un: mortiscausa

[subconmodo]

What's up, everyone? Enjoying your midterms? No? I thought not.

Lucky for those of you taking my class, I happen to be feeling generous. Take note, people. This is a once in a term event here!

I'd like to offer you unlucky souls a deal. See, I've been trying to get a little fitter over the past few months. Can't use magic to solve every problem you have, right? Right! I want to see how much progress I made.

That's where you come in.

You beat me in a race? You get an A on your midterm! I'll even put it in writing so you have a paper trail. The only thing I ask is that I get to pick the time. I'm a busy man, you know.

Feel free to ask any questions you want. And don't feel put out just because you don't see any replies. I'm screening all comments in order to protect my students' previous privacy.

((Please see the OOC post here!))

Comments

[tiredcharmer]

"Runic inscription draws on Outland Mists and mana native to this world to create unique effects based on the symbols used. The key is that runic inscription is strictly defined as acting on a physical object," Tyzias explains. With one hand, she takes out the Contract Pen, and with the other she takes out some sort of... detector thing? which glows red while it's hovering over the pen. "Magecraft, meanwhile, is broadly defined as using internal forces to act upon and manipulate mana and Outlands-based energies." Tyzias, after a moment of hesitation, snaps her fingers to create a small spark. The detector glows green.

"What I use is a hybrid of the two. Using an inscriptor to inscribe runes directly onto personal auras and the flow of mana, instead of on physical objects. Which, after several rounds of extensive testing, I've found to not actually qualify as any of the forms of magic I listed on the contract," she explains.

[subconmodo]

He opens his mouth to argue, then shuts it.

It's not an innate ability.

She altered herself, not the track.

She didn't even touch him through the whole thing (unless one counts his own personal pain and suffering).

The girl's entire system of magic was one giant loophole and the more he turned it over in his mind, the more intense the war between pride and pettiness grew.

Deep breaths, Avery, deep breaths. He needs to count to ten and keep his temper in check. Last thing he needs is to get in trouble for getting a little upset at one of his students for doing what she was supposed to do. This is a success. Whether he wins or loses, a student acing an exam is always a success for him.

And it was a little impressive. Kind of. Sort of. If he squinted.

"Fffffffine." The tension in his body slowly releases as he grinds the word out. Because it's fine. He's fine. Really! "You get the A. And I'll tack on the 15 points extra credit for the pen."

[tiredcharmer]

"Cool." Tyzias turns around to head back to her dorm and get ready for class... then pauses. She probably owed Avery a little more than that, didn't she? "That was, um. A pretty neat trick with the bike. Genuinely didn't think of that. Probably would've lost if I didn't plan a loophole in the contract," she says without a hint of condescension in her tone. It doesn't sound like she's trying to stoke his ego, either, she's... actually paying him a compliment?

Weird.

[subconmodo]

And lo, the salt is washed away with the tide.

He straightens and flashes a cocky grin, wind back in his sails. "Just a shame I couldn't rent a scooter. Might have run afoul of that non-interference clause of yours."

End thread?

[tiredcharmer]

That somehow manages to wring a chuckle out of Tyzias as she waves and walks back to her dorm. Fuckin' hell, what was happening to her? Laughter? Really, Tyzias? She was supposed to have that shit on lockdown. Or, well, not supposed to at this point, but it was still a habit.

But... it feels good. Something about Avery hit just the right spot in Tyzias's brain that was between her cynicism and rare few kernels of humor in just the right way so that she didn't feel the need to shut it away. Which was probably a good thing.