Fifth Negotiation

[prodigious_mage]

[action]
[Oh, gosh.  How adorable.  Today, there is what looks almost like a lemonade stand set up outside 1448 Mitchell Road, complete with smiling, cherubic face shining forth underneath a large sign that reads . . . um.

WILL USE MAGIC SPELLZ TO IMPROOF LIFE FOR MONEE OR COOKIES

Whoever passes by will be treated to a little boy shouting:]

Heyyyy!

Comments

action! disappointment? bah.

[leporariusnero]

[ Vincent's wrapping a new scarf around his neck when he spots the boy, and heads over with a smile. He's automatically going to humour him on the magic front, but he honestly won't be surprised if the boy's legit. ]

Magic, is it? What sort of magic?

[prodigious_mage]

[By now, Palom is half-giving up hope.]

Black magic. It does everything awesome and cool that you could ever possibly want.

[sigh]

[leporariusnero]

[ Pondering, pondering. ]

Could you conjure up a buttermilk scone, perhaps?

[prodigious_mage]

. . . That's what you think is cool? I'm pretty sure creating food out of nowhere violates some sort of fundamental rule of magic.

Here.

[Crackle-Boom! A bolt of lightning strikes the ground about 20 feet away.]

[leporariusnero]

[ He didn't jump, precisely, but his hand is under his jacket now, at his back. He stares at the scorch marks on the ground before turning slowly back to the boy.

That answers one question, anyway. He takes his hand off his gun and relaxes. Notably, he sounds less like he's talking to a kid, now, and more like he's talking to an adult. ]

I imagine that's useful. Is all of your magic elemental?

[prodigious_mage]

Nope.

[Palom is pleased by this reaction he interprets as favorable. Maybe there's some hope!]

I've got a lot of elemental magic, but I can do a lot of other things too! Like turn people into frogs, or put them to sleep, or teleport and stop time. Impressive, right?

[leporariusnero]

Quite, I'd say. It seems to me that you'd be rather a useful ally to have around these parts. Does your magic work on the Mayfield natives?

[ Now actually speaking respectfully. Obviously, this is not a kid he can afford to condescend to, even if he means well. ]

[prodigious_mage]

Not the important ones. The drones just ignore it, too, even if I do something really awful to them, but they can be hurt.

. . . U-Usually by accident.

[leporariusnero]

A shame, that. Still, it must be quite convenient. Is it an inherent ability, or does it have a power source?

[prodigious_mage]

Anyone can learn magic in my world if they want to! You just have to draw on the mana. Here, though . . . it's almost like it's connected to me. No one else has been able to learn it.

[leporariusnero]

I see. [ After a contemplative pause, he offers his hand to shake. ]

My name is Vincent Phantomhive.

[prodigious_mage]

I'm Palom! It's nice to meetcha, Vin --

[And in a flash of unusual thoughtfulness, he remembers what Elizabetheta had said about being polite.]

Mr. Phantomhive! So are you interested in hiring me at all?

[leporariusnero]

[ A chuckle. ] 'Vincent' is fine, lad. You're remarkably well-spoken for your apparent age.

I'm afraid I have no particular use for your abilities at the moment - unless you can conjure up that scone - but I will most certainly keep you in mind.

[prodigious_mage]

I'm ten, but thanks! It's probably 'cause I'm a prodigy.

[Vincent might get the sense that Palom has been boasting about this for a long time without actually knowing what it means until recently. Or maybe he still hasn't.]

That's what a lot of people say, and I guess I can understand. You're sure you don't want someone teleporting you around? It could be convenient.

[leporariusnero]

[ He actually reminds Vincent of a considerably less shy rendition of his own son: intelligent, eloquent and eager to please. ]

... What's the highest point in this town? I might like to get an aerial view of the place.

[prodigious_mage]

They call it Makeout Point. I think it's because you can make out the town better from there.