Tales of Mystery and Imagination

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:18:01 GMT

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing,
you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Sense and Sensitivity

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 02:36:23 GMT

It would seem a mage cannot use so much magic to tie his shoelaces these days, without some Sensitive going "Ah ha!" Could it be that mother nature has finally realized that us poor humans are at a slight disadvantage in the midst of the preternatural circus, and decided to give a little push to the wheels and gears of evolution, equipping more and more humans with enhanced survival instincts? Or is it just me constantly running into such rare individuals? I cannot say for sure, since identifying Sensitives is not as easy for me as identifying therians or vampires. It is only when they react to something metaphysical that I can tell them out. A handshake usually does the trick, like it did two nights ago at the Marina, and yesterday in my store.

Doctor Alexander Kale, a professor on the field of Symbology and Ritualistic Magic, just walked out of Limerick's when I was conversing with Sophie nearby. The vampire and the doctor had met before apparently. After a brief threesome conversation, I can't say he has potential to be a good friend, as far as first impressions go. If the man manages to be that insincere in his politeness even when he's tipsy, his sobriety holds promise of an insufferable personality. His dislikable demeanor aside, I reckon he can be useful to that new company of mine with his expertise in magic. One could doubt the appropriateness of inviting a part-time witch-hunter into a community of witches. But we already have the head of RPIT in our ranks, how worse could it get?

The second one I met is Vivian Deveau, a lawyer specializing in therian safehouse releases, who had come to the store to meet me, strangely. Well, she had come to meet the proprietor of a pleasant, distinguished bookstore but the indirect popularity is flattering nonetheless. Again a handshake and her reaction to me gave her away as a Sensitive. But this is not all about Ms.Deveau. It also turned out she happens to be an empath as well. Psychic abilities can be a curse or blessing, and in her case, the line is really thin. It is a gift to be able to sense what her client feels, what the juries in a courtroom or the judge feels, that should certainly help a lawyer to some degree. But when it is mostly about therians suffering in some safehouse in awful conditions, her keen sense may eventually break her down. She asked me if I could help teach her control and frankly I was not sure if I could. My empathy is fueled by magic, which I can turn on and off at will. In her case, I didn't know what would help. I offered trying meditation techniques to see if they would help. But a better option presented itself later that evening.

Cerys and I were at the tree lighting ceremony where we met Erec. The meeting extended itself to him visiting our store for dinner and conversation. Then he mentioned me of an empath among the foxes, looking for help for just the same reasons as Vivian. I said I would gladly help if I could, of course. He will ask that particular fox if she would like to meet me and he will get back to me in the near future. It was not until the meeting ended that I realized the opportunity for both myself and the two empaths, one I had met and one I had heard of. I had not had a good chance to study any empaths at length before and now I have the chance of studying and comparing two of them to each other. I am sure they will find the experience helpful as well. I need to arrange a meeting when I get the word from Erec.

On another note, the tree lighting ceremony was an eventful one. It reminded me of this particular tale about a camel living in the desert, who is plagued by such legendary misfortune that one day he ends up being raped in the middle of the desert... by a polar bear. The unfortunate camel in the ceremony last night was not in a much different situation. Imagine being chosen among all other camels to be brought to San Francisco on a cold winter night, and finding yourself surrounded by all kinds of predators, wolves, leopards, vampires, you name it. Who could blame the poor animal for making a run for it? I wonder if the camel knew its outbreak would result in just one more addition to the numbers of predators. Then again, even if camels were God's chosen vessels to imbue with foresight, predicting this occurrence would still be a difficult one. So the result is, one more headache for the Ulfric. I almost wish I could see Zane's face every time that happened. Zane the control freak. Camels are beyond the jurisdiction of his control obviously.

Prologue

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 20:37:27 GMT

Alright, so here I am writing on the pages of my very personal journal, my very first entry. This is the first time I attempt keeping a journal. I know Cerys keeps one as well, I personally provided her the notebook and the pen, both possessed of a girly theme. Since she is not bored of it yet, I suppose it is a good thing. Come to think of it, I'm in love with my own voice, why my scribblings should be any different? I know such a time will come that I will browse through the pages of this journal some many years later and I will say, "Well done, Nigel. Fantastic reading material, thou art a true master!" But before I lose myself in self-glorification (oh it comes so easy), perhaps I should provide a bit of information on what's happening lately.

The most important news is that Cerys and I are to be married, of course. We both knew and felt it was going to happen eventually. No doubts in our minds, no second thoughts. I was thinking of proposing after her training was completed, but I can barely contain my feelings when she is around. So the words came off my mouth one night in her warm embrace and she said yes without thinking. It was a magical moment if I ever had one. Yes, we already knew it would come to this but I suppose knowing the truth and speaking the truth, hearing the truth from each other's lips are not the same thing. We have yet to set a date for the wedding and for that we indeed have to wait for her to become an adult Hyena.

Speaking of Hyenas, both me and Cerys will be deeply involved with the Clan, from the looks of it. I have been chosen as the Clan witch by the Oba, and it seems Cerys will be the second in command in the near future. So whatever comes from that, these days are the beginning of it. I like that bunch in general, nice people really. With the exception of one or two, whom I merely tolerate. These are my first impressions though, and time may change my views for better or worse. We'll see.

What else? Christmas is coming and I still need to prepare a gift list for people. Which means I will have to go shopping at some point. Trouble is, I believe I have shopping-phobia. I'm not sure if there is a fancy Latin name for this condition of mine but I find the experience overwhelming in a bad way. Hard to explain. I can handle a shop, a store with no problem. But the moment I step into a mall, it becomes something else, something akin to solving high order differential equations. I suspect the root of the problem is, there is a magical spell inherent in the construction of all malls, that they make you doubt what you exactly need to buy. You step out with a simple tie over your shirt in mind and they poison your mind with an endless quantities of varieties, possibilities and prices. In a matter of minutes, you find yourself wondering what shirt you want under the tie, what jacket over the shirt, what pants, what pair of shoes, what coat, what hat, what gloves, what restaurant while you're at it, what watch, what perfume, what flavour of condoms... ahem... that explains a bit I guess.

And the other people in my life, or should I say other women. I visit Starla once in a while. The last time I was at her place, I told her about the wedding plans and she graciously offered her band to play at the wedding for us. I must admit I have never heard her performance yet but I gather people are paying money to hear her, so she can't be bad at it. If it will mean I'll have to pay her less on account of being close friends and lovers, all the better. Playing or not playing, I'd love to see her at the wedding.

Further along the theme of dating, I find myself enjoying the company of a particular vampire very much these days. Sophie has always been entertaining right from our first meeting but I admit I was almost about to believe there was not much to her aside from the endless supply of humour. Much to my delight, she proved me wrong on that. She has her moments of heart-warming sweetness, which surface more and more frequently lately. Definitely worth the effort it took me to find out.

Ah well, I could go on and on about life in general, but it's about the right time for dinner. Do you say goodbye to your diary? Hug and kiss it? Turn back and wave from the doorway?