Magic Is Hard

[unrecovered]

[The best way to improve in a skill was training. Wash knew that. What he hadn't realized was that training went a lot more smoothly with someone who knew what they were doing in charge.]

[This probably explained why his attempts to practice magic in the park had been frustrating and fruitless for the past half hour. He had no experience in magic and no idea what to do - what he had was determination to master a weapon he'd need in order to fight, and a supply of patience that was beginning to run low.]

[His magic was different than most people's, he reasoned. He didn't have to start his own, like Casey, or use what was on hand, like Greg - no, his element was all around him all the time, and all he had to do was make it do what he wanted. Somehow.]

[Anyone who had been watching him for a bit may have seen sweeping and increasingly ridiculous arm motions - movements that might actually look cool if the wind was playing its part, but just came off as badly choreographed interpretive dance without it. Anyone who had been watching for quite a while may have witnessed him yelling at the sky about how one sweater-vested asshole could have at least provided a tutorial.]

Comments

[fearmylaserface]

[Well, Epsilon was staying back, watching Washington work for a while. But he's not judging the movement too much. He worked with the Reds and Blues. This isn't... That ridiculous. But still ridiculous. And finally, he had to say something.

Hopefully, Wash had some warning that he'd arrived. But if he didn't, Epsilon could cope.]

So... That magic stuff really is not going well, is it, Wash?

[unrecovered]

[For a moment, Wash just stops. He's been focusing too hard on trying to get something to work to pay too much attention to his surroundings. It's the kind of singlemindedness that has, among other things, gotten him hit by a car. Right now, it's gotten him embarrassed in front of Epsilon and therefore even more frustrated than he'd already been.]

[He takes that next moment to breathe - one long, slow breath, in and out. He will not overreact. This isn't Epsilon's fault. He will keep his cool.]

[That doesn't stop him from speaking through gritted teeth.]

No. It's not.

[fearmylaserface]

[Of course it's not Epsilon's fault. He's just the king of horrible timing. Among other things.

He's going to make small talk now, figuring catch up in a bit.]

Does everyone have that much trouble with it, Wash?