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crossing_lostrpThere was nothing for it but to get used to the new situation, Methos decided. He'd changed identities more times than he cared to think about, and though he'd often re-used the same basic personality each of those roles had required some practice and their own mannerisms. This would be no different, simply a matter of making sure that his body could keep up with what would be required of it. Not a name change in sight. Piece of cake.
Methos had made his way over to the fuselage, intending to use its bulk as a curtain against the main camp. Not that he was trying to hide his sword-wielding activities any more, but there was no point in becoming a public spectacle and to his knowledge there was nowhere else with enough space to practice properly.
He placed his sword to one side and began to work through the standard stretches, grimacing a little as certain joints popped unexpectedly. It could have been caused by the less-than-perfect sleeping conditions, but then again it might not. At least his muscles seemed to be responding correctly, even when he moved into push-ups - though it would have been interesting to be able to measure his strength now. Interesting in an academic sense that is: what really mattered was his ability with a sword, and as innumerable new Immortals had been taught it was possible for anyone to gain the necessary skill to decapitate an opponent. If they can get close enough.. Experience had taught Methos to adapt during a challenge, whether it be to weakness through blood loss or serious damage to a limb, so all he really had to do was re-adjust his baseline - hopefully not by much.
Picking up his sword, Methos unsheathed the blade and gave it an experimental twirl. Heavy, but not so much that he'd drop the weapon from shock. It did feel a little weightier than the last time though.. however it could be his imagination. Paranoia was an old friend, after all.
Soon Methos was lost in kata, enjoying the studied movements despite the worry hovering around the edges of his concentration. To be honest it probably helped that he hadn't had the chance to practice for several days - weeks even, including the lull in Sydney - but there were a few minute differences to his balance.. pulse and breathing rate during exercise had increased a little.. and if he wasn't mistaken his eyesight wasn't quite so good any more. Not something worth guessing at without an optician present, he chided himself, though it did little good.
Methos' moves became more aggressive now, attacking an invisible opponent far more often than he blocked as his frustration came back to the forefront of his mind. First the crash, then the woad, and now this - it did not make for a happy Immortal. As such it wasn't such a good moment for someone to approach, their steps muffled by the sand. His sword found its way to the side of the intruder's neck almost as soon as he realised they were there, eyes glaring until he came back to himself and took a step back, still breathing hard.
"Can I help you?"
Methos had made his way over to the fuselage, intending to use its bulk as a curtain against the main camp. Not that he was trying to hide his sword-wielding activities any more, but there was no point in becoming a public spectacle and to his knowledge there was nowhere else with enough space to practice properly.
He placed his sword to one side and began to work through the standard stretches, grimacing a little as certain joints popped unexpectedly. It could have been caused by the less-than-perfect sleeping conditions, but then again it might not. At least his muscles seemed to be responding correctly, even when he moved into push-ups - though it would have been interesting to be able to measure his strength now. Interesting in an academic sense that is: what really mattered was his ability with a sword, and as innumerable new Immortals had been taught it was possible for anyone to gain the necessary skill to decapitate an opponent. If they can get close enough.. Experience had taught Methos to adapt during a challenge, whether it be to weakness through blood loss or serious damage to a limb, so all he really had to do was re-adjust his baseline - hopefully not by much.
Picking up his sword, Methos unsheathed the blade and gave it an experimental twirl. Heavy, but not so much that he'd drop the weapon from shock. It did feel a little weightier than the last time though.. however it could be his imagination. Paranoia was an old friend, after all.
Soon Methos was lost in kata, enjoying the studied movements despite the worry hovering around the edges of his concentration. To be honest it probably helped that he hadn't had the chance to practice for several days - weeks even, including the lull in Sydney - but there were a few minute differences to his balance.. pulse and breathing rate during exercise had increased a little.. and if he wasn't mistaken his eyesight wasn't quite so good any more. Not something worth guessing at without an optician present, he chided himself, though it did little good.
Methos' moves became more aggressive now, attacking an invisible opponent far more often than he blocked as his frustration came back to the forefront of his mind. First the crash, then the woad, and now this - it did not make for a happy Immortal. As such it wasn't such a good moment for someone to approach, their steps muffled by the sand. His sword found its way to the side of the intruder's neck almost as soon as he realised they were there, eyes glaring until he came back to himself and took a step back, still breathing hard.
"Can I help you?"
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(frozen) [Tara] (Skipped time) Eeeep! (tag Methos, Tommy, Molly, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 03:27 am (UTC)Lulled by the familiarity of seeing weapons practice, such a Sunnydale thing, Tara walked closer, unaware that she wasn't making noise in the sand.
Before she could think of backing away, he was facing her, coming towards her with a fierce yet distracted look in his eyes, and the sword was there, the sharp metal so close to her throat that she could feel the chill of the metal.
Tara was frozen, heart pounding, breath stilled. He blinked, seemed to realize what he was doing, and the sword came down. Then she breathed, one long slow exhalation of relief.
"Can I help you?" Dr. Pierson didn't appear to be in the best of moods, and Tara couldn't tell if that was because he recognized her, or just that she had interrupted him.
"Actually, I'm here to try and help you." Tara was stunned at how calm her voice came out. Perhaps she was just scheduled to break down later.
"Molly said you wanted to talk to the person *responsible* for what happened to you, and that would be me. But before you say anything," she gestured placatingly at the weapon in his hand, "Please understand it wasn't on purpose. I had no idea that someone would be harmed. And I'm very sorry."
(frozen) Re: [Molly] (Skipped time) Eeeep! (tag Methos, Tara, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 11:26 am (UTC)Molly tilted her head a bit to the side. The action baring the long line of her throat a bit. Amazingly her constant headache felt better. Adrenaline most likely.
Being next the the fusalage didn't bother Molly like the sword did. It was made to be transport, like the cars she worked with. Though those cars were mostly fibergalss and aluminum, some steel was always an occupational hazard. And she had a hell of a lot more flesh exposed, no full body jumpsuit. Still it was innocuous. The sword... that was different. It was MEANT to cause harm. In defense or offense it didn't matter.
"Tommy here is her... apprentice. He helped her a bit with the spell. A voluntary energy offering." Molly called attention to the third witne.... person in the party.
(frozen) [Tommy] (Skipped time) Eeeep! (tag Methos, Tara, Molly, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 11:51 am (UTC)As he listened to Tara and Molly, Tommy scrutinized Pierson for the effect that had so horrified Tara. He also wondered why and how Pierson could magically heal himself. (We all could use an ability like that here on the--) Tommy's thoughts screeched to a halt. The dark hair at Pierson's temples was touched with white. Tommy was positive that it hadn't been there before. The doctor, however enigmatic, was very attractive, so Tommy had discreetly admired his physique. (Tara's spell *aged* the man?) Tommy gulped and hid his reaction the best he could.
"Tommy here is her... apprentice. He helped her a bit with the spell. A voluntary energy offering," Molly stated.
"Yes," Tommy said, recovering. "The spell was only supposed to target the prisoners. We have no idea how you were affected. We're hoping that there's a way to reverse it. I'll do everything I can to help." Tommy eyed the doctor's sword. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
(frozen) [Methos] It's a kind of magic (tag Tara, Molly, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 04:54 pm (UTC)Smiling sarcastically at Molly, Methos swung his sword behind his head so that it rested across his shoulders. "Well if she's a nice witch, that makes everything ok then doesn't it. As for where I learned to fight -" he cant his head in Tommy's direction. "It closed down a long time ago."
He meandered over to where he'd left the scabbard and picked it up, stifling a snort when he realised that the three hadn't followed him into the shadow of fuselage.
"Come over here, would you?" he suggested calmly as he unscrewed a bottle of water. "We may as well make use of the shade while it's available, and I promise I won't bite. Besides, Molly's right when she says I should keep hold of whatever luck I have left and there's an old saying that a bladed weapon shouldn't be re-sheathed without drawing blood." The flicker in Tara's eyes made him hit his forehead in mock-frustration. "Don't worry, the only person getting mutilated here today is me - I might as well use the opportunity to illustrate a little of what Molly's told you. See?"
Blue light flickered in the demonstration that was becoming so routine it may as well be a cliché, then Methos gestured for them to make themselves comfortable while he finished his session with a few warm-down stretches.
"It's called a Quickening, although please don't ask me who chose that name. Until yesterday I was under the impression that it would be with me until the day I die, and that it could grow but not be taken away. As far as I'm concerned anything short of death is manageable, but please forgive me if I'm not convinced that what's happened can be reversed. My body is not generally given to change in any shape or form, so unless you two are certain of your methods I'm not willing to risk being a guinea pig. What I am concerned about it is making sure that it does not happen again." He shook his head discontentedly as he sat down with the trio. "Forty I can handle, just. Fifty - no thank you."
(frozen) Re: [Molly] It's a kind of magic (tag Tara, Methos, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 06:37 pm (UTC)Molly took the opportunity, while she was among those who knew, to pull her wild, unruly hair back and braided it as she spoke. It felt good to get it off her neck and shoulders when her ear shape didn’t matter.
“That’s why we’re here. To work out what happened and have it never happen again. Personally, I think this place had something to do with it. There is a very subtle wrongness to it. The trees tell me nothing but the passing of seasons, storms harsh enough for them to be marked by it, but nothing else that would be of any importance to them.” She noticed the looks she was getting. “What? I’m an elf, yes, I can commune with the trees and plants. But let’s face it, as for trees ages and the passing of time means nothing to them, and they’re not exactly brilliant conversationalists. And other plants just notice sun and anything that damages them. You try communing with a damn fern.” Molly shrugged. “But something about this place is off, like a harp slightly out of tune, you don’t notice it until that note is played just so.”
“Adam… Tara is a pure soul. It does not change what happened, nor ease the thought or results of it. But she’s so damn sweet she practically glows inside with it. And it isn’t just her magic.” Molly looked at Tara apologetically. “Sorry hon, but it’s true. If it were not so damn soothing and tranquil, it’d cause cavities.
Looking back to Adam she continued. “What should concern you is if someone like Tara could accidentally set this reaction into motion, what could one with a shadowed heart do? We don’t know if any of the others on this island can manage a working. So we will all set ourselves to not only figuring out what happened, but to protecting you from anyone who might be able to use it offensively in the future.”
(frozen) [Tara] It's a kind of magic (tag Molly, Methos, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 07:07 pm (UTC)Tara was fascinated by Dr. Pierson's instant-healing, and something else he said nagged at her, but then she was distracted by Molly's words. The red haired woman's description of her was so far beyond anything she had ever believed of herself that she blushed a deep crimson, and looked down, biting a fingernail. She couldn't meet anyone's eyes. And that didn't help disperse her growing crush on the woman either. Oh bugger, she thought, borrowing one of Giles' favorite swearwords.
Finally she looked up at Dr. Pierson, still glowing, and now when she glanced at Molly she felt her heart race a little too.
"Again," she addressed the doctor, "I am *very* sorry about what happened; I've never done anything of the kind before." She paused and arranged her thoughts. "I've done two large spells since coming here: first I cast the light spell the night we were attacked, and then yesterday I erased part of the prisoners' memories, so that they could be released. They both *felt* like normal magic to me. But after the memory spell, I tapped the earth-energy of the island directly, to replenish myself, and it..." she trailed off, remembering the odd disruption to her shields that had happened.
"It didn't feel *right*, not like normal earth-energy, and I'm suspecting that's what caused this."
She shook her head slowly. "Not using any more magic while we're here isn't logical, Molly convinced me of that. But there are ways I can replenish myself without tapping the island directly."
(frozen) [Tommy] It's a kind of magic (tag Molly, Methos, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 07:31 pm (UTC)Tara's last statement piqued Tommy's curiosity. "How else can you replenish your energy? Resting and eating?"
OOC: Feel better soon!
(frozen) [Methos] It's a kind of magic (tag Molly, Tommy, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 10:33 pm (UTC)Methos waved away Tara's concern, distracted by the beginnings of a headache.
"I understand that you're sorry and believe that this was unintentional. I can forgive you, don't worry about that. If I appear frustrated, it's targeted against whatever weird and wonderful scheme brought us to this place in the first place, not you. We already knew the island was cursed - or otherwise strange - so I think it's fair to assume that this is part of the package, because I'm pretty sure I've been in contact with the ground when a witch tapped the soil before and I didn't age a day. Well, nothing more than usual anyway."
He shrugged and took another swig of water, hoping that Molly wouldn't point out the patently obvious hole in his little speech. Admitting that a 'loss' of 10 years wouldn't shorten his lifespan - not directly anyhow - was not part of the plan.
"I'd like to apologise in advance though, because I may not be the nicest person to be around for a few days."
Methos pulled his shirt on partway and lay back on the sand. Of all the witches in the world, he had to get drained by one of the youngest out there. What would Macleod say to that, let alone the bloody Watchers or Cassandra? He rubbed his temples, annoyed that this headache wasn't going to be chased off easily. Immortal physiology didn't pay much attention to emotional distress, however well hidden it might be from the outside world.
He met Tara's eyes then, wondering what her answer to Tommy's question might be - and damn near blinked his eyes out. This girl was not pre-Immortal before. I would have seen it, felt it! How?! The answer was the island again, of course. Maybe he'd finally made his way to the hell he deserved, because this was getting so far off the beaten track it wasn't funny.
"Uh.. to be honest, refusing to draw energy from the earth is as unwise as not using magic itself," Methos continued, faltering a little while he got over this latest shock and resisted the temptation to find the Others' camp and slaughter them in a extremely painful fashion. "You can't deny yourself something that might save your life. I need to make sure that I wear shoes.. and maybe to stay someplace close if you head into danger. That way I should be able to manoeuvre myself into a safer position when the need arises."
And get everyone else out of the way, if you die..
(frozen) [Molly] It's a kind of magic (tag Methos, Tommy, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-07 11:37 pm (UTC)"Okay, I'm not helping." Molly bit her lip and stared at her sneakers.
It also helped her heartrate, anyway. She'd learned a century ago to not belie any signs of interest and to ignore attractive males, because they would not be interested back and she'd just make a fool of herself. So she did not by word or deed show any interest in Adam. (Concussive ramblings did not count, damnit) But inside her mind her libedo was jumping up and down,pointing and screaming.
((OOC: Did I just spy a little bit of Death sneaking out to play?))
(frozen) [Tara] It's a kind of magic (tag Methos, Tommy, Molly, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 12:30 am (UTC)"Of course, that and just time itself builds the strength up again. But all four elements can be tapped as well. I don't usually use fire or water, because I'm more earth-attuned, but I can if I need to. You, I believe, are more water-attuned, so you should be able to recharge when you go swimming. And tap into air and earth energy as well. The only element I can't use for power is air, because it is the opposite of earth, and your opposite is fire." Tara stopped, realizing she'd rambled on much longer than she'd planned.
"Sorry, didn't mean to info-dump on you like that," she said to Tommy, and included the group in the apology as well.
Tara was very glad to see that Dr. Pierson wasn't retaining any anger at her for the damage done. She had been prepared to try and return what he had lost, but honestly, she didn't know how. It would be like scattering a handful of sand on a beach, and then picking it up again, and only those grains.
Still, about halfway through the conversation, he started looking at her oddly, and she didn't know what that was all about. Nothing serious, she hoped. Molly's reaction to her mental picture of Dr. Pierson up a tree... now that was more revealing. And somewhat depressing.
Molly liked the doctor, was certainly attracted to him. Tara couldn't tell what Dr. Pierson thought about her, the man was too good at hiding his emotions. She glanced at Tommy, knowing he had excellent powers of observation, and figured that he'd picked up on that too, probably.
Oh dear, that meant Tommy probably read *her* face when she looked at Molly. Tara kicked herself, metaphorically, for being so silly. Honestly, this island was becoming a soap opera.
"Dr Pierson," she said, "I'll do my best to warn you before I tap into the earth for support, would that be good?"
(frozen) [Methos] It's a kind of magic (tag Molly, Tommy, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 01:13 am (UTC)"That would be fine, and please call me Adam. Sharing secrets tends to make titles fairly redundant," he replied drolly, still chuckling after Molly's contribution. "But if I'm not around to give warning to, don't wait on my account. I'm afraid that I'll avoid the combination of you and water altogether, Tommy - probably more than Tara in fact, if she's correct. The draining effect with one foot on the ground was bad enough.. swimming doesn't really bear thinking about."
Methos caught some of the looks flowing between these three individuals and sighed. Gods, but he really didn't have time for this. He'd been married 68 times so far, and fallen in love several times more, but doing or encouraging any such thing while marooned on the island of lunacy was out of the question. Finding an outlet for adrenaline was another matter, but he didn't think that any of these three would be interested in beating the crap out of others just for the fun of it.
Maybe the sight of that woad affected me more badly than I'm willing to accept.. and if so, I hope the kata will help keep me balanced enough until the Others come back. At least they deserve whatever's coming to them.
Buttoning his shirt, he stood and brushed off some excess sand before retrieving his sword, expression carefully blank. "Excuse me, please. I need to go for a walk."
(frozen) [Tara] It's a kind of magic (tag Molly, Tommy, Methos, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 01:37 am (UTC)This blushing is getting ridiculous, she told herself, you cannot keep this up, you will turn purple permanently.
Tara turned to Tommy and Molly as the doctor... no as Adam, walked away, and said: "I couldn't tell, did that go well?" She was joking... sort of.
(frozen) [Molly] It's a kind of magic (tag Tara, Tommy, Methos, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 02:45 am (UTC)"I've got foraging to do, and I want to start seeing if I can make things with Bamboo. If we can cut some of the bigger stalks. After the mats slash walls I'm feeling arts and craftsy."
(frozen) [Tara] Practical magic (tag Molly, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 02:56 pm (UTC)Or... she thought still watching Molly from the corner of her eye, perhaps waste was the wrong word. Molly might not return her feelings, but there was nothing wrong with admiring beauty, whatever the source. And perhaps she could convince Molly that she *was* beautiful, at any rate.
Tara didn't get up, but just stretched her legs out in front of her, noticing with some dismay that her pants, still soaked from the waves, were now encrusted with sand, dirt, and bits of twigs. What a mess.
"Tommy," she turned to him, dismissing her clothes for now, "Do you want to go with Molly, or if you like, I could try to teach you a few spells? I know your magic, your medicine, is a different tradition, but there are some basics...." She trailed off, waiting for his answer.
(frozen) [Tommy] Practical magic (tag Molly, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 05:29 pm (UTC)(frozen) [Tara] Practical magic (tag Molly, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 06:53 pm (UTC)She turned to Molly, "And would you like to come with us, pick up some bamboo along the way?"
(frozen) [Tommy] Practical magic (tag Molly, Tara, open)
Date: 2006-04-08 07:00 pm (UTC)(frozen) [Molly] Practical magic (tag Tara, Tommy, open)
Date: 2006-04-09 12:20 am (UTC)"You know the best thing in the modern world? Pre-packaged meat. I LIKE my steak in plastic wrap and styrofoam. Really."
(frozen) Redirect
Date: 2006-04-09 08:30 pm (UTC)(frozen) [Tommy] Running errands (tag Tara, Molly, open)
Date: 2006-04-09 08:29 pm (UTC)"Don't worry," Tommy assured Molly. "If anything is in the snares, I'll take care of it. I'll make sure it's quick."
The first of the three snares wasn't set, so Tommy used it to show the women how to set the trigger. Tara and Molly each took turns until they had the hang of it. Molly was an especially quick study. She clearly had a knack for the mechanical.
The three returned to camp about an hour later, each carrying several lengths of bamboo. As they made their way to what had become the weaving workstation Tommy said, "We'll need to collect some more vines to make new snares. How about this afternoon? After Tara's magic lesson I'd like to catch up with Carlos, make sure he's okay."