I wish to speak of magic.

[Loki lifts a hand and a ball of green light appears in his palm.]

Some consider it a science, others mere...trickery...

An illusion but naught else.

[He breathes on to the orb and it cracks; veins of light jagging across its surface, then a small dragon starts to emerge, as if hatching.]

It is hard to consider magic in a place such as this, that feels so sterile and dark. But, I think, there are many among us who come from places where the arcane is not so alien.

And we long for that...

For some mystical light, to illuminate the darkness.

[He lowers his hands and the little dragon hovers in place, flapping its glowing wings.]

To give us wonder, once more.

Who here knows about magic, and its practice? And to whom is it naught but a lie.

[He frowns and waves his fingers through the dragon, causing it to dissolve.]

Miles, I already know your answer, so you need not respond.

((ooc: People who admit to knowing/using magic will go on Loki's "stalker list", just in case that is something you'd like to avoid.))

[ Why hello there, Tranquility. Starting off on the video feed, as the picture forms, is the redheaded, pyrotechnically-inclined Wildling, otherwise known as Ygritte. She's standing before Jon Snow's bed, upon which several medieval-looking weapons are strewn over the soft comforter.

Normally she'd be smiling, having been kept in a very good mood since the end of last month, but not so now—not after what she's recently seen, and heard that others have seen, in the depths of the ship. Her features are stern, lips pressed together firmly as she nods into the camera. Today, she is all business. ]


Space training's all well and good, don't take me th' wrong way.

But 'fter what we've seen—and I think many of you've seen things that y' normally wouldn't, in the last coupl'a weeks here, not just myself—I think it's time we had some other kind 'f training.

[ She holds this up, to show to the camera. ] This is a dagger. Carved m'self, entirely from ox bone. Meant for close-handed combat, not t' be used as anything but a last resort, if your enemy sneaks up on you. Pref'rably, y'want something with serrated edges such as this, t'do the bulk of the cutting—the edges will make sure that y'get tearing through the skin and sinew. Even if it's not steel and can't cut through bone, you can still give your enemy a fatal strike 'f you aim for his entrails. Kills 'em nice and slow.

[ She sets it down, and picks up another weapon lying nearby. ] This is an axe. Not just any ol' kind 'f axe, neither—this is a battle-axe. [ She grabs the haft, the handle of it, and swings it in the air to demonstrate. ] Arm-length, 'though they can be longer, but arm-length is good for throwin' too if need be. Some o' my clansmen wield one in each hand, for fightin'. Steel bit makes the blade lighter, easier t' swing—but we don't got much steel north o' the Wall, so many times we use wrought iron, which's heavier—but if y'swing good and true, it'll land a heavy blow. Can crack 'n undefended skull, easy.

An' lastly, the weapon you should be starting with, for longer-range—the shortbow. Mine's made o' weirwood, the trees most found o'er the Wall, and in the godswood o' Winterfell, I hear. [ A slight smirk, just a quirking upwards of her lips, before she schools her face seriously once more. ]

[ She notches a grey goosefeather-fletched arrow in it, drawing back the string to demonstrate. ] Only three feet long, rawhide string. Smaller size is common for us spearwives, since we tend t' be a bit shorter than the menfolk; but it's also easier t' maneuver around with, during a hunt, when y'need t' be light on your feet.

[ There's a quick thwap sound, as she looses the arrow and it sings through the air, landing hard in the wall on the far side of the room. ] Shoots fast an' hard, for a small bow.

[ Setting it down again on the bed, she addresses the video feed once more. ] If anyone'd like t' do some one-on-one training with any o' these, I'd be happy t' show you how it's done. [ She cracks a smile. ] Shit, bring your own weapon and we can practice in that ...indoor trainin' field, whatever 's called.

But I think it's important we learn t' defend ourselves, now...all 'f us. That goes for th' younger Starks, 's well. Any babe who's no longer on his mother's teat should be learnin' this.



[ ...because what is decorum, Ygritte. :/ ]

[ Well, if it isn't one Stannis Baratheon who looks rather... unimpressed. Of course, this is hardly much of a change, but at least it would appear that in the last two months, he has managed to master some manner of control over the communications device. He looks directly at the feed, blue eyes filled with judgement. ]

I have delayed some matters for far too long.

[ yet, perhaps he had done so because he loathed this device so much. ]

Firstly, I would join the "security" division aboard this vessel. If this is to endure for much longer [ and his faith in Melisandre may not be as great here as it was in Westeros ] I would wish to do as much as is possible.

[ while he has attended Nathan Petrelli's meeting, he cannot help but feel that it is his duty to do as much as he can (perhaps in hopes of returning more swiftly to Westeros). ]

Secondly, I would visit these oxygen gardens in more depth. [ Accompanied by a specific individual, namely Jon Snow might be oddly somehow implied ] Should others have information on such from their own visits, I would hear it.

[ And this is where it gets difficult. Though he has developed some manner of proficiency, one important skill still seems to evade him. Still, this was not something that he wanted Ser Davos to see, and he did not particularly understand filters.

And so that left him only one (regrettable) option...

T E X T ]

FINALLY, I WOULD KNOW HOW ONE IS TO CONVINCE ANOTHER THAT NO HARM SHOULD COME TO HIS PERSON FROM A THIRD INDIVIDUAL. [ that was not convoluted at all ]HE COMES FROM FAR BEFORE THIS INDIVIDUAL AND I AND BELIEVES HER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MANNER OF ILL DEEDS. WHILE HE LISTENS TO REASON ON EVERY OTHER OCCASION, ON THIS MATTER HE WILL NOT BEND.

[ much like... someone else on nearly every occasion. ]

THAT WILL BE ALL.

[ The Others take this "text" function. ]

[hmm. after much fiddling and a crash course on how to video, davos finally gets the screen working, although he'd had to prop it on a table because holding it with his hands is a little bit of a difficulty. off-screen, he clears his throat for a bit, and then he appears, a rather-rough looking (old) man whose face speaks of a general distrust of technology who has no other choice than to reacquaint himself with something unfamiliar, again.]

I've listened to conversations around, and it is in my knowledge that for some of the occupants of this ... ship [he actually feels uncomfortable having to say that], this isn't the first, or second time, that such an event has happened - where a man or a woman has been thrown out of their present circumstances and into this place as either a reprieve, or a curse.

If there can be an assurance made that time stops when a man is thrown into this place, far away from whatever land or world he hails from, I would be willing to listen to them. [a pause.] I'll have to ask to make your replies not in text. I don't expect anyone to comply to that request, but if you could be so kind, please do not.

That being said, there are others who are from the same land, and perhaps time, as I was. [a pause.] I am not one to ponder on the specific manipulations of time and space, I've no knowledge there. But if the name of Westeros means something personal to you, I humbly request a meeting. Not on behalf of any King, as all of us are poor on that respect - and perhaps so much the better, but that is yet to be seen. Only of myself.

[a much longer pause. he ain't a smuggler for nothing.] Information is never freely given unless one asks for reward, and even beggars in that respect don't rely on the kindness of others. I have none to offer in return, unless specific concerns regarding the state of Westeros as I left it are raised - that, I can answer, in exchange for answers as well. The value of both, of course, can be determined later.

That is all. Thank you for understanding.

[end feed.]

ooc; will be slow