11832/Meanwhile, back at the manor

Meanwhile, back at the manor
Date of Scene:	30 June 2022
Location:	Shadowcrest Manor - Bristol Township
Synopsis:	Angelo learns that blood is power is ichor is magic is blood.
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Achilles

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Zatanna Zatara has posed:
In the inter-dimensional reality that is Shadowcrest, the park around the grand mansion, reminiscent of the great estate parks in England and France, has a large forest. It, of course, is not accessible to most people or is even visible on any New Jersey maps and yet, a person could wander for hours before reaching its borders.

In its heart is a glade under the shadow of a tall oak. It is high summer there now, cicadas shrill and light dapples the perfect lawn under its great branches. At night the stars adorn it like diamonds. Of course, it is magic.

Under its cool shade, the present owner of the estate has spread a blanket on which a picnic basket stands next to a chilling bottle of her guest's favorite mead. No stage clothes for Zatanna, shhh, it's a secret that she doesn't always wear fishnet stockings, high heels and a top hat. Instead, she wears a sleeveless shirt in cool linen and matching pants in a color that makes her eyes as blue as the summer sky at sunset. Beside her a portal shimmers open, awaiting her guest.

Achilles has posed:
    "Sorry for the delay." says Angelo as he walks through. "I had to have what you might call... elective surgery earlier." He reaches a hand to his chest and shakes his head. "Seriously, everyone assumes undying means it doesn't hurt. Let me tell you, a bullet -in- the lung is not exactly a pleasant experience."

    He is also dressed down a bit. A simple white buttondown shirt over khaki slacks. A pair of well worn comfortable loafers on his feet top it all off and the black leather loafers match the black leather belt he wears. "The surgeons were all worried about consent and waivers." He rolls his eyes and sets down the pan of baclava as he crouches. He grins then and adds, "Hiya beautiful. Hope I didn't keep you waiting -too- long."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zee's eyebrows knit at the words 'elective surgery'. She has no illusions about the dangers of his work, nor is she inclined to over-mother the people she cares for. Blood does not make her faint.

"Well, that sounds decidedly unpleasant. Why would people assume it doesn't hurt? If there are immortals that don't feel pain, they are likely demons. Good to know, you aren't. Did they get it out?"

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding slowly, Angelo shrugs his shoulders, "Eventually. Once they accepted the idea that I knew what I was talking about, and that cutting me open wasn't going to -kill- me... yes they cut it out. Makes breathing a bit easier too. Thank the gods."

    He inclines his head a bit and asks, "So, that got me wondering. If I can use part of the power that suffuses me for magical effects, weakening my body's ability to heal itself to do so, would I be able to call upon existing power in the aether or perhaps gathered at nodal points to -increase- my healing and toughness?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna's answer is not immediate, she stares into the shifting light, considering how to answer. "Magic calls magic," she says, simply with a tilt of her head, her sapphire eyes fixed on him. "How do you call your weapons, Angelo? I think the answer will lie for you there. Have you ever handed one of your weapons to someone else to use? Would they be as powerful?"

Achilles has posed:
    Inclining his head, Angelo smirks a bit. "Well magic calls magic huh?" he asks. He steps a half pace back and lift his hand. With the right flex of muscle and mind combined, a spear is there in his grip. The magic on it is palpable. "I form my hand into the right grip for the weapon. And the way Hephaestus explained it to me... the combination of flexing the muscles in the way that is only done when gripping the chosen weapon will summon said weapon. But it may be an exercise of will, because I have had other items in my hands, held the same way and not summoned them."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Shaping reality. I use spells to do that. My connection is with the elements," she sits straighter, gripping her ankles to pull them closer as she studies the man and the weapon. In a graceful gliding movement, she stands and puts out a hand to take the spear.

"Does it help the user? Or would I have to learn to use it? If I could throw it, would it have the same affect on the target as when you do? More to the point," she holds up a finger. "Does it affect demons or the undead, for example?"

Achilles has posed:
    "It is a spear. A bit heavier in the point than most others. I am used to that though." offers Angelo. He releases the weapon, and its weight rests easily in the magician's hands. It's not -heavy-. It's just balanced a bit different than most pointy sticks.

    "And the material is that of the weapons of the gods themselves. Hephaestus forged the weapons that are used by all of the gods with the sole exception of Zeus. His thunderbolt was made by the Cyclopes serving Poseidon. But my weapons are imbued with the same aura of power as those of Ares, Athena, Apollo. Just not with their raw level of power."

    A smile and he shrugs, "They seem to function as a universal vulnerability. If a target -is- vulnerable to a certain material, than my weapons seem to affect the enemy as if they -were- that material. It's been handy when fighting vampires, werewolves and the like."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Balancing the spear, Zatanna hefts it experimentally after turning away from him. "I could practice but I could also guide it with magic. I generally do that with things made by my hand. I've never thrown a spear."

She lifts it in the position she imagines is correct throwing form and looks a question at him. "I could set up a target if you like? I'm really interested in seeing its affect on vampires and the undead though. I can compensate for what I don't know about fighting with magic. I received a lot of training with the Justice League," her off shoulder rises in a self-deprecating shrug.

Achilles has posed:
    Smiling a bit, Angelo shrugs, "It does not compensate for a lack of skill, but I imagine that you could propel it with magic." A pause and he adds, "You must also understand that I have had literally time without end to improve my skills with these weapons. A spear is actually the -easiest- for a new warrior to learn. It has the benefit of keeping the enemy at distance while putting your blade closer to them than to yourself. So forget throwing... let me show you how to use it in close combat first. And -then- you can consider throwing away a perfectly good weapon."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Grinning at him, Zee brushes back the hair the breeze has blown into her face. "A novice mistake, right? Why throw away what can protect you and keep your enemy at bay? Did I learn that from the movies?"

She looks doubtfully at him, "Without a shield, I imagine, at first."

Achilles has posed:
    "Indeed. First learn to use the spear. Then you can learn to use it in one hand. But for now, two... I think it is just a touch heavy for you to use one handed. But.. you could be stronger than you appear." Angelo grins, "Another lesson I learned early on. Do not trust the eyes to measure the strength of a person. Sometimes will is more powerful than muscle."

    And he steps around, studying Zatanna's posture. "Lead leg out just a bit more.. bend the knee, but not too far. Okay... rear leg out a bit more to the side to widen the stance. The goal is to be a stable platform. To make sure the enemy cannot simply push and knock you over. And -then- you must decide... your strongest hand should be in the rear.. to propel the spear. The off hand used simply to guide it."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Biting her bottom lip in concentration, the magician changes her hands on the spear and widens her stance, nodding at his instruction. She glances down at herself to check her feet, her clothing and hair ruffling lightly in the breeze. The weight of it is not natural to her though she senses it is well-balanced; she lifts it up and down keeping it more or less parallel to the ground, then backward and forward as though threatening an adversary.

"You make it look so easy. I don't want to injure any trees so I will fight the air."

Achilles has posed:
    Chuckling, Angelo shakes his head, "You might be amazed at how -easy- the spear is to use. I mean mastering all the tricks is an entirely different thing. Such as angling it, twisting it.. using it to pull a shield aside and then getting it back on target before the enemy can recover..."

    "But for now, the simple thrust is what you need to know. Everything else comes from that. Step one, the thrust. Step two, the side to side clearing attack." A pause and he looks back Zatanna's way, "Can you like... abracadabra up some target dummies?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I thought you'd never ask," she replies, with a distinctly unwarrior like lift of her shoulder and a grin.

Lowering the spear, she looks to the side of the clearing and murmurs a few words under her breath.

A large straw target, rectangular in shape, held up by a sturdy wooden frame appears about ten yards from them, then another one, placed further afield.

Zatanna regards Angelo, "Does that work? One for close up work and the other for throwing?"

Achilles has posed:
    "I must admit, I expected some sort of illusionary Trojan, complete with blood sprays." says Angelo, deadpan. After a second or so, he just laughs and shakes his head, "I'm kidding. That's perfect. Now... how about I demonstrate the beginner's routine?" he asks as he holds a hand out. The odd thing is, normally, he could just will the weapon back into the bracer, even from the hands of another, and then will it back into his hand. But... that'd be rude here.

    So he just smiles and lifts his brows, "Unless you want to show me what you think I am going to demonstrate before I have a chance to?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna knows a set up when she hears it and shakes her head, one side of her mouth crooked humorously. "No, you can show me first." She nods at the target and gestures with the spear, "Please, you first." Then, steps the spear at her side in a parody of a tired soldier, waiting their turn at practice.

Achilles has posed:
    Laughing, Angelo reaches for the spear Zatanna is holding, "I only have one spear beautiful." he says. "So let me use it, and then you get to." And then taking control of the weapon, he steps a few paces away and casually spins it in a slow twirl. As if once again feeling its balance. Something of a ritual he does every time he whips the thing out.

    And then he lowers it to waist level and reaches his left hand out to grip it in the middle, his right sliding down near the back end. The thing is nearly seven feet long, and so therein lies the reach.

    He steps forward to the target dummy and at first, he executes his maneuver at full speed to show how it should look. He snaps the spear into a combat grip and lunges, plunging the tip into the target and out its back.

    Then he recovers and does it again in slow motion. The actual strike starting with a push of his foot and calf of the rear foot onto the ground, the muscles tightening in both legs, and then the hips, and then the rotation of his back and shoulders to use the entire body's strength to thrust that spear in a straight stab. All of the body's strength focused on that razor sharp tip as it stabs into the dummy.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna lifts her chin to look at him from under her eyelashes and subtilely straightens her shoulders at the word. They are new enough to one another that his compliments contrast with their previous friendly banter. She smiles at the practiced whirl of the spear, seeing in it a lifetime of familiarity with the weapon.

She admits to herself, only the faintest smile showing, that he is pleasant to look at, in the extreme. Then, conscientiously studies his form, miming the slower thrust. Admiration shows clearly as he demonstrates at full speed, the force surprising her when the spear passes through the target.

Nodding slowly, eyebrows lifted, "I believe your opponent is dead. This will take practice. But the point is can you arm others with spears or can you only produce the one?"

Achilles has posed:
    "Only the one. The bracers do not -fabricate- weapons so much as deploy ones stored within. So if you are using my spear... I will be using the bow or the sword." says Angelo as he holds the spear out. "And now you. I do not wish for you to get frustrated. Even the simplest thrust can take days to weeks to learn fully."

    And when the spear -is- taken, he summons his sword and steps back to get out of the way. "One key is to find your center of balance with the weapon. Your lead hand should be holding it at its center. Not distance but weight. Get a feel for where that is, so that when you thrust it, it is almost like you have no weight in your hands at all."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
After a nod, she takes the spear and self-consciously copies his pose, the spear not quite perpendicular to the ground, the tip wavers, the length awkward, and with an effort she rights it. Right-handed like he is, she places it to the back of the shaft and her left to the front, then gives the target a ferocious look and thrusts. It pierces the canvas cover and penetrates about half of the straw, not deep enough to remain in place if she were to let it go.

Laughing, she gives him a wry glance, "I didn't use magic. Obviously."

Achilles has posed:
    "Well, you should take the time to master a weapon without using magic. One never knows if your magic will -always- be at your fingertips. I would hate for you to be caught totally off guard if someone managed to nullify your magic." says Angelo.

    "A skill with a mundane weapon could absolutely add to your ability to survive."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Soberly, Zatanna nods in agreement, "It was something they insisted on in the Justice League. Still do, in fact. It's good for me not to rely on it all the time. There are ways to steal another's magic," the last words said with an inward look as she perhaps replays a memory.

"I will practice. I can't think of a better coach. I'm fortunate to have someone with your skill. But," she lowers the spear and fixes him with a meaningful look, "The point is for you to reach into your magic in ways you never have. So, am I right, you can only produce one spear and no more?"

Achilles has posed:
    "Correct. And.. I don't produce the spear. The spear is just contained within the bracer until I call it forth. Think of it as a tiny weapon quiver." offers Angelo as he slowly weaves his Xiphos sword through a couple of small routines, almost like he isn't even thinking as he does it. It is his version of fidgeting. In fact, his eyes are not even looking that way. He stares off into space as he tries to think of what Zatanna is getting at. "I do wonder if I might be able to use the power within to duplicate my weapons."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
In turn, Zatanna considers what he says, watching him chew on her words. She can only be a guide and when he wonders aloud, she nods, "Exactly. Are the weapons there in miniature or is the power there? And is it limited like a cannon loaded waiting to be fired or are the weapons drawn from the power inherent in you? Not that it is limitless." She pauses. "Do you ever feel tired from producing the weapons in quick succession?"

Achilles has posed:
    "I think they are miniaturized but..." Angelo inclines his head, "I have never run out of arrows. So there must be a fabrication component to -some- degree." He pauses and looks at his wrists, "I never even considered that before. Huh. Hephaestus, you tricky wanker you." he adds with a smirk as he looks down at the ground. Not the usual place folks turn their eyes when trying to speak -towards- a god. But.. god of Volcanoes and such. Right?

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna chuckles at his realization. "There we have it. What I thought might be the case. You -can- fabricate the arrows. Wouldn't Hephaestus have given you the power and not just tiny weapons."

She makes a frustrated gesture at herself, "What would stop you from making another spear, Angelo?"

Achilles has posed:
    "I honestly do not know what would stop me. It was just... that is how it was made to work. So I assumed that was how it would always work." admits Angelo as he reaches one hand to rub the muscle of the other forearm. "As far as I know, -I- do not fabricate anything. But we can work on figuring that out potentially." he suggests.

    Moving over to sit down nearby, he looks off into space and just sort of lets his mind wander a bit.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna reaches into the basket and pulls out two cups, glancing at him as he stares out into space. She hasn't known Angelo long, but has never seen him so thoughtful - almost moody. How not? The discovery of his magic challenges so many of his long-kept versions of himself.

The bottle of chilled mead glugs softly as she pours. Without a word she serves them both, followed by a bowl of ripe strawberries, soft Greek cheese and flat bread. An odd combination that she knows they both like. She waits, intuiting that he would speak when he had sorted his ideas out.

Achilles has posed:
    It's not moody. Angelo is just thinking back over many years, many experiences, and trying to see if there was ever a hint of something that might indicate what is currently being discussed.

    "Huh." he remarks. "And here I thought that power I am able to summon from within might be used for more... well hard to say really. But I thought I might be able to channel some of -my- immortality onto others in the short term. Or perhaps to make mundane things more divine." He smirks, "And yes, I know how vague that sounds."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"After a sip, Zatanna gives him an encouraging nod. "A healer, someone who could resurrect the mortally wounded or prolong their life till someone could intervene? One power does not cancel another. We are here to explore it." she adds. "Would you lay your hands on the person? Give them a drop of blood or recite a prayer? Say a spell?"

Achilles has posed:
    With a bit of a barked laugh, Angelo shakes his head, "At the risk of upsetting you, which... if I do, I apologize but... how should I know how I would do it?"

    He smirks a bit and shrugs, "I really just don't know how I would focus that power. Isn't that something a magic teacher might... you know.. teach?" he asks.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Upsetting me?" She grins then laughs waving the thought away. Humor still lurking in the depth of her sapphire eyes, she asks, "How would you know? By listening to how you call your weapons into existence. By listening to the magic that resides in your blood, in the very cells of your body."

She looks out into the forest around the glade, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she open them, "Have you ever quieted your mind enough to listen? The glint of humor returns, "Now, it is my turn to risk upsetting you. I think you are expecting a witch or magician to lay hands on you, read you and write out a prescription for how to do your magic."

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding his head with an amused expression on his face, Angelo shrugs his shoulders. "I'm not expecting anyone to just wave their hands and make it all work out. I just figured... I could make a decent padawan to the right master." he adds as he stands up.

    "As for how I summon my weapons and armor. As I said, I really don't. The magic that Hephaestus placed within them listens for my will and summons them when asked to. It's not as if I actually -perform- any of the magic that is in use for that."

    He looks down at his wrists, at the shiny bronze bracers there. "But it -is- a good start. I do know how to focus my will in a way that the magic of them can perceive it and respond to it. Perhaps...." He closes his eyes and takes a slow breath. He has long since mastered the art of meditation and turning his attention inward. I mean, he is no Chi master. But he gets the basic principles.

    The power... the will. The focus. The energy. A minute passes in silence. Then another. Finally, his green eyes open. But there is more than green and tiny gold flecks there. The green has turned all to gold. The irony is... in all of the old tales and myths of the gods... the gods do not truly bleed blood. They are sustained by what is called ichor. And ichor was always described as being bright golden in color.

    He takes a deep breath, exhaling as a spear appears in each hand. But then he falls to his knees... exhausted as the second spear vanishes in a sprinkle of golden glitter.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Moments before his eyes turn golden, she can sense the magic stirring in him. There is a subtle hum in the air. She imagines the trees and animals in the forest stopping to listen as he consciously reaches for the vital essence within himself. Somehow, all of these years he thought his ability to call his weapons was a like a box attached to him and somehow separate; flip a switch and they turn on. Excited for the moment of discovery, she holds her breath then gasps with pleasure when he wills a spear into existence. Though it disappears in a moment, he has broken through a barrier.

"That! That was it."

Achilles has posed:
    Zatanna's excited murmuring makes Angelo lift his head with a smile on his face. His face looks -visibly- aged. Like a man in his late forties, not the normal look of him being late twenties or early thirties. But as Zatanna watches, the age fades away, back to normal.

    A cost for everything. And usually, that first breakthrough has a larger cost than being practiced at it. His smile does not fade however, and he gets to his feet... albeit a bit wobbly for a second. "By the gods. That took a lot of effort." he says softly.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
His smile is infectious. Zatanna shares it for a moment before holding out her hand to him in invitation. "Well, you know the saying. Practice makes perfect. You have started a new chapter in your long life, Angelo. You have a quality to you that I seldom see in new magic users," she stops herself to consider her next words.

"Patience. You do things like you have all the time in the world." She bites back a smile, "Which you do! But I see you relish small things that other people rush past. Does that make sense? Use that ability to listen to how your will and the magic in you come together."