[ semi-open ] and sometimes we sing to the dawn

[accordance]

Who: Lord Light, a couple of people (closed threads in toplevels within), and you.
When: April 12-15, thereabouts
Where: Around Capablanca
What: A useless old man ponders the meaning of his existence. And also builds some things on the side.
Rating: PG+ for Adra's mouth

one;

[ Contrary to first impressions, there is indeed peace and quiet to be found in Capablanca. As one walks along the beaches further and away from the town center, the number of establishments dwindle one by one - until the last ice-cream parlour marks the end of built shoreline. The stretch of untouched sand may be quite small compared to the rest of the beach, but it's still sizeable. Sizeable enough to provide a place of relative silence for Heroes to meditate properly.

It is here, upon the sand, that he draws. Detailed, complex images are sketched into the beachside, a little away from the shoreline so that they would be untouched at low tide. It takes him hours to complete a single drawing, but he doesn't complain a single bit - merely one figure with white hair bent down close to the ground with a single branch in his hand.

At night, high tide washes them away, but he returns for at least an hour every day to add one or two. At other times he builds perfectly regular rings out of shells and other materials lying around, all without a single word. A few locals come to watch, but even then their curiosity wears out as he continues, focused on his task.

If anything, the art is pretty. But what could they mean? ]

two;

[ On an afternoon when the sun is not as harsh, he climbs Ventoso Hill alone. Once he's reached the top, he elects to stand and watch the scenery - he's so still that he might have been mistaken for a statue, if not for the fact that his hair moves and flutters in an opportune breeze.

After a while, he shifts his stance to one more regal, and he begins to sing with a voice much younger than his speaking intonation. When he finishes, there's the slightest hint of a smile on his expression - but it will fade away as soon as he is approached, returning to his normal calmness.

His voice resumes its usual pitch, too. ]

Can I help you with anything?

three;

[ In the mornings, he can be found near the piers - or more specifically, where the seabirds frequent. He might be seated on the jetty or walking along the beach with a small bag of breadcrumbs, and after a while seagulls will start to flock to his location. He feeds them with a rather distant expression (more distant than usual, that is), letting them land on his shoulders and arms.

However, if you express interest in what he's doing, he'll look up with a much more focused countenance. ]

Hello. Would you like to feed them as well?

wildcard;

[ hit me with anything and I'll roll with it! or if you'd like a specific starter, feel free to pm me or contact me at eonflamewing, we'll work something out! ]

Comments

maki

[accordance]

[ It's a sunny afternoon, and Lord Light had just returned to the hotel after running some errands. It's too early to rest, and yet too late to begin another serious task - it takes him a while to decide what to do, but eventually he retrieves a flute he purchased in Caissa from his room and stations himself in the hotel lobby.

The song he plays is simple, and only two people here might recognize it. It's one of Muse's songs. ]

[cutiepanther]

[ When Maki comes back to the lobby she's in a pair of shorts and a running jacket, some clothes she picked up shopping when she had the free time. She's sweating, having run for an hour or so, pushing herself a little more than usual. But when she hears her song she breaks into a sprint, surprised by the familiar melody. A small part of her hopes it's Kotori, or Honoka or Eli or someone so her and Nico won't be alone here.. but she wouldn't want them here in danger either if she could help it.

But it's not them, it's Lord Light of course, and she lets out a long sigh, catching her breath after she nearly skids to a stop on the floor with her sneakers.

But as slightly disappointed as she is... it's hard not to be moved to hear the music that she had composed herself being played by someone so talented. For now.. she's just going to stand back and listen. ]

[accordance]

[ When Maki arrives, he acknowledges her with a slight nod. Their eyes meet for a single moment, then he closes his own and devotes himself entirely to the music. He keeps his entire body still save for his hands, letting the music flow. He replicates it exactly as how Maki has written it, every note following the exact intended rhythm.

When he's done, he lets the silence hang for another few seconds before placing the flute on his lap. ]

Good afternoon, Maki. Do you need some water?

[cutiepanther]

[ It's good. She's never heard anyone play her music like that before. Sure, she used synthetic instrument sounds on a computer for much of it, but this was different. It actually makes her really warm inside to hear.

And when he's done, she's just got a tiny slight hint of red on her cheeks, that are puffed up because of her smile. ]

No, I just grabbed some... I didn't realize you know our songs.

you get first use of his moe icon

[accordance]

[ Does it sound strange for a deity of law to take interest in such things? ]

I listened when you played them. They are quite good, considering your ability.

[ As a physical manifestation, he's always loved music. Despite their very nature as atmospheric vibrations, there's still something about it that makes it beautiful. ]

what a prize!! :D

[cutiepanther]

[ For Maki? No, she only sees him as being a strange human, not something different altogether. She doesn't have the frame of reference to think otherwise. ]

"Considering my ability?" [ she asks, her eyes suddenly narrowing. Unsurprisingly, Maki is most definitely a human and reacts with the most normal human suspicion. ]

for his children only

[accordance]

[ Well, he's just saying the truth here. ]

It takes decades of study to compose a work capable of resounding within the hearts of a nation. For someone of your age, you write as well as several grade-qualified composers I used to know.

[ The less-talented ones, but details. It's a sort of compliment. ]

what a good papa

[cutiepanther]

[ It may be, but he might need to learn that teenagers, girls especially, need a slightly lighter touch than coming out with the truth of that level. ]

I-I know that!! It's not like I thought I was going to be the next Beethoven!! [ Even though she obviously knows these things, it's hard to hide her disappointment. ]

[accordance]

[ It's in his nature. He speaks the truth, and only the truth.

However, it doesn't take a perceptive person to notice Maki's disappointment. ]

You have good skill. That was what I wanted to convey.

[cutiepanther]

I'm glad you noticed. Hmph.

[ Her Papa back home is the same way. Telling her that she could never be a real idol and that she was wasting her time and letting being a school idol get in the way of her studies. It might be true, but as a teenager, she doesn't like to have to hear it.

Still not convinced by his concession, she crosses her arms, turning away. ]

What are you doing here anyway? Did you take one of the jobs?

[accordance]

[ The moment for pursuing that line of conversation has passed, so he goes along with her next question. ]

I visited the beach to draw. Now, I am resting. [ Pause. ] I had left Caissa late, so I am here to rejoin the Hero group here.

[ That's not really answering her question, though. ]

[cutiepanther]

...Draw?

[ That's surprising to her. Given that it feels like he knows so much, she imagines he must be studying all the time or something! Even she hasn't had enough time to sit and enjoy music as much as she usually does. ]

They really like shipping us around don't they? It's hard getting used to just one place before we have to move again.

[accordance]

Yes. I draw. I draw things from memory, so I can see them in physical form again.

[ It is a form of study, especially since he has advanced to the Bishop rank. ]

They move us where we are needed. Blanc is quite a large country, and they need to shift gears in quite a short time. I would envision that they require our assistance direly, to do such a thing. This is a form of purpose that we have been offered.

[ As with before, he's not quite responding entirely to her question - but it means he's comfortable enough to talk more. ]

[cutiepanther]

I-I see... [ That makes a lot of sense really. Maki thinks about how she would just prefer to go on the Internet to look things up, but that's not really an option here, is it? ]

I don't know if I'd say "offered"... more like drafted...

[ She's definitely still a little upset about this whole thing, even if she's coming ot understand it more. The more people of Blanc she meets, the more kids who look up to her because she wears the Hero uniform, the more she finds herself wanting to protect it all. ]

[accordance]

[ The internet is a long, long way from being invented here. Magic interferes with the principles that he ad been familiar with. ]

Would you still leave the people be, after seeing their plight?

[ But this is more of a rhetorical question, as he continues: ]

You have the power to alleviate that, the power to make things better. You have seen this power of yours in action, have you not? The people's gratitude, their smiles as repayment. This power, more than anything else, will be capable of finding you a way home.

[cutiepanther]

[ And magic is a few thousand years too late for her world.

Her answer to his rhetorical question is to rhetorically pout, as if she can't believe he just asked her that. But of course she can, because it's so very like him. ]

That's exactly why I'm doing it! S-So I can find our way home!

[accordance]

[ To that, he just inclines his head. He does know that further ribbing won't help. So he says this with a noticeable smile: ]

That's good. I have faith in you.

[ Is that enough for her? ]

[cutiepanther]

[ She scoots away, just a tiny bit. ]

I-I'm sure I can learn this, I was going to have to learn medicine soon anyway when I graduate from high school!

[ She doesn't need your encouragement Papa.... even though she is quietly happy for it. Better to change the subject though. ]

B-But... if there's anything you think you could help teach me... I-I guess I wouldn't mind.

[accordance]

[ The scoot is not missed, but not commented upon. ]

I can teach you anatomy and theory first, understanding of how things are, how ailments and injuries are caused. Then, once you understand the cause of others' afflictions, you can use the tools and powers you have to change them. Magic here makes things a lot less complicated, it will not be difficult.

[ He's quite the patient teacher, but is Maki willing to be patient in return...? ]

[cutiepanther]

I know I'll have to memorize all the body parts and bones and things, but I'm sure I can do it!

[ She has learned so many different things about music, that learning anatomy should just be a continuation of that. It's obvious that Maki is a bit immature though, not realizing how different it might be, especially when you compare a passion to something else. ]

I was going to learn these things anyway, when I went to University, so it's not like I'm hurting anything starting early...

[accordance]

[ For Lord Light, having the determination is enough. Hard work will get you places - it was just the time taken that was an issue. ]

How is your schedule like? We can begin immediately.

[ He's not averse to teaching. If anything, he can refresh his memory. ]

[cutiepanther]

[ If it's that, Maki's got plenty. And patience too, she taught Rin, Nico, and Honoka all how to sing properly, even when they wanted to just goof off.

Okay she yelled at them a bunch, but she's got some amount of patience. ]

R-Right now?! I-I need to shower, I probably smell...

[ Of course she doesn't really, but she did just come in from a run. ]

[accordance]

[ Okay, maybe he didn't really mean immediately immediately - rather, in the same day. ]

Go ahead. Let me know when is convenient for you. I can always make time.

[ Like a good dad. ]

[cutiepanther]

[ well, it's sorta Maki's things to jump to conclusions! ]

I-I'll only take an hour or so!

[ Some people might be able to shower and dress faster... Maki is not one of those people. Outfit coordination takes time. ]

[accordance]

[ It's kind of his fault that he's so blunt and literal, though. ]

I will wait here.

[ He'll go up to his room to retrieve some paper and other material, though. ]