[Bakugo returns to the kitchen after making sure the door's locked. Esikko's free to look through the notebook and compare his own-- something he assumes is happening when a second slap of paper and metal spiral hits the table. Unfortunately the hero's a responsible person, so he's not popping a wine cork free or twisting beer caps off with a hiss. Snapping bottle caps open of a sweet-flavored tea. Relax, he has other drinks as well, from lemonade to juice to water to flavored sugar water when he's in the mood. Soda. He's not a heathen.
Barefoot, he comes to a stop beside Esikko and sets a bottle on the table for whenever he wants it. Could've asked what he wanted, didn't bother because the guy's had a shit day and doesn't need to mess with more choices in mind.]
No shit. [Esikko isn't him. He tilts his bottle to his lips, red eyes studying from above. Tch, partially detailed with specifics, but spills out into thoughts and feelings belonging to a journal rather than a notebook. Feels like he's reading someone's private diary, and he stops looking a few seconds in. Like hell does he wanna read someone's personal thoughts! Ugh, uncomfortable.]
Hmph. I'm not gonna half-assed training someone. [Bakugo leaves the table and steps into the living area before sinking down on the chair, one foot propped up on a coffee table edge.]
Stop comparing yourself to other people, dumbass! You're never gonna see yourself if you keep looking at everyone else.
[Choosing whether this was worthwhile or not is entirely up to Eikko. Bakugo wouldn't recommend it, not after all the work Esikko's put in and his improvements. Maybe they seem small to him when it compares himself to other people, but from what Bakugo saw him start with, he's come a long way in the months.]
...Surely even you have once compared yourself to someone else.
( It's a soft sort of mumble, not upset so much as a little curious. He's taking Bakugo's words to heart, either way, his fingers curling over the front of Bakugo's notebook before shutting it and sliding it a bit away. He'll look more at it later. )
In any case, it's not like I knew you were keeping track of that. I'll just look at it occasionally, then.
( Here, Esikko's eyes fall on the bottle that's been offered to him, and they soften a little. Tea is perfect, honestly. He's been drinking alcohol too much lately... So, he takes a sip, immediately pleased by the sweet flavor, before pulling his own journal closer, flipping through. )
Anyway... While we're waiting for the food, look here. This page looks empty, right? ( It does. Those with a sense for magic might sense something off about it, something More, but he's not actually certain if Bakugo can. So he glances to him, curious. )
[His silence is so pregnant, he might as well be shouting to Esikko's face of how harsh a trigger those words snared within him. He spent his entire life comparing himself to everyone! To one singular someone! Weighty history and far more details than he wants to get into bubble behind his lips before he leans his head back on the seat's rest.]
How the hell did you train if you never kept record of your progress?
[Whether it's magic or physical-]
No one's going to see how far they came if they don't look back.
[Some people refuse to look back, saying it distracts from their present and future. Some are too afraid or disgusted to see what they were long ago, even a week ago. But the past never dies, it never goes away, and it can't be ignored forever. Bakugo traces invisible patterns in the ceiling's calming colors, mind wandering to his own history. Where came from, what he used to think...]
Haa? [Broken from his thoughts, he pushes with his foot and tilts his head back, neck craned almost to snapping over the seat's back so he can peer across the space between them.] It's fucking blank! You trying to start something, Prince PricK?
( It's rare that Bakugo is quiet, so watching him sit there and press his lips together like he's going to explode tells Esikko plenty about hitting the nail on the head. He gets it, at least, that sort of stubborn refusal to admit when someone makes a point, even if they do; that sort of do as I say not as I do mentality all the same, too.
So he doesn't point it out, just watches him for a moment before sighing. )
I never worked on my own physical strength before. But with magic... I would use spells as tracking points. Organizing them into "levels" of difficulty, seeing how far I could get each time.
( He points at the "blank" page in front of him now, eyes on Bakugo. )
This isn't blank. Pay attention to it. ( His finger moves, tracing out some sort of a geometric symbol, and without any use of blood, just with the quiet speech of a word that doesn't seem to make sense, the page appears. Not any visible shifting or bleeding of words onto paper, but one minute they're empty, and the next, the page is filled, as if it had been so the entire time and Bakugo has only just noticed. A strange sensation. )
It's instructions on the basics of spells that can hide something from reality. Someone can "unlock" and "lock" a spell like these, with the right knowledge and the ability to sense it.
[He's not going to explode, dammit! Just... tch, doesn't wanna get into it. Far too familiar with comparing himself with other people. The hell does Esikko think a superiority complex comes from, lonely apathetic wusses? Whatever, the prince can figure out he touched a nerve and they don't have to go any further for now.
His sigh says anything he could've strung together with words.]
So look back on them and see how far you've come.
[Why Esikko never thought to apply the same principle to his physical training is beyond him. Bakugo always tracks shit, wanting to see how much he's improved. Pride needs basting plenty. This is really damn uncomfortable on his neck, Prince Prick.]
What can you hide? [People, things, tangible items, or intangible shit like feelings and intentions. His attention's clearly focused, a nerdy interest in other people's powers he won't admit despite it showing up easily.]
( Who's the one who decided to tilt his head over the chair like a cool punk, huh?? Still, Esikko recognizes the position and takes his journal with him, stepping away from the other notebook to move around Bakugo, instead. )
In theory, anything.
( He offers Bakugo a closer look at the journal, if he wants it. It's a lot of complex, detailed notes on the way the spell works, illustrations of the symbols that can act as locks or keys, scratched in additions as Esikko found them throughout his lives added on. )
In practice, it's more difficult. Something like writing is the easiest, as it exists on something physical and perceived but has no will of its own, no presence, no real weight that could cause it to shift or distract. The journal itself, or any small item, would be next— possible, but you have to account for its physical presence, and how to disguise around that.
When you get to the level of animals or people, it's extremely complex, so I've yet to manage it. They exist in their own space, with their own will, with significant weight and presence... Weaving something around that would have to take many external factors into mind, so it's more likely to break.
( His Watch lights up with a notification for the food, and he considers it briefly. It shouldn't make him nervous to open a door, especially not with Bakugo right here, and so he passes his journal over to him so he can have both hands free, helping himself to step towards his front door. He'll get it. )
It's not just the writing that's hidden. There are more pages in there than should be possible, though it's not something you can observe by looking at it.
[Shut up. Who's the on who decided to try showing him a blank notebook, huh? Bakugo slouches down once more, hair scraping along material, and drops his elbow on the armrest as he peers over the pages.
Anything, huh. He eyes the notes, flicking across one line after another. None of it makes and damn sense to him, words scrawling across pages about a topic he knows nothing about, and likely has no potential at ever understanding. It's fucking magic! Magic doesn't exist in his world! A lock and key he grasps, if the symbols can activate them just be being applied.]
So you're stuck with information until you learn how to improve the spell.
[But the only information he can leave is text-based, meaning he has to deal with working the spell around books, journals, etc., and hope they make it through the transfer somehow without fucking everything up by being in places they're not supposed to be. Esikko wants his life to be done over, but actively changes it...]
You risk causing a butterfly effect. [Bakugo takes the journal, but pushes himself up without invitation and follows Esikko to the door. It's his suite after all. What the hell's the delivery guy gonna think if someone else opens the door? Why the hell would a delivery guy know who's in each room...]
A butterfly effect is unavoidable. I don't restart the same life each time. There are numerous possibilities, laid out and pre-determined in many ways...
( He's a little surprised Bakugo got up to follow him, but he supposes he shouldn't be. He's a hero, huh. Esikko is sure he'd say some comment about it being his room and all, but is that the real reason? He doesn't think so.
And so it's comforting, a little... Even when they answer it and get met with an innocent delivery worker who says one awkward line about them having a nice date too many before scuttling away. Even when there's nothing else out in the hallway, but Esikko's eyes still linger on it before taking the bag and heading back inside, leaving Bakugo to lock it. )
This spell isn't even the one that connects to carrying it across lives, either, you know? This one simply hides things from perception. But become familiar enough with magic, and anyone could tell something was off, or different, about it.
So, it's natural for me to learn that the journal is key early on into discovering magic, each time. ( Step one. He offers the bag to Bakugo, the spicy gyoza safely inside along with the gogi pajeon he'd ordered for himself. He's not hungry (rarely is) so he's procrastinating on that. ) I understand the essentials of spell weaving, but the idea is what is possible.
So... forget about the resets, for now. What I'm worried about is here, in this life, right? Let me see some of the spells I use for defense.
( He's flipping through, completely obsessed with study mode now... )
Che. If you can't build on your past lives, you're not doing shit but playing craps.
[Esikko already mentioned he tried adding more to his life, sending his diaries and journals into his new life with multiple limitations and drawbacks. Starting over again each time, incrementally getting better. But it's so damn slow and ineffective! Pisses him off just hearing about it! Given his own perfectionist and detailed nature, his pride rankles over hearing someone else tell him about a monumental botch. Go figure.
Urusei! Esikko got attacked/threatened a few hours ago! Of course he's going to damn door with him. Bakugo doesn't trust the hotel's fucking nosy nature to keep out of this mess. And yes, it's his room. You don't open the door to someone else's room! Fucking rude.]
SCRAM!! [Who the hell says shit about dating?! Two guys can be in the same room without being on a fucking date! WHAM! Door slams so hard, it probably gives the asshole a bit of wind to push him along. He twists the lock and deadbolts it before stalking off to the kitchen in a huff.]
Is your world's magic inherent or learnable?
[Big difference. People in his world can't "learn" to use another Quirk unless they have a transfer or copy Quirk, allowing it. Same thing for magic in many fantasy books. Either you're born with it or you're not, compared to other stories where it can be learned by almost anyone.
He sets two plates on the counter, then opens the bag and begins dishing out the foot. A healthy amount on his own plate, and a small amount on Esikko's. He's seen the guy eat. Portioning's adequate. No spicy gyoza for his majesty, unless he wants to burning his ass for another reason.]
( ...It's charming, the way Bakugo gets so flustered over tiny little comments like that. But Esikko says nothing, slipping into his seat at the table and busying himself with flipping towards one of his more defensive spells. Illustrations on the page show it's something about plants— it's his poison one he first used on Chobe, in defense. )
Learnable, to start, but there's a degree that's inherent. Magic can be accessed in different ways, and each person has their own separate style. These methods can be inherited, such as my affinity for blood.
( He brings a hand to his chin, thoughtful as he regards Bakugo now. )
I could teach you, for example, the basics of spells. But you'd have to work more on your own for finding how to access those methods through your own... tools, I would say? I struggled before I read up and realized that it was blood magic that ran in my family.
[He's not flustered, dammit! Go clean your eyes, Prince Prick. Luckily Esikko says nothing so he doesn't get an outburst as the blonde finishes meting out their food. He knew the other man was good for his promise. Something to do while he starts getting bogged down in his own studies. Bakugo's seen this enough times with Midoriya to know a nerdy stampede's about to start. Bastard's gonna ramble and mutter everything in his head out his mouth.]
Who'd you inherit it from?
[Assuming it's passed down biologically in Esikko's world. He takes a seat at the counter and captures a gyoza between his chopsticks, then bites it clean in half, filling his mouth with spicy meat, vegetables, sauce, and a smattering of rice. Of course it's good; the peacock wouldn't serve an Ace shit food.]
Che. No way. [He detonates an explosion in his free hand.] My Quirk will do anything I want it to. I don't need another. [He learned that upon watching Midoriya unlike multiple Quirks from his own. An intense burning pride in his own Quirk and the strength he's honed within it all these years. His and his alone.] Magic doesn't exist in my world.
[At best he could learn the theory, how Esikko puts spells together, but at that point, he might as well be lying out a bunch of crap for a warlock's ritual without the end results. Until the warlock came back.]
Tell me how you put your spells together.
[That said, he's interested in this part. Mostly because he wants to help Esikko truncate his preparation or whatever takes him longer to cast.]
...My father's side. Not that he would know. It was something like my great great grandfather, or something...
( He looks a little annoyed by that, but brushes along just as quickly. )
Magic exists everywhere. At least, the sort of magic I'm speaking of does. Perhaps the methods to harness it don't, but that's entirely separate. I'm sure your quirk could benefit you to use magic all the same.
( A quirk is just as much a "tool" in what he was saying, he thinks. But the invitation to explain spells in detail has him brightening, enough that he at least has a few bites of food before he gets to it. )
Magic is like... using the energy of the world around you. It doesn't exist in any one person, but rather is manipulated by living things such as people. Casting a spell, then, has many key points. First, you think of the end result that you'd desire.
Hmm, for example, I'll say the end result I'd desire is "simulating sunlight", since this is something I have to do frequently for my plants. Have you seen the little floating lights above them, from time to time? ( Like wireless grow lights... ) I first decided that in a place with only false sun, I needed to create something more real for them to thrive. After that, I have to map out the spell— this requires a technical knowledge on the working of the energy around us, visualizing it, and imagining how magic might flow through various pathways. Then, there is always a cost. What sort of cost could I offer to make up for the energy borrowed to create sunlight?
In most cases, my blood works well as a large cost. It's filled with Divinity, making it full of power, and blood in general is a great catalyst for magic if you know how to use it. Since I've inherited this familiarity with blood itself, I can do things like drink blood to restore energy from exhaustion, or use it as a battery for magic itself. There are many spells that are too complex and require more cost than just that, but in this case, the intensity and size of the sunlight are small enough that blood alone was capable.
With all that in mind, you then have to create a physical gateway for the energy to flow. Drawn symbols, specific in design for the purpose or direction you need, are learned through plenty of research and your own sense— but the medium you use has to be a good catalyst for that energy, as well. Blood, again, is something I use. Water wouldn't work at all, and something like... paint would be lacking. Imagining how to describe it is a bit difficult— it feels unclean, or fake, or perhaps a bit too thick or chemical? Another example, perhaps one more potent for you, would be ashes. You could certainly smear ash to a powder to trace symbols and open that door.
From there, you have a created spell. Oftentimes, the end result here is still rather clumsy and there are places where I can then go back and cut down. "Why turn right three times when I could turn left once?" Those sort of simple corrections can only be done at the end, balanced with cost and need. Weaving magic like this is physically taxing, depending on the length and complexity of the spell, too, and there are certain times where you struggle to find the right cost, or materials, or offerings... Or perhaps the pathway is muddied, and trying to clear it is difficult. There are so many factors.
( Yeah, Bakugo was right. Nerdy stampede is one way to put this. Esikko talks plenty when he wants to, but even this is a lot for him, and especially with so much energy and enthusiasm. )
[Skipping generations without being seen or shown until the perfect alignment suddenly brings it into light. Bakugo leans back in the seat, both arms resting on its sides. Esikko's offering him magic and his pride quickly rises up. His Quirk has always been with him since the start, he's never needed anything else, and ultimately, never wanted anything else. He intended to claim his dream with his strength alone! So no one could look at his results and say he was assisted by someone or something else. As if it wasn't 100% him.
Bakugo's never believed in magic before. Always a Quirk. Always science. Magic was make believe. But in this place, magic is very real. People bring it from their own worlds. The peacock replicates it. Fucking amazing and weird.
He bristles slightly when Esikko suggests his Quirk could "benefit" him to use magic, lips twitching and ashen brows furrowing over his red eyes.]
You heard me.
[There's a difference in learning a technique separate from him. He's picked up archer, marksmanship, martial arts, a host of skills and abilities, many of which don't play at all well with his Quirk, and some that do.
And yet... wouldn't it be cool to magic up something? Hmph. Little wide-eyed kid inside.
Esikko launches into a fucking litany of words, pouring out and chattering with all the energy of some fucking nerd rambling about his favorite topic. Bakugo sinks back in the seat, like he can somehow retreat from his bluster. With Midoriya, he definitely would be moving away, backing up with a flat face and growling about how creepy it is. Definitely creepy here too. Who the hell talks that much at once?!]
You're talking way too much, dammit!
[Right, that protest gets run over and swallowed by the maniac on the pulpit. So much for speaking out. He's left sunk in his seat and scowling by the time Esikko finally finishes his happy place.]
Urusei. [Yeah, he's not doing all that crap. Time to rein this guy in!] Get out the shit you use for the mind wipe spell.
( It's an immediate retort, one that hardly breaks the enthusiastic energy practically radiating from him right now. A mild annoyance, one that he's matching with the urgent flipping of his journal's pages, food forgotten for moments longer as he does. Any retort or argument from Bakugo on that is completely ignored and pushed through as he starts up again. )
It's not a mind wipe, it's a memory block. A seal, if you will. To make it succinct as possible... Goal: block access to any memories of one specific person. To lower the cost, make it temporary, with an expected expiration. The pathway: I used the higher energy connection of the basement and its overrunning of spirits to form the symbols required. Cost: burnings of rabbit fur, candles, and presenting a chunk of a lizard tail at the locations of the symbols. Also, physical contact, no matter how brief, and a transmission or insertion of just the tiniest bit of my blood. I planned on a needle, but that idiot came and grabbed my hand and sucked on my finger.
( During all of this, he sets out a few things from his bag on the table. The journal is turned to the correct page, symbols all drawn and described, and there are sealed jars of fur, blood, and a set of candles. Sealed and sanitary, and away from the food, don't worry. )
So, there are two methods that I can think of to move around shortening the requirement or extending the impact.
( He holds up his fingers one at a time to symbolize this, counting them off. )
One: rather than a memory block, a memory erasure. The cost would increase highly, and the energy required could be a problem for my body as it is now. Two: a stronger memory block, more permanent. It's cost isn't as high as erasure, as there's the potential for the barrier to break down over time or persistent agitation. It's still a higher cost than what I've already managed.
[Snapped back in a reflexive volley. Can he even stop this damn deluge of nerdy passion spilling out of Esikko's mouth? Probably not, much to his chagrin. Bakugo sinks further in his chair, foot propped on the coffee table as if he might shove back and sink into his chair's secret recess. It's always weird when people get impassioned about stuff for minutes on end. He's an explosive force when going off about something he likes, but usually done soon. Rambling's fucking weird. And Esikko plunges ahead, earning a flat-faced scowl from his companion. Ugh.]
You formed a bunch of symbols out of energy and spirits? [Sounds like bullshit, even if he's seen people make images with energy in his own world. His upperclassman could do so with her Quirk. Made a damn rose in the air. Esikko's recipe for the spell sounds straight out of a witch's handbook. Yeah no, while the prince gets all his shit out, Bakugo's taking a moment to abscond to the kitchen and put food away. If they're getting out gory pieces of animals and shit, he's not having food present. Esikko's remaining pieces the exception.
Back to the chair when he's done, sitting cross-legged on the surface with his hands resting on either shin. He leans forward over the edge, peering at the items with a mix of caution and interest.]
Both those options have a higher cost. That's more time spent on the damn ritual. If you can't speed up your ritual, you're fucked against anyone who finds you or moves faster.
[Unless Esikko doesn't need to do the ritual and cast the spell at the same time... With the ritual being akin to loading a gun with the spell (bullet) he can then carry around with him and fire at any time.]
( Esikko doesn't even seem to mind that Bakugo is moving things around and removing some of the food. He eats a bit more himself, and as soon as the blond is sitting again, he scoots himself closer, placing his hand flat over the journal as he traces idle shapes, trying to imagine the pathway. )
The ritual generally comes first. It's the activation and the toll that may take more. Mm, like...
( He thinks, leaning forward, turning one or two of the jars to get a better look at the things inside. There are herbs, too, plants and leaves and some things he's ground to dust... )
I can pre-draw the correct symbols, burn the offerings, line things up... I had been in the process of doing as much when that asshole found me, you know? I wasn't going to start the spell right then until he grabbed me like that.
( So, kind of like a loaded gun. Yes. )
Preparing it in advance would mean that the signal to open the pathway is less immediate, such as another drawn symbol instead of a snap of a finger, but it's doable. I've managed as much by biting my tongue and tracing it in my own mouth, too. But I also have to speak the correct words, so that requires a few different movements on my part.
Putting even that aside, the spell itself, the more complex it is, can be so exhausting that I risk passing out the more it demands. That's not such a problem if I have backup, really...
[He's not having a bunch of rabbit pelts and lizard guts next to open food. Even if they're tightly sealed, he doesn't trust Esikko's hyped up state not to bust out some wiccan craziness right there in the damn foyer. For now, he pays attention to the journal as the guy continues on his explanations.]
Then start stockpiling. Take some time to build up a reliable set of spells and make sure you've always got them on hand.
[Even if it means Esikko needs to go into a few days of hibernation to set himself up. It's better than being caught off guard if someone runs into him. Since there it seems like the prince is a target for a bunch of assholes in the hotel. Bakugo doesn't like the idea of the prince spelunking around in the hotel's basement though.]
Can you do the ritual anywhere else? You said the basement's most conductive, but if it's not necessary, pick a better place.
[It's fucking ridiculous Esikko can do everything to set the spell in the chamber, but then when he goes to fire the damn thing, he STILL has to do a few more steps to actually launch it. Shitty process for magic in Bakugo's opinion.]
( A serious and thoughtful expression crosses his face as he lifts the pen he's pulled out, flipping past a handful of pages (many of them look blank) to find one that he determines is actually blank. Here, he begins to write with his left hand, scribbling a few notes.
Pre-loading spells? Calculate the strain for each, gather a regular arsenal )
Mm... The basement makes it easier on my body. That is, the spiritual energy there is so potent that it doesn't have to draw as much from me when I cast something using support from it. The next best would be the gardens... but, you know, I was attacked there, too.
( If safety is the issue, he wonders if anywhere is safe anymore. He taps the back of his pen against his bottom lip. )
There's an effort and strain from preparing it, and another from use, but they're separate portions... I could think of ways to alter the spell paths to arrange for that. But— to be honest, I come up with most spells on the spot, here.
I once turned my blood to a paralyzing poison. That could be one, I suppose... ( He's writing this down too, his handwriting foreign but quickly translated by the mechanics of the resort. Still, it comes across as incredibly neat. ) What are some things that could get someone out of a situation where they're trapped? Help me brainstorm.
It may take time, to build up enough. A few weeks, perhaps... But then, if I reliably reset any I have to use... Ah, and, can't you just escort me to set some of them up? If all of them are outside of the basement, it could be difficult.
[Bakugo leans back in the seat, fingers drumming on the armrest, other hand swirling a bottle of water around from the fridge. Esikko's taking notes. Left-handed, huh. Somehow that doesn't surprise him at all. While his dominant hand is right, Bakugo forced himself to be at least competently ambidextrous.]
Feels like you're fucking attacked anywhere. [Half a grumble to himself, half a commentary on Esikko's track record. If no place is safe, then he can go wherever the fuck he wants, because it won't matter. Hardly a silver lining. Another issue with the basement is the peacock has more sensitivity and "eyes" down there. Closer to sensitive areas.] Does your spell go down in effectiveness if it takes you longer to prepare it?
[Sure, it might require Esikko to spend two hours on a fireball "bullet" to lessen the burden on his body, but if he can do it in the relative safety of his room, instead of spending an hour in the dangerous underbelly of the basement, take the fucking extra hour. Not Bakugo's preference for himself, but in Esikko's case?]
Stop coming up with shit on the spot. Build a small arsenal of spells you can rely on and focus on improving them.
[One of his mentors had a similar lesson. Don't try to do everything at once. Pick one action, learn it until it becomes automatic, then add a second one. He's pushing the same idea to Esikko. Create a toolbox of spells he can logically use for any situation, then polish them, working on lessening his preparation time, lessening the casting cost, lessening the resources needed.]
Sensory deprivation. Smokescreens, poison clouds, paralyzing dust, numbing agents. You're good with plants, so use them as the basis for your spell effects. [Granted, these are helpful for situations Esikko can distract and escape from. Not if he's stuck in a room with no way out but a fight. Another topic altogether.]
I'm not your damn on-call bodyguard! [Ignoring the reality he just came when Esikko called. He cares, but he's not such a nice person (mostly *ahem*) to shackle himself so often. Esikko needs to be self-sufficient too.] Stay out of the basement and set your spells up in your room. Even if it takes longer, it's safer.
You attract bad attention; don't make it easier on those assholes.
It's not just the aspect of time— to prepare multiple spells is to split my attention that many ways, too. It's only after they're cast that I can release that energy from myself. I may be able to manage a small handful, but...
( He writes down each of Bakugo's little ideas, pausing only to tap the pen against his lip again, anxious. How many can he manage? He's never really tried this before. Once or twice, a few spells at once, maybe. )
I think I'll need to work up to it slowly. Two, to start. Then adding on a third after a week. Each time I add a new one, there's a risk for it overloading me to the point that my body can't handle it, you know, and I pass out, so...
( Especially if they're done from his room. But maybe? He's scribbling little diagrams, now, on the next page over, like he's trying to determine how many spells is the limit before it might be too much. Hard to say, when he's never tried it. )
If I reach that breaking point, I'd have to start over, but I'd be more informed, I suppose... So I should make a list, arrange them in terms of weight and strain, and also importance for escape, don't you think? Mm, and if I track my stamina and improvements with your training, then I can make a spot for my wellbeing while holding them...
[Though now Esikko brings up the concept of his own loaded bullets putting pressure on his body while carrying them around. He's had red flag after red flag thrown in his face by life, circumstances, his own body, all pointing to the reality magic is NOT doing him any goddamn favors-- it doesn't sound like it's even good for him! --and Esikko doggedly pushes past all of them. Fucking stupid.]
You should've become a poison master instead.
[Grumbled under his breath as he turns in the chair and throws his legs over one arm, his own arms coming to rest behind his head in a mild posture of exasperation and getting comfortable. Some dreams too far out of reach no matter how hard someone tries.]
You'll add a third one after your body can safely handle two without overloading, breaking down, or getting tired. I didn't teach you a shoulder throw until after you could perform an arm lock easily, remember?
[No running until you can walk without problem. If Esikko wants his help, this is the kind of instruction he's going to get. Of course Bakugo doesn't always ascribe to the same teaching! But that's because his body can handle it. He didn't go for larger explosions until he could safely do smaller ones when he was learning how to use his Quirk.]
The hell do you mean start over? [If a gun breaks, that doesn't mean the bullets are suddenly useless!
... and if it does, Bakugo's quickly starting to view Esikko's world's magic as extremely inherently flawed. Maybe there's a good reason it was locked away and never practiced. It sucks?!]
...I already am good with poisons and plants, you know. Potions and powders are my go-to, but there are so many people here with unique strengths, and I always end up unable to manage to grab them.
( So he started looking into more drastic things, secret things, explosive things no one would expect. Of course, he doesn't realize that Chobe has picked up on his need to speak magic words into the air and is going to cancel that out all the same, just from one observation, but...
He frowns to himself, genuinely frustrated. He just wants to be less useless. Sure, sure, he gets working to his own strengths, but what kind of strength is "can make a really mean poison potion" anyway? He taps his pen on the page a few times before writing out that he needs to stay steady at two before moving on. Annoying, but fair... )
I just mean that my body has trouble recovering if I push it too far. So I should move cautiously, like you said. Wait for it to become easy before I move on... ( He sighs, after a moment, sinking lower in his own seat, journal flopping against his face. )
And as I work at that, I suppose I'll just have to be extra cautious in going out. I'll alternate it, of course, and not bother you every day...
( Dabi some, Bakugo others, maybe Loki... It feels like just existing is becoming a weight on everyone around him, though, and he's starting to feel depressed about it. So, he shuts his journal, dropping it back on the table and rolling the pen right after it. )
That should be plenty to start with. Thanks for your help.
[Stop making enemies with people more powerful than you... A thought he grumbles in his head. Some people might think Esikko has no choice in whether or not people make enemies with him; Bakugo has opposite opinions. Does he expect Esikko to become a wheedling suck up trying to kiss ass and stay on everyone's good side? Hell no! But unless he's able to protect himself one way or another, he's gonna become prey to unsavory dick heads. People are people, no matter what damn world they come from.]
Stop making excuses. Everyone has a weakness. Crush them. If you can't grab your poison, start incorporating it where you don't have to reach it.
[He didn't mean a master poisoner in crafting only. He meant assassination arts, secret applications, shit you see in fantasy films, ninja movies, and other action pieces where the weaker person uses other means to augment their lacking strength.
Even Bakugo's aware Esikko needs to speak his spells; figured that shit out the first time they fought together against the stupid painting. Anyone with half a brain can figure out Bakugo's Quirk comes from his hands, Dabi's Quirk burns him too, Scott's mutant power utilizes his eyes, blah blah fucking blah. It's up to all of them to work around those noticeable weaknesses and conquer them. Using your limitations as an excuse is pathetic.]
Tch. Everyone has to deal with their own damn stamina. [It's difficult to advise Esikko in this. He comes from a world where almost everyone has some kind of supernatural power. Plenty of them suck, but many of them are strong. They make do with what they have.] Don't look down on what skills you have.
If you're bothering me, I'll tell you. [But Esikko's right. Rotate. Bakugo will help him some days, Dabi others, more of his companions. As many enemies as he has, the prince has friends too. Ironically, Bakugo deals with the same annoyance of being a burden on people around him, fearing becoming so and doing everything he can to never find himself in such a position. Doesn't matter if he has to for his broken leg to move, he'd rather stab his femur through his thigh muscle walking out of the room than rely on someone's offered shoulder.
Doesn't mean he always gets or goes through with what he'd rather...]
In my country, a long time ago there were two groups of warriors. Samurai and ninja. Samurai used strong weapons like swords and spears. They rode horses, had strong bodies, could fight for hours. Ninja were weaker physically, so they used stealth attacks, poisons, hidden weapons, and trickery. Guess which one their enemies feared more.
( Slumped as he is, Esikko isn't taking notes, but he does take mental note of all that Bakugo is saying. It's his usual sort of deal— words that are both inspirational and frustratingly blunt. Words that aren't cushioned by falsities or niceness that does nothing for him, and instead smack back his thoughts with a realistic sort of harshness he can't help but appreciate, even if it irritates him all the same. Because that's the sort of thing he needs, right?
The opposite of people like Kirma, who would tell him he doesn't need to fight, that they could do it all for him. To strip him entirely of every ounce of autonomy he could have. Bakugo's words would rather empower him, push him, all while backing him up...
And he's not so blind as to ignore the occasional hypocrisy, of course. Bakugo is stubborn enough that Esikko can't help but feel that he doesn't know enough about him, his feelings, his internal struggles. That he can guess to many of them, based on what he's seen, but that getting the man to ever admit to any of it would be like pulling teeth. Is that a testament to their bond not being close enough, or is it more just that Bakugo tries too hard to be strong enough for everyone? He's beginning to realize it's the latter. And so he leans, after a moment, to put himself closer to Bakugo, subtle as it is, eyes trailing over the items laid out on the table. )
Maybe... the problem is that I've always been trying to view how to do these things alone.
( Quietly, thoughtfully, he's clearly in his own head, but it's a little more productive this time. Not self-deprecating, just reflecting. )
Stealth and trickery, is it? I'll try to focus entirely on my strengths, then, and not think about where I lack. ( Hard as it is. He's not sure he can stop, but he'll try. ) So, I'll rely on some of you to help fill in the gaps. That's fine, isn't it?
( He's still so quiet... But he turns his head, finally, glancing over. )
Perhaps one day I'll be able to fill a few gaps for someone else, too. ( He wants to be useful, more than anything. )
[He's not the kind of person to sugarcoat things or let people down nicely. Doesn't have the patience to drag shit out when getting to the point is much faster and ultimately the only reason in the first place. The truth hurts, reality's a bitch, and he's had those two bastards crammed down his throat multiple times in his life with merciless efficiency. There are things Esikko has to face and contend with. He can either dick around feeling sorry for himself or he can stand up and get to work.
Bakugo's never liked relying on other people. Sharing his victories or losses with others pisses him off. Being reliable doesn't mean being someone's crutch. He can help Esikko up, but what good is that if the man crumbles on his weak legs the second he lets go?
He's seen the kind of power the prince can wield, even if he knows so little about either form asides from Esikko's fear of them and the one's ridiculous attitude. Sucks neither can be utilized here.]
Aa. Don't forget what you lack, but don't focus so much on it you forget what you can do. [There's nothing wrong with working on your weaknesses. Fuck, you should be doing that most of the time. But neglecting your strengths in favor of the opposite only drags yourself down. Until even what you could do well becomes a disappointment.]
Hmph, why the hell wouldn't it be fine? [A hero's supposed to be reliable. Bakugo wants to be someone Esikko looks to and knows he'll get help each time. When he needs it. Heroes have to be able to work as a team, supporting each other, but also strong enough to stand alone against adversity. A tricky balance sometimes.]
You already do. [Esikko's given people tools and gifts both useful and pleasant. He has friends, people who can come to him. If he can't see his usefulness, he's fucking blind.
Bakugo clicks his tongue after a few more seconds under the prince's gaze. Che, sap... He sits up on the seat and grabs his drink again.]
You ever poisoned your nail polish?
[Back to brainstorming! Before he gets uncomfortable with the softer stuff.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 8/17/25 19:55 (UTC)Barefoot, he comes to a stop beside Esikko and sets a bottle on the table for whenever he wants it. Could've asked what he wanted, didn't bother because the guy's had a shit day and doesn't need to mess with more choices in mind.]
No shit. [Esikko isn't him. He tilts his bottle to his lips, red eyes studying from above. Tch, partially detailed with specifics, but spills out into thoughts and feelings belonging to a journal rather than a notebook. Feels like he's reading someone's private diary, and he stops looking a few seconds in. Like hell does he wanna read someone's personal thoughts! Ugh, uncomfortable.]
Hmph. I'm not gonna half-assed training someone. [Bakugo leaves the table and steps into the living area before sinking down on the chair, one foot propped up on a coffee table edge.]
Stop comparing yourself to other people, dumbass! You're never gonna see yourself if you keep looking at everyone else.
[Choosing whether this was worthwhile or not is entirely up to Eikko. Bakugo wouldn't recommend it, not after all the work Esikko's put in and his improvements. Maybe they seem small to him when it compares himself to other people, but from what Bakugo saw him start with, he's come a long way in the months.]
no subject
Date: 8/18/25 05:09 (UTC)( It's a soft sort of mumble, not upset so much as a little curious. He's taking Bakugo's words to heart, either way, his fingers curling over the front of Bakugo's notebook before shutting it and sliding it a bit away. He'll look more at it later. )
In any case, it's not like I knew you were keeping track of that. I'll just look at it occasionally, then.
( Here, Esikko's eyes fall on the bottle that's been offered to him, and they soften a little. Tea is perfect, honestly. He's been drinking alcohol too much lately... So, he takes a sip, immediately pleased by the sweet flavor, before pulling his own journal closer, flipping through. )
Anyway... While we're waiting for the food, look here. This page looks empty, right? ( It does. Those with a sense for magic might sense something off about it, something More, but he's not actually certain if Bakugo can. So he glances to him, curious. )
no subject
Date: 8/18/25 22:05 (UTC)[His silence is so pregnant, he might as well be shouting to Esikko's face of how harsh a trigger those words snared within him. He spent his entire life comparing himself to everyone! To one singular someone! Weighty history and far more details than he wants to get into bubble behind his lips before he leans his head back on the seat's rest.]
How the hell did you train if you never kept record of your progress?
[Whether it's magic or physical-]
No one's going to see how far they came if they don't look back.
[Some people refuse to look back, saying it distracts from their present and future. Some are too afraid or disgusted to see what they were long ago, even a week ago. But the past never dies, it never goes away, and it can't be ignored forever. Bakugo traces invisible patterns in the ceiling's calming colors, mind wandering to his own history. Where came from, what he used to think...]
Haa? [Broken from his thoughts, he pushes with his foot and tilts his head back, neck craned almost to snapping over the seat's back so he can peer across the space between them.] It's fucking blank! You trying to start something, Prince PricK?
no subject
Date: 8/19/25 05:05 (UTC)So he doesn't point it out, just watches him for a moment before sighing. )
I never worked on my own physical strength before. But with magic... I would use spells as tracking points. Organizing them into "levels" of difficulty, seeing how far I could get each time.
( He points at the "blank" page in front of him now, eyes on Bakugo. )
This isn't blank. Pay attention to it. ( His finger moves, tracing out some sort of a geometric symbol, and without any use of blood, just with the quiet speech of a word that doesn't seem to make sense, the page appears. Not any visible shifting or bleeding of words onto paper, but one minute they're empty, and the next, the page is filled, as if it had been so the entire time and Bakugo has only just noticed. A strange sensation. )
It's instructions on the basics of spells that can hide something from reality. Someone can "unlock" and "lock" a spell like these, with the right knowledge and the ability to sense it.
no subject
Date: 8/19/25 15:40 (UTC)His sigh says anything he could've strung together with words.]
So look back on them and see how far you've come.
[Why Esikko never thought to apply the same principle to his physical training is beyond him. Bakugo always tracks shit, wanting to see how much he's improved. Pride needs basting plenty. This is really damn uncomfortable on his neck, Prince Prick.]
What can you hide? [People, things, tangible items, or intangible shit like feelings and intentions. His attention's clearly focused, a nerdy interest in other people's powers he won't admit despite it showing up easily.]
no subject
Date: 8/19/25 21:57 (UTC)In theory, anything.
( He offers Bakugo a closer look at the journal, if he wants it. It's a lot of complex, detailed notes on the way the spell works, illustrations of the symbols that can act as locks or keys, scratched in additions as Esikko found them throughout his lives added on. )
In practice, it's more difficult. Something like writing is the easiest, as it exists on something physical and perceived but has no will of its own, no presence, no real weight that could cause it to shift or distract. The journal itself, or any small item, would be next— possible, but you have to account for its physical presence, and how to disguise around that.
When you get to the level of animals or people, it's extremely complex, so I've yet to manage it. They exist in their own space, with their own will, with significant weight and presence... Weaving something around that would have to take many external factors into mind, so it's more likely to break.
( His Watch lights up with a notification for the food, and he considers it briefly. It shouldn't make him nervous to open a door, especially not with Bakugo right here, and so he passes his journal over to him so he can have both hands free, helping himself to step towards his front door. He'll get it. )
It's not just the writing that's hidden. There are more pages in there than should be possible, though it's not something you can observe by looking at it.
no subject
Date: 8/20/25 17:03 (UTC)Anything, huh. He eyes the notes, flicking across one line after another. None of it makes and damn sense to him, words scrawling across pages about a topic he knows nothing about, and likely has no potential at ever understanding. It's fucking magic! Magic doesn't exist in his world! A lock and key he grasps, if the symbols can activate them just be being applied.]
So you're stuck with information until you learn how to improve the spell.
[But the only information he can leave is text-based, meaning he has to deal with working the spell around books, journals, etc., and hope they make it through the transfer somehow without fucking everything up by being in places they're not supposed to be. Esikko wants his life to be done over, but actively changes it...]
You risk causing a butterfly effect. [Bakugo takes the journal, but pushes himself up without invitation and follows Esikko to the door. It's his suite after all. What the hell's the delivery guy gonna think if someone else opens the door? Why the hell would a delivery guy know who's in each room...]
no subject
Date: 8/21/25 06:31 (UTC)( He's a little surprised Bakugo got up to follow him, but he supposes he shouldn't be. He's a hero, huh. Esikko is sure he'd say some comment about it being his room and all, but is that the real reason? He doesn't think so.
And so it's comforting, a little... Even when they answer it and get met with an innocent delivery worker who says one awkward line about them having a nice date too many before scuttling away. Even when there's nothing else out in the hallway, but Esikko's eyes still linger on it before taking the bag and heading back inside, leaving Bakugo to lock it. )
This spell isn't even the one that connects to carrying it across lives, either, you know? This one simply hides things from perception. But become familiar enough with magic, and anyone could tell something was off, or different, about it.
So, it's natural for me to learn that the journal is key early on into discovering magic, each time. ( Step one. He offers the bag to Bakugo, the spicy gyoza safely inside along with the gogi pajeon he'd ordered for himself. He's not hungry (rarely is) so he's procrastinating on that. ) I understand the essentials of spell weaving, but the idea is what is possible.
So... forget about the resets, for now. What I'm worried about is here, in this life, right? Let me see some of the spells I use for defense.
( He's flipping through, completely obsessed with study mode now... )
no subject
Date: 8/21/25 21:56 (UTC)[Esikko already mentioned he tried adding more to his life, sending his diaries and journals into his new life with multiple limitations and drawbacks. Starting over again each time, incrementally getting better. But it's so damn slow and ineffective! Pisses him off just hearing about it! Given his own perfectionist and detailed nature, his pride rankles over hearing someone else tell him about a monumental botch. Go figure.
Urusei! Esikko got attacked/threatened a few hours ago! Of course he's going to damn door with him. Bakugo doesn't trust the hotel's fucking nosy nature to keep out of this mess. And yes, it's his room. You don't open the door to someone else's room! Fucking rude.]
SCRAM!! [Who the hell says shit about dating?! Two guys can be in the same room without being on a fucking date! WHAM! Door slams so hard, it probably gives the asshole a bit of wind to push him along. He twists the lock and deadbolts it before stalking off to the kitchen in a huff.]
Is your world's magic inherent or learnable?
[Big difference. People in his world can't "learn" to use another Quirk unless they have a transfer or copy Quirk, allowing it. Same thing for magic in many fantasy books. Either you're born with it or you're not, compared to other stories where it can be learned by almost anyone.
He sets two plates on the counter, then opens the bag and begins dishing out the foot. A healthy amount on his own plate, and a small amount on Esikko's. He's seen the guy eat. Portioning's adequate. No spicy gyoza for his majesty, unless he wants to burning his ass for another reason.]
no subject
Date: 8/22/25 06:31 (UTC)Learnable, to start, but there's a degree that's inherent. Magic can be accessed in different ways, and each person has their own separate style. These methods can be inherited, such as my affinity for blood.
( He brings a hand to his chin, thoughtful as he regards Bakugo now. )
I could teach you, for example, the basics of spells. But you'd have to work more on your own for finding how to access those methods through your own... tools, I would say? I struggled before I read up and realized that it was blood magic that ran in my family.
( He will... eat eventually, probably. )
no subject
Date: 8/22/25 20:05 (UTC)Who'd you inherit it from?
[Assuming it's passed down biologically in Esikko's world. He takes a seat at the counter and captures a gyoza between his chopsticks, then bites it clean in half, filling his mouth with spicy meat, vegetables, sauce, and a smattering of rice. Of course it's good; the peacock wouldn't serve an Ace shit food.]
Che. No way. [He detonates an explosion in his free hand.] My Quirk will do anything I want it to. I don't need another. [He learned that upon watching Midoriya unlike multiple Quirks from his own. An intense burning pride in his own Quirk and the strength he's honed within it all these years. His and his alone.] Magic doesn't exist in my world.
[At best he could learn the theory, how Esikko puts spells together, but at that point, he might as well be lying out a bunch of crap for a warlock's ritual without the end results. Until the warlock came back.]
Tell me how you put your spells together.
[That said, he's interested in this part. Mostly because he wants to help Esikko truncate his preparation or whatever takes him longer to cast.]
no subject
Date: 8/24/25 21:56 (UTC)( He looks a little annoyed by that, but brushes along just as quickly. )
Magic exists everywhere. At least, the sort of magic I'm speaking of does. Perhaps the methods to harness it don't, but that's entirely separate. I'm sure your quirk could benefit you to use magic all the same.
( A quirk is just as much a "tool" in what he was saying, he thinks. But the invitation to explain spells in detail has him brightening, enough that he at least has a few bites of food before he gets to it. )
Magic is like... using the energy of the world around you. It doesn't exist in any one person, but rather is manipulated by living things such as people. Casting a spell, then, has many key points. First, you think of the end result that you'd desire.
Hmm, for example, I'll say the end result I'd desire is "simulating sunlight", since this is something I have to do frequently for my plants. Have you seen the little floating lights above them, from time to time? ( Like wireless grow lights... ) I first decided that in a place with only false sun, I needed to create something more real for them to thrive. After that, I have to map out the spell— this requires a technical knowledge on the working of the energy around us, visualizing it, and imagining how magic might flow through various pathways. Then, there is always a cost. What sort of cost could I offer to make up for the energy borrowed to create sunlight?
In most cases, my blood works well as a large cost. It's filled with Divinity, making it full of power, and blood in general is a great catalyst for magic if you know how to use it. Since I've inherited this familiarity with blood itself, I can do things like drink blood to restore energy from exhaustion, or use it as a battery for magic itself. There are many spells that are too complex and require more cost than just that, but in this case, the intensity and size of the sunlight are small enough that blood alone was capable.
With all that in mind, you then have to create a physical gateway for the energy to flow. Drawn symbols, specific in design for the purpose or direction you need, are learned through plenty of research and your own sense— but the medium you use has to be a good catalyst for that energy, as well. Blood, again, is something I use. Water wouldn't work at all, and something like... paint would be lacking. Imagining how to describe it is a bit difficult— it feels unclean, or fake, or perhaps a bit too thick or chemical? Another example, perhaps one more potent for you, would be ashes. You could certainly smear ash to a powder to trace symbols and open that door.
From there, you have a created spell. Oftentimes, the end result here is still rather clumsy and there are places where I can then go back and cut down. "Why turn right three times when I could turn left once?" Those sort of simple corrections can only be done at the end, balanced with cost and need. Weaving magic like this is physically taxing, depending on the length and complexity of the spell, too, and there are certain times where you struggle to find the right cost, or materials, or offerings... Or perhaps the pathway is muddied, and trying to clear it is difficult. There are so many factors.
( Yeah, Bakugo was right. Nerdy stampede is one way to put this. Esikko talks plenty when he wants to, but even this is a lot for him, and especially with so much energy and enthusiasm. )
no subject
Date: 8/25/25 03:17 (UTC)[Skipping generations without being seen or shown until the perfect alignment suddenly brings it into light. Bakugo leans back in the seat, both arms resting on its sides. Esikko's offering him magic and his pride quickly rises up. His Quirk has always been with him since the start, he's never needed anything else, and ultimately, never wanted anything else. He intended to claim his dream with his strength alone! So no one could look at his results and say he was assisted by someone or something else. As if it wasn't 100% him.
Bakugo's never believed in magic before. Always a Quirk. Always science. Magic was make believe. But in this place, magic is very real. People bring it from their own worlds. The peacock replicates it. Fucking amazing and weird.
He bristles slightly when Esikko suggests his Quirk could "benefit" him to use magic, lips twitching and ashen brows furrowing over his red eyes.]
You heard me.
[There's a difference in learning a technique separate from him. He's picked up archer, marksmanship, martial arts, a host of skills and abilities, many of which don't play at all well with his Quirk, and some that do.
And yet... wouldn't it be cool to magic up something? Hmph. Little wide-eyed kid inside.
Esikko launches into a fucking litany of words, pouring out and chattering with all the energy of some fucking nerd rambling about his favorite topic. Bakugo sinks back in the seat, like he can somehow retreat from his bluster. With Midoriya, he definitely would be moving away, backing up with a flat face and growling about how creepy it is. Definitely creepy here too. Who the hell talks that much at once?!]
You're talking way too much, dammit!
[Right, that protest gets run over and swallowed by the maniac on the pulpit. So much for speaking out. He's left sunk in his seat and scowling by the time Esikko finally finishes his happy place.]
Urusei. [Yeah, he's not doing all that crap. Time to rein this guy in!] Get out the shit you use for the mind wipe spell.
no subject
Date: 8/25/25 04:40 (UTC)( It's an immediate retort, one that hardly breaks the enthusiastic energy practically radiating from him right now. A mild annoyance, one that he's matching with the urgent flipping of his journal's pages, food forgotten for moments longer as he does. Any retort or argument from Bakugo on that is completely ignored and pushed through as he starts up again. )
It's not a mind wipe, it's a memory block. A seal, if you will. To make it succinct as possible... Goal: block access to any memories of one specific person. To lower the cost, make it temporary, with an expected expiration. The pathway: I used the higher energy connection of the basement and its overrunning of spirits to form the symbols required. Cost: burnings of rabbit fur, candles, and presenting a chunk of a lizard tail at the locations of the symbols. Also, physical contact, no matter how brief, and a transmission or insertion of just the tiniest bit of my blood. I planned on a needle, but that idiot came and grabbed my hand and sucked on my finger.
( During all of this, he sets out a few things from his bag on the table. The journal is turned to the correct page, symbols all drawn and described, and there are sealed jars of fur, blood, and a set of candles. Sealed and sanitary, and away from the food, don't worry. )
So, there are two methods that I can think of to move around shortening the requirement or extending the impact.
( He holds up his fingers one at a time to symbolize this, counting them off. )
One: rather than a memory block, a memory erasure. The cost would increase highly, and the energy required could be a problem for my body as it is now. Two: a stronger memory block, more permanent. It's cost isn't as high as erasure, as there's the potential for the barrier to break down over time or persistent agitation. It's still a higher cost than what I've already managed.
no subject
Date: 8/26/25 00:39 (UTC)[Snapped back in a reflexive volley. Can he even stop this damn deluge of nerdy passion spilling out of Esikko's mouth? Probably not, much to his chagrin. Bakugo sinks further in his chair, foot propped on the coffee table as if he might shove back and sink into his chair's secret recess. It's always weird when people get impassioned about stuff for minutes on end. He's an explosive force when going off about something he likes, but usually done soon. Rambling's fucking weird. And Esikko plunges ahead, earning a flat-faced scowl from his companion. Ugh.]
You formed a bunch of symbols out of energy and spirits? [Sounds like bullshit, even if he's seen people make images with energy in his own world. His upperclassman could do so with her Quirk. Made a damn rose in the air. Esikko's recipe for the spell sounds straight out of a witch's handbook. Yeah no, while the prince gets all his shit out, Bakugo's taking a moment to abscond to the kitchen and put food away. If they're getting out gory pieces of animals and shit, he's not having food present. Esikko's remaining pieces the exception.
Back to the chair when he's done, sitting cross-legged on the surface with his hands resting on either shin. He leans forward over the edge, peering at the items with a mix of caution and interest.]
Both those options have a higher cost. That's more time spent on the damn ritual. If you can't speed up your ritual, you're fucked against anyone who finds you or moves faster.
[Unless Esikko doesn't need to do the ritual and cast the spell at the same time... With the ritual being akin to loading a gun with the spell (bullet) he can then carry around with him and fire at any time.]
no subject
Date: 8/26/25 04:12 (UTC)The ritual generally comes first. It's the activation and the toll that may take more. Mm, like...
( He thinks, leaning forward, turning one or two of the jars to get a better look at the things inside. There are herbs, too, plants and leaves and some things he's ground to dust... )
I can pre-draw the correct symbols, burn the offerings, line things up... I had been in the process of doing as much when that asshole found me, you know? I wasn't going to start the spell right then until he grabbed me like that.
( So, kind of like a loaded gun. Yes. )
Preparing it in advance would mean that the signal to open the pathway is less immediate, such as another drawn symbol instead of a snap of a finger, but it's doable. I've managed as much by biting my tongue and tracing it in my own mouth, too. But I also have to speak the correct words, so that requires a few different movements on my part.
Putting even that aside, the spell itself, the more complex it is, can be so exhausting that I risk passing out the more it demands. That's not such a problem if I have backup, really...
no subject
Date: 8/26/25 22:27 (UTC)Then start stockpiling. Take some time to build up a reliable set of spells and make sure you've always got them on hand.
[Even if it means Esikko needs to go into a few days of hibernation to set himself up. It's better than being caught off guard if someone runs into him. Since there it seems like the prince is a target for a bunch of assholes in the hotel. Bakugo doesn't like the idea of the prince spelunking around in the hotel's basement though.]
Can you do the ritual anywhere else? You said the basement's most conductive, but if it's not necessary, pick a better place.
[It's fucking ridiculous Esikko can do everything to set the spell in the chamber, but then when he goes to fire the damn thing, he STILL has to do a few more steps to actually launch it. Shitty process for magic in Bakugo's opinion.]
no subject
Date: 8/28/25 01:05 (UTC)Pre-loading spells?
Calculate the strain for each, gather a regular arsenal )
Mm... The basement makes it easier on my body. That is, the spiritual energy there is so potent that it doesn't have to draw as much from me when I cast something using support from it. The next best would be the gardens... but, you know, I was attacked there, too.
( If safety is the issue, he wonders if anywhere is safe anymore. He taps the back of his pen against his bottom lip. )
There's an effort and strain from preparing it, and another from use, but they're separate portions... I could think of ways to alter the spell paths to arrange for that. But— to be honest, I come up with most spells on the spot, here.
I once turned my blood to a paralyzing poison. That could be one, I suppose... ( He's writing this down too, his handwriting foreign but quickly translated by the mechanics of the resort. Still, it comes across as incredibly neat. ) What are some things that could get someone out of a situation where they're trapped? Help me brainstorm.
It may take time, to build up enough. A few weeks, perhaps... But then, if I reliably reset any I have to use... Ah, and, can't you just escort me to set some of them up? If all of them are outside of the basement, it could be difficult.
no subject
Date: 8/28/25 22:00 (UTC)Feels like you're fucking attacked anywhere. [Half a grumble to himself, half a commentary on Esikko's track record. If no place is safe, then he can go wherever the fuck he wants, because it won't matter. Hardly a silver lining. Another issue with the basement is the peacock has more sensitivity and "eyes" down there. Closer to sensitive areas.] Does your spell go down in effectiveness if it takes you longer to prepare it?
[Sure, it might require Esikko to spend two hours on a fireball "bullet" to lessen the burden on his body, but if he can do it in the relative safety of his room, instead of spending an hour in the dangerous underbelly of the basement, take the fucking extra hour. Not Bakugo's preference for himself, but in Esikko's case?]
Stop coming up with shit on the spot. Build a small arsenal of spells you can rely on and focus on improving them.
[One of his mentors had a similar lesson. Don't try to do everything at once. Pick one action, learn it until it becomes automatic, then add a second one. He's pushing the same idea to Esikko. Create a toolbox of spells he can logically use for any situation, then polish them, working on lessening his preparation time, lessening the casting cost, lessening the resources needed.]
Sensory deprivation. Smokescreens, poison clouds, paralyzing dust, numbing agents. You're good with plants, so use them as the basis for your spell effects. [Granted, these are helpful for situations Esikko can distract and escape from. Not if he's stuck in a room with no way out but a fight. Another topic altogether.]
I'm not your damn on-call bodyguard! [Ignoring the reality he just came when Esikko called. He cares, but he's not such a nice person (mostly *ahem*) to shackle himself so often. Esikko needs to be self-sufficient too.] Stay out of the basement and set your spells up in your room. Even if it takes longer, it's safer.
You attract bad attention; don't make it easier on those assholes.
no subject
Date: 8/29/25 05:51 (UTC)( He writes down each of Bakugo's little ideas, pausing only to tap the pen against his lip again, anxious. How many can he manage? He's never really tried this before. Once or twice, a few spells at once, maybe. )
I think I'll need to work up to it slowly. Two, to start. Then adding on a third after a week. Each time I add a new one, there's a risk for it overloading me to the point that my body can't handle it, you know, and I pass out, so...
( Especially if they're done from his room. But maybe? He's scribbling little diagrams, now, on the next page over, like he's trying to determine how many spells is the limit before it might be too much. Hard to say, when he's never tried it. )
If I reach that breaking point, I'd have to start over, but I'd be more informed, I suppose... So I should make a list, arrange them in terms of weight and strain, and also importance for escape, don't you think? Mm, and if I track my stamina and improvements with your training, then I can make a spot for my wellbeing while holding them...
no subject
Date: 8/30/25 03:21 (UTC)[Though now Esikko brings up the concept of his own loaded bullets putting pressure on his body while carrying them around. He's had red flag after red flag thrown in his face by life, circumstances, his own body, all pointing to the reality magic is NOT doing him any goddamn favors-- it doesn't sound like it's even good for him! --and Esikko doggedly pushes past all of them. Fucking stupid.]
You should've become a poison master instead.
[Grumbled under his breath as he turns in the chair and throws his legs over one arm, his own arms coming to rest behind his head in a mild posture of exasperation and getting comfortable. Some dreams too far out of reach no matter how hard someone tries.]
You'll add a third one after your body can safely handle two without overloading, breaking down, or getting tired. I didn't teach you a shoulder throw until after you could perform an arm lock easily, remember?
[No running until you can walk without problem. If Esikko wants his help, this is the kind of instruction he's going to get. Of course Bakugo doesn't always ascribe to the same teaching! But that's because his body can handle it. He didn't go for larger explosions until he could safely do smaller ones when he was learning how to use his Quirk.]
The hell do you mean start over? [If a gun breaks, that doesn't mean the bullets are suddenly useless!
... and if it does, Bakugo's quickly starting to view Esikko's world's magic as extremely inherently flawed. Maybe there's a good reason it was locked away and never practiced. It sucks?!]
no subject
Date: 8/30/25 06:02 (UTC)( So he started looking into more drastic things, secret things, explosive things no one would expect. Of course, he doesn't realize that Chobe has picked up on his need to speak magic words into the air and is going to cancel that out all the same, just from one observation, but...
He frowns to himself, genuinely frustrated. He just wants to be less useless. Sure, sure, he gets working to his own strengths, but what kind of strength is "can make a really mean poison potion" anyway? He taps his pen on the page a few times before writing out that he needs to stay steady at two before moving on. Annoying, but fair... )
I just mean that my body has trouble recovering if I push it too far. So I should move cautiously, like you said. Wait for it to become easy before I move on... ( He sighs, after a moment, sinking lower in his own seat, journal flopping against his face. )
And as I work at that, I suppose I'll just have to be extra cautious in going out. I'll alternate it, of course, and not bother you every day...
( Dabi some, Bakugo others, maybe Loki... It feels like just existing is becoming a weight on everyone around him, though, and he's starting to feel depressed about it. So, he shuts his journal, dropping it back on the table and rolling the pen right after it. )
That should be plenty to start with. Thanks for your help.
no subject
Date: 8/30/25 12:42 (UTC)Stop making excuses. Everyone has a weakness. Crush them. If you can't grab your poison, start incorporating it where you don't have to reach it.
[He didn't mean a master poisoner in crafting only. He meant assassination arts, secret applications, shit you see in fantasy films, ninja movies, and other action pieces where the weaker person uses other means to augment their lacking strength.
Even Bakugo's aware Esikko needs to speak his spells; figured that shit out the first time they fought together against the stupid painting. Anyone with half a brain can figure out Bakugo's Quirk comes from his hands, Dabi's Quirk burns him too, Scott's mutant power utilizes his eyes, blah blah fucking blah. It's up to all of them to work around those noticeable weaknesses and conquer them. Using your limitations as an excuse is pathetic.]
Tch. Everyone has to deal with their own damn stamina. [It's difficult to advise Esikko in this. He comes from a world where almost everyone has some kind of supernatural power. Plenty of them suck, but many of them are strong. They make do with what they have.] Don't look down on what skills you have.
If you're bothering me, I'll tell you. [But Esikko's right. Rotate. Bakugo will help him some days, Dabi others, more of his companions. As many enemies as he has, the prince has friends too. Ironically, Bakugo deals with the same annoyance of being a burden on people around him, fearing becoming so and doing everything he can to never find himself in such a position. Doesn't matter if he has to for his broken leg to move, he'd rather stab his femur through his thigh muscle walking out of the room than rely on someone's offered shoulder.
Doesn't mean he always gets or goes through with what he'd rather...]
In my country, a long time ago there were two groups of warriors. Samurai and ninja. Samurai used strong weapons like swords and spears. They rode horses, had strong bodies, could fight for hours. Ninja were weaker physically, so they used stealth attacks, poisons, hidden weapons, and trickery. Guess which one their enemies feared more.
no subject
Date: 8/31/25 05:00 (UTC)The opposite of people like Kirma, who would tell him he doesn't need to fight, that they could do it all for him. To strip him entirely of every ounce of autonomy he could have. Bakugo's words would rather empower him, push him, all while backing him up...
And he's not so blind as to ignore the occasional hypocrisy, of course. Bakugo is stubborn enough that Esikko can't help but feel that he doesn't know enough about him, his feelings, his internal struggles. That he can guess to many of them, based on what he's seen, but that getting the man to ever admit to any of it would be like pulling teeth. Is that a testament to their bond not being close enough, or is it more just that Bakugo tries too hard to be strong enough for everyone? He's beginning to realize it's the latter. And so he leans, after a moment, to put himself closer to Bakugo, subtle as it is, eyes trailing over the items laid out on the table. )
Maybe... the problem is that I've always been trying to view how to do these things alone.
( Quietly, thoughtfully, he's clearly in his own head, but it's a little more productive this time. Not self-deprecating, just reflecting. )
Stealth and trickery, is it? I'll try to focus entirely on my strengths, then, and not think about where I lack. ( Hard as it is. He's not sure he can stop, but he'll try. ) So, I'll rely on some of you to help fill in the gaps. That's fine, isn't it?
( He's still so quiet... But he turns his head, finally, glancing over. )
Perhaps one day I'll be able to fill a few gaps for someone else, too. ( He wants to be useful, more than anything. )
no subject
Date: 8/31/25 16:21 (UTC)Bakugo's never liked relying on other people. Sharing his victories or losses with others pisses him off. Being reliable doesn't mean being someone's crutch. He can help Esikko up, but what good is that if the man crumbles on his weak legs the second he lets go?
He's seen the kind of power the prince can wield, even if he knows so little about either form asides from Esikko's fear of them and the one's ridiculous attitude. Sucks neither can be utilized here.]
Aa. Don't forget what you lack, but don't focus so much on it you forget what you can do. [There's nothing wrong with working on your weaknesses. Fuck, you should be doing that most of the time. But neglecting your strengths in favor of the opposite only drags yourself down. Until even what you could do well becomes a disappointment.]
Hmph, why the hell wouldn't it be fine? [A hero's supposed to be reliable. Bakugo wants to be someone Esikko looks to and knows he'll get help each time. When he needs it. Heroes have to be able to work as a team, supporting each other, but also strong enough to stand alone against adversity. A tricky balance sometimes.]
You already do. [Esikko's given people tools and gifts both useful and pleasant. He has friends, people who can come to him. If he can't see his usefulness, he's fucking blind.
Bakugo clicks his tongue after a few more seconds under the prince's gaze. Che, sap... He sits up on the seat and grabs his drink again.]
You ever poisoned your nail polish?
[Back to brainstorming! Before he gets uncomfortable with the softer stuff.]
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: