+1 Fluffy alien arrives

[slicksalesman]

Nearby the Crossroads Cafe, a yellow alien can be seen glancing around the surrounding area with such awe and amazement expressed on her face.

"Howdy, I'm Celeste and I'm new here!" she greeted warmly as she waved, "My brother and sister-in-law told me about Nexus and asked me to come move in with 'em!"

The nebulanian looked thoughtful for a moment.

"So, what are yer folks' hobbies?" she asked as she tilted her head, "What do ya do to unwind?"

Comments

[coffee_elf]

Rondo gets out his own PINpoint and taps it until it displays his number, holding it out to let her read and take it down however she likes.

"Magic is amazing," he says happily. "I'm the first one in my immediate family to show any aptitude for it, so they all think I'm a little weird, but it's worth it. It's easy to learn the theory; the hard part is putting it into practice sometimes. It feels like taking in a deep breath and then letting it out slow and controlled, and concentration is everything."

He looks sheepish. "Well, uh, I have some pictures of my dorm and the school campus. It's not exactly exciting scenery, but if you want to see I can show you."

[slicksalesman]

Celeste held up her PINpoint number for Rondo to take down while she quickly took a pen from her pocket to write down his on the palm of her hand.

"Magic does sound quite fascinatin' and mighty handy," she mused after she listened to Rondo, "I guess it makes sense some aspects of magic is harder to learn than others. For folks that never experienced magic before, is it almost impossible?"

The alien gave him a nod.

"I wouldn't mind seein' 'em," Celeste admitted, "I gotta admit I'm curious how yer dorm and school campus would look like,"

[coffee_elf]

He takes down her number easily enough and enters it directly into his PINpoint. New friend! This is exciting.

"I honestly don't know," he answers her question thoughtfully. "I mean, among my people there are plenty who can sense magic without being able to use and control it. There are also some who are hypersensitive to it, which is awful, and a few who are semi-immune. But that's just my species. I understand there are people here from all kinds of worlds who do it differently. Even humans with magic, which seems really strange to me, but I'm trying to get more comfortable with that, and understand better."

"I think you have to believe it's possible, and not be terrified of it," he says. "But other than that I don't know what separates a person who has the gift from one who doesn't."

He taps the touchscreen of his tablet, opening up his photos and tilts it toward her. The first picture is some kind of common room, and there are a handful of people sprawled on plush furniture there. They look similar to him, small with pointy ears, and aren't looking at the camera. There's something like a flat-screen television on the wall, and a counter with a coffee pot and a few packaged snacks set out. Through the window there's an elegant stone courtyard and some scrubby trees.

[slicksalesman]

After Rondo took her number, Celeste added his to her PINpoint. Her fingers typing in down swiftly. She looked up and smiled at him, happy to have made a friend.

"Um," she rubbed her chin in thought as she listened to him, "Guess each world has their own sort of rule when it comes to magic? In my world, magic isn't practiced as much since we prefer usin' technology. I have yet to use a magical user who didn't use a wish to get their powers,"

The alien wagged her tail in excitement.

"Bein' able to use magic would be mighty fun, even if it's just to help with my chores,"

Celeste leaned a bit closer when Rondo tilted the tablet towards her, looking quite intrigued when she took note of the pictures.

"It looks quite a bit like our campus," she admitted, "Places to sit around and snacks to munch on while we study. Do ya also have tests, exams, and finals ya hafta study for?"

[coffee_elf]

"We have technology, as well," he says with a smile. "Actually, most of our medical treatments are technological rather than magic, because direct physical alteration with magic for extended periods of time can make a person even sicker. Almost like being exposed to radiation, but individual tolerances vary."

He laughs softly. "It's considered poor magic etiquette to overuse it, where I come from. If I started washing dishes with magic or something, I'd get in trouble. I can totally see using levitation to dust in high places or get things off shelves, though."

He nods at the question. "We have written theory tests and practicals," he says. "And most magic classes involve some lab work, or even fieldwork in some specialties."

[slicksalesman]

"Ah, that makes sense," Celeste nodded, "So, there are side effects usin' magic for extended periods of time. Do ya use healin' magic for more serious injuries, though?"

She giggled alongside him.

"Good point. I think it'll make folks mighty dependant on magic if they do. Bein' able to fly or levitate would be mighty handy,"

The alien nodded, eyes sparkling.

"It sounds like a lot of work, but lots of fun too," she admitted, "So, what type of labwork do ya do?"