Open; calm before storm

[iracorn]

Who: Ira and You
Which: Open Log!
Where: Outskirts of town, fishin' hole, Dreambucks
What: Ira finds an old arena to use as a training space and starts cleaning it up, takes a break, and then tries to ignore some nightmares.
Warnings: n/a, will update as necessary



[A - A Walk of Discovery; Outskirts of town]

[Ira has a lot on his mind.

It's not surprising really, considering how much he thinks about things, but it's getting to the point where he cannot find solace in books or in attempting to solve problems. Truthfully, he doesn't even know which problems to solve.

So instead, he walks.

No real destination in mind, if truth be told. If he goes too far out he can use a corridor to get back, or at least get closer. Just a chance to attempt to clear his mind. Get out of his head.

It's after a time that he comes across the ruins, and his curiosity grows. Though, as he gets closer, he finds it's not so much ruins as buildings that have been left derelict. They're old, musty, but Ira explores them anyway with interest, though his keyblade is never too far away. But eventually, he finds his way to a large, open space, where everything clicks. At one point, it was an arena. It's hard to say for what kind of sport but he can figure it out later. For now, Ira thinks he can use it.

It is a bit of a fixer upper, but no time like the present.

--

Until the bad weather sets in, Ira can be seen leaving town fairly early and returning late to clean the space up. He won't manage the whole space but there's a lot of snow to clear, training dummies to repair, etc. He usually comes back dirty and exhausted.]

[B - Training Time; The Arena]

[He has about a quarter of the space cleared on the field. Not much since there's still three quarters of rubble and detritus to move and make available but it's a start. Enough to create a space for sparing and a few training dummies. Enough for him to start having ideas for more.

But today, Ira is training as well. He needs to focus more on his own dreamotion, honing it and making it viable. Something he can actually use rather than a tentative last resort.

He's settled, for now, on making it an extension of what he knows. He can cast a fire spell but he wants to use the dreamotion to change it, to possibly give himself more control over it. And so what starts as one fireball spreads to two, then four, then slowly into a wave that is steadily melting some snow. Or possibly speeding towards someone coming in?]

[C - Respite; The Fishin' Hole]

[On perhaps the last good day before the weather turns, Ira takes a break. It's one of those days where you can sense the change coming, the dark clouds on the horizon and it would be best to get out and do something before you can't.

And so Ira has gone fishing.

It's not something he does often, but he's gone once or twice. Usually with Luxu or Gula, more to prove that they could than actually succeeding. But it seems to be a good way to relax.

Not that he expects to catch anything in this weather.

But he's found a spot to sit, the sun is shining, and he might be dozing off slightly as nothing is biting. Though someone might want to stop him before he falls in.]

[D - Nightmares; Dreambucks (Action and Network)]

[As the blizzard sets in, so do Ira's nightmares.

Certainly he is no stranger to them by now, but somehow they seem heavier, more constant. And in this weather it is hard to find activities to distract himself, or even just train until he pushes himself to exhaustion. Instead he dwells, and that just seems to bring further despair and darkness (the Master leaving, the Nightmare Chirithy, the distrust of his friends, the war).

Eventually, he braves the weather to Dreambucks, holing up in the cafe to be anywhere that isn't his treehouse. That can be somewhere with other people around, even if he doesn't necessarily talk to them. Just to be reminded that it's not just him in this world.

He's found a table near the back, and is there with a cup of strong tea. Eventually he takes his journal and is just idly doodling in it. No real specific sketch, just patterns mostly. A string of flowers, various diamond shapes, an attempt at a Unicorn at one point.]

Comments

B

[twilightskey]

[Roxas was curious about the cleared-out arena area and had come to check it out, but hadn't expected to see Ira here. He doesn't call out just yet, instead watching the older Keyblade Master work. He's never really had the opportunity to see a Master fighting before, unless he counted the battle between the Thirteen Darknesses and the Guardians of Light. So he sits on the sidelines, watching Ira manage with fireballs.]

[He keeps quiet for the most part, but a few awed gasps do escape him as he watches him divert and manipulate the fireballs.]

[iracorn]

[There's a small ripple as Ira reacts to the gasp, but even though he's now aware that he has an audience, he maintains control. He's used to working with distraction. He pushes the fireballs as far away from himself as he can, until he can feel his control start to wane and stops the spell.

Not bad for a first attempt at least. Taking a few moments to catch his breath, he looks over at Roxas and smiles.]

Roxas! I see you found this place.

[twilightskey]

[Not bad indeed. Roxas hasn't seen that kind of control over a spell before. So caught up with watching the spellwork, he's actually caught by surprise when he's spoken to.]

Ah--! Yeah, I did! I heard about it, and wanted to see for myself. I didn't know if anyone was going to be here, though.

[iracorn]

[Well, he's glad the news is being spread around regardless. Not that the place is really ready to be opened to the public.]

Just me right now, I believe. I haven't seen anyone else.

[It's usually just him.]

Not that there's a lot to see right now.

[twilightskey]

Well, I haven't seen anyone use fire like that before.

[The only pure-fire user he knew was Axel, and he was more of a spray-and-pray kind of fire-user, in Roxas's experience.]

How'd you get it to split into so many fireballs?

[iracorn]

Ah, that was more of an experiment than anything else, using dreamotion.

I was just curious what I could do with a simple Fire spell.

[And maybe he's thought about this stuff before, with all his studies. He knows there's a lot of options.]

[twilightskey]

That was using dreamotion magic?

[Roxas leans in, obviously curious.]

Wow... I didn't even think of using dreamotion magic with my regular magic like that. I wonder if I could do something like that...

[iracorn]

I only recently had the thought myself, which prompted the practice.

And I don't see why you couldn't? You can produce a fire spell, can't you?

[Most keyblade wielders can, Ira assumes. It's part of the package.]

[twilightskey]

Huh? Oh, yeah, I can cast fire magic.

[He pauses for a beat.]

Do you mind if I give it a try?

[iracorn]

Not at all.

[And he steps back, and slips slightly into mentor mode.]

Just focus on two, to start. Have you used dreamotion energy before?

[twilightskey]

[Roxas nods once, stepping forward into the arena properly. He takes a moment to summon his Keyblades, but then pauses.]

No, not really. Sometimes things will happen when I feel emotions, but...

[He hasn't really done it willingly.]

[iracorn]

It takes a bit to get the hang of it, and I've really only started. But it's a matter of harnessing that energy when you start to feel it.

Though that's hardly the best description.

[He pauses, thinking.]

What happens when you feel emotions?

[twilightskey]

Hmm...

[It's a vague description, but still, maybe he can work it out. At the question, Roxas shrugs a bit.]

Sometimes if I feel really happy or upset, some of that dream magic will happen around me. I don't really control it, it just sort of happens.

[iracorn]

So, just unconsciously.

Have you ever tried to do it intentionally?

[twilightskey]

Sort of, but it's a little hard to master. I usually just fall back to my usual magic.

[But he's noticed his usual magic doesn't work as well in dreamverses.]

[iracorn]

I found myself doing the same, which is why I figured I should start practicing properly.

So, why don't you give it a shot?

[twilightskey]

Hmm...

[Roxas hums a bit, looking at his Keyblades. So... he just has to infuse them with dreamotion magic, huh? Sounded simple on paper, but... well, there's only one way to find out, right?]

Okay. I'll give it a try.

[He gets into a ready position and closes his eyes. He just... has to think of an emotion, right? Okay, give him a moment...]

[iracorn]

Good.

[While it's not the same formality as with Sora, Ira is happy to help Roxas train.]

Use the spell like you normally would, and then focus on controlling it with the dreamotion energy.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas nods once, gripping his Keyblades. Okay... he can do this. He can do this. When he's ready, he gets in position, and lifts his Keyblades.]

Fire!

[He shoots off a Firaga spell, and tries to channel his dreamotion energy. But it looks like his dreamotion magic doesn't work, and the spell turns out to be just a regular Firaga spell.]

[iracorn]

Well, you have good skills with magic, at least.

[Ira sounds slightly amused.]

But try doing it with just Fire, and really focus on making two flames. Exert your control just that much more.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas frowns, but nods and tries again. A less-potent fire spell would be easier to manipulate... He gets back into position and tries again.]

Blaze!

[He tries again, with a Fire spell this time. It launches off like normal, but this time, halfway through its trajectory, it quivers and shakes. It doesn't split in two, but it does suddenly veer off to the left under the pressure of his Dreamotion magic. Roxas stares in surprise, and looses focus, the flame dissipating. But he turns to Ira.]

Did I do it?

[iracorn]

It was a start. You had the right idea, but just a bit more focus.

[Ira is smiling and a little impressed. These kids are a lot stronger than he thought.]

Really focused on making the two fireballs.

[twilightskey]

[The praise makes a grin form on Roxas's own face, and he nods in determination, that competitive streak building in him.]

Alright. Let me try again...

[It actually takes him a couple more tries before he figures it out, but eventually he'll fire off another Fire spell in front of him. And this time, it wavers in front of him before suddenly splitting in two.]

Woah!

[The flames, fuelled by his surprise, actually burst like small fireworks and make him jump in surprise. But he turns to Ira afterwards.]

Did you see that??

[iracorn]

[Ira can't help but smile at the boy's determination. He's glad for that spirit, and there's a small part of him, that has been growing steadily larger, that hopes to continue cultivating it. That maybe something good can come of his failures.]

Well done. You're getting the hang of it.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas’s grin widens at that, and he looks at his Keyblades, feeling that thrum of accomplishment.]

It’s a weird feeling, but I think I get it. It’s like using two spells at once, but not exactly…