Sweeney tugs the page free of the book, nodding at Raylan's question.
"Sigil. That's what Hunter teaches." Well, and. He corrects himself.
"I mean, it's his native magic." The line is drawn slowly enough for the marshal to follow; there's nothing overly complex about it. Just some circles and lines inside a larger ring. Very simple and geometric.
Reaching in his pocket, he produces a fist-sized cotton pouch. Sweeney loosens the drawstring and pulls out a sunflower seed, then ties it shut and sets it on the porch, along with his journal. Without further explanation, he holds the page up, turned to Raylan as if to say 'see?'. Then he stands and takes one step forward before turning and crouching. The paper is put on the ground between them.
He puts the seed in his mouth, just for a couple of seconds before he removes it and places it in the center of the design. While that step isn't technically necessary, he finds it makes it work better for him, to have that connection.
His eyes close and he takes a slow, deep breath. Focus etches in his brow, and he holds his hands like he's warming them at a fire. After a long moment, the paper starts to disintegrate, flaking off into sparkling light. When it's gone, the seed rests on the dirt. Then it cracks. Then a green stalk starts to unfurl. It's not instant or flashy, but it is making good time in its progress.
Only then does he open his eyes and look up to Raylan.
He watches attentively, nodding faintly to show he was following along and once Sweeney sets it all down, Raylan silently leans forward like he would pick up something more nuanced. The paper lights and his expression doesn't change until the seed cracks, dark eyes widening as life sprung up out of nowhere.
"I think I'd like to know how you did that. Is it the lines? Intent? A combination of both?"
His questions were going to be long and exhaustive, he was sure, but he was also sure that if he echoed Red's movements, he would not get the same result.
"Uses ambient magic, so we don't gotta provide it ourselves." Because they're in the same boat as far as that particular accessibility. He comes back to the porch and sits on the edge, picking up the journal and pencil as the flower continues to grow.
"There's only four base glyphs." Sweeney finds a fresh page and pulls it, then draws each in turn, small enough to fit on the page together. He labels each beneath with beautiful penmanship.
"Light, ice, plant, fire." When he's done, he offers the paper to Raylan. "From there, ya can combine them ta do other things. But I pretty much just use this one." He points to the plant one, obviously.
Raylan's attention was kept on the sunflower that was still growing, leaves popping up out of seemingly nowhere despite being preceded by the nubs that produced them. It was fascinating. He looks up at the tear of paper and to take it as it's handed over, eyes scanning over each.
"Feels like it should be more complicated than that." Like maybe he was misunderstanding something. Olenor had given him a good sense of what 'Focus your intent' meant and that alone wasn't exactly the easiest but Raylan felt he had surly shortcutted that.
"I get for plant you need a plant - does that mean for the rest, I need light, fire and an ice cube or-"
He shakes his head and shrugs the idea off with his shoulder, seeking to clarify.
"Ya don't actually need the seed. Or anythin' else, really." Sweeney presses his lips, then parts them with his tongue. "Ya can make the glyph with anythin'. Draw it in the dirt or the like." Which leaves him having to confess the reason for his personal method.
"I just use seeds 'cause I don't trust my mind ta make shit up from nothin'." He's quick to correct himself. "I mean--I don't trust my mind ta make the right thing. Or...well, I don't know what it'd come up with." Given my madness.
"Fer the best that I use as few movin' parts as possible."
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no subject
"Sigil. That's what Hunter teaches." Well, and. He corrects himself.
"I mean, it's his native magic." The line is drawn slowly enough for the marshal to follow; there's nothing overly complex about it. Just some circles and lines inside a larger ring. Very simple and geometric.
Reaching in his pocket, he produces a fist-sized cotton pouch. Sweeney loosens the drawstring and pulls out a sunflower seed, then ties it shut and sets it on the porch, along with his journal. Without further explanation, he holds the page up, turned to Raylan as if to say 'see?'. Then he stands and takes one step forward before turning and crouching. The paper is put on the ground between them.
He puts the seed in his mouth, just for a couple of seconds before he removes it and places it in the center of the design. While that step isn't technically necessary, he finds it makes it work better for him, to have that connection.
His eyes close and he takes a slow, deep breath. Focus etches in his brow, and he holds his hands like he's warming them at a fire. After a long moment, the paper starts to disintegrate, flaking off into sparkling light. When it's gone, the seed rests on the dirt. Then it cracks. Then a green stalk starts to unfurl. It's not instant or flashy, but it is making good time in its progress.
Only then does he open his eyes and look up to Raylan.
"So. Whad'ya think?"
no subject
"I think I'd like to know how you did that. Is it the lines? Intent? A combination of both?"
His questions were going to be long and exhaustive, he was sure, but he was also sure that if he echoed Red's movements, he would not get the same result.
no subject
"Uses ambient magic, so we don't gotta provide it ourselves." Because they're in the same boat as far as that particular accessibility. He comes back to the porch and sits on the edge, picking up the journal and pencil as the flower continues to grow.
"There's only four base glyphs." Sweeney finds a fresh page and pulls it, then draws each in turn, small enough to fit on the page together. He labels each beneath with beautiful penmanship.
"Light, ice, plant, fire." When he's done, he offers the paper to Raylan. "From there, ya can combine them ta do other things. But I pretty much just use this one." He points to the plant one, obviously.
"The rest is focusin' yer intent."
no subject
"Feels like it should be more complicated than that." Like maybe he was misunderstanding something. Olenor had given him a good sense of what 'Focus your intent' meant and that alone wasn't exactly the easiest but Raylan felt he had surly shortcutted that.
"I get for plant you need a plant - does that mean for the rest, I need light, fire and an ice cube or-"
no subject
"Ya don't actually need the seed. Or anythin' else, really." Sweeney presses his lips, then parts them with his tongue. "Ya can make the glyph with anythin'. Draw it in the dirt or the like." Which leaves him having to confess the reason for his personal method.
"I just use seeds 'cause I don't trust my mind ta make shit up from nothin'." He's quick to correct himself. "I mean--I don't trust my mind ta make the right thing. Or...well, I don't know what it'd come up with." Given my madness.
"Fer the best that I use as few movin' parts as possible."