handwritten;

[telvanni]

I have spent the last week painstakingly enchanting a small selection of high quality magical staves. Since I am a wizard, I find my own powers of spellcasting are more than sufficient for my needs. As such, I do not actually need the staves I have made. They were produced simply as a way to hone my craft; nothing more.

This means I am giving them away to certain parties that may be in need of them. If you would like an enchanted staff that fires elemental blasts at your foes, you need only make your case to me. Preference will be given to applicants who as of yet possess no useful echoes and agree to submit to some harmless tests.

No time-wasters.

Comments

[telvanni]

[ Nathaniel hesitates before following, blinking in complete befuddlement. He isn't entirely sure if that was a joke or not.

Perhaps it's best not to wonder, honestly. It doesn't matter much - while this Lazarus fellow certainly seems an odd sort, he also appears to be as far away from dangerous as it's possible to be.

As they reach the shop, he pulls a single key from his pocket and unlocks the door. ]

Wipe your feet on the way in. Was it the light ice staff that you wanted? Or would you prefer to inspect a flame-enchanted one as well? I still have several of those left...

[dead_black_eyes]

[L is so not-dangerous that a Blood Key would, and did, refrain from messing him up too badly because he was so pathetic.

That's not much of a defense mechanism though, and it's a large reason he was so quick to reply to the offer for a stave.

When they enter the shop, he is careful to wipe his feet; his shoes look like they've seen much better days, beaten converse sneakers that are practically falling apart. They contrast sharply with his relatively new-looking coat.]

It has to be a light one. As much as I want to see the extent of your expertise, I might have to be content with just looking at some of them.

[Both hands come out of his pockets, and the left one is much like the right; thumb and forefinger bend and grip properly, but the other three digits aren't really earning their keep.]

[telvanni]

[ After a doubtful look at those hands, Nathaniel ducks behind the shop counter and re-emerges with a pair of walking sticks. They're very plain compared with some of the monstrosities he's given out today - they're both just mundane hook-shaped affairs, one wooden and one bamboo - but they're the lightest ones he has. ]

The bamboo contains an ice spell, and the wooden one is enchanted with flames. It's perfectly safe to pick them up to see if you can carry them; they won't fire anything until you will it. Just tell me if you feel anything when you touch them.

[ In the hands of someone magically or intellectually gifted, each staff will feel rather different. The bamboo cane can range anywhere between "cool to the touch" and "holy shit I'm holding a tingling icicle", whereas the wooden one can be anywhere between "slightly warm" and "holy crap how am I holding this hot pipe without feeling any pain". Someone who is, say, a super genius ripped straight from the animes will likely experience the more intense effects. ]

[dead_black_eyes]

[It sounds both elaborate and extraordinary; despite the plain appearance of both canes, it's a little staggering to think what this guy is doing for complete strangers, and L recognizes that he will owe a significant debt if he's allowed to take one.

He doesn't care for fire; intense heat bothers him at best and frightens him at worst. Ultimately, the ice cane is more appealing to him both because of its elemental temperament and its lightness.

He reaches for the simple bamboo cane, using one hand to assist at wrapping the other's fingers around the shaft. But then he's looking alarmed... and pleased.]

It's just like ice....

[And as someone with nerve damage in his hands, it's a tremendous relief, considering they've felt like they were being held over an open flame all day. In short order, his other fingers are against it; though it's so cold he is vaguely worried about the effects of prolonged contact, for the moment, it feels incredible. If this was all the cane did, L would very likely still want it. Even the way it thrums and buzzes under his touch is soothing.]

[telvanni]

Excellent. Exceedingly promising.

[ He's getting a touch giddy, now. Performing tests and increasing his own knowledge is enjoyable enough, but when that's combined with getting to admire the products of his own skill? DANG, SON.

The latter is especially satisfying when the person wielding one of his staves is talented, of course. And all signs point to Lazarus being just such a person. ]

Come. My garden is the best place to test your ability.

[ And he heads out of the back door of the shop, directly into a small, walled-off garden complete with a rockery. ]

[dead_black_eyes]

[Happily, the cane is light enough to carry with a mere four functioning digits, so L lifts it and trails after the older man.

He's heard that many times... promising... but more often than not, he's let the people who said it down. In so many ways, he's turned failure into an art form.]

If this works... what should I expect? Is there any chance this could kill someone?

[telvanni]

Yes, it could kill someone. Absolutely. Though not accidentally. The staff will release a continuous stream of frost, but only as long as you will it to do so. A small dose of the spell could induce frostbite, freeze limbs, damage nerves... A more concentrated application of the magic could freeze a man solid or stop his heart.

[ This announced in a theatrically reverent manner. Magic is amazing. Amazing. ]

Aim the staff at the rock garden and will the power to leave it. It's that simple. Just a matter of your own intent.

[dead_black_eyes]

[L listens somberly; he's never seriously hurt anything in his life; he punched his uncle once, and that was a very, very strange situation. One that resulted in his losing a lot of freedom.

Being trusted to hold something that could cause such extensive damage to a living thing restores the sense that he hasn't been robbed of all of it, though.

His intent is gentle and curious; he's never even performed a card trick, and the idea that a shabby, mundane creature like him can wield actual magic will take some getting used to.

If this doesn't work, though, he'll feel ridiculous.

He raises the cane, biting his lip as he concentrates on methodically coating the rocks in a glaze of frost and ice. Clearly, he's approaching it as an exercise in control rather than one to test strength or ability to destroy. He pauses, though, when he sees a stir of movement among the stones. A frog, coming out of hibernation with the temperatures rising above 50 degrees, is completely unaware that a novice is bringing winter back.

L's teeth dig into his lip, drawing a small amount of blood; rather than stop the attempt altogether, or ignoring the frog, he's attempting to freeze the area around it, leaving it in its own little isolated circle, and concentrating to the point of ignoring pretty much everything else.]

[telvanni]

Very good...

[ Nathaniel strokes his beard thoughtfully as he watches. It's an interesting - and promising - approach. He pulls out his tattered little notebook and pencil and begins scribbling. There are several comments about L's quick grasp of how to use the staff, and then "incredible control" is underlined twice.

After a moment's thought, he underlines it a third time. That should suffice, though. It doesn't do for one to get too gushy, after all. ]

[dead_black_eyes]

[L is actually fairly used to being observed and written about. He isn't even sure he has an opinion on it anymore, to the point where positive and negative things barely matter to him.

As the temperature around it drops, the frog's eyes close drowsily, but it remains within a safe range.

Hearing the three pencil strokes, he pauses and glances aside.]

May I ask what you've just written? It doesn't bother me that you are, I just like to know.

[telvanni]

[ Nathaniel isn't one for boosting the egos of others, but the fact that the tests are going so well makes him a little more amiable. Besides - he stands by what he's written. It isn't like he's trying to curry favour with anyone. ]

I was noting your impressive level of control, as well as your swift understanding of how to use it. As I told you before: most promising.

[dead_black_eyes]

[It isn't a matter of ego-boosting to L. Just a matter of being told, rather than being persistently kept in the dark about things that definitely concerned him.]

Thank you.

[Somehow it doesn't sound like he's saying it in regards to the compliment.]

So... to be clear, you're going to let me keep this? I want to be clear that hurting someone would be a last resort, but... self-defense is a tough area for me.