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I'm in a good mood. So, I think I should share my good mood with everyone! [In one of the ruins by La Llorona, Roa sat with his back to his locket, a number of the twisted trees with human-like faces shifting uneasily in his presence. He carried a lute with him, playing a few notes, interrupting the eerie silence that had otherwise been uncharacteristic of the swamp-lands. Not a toad croaked. Not a mouse squeaked. There was the lute for a moment, before a number of pallid looking spirits rose from the trees, moaning and writhing in front of Roa.]

This is a song from my world--a good one for the moment, I think! Now, before I get complaints about the lyrics-- it's more about the motif than the context...

[The ghosts wailed as Roa raised one hand to interrupt his lute-playing. He curled his fingers and they rolled in pain at his command.]

Like we practiced.

[The ghosts--in bad tune and tempo, all began singing Bob Dylan's 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'. It was disjointed, lacked timing and none of the spirits understood the keys that had to be taken. Roa didn't mind it, though. He played his lute to set the beat and tempo even if the ghosts failed to accomplish the same. He stopped playing when the song was done, turning to give the locket a lazy sort of smile.]

Terrible, but we've got plenty of time to practice some more.

[The locket cut out.]

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[ It hadn't been her choice, at first -- but over the months she's grown to adore the forest, even with all its dangers.

Which is why her eyes flash a little, mouth creasing into a frown. ]

You should leave them alone.

I refuse. Help is help and they're indispensable tools for me.

[Even if he was using them for insanely stupid things.]

Let them rest. If you're very lucky, the forest won't try to punish you too harshly for bothering them.

Ahhh, you don't understand? No... This forest is already being punished by me. I've been entertaining myself by making it my domain.

It's not yours to take.

That's the point of stealing, isn't it?

And now people [ well... she does, at least... ] know it's happening.

You know, I never thought of that. How should I deal with people trying to stop me...?

[Sure, he was being sarcastic. Maybe even a little cutesy.

He was also banking on this happening, eventually.]

They are Unseelie lands, first of all, which means they belong to the Queen and King. They brought you here, they can stop you.

[ If they want to, which- well, they seem more likely to sit back and see what happens.

Which means it's on her to protect the forest she's coming to love, despite how strange and deadly it is. ]

[Roa was baffled. He gave Ariadne a simple, surprised look.]

You honestly believe that? Sure, they could easily eradicate me, but do you really think that King and Queen would care?

If anything, given this court's history, I'd probably get commended.

I think they'll want to see what happens. But the forest is theirs; they were the ones who gave me leave to build in it, and they're the ones who rely on it as a natural defense against anyone marching on Caer Scima or scouts or thieves.

Even if they don't care, I do.

H'oh. What an alarmingly reasonable justification to oppose me. In that sense, it would be rude to intrude on your territory, but--

[Now, Roa was just assuming that Ariadne was a sorcerer who also wanted those souls for herself--]

You're not doing anything with those souls, woman. Don't be stingy.

I don't want to use the souls. I want them left alone; they've suffered enough.

[ No, just a very stubborn architect. ]

And don't call me woman.

Then, introduce yourself. Don't get indignant about a name I wasn't given.

--Anyway. Enforce your ruling or sit back and watch. Either way, it'll be entertaining for me.

Then don't be rude. And introduce yourself, too.

[ Like hell is she giving her name first.

As for enforcing her ruling- well. She doesn't rule over the whole forest, but she's close enough to all of this for it to make her nervous. Can she win in a straight fight? Probably not.

But she can try. ]

Well, now. If you insist.

[In truth, he was amused. Someone, talking back to him with hate in their eyes after seeing what he could do?

This person was abnormally interesting.]

Michael Roa Valdamjong.

[Just the same, he was FULLY aware that any magi who knew of him would have absolute confirmation of his identity at that point--if they even knew of the Serpent in the first place.]

[ Interesting, stubborn, a bit too brave for her own good... same thing. ]

Ariadne.

[ She'll just leave off the titles she's accumulated in the Drabwurld; no point in giving him more information. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Ariadne. So--

[His smile came through, pleasant and horrific at the same time.]

What's the move you're going to make?

[ Her own smile is positively icy, and she closes the locket. A moment of concentration to make herself invisible, silent, scentless and then she shadow travels to Quendi, arriving just outside of the Dead City.

Time to find that literal band of spirits, she supposes. ]

Hmmm. First smart thing she's done. [And so, she vanished. Roa heard nothing and saw nothing. He was out in the forest, away from his wards. Had Ariadne entered the ruins, her sneak-attack would have begun poorly, immediately.

Rather, he ventured out because he was well aware that it would take ridiculous effort from even the hardiest of executioners to keep him wounded.

So, he sat down on a mossy boulder and rested one elbow against a knee, waiting. He wasn't an idiot by far--he knew the woman was likely coming right for him, though he had no idea how quickly.]

[ The realization that Ariadne has no idea how she'll actually deal with Roa when she finds him doesn't come upon her until he's in front of her, sitting on a boulder. She could sneak up, try to stab him in the back or slit his throat, but- she's not a murderer, not when she's fully conscious of herself as a human being. Leaving isn't an option either, though.

She doesn't know what to do.

Breathe. In and out, come on Ariadne, think of something.

Her crossbow is lifted, aimed- and returned to her back. She can't do it. She can't just shoot him in the back.

She gathers the shadows to her instead, the concealment magic falling away as she takes her shadow form, horned and clawed though not actually any taller -- but stronger, faster, with sensitivity to magical artifacts and hunger. He's no being of light, but she can sense his Shard within his chest, and the beast growls. ]

Hmph. Amateur.

[Had Ariadne concealed herself, Roa was certain she could have done something to him. When she chose to reveal herself, whatever inclination she had to either be honorable or present a challenge to herself seemingly turned to vapor before him. When Roa stood up, the full might of his magic surged and the forest seemed to only grow darker as a result.

His gaze, which had managed to be friendly before, turned much more predatory. Raising one hand, Roa snapped his fingers and in that, muttered a full incantation in the span of only two words.]

Square: Set.

[With those two words, Roa formed a massive, spinning magical seal in the air above Ariadne's shadowy body. If she were slow to move, the spell would act as a binding in time--making movement impossible without destroying the seal.]

I wouldn't have called foul play if you attacked while concealed. Your murderous intent came out loud and clear, but one thing's for sure--the second I can see you, you've tossed away your advantages.

[ She's not slow to move. Every shadow in the woods is hers, and she vanishes within them only to appear in Roa's own, swiping with her claws at him.

A warning, for now. There's still enough of Ariadne in the creature to warn, though she does not speak, only stares with bright eyes and a sharp-toothed snarl. ]

[Blood followed. Roa buckled, not expecting Ariadne's ability to work so fluidly. Claw marks were left in his back, exposing a bit of bone on top of things. He stumbled forward, his white shirt stained by it. Despite the gravity of that injury, none of his thralls came to the defensive. Rather, they waited impassively, desperation not tarnishing Roa's expression even for a moment. Instead, there was only a smile.

Light began to surge through the woods, countless seals raising up from the dirt as Roa's hands came up. He wouldn't need to borrow from the castle at all. Instead, he simply began to 'burn' one of the ghouls he had taken a hold of.

The injury on Roa's back soaked itself back up instantly, as if time were being reversed. In another moment, the injury had fully recovered as if it were never there. His arms spread, Roa's voice became a sharp and rapid murmur as his magical energy tarnished the woods, flooding it with blue and white light.]

If you wanted to prove yourself, now's the time. I hope you're not going to try running from me now that you've come this far, Ariadne!

[At that, Roa began rewriting physical laws in the forest. He was forcibly containing it and looking to turn fifty or so meters of it around himself into an 'addition' to his castle. It was unorthodox for vampires to claim that much territory, but there were so few living things around that it didn't matter to him.]

[ Blood. The mind of the beast roars in triumph, but the mind of the woman panics. He's not afraid, he's using more magic, he's- he's hurting one of the spirits to heal himself.

Beast and girl roar at once, then, an audible sound that is much larger than the both of them. She surges forward again, claws slashing over and over, teeth snapping -- make him stop make him stop make him stop-- ]

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