[Mingler] And there were noises in the woods, and none knew their source

[i_hate_valar]

They have worked long and hard, grandfather and grandson, to create this prototype. The gun is an elegant thing, exquisitely decorated,but it is also deadly, for the ammunition it shoots is more akin to an explosive than to an actual bullet

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[killedthesnake]

Neville is in his greenhouse when he hears the successive explosions, It immediately calls to mind his Uncle Agie's fondness for canons, but after all the bad things that have happened at the Mansion, it concerns him. Especially since he hasn't seen his Uncle Agie in years, and there are no canons at the Mansion. Not that he's aware of. He wipes off his hands on an old towel, puts away his potting soil and garden tools and steps outside. He wonders if the Agency has already sent someone to investigate or if Tsuzuki is doing it himself.

He can be found wandering about the woods, having no luck finding the cause of the blasts.

I know that Morgana and he need to reconnect, but as it's a mingler, anyone is welcome to tag him, of course. :)

[skepticalmagic]

Morgana comes out running when she hears the noise. Is it another earthquake? Is it an explosion? The noise echoes, unfamiliar in her ear. Her exploration of the woods is much more animated, until she sees Neville.

Neville: she should've come to see him earlier, but she's had a distraction.

And right now, there's something more pressing. "Do you know what that was?"

[killedthesnake]

Neville only looks mildly surprised to see her as it's been some time, It would seem they've both been caught up with distractions. He smiles in greeting, despite the concerns about the noise, before turning serious again. "Lady Morgana, it's good to see you again," he answers.

He looks around them, as if the answer is in the forest air. "It almost sounded like a canon, a small one at least. It was incredibly loud for a gun," he muses.

[skepticalmagic]

"A gun? A cannon?" She's read about them in the library, but they are totally unfamiliar to her, in any practical sense.

"Are they not dangerous weapons? Why would someone be using one here?"

She tries to smile back at Neville, but she's concerned of whatever is coming their way, if anything.

[killedthesnake]

Neville turns more serious, and offers reassurance. "The sound was far enough away that we should be perfectly safe, but in truth, they are only as dangerous as the person wielding them," he muses. "As far as I know, the wolves and their master haven't used a Mug --," he catches himself. He's tries to eradicate the word Muggle from his vocabulary as it is deemed insulting by some residents. Old habits.

"They tend to rely on magic and not human invention," he says instead.

[skepticalmagic]

"Magic is also only as dangerous as the intentions of the one using it," while it's a quick retort, it's more out of fear.

"And if we do not know who is using them, we cannot be sure of their intentions."

[killedthesnake]

"True. Both weapons and magic must be used responsibly," Neville agrees completely. "I would think it ill-advised to go in search of the source alone, but there are probably only a handful of residents that know enough of guns to build one." He expects the Shadow Angels to get to tthe bottom of the situation. "Maybe I'm idealistic, but it is likely someone trying to find a means to fight the wolves."

And because there's an opening... "Do you know much of magic?"

[skepticalmagic]

The wolves: dangerous creatures, and if this is what the weapon's for --

But a discussion Morgana's almost embarrassed to have, is a distraction. Shaking her head, "No. It was illegal in Camelot. Even my powers were kept from me."

[killedthesnake]

"People fear what they don't understand," Neville answers quietly. "And what of your powers now?" He shows no surprise at her admission, but instead understanding.

[skepticalmagic]

"Uther feared anything he could not understand and could not control. He was afraid of everything." Morgana scoffs, because it's really the next part that she finds so pitifully embarrassing. "I do not know what they are, beyond easily setting things alight. I never had the chance to learn."

[killedthesnake]

The legends of Morgana said she was a powerful witch. He's surprised she is so completely untrained, and also has a bit of a moral dilemma. Is he helping her become the evil sorceress of lore if he teaches her? He decides not at all. In his dealings with her, she hasn't been evil in the least. And well, there are plenty of magic users at the Mansion to see that she doesn't go out of control.

"Well, control is important in wizardy, that is, self-control. I could teach you?" he offers.

[skepticalmagic]

The legends were written by men who did not like being told how epically wrong they were by a very powerful woman.

Don't believe everything.

"Self-control," the idea amuses her, but in the right way. "I would be happy to have you instruct me."