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[whuppity]

Dark magic can't become light. Fact. 

Comments

Because I can :D

[colonelcannibal]

. . . why do you have my face?

[pixiesized]

I mean, okay. Whatever. I'm no magic expert.

[whuppity]

[Huh.] That's certainly a new one, I'll give you that. And here I thought nothing could surprise me anymore.

Also, I think you'll find it was my face first.

[whuppity]

Then here's a thought, maybe you should try listening to one? [Is calling himself an expert a little bit of a stretch? Possibly. There are plenty of more talented sorcerers out there, people who've come by their knowledge and abilities naturally, but hardly any of those can match up to Rumple's power.] Just a suggestion.

And just to show how fair I'm being, I'll give you that one free of charge.

[colonelcannibal]

I'm not often surprised myself, these days, but I must say that this has done it.

Oh really? And how old are you, hmm?

[whuppity]

Well, it's nice to know I'm equally as jaded in other realities. Assuming, of course, that we're one and the same. [Though the more Rumple considers him, eyeing him up and down with no small amount of suspicion, the less likely it seems.]

I'm not really sure anymore. [Timelines are complicated.] I lost count somewhere around the three hundred mark. If I had to guess, I'd wager I'm closer to four hundred by now.

[colonelcannibal]

I don't think we are, I'm never quite so . . . fresh-faced, or at least clean-shaven. *Smirk.*

So you are older than I am, how unexpected! I was born in 1811. *He's such a liar. It was 1809.*

[whuppity]

I'm starting to have my doubts. [Ugh, stop doing that with his face, it's freaking him out.]

Born to this world, I take it? I imagine that's where we begin to differ.

[colonelcannibal]

*Hey, at least it's not his I'm-a-total-psychotic smile.*

I'm from Scotland--but I get the feeling we have different definitions of 'the old world,' hmm?

[pixiesized]

[A very unimpressed snort from someone with far too little patience for this mystic crap. Don't worry, though, it's not entirely personal.] You charge for suggestions? God, what is it with all you weird magic people? Ugh, what is that saying? 'Magic comes with a price'? I'm starting to think that price is one's personality because every single one of you magic types is a jerk.

Allowing for a bit of optimism isn't going to kill you.

[owl_shifter]

That depends entirely on your definition. The Will and the Word is neither evil nor good. It's the intetion of its wielder which makes the difference. Mortals, even gods, may be lead astray. On the other hand the force behind good and evil is unchangeable, ireedemable. But the universe was not made to be split between them. Just like someone whom once carried it for good may be corrupted someone who was taught the darker arts may change. It's highly unlikely however.

[whuppity]

[Isn't it funny that in all the years Rumple's been trapped in this world he's never bothered to stray outside of the U.S.? Despite the little twang in his voice, the cadence with which he speaks, he's most certainly not of Scottish origin.]

Mine is, perhaps, a little more exceptional but I won't bore you with the details. [Rumple doubts he'd believe him, despite the oddity of this meeting.]

[whuppity]

Well maybe it's because this - [He flicks a wrist at her -- someone who knows him well would see the old Rumplestiltskin in the gesture -- looking her up and down.] - this is the thanks we get whenever we try to share a good piece of advice.

Isn't it? [It's killed him once before, when he'd stabbed himself in the chest with the very same knife that gives him his powers. All to protect a son who, in the end, died anyway. Isn't optimism fun?] It's a dangerous thing, dearie, wanting something you can't have and using magic to get it.

[whuppity]

The world might not be built on it but you can't tell me the world isn't at least influenced by good and evil. [Perhaps more than either of them realizes.]

[owl_shifter]

On the contrary I'm well aware of how much the world is influenced by good and evil. In fact I got personal experiences of them both. I dedicated my life to further the goals of good to defeat evil. But magic itself isn't inheritly good or evil.

[colonelcannibal]

Oh, but now I'm curious! You were talking about magic, for one thing. Are you from Faerieland or some such? Should I be offering you milk and honey?

[whuppity]

Depends on its origin. A curse, once conceived, can't be altered. [Like, for example, the one that gives him his powers but, shush, she doesn't need to know about that.] You can no more make a curse a force for good in the world than alter the fabric of time. And believe me, I've tried.

[owl_shifter]

Of course. Once an action is taken it can't be stopped. However it can be dispelled. "Curse" is just a word. It's the intention behind it that matters. What's intended as a curse may become a good thing. I know a man whom turns into a bear when the king of Riva is in danger. Is it a curse? Or a blessing?

Being stuck in the past can turn even a god mad.

[whuppity]

Provided it has tea or coffee in it as well, I wouldn't say no. [So maybe the supernatural isn't completely unheard of in this land. Rumple considers him for a long moment.] I come from another realm - you might even call it another universe - where magic and, indeed, fairies are commonplace. We called it the Enchanted Forest.

[colonelcannibal]

*He beams.* And here I thought I was the only person around who had been, ah, touched by the supernatural. It's a pleasure to meet you indeed!

[whuppity]

Well, it's a rather difficult feat in a land without magic. [Out of politeness, Rumple doesn't wave a hand at him, resists reaching out with his power. He holds tight to his cane instead, twisting it between his restless fingers. ] Do tell.

[colonelcannibal]

Have you ever heard the myth of the wendigo, my good man? Because I've seen the wendigo.

[whuppity]

I've heard stories, of course. Even found an account or two in an old text, a memoir of a dusty, old sorcerer describing an insatiable beast that craves human flesh. [Rumple begins to circle him in his slow, easy pace, apparently unconcerned by what he's implying.] If you were unlucky enough to stumble across one, I'm surprised you survived.

[colonelcannibal]

*He laughs.* It's not such a surprise, really. I've mostly seen it in the mirror.

[whuppity]

[Bingo.] Fascinating. [No, really. Despite Rumple's customary dry delivery he is actually intrigued.] You're a reasonably powerful creature then. Quite difficult to kill, so I hear. Bloodthirsty. Clever.

[Perhaps they have a little more in common than Rumple previously realized.]

[colonelcannibal]

Powerful enough, yes. Strong, fast, durable . . . I've survived a fair bit of unpleasantness by now.

Bloodthirsty is if anything an understatement. It's an addiction that puts heroin to shame. *He smiles as gently as he can manage.* I'll do my best not to bite, if that makes you feel any better.

[whuppity]

You needn't concern yourself with my delicate sensibilities. And I doubt you'd succeed if you tried. [Rumple knows a little something about addiction, about having an all-consuming need. The Dark One's curse pulls at him everyday, begging him for more, more power, more magic. To kill them and take it all for himself.]

[colonelcannibal]

Don't tempt me, my good man. *He licks his lips.* I could use someone to eat . . .

[ridesheadless]

Obviously. Anyone telling you otherwise is either lying to you or to themselves.

crossover because I couldn't resist x3

[unfortunatesoul]

Magic can do many things. You simply have to ... experiment.