John

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot was feeling much better about his position on the ship now. Particularly having quarters of his own, as meager as they were. It felt as if he were in a place now where he could improve upon things. And he hadn't even had to fuck anyone for it. Plus Winter's potion had worked, and he hadn't vomited in days.

Wearing the robes that Q had given him, having charmed them to a dark purple, Eliot went up to the deck for some air. This was really... not where he had imagined himself.

Comments

[petty_dabbler]

The sun was about to set and John was at the head of the ship, taking a leak. He finished and turned, looking Eliot up and down.

"What do you want?" he asked. "You can tell Q there's still no omen..."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"What?" Eliot looked surprised, having not even noticed him at first. "I didn't come to ask you for anything."

[petty_dabbler]

John almost looked offended to find out he didn't rate.

"Ah. Oh, well. You gonna hold my sextant?" he asked then, flashing a cheeky smile.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot arched an eyebrow. "You need help with that, mate?" His lips quirked.

[petty_dabbler]

"Not really," he admitted. "But I do need to work, so you can help, or stay out of the way, hmm?"

Rather than any tool, John produced a pipe and began to fill it to smoke since the sun was still hanging above the horizon for the moment.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Tell me about your work," Eliot said, because he was genuinely interested. Also he figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay on John's good side. Though he was hoping maybe Winter said nice things about him.

[petty_dabbler]

"Ah, now you've opened the proverbial can of worms," John chuckled and motioned Eliot closer to show him the charts and notes and maps as well as the different tools he used to find all the stars could tell.

The moon was up and the sky dark enough for stars by the time he finished.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot genuinely was curious, always eager to learn new things. He moved close and examined the charts. "I took a course that touched a bit on navigation," he said when he was done, "but it was nothing like this. You're clearly very good at what you do."

[petty_dabbler]

"That I am," John said with a smug grin. "A person with talents should use them, don't you think?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Mmmm you sound like my professors," said Eliot. "Oh Eliot, if you only apply yourself you'll be the king's right hand wizard someday. Well, look where all that got me."

[petty_dabbler]

"Maybe that wasn't where your real talent was," John suggested.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Well these days I'm enchanting arrow," Eliot said with a snort.

[petty_dabbler]

"Working for Q, hmm?" John asked.

That impressed him, and he nodded.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yes," Eliot said. "I introduced myself to the captain, and he sent me to Q."

He shrugged a little and then said, "I'm not sure that enchanting is the best use of my talents, but I'm not complaining. He gave me my own quarters."

[petty_dabbler]

"Give it time, lad," John assured him.

And he didn't feel bad at all advising the young man to stick it out until Bond had used him for all he was worth.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"You do any battle magic?" Eliot asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"When there's no other options," he confirmed with a nod. "But my sort of magic doesn't leave much to salvage, so we try not to."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I confess I don't know as much about warlock magic as I'd like," Eliot said. "When I was at Brakebills I found some books on the topic, and then was told I couldn't read them."

[petty_dabbler]

"That's because Brakebills would rather burn down than produce a warlock," he chuckled. "It's dark magic, lad. Not to be played with."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"They burned down anyway," Eliot said dryly. Pause. "Well, not literally. At least, not all of it. But may as well have."

[petty_dabbler]

"And still..." he said, lifting a finger to make his point, "...No warlocks. And no, I'm not going to teach you. Not any time soon, anyway. You need to focus."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Did I ask?" Eliot said dryly. "I'm perfectly fine with normal wizarding. And have enough to worry about with the wild magic shit."

[petty_dabbler]

"That? I will help you with," hevassured him then.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yeah?" said Eliot. "Well the other day I calmed the seas and then made the whole ship smell like cinnamon for an hour."

[petty_dabbler]

He blinked in confusion at that.

"You did...what now?" he asked.

The lad could decimate a forest...cinnamon?