[Scene: Late at night under a tranquil moon (it doesn't look all that calamitous from here), a ways into the forest by the manor or actually -- perhaps past it, somewhere out in the crazy wilderness between the ravages and the ruins.
But since trees are picturesque, we'll say it's a clearing surrounded by trees. Things (and acoustics) just wouldn't hit the same on an open plain, would they?
A dark-cloaked figure is seated at a grand piano; the instrument's glossy curves gleam between the leaves, the reflections of the keys dance after his fingers: Moonlight Sonata in the great outdoors, for those with the wherewithal to recognize Beethoven in a completely different world and time.]
The forest howls...
[His voice is sonorous; perhaps unnaturally so, weaving with the notes; weaving with the minor explosions that are happening around him in a certain radius -- they're not very powerful, but they're more-or-less targeting any monsters venturing beyond the treeline. They're all smaller monsters in this area, the right size to get bowled over by a bit of fireworks, and also not so loud as to drown out the music.
The hapless goblins, wargs, and bats are knocked about like ping-pong balls; though most of them aren't destroyed. It makes for a very bizarre field of view coming up on the place.
But who is he talking to, if not the monsters? Well...]
But the trees hear your passing. Speak. What brings one of the castle's newest peons here?
[Maya herself isn't that used to tromping around in the middle of the forest at night. First and foremost, she is a city girl and while she's done her fair share of late night strolls when coming home from the office, she'd never had reason to hit up the more mountainous or rural outskirts of the city. Still, having a flying broom makes a pretty big difference when it comes to a commute to and from the city, so while it would normally be quicker to just use the tower to return to the manor, it's not so bad to get a lay for the land when you can.
So really, it's pretty much pure coincidence that she happens upon this strange scene of a man playing a piano in a clearing while a bunch of demons(?) get repelled by the ongoing light show. Lowering her altitude so she can take a closer look... yeah, no, this is still weird.
Evidently, her impression isn't helped by the cosplayer's(?) way of speaking, but she's also had encounters with other overdramatic guysin stupid masks before, this is fine.]
Oh, me? I was just passing by when I saw you and your piano... I didn't realize there were demons here, too.
[Quite discerning of her, Shadow thinks, to come in from the air by the light of the moon -- else he might have blown her up a little with the monsters. It's a slim chance, but given that his senses have totally been dulled and the piano is kind of loud when you're the one playing it, you never know.
His fingers don't pause on the keys as he continues playing, even though that means he only catches maybe two-thirds of what she's saying. He really needs to work on his sensory magic, but he also doesn't really feel like fighting monsters the normal way right now, for one reason or another.
Also it makes a nice backdrop for his lines. It's a true cosplayer (clown) mentality.]
Wandering out into the wilds without a thought for what may lie here, when your magic is still so undeveloped... That boldness isn't bad. [...] Did you say demons?
[Meanwhile, as this little impromptu concert continues and the cacophony of the monsters being blown back in the background remains a part of the bgm here, she can't help but feel that having this kind of chat in the middle of this clearing is just unbelievably surreal. She's seen some weird shit recently but this is pretty up there, mostly because she can't seem to discern a reason for why any of this is happening right now.]
Uh... Thanks? Although I feel like that should be my line...
[Because really, she doesn't think there's anything bolder than dragging a whole-ass piano out here in the middle of the night so he can play it (and blow up some monsters on the way?).
The demon thing though--most people at home aren't really aware of them either, so that's not too surprising a response.]
Yeah. I mean, they don't quite look the same as the ones I'm used to, but what else would you call them?
I am Shadow; he who dwells in the dark and hunts the deeper shadows that lurk within.
[Unfortunately for Maya, this is literally just what dealing with Shadow is like. Forever. Sudden pianos may be the least of her problems. Well, the yeeted monsters may be the least of her problems right now, given they're really not up to causing additional chaos.
That's probably a good thing!
Unseen under his hood, Shadow's lips curl in a satisfied smile. Bamboozling people really is a fun past time; plus he gets to use lines he wouldn't otherwise. This is a worthy role(play) and activity. He even gets to practice magic in the mix. Speaking of which... the clearing's getting a little crowded. His AOE isn't perfect yet, alas.]
... We call them magical beasts, but perhaps here they are something else altogether. Nevertheless, they too have stepped into my shadow. [a struck chord, sudden and dramatic; spoken English, ringing and true] I Am Atomic: Moonlight.
[With the spoken incantation, the magic he's been casting coalesces, becomes a just slightly visible shimmer of electric purple traveling throughout the ground and the trees, under Maya's feet and that of the monsters. This time, several of the monsters are thrust out of the clearing altogether, but luckily his companion is spared. Precision is also part and parcel of training.]
antennaeshakes + then shoots a love dart at you uwu
Shadow, huh... I don't recall seeing you around the manor.
[Everything about this person screams suspicious in capital letters, but so far it's only the monsters that are being tossed back, so the concern levels are relatively low. As some monsters slip past the blasts, Maya's prepared to loose her own spell in response, but Shadow beats her to the punch and she just watches them get yeeted. Welp.]
That's one way to deal with them, I suppose! I guess talking wouldn't do much good if they're actually beasts, though. I was hoping we might be able to get some information or items if we could have a decent conversation...
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in the jungle... the mighty jungle......
But since trees are picturesque, we'll say it's a clearing surrounded by trees. Things (and acoustics) just wouldn't hit the same on an open plain, would they?
A dark-cloaked figure is seated at a grand piano; the instrument's glossy curves gleam between the leaves, the reflections of the keys dance after his fingers: Moonlight Sonata in the great outdoors, for those with the wherewithal to recognize Beethoven in a completely different world and time.]
The forest howls...
[His voice is sonorous; perhaps unnaturally so, weaving with the notes; weaving with the minor explosions that are happening around him in a certain radius -- they're not very powerful, but they're more-or-less targeting any monsters venturing beyond the treeline. They're all smaller monsters in this area, the right size to get bowled over by a bit of fireworks, and also not so loud as to drown out the music.
The hapless goblins, wargs, and bats are knocked about like ping-pong balls; though most of them aren't destroyed. It makes for a very bizarre field of view coming up on the place.
But who is he talking to, if not the monsters? Well...]
But the trees hear your passing. Speak. What brings one of the castle's newest peons here?
no subject
So really, it's pretty much pure coincidence that she happens upon this strange scene of a man playing a piano in a clearing while a bunch of demons(?) get repelled by the ongoing light show. Lowering her altitude so she can take a closer look... yeah, no, this is still weird.
Evidently, her impression isn't helped by the cosplayer's(?) way of speaking, but she's also had encounters with other overdramatic guys in stupid masks before, this is fine.]
Oh, me? I was just passing by when I saw you and your piano... I didn't realize there were demons here, too.
snails back here sorry for slowwww
His fingers don't pause on the keys as he continues playing, even though that means he only catches maybe two-thirds of what she's saying. He really needs to work on his sensory magic, but he also doesn't really feel like fighting monsters the normal way right now, for one reason or another.
Also it makes a nice backdrop for his lines. It's a true cosplayer (clown) mentality.]
Wandering out into the wilds without a thought for what may lie here, when your magic is still so undeveloped... That boldness isn't bad. [...] Did you say demons?
reaches to you in slo-mo and snails with
Uh... Thanks? Although I feel like that should be my line...
[Because really, she doesn't think there's anything bolder than dragging a whole-ass piano out here in the middle of the night so he can play it (and blow up some monsters on the way?).
The demon thing though--most people at home aren't really aware of them either, so that's not too surprising a response.]
Yeah. I mean, they don't quite look the same as the ones I'm used to, but what else would you call them?
/snail antennaeshake
[Unfortunately for Maya, this is literally just what dealing with Shadow is like. Forever. Sudden pianos may be the least of her problems. Well, the yeeted monsters may be the least of her problems right now, given they're really not up to causing additional chaos.
That's probably a good thing!
Unseen under his hood, Shadow's lips curl in a satisfied smile. Bamboozling people really is a fun past time; plus he gets to use lines he wouldn't otherwise. This is a worthy role(play) and activity. He even gets to practice magic in the mix. Speaking of which... the clearing's getting a little crowded. His AOE isn't perfect yet, alas.]
... We call them magical beasts, but perhaps here they are something else altogether. Nevertheless, they too have stepped into my shadow. [a struck chord, sudden and dramatic; spoken English, ringing and true] I Am Atomic: Moonlight.
[With the spoken incantation, the magic he's been casting coalesces, becomes a just slightly visible shimmer of electric purple traveling throughout the ground and the trees, under Maya's feet and that of the monsters. This time, several of the monsters are thrust out of the clearing altogether, but luckily his companion is spared. Precision is also part and parcel of training.]
antennaeshakes + then shoots a love dart at you uwu
[Everything about this person screams suspicious in capital letters, but so far it's only the monsters that are being tossed back, so the concern levels are relatively low. As some monsters slip past the blasts, Maya's prepared to loose her own spell in response, but Shadow beats her to the punch and she just watches them get yeeted. Welp.]
That's one way to deal with them, I suppose! I guess talking wouldn't do much good if they're actually beasts, though. I was hoping we might be able to get some information or items if we could have a decent conversation...