voice; username: h. wells

[hsalf]

Hello...hm - fellow victims. Not sure what we call ourselves. Teammates? Comrades? ALASTAIR-ains? Considering we've all been ripped from the homes we know, victim perhaps is apt enough until I begin learning names.

[Ok but that's not what this is all about, so moving on:]

I want to pose some questions regarding the powers many people here seem to have. Both of a magic and genetic variety. I'm a physicist who studies the latter back home, from the angle of how environment can effect the spread of genetic mutation that brings people to have special abilities. The phenomenon is a relatively new one back where I came from, so it's still a topic of curiosity for me.

I'm not as well-versed in magical concepts, but from my standpoint they seem to be akin to miracles - powers that warp reality, even in small ways. And not everyone is predisposed to using them. Many of these sorcerers and witches are among the most powerful beings alive.

[He pauses for a moment, the message stopping as he thinks on his idea before continuing to transmit it through the jewel.]

It's nothing you need to get deep about if you don't prefer to - I just want to know what powers you have and what you use them for. Be it back home, or here, since I imagine the use would be far different given our circumstance.

If you're not keen about talking on your abilities, I'm equally curious about the perception of abilities in different world environments. Are they accepted or reviled? Is it everyday or miraculous? Back in my home, most people are still reluctant to believe. Those who do...well, there are both heroes and villains who use abilities for their own means.

[There's another pause, shorter, and then he softly laughs before going on.]

The multiverse is a vast realm of infinite possibilities. I like to learn as many of those possibilities as possible, if people wish to indulge me. Curiosity is a vicious bug.

Comments

[mightymax]

[Careless might as well be her middle name, and she'd agree if he called her out on it. As it is, she just remains silent, confirming his suspicions.]

. . . Yeah. But don't worry. I'm definitely not using it.

[How can she, knowing what it could do? She'd only used it briefly, trying to help the stragglers out of jail--avoid getting caught.

Just enough to know it still works . . .]

[hsalf]

That's good.

[Because for as great a power it is, it's such a risky thing too. In the hands of an ordinary person, the results could be catastrophic.]

Time is a fickle and dangerous thing to tamper with. It's the stitching of the universe and breaking it apart and trying to remake it - it would still be damaged even if it doesn't seem like it. Does that make sense?

[mightymax]

I think so.

[She'd be lying if she said yes.]

It's all so out of my league, but . . . then why did I get those powers in the first place? I had to do something.

[She couldn't let Chloe die.]

[hsalf]

I couldn't tell you why you got them. You don't make it sound like this is a normal occurrence for your world. [He lets out a soft breath, understanding her plight.] Whether or not there is a reason for it...my opinion often tilts on this if I can be honest.

Regardless of that, changing time is a dangerous thing. Even small things can cause big changes through after-effects. I'm sorry you have to be saddled with such a...burden of a power.

[Even if he would gladly take it off her hands.]

[mightymax]

[A burden is a good word for it. She never wanted to think of her powers that way, especially when they helped her so much, but the cost was too high. She's starting to get that now.]

I always said that I have no idea how long these powers will last. Maybe once I fulfill whatever purpose I got it for, they'll go away.

[hsalf]

Maybe so. [But he doubts it.] Until that time may or may not come, I urge careful diligence if you choose to use them. And don't change anything critical. Small ripples of changes are often forgiven. Larger ones could be extremely dangerous to everyone around you.

[mightymax]

I'll keep that in mind.

[She doesn't know what else she can say to that. She doesn't want to make any promises.

Looking over his username . . .]

You're . . . "Wells"?