video;

[bearshermark]

[It's an unusually frazzled Elliott that greets the feed. Maybe extra unusual as his normal medium of choice is text]

S-so uh! Something happened.

[There's some unpleasant rattling around noises and weird close-ups as he sets the phone down, rambling as he does so] And I need everyone to see so I'm sure it's not just a hallucination or something? I just had a memory while I was dozing off during my commute home and I just thought I'd try it you know, because it'd be cool, but then-

[Elliott retreats to a distance that he thinks is good for a video and holds up a hand, thumb and middle finger pressed together. He breathes, then follows the motion through with a snap. A flame bursts to life on the tip of his forefinger, hovering like a fireball in miniature. It follows the motion of his hand as it shakes.

Anyone not focused on the flame might see that he looks dangerously close to tears]

I uh- I think.. I think magic might actually be real? Maybe? If this is actually happening?

Comments

[scotch_egg]

[have the flattest expression you've ever seen. Granted he's not aware the camera is on, but he is exceedingly unimpressed. As he sips coffee from a 'Worlds Worst Teacher' mug, he can't help but think that people would go to enormous lengths to find something to believe in]

[bearshermark]

[Not the first person he would have liked to see, heart dropping into his feet almost immediately]

Am I hallucinating??

[scotch_egg]

[damn. He hadn't meant to be on, but nevermind. He'll roll with it]

You tell me.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott stares uncertainly at the fire on his finger]

I could really use you not being a jerk right now. I didn't want to have to try and burn something to find out.

[scotch_egg]

[he leans back] Do you really care what I think? Do you want to be convinced of something? Or convince yourself?

video, immediately after broadcast;

[traceofeffort]

[Well, damn. Looks like things took an accelerated dive into hell this month. While knowing how this happened would be nice - she absolutely has a lot of questions right now - Lisa is more concerned about her friend. So she'll post right away, projecting calm she actually mostly feels for once.]

Hey. Elliott. C'mon, deep breaths. Are you- well, no, you're not okay, but. Need to talk?

[bearshermark]

Lisa! Yes, I- please tell me you're seeing this?? Maybe describe it for me to be sure??

[traceofeffort]

[...well, if he's asking.]

You, uh. You snapped your fingers and you turned on your built-in lighter. Little flame at the end of your fingertip. Is it hot? It's not burning you, right?

[bearshermark]

[He laughs- it's just shy of hysterical]

Thank God. Okay, I'm not hallucinating. Okay. I can handle this.

[Belatedly remembering she asked him something] But no, uh- it's not burning me, actually.

Video

[chenqing_player]

[this is his first time talking to other vision people over the phone but that is definitely something he did not expect to see.]

You're not just doing some sort of trick with a lighter and playing with the camera in some way? You legit just caught your finger on fire?

[bearshermark]

Yeah, no tricks. This is really happening. Not sure if it's awesome or terrifying, but right now I'm just glad I'm not hallucinating.

[chenqing_player]

I'd call that pretty damn awesome. I mean..as long as you know how to use it and don't suddenly burn your house down.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, thanks. I wasn't worried about that til just now. I can't just snap anymore.

[ashenscipher]

[Bitterblue exclaims first in French and then she remembers herself]

That is magic!

[bearshermark]

Yeah! It's kind of freaking me out right now, but wow, it's also pretty cool??

[ashenscipher]

It's certainly interesting. How did you discover you could do that?

[bearshermark]

By accident, about 15 minutes ago. Someone in the memory I had did it, and I just decided to try it for fun, then it actually worked.

[darkforcerising]

That is so much cooler than empathic abilities!

[bearshermark]

[He laughs]

Seems a bit less useful, though. I don't make a habit of setting stuff on fire.

[darkforcerising]

What are you talking about, fire is very useful.

[bearshermark]

What- for lighting candles we don't need? For our electric stoves?

[temptationaccomplished]

[He's put on his spectacles and leaned in to watch. And after reviewing the feed again at a slower speed, he finally turns on the camera to reply. There's shock and awe, but also focus, like he's trying to figure out where the sleight of hand comes in, and filing away a bunch of questions to ask.]

No magic words needed? No ...symbols or-- [A pause.] Is that your hand with the tattoo? Does it work on both hands?

[bearshermark]

[He blinks, not having thought of that, and checks. But no, it's his dominant hand, not the marked one.

Elliott snaps the flame away, then tries it with his left to the same effect. He grins]

Looks like it works with both. Good to know, I guess. No incantations or symbols though so far, no. I think it might actually be just.. kind of.. focus or.. willing it to happen?

[temptationaccomplished]

Fascinating!

[Well, that was worth finding out. Weird, though, since Aziraphale's supposed magic had him relying on a circle and glyph of some kind. And words. So maybe not all magic is equal or some magic users are more capable than others.]

Have you lit anything on fire yet to see if the flame will transfer and sustain?

[He quickly adds, not wanting Elliott to get carried away:] A candle, perhaps?

[bearshermark]

I lit a paper towel on fire in the sink. It definitely did a thing. Went up a lot faster than I expected-- the water was on though, so nothing terrible happened.