And their examples and casual swinging have him shifting into giggles, protesting playfully.]

Is it obvious? Tell me, you have to tell me!

[Without warning he dissolves into light in their arms, reappearing perched on their shoulders instead, leaning over to hug them around the neck. This new power is just begging to be used for shenanigans.]

[It is enough to drag one of those true, absolutely unfiltered laughs from Rue, their feathery shoulders shaking, giant eyes light up with utter bliss.]

Now that will take some getting used to. [Since he's leaning in for hugs, it only means Rue is in perfect smooching his face position. So they will, a shower of pecked kisses for their son.]

I think the most obvious thing to happen next would be you growing to be even taller than me!

[Silly in the extreme, but since he's already on their shoulders, Rue only has to straighten their posture to full height to make it a reality, at least for this one single moment.]

How's the weather up there?

Aren't I taller than you right now?

[The cheek on this kid, following their lead. His face scrunches in a wiggly smile at the kisses, and he burrows his face into their feathers as if hiding. Embarrassing! So embarrassing! Yet-]

The weather's very... warm.

[It's nice and cozy, this Mom-hugging.]

The sass on you. I can only imagine where you learned that from.

[Leo. Duh.

But he's right, isn't he? Even in the cold weather, all Rue can feel is the warmth beneath their feathers, the happy flush at their cheeks, the familiar tiny face burrowing so sweetly against their plumage. Every single day there are more and more memories for Rue to keep close to their heart, more reasons to make their previous hurt feel like so much smaller in comparison.]

I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with you. United, the chill can not touch either of us. The power of our love overpowers even the weather!

[Definitely Leo.

He hums his agreement, hugging them a little tighter, resting his head between their tufts rather than burrowing. Even if the wind is a bit chilly, there's no denying the truth of their words. He feels very warm, and more importantly, safe.

That's no surprise, though. He's always felt safest, perched on family like this. When he speaks again, his voice is quiet.]

This is... really okay?

[He's not a little kid anymore. Big and strong as Rue is, this isn't really a thing he's done much, and even close to the end sensei had almost started to show his age and feel the difference in Casey's growth. But- maybe, for a little bit longer...]

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