[Open, after the Veronica business]

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Having missed out on all the fun of getting mangled and bashed by a monster with ignitable blood, Ruffnut was in the Sensorium's again. This was quickly becoming her favorite place in the ship because she could do whatever she wanted, fight as much as she liked and no one would tell her no.

Plus it made a pretty realistic recreation of the Isle of Berk

Plus she had to practice with these new lightning powers that Matt had given to her.

"Alright...alright I can do this." She coached herself holding her hands close together. A ball of sparks and energy began shivering and hovering between her hands. "HA! HA I knew it!" She cheered...all too soon.

A flash of light and the lightning blasted back into her sending her soaring through the air and crashing into the grass nearby.

There she lay smoke rising off her dried out and singed hair.

Comments

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"Ha! You ARE getting the hang of it," said the Overlord from somewhere above and behind -- specifically, in his minion's arms, some ten feet away or so. Not at all displeased by the backfire of that whatever-it-was, in fact he was grinning at her initial attempts.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? Tell that to my eyebrows." Ruffnut complained sitting up, her hair frizzy and dried out.

"It doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would though." She admitted pushing herself back to her feet and admiring the hole she'd plowed into the grass when she landed.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"No one ever won a battle with eyebrows," Zetta said. That probably wasn't true, but lacking a specific example he'd decided it was better not to confuse the issue.

Surveying the girl, he said with approval, "Your mana power has increased."

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"That's good right?" She asked not really fully understanding on what Mana was. He'd explained it to her but she was only half sure.

She gripped her fists sending little sparks from between her fingers trying to call forth the energy now flowing inside her, "It feels weird you know? I spent all my life trying to perfect my body and now...magic."

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"What's the difference? Still comes from within you, right? You get stronger, it gets strong. It gets stronger, you get stronger." Zetta -- demons, really -- understood this instinctually. "The best thing you can do, I think, is to get to where you DON'T think about it."

Not a dig at her intelligence! (This is Zetta, who's he to talk?)

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut was staring intently at her hands as the pulsed and glow with electric energy, "Never was much good at thinking." She admitted before clenching her fists and throwing a few practice punches. "The powers of the gods in the palms of my hands." She added in awe at the flashes of energy. All things considered it wasn't particularly strong yet, but to someone who thought lightning was an act of god it was awe inspiring.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Whereas Zetta seemed to be doing a lot of thinking, looking at Ruffnut with an expression utterly indescribable.

Would he do something he despised for the sake of his apprentice?

The question had never come up before.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut meanwhile had returned to the first exercise she'd been trying before, to summon a ball of lightning.

Her palms flat one over the other lightning began racing back and forth between the two hands. Where skin should char and burn instead it was absorbed and sent back out. The air crackled and her hair began to stand up again as slowly, painfully slowly a ball of light began to form.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Well, he certainly wasn't about to interrupt her. He watched thoughtfully as she strained to summon the power, with more encouragement in his heart than he'd felt since his last apprentice EVER, since he HAD NO PREVIOUS APPRENTICE.

[governorkang]

How the hell...

Confusion as to how Ruffnut was even able to wield lightning aside, this particular Viking doing so made Kang nervous. At least with Astrid or Hiccup, or Stoick, he knew that they'd be smart about when to use it and when not to; this girl, on the other hand, was impulsive. Still, maybe he could offer her a few pointers if it was similar to how his own magic worked.

"You alright?" he knelt down next to her, offering a hand.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Dragonguy." She greeted him in a daze and took his hand pulling on it to get to her feet.

"Thanks." She added with a lopsided smile as she bent down to collect her helmet. "Haven't quite figured out how the gods throw this stuff around yet."

[governorkang]

"Kang," he corrected her, standing up with a slightly amused grin. Her hair was trying to escape its braids. "Where I'm from, it's not just gods that can do things like that. Any mage or sorceror can, and so can most dragons. I didn't know that you had magic potential."

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"I don't know if you'd call it potential." She muttered putting her helmet back in place. Sparks slipped off her fingertips as she let go and tried to smooth down her braids. "Guy named Matt helped me out. The um...Overlord Zetta and him figured out I could do it but so far it's um...messy." She grinned sheepishly. The area was sort of torn apart with burn marks and churned up soil.

[governorkang]

"I think messy is an understatement."

Kang quirked an eyebrow ridge at their surroundings, and pointed at a convenient wooden target about forty feet away, a bit of fur and a crystal rod appearing in his other hand, "Ast kiranann kair gadurm sotharn." A bolt of lightning left his fingertips, scorching the target and causing a small boom of thunder.

"Yours is different from mine, but... I might be able to help. You have to be very careful with magic," he said.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut watched with a look of awe on her face. Even when she herself was manipulating it, it seemed impossible that people could control the elements like that.

"I can't figure out what the trick is." She complained, "It's not like throwing a spear you can't just like, tuck your elbow in and fling it."

[governorkang]

That particular spell wasn't very difficult. It was only a level 3. Kang shook his head, "Concentration is the key. It can take a while to learn how to focus. If you keep practicing, though, you'll get it."

Curious, he asked, "Can you do more than just that one?"

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Concentraition?" Ruffnut groaned and "Not one of my strong points." Though that was stating the obvious.

"Um yeah sort of..." She held her hands out in front of her (And thankfully she had the presence of mind to aim away from Kang) And a separate bolt shot out from each of her fingertips. They were weak and scattered wildly in different directions. The one from her left thumb caught her right in the nose making her yelp and grab at her singed snout.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Terrific timing. She arrived just in time to witness one of her Viking colleague's epic fail. Not only that, Ruffnut scores a perfect landing, crashing on the ground without nearly crashing into the other blonde female's legs, bowling her over in the process. Though it did manage to make her flinch and Astrid releases a long sigh then promptly glares.

Geez, next time, have more consideration and limply soar yourself in the opposite direction of her, okay? Another thing...

Standing above the fallen, scorched girl, she blinks then suddenly scrunches her stubby nose, turning her head to the side, and loosely cups the lower portion of her face. Whoa, Ruff. All that singed hair is smelling something fierce.

Eyes falling shut, Astrid takes a moment to sigh again, and nonchalantly flips her bangs with a hand. "--So let's hear it." Her eyes snap open, brows furrowed, staring down as she jabs a finger at Ruffnut. "What was all that just now? And more importantly, how and why are you abusing the gods powers, likely shaming Thor himself?! ...I realize you love crazy, but isn't this a little much even for you?"

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut grinned sheepishly and sat up trying to smooth down her hair. One of her braids was still smoldering and she gripped it to kill the flame.

"Um...well I'm not really..." This was not the reaction she had been expecting actually. "I wasn't abusing it I was trying to learn how it works!" She protested finally forming a coherent sentence.

Derp, forgive me, I'm off my game.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

(http://photobucket.com)

Astrid eyes her curiously, simply folding her arms and patiently allows Ruffnut to regain her composure. Typically, she doesn't make a move to help, though at least that much is expected, right? Besides, she is well aware Ruffnut can endure almost anything thrown at her. That flashy show probably just dazed the adrenaline junky.

"Again, how is it working? Last time I checked, you fling your fist erratically-- not fling lightning from your fingertips."

Because you're mortal. You'll have to excuse her and give a thorough explanation. Do enlighten her how this is all remotely possible, please.

No worries~ I'm just glad you dropped by :D

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ah right, explanation time. She was getting used to this.

"OK so, I've been training with this guy...well he's a book. His name is Overlord Zetta and he's been teaching me how to fight better." To prove the point Ruffnut sprung back a couple paces and delivered a few sharp quick jabs into the air. Considering how unrefined and...well useless her usual flailing about was unless it was aimed at Tuffnut she'd improved quiet a bit in the months since she awoke on Stacy.

"So then he introduces me to the guy named Matt. Matt has this magic thing that...well does magic." How well put.

"The magic thing is supposed to...he said something about elements. Mana...I dunno. But he took me to it, use it and now..." She grinned a wicked grin as a target rose up behind her. It was shaped like a barrel but had been painted to resemble a scary troll. She spun about and punched hard sparks flying from between her fingers as the strike connected and bolts of energy raced through the target causing it to explode. Ruffnut was laughing for a moment till a spare piece of wood struck her in the forehead from the explosion "OW!"

Re: No worries~ I'm just glad you dropped by :D

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

(http://photobucket.com)

Astrid's initial reaction can only be described as bewildered. Or she is seriously disturbed Ruff now possesses such godly power and recklessly hurls it around at will, striking unfortunate inanimate objects. Does this "Overlord" mentor fellow know what he's teaching?

She gawks, momentarily speechless at the showy demonstration and spark display. Although not exactly alarmed by Ruffnut's comical pain. Its a known recurring theme with the Thorston twins.

Another established fact, Ruffnut typically isn't the observant type, however if she's super quick she's liable to catch a peculiar sight. Astrid's arms remain crossed, but one hand raises slightly off her arm and she seems to be thinking, throwing shifty glances between her hand and Ruff. Closing and opening her palm, her fingers briefly moving rhythmically, almost mimicking Ruffnut's hand movement when she casted the energy... then her hand returns to its original position on her arm and she's right back to watching Ruffnut incredulously, unsure if she should be impressed overall. D-Don't get the wrong idea! It's not like she expressed any interest if she can do it too!

"Oohkaay, to sum it up, you're attending rigorous training messing with... magic and parading like your Thor's daughter incarnate. Got it."

Wait.

A pause and both her eyebrows raise.

"--Book? Have you been reading?" Yes, color her surprised.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

Ruffnut blinked and then grinned, and snorted, and giggled, and then laughed out loud clutching her sides "Pft, Yeah right, that'll be the day!" She wiped a tear from her eye, "No no, the book talks! Magically!"

It was increasingly clear that Ruffnut was just going to label everything she didn't understand as magic.

"It's been alot of fun, I get knocked around, he heals me up, we go again. I also fought all these demons this girl summoned up." She was so proud she was almost glowing, or maybe that was the magic energy she was now letting coarse through her body.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Ridiculous, though a valid reason why Ruff has been preoccupied lately. Astrid won't bother to mention lately she's been distracted or go into detail of other happenings cutting in on her own training time. Blossoming relationship business, you know.

She smiles faintly. Talking egotistical books and zappy magic aside, it is a pleasant feeling knowing her friend is still the same anti-literacy tomboy. Still, Astrid's opinion stands that it really wouldn't hurt Ruff to memorize her runes once in awhile.

"...Interesting," she replied softly, tucking stray bangs behind an ear.

Her only response, but, hey, she is genuinely intrigued. "Did you manage to win against the--the demon hordes? How bad were they? Vicious? What other weapons did you use? Did you bleed?"

Oh Viking girls and their funny questions.

[ruffntumblenut.livejournal.com]

"Yeah I totally...almost...beat most of them." She rubbed her arm sheepishly, "Got some cool scars though!" And she promptly Fumbled with her thick belt and tunic to lift it up and show off some deep looking knife wounds. She dropped the shirt and pulled up on her sleeve to show one in her shoulder as well, "There were these creepy baby things with knives, big knives. They looked all dead and stuff!" She shivered and laughed, "Totally gross you know?"