I've Got A Theory (Preston)

[Preston Salabim]

He smiled and clinked his glass with hers before taking a small sip, setting his glass down to start cutting at his food.

"So what do you enjoy doing when you are not studying? I would love to hear about what you are passionate about outside of Cabal."

[Bailey Oleander]

She took a sip of the cider before starting on her salad first, cutting some of it into small bites.

"Well, back home, I did work on the side at a few different centers. I enjoy working with people, or for them, like when we would renovate or find old buildings from the war. Sometimes, we find pieces or mementos that we can bring back to families, and sometimes we find things that are remains of our home before the war. If we're lucky, we can use them, but if not, we bright it to light." The girl did not really understand the concept of not working, Cabal or otherwise.

"Though I've found I have more time for reading now that I'm here. It's not just qi theory I'm interested in, but history as well, and the human body." Her lips quirked as she realized she...probably didn't sound all that interesting. "I'm fairly good at strategy games, too, thanks to teaching my younger brother.

"But what about you? What do you do in your spare time?"

[Preston Salabim]

He'd smile at the Anatomy comment, his mind taking it in a way she likely didn't. But he'd not make a comment as crude as the jokes that came to mind.

"Do you find a lot of places from the war that have not been fixed up still?"

It's been years, he'd have imagined everything useful would have been picked up from the safe areas at least.

[Bailey Oleander]

If it could have gone over her head in a literal as well as figurative sense, it would have. As it was, not even a blush came to her cheeks as she nodded.

"For the most part, yes. There are, however, places in more remote locations that people don't go to unless the need pushes them farther out than they'd normally go. My home, for instance, was a riddle of ghost towns with a central hub for mining and some historical preservation. Plus, we were close to the mountains. Whether or not people agree on what is safe and what is worth investigating differs, unfortunately. Sometimes there's just not the manpower to continue rebuilding out when you can build up."

She didn't mind talking about it, though she did notice Preston chose to focus on her answers rather than providing his own, so she would continue.

"There was one home, for instance, about a day's walk from my home. Some travelers were looking for help where a building had caved in. They were young." She shook her head, another bit of salad before she would cut into the fish.

"We looked into it, and they eventually merged with the rest of our city, but we were able to find some remaining tools that helped us to develop and expand our own."

[Preston Salabim]

"That sounds practical. You enjoy it though?"

He'd ask, taking a bite of his food as he waited for her answer on that before answering her previous question about himself.

"I admittedly don't have a lot of free time. In addition to my duties here at Cabal and my studies I have requested coursework be sent to me from the Academy so that I may work on that as well."

As she may recall.

"However, I do enjoy sketching people and things I see."

[Bailey Oleander]

"I'm afraid a lot of my hobbies may have a more practical side. I used to work back at the medical center before I was transferred to work at the R&D department." She chuckled, eyes lighting up at some of the more positive memories, enthusiasm in her smile.

"Oh yes! To be fair, it's not as far back in history as archaeologists may dig, but our world has changed so much in some ways. It's a reminder of the places and people we came from, and a way to move forward, even if it's just the new knowledge and understanding. But sometimes, you find a bit of a personal story, too. Sometimes, I think those are the best ones." The ones that end positively, anyway.

"Is there anything in particular you like to draw most?"

[Preston Salabim]

"People I suppose. I like to try and capture moments as I see them. Or animals sometimes. Scenery can be nice, but I enjoy having a living subject most."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Something about the spark of life?" she suggested.

[Preston Salabim]

"Maybe? I think it's because people are more fleeting. Those moments are more precious."

[Bailey Oleander]

Her smile warmed at the explanation. A similar idea, but a different explanation.

"True. People are a brief page in history, but the places can last much longer. And both still adapt to the changes around them, and affect each other. But sometimes, there's nothing quite like the shine in a person's eyes at a reunion, or the little things you notice, how it changes."

[Preston Salabim]

"Moments between people are fleeting. That is why capturing them is such a thrill. A mountain will be there tomorrow and the day after. But two rivals facing off, a lover's first kiss, a long-awaited reunion. Such moments are brief."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Exactly." She nodded in understanding. "It's a brief, precious moment, and even if similar, it's never the same for anyone else." She took a sip of cider, mulling over the idea that sprung to mind. She watched him for a moment as she sat the glass down, considering.

"Actually, that does bring an idea to mind."

[Preston Salabim]

"Oh yeah?"

He'd ask, pausing and setting his silverware down to give her his full attention.

[Bailey Oleander]

"Mhmm." Her own utensils were already set aside, and though part of her felt silly for shop talk, it was technically a study date.

"Your homeland is known for its quality in the magical items they make. What if you were able to do both?" Her hands rose to her chest cupped towards her before turning out towards Preston, fingers splayed as though she could physically manifest the idea and show it to him.

"Your theory on latent energy, for example. Some would say that the land has its own energy, it's own memories, even of those fleeting moments. It's a part of what shapes it. So what if you could not only draw it and capture the moment for anyone forever, but the people who experience it as well? Say a loved one dies, or the couple grows older. Memories, even precious ones, can be lost or fade away. So what about taking that energy from an item that they had the memory in - say a rock - and channeling the energy of that place, the feelings that people associate it with?

"What about shaping that normally disregarded item into something that holds that energy, as a memento for the people who lived it, or a moment of history captured in time? with the rock example - what if you could contain that energy, shape the form into something more desirable, and turn it into a memory stone?"

...

"I'm so sorry."  Bailey's cheeks burned a sudden bright red that would make a rocket's take off speed look like a snail, fingers fanning together to block her mouth.  "I guess my mind hasn't completely turned off of work mode." Dangit, dangit, dangit.  They had literally agreed minutes ago to let that rest until after they'd had a chance ot get to know each other, and she'd just turned something he enjoyed into something else.

[Preston Salabim]

He let out a long exhale. His mind rapidly going through what she was saying as his jaw shifted with his thoughts. He hadn't expected to be going right into magical theory before dinner was done. He had hoped they could just enjoy each other's company for a bit, but she was nothing if not eager. But he'd try to not let it put a damper on his evening. And he'd be a good sport and try to answer her question to the best of his ability.

"It's possible in theory. But in practice, it isn't really well... practical. Memories are ephemeral, especially when stacked against eternity. To use the example of a rock. You'd have to think about how many people might have memories around that rock. From all of time. How many people may have died in that place during or before the war. Even animals, hunting, breeding, and so on. All of it would leave imprints. So to pick a specific memory from a specific person through the entire history of the rock in this example. Well, it would be comparable to pulling a needle out of an ocean of hay."

He'd give her apology a small halfhearted smile before taking another bite of his salad.

"It's okay, I understand."

It wasn't exactly the first time such things had happened to him in his life. He was sure it wouldn't be the last.

"How's your fish?"