Video

[john_morris]

[The video opens on a man's bearded face frowning and obviously touching the screen. He mutters to himself at first.]

Is it... working? Just.. that... Ah!

[He pokes it one last time with his right hand then leans back, now just staring at the screen for a while.]

Hello? Is this... Can this be heard? They said I could be heard and seen through this small contraption. Is there anybody ...?

[He pauses, a little wide-eyed and takes a breath, muttering again.]

Ridiculous, truly... I... Maybe....

[Another pause and he side-eyes the device.]

On the off-chance that this is working as I was told...

Hello. My name is John Morris.

I do hope that I am not merely speaking to myself and the very vacant air around me like a fool... but I am told this will reach all the people that also have this ... rather magical communication box.

I have need of some assistance. You see... my hand...

[He raises up his left hand.]

I cannot let it touch anything or else something very strange happens. Like so...

[A glance around and he picks up a spoon. The silver utensil begins to visibly change to gold as he holds it in view. He lets the spoon fall again, looking distressed.]

I do not know what to do about this!

[He leans in again, poking at the screen.]

Do I... Hello? How does one hear a reply...?

Comments

[notyuvan]

[Ouch. It doesn't show, but hearing that brings back some unpleasant memories. Memories that make her wish she'd punched one or two people in the teeth when she'd had the chance.]

There are worse things. Think about it, you'll never want for money.

[If his clothes turned back-] Anything else turn back if you stop midway through changing it?

[john_morris]

[He's very much not used to anyone with real powers, so it all seems like some unnatural magic to him, but he is trying to be reasoning about it. He seems rattled, but not panicked.]

The only thing I've kept firm hold of was that spoon and it hasn't changed back to its normal color.

[notyuvan]

[He's doing better than the Orokin did, at least.]

We've got plenty, I think. So we can do some trial and error if you're up to it.

[john_morris]

What would you suggest that I do?

[notyuvan]

This is really different from how I learned to use the Void but we can try partially changing things and seeing if they change back like your clothes did? Maybe wearing a glove could interrupt it with just the glove changing?

[john_morris]

Do you have these items so I can attempt your suggestions?

[He's willing to try.]

[notyuvan]

We have plenty of utensils but a glove, no. We could substitute wrapping your hand in a shirt though. Close enough, right?

[john_morris]

It would be wise to try various materials. I will follow your guidance.

[notyuvan]

[She chuckles softly.]

Dunno that I'd call this guidance. I'm just trying to think like Margulis would have.

[She turns and slips back into her room, coming out a moment later with a teeshirt she'd gotten from some street vendor.]

[john_morris]

[If she allows it, with his right hand he'll take the shirt along with a polite nod and wrap it around his left. The fabric soon begins changing, the gold gradually creeping along and hardening. Morris watches it steadily but wary. He doesn't want to let it go all the way as he fears his hand may get totally trapped within solid gold. Once it's transformed about halfway - after about a minute or two - he quickly unwraps it and drops it on the table with a metallic clang. The golden hue retreats and the material returns to its regular softness as well. He looks to Tenno.]

[notyuvan]

[She watches as it drops to the table and changes back to what it had been.]

Oh. Damn.

[Okay, what would Margulis do? Besides provide the Tenno with Somatic implants. That won't help with this, she's sure.]

There's got to be something that won't react. I'm not sure how much our roommates would appreciate us trying everything though, beyond a few utensils and clothes.

[john_morris]

At least it does appear that no harm is done if I let go before it has completely changed.

So if I keep alert and do not keep my hand on anything, then... perhaps this will not be so dire.

[He's obviously more concerned about the danger to others and their things than he is about benefitting from being able to transform anything to gold.]