[OPEN] am i in heaven here or am i in hell?

[got_it_memorized]

Characters: Axel and anybody who wants to run into him.
Setting: Anywhere from top-floor dormitories to... idk, wherever we go.
Format: i default to prose but if you prefer action that's okay too.
Summary: Axel wakes up in a hideous unitard and thinks he's gone to Hell. here's a little context.
Warnings: nothing yet? dsjhfskdfl i hate intro posts i'm so bad at them halp.


His opinion of this place improved exponentially when he discovered the trunk at the foot of the bed that contained clothing he was a bit more accustomed to. After making sure he was alone in the room and peeling the ridiculous white monstrosity off, he quickly fumbled into his usual getup and found himself ten times less disconcerted. Adjusting the zipper on the front of his coat, Axel peered around the room with a frown. Dorms? Hell had dorms? Where in all the worlds was he? Well, at least whoever else was supposed to be bunking with him wasn't around to see his moment of panic. He never would have lived that down.

He took a moment to summon his chakrams, just to make sure they were still there. Thankfully, they heeded his call and he breathed a bit easier. Maybe this wouldn't be so difficult after all. Maybe this wasn't Hell--he was pretty sure Hell wouldn't do him the courtesy of providing wardrobe and weapons. Wherever he'd been sent by Saïx's last attack, if Saïx thought he'd be rid of him that easily he had another thing coming. Old friend or not, Axel was inclined to go give him a piece of his mind.

Well, maybe better to figure out where he was, first. Using portals when one didn't know where one was didn't sound like a good idea. Best to at least have a grasp of Point A before attempting to find Point B. Dismissing his weapons (he could call them back at the drop of a hat, after all), Axel turned and moved toward the door, carefully opening it to peer out into the hallway. There didn't seem to be anyone in the immediate vicinity, so he supposed it was safe to venture out. His guard up, his eyes alert, Axel stepped out into the corridor, closing the door behind him, his senses keen to all the new sights and sounds around him. First unitards, then dormitory beds... there really was no telling what sorts of things this place would throw at him next.

Comments

[midgarhorizon]

Ah. Reno's surprise faded- another weird magic system. It just seemed natural to him that materia was needed for magic. He had gotten his hopes up there for a moment.

Though, Reno was more than happy to show Axel what he meant.

The turk slid a hand inside his shirt and pulled the EMR from its holster, the materia jumping to live and sending a crackle through it. With a swift move, almost faster than the eye could follow, he flung out his arm, the rod extending to its full length.

It was crackling at full power, but Reno just held it there, the green materia shining in its socket. This was a demonstration, not an attack.

[got_it_memorized]

Axel instinctively took half a step back when Reno reached into his shirt and withdrew a weapon of some sort. It looked a bit too small to really be any sort of bludgeoni--

With a startled noise, Axel's hands tensed and the air beneath his palms hitched and sparked as he went for his own weapons, but he quickly flicked his wrists to dispel the summon. There was no aggression--he was showing off! What a ham; Axel kind of liked him more now. If nothing else, this Reno guy was fast, he'd give him that, and whatever this weapon of his was, it certainly wasn't quite like anything Axel had ever seen before.

"So this is a... materia?" he asked, leaning forward a bit but still keeping his distance. He'd had enough run-ins with Larxene to know just how much damage lightning could do.

[midgarhorizon]

"Thought it would be easier to show ya." Reno shrugged, as the glow slowly faded from the weapon and the sparks receded. Then he let it dangle between his fingers, the power completely off. "Yeah, it's a materia."

He held it out so Axel could see the inert green orb better. "It's solidified mako, containing ancient knowledge and wisdom, yadda yadda, and it lets me use magic." It was weird, he felt like a school teacher showing the kids how to use materia for the first time.

Curious, the Turk studied Axel for a moment. "I wonder if you could try it."

[got_it_memorized]

He watched the weapon lose its glow and then took a step closer to get a better look. Fascinating--it looked like the power source was nothing but an oversized marble!

Lifting his head, he met Reno's eye briefly before turning his attention back to the weapon.

"Ma... Mako?" He furrowed his brow. Ancient knowledge? Wow, that wasn't exactly something he'd thought had a tangible form either, but he guessed wonders truly would never cease. "Huh. We don't need any shiny marbles where I come from, but your method sounds fanciier," he chuckled. "So, lemme make sure I got this straight: magic power is derived from crystallized... knowledge?" Well he'd be damned. Knowledge really was power after all! Who'd'a thunk?

He looked a bit surprised when Reno suggested maybe he give it a try.

"What, really?" he asked, unable to hide a bit of a grin. Axel was actually kind of fascinated by magic as a whole--fire magic was all he was really good at, but he'd always been interested in learning more. Unfortunately the only venue to further education he had had within the Organization was from his seniors, and somehow that... really hadn't appealed to him.

He reached carefully toward the weapon, then left his hand to hover over the green sphere a moment, scrutinizing Reno briefly. Was this a trap? No... no he really got no vibe like that from this guy. He ventured the barest hint of a grin.

"... How's it work?" he asked, his hand still poised over the materia. "I've never used a vessel for magic, really..."

[midgarhorizon]

It was risky, lending his weapon to a complete stranger. But hey, Reno was willing to take risks, and he really wanted to know if "cross world" stuff was possible. He could take care of himself without it, and it wouldn't have been the first time he had been on the receiving end of a thundaga, either.

Besides, how could he let down a guy with facial tattoos like that? Oh, he could give a few guesses why Axel was looking at him like that, but Reno was on the level. This time.

"Yeah, I suppose that works. Crystallized knowledge." He said, pulling the rod back slightly to make sure the materia was set in properly. It was a bit more involved, but the idea was there. "Mako is the same way, but materia is easier to use. Less dangerous."

He had to think hard on the process of activating the materia, rubbing a hand through his hair as if it would make it easier. After so much materia use, it became second nature to him, so it was a little more difficult pulling out the right words. "It's mostly a willpower thing. Just tell it what to do, and you have to be firm. You also... have to be receptive to the energy, otherwise it'll stop and get stuck. That's how I was holding it there."

Just activating the materia should be enough, Axel didn't need the tutorial on how to target anything. If his Cure materia had shown up in the trunk, it might have been a different story.

"If you think you got what it takes, here." Shifting his grip on the rod, he held the handle out for Axel, and grinned. "Try Thunder."

[got_it_memorized]

Oh, so Mako was the raw form, he had to presume, and materia was the finished product? He listened as Reno explained and then put a hand on his chin.

"Honestly it sounds a lot like how magic works where I come from," he admitted. "Hell, the spell's the same too." There was no long fancy incantation, no special invoking gesture, just aim, concentrate, Fire. Or Thunder, case in point. Weilding fire spells was second nature to Axel these days; he barely needed the concentrate step anymore. Lightning, however, while related to fire in a lot of ways, had always been Larxene's forté much more than his. He could sling a Thunder spell here and there, but he couldn't control it half as well as she could.

Still, he couldn't just not have a go at it. It took a certain degree of faith and affinity to hand someone your weapon, and Axel could definitely appreciate that. He wasn't sure he was ready to summon his chakrams to return the gesture (hell, he wasn't even sure anyone but him could hold them. Summoned weapons were tricky things...), but he carefully reached forward to take the handle of the rod.

Axel wasn't terribly versed in this sort of weapon; it felt a little alien in his grip. He never really used his chakrams as bludgeons, as he had to assume this was for; he was used to something with blades, or at least something round. He gave it an experimental vertical swing, then twisted it in his hand to inspect the materia.

Okay. He could do this. ... Man, why'd it have to be Thunder?

"So materia can only do one spell?" he asked, though there wasn't anything accusatory or damning in his tone. It just seemed odd to him that this all-powerful knowledge was limited to one type of spell. He blew out a soft sigh, then gave Reno a slightly bemused look. "Lightning ain't really my area of expertise," he warned with a chuckle. "Might wanna... take a step back."

And with that, he set his jaw and concentrated a moment, bringing the rod to bear and watching in awe as the green marble set in the weapon began to glow. Oh, hey, he was doing it! Cool! Maybe this wouldn't be so different after all. As the green glow from the materia grew brighter Axel found himself grinning. This wasn't so hard! Setting his eye on a spot on the far wall he pointed the rod forward (he wasn't sure he needed to; it just felt like the thing to do) and thought, 'Thunder!'

Or, well... he got as far as 'Thun--' before something apparently went awry and a sharp electrical sensation plunged through his hands and up his arms. With a yelp he dropped the rod and the glow of the materia faded as the weapon clattered to the floor.

Okay maybe this wasn't going to be as simple a transition as he thought. Wringing his hands as the painful buzzing sensation of the spell abated, he cast an abashed look at Reno.

"Looks like I need a little more practice."

[midgarhorizon]

Reno folded his arms and stepped back, though not too far since he was pretty confident he wasn't going to get zapped, and just grinned.

"What? Is Thunder not good enough for you?" That was cryptic, but Reno was interested in seeing if he could just do it before he tried anything more powerful than Thunder. If Axel was anything like him, he'd be wanting to do Thundaga spells right off.

When Axel pointed the rod, and received his zap, Reno burst out laughing- no, he was cackling.

"Man, you're making all the rookie mistakes. It looks like you keep thinking Fire. Lightning is more picky." The turk snickered, picking up the rod from the floor and wielding it with a practiced flourish. "The form's just as important when you're dealing with something that has a mind of it's own. With lightning it follows the path of least resistance, and it's smooth, flowing. Almost like water, but more alive."

He suddenly snapped the rod at Axel, pointing at him in admonishment, thoroughly enjoying the lecture. Reno usually didn't get to be on the giving end. "You have to follow the paths. Watch."

With an almost fluid twist, Reno whirled around, his rod jumping to life almost immediately and crackling. It reached a critical point midway in his twist- the raw energy shining brilliantly. Reno was not afraid of the power he wielded, nor the danger to himself as all lightning was dangerous to those who used it. That was what made it fascinating to him. The risk was as great as the reward. Snapping his arm and wrist out and following along the lines of his body, he made the energy flow with the motion, until...

Until it reached the tip just as his arm straightened. A massive Thundaga bolt emerged just as the sound of thunder filled the halls, hitting the far side of the hallway.

Satisfied, Reno turned back to Axel and held out the smoking rod again. "That's how we roll, man."