fandomhigh | Magick on the Fly - Thursday, 5/21

As her students walked in, Abby Irene made a point of plopping her rather heavy blue carpet bag on her desk.

"This," she told them, "is my kit bag. It has all of my tools, quite a few different packets of ingredients for certain spells, and a number of other things which I need for my trade. I bring this wherever I go, including here as I'm sure some of you have noticed, and there isn't a time I can think of when I am without it in a professional capacity."

She stepped in front of it and leaned on the desk.

"But situations don't always present themselves when one is prepared and sometimes it has been necessary to do spellwork with the very minimum of materials. The items I'll be using for those which I generaly use for a working, but I should hope that with some thought, you should be able to apply the same principles to your own methods."

She pulled up a pair of tealights.

"Candles. They don't have to be anything special and they'll fit in almost any bag or pocket; they're also sold at most stores here, from what I've seen."

A notebook.

"This will provide three things: it will allow us to make or draw any sigils needed for the spell working, a folded sheet like so" and she held up a little folded fan "makes up a representative of air that works just as well as incense, and" she smiled "it's good to record your findings or notes in."

Next she held up a lighter.

"Other than lighting your path, it can stand for fire, light the candles, and act as a quick focus if you need it by giving you a flame to stare into."

Now, a cup of water.

"The chalice isn't nearly as important as the element itself and, once you've snuffed the flames out, it's good to douse things if you want to make sure they're out.

A salt shaker.

"Good for protective circles, charging water, acting as an earth representation if you prefer minerals, and more than a few supernatural creatures can't stand it.

And finally, a cigarette.

"If you really need the smell of smoke, a lit and burning cigarette can work as incense. The tobacco, a plant, can function as the earth focus on your altar."

She smiled at her class.

"And it's a good way of calming your nerves in a bad situation but I didn't say that."

Abigail Irene looked around the room.

"Now, I'd like each of you to come up with some small, easy-to-find items that could work as substitutes for things in whatever system you use. Take your time and feel free to ask questions.

[ocd up!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Both," Jack said, pulling out a new (to him, anyhow) Swiss army knife in a black casing and unclipping his watch from its chain. "The inside of my watch's case is reflective -- would that glimmer enough?"

She smiled.

"The knife would be best, and would function to direct energy as well. If you're the type to be practical, there's also usually a need to cut things that comes up at the worst times. Knives and swords are considered aligned with flame, however, and can be used as such."

"Because of how the metal is forged," Jack said, in the tone of one who should have guessed as much but hadn't. "And I'm practical enough to find the knife useful for its own merits as well." He neatly added knife to his list.

He tilted his chin up. "May I ask you something unrelated while I have you, Professor Garrett?"

"As well as how it's used. Blades are generally kept to heated activities: battle, murder..." she gave him a wry smile.

"Moving right along, however. Yes?"

"Cutting open packages?" Jack suggested, with a raised eyebrow, before continuing. He took her meaning; he just couldn't stop himself. "But thank you for the guidance."

"I was curious if you've had any problems getting or sending letters from home? A girl in my cabin thought travel through time might be a tall order for the post office, and they don't have a place to send a cable that I've found."

Jack hadn't had word from home yet; he wasn't exactly worried, but it was becoming a frustration.

It was certainly the last thing she felt like discussing, but she wouldn't leave him troubled just because she was having relationship troubles with her superior. That was, in fact, a terrible reason to do just about anything.

"I've had no troubles sending or receiving mail here," she had to admit.

"Though Mary, my maid, would know the exacts better than I would. Is there something you'd care to have sent back to the colonies?"

Jack shook his head, relieved for the moment. Sebastien could be bloody slow in answering correspondence when he was trying to make a point, or thought neglect was for the best. No doubt Jack's letters were in some pile of mail to be dealt with later.

"I haven't been here so very long," he answered. "If there's no word from home by next week, though, I may ask you to trouble your maid."

"Certainly. Though I doubt it would be very much trouble. Mary is rather hard to ruffle, if you hadn't guessed."

"I would imagine that goes with being in the employ of someone in your line for work," Jack noted. "I do appreciate the offer."

"That as well," she said with a faint smirk.

"But the offer is certainly the least courtesy I could show. I really should insist on having you for dinner but I don't host much. If you do need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask, in class or at my office if it's a private matter."

Jack appreciated the offer, even if he wasn't about to confide in a servant of the crown about his private matters.

"I will keep that in mind," he assured her, smiling. "I'm sure I'll find some other favor to beg eventually."

It was amazing, their canon selves might have noted, how much better they got along when they weren't playing romantic rivals.

Edited 2009-05-21 16:51 (UTC)

Their canon selves might have also noted that Sebastien was a bit of an absent minded vampire about doing introductions.

"I have no doubt," she replied dryly, amused but still curious.

Then she nodded and went about to check on one of the other students.

Magick on the Fly - Thursday, 5/21 - Period Four

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar

Re: Design your 3 Minute Altar