Third Trial - By Water

[knighterrantofthedragon]

WHO: Alric and Anyone
WHAT: Alric practicing with his powers
WHERE: Out over the lake
WHEN: At some quiet time of the day when he's not expecting an audience, a few days during the week
WARNING(S): None anticipated


Alric has been looking for opportunities to cut loose with his powers a little, but short of access to the Danger Room or some other environment designed for the purpose, he's not had a lot of luck. However, the lake makes for a pretty ideal testing ground when it's not populated: he can't really light it on fire or damage it, and the water's huge heat capacity means he can dump a lot of power into it without doing any harm.

In particular, he's working on refining his control with plasma jets to practice hovering--which is the other half of what makes the lake ideal: no harm done if he falls in the water, except maybe to his vanity.

Depending on when someone shows up, he may already look like he's taken a dip or two, or he may be working on some other practice exercise.

Comments

[thirdarrow]

The storm from a few days back has cleared, and the air is now clear enough for sailing. Takakage had been forced indoors for a few days because of the risk of lightning, and thus greatly relished the chance to be out on the lake again. It's getting a little too cold to be swimming, so he takes the boat out for the day, cruising slowly on the lake's surface.

That is, until he hears Alric's exclamation and the accompanying splash.

He quickly steers the boat around and makes for where the student is in the water - he doesn't quite kneo what Alric is doing here, but the fact still remains that the water is cold and he could catch a chill. The young man guides his boat next to the student, positioning the craft so that Alric could reach it and climb up.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric is clearly a little peeved as he surfaces and gets his bearings--and a little surprised to find a boat coming up alongside, having been rather preoccupied with trying to maintain his balance. He does avail himself of the offer, though, grabbing onto the side of the boat and hauling himself in with a slightly sardonic chuckle.

"Ah... afternoon, Mr. Takakage. Nice day for a bit of boating. Perhaps a touch chilly for a swim, though."

i just noticed a typo i am so sorry

[thirdarrow]

Takakage sighs a little, though it's more out of relief than anything else. Alric's unhurt, just soaked - and that can be easily remedied.

"Good afternoon, Alric. You're hard at work, I see." He says this with a smile before closing his eyes. "Hold still for a moment. "

It's a little difficult to lock onto Alric's water signature with the lake around them (interference and all), but he manages to register where most of the water in his clothing is and gradually draws it out. The student is dry in a minute, and Takakage returns the resultant water back into the lake in a graceful arc.

"There."

Re: i just noticed a typo i am so sorry

[knighterrantofthedragon]

That... feels peculiar, but dry is pretty good, compared with drenched. He does seem just a bit tired, but he's been exerting himself more than a little.

"Oh. Well, I hate to put you out over something so minor, but thank you... and yes, I do try to keep busy. Getting the balance down right is... rather trickier than Mr. Stark makes it look, I must say."

[thirdarrow]

"Ah, it's the least I can do." He can't just leave Alric stranded in the middle of the lake. The student had heat-based powers, if Takakage remembers, and being in cold water would just be more risky.

"Well, Mr. Stark has JARVIS to help him, so that might be why. Though I believe you are more than a match for him - with a little more practice."

Tony's suit worked on entirely different principles, actually. But those are details.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric chuckled at the compliment, shaking his head.

"That might be exaggerating a little too much my capabilities... but yes, perhaps the suit has automatic stabilizing routines designed into it. I suppose I've the disadvantage of needing to simply keep on trying."

[thirdarrow]

"As they say, practice makes perfect." He inclines his head by way of a reply. It's how he managed to achieve so much fluidity with his own powers, in any case - though that is helped by water's natural versatility.

"Well, if one could craft a device with a similar ability, it would help you achieve enough balance." It's a thought, more than anything - but if they could find an engineer skilled enough then it might be doable.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

He paused a moment, contemplating that notion, smiling to himself at the implications.

"At a guess, it must be some kind of real-time Kalman filter--a physics-based predictive algorithm in the suit's software--but his Mr. Stark's case, it's the suit, through its software, that controls the... whatever it was that he calls them, the thrusters. I don't see how I could develop a device to control my powers for me, I'm afraid--although if it were possible, I suppose it would be a great boon for certain people whose powers are... capricious, to put it delicately."

[thirdarrow]

It takes him a little while to comprehend what Alric said. He doesn't understand all the terms, but he can guess at what they probably mean.

"Indeed it would." Power limiters are known to exist, yes, but not more than that. "Perhaps someone skilled in our midst could make a venture at it, but I'm afraid I am at as much of as a loss as you are."

He's honed his own control by willpower alone, but he can see why it would be difficult for many others.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric smiles to himself with a playful twist to it.

"I'm afraid--for now, at least--I'll have to go about it the old-fashioned way, and continue to practice vigorously."

Of course he's not actually particularly afraid of it at all, but no need to express it in so contradictory a manner in an otherwise pleasant conversation. However, his smile does pale a bit as he grows more pensive.

"...if I may... I have an only vaguely related question. What, in your opinion, characterizes a useful X-team? It's something I've been thinking about for some time, but I've had... difficulty getting an instructive answer from anyone, and yet--in my experience, at least--forming such an opinion without at least hearing the thoughts of a trusted adviser is the height of arrogance, particularly for someone with thoughts of leadership."

[thirdarrow]

"A good strategy is vital."

He says this before he can even fully process the words through his head - something very uncharacteristic of him, but attributed to the wellspring of pre-reincarnation memories that always lurked at the back of his mind. He had organized many battles in his previous life, after all.

"A team needs a good leader, someone who is able to negotiate and maintain a clear, logical stance in all situations. There must also be another who can take on the role of second-in command, to watch over the well-being of the members, give feedback on their behaviour and encourage self-reflection. A third member to balance this out would be someone with the willpower and inventiveness to think up plans and implement them, as well as knowing which risks to take and which to avoid.

Lastly, there needs to be cohesiveness in the group as a whole - respect is key, and getting to know each other will enable everyone to work together well. In times of crisis, your teammates will be the ones who will need to watch your back."

There is a pause.

"I used to be a leader once upon a time, though no longer. It has been quite a while since I was in active service, but I hope this can be of use to you."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric nods in agreement.

"I've been told that before seeking to establish a team, myself, I should decide on a particular objective--an objective within the context of the school's mission."

He pauses a moment.

"I must confess, however, I'm not entirely clear, yet, what that's meant to entail. One fellow student speak of forming a team specializing in defense of the school; a praiseworthy intention, of course, but not unique to the school, really. Another, I believe a teaching assistant, seems to have the somewhat nebulous purpose of doing something-or-other with respect to these 'U-Men,' but was... for lack of a better word, combative when I sought his advice."

He flashed a small, sheepish smile, scratching at the back of his head.

"...I do have some experience in leadership, but not as a student, in a new school, in America, with little access to advice and uncooperative colleagues. We were facing an emergency situation, I would be less concerned with seeming... imperious, but assembling a team here seems more like a... group project, I suppose, if that makes sense."

[thirdarrow]

Takakage knows a little about Alric's history, so he can venture a guess at what sort of leadership the youth had been through.

"It does." He answers with a nod, looking thoughtful. "After all, this is a school, and the X-Teams are composed mostly of students. The majority of the population have been educated in a mainstream manner, and thus they would take to this task at how they would do projects. Admittedly it may not necessarily be the best way to look at it. In situations of crisis X-Teams are expected to put their lives on the line, and without sufficient trust the team can fall apart - something that group work never requires."

A pause.

"I am afraid my previous experience was also in a situation very different from this one. Different people have different motives and different ways in which they choose to employ their powers, and that is something that you must be aware of. But you have potential in leadership, Alric - with finesse, I am sure some of us here will answer your call for whatever goal you eventually choose."

[turbedon]

And of course when he's not expecting company, company comes strolling by on silent feet. Just in time to see Alric fall into the lake. Unfortunately, Dick can't quite stop himself from laughing at the sight though he's quick to slap a hand over his mouth to stifle the noises before the older boy resurfaces.

When he does, pride injured or not, Dick asks, "No fireworks today?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric sputters a little as he surfaces... ...then chuckles, just a touch sardonically, at Dick's comment.

"Just missed them, but if you wait around a moment..."

He huffs quietly, coughing a little, and treading water easily as he pauses to catch his breath and regain his bearings.

[turbedon]

"I'll bet."

The younger boy sat by the lake shore, grinning at Alric. "So this is where you come to get some practice in. How are you going to manage in winter?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric smiled to himself, taking a moment longer to collect himself.

"Well.. we'll just have to see, I suppose. Might want to keep the 'shades' on."

He took a breath, and reached his hands up, turned and cupped downward almost as though to grab onto a pair of rungs at either side--before the glaring bright violet light flared from his hands, lancing down into the water a few feet to either side and kicking up a cloud of steam billowing away from him. He pulled himself up out of the water using the force of those plasma jets with only a little wobble, then increasing the thrust, hovered up out of the water; with a slight tilt, he changed direction, swinging toward shore, lowering--and cutting out the plasma jets before he lit anything on fire, he dropped to the ground, stumbling slightly to a stop.

He was still soaked through, however.

"Ah.... well, not my most dignified, but serviceable."

[turbedon]

Dick whooped at the older boy's success, giving him a standing ovation. "Talk about a flashy entrance."

Not very subtle, but it was just the kind of thing that would make most criminals run for the hills or immediately surrender too, but that was Robin talking.

"Did you remember to bring a towel?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric chuckled at Dick's way of expressing support, brushing his hair back.

"Ah... no, I suppose it is a bit fresh out, but a little cold and damp can be a good motivator."

[turbedon]

"You could always try plasma blasting around your body but that might burn your clothes off and I'm pretty sure there's an unspoken rule about naked people on campus. Especially royalty."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Probably best not to tempt fate, until I've refined my control a little more. ...besides, I may enjoy immunity from my own plasmas, but if they start an independent fire, but I do not from heat in general. I suspect the attempt would wind up being traumatic for everyone."

[turbedon]

"Pretty much," he agreed with a shrug, smiling still. "At least your control does seem to be improving?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Mm. It's slow progress, of course, but I suppose progress always feels slow." He grins lopsidedly to himself at that, since it probably says more about his attitude than it does about his progress. "Ah... what of yourself? You've been settling in well, I hope?"

[turbedon]

"Yeah, I'm doing alright," he answered flippantly. "It's not that different from my old school beyond the occasional green classmate."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Indeed..? I confess, I can't really judge; I've only ever been educated at home, by tutors, myself..."