Could you hand me a carton of eggs? If you wouldn’t mind helping me out without using your hands Who: Magius and Meetra Where: grocery store What: a meeting and a friendship born When: Recently! Warnings/Rating: PG Status complete
Magius was unsure how to feel about this. He had woken a week of days in a row, each day remembering new things. And new magics. He shivered with the feel of it, the scent of it. He could sense magic now, all around him. The way it existed, the way it worked. His special talent had not awoken, but he knew i would, in time. To sense power sources of various kinds and use them to power his magic.
Thinking about it was very mind-bending. He had started writing down the spells he knew, writing them down with notes and ideas about them. He had filled four large hardback books of notes and spells already.
Today, he was out at the grocery store, trying to refill stocks that had grown too low.
Thinking no one was looking, Meetra waved her hand, floating a bag of potatoes into her cart. It was followed by some scallops, and a few other things. She wanted to make Roland a roast. She wasn’t the best cook. She was in fact terrible. But if she followed a recipe, what could go wrong?
Magius had glanced around the corner of one stand at exactly that moment and blinked, then smiled. He let his cart make noise as he rounded the aisle and hmm. “Ah, excuse me. By any chance would you be able to help me with something, madame?” His voice was polite and his smile was warm.
She glanced at him, nearly dropping a carton of eggs, but catching it with inhuman reflexes. “Ah... What would that be?”
He observed that and then nodded. “Could you hand me a carton of eggs?” Some ten feet separate them and his eyes were earnest as he looked at her. And then he spoke softly. “If you wouldn’t mind helping me out without using your hands, that is.”
Meetra sighed, and shook her head. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to. My mouth isn’t big enough to fit around the carton.” She gave him a wink.
Magius smiled and arched an eyebrow, then whispered a word that slid away from memory as fast as it was said., And then, a small pack of eggs lifted, trembled, and sank again. Magius sighed.
“So much for an awe-inspiring performance.”
She tilted her head, and without another word, waved the eggs over. “You’re no jedi, sir.”
He caught them and then nodded. “A wizard, or so the dreams would have me believe, but I have just been starting dreaming. So./.. unreliable powers.” He shrugged. “IN this life, I am a doctor.”
He smiled at her. “Are you a Jedi?”
“I am.” She nodded at him. “A space wizard, if you want to get technical.” She’d come to accept herself a long time ago, and if he was willing to discuss it, so was she.
Magius nodded, smiling a little. “I am utterly new to this, but I’ve lived in these parts for years and treated a number of Dreamers. I am used to the weirdness. I just never... expected it to actually affect me. I suppose that was arrogance.”
“It was a shock to me, at first. But over time, one learns to accept it, or to simply...ignore it.” She wasn’t one to ignore it.
“Aye. I’ll never ignore it. Too many people need help. I will not let them go without aid because something is uncomfortable. “ Magius spoke softly, and utterly certainly.
“You’re a good man. I can sense it in you.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I was reluctant to show off at first.”
“I’m not good. I’m okay. Just a man. And a doctor.” He smiled lopsidedly at her. “Thank you, though, and no worries. You had no way of knowing I wasn’t some psycho. I’m sorry for my clumsy manner of approaching you.”
“I can handle a psycho, but not everyone can handle seeing every day magic,” she pointed out. “Or the Force, as it were.”
Magius nodded. “Very true. Far more can in this area, after everything that has happened. Up until recently, I had not Dreamed, but I have been exposed, countless times, to those who Dream, and to the effects of things crossing over from the dreams.” His face went darker, and his eyes went distant. “LIke in the recent war.”
“I sensed a great disturbance recently,” Meetra said, tilting her head. “But war?”
Magius nodded, his face grim. “A wave of noxious monsters and creatures came through from the dreams. What can only be called a pitched battle, or atrue war, was waged for four days. It was... unpleasant.”
“And I missed that?” Meetra feigned disappointment. “I could have been useful. Damn.”
Magius’ lips twisted. “No offense, but I am glad you did. I would not wish that few days on anyone, no matter if I hated or loved them.” ANd he nodded, sure of that.
“I’ve probably lived worse,” Meetra said, wryly, thinking of the war against the Mandalorians, and the aftermath of the Jedi Purge. “And anywhere I can help, I want to, no matter how terrible it might be.”
Magius smiled. “I felt much the same. You would have been a welcome addition, I imagine, to the mess.”
He waved a hand around. “But it seems life has returned to the odd normal of this area. And now I am a dreamer.”
“At least you can understand the people who share their dreams with you a little better?” She smiled at him. “I know it helped me.”
“Very true. I imagine this will help me be a better doctor as well.” Magius straightened and nodded to her., “Doctor Magius, at your service, madame.”
“Meetra Surik,” she replied. She held out her hand. She figured that unless he followed world class fencing closely, he’d never heard of her.
And his smile widened. Because, well, swords were a passion. And so, then, followed fencing. “Truly? I am a fan, madame. I fear I’ve never actually seen your face, just your mask and your fencing. You are.. wow.”
Meetra looked surprised. “I never expected anyone to recognize my name. Fencing is obscure, even in the Olympics.”
“I am a sword maker and swordfighter as a hobby. While that and fencing are not the same, they are close enough that my interest has always been piqued. It is a delight to meet the face behind the mask, madame.” And he bowed to her.
“A real pleasure to meet someone who’s a fan.” Meetra seemed delighted at the prospect. “What kind of swords do you make?”
“All sorts, or eventually, all sorts.” He smiled as he checked out some vegetables and put a few in a bag. “I started out with basic shorts swords, and moved on. So far, I’ve madee long swords, bastard swords, basic curved rapiers, foils, and several more exotic ones, like a replica of Conan’s sword from his movie for a collector, and a zweihander most recently.” He chuckled. “It’s in the back of my car if you would like to see it. I have to open the hatchback anyway to load the groceries.”
“I wouldn’t mind, it’s probably on the way to my car. I’m cooking for my fiance and hoping I don’t poison him.”
“I did manage to snag a close by spot, luckily. So likely, yes.” Magius nodded as he consulted his list then glanced at her. “Are you new to cooking?”
“I’m terrible at cooking. I’ve burned water and ruined stew.” She smiled at him.
“I’m sorry. Have you considered getting lessons?” He eyed her worriedly. He hoped she could learn. She seemed a nice woman.
“I was kicked out after the first week,” she joked, with a laugh.
Magius laughed and winced. “Perhaps you need a new mentor. I am sure there might be someone on the Valarnet who could help.”
“Perhaps I’ll ask.” She moved to check out. “Now, you have swords to show me, don’t you? I do love to see a man’s sword.”
“I do.” Then he choked and laughed. “NOw those are words fit to make a man show his sword in it’s best light. “ He smirked as he paid for his groceries. Friendly banter. Nice.