Yeah, pretty much. I know it sounds dumb, but it really does help if you visualize it. Picture what color the light would be and the kind of shadows it would cast, that sort of thing. After you practice enough you won't have to think about it so hard.
[Alright, well. That doesn't really help in terms of him trying to do it, but it's still really, really cool.]
That's awesome.
[And useful. But mostly awesome.
But okay. He's... Going to do this, somehow. He just saw that it works, and she seems confident that it's not difficult, so there's no reason he shouldn't be able to manage it himself. Right? Right.
But what is he going to try to make glow, anyway? There isn't a lot in here, at least not that seems reasonable to turn into a makeshift lamp, but then he has an idea and pulls his FBI badge from his pocket. The shield emblem is already shiny and metal, and it's relatively small, so maybe--]
Would something like this work? Does it even matter what it is?
[Something ten feet on any one side would be kind of a huge thing to try to make glow, although it'd also be really cool. But alright, don't overthink it--easier said than done, for him--and just concentrate. Right.
Lance takes a moment to try to clear his thoughts a little and not worry about if it doesn't work; there's no consequence for failing at this, and he can just try again. The magic itself is clearly real, so it's just a matter of figuring out how it feels and making it work. He can do that.
So he touches the badge carefully, as though it's delicate even though he knows for a fact it isn't, and concentrates.
Almost immediately the badge lights up with a soft golden glow, although it only lasts for a moment as Lance is so startled by it that he drops the badge entirely. Did it really work? There's no way, especially not on the first try.]
I... Did I imagine that?
[He knows he didn't, but it still feels like he should ask. But even if he hadn't seen the effect of the spell, he thinks he would've known it worked because he realizes he does feel... Something, even if he can't exactly pinpoint how to describe it yet; maybe almost like a rush of adrenaline, only not unpleasant. But definitely something.]
[He's still a bit disbelieving, and at the same time a million conflicting thoughts are rushing through his head, but the compliment causes him to brighten a little all the same. He might be good at magic. How is that even a real, actual thing that he can be thinking right now?
Lance takes the badge back as she offers it, and although he's briefly nervous--what if he can't do it again?--this is a rare occasion where that fear is completely drowned out by cautious but genuine excitement. He actually really wants to see if he can do it again.
It takes slightly longer this time, requiring an additional second or two due to Lance finding it somewhat more difficult to concentrate, but it still lights up in the same pale gold. This time he doesn't drop it, instead just kind of marveling; it feels more than a little surreal.]
This is... Really, really cool.
[Not the most eloquent of wording, but sometimes there's just nothing else you can say.]
[Just making something glow is already the 'big stuff' as far as he's concerned; he may be, at this point, the only person from his world to ever do something like this, and that's an utterly incredible thought.
But okay, not the point, focus. What color should it be? Blue, as Kyna suggests, is a good idea; he has a particular shade in mind, actually, because he's seen Brennan use a forensic light source before and they're very distinctive. It isn't difficult to call up that mental image clearly, although the color of the light doesn't smoothly transition; instead, it dims and turns off entirely before relighting in a vibrant, almost aqua blue.
And although Lance is pleased by the end result--]
[He will be really delighted with himself later for catching on so quickly--he's always been a fast learner, but this is kind of far outside the realm of what he ever expected to learn or has any experience with--but right now he's still just enamoured with the situation in general.
The using of 'shift' from Kyna makes it come together why the light had turned off; he hadn't been thinking about changing it, just about the light being a different color. So it makes sense that it might've shut off and reignited the new color instead of changing.
So this time, he concentrates on a smooth blending from one color to another, aqua blue back to gold, and the light changes in almost a gradient effect until it's pale gold again.]
It worked.
[He says it like he's amazed, which he kind of still is.]
[He still thinks it's really cool for being just a simple utility spell, but okay, it makes sense that it wouldn't have a lot of other features. He imagines it's probably possible to make it flash or strobe or something, and he definitely wants to play with how bright he can make it, but that's for later and he lets the light fade out for now.
As for the question she actually asked--]
You said there was some sort of electricity thing?
Oh, yeah. It's kind of a last resort thing, though. You have to touch someone for it to work, and if you're fighting with magic, you never want to let anyone get that close.
[He nods seriously at that, because he gets it; he doesn't use magic at home, of course, but the same general principle applies in that he does his best not to let anyone who means harm get that close to him. But sometimes that isn't possible, and any last-resort advantage he might have would be incredibly valuable; if he'd be able to do something like this at home, during the fight that happened just before arriving here, then maybe--
Lance pulls himself from those thoughts, both because they're not going to help and because he doesn't need to zone out any longer than he might have already. So he takes a deep breath and nods again before responding.]
Right. I prefer not to let anyone I know is dangerous that close to me anyway, so I get it.
It's an evocation spell, like light, so it'll feel the same. That little surge of energy, you know? You're just forming it into something different.
[For Kyna, casting spells always feels like a rush of anticipation and adrenaline in the best way, but it feels a little different for everyone, she's found. She raises her hand, and without much thought, electricity begins to dance between her fingertips.]
[How is every new little thing so awesome? Because that's awesome, and he watches the electricity in fascination for a moment before looking at Kyna and asking a question.]
Is it more important to focus on the end result, or on the feel of it? Or both?
[Because for the light he was more paying attention to what he wanted to have happen, rather than how exactly he'd do it; he could recognize the feeling of the magic, but it wasn't the primary thing on his mind.]
The end result, I guess. When you're learning harder spells sometimes you have to focus on the feel of it for a while so that you don't...
[How does she explain it? Kyna's totally self-taught, so she's flying by the seat of her pants here.]
It's like... Holding onto something slippery, you know? If you focus on how the magic feels, it makes it easier not to lose it, or for the spell not to dissipate when you're still trying to figure out how to cast it. Does that make sense?
[He quiet while she thinks about it, watching her expression for any hints that might not come through just in her words, but the explanation does make enough sense on its own. He likens it mentally to piano; when he's learning something new he has to really think about which keys to press and how to move his hands to do so, but once he's gotten in some practice he's more listening to the music, with the expectation that he's already hitting the right keys without thinking about it.
Okay. That in mind, he thinks he can try it.]
Alright, here goes, I guess.
[He feels a bit sillier trying to do this than he did with the light, putting his badge in his pocket so as to have both hands free and then trying to copy what Kyna did. And... Nothing happens. No electricity, no sparks, nothing but a weird tingling feeling in his fingers.
Well, he supposes expecting to get it on the first try--especially since he had for the last spell--was a little too ambitious.]
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[So he is completely happy to try that first. He'd be happy for that to be the only thing he could ever do, actually.]
So do I just... Touch something and concentrate really hard? Or...
[It sounds really dumb put that way, so maybe there's more to it.]
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[She pauses for a moment, tilting her head.]
Want me to do it first?
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If you don't mind, yes. I think it'll help to see how it works.
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[Kyna reaches up to touch the pendant of her necklace, which instantly glows with a bright, white light.]
See? Piece of cake.
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That's awesome.
[And useful. But mostly awesome.
But okay. He's... Going to do this, somehow. He just saw that it works, and she seems confident that it's not difficult, so there's no reason he shouldn't be able to manage it himself. Right? Right.
But what is he going to try to make glow, anyway? There isn't a lot in here, at least not that seems reasonable to turn into a makeshift lamp, but then he has an idea and pulls his FBI badge from his pocket. The shield emblem is already shiny and metal, and it's relatively small, so maybe--]
Would something like this work? Does it even matter what it is?
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[She taps the badge gently.]
Concentrate, but don't overthink it and start worrying about how it might not work or whatever.
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Lance takes a moment to try to clear his thoughts a little and not worry about if it doesn't work; there's no consequence for failing at this, and he can just try again. The magic itself is clearly real, so it's just a matter of figuring out how it feels and making it work. He can do that.
So he touches the badge carefully, as though it's delicate even though he knows for a fact it isn't, and concentrates.
Almost immediately the badge lights up with a soft golden glow, although it only lasts for a moment as Lance is so startled by it that he drops the badge entirely. Did it really work? There's no way, especially not on the first try.]
I... Did I imagine that?
[He knows he didn't, but it still feels like he should ask. But even if he hadn't seen the effect of the spell, he thinks he would've known it worked because he realizes he does feel... Something, even if he can't exactly pinpoint how to describe it yet; maybe almost like a rush of adrenaline, only not unpleasant. But definitely something.]
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Holy shit, good job. I bet you're gonna be awesome at this.
[She bends over to pick up the badge, then practically shoves it at him.]
Do it again.
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Lance takes the badge back as she offers it, and although he's briefly nervous--what if he can't do it again?--this is a rare occasion where that fear is completely drowned out by cautious but genuine excitement. He actually really wants to see if he can do it again.
It takes slightly longer this time, requiring an additional second or two due to Lance finding it somewhat more difficult to concentrate, but it still lights up in the same pale gold. This time he doesn't drop it, instead just kind of marveling; it feels more than a little surreal.]
This is... Really, really cool.
[Not the most eloquent of wording, but sometimes there's just nothing else you can say.]
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[Kyna's still smiling, head tilted slightly as she watches him. His excitement is infectious.]
Wait until we get to the big stuff. Try making the light a different color. Like... Blue or something.
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But okay, not the point, focus. What color should it be? Blue, as Kyna suggests, is a good idea; he has a particular shade in mind, actually, because he's seen Brennan use a forensic light source before and they're very distinctive. It isn't difficult to call up that mental image clearly, although the color of the light doesn't smoothly transition; instead, it dims and turns off entirely before relighting in a vibrant, almost aqua blue.
And although Lance is pleased by the end result--]
Is it supposed to stay lit up the whole time?
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[But it's no big deal. She's still impressed by how quickly he's picking this up.]
Try it again.
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The using of 'shift' from Kyna makes it come together why the light had turned off; he hadn't been thinking about changing it, just about the light being a different color. So it makes sense that it might've shut off and reignited the new color instead of changing.
So this time, he concentrates on a smooth blending from one color to another, aqua blue back to gold, and the light changes in almost a gradient effect until it's pale gold again.]
It worked.
[He says it like he's amazed, which he kind of still is.]
Is there anything else that can be done with it?
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As for the question she actually asked--]
You said there was some sort of electricity thing?
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Lance pulls himself from those thoughts, both because they're not going to help and because he doesn't need to zone out any longer than he might have already. So he takes a deep breath and nods again before responding.]
Right. I prefer not to let anyone I know is dangerous that close to me anyway, so I get it.
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[For Kyna, casting spells always feels like a rush of anticipation and adrenaline in the best way, but it feels a little different for everyone, she's found. She raises her hand, and without much thought, electricity begins to dance between her fingertips.]
Like that. See?
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Is it more important to focus on the end result, or on the feel of it? Or both?
[Because for the light he was more paying attention to what he wanted to have happen, rather than how exactly he'd do it; he could recognize the feeling of the magic, but it wasn't the primary thing on his mind.]
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The end result, I guess. When you're learning harder spells sometimes you have to focus on the feel of it for a while so that you don't...
[How does she explain it? Kyna's totally self-taught, so she's flying by the seat of her pants here.]
It's like... Holding onto something slippery, you know? If you focus on how the magic feels, it makes it easier not to lose it, or for the spell not to dissipate when you're still trying to figure out how to cast it. Does that make sense?
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Okay. That in mind, he thinks he can try it.]
Alright, here goes, I guess.
[He feels a bit sillier trying to do this than he did with the light, putting his badge in his pocket so as to have both hands free and then trying to copy what Kyna did. And... Nothing happens. No electricity, no sparks, nothing but a weird tingling feeling in his fingers.
Well, he supposes expecting to get it on the first try--especially since he had for the last spell--was a little too ambitious.]
This is... A little more difficult.