pierregringoire

Eventually, from the direction of the bar: a pair of gentlemen, themselves in close conversation.

"--seems wisest, you are quite right," Segundus is saying as they approach. "Aside from the-- the practicalities of-- well, there are a great many books and shelves that could become quite disordered-- goodness only knows the sort of magical interference the library itself may give off. But then again, can such a thing possibly be escaped here? Well! We shall see."

From:

Combeferre nods, keeping pace with Segundus as they venture outside. "The lake will reduce the risk. As will the lack of paper. Though I can't judge the risk of magical interference."

He's not quite bouncing as he walks, but his whole gait evidences a certain excitement. He's going to try magic!

From:

"Oh dear. Djali, dear--"

He meant to say 'let's move out of the way' of the strange men who apparently need a lake for something. But Djali is already hurrying over to them, bleating happily.

"Oh, Djali! Your heart's too innocent yet, and trusting. You have no thought for the privacy of strangers, any more than your own. It cam't be helped! God made us all innocent, and only Man lost that state! Well, then--" With that he follows her out, raising a hand to wave at the approaching strangers. "Good day, Monsieurs!"

From:

Oh! Goat! And... person pursuing the goat! Segundus nervously holds his notes a little closer to his chest. (Don't goats eat paper?)

"Good day, sir," he replies, bobbing in a shallow, timid bow.

From:

"Good day, monsieur," Combeferre says, amused, "and good day to you as well." This, to the goat.

"Are you another Frenchman, then?"

Judging from the attire and the goat, Combeferre suspects he knows who this is. Prouvaire had been very excited to meet Pierre Gringoire.

From:

Djali responds to Segundus's bow with one of her own; so does Pierre, though almost automatically, as if taking his cue from the goat.

"A Frenchman, Monsieur! Pierre Gringoire, philosopher,alchemist, and poet, sometimes canon-builder, sometimes architect, occasional performer, currently and liberty and at your service, monsieurs." If there's something of a showman's patter about this introduction, well, it's a habit by now. Busking buys the bread as often as anything does.

From:

"Oh, how charming!" Segundus says as Djali bows. "That is a very-- a very impressive list, sir. I am John Segundus, likewise at your service, sir."

From:

Combeferre, bowing, stifles a grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you, M. Gringoire. I'm Combeferre, and I believe you've met one of my friends already. Jean Prouvaire."

From:

Pierre smiles at the name. "Ah yes! Good Master Prouvaire. A brave and noble soul, and a brother in the poetic arts. If you call him a friend, I'm glad to meet you indeed." Even if Combeferre is wearing weird later-era clothing! Friends to poets are, well, friends to poets , right? "And Master Segundus." Pierre smiles and rubs Djali on her head in recognition of her bit of performance. "This charming lady is Djali, my partner, and as fine a dancer as you will I think ever see a goat be. --Are you from Paris too, monsieur?"

From:

"Oh, no," Segundus says quickly. "I am an Englishman, most recently of Yorkshire."

From:

"We came out here to try an experiment by the lake," says Combeferre. "I hope we won't disturb your peace, or frighten Djali. We can go over to the far side, if need be."

From:

At the word experiment, Gringoire brightens up. "An experiment! By no means will you disturb me, I'm a student of Hermes myself. I would like very much to see it-- if it's something that may be seen, of course, I have no intention of spying on your art!" Sometimes people want their experiments secret!

From:

"No, not secret, not secret at all," Segundus says. "Indeed, a poor experiment it would be, if we had no wish to share our findings with others! We experiment with magic, sir. Does-- does magic exist in your world?"

From:

"Indeed," Combeferre says, eagerly. "Science belongs to the public--as does magic, which is a kind of science, I believe. You needn't fear this magic, M. Gringoire." Renaissance people are scared of magic, aren't they? "It involves no--no devils or demons or any sort of evil forces."

From:

"Why, you make it sound more like alchemy, which the ignorant in my own world call magic; it's nothign of the sort, though, not at all,it's a true science! magic in my world is indeed the realm of witches and other ill-intended workers, but of course words change meaning even across France; how much more across worlds! If magic in your world--" this is awkwardly addressed to both Segundus and Combeferre, since he's not sure whose world the magic comes from "--is such a thing, a science in its own right, then there's no more to fear from it than any sensible scholar fears from an unminded retort--which, I know, may sometimes be much indeed."

From:

"Alchemy could be considered an aspect of magic, certainly!" Segundus agrees. "And while magicians of the past may have used magic for any number of dubious purposes, in this day and age, its study is considered quite appropriate for a gentleman."

Edited Date: 5 Apr 2016 02:27 (UTC)

From:

"There is no magic in my world," says Combeferre, with an inward smile at the words 'appropriate for a gentleman.' Segundus was obviously a very nice man--and very English, and very proper, and very likely susceptible to notions that would be roundly mocked among the Amis de l'ABC. "M. Segundus has been extraordinarily kind, and has shown me what scholars in his world may study."

From:

Pierre is definitely no gentleman, and Djali qualifies even less, but he's quite willing to learn gentlemanly science, if the chance is being offered, "Then if the experiment is open for all to see, let us come along too; don't fear Djali, gentlemen, she's used to observing the sciences." Indeed, the goat is entirely calm, leaning slightly against her human while studying the newcomers with an almost academic air. When Pierre tilts his head to indicate her, she nods three times, very firmly, and bleats as if in affirmation.

From:

She really is a very talented goat; Mr. Segundus looks duly impressed.

"Then if you will join us--" He begins walking once more. "We are to experiment with fire. Not a great quantity of fire, I hope! But we thought to keep close to the lake, just in case. Indeed, there may be no fire at all-- we are not certain if the spell will work."

From:

Combeferre keeps pace with Segundus, giving Djali a smile as she trots along. "We're trying to light a candle." He produces one from his coat pocket to demonstrate. He is not wearing a waistcoat or cravat, having abandoned that rather constricting fashion, but there's just enough chill to make a coat desirable.

"A small ambition, lighting a candle, but it's ours for today." Small, and yet great in its way. And undoubtedly exciting.

From:

"--Without flame or other source of ignition, I assume you mean. At a distance, or close by?"

From:

"Well..." Segundus looks to Combeferre for confirmation as he says, "Both, I should think. If either works at all! We don't know, you see... well, we aren't wholly certain of the spell in the first place. Such simple tricks, well, the magicians of the golden age hardly though it worth their while to write such things down. And then there is, of course, the question of, of ability to work the spell at all."

From:

"I think we'd try up close first, and then increase the distance--if it works."

Combeferre gives his companions a wry smile. "M. Segundus assures me he has no magical ability," he says, "and I don't know if I have any at all. Though Milliways evidently is permeated with magic, so I may not need any."

From:

" Oh! A sort of extra energy here, then. I wonder--I should see if I can't borrow the materials for a few alchemical experiments, and see if the charged atmosphere affects them."

Djali butts at Gringoire's hand, shaking him away from his line of thought. "Oh, but I'm holding you up!" He falls back to the side a few paces. Exciting science is about to happen! Or possibly not! But he wants to see, either way.

From:

As they approach the lake, Segundus draws his sheaf of notes out of his pocket. They are far from tidy-- corrected, crossed-out, amended, scribbled-on-- but ultimately legible. He passes them over to Combeferre.

From:

Combeferre takes the notes with a murmur of thanks.

He makes a small pile of rocks by the lack, and props the candle up on them. Then he raises his hand. He thinks very hard of candlelight, and of this particular candle, and especially its wick--and he repeats the words Segundus taught him.

There's a rush of energy. Combeferre can feel it passing through him. And then--

The wick lights up into a living, leaping flame.

Combeferre grins.

From:

Gringoire applauds, sincerely. Djali bleats, no doubt in appreciation, or possibly because her human has stopped petting her. "Brilliant! And that was your first try?"

From:

"Oh, splendid!" Segundus is trying to look congratulatory and frantically take notes at the same time. "Oh, far better than I expected! Please, Mr. Combeferre, if you could tell me precisely what you did and thought--"

From:

"I--I just repeated the gestures and words you taught me," says Combeferre. "And I focused--on the candle and the wick and the flame, and I built it up from the wick upwards in my mind, and that somehow...created it."

Which is nonsense. He gives a self-conscious laugh. "I know it sounds absurd, but I can't explain it any better way."

From:

"No, no!" Segundus cries, scribbling furiously. "It is quite interesting-- quite in keeping with what I have read--"

From:

Gringoire looks over to him. "Are you going to make the attempt, as well?" If it's science, then anyone who follows the steps should be able to do it, right? Right! Even English people!

From:

Combeferre looks inquiringly at Segundus. "It may work here, even if it doesn't in England."

From:

"No, no," he says absently, still buried in his notes. Then, suddenly, he looks up to Gringoire. "Would you like to try it, sir?"

From:

"I? Why-- certainly! If you have directions I can read, and don't mind me using your supplies; I have none of my own at the moment." Or almost ever. "Djali, will you stand guard for me?"

Gringoire isn't really the sort to bounce with enthusiasm, but he doesn't bother to hide his delight at the proceedings, either. Combustion! By the power of the spirit! If it's science, then surely he can do it too.

From:

Combeferre doesn't bother concealing his half-smile at the idea of Djali standing guard.

"I'm sure M. Segundus can give you any guidance you need."

From:

"Yes, yes, just-- take this paper-- the instructions are written here, it's mostly the words, you see-- oh, I'll put out the candle--"

Once this is done, he straightens back up and readies his notes. "Whenever you are ready, sir!"

From:

Gringoire studies the instructions very seriously, and very carefully, for more than enough time for Segundus to have everything set up. And then he sits down in front of the candle.

Djali, as if to prove her credentials as a guardian, immediately stands at his back, watching the world as dangerously as a small and rather dainty goat can. She might remember to do this for whole minutes!

And then he sits down, in front of the candle. Right, focus, deep breath--fire, material fire, of course it has to be-- and a candle is made to channel that anyway, especially the wick--

he's not even really aware of templing his fingers into the alchemical triangle as he stares at the wick- until that same rush of energy Combeferre had mentioned comes through, and he feels something like a burn where his fingers meet, making him throw out his hands in a warding gesture.

The candle catches fire. So do a few small bits of grass. He shouts and jumps up to stomp on them, but he's hardly dismayed. "It works! Maitre Segundus, your procedures are excellent!"

Edited Date: 8 Apr 2016 04:51 (UTC)

From:

"Marvelous," breathes Combeferre. He's still grinning, overcome with sheer delight. He has to tell Joly--and Enjolras--and everybody.

To Segundus, he says, "Are you sure you don't wish to try?" Come on, it's so much fun!

From: