He shakes his head. "No, all that matters is that the ritual with the magic circle is done correctly. Mages in general aren't emotional people, so if you're wondering why I'm not better at other types of magic then it has more to do with the poor quality of my magic circuits and a lack of affinity to any of the common elements that spells are normally based on."
He looks at Fitz, still guarded lest he bring up Risei again.
"Nothing." He waves it off. "Anyway, along with the system sounding very questionable, not to knock healing, but it sounds like you aren't the best at magic."
"I'm really not trying to figure out what would be an acceptable reason to torture a child and then have them be an assassin, because that does basically cross the blatantly evil line, but it really doesn't sound like it was even worth it if your standards are that that's okay. Not to pull out utilitarian ethics, but I'm pretty sure it fails the test."
"The Church's magic and heretical magic are two entirely different magic systems. Executors use only very basic types of 'heretical magic.' The rest is Church magic: exorcisms and Black Keys, neither of which require natural talent to master. The Church's magic has a more powerful foundation than the heretical ones, so there aren't the same issues of birth and pedigree. I rose through the ranks of the Executors quickly, not that it matters."
He's never given a damn about utilitarianism.
"I didn't study 'heretical magic' in depth until much later, as an adult and for reasons entirely unrelated to my work as an Executor."
"That's magic systems for you. A real headache in every respect." And he doesn't care enough about them to try to push through that and figure out the bits that confuse him.
He leans back against the rail, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He feels his point has been solidly proved.
He doesn't smoke, and though his blood-drenched career as an Executor and his father's misunderstanding is a source of deep shame, it's not enough to make him start such a bad habit. It's clear his spirits have flatlined, though.
How did this happen?
He was caught off guard by the mention of the breach and Risei. He'll have to be more prepared next time.
Why does Fitz look so smug? It's kind of annoying. Does he think he's forgotten the original subject?
He almost opens his mouth to say something, but no. He doesn't feel like talking anymore, for some reason.
"I should get back to the chapel, actually. It was good seeing you, though."
"Of course not, my mistake. Don't know how I could've possibly imagined you would indulge in bad habits."
Unless you count trying to fuck with people a bad habit, which it might be. After all, a lot of things Fitz does, or has done, as a hobby fall into the category of bad habits.
He's not... the other Fitz. He does his best to have no interest in anything he's said, which was a lot easier when anyone he might have said something to was either dead or completely without memories of their encounter. But consider Kirei has met the other man, and tried to use that as a weapon - he's not the only one who can turn subjects back on a person.
"Have fun at the chapel. Nice seeing you too, as always." Honest, despite his habitual sarcastic edge. He couldn't say whether it's true because of or despite how it goes, but, well, Kirei is his friend.
"I have many bad habits." And he did admit to experimenting with drugs on the Brig. "Just not that one, though it was still nice of you to offer."
He wasn't being sarcastic about it being good to see Fitz either, nor even just perfunctorily polite. The latter part of the conversation was annoying, but he doesn't have any hard feelings over it. He can respect when someone manages to turn the tables on him.
"Thanks, and I'll see you around."
He turns to leave. He'll be in the chapel, feeling dead inside and working hard to clear it of the vines.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 01:47 am (UTC)"If you say so. I can never keep track of magic. When you're summoning something, are you supposed to put emotion into it?"
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 02:42 am (UTC)He looks at Fitz, still guarded lest he bring up Risei again.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 04:25 am (UTC)He stares. Fitz is the robot, according to the other Fitz.
But anyway-
"That's putting it mildly. My abilities, save for in healing, are entirely mediocre. It's to be expected, given how magic works in my world."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 04:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 05:00 am (UTC)"The Church's magic and heretical magic are two entirely different magic systems. Executors use only very basic types of 'heretical magic.' The rest is Church magic: exorcisms and Black Keys, neither of which require natural talent to master. The Church's magic has a more powerful foundation than the heretical ones, so there aren't the same issues of birth and pedigree. I rose through the ranks of the Executors quickly, not that it matters."
He's never given a damn about utilitarianism.
"I didn't study 'heretical magic' in depth until much later, as an adult and for reasons entirely unrelated to my work as an Executor."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 05:06 pm (UTC)"That's magic systems for you. A real headache in every respect." And he doesn't care enough about them to try to push through that and figure out the bits that confuse him.
He leans back against the rail, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He feels his point has been solidly proved.
"Do you want one?"
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 06:54 pm (UTC)He doesn't smoke, and though his blood-drenched career as an Executor and his father's misunderstanding is a source of deep shame, it's not enough to make him start such a bad habit. It's clear his spirits have flatlined, though.
How did this happen?
He was caught off guard by the mention of the breach and Risei. He'll have to be more prepared next time.
Why does Fitz look so smug? It's kind of annoying. Does he think he's forgotten the original subject?
He almost opens his mouth to say something, but no. He doesn't feel like talking anymore, for some reason.
"I should get back to the chapel, actually. It was good seeing you, though."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 10:27 pm (UTC)"Of course not, my mistake. Don't know how I could've possibly imagined you would indulge in bad habits."
Unless you count trying to fuck with people a bad habit, which it might be. After all, a lot of things Fitz does, or has done, as a hobby fall into the category of bad habits.
He's not... the other Fitz. He does his best to have no interest in anything he's said, which was a lot easier when anyone he might have said something to was either dead or completely without memories of their encounter. But consider Kirei has met the other man, and tried to use that as a weapon - he's not the only one who can turn subjects back on a person.
"Have fun at the chapel. Nice seeing you too, as always." Honest, despite his habitual sarcastic edge. He couldn't say whether it's true because of or despite how it goes, but, well, Kirei is his friend.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 11:25 pm (UTC)He wasn't being sarcastic about it being good to see Fitz either, nor even just perfunctorily polite. The latter part of the conversation was annoying, but he doesn't have any hard feelings over it. He can respect when someone manages to turn the tables on him.
"Thanks, and I'll see you around."
He turns to leave. He'll be in the chapel, feeling dead inside and working hard to clear it of the vines.