futurology | MASS TEXT; USERNAME: HAWKEYE

MASS TEXT; USERNAME: HAWKEYE

[In the end, she opts for the efficiency of a brief written message. (The message functionality of the jewelry still amazes her from time to time, but she's becoming increasingly fond of how fast it makes communication with others.)]

My name is Riza Hawkeye. I'm a military officer from the nation of Amestris. [Vague credentials, for anyone that really needs them.] There are a lot of us here gathered from different places and times, with different skills and areas of knowledge. I've spoken with a few others and we've agreed it would be beneficial for all of us to have a database of skills to pull from, both for this mission and otherwise.

[Most likely 'otherwise'; she can't be the only one suspicious of ALASTAIR after what happened in Anwick.]

If you're willing to provide a brief listing of the skills you possess, magical [because that's a thing that exists, apparently??] or otherwise, it would be greatly appreciated. If you're uncomfortable using the communications device I'm also happy to meet with you in person.

[And if you're not willing that's cool too. Everyone's got their secrets.]

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[More information is good. Harry wants to help, even if he's now uneasy about his talents being used for uncomfortable means. They have to look out for each other and the people in this world, even if they don't want to look out for ALASTAIR's interests.]

I agree that it'll be beneficial. So, thank you for putting it together.

I have a wand that I use. I won't let anyone else see it. You see, I only just got it back in this shape. I don't think anyone else would like to see what would happen if they tried to use it. Along with that, I do have some knowledge in making potions and working with plants, but I don't know that I'll be able to get any of those ingredients here. They seem rather specific to my world. It's unfortunate, because some of those items can heal, or help you change form, or even cure poisons.

[That's fair enough. No point in getting the rest of them blown up over a bit of uncontrollable curiosity.]

Is your knowledge limited to those specific potions or would you be able to generalize what you know towards more standard medicinal uses?

As long as I have instructions, I should be able to put something together. I won't know it off the top of my head, though.

[He has enough training in potions that he understands what she's getting at, but he lacks the knowledge to be able to pull it off. Professor Snape would be better for that, he reckons, or even Hermione, but neither of them are here.

But with instructions (and a bit of savvy borrowed from Snape himself), he thinks that he could pull things off if the right instructions and ingredients were provided.]

[So many of their familiar resources aren't present. They'll all have to make do with what they have in the meantime.]

There's someone named Sieglinde Sullivan who has medicinal knowledge that might come in use should things turn violent. The two of you might be able to work together in that case.

Though it sounds from your description that you're better served in offensive tactics.

It's safe to say that that's true, but I was going to school to become something that would require the use of my potions making skills. I don't doubt that I would have to be prepared to use those after participating in offensive tactics. I'm prepared to handle both.

[He's also relieved that there would be someone able to help him. He doubts that he would always be fighting, anyway, and he can use his downtime to prepare medicines, as well.]

[Ah, excellent.]

Her name is Sieglinde Sullivan, if you want to get in contact with her. [Followed by an appended username, just to make things easier.]

You learned all these skills from school? That seems like a very varied curriculum.

I'll keep that in mind.

I went to a school for wizards. The curriculum is meant to be varied while we work out what our strengths are. I'd say it's a lot more focused on practical application than other schooling, and I did several years of that before I switched.

We end up writing a lot to make up for the bridge between the two, though. [This last bit is added on as a point of clarification more than anything.]

[Better practical than strictly only theory, at least in her opinion.]

What were your strengths, if you don't mind answering?

This won't be much of a surprise after what I've already told you, but I was one of the best at a course called "Defence Against the Dark Arts." What that means is that I'm able to practically apply my knowledge from the course against dark wizards and their magic, dark creatures, and, well, I'm a fairly good hand when it comes to a duel.

I even helped teach some of the core concepts when we had a poor professor in my fifth year of schooling.

[Now that is impressive.]

Dark wizards? Do you mean that they're evil?

Sometimes, yes, it's as simple as that. But I meant more that they use dark magic for gain. Of course, all magic can be dark if you use it that way, and even some 'darker' magic can be used in a way that isn't necessarily or traditionally 'bad' if it's by a specific hand.

I see.

[Sort of. Clearly she's still got a lot to learn in the realms of magic. Unfortunately, it's not really a good use of either of their time if she keeps trying to unravel this mystery now.]

I'll count on you as one of your magic experts. Harry, is it?

[Please let that be his name and not some weird alias...]

[There's a part of him that debates arguing about being called an "expert." Harry doesn't consider himself much of an expert on anything except DADA, but that's because he knows Hermione. Compared to many of the people here, he realizes that his experiences will be invaluable.

So, he restrains himself from thinking of those particular words.]

That's right. I didn't think to be creative with my name, I guess.

[She quite prefers the straight-forward names to nonsensical ones. Far easier to parse, in her opinion.]

I didn't realize we could only change our names once. [Not that she really regrets her decision.] Is that how these usually work?

To tell you the truth, I don't really know. Even though I'm used to magic, these kinds of communicators are new. We do have quills that will write for us, but they tend to take some creative license.

And they don't have names attached to them, not unless you ask them to.

[That's a long way of saying "I don't know."]

[Self-writing quills....that's even more bizarre that network jewelry. Ah well.]

It looks like we're all adjusting to the differences here. [Anyway.] I appreciate you replying, Harry. Did you have any questions for me?

Do you have any ideas about what's happening here? I wasn't sure where to begin in asking the people of the city, especially since I don't really know where I stand on it all.

[They've only just arrived, but she seems to have a keen mind if she's putting together a database like this. So, she might know exactly where their skills would be best used.]

Not very much past what little information we've been given so far, I'm afraid.

[Strategizing isn't exactly her forte, unfortunately; all she's good for is carrying out whatever orders have been issued to her.]

There are some people trying to investigate the source of the rumors. We should be able to put these skills to better use once we have more information.

Right, well, I hope we have more soon. I'm really hoping that none of it comes to fighting no matter what. I don't know that we'll be able to help if a war really does break out here.

My thoughts exactly. If I learn more, I'll let you know.

All right.

Thank you, Riza.

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