's times like this I wish I had a way to translate how I "see" the spells into something - visible? tangible? ... [ scribble scribble ] 'cuz this is gonna take lot of refinement and testing. [ a process which would probably be easier if she had a lab partner or two. she doesn't make it sound like an actual complaint, though - it's more of a wish, bouyed up by the excitement of !! idea !! science !! experimentation and learning !! ]

[ scribble scribble SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE, mumbling something about counters. Another shuffle leaves her sitting on her knees, hunching over the notebook. ]

That's been on my make it work list for a while. [ twirls her pen, head tilting. ] Anytime I've tried, no matter what I've tried, the shield ends up working kinda like a soap bubble or a mold, forming around, not in or through. Trapping, buffering, blunt force, yes. Severing, no...t yet. I know there's probably some way to make it work; I've just gotta puzzle it out.