There's science to be done! (RP scene: KH1 era)

[ars_scientia]

If there's one thing that can be said about Even, it's that he's devoted to his work. Perhaps even too devoted, at times, and this holds true regardless of what his latest project. So really it ought to come as no surprise that tonight is no different. The worst of the Heartless have been cleared out, and so it is that they've returned to what is currently passing as home base. Naturally then, Even has returned to his usual task of categorizing the days worth of Heartless - there have been a few new variants lately and it's imperative that he both categorize them before he forgets the important details as well as cross-checks them with the types he already has. Understanding the 'species' such as they are is a vital part in understanding the plague they've been tasked with dealing with.

Wrapped up as he is, he doesn't notice as the hours creep by and barely even notes that it's growing darker. As long as he has some sort of light source he'll keep working, and Glacier is resting against his chair in case he has need to defend himself against attack.

Comments

[ars_scientia]

There's a slow nod from Even at the suggestion. He hadn't really begun to think about the hows and whys of their creation, but it makes sense. A less violent - or less strong - heart might well affect what sort of Heartless was created after the initial loss. They've never really had the best data on Heartless creation and he's not so sure he wants to try figuring it out anymore. Not now that he's had more of a change to see them in action.

"It's certainly plausible. If a person were less then accepting of their own strength it could certainly affect how they thought of themselves in those crucial last moments."

[abidingstoic]

Aeleus nods in agreement, scrutinizing the sheets; self-destructive work ethic or not, there's no way he can fault Even for the thoroughness of his work. While he has a distinct, undeniable slant to his work, and favors some elements far more than others--within the scope of his own domain, it's difficult to rival the sheer quality of work he produces. Still..... There really is very little they can know about the causes of such things, is there? Nothing they can test, knowing how terrible the end results are.

All that remains, in situations like these, are speculation and observation. Correlational studies, able to guess at relationships and their nature without discerning causal influences. "Indeed. The perceptions may well influence them that strongly, as well as their natural inclinations. Still, what we've managed to observe suggests at least that Heartless capable of magic are fundamentally more powerful than those that can only rely on direct attacks." A thought that should probably be humbling, given his role within their camaraderie. Still, it's a necessary role--and he doesn't mind acknowledging himself as the weak link, in terms of pure potential, so long as he's able to do his job well.

[ars_scientia]

It's almost a shame, really. Even would have been quite grateful for anything more about the genesis of the Heartless. If they had that, the categorizing would be much easier, and there would be a significant decrease in the amount of guesswork he has to do. Not that guesswork isn't still an important part of an scientific inquiry, but it still irritates him to not know all he could.

"From what we've seen, yes. It's simple enough to avoid physical attacks, when they come, but magical attacks aren't quite so easy to see coming. Similarly, the vast majority of the magical variety seem to have something of a... native resistance to a variety of things. Physical attacks, perhaps, or simply the element they seem to prefer." There was a moment of silence following his words, as Even turned his attention to the food for a moment. Theorizing could wait for a moment, after all.

"I suppose it could compensate for the weakness of the individual at the relevant moment."

[abidingstoic]

"Certainly. A victim who was, say, physically immobilized at the time of their loss, unable to trust in their body in the slightest....." It seemed as though it must be some sort of natural process--like other senses growing to be sharper when one is lost, or a heightened immune system response to foreign pathogens. Perhaps magic was simply the body's way of compensating for what it was not physically capable of.

(Perhaps that would also explain his lesser magical standing, relative to the others? He had everything he needed in strong arms and cold steel. Even so, would that theory stand up to the fact that even Dilan has proven more gifted than him?)

Aeleus smiles wryly at his own line of thought, but holds his peace; he's here to let Even eat, after all, so he can take care of this work for him. Two heads are better than one, but he knows Even will be going over this work carefully later, anyway. There's time enough for him to render his judgment then.

[ars_scientia]

Physical immobilization. Yes, it could happen that way. By leaving the body incapable other abilities would naturally rise to take their place. In this case, magic. Of course, Even can't help but wonder whether or not the physical incapability were new would affect the Heartless. But this too is something he can't test, and something that would be frowned on in most worlds. Such is the life of a scientist, not that the worlds need any more Heartless.

Still, he considers the problem as he makes his way through what Aeleus has brought him. Without tests, there can be no certainty, short of asking all the wrong sorts of people. But then again, that usually all a theory is. A guess that makes logic sense.

"It would be easier to tell for certain with some proper data, but I doubt we'll be able to get it. Not with the worlds as they are."