Sixer rummaged through the pile of papers and books scattered across his desk in the study he shared with his counterpart. The house had adjusted its size after Weirdmageddon to accommodate the large number of Pines who lived in it now, so space wasn’t an issue.
“List of what, Sixer?”
That usually meant there was at least one other Stanford Pines doing his work in the study. In this case, the one who was able to go by Stanford.
Sixer didn’t look over at the voice as he pushed a couple books aside. “A list of elements that kitsune are known for having access to. I was given a list of short descriptors a little over a year ago...I know it’s in here somewhere...”
“Do you think you have something other than fire and ice?”
“Yes, that is -- aha!” Sixer pulled the sheet of paper out of the book it happened to be stuck in. “That would be a suspicion of mine now, yes. I doubt that I’m going to have...access to the full list here, but...well, it wouldn’t hurt to try.”
There was the creak of a chair and the sound of boots walking across the wooden floor. One of Sixer’s two still-human counterparts leaned over his shoulder to look at the list in Sixer’s hand.
“I don’t see Ice specifically on there,” Stanford noted with a frown.
“It’s a subset to the Wind element.” Sixer motioned to the description at the top of the list. “Which either suggests that I can’t access it fully, or I could reach ridiculous levels of weather manipulation later. But I doubt that.”
“May I?” Stanford motioned to the list. Sixer handed it over, and watched his counterpart with a raised eyebrow as Stanford scanned the list. “Sixer, at least four of these are essentially two elements, but with a subset that is a stronger form. If that is the case, it is more likely the list of elements here is 11, not 13.”
“I’ve considered that,” Sixer replied. “I’ve also considered that I don’t have access to the full list.”
“I should think not, considering that you have Fire and Ice.”
“And the Celestial element.”
Stanford looked over the paper with a frown. “Celestial?”
“Consider it a fit of irony from the multiverse.” Sixer smiled wryly. “Also, it explains where my ability to create portals comes from. The description does say that users of the element can teleport.”
“...yes, it certainly does.” Stanford looked at the list. “So that’s 3 out of 11 elements. Which ones don’t you expect to get access to?”
“Lightning and Void, for one thing. Lightning is connected to the entirety of Wind in some form, and Void because...” Sixer trailed off as his ears pulled back a little. “I’m not going to say it’s because it’s naturally connected to evil-minded kitsune, but considering that they can essentially teleport through shadows and I don’t, it wouldn’t make sense for those abilities to stack well.”
“But you can hide yourself in the shadows well by utilizing a glamour.”
“...well, yes, but that’s a little different from completely blending with the shadows.”
“Good point.” Stanford nodded. “I suppose you’re expecting to get the weaker of the water and earth elements as well, then.”
“That is the thought, yes, since I have a subset of wind and no indication of weather manipulation anytime soon.” Sixer frowned. “However, that still leaves some unknown possibilities, with plant manipulation, time, music -- as strange as that is -- and spirit, which I would rather not attempt. So you can see my dilemma in attempting to access another element possibility.”
“Yes, that is quite the imposing selection.” Stanford rubbed his chin, frowning. “Music looks to be an alternate to spell-casting, in some form. Have you tried any of that?”
Sixer paused. “Some.” Once he’d made a detection spell that had alerted him to the presence of a person he had been looking for, but that was...well, Nightmare had been present for that. Well over a year ago. “It’s a bit difficult to get your hands on spell books, so I haven’t been able to do much.”
“I’ll see if I can find any hidden in the library that you could experiment with.” Stanford handed back the list. “Considering your past experience, I wouldn’t be surprised if some minor time manipulation happened to find its way into your skillset as well.”
“If it does, that would make me a very dangerous kitsune,” Sixer replied. “I’m dangerous enough.”
“Only when you want to be, which doesn’t seem to be often. I think a lot of us are thankful for that.”
Sixer’s ears pulled back slightly. “As am I.”
Stanford paused, then cleared his throat a bit. “So, which one are you going to attempt first?”
“I was thinking water, as an attempt to connect it to ice. Which means I’m going to need to do some research before I attempt to activate it.” Sixer looked at the stack of books that was on his desk. “And I should have plenty of research for that.”
“Do you need some help?”
Sixer blinked at the offer. “Ah...that would be useful, actually.”
“Excellent.” Stanford grinned and reached for the book at the top of the stack. “Let’s see what your research has to tell us, then!”
((I think I’ve decided on a few things -- both as a result of the drabble I just posted and the sorts of things that have been mulling over in my head.
Sixer is a Fire-and-Celestial kitsune, but with more of a focus on his fire half than the other half. This is mostly because of Cipher, who wanted him around for the destruction that fire can cause. He didn’t tell Sixer about any other abilities he might have, and he didn’t give him permission to experiment.
It’s ironic that he’s Celestial because Cipher is in no way a god, but at the same time Sixer’s Cipher had enough power in the Nightmare Realm that he could very well have been considered one.
Sixer’s fire control is precise -- he can manipulate flames and heat and absorb the same for energy, but it gives him half of what he’s expelled. An average fireball re-absorbed gives him back the energy of a will-o-wisp, for example. He can’t subsist on fire alone, but it does make it easier to live in warmer climates. Creating illusions (mirages) is connected to this, and it’s an ability he’s learning about.
That said, his Celestial half is more unpredictable. He doesn’t know everything that he’s capable of, and he hasn’t figured out yet that this is the other element he has access to. He only knows that he can make portals to other realms. The truth of the matter is...that Celestial half, which allows him some access to the other elements, acts as his well of “I’m gonna go off a limb and try to do this thing” sort of magic. It’s chaotic -- like Cipher -- and it’s reactive to his emotions.
Get him mad enough -- and I don’t mean protective/defensive, I mean downright furious -- and any predictability goes out the window. In exchange, it tires him quickly, because he’s running on instinct and isn’t completely aware of what’s going on. His Celestial half becomes a last resort to tap into only when he feels he needs it -- which isn’t going to be often. He hasn’t even figured out how yet.
Something else... Kitsune have domains. Gravity Falls is Sixer’s domain -- specifically the woods around the Shack, and the Shack itself. That home turf advantage...does things to his powers. Enhances them. Find him outside of that area, and he’s going to be not quite as strong. And it’s going to be easier for him to lose control of his Celestial half.))
((Before I respond, I should let you know that only the fire element is going to be used to its fullest extent. Because the plan is that he’s going to have to learn how to use the other ones and he’s put so much focus into the fire element that none of the other ones are going to reach the amount of control and experience he currently has in the one he has easy access to.
He’s not going to understand everything about those elements at a snap of his fingers.
Elements that Sixer will likely have access to on top of Celestial include: Wind, Earth or Mountain (as they’re essentially the same thing), Time (the Divination aspect), and Music (in the sense of general spell-casting…but he won’t gain full access to it until he manages to get past a certain part of his past).
Which means he will not have access to River, Ocean, Forest, Earth or Mountain (depending on what I pick), Thunder, Dark (also called Void), and Spirit.
(Elements taken from this list.)
So, he would get access to 6 of the 13 elements that kitsune are said to be able to reach according to folklore. And only one of them he would be in full control of.))
