Line 06 - IM/Action

[willyouwalk]

[After the questors return, Tybalt feels obliged to send out an IM on something very important]

It occurs to me that neither Sadie, Feuilly, nor myself have taught the camp how to break a magician's shapeshifting curse.

[Poor Nico]

It's really quite simple, though it can be difficult to actually do, as Sadie will tell you. If you find yourself cursed into a form not your own, simply focus on who and what makes you who you are. Family, names, memories, whatever works. Try to do it quickly, though, or you may wind up stuck until a stronger magician can free you. The longer you spend in an animal's shape, the more you think like them.

Comments

[deathdiduspart]

[Tybalt do you see this face? Nico is still not impressed. Not that it was all that difficult to change back for him, and he's grateful for that, but still.]

[willyouwalk]

Don't give me that! How were we supposed to know you'd be turned into a rabbit?

[deathdiduspart]

I almost got eaten by Naomi's cat. Excuse me for still feeling sore about it. Not to mention, seriously, it's that simple?

[willyouwalk]

Well, straightforward might be a better word. As I said, Sadie's not particularly good at shifting back. It's simple for me, however.

[deathdiduspart]

[SIGH....]

Well. At least I'm not stuck as a rabbit. There aren't any other side-effects, right?

[willyouwalk]

We got you back to normal before you were more rabbit than human, so I shouldn't think so.

[making_good]

Is it more effective to focus on one thing or multiple? Or is there no real difference?

[willyouwalk]

That depends. Are you defined by one thing?

[making_good]

[Well, with how she feels some days...]

No, but it's probably easier to concentrate on your name, for example, than try to think of everything that defines you. But I suppose that's why you said it's not easy.

[willyouwalk]

It's not easy because everyone's good at different things, not because it's complicated. If you honestly think that your name alone is enough to make you human, then by all means don't let me stop you.

[There's a vague implication that he thinks anyone who claims that their name will do it is a bit simple, but it's hard to tell this specific sort of disapproval from his every day levels of general disapproval]

[making_good]

[Her eyes narrow suspiciously. She hears that tone and isn't sure if it's meant to be condescending to her specifically. She does tend to err on the side of being offended, though.]

I don't. Maybe you should have been more specific about everything that defines you, not just something.

[willyouwalk]

You won't need everything. The stronger your ties to it, the easier it should be to return to normal. Like all magic, though, it also depends on your own abilities and strength of mind.

[making_good]

[Hm.]

So having practice doing magic could help, even if it's not the same spells.

[willyouwalk]

Possibly. Your magic is completely different from ours.

[making_good]

[Is it wrong that she wants to have an Egyptian come curse her and find out?]

Are there any other spells you have that someone can fight with willpower, like that shapechanging one?

[willyouwalk]

[He resists the urge to correct her. It really isn't willpower, that's much too simple, but it works]

Not really. Stronger magicians can fight against a weaker magician's spells occasionally.

[making_good]

[Congratulations on not being a pedant today. It's probably good because Elphaba would just get shirty again.]

So for most of us, all we can really do is try to absorb the damage.

[willyouwalk]

That's how it works for most people, yes. Absorb, cast, pray to the gods your opponent is slower.

[making_good]

[...She still can't shake the feeling that he's an asshole being intentionally condescending.]

Right. Well. Good advice, thank you.

[usernameallison]

[So that...helps, a bit. And explains some things, especially after he got back from the quest. But he seeks out Tybalt soon after returning and getting wind of this IM, needing to ask him something in private.]

Can I talk to you real quick?

[willyouwalk]

I can't fix your curse, if that's what you're going to ask.

[But he shrugs]

What is it?

[usernameallison]

It wasn't.

[And now he lowers his voice.]

So if you...want to turn back into a human again, you have to think of something that makes you human?

[willyouwalk]

Essentially.

[He thinks he knows why Scott is asking so he continues]

At least if it's a magician's curse. I don't know if it would work that way for anything else.

[usernameallison]

What about...

[He thinks very carefully about how to phrase this.]

Changing back and forth between forms. Whenever you want. How...how do you do that?

[willyouwalk]

You mean like I do? Most magicians can shapeshift--it's basic magic. Some of us are better at it than others, like most things.

[usernameallison]

Yeah, I guess kind of like you do. I mean...what do you do to do it?

[willyouwalk]

I think of the aspects of me that are closest to Bast and I become a cat. I think of the aspects of me that are me and I turn back. That's how it works for us, usually.

[usernameallison]

So...okay, what I'm trying to say is...do you think I'd be able to do that?

[willyouwalk]

No. No, I do not.

[Sorry, Scott]

I don't know anything about your particular curse or how it works. You'd be better off asking Derek.

[usernameallison]

[That gets him a little frown. Yeah, he was expecting that.]

Okay, I...guess I'll give it a shot, then.

[willyouwalk]

I'm sorry, Scott. Werewolfism isn't even in out history.

[usernameallison]

Yeah, I...figured it wasn't. I guess I just...wanted to see, y'know, if you had any tips. No big deal.

[willyouwalk]

[Tybalt looks at Scott for a moment, clearly thinking and debating. This is really Derek's business, not his but...well, Scott's an idiot but not a bad sort.]

I may be able to help you retain your humanity as a wolf, however.

[usernameallison]

[He turns a bit for a second, his eyebrows raising. Oh.]

That's...what I was looking for, actually. I think.

[willyouwalk]

It's the only thing I might be able to help you with. When's the next full moon? I'll see what I can find and we'll talk about this before then.

[usernameallison]

I, uh...let's see, the last one was before I went to Egypt, so I think...hang on...

[Scott vaguely keeps track of it in his head, but it's nice that he has a calendar in the cabin.]

April 15, I think.

[willyouwalk]

A few days before then, depending on what I find out and when.

[usernameallison]

I'll keep it in mind, Tybalt. Thanks.