Magic/Support Reserves, The Preserve, Wednesday After Workshops

[trigons_child]

The usual table of baked goods and refreshments was available for the reserves meeting, with plenty of ice to keep the drinks cool in the heat of the afternoon. It was Raven's turn again to lead the meeting, and she was trying not to flail. She was never going to be used to public speaking. And yes, she'd changed clothes since leaving 'Dite's, thank you very much.

"Last year we had a discussion about recognizing when people were not themselves," she began, "but in light of this past Friday, and because we have many new people here now, I thought it would be acceptable to speak on this topic again." Without love spells this time, please.

"Fandom has many ways of affecting us," Raven went on, "and it is often said that the island has a whimsical sense of humor. People have spontaneously changed sex for a day, or turned into children or animals, or become another person entirely, or just...not been themselves. If you have not experienced these things yet, you likely soon will, or you will observe your friends being thus transformed. While it may be amusing to watch, if something has altered your friend's personality, it is advisable to keep an eye on them so they do not do something they will later regret." No, her eyes totally weren't darting toward Karla when she said that, and she definitely wasn't blushing.

"And -- if they're going to do it no matter what you say?" Tara put in with a blush of her own, thinking of her turn as a chanteuse, "Keep an eye on them, and be reassuring afterwards. Remind them it happens to everybody and not that many people saw whatever it is that they did. Unless it's physically dangerous. Then you have to stop them."

"I personally would consider mental scarring to fall into that category," Emmett added. Not blushing, just... looking mentally scarred. "And yet another afterwards option would be What Happens When Hell Freezes Over Stays In Hell, aka looking your friend straight in the eye, saying "I have no idea what you're talking about" and passing them an ice cream sundae."

Karla nodded. "And when it comes to dealing with the consequences of their--or your--actions, it's important to remember that people might literally have not been in their right minds. It may be hard to be forgiving or just in the aftermath, but, most times, people have no idea anything is happening or different until whatever weirdness has struck has ended. Until then, they are acting 'normal' by the standards of that new reality, and that new reality. You have to understand that whatever actions or behaviors they displayed during that time, they have very little to do with how the person thinks, feels, or acts normally, and take that into account when you decide how to respond in the aftermath."

"Do you have any abilities that might be useful in detecting if someone is not themselves, such as reading an aura and seeing it has changed?" Raven finished. "Or if their form has been entirely altered, would you be able to sense their true self? What could you do to restrain someone who is acting out of character?"


[Co-written with the spectacular spectacular glacial_witch, hazlehurstmiss, and life_inshadow. Please wait for the OCD is up!]

Comments

Arrive and Mingle

[trigons_child]

There were Popsicles in a cooler, but better eat them fast!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[stylin-wizard.livejournal.com]

Alex snagged herself a popsicle and would probably grab a drink, once she finished it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[nothornlessrose.livejournal.com]

Cassidy was here and had pulled her hair into a braid that was on top of her head. She was very warm and had no issues with taking a popsicle. Anything to help her cool off was a good thing in her book.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy had a Popsicle in one hand (make a joke about that and she might hit you) and a burger in the other (make a joke about that and she might hit you), listening as she practically inhaled both items, with no small amount of sympathy and, yes, interest. Though she didn't appear to be terribly embarrassed about her Friday (which might make you want to hit her). Bemused, but not embarrassed.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Sookie happily took a popsicle, grateful for something cool, and looked around at the other assembled people. This was better than the last time she'd been to reserves meeting. She wasn't afraid Kennedy might kill her, after all.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[glacial_queen]

"Hey, Sookie," Karla said with a small smile. "Glad to see you here."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

Asuna took one Popsicle and was a little wary every since she had that magical wardrobe malfunction the last time she was here. Hopefully that was a one time thing.

Discussion

[trigons_child]

Do you have the ability to detect when someone has been mystically altered? Can you see someone's true self even if their form has been changed? How could you restrain someone who is acting out of character?

Re: Discussion

[life_inshadow]

"I can see straight possession," Tara ventured. "It makes your aura all wrong. I don't know about gremlin bites or when the island makes people all nuts, though. I've never tried."

Re: Discussion

[glacial_queen]

"I can tell psychic scents," Karla said. "Usually that just means that if someone's feeling extreme bouts of emotions, I can sense what they are, but psychic scents are unique to people, too. So I can usually tell when an animal is normally a student or something, or when people have changed form."

Re: Discussion

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Sookie nodded along with Karla, adding, "My telepathy's kinda similar, but it's more tied to the physical brain, I think? So everyone has a unique brain signature. I can tell if someone's in the wrong body, though I can't always tell who they are if I don't recognize their mental output."

Re: Discussion

[nothornlessrose.livejournal.com]

"I can tell psychic scents," Cassidy said, tilting her head as she listened to the discussion. "Like Karla says, they're unique to each person so I could tell if someone wasn't who they seem to be." She chewed on her lip, a hint of self-consciousness coming through. "I think."

Re: Discussion

[ostianbelle.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," Asuna said, thoughtfully. "I mean, I don't really have any magic other than getting a boost in strength. I'm just a normal girl, really."

Talk to the Leaders

[trigons_child]

After they ping in

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[trigons_child]

Raven was there. Fretting.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

As soon as was feasible, Karla went over to Raven. "I don't suppose--?"

Raven would know what she was trying to say.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[life_inshadow]

Tara wandered over to Raven at a quiet point in the meeting. "Is everything okay?" she asked. "You and Karla seem kind of edgy. Might just be me."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Karla was also there. And also fretting.

Too bad Fandom wasn't the root of all bizarre personality changes.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[life_inshadow]

Tara was there. Watching Raven and Karla fret. And getting nervous in a way that had nothing to do with her performance onstage at Caritas the week before.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[mississippiqueen]

Emmett was there, and very firmly... sucking on a popsicle. Almost as if to make a point to the island.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[brat_inslayage]

Yeah, Kennedy couldn't resist.

Once she'd finished her Popsicle, she had to wander over, one eyebrow raised, and just... look at him. Mostly in sympathy, actually; she'd probably be beyond grossed out herself in his place.

See her not outright asking? For her that was tactful.

OOC

[trigons_child]

Why can't I stream soccer at work? :(

Re: OOC

[brat_inslayage]

Bet you wish you had an iPhone now, huh.

Re: OOC

[trigons_child]

I was already wishing that last night! Too bad Apple doesn't price their products in the range I can afford!!! :( :( :(

Re: OOC

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

I upgraded my iPod Touch to 4.0 last night because I wanted awesome homescreen wallpaper? AND IT RESTORED IT. AND STILL NO WALLPAPER, EVEN THOUGH IT IS INDEED 4.0.

I IRRATIONALLY BLAME YOU.