The Moon Also Rises

[raisethemoon]

[Ever just had one of those days where everything is really irritating?]

[It isn't that Luna is unaccustomed to this kind of treatment. The last time she was drawn into another world to fight a war that wasn't hers, the culprit hadn't even had the decency to show their face. On the other hoof, her indignance had faded much faster when she couldn't aim it at anyone specific. Couldn't that Lux have allowed her to retain her magic - or at least her Dream Eaters - if she's meant to be fighting monsters here? What, would he prefer she kick them to death?]

[And these humans! Rude!]

[This pony can be found walking with head held deliberately high and wings tense at her side, meeting the eyes of passerby with unspoken challenge. She doesn't expect them to fling themselves at her feet, but a little common courtesy to a newcomer is not that great a thing to ask. All she wanted was to find a place of residence, honestly.]

[No matter. There must be others like her here, if patterns hold true - she'll find them.]

Comments

[raisethemoon]

[Luna opens her mouth to say that she doesn't know how it ends, but then she doesn't know exactly when Wash means. Instead, she just says:]

Very well. Perhaps they shall grow more friendly if we prove useful to them. [She snorts.] Their guardian ought to give them powers of their own, for their own defense.

[unrecovered]

It's easy to hate soldiers when your home turns into a war zone. [Yeah, this isn't the first time Wash has been on the receiving end of that particular sentiment.]

Nah, that'd be too easy. [It was supposed to be light and joking; it came out bitter. It's been that kind of month.]

[raisethemoon]

[Well, Luna's just gotten here, but she can sympathize with that sentiment.]

I fear 'twill be some time before I can aid in the fight. This magic is unfamiliar, and Lux in his wisdom has removed my own.

[unrecovered]

[Well, shit. There goes any idea of asking for help anytime soon. He puts that question back on the back burner and starts walking, headed for the high rises.]

That's helpful. [That is not at all helpful.]

Did he tell you anything aside from "welcome to the magic war, go fight shadow monsters?"

[raisethemoon]

No. I imagine I can determine what I'm capable of soon enough, but any magic takes time to hone.

[unrecovered]

[But you have to know what you're working with in order to hone it.]

[Hey, there's a thought.]

How would you even find out what you have?

[Asking for help without outright letting Luna know he's magically inept. He's trying to be subtle, for whatever that's worth.]

[raisethemoon]

My plan is to attempt to channel magic until something happens. [It's a bit of a dangerous plan, but Washington is not a natural magic-user and thus wouldn't know that.] What kind do you have?

[unrecovered]

[Not specifically, no, but he's definitely familiar with the "try things until something works" method. It's usually a last-ditch effort.]

[Oh goddammit.]

[That pause should really say everything, but fuck it, if he lies at this point, Luna will know. The costs outweigh any potential benefits.]

I have no idea.

[Dammit, dammit, dammit.]

[raisethemoon]

I see. We can attempt it together, then.

[A bit of an underreaction, maybe, but it makes sense to her; he wouldn't know how to make magic work. As far as Luna can tell, it shouldn't have been so hard to get by in this city without it - the monsters are hardly roaming the streets like Nightmares.]

[unrecovered]

[...that was anticlimactic. Wash is very, very okay with anticlimactic.]

Sounds like a plan.

[It's not much longer before they make it to the high rises. There's a way to do this that doesn't involve multiple flights of stairs, at least for her. He gestures towards one of the buildings.]

I'm pretty sure the penthouse in that one is empty. The stairs are pretty narrow - you might want to fly up. Meet you on the roof?

[raisethemoon]

I'm used to buildings seeming small and narrow. [The risks of being so much taller than most of your country's population.] I shall have to try and get a room with a window...in a moment, then.

[And off she goes! At least she can still do that.]