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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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[ The beast bellows, scrabbling at the arm, the hand. She's not human in this form, not really -- that part of her is buried under shadow and magic. The creature has some survival instincts, though, even if most of it wishes to destroy.

More importantly, it can sense his shard.

With claws on one hand attempting to rip through Roa's palm, to disrupt the seal and make him let go, the creature practically dives forward to try and dig his shard out. ]

Heh...

[Over and over, it simply kept lashing out at him. He must have been desperate for attention. The True Ancestor's power was just as overwhelming as this beast with even more to boast and yet, he could at least still put up a fight. It puzzled him why he wasn't doing anything.]

I was that bored?

[With sudden strength, his fist came up, pushing past the creature's claws. His legs lifted, the repairs happening just as quickly as he was clawed. Both hands came up, looking for the shadowy creature's throat, his own fingers turning into razor sharp claws of their own.

Strength to match the beast surged through him before he simply leapt back, letting the beast keep his throat. One hand rose to hold his head up as flesh and blood returned to him rapidly, reforming piece by piece. His shard emanated with the slightest glow for a millisecond, speeding up his regenerative process only long enough to give him a chance to talk properly, again.]

But, that's enough of that.

[The shadowy beast was covered with his blood. It definitely wasn't any good for Ariadne, he thought. If he decided to crystallize that blood, it would turn her into a veritable pin-cushion.

Still, he wanted to see how far she would go.]

Come on. I'll tire you out, Ariadne. Maybe you'll be strong enough to suitably be mine.

[ He reaches for her again and she lets go, disappears into the shadows again (where there is light there is shadow, always, and the bright blue light of his magic simply makes what shadows there are all the deeper). There are only so many places she can step out of, this time, and when she does it's further away. The light doesn't hurt her but she doesn't like it, every instinct of the beast screaming to destroy it, devour it. To devour him. It's only the warning against swallowing his blood that keeps her from doing it, but if she can't keep control that won't be enough.

The creature shakes, hissing, claws spread; blood falls off, splatters against the ground, though not all of it by any means. Not yours, never yours, the forest either. ]

Thanks, by the way. [There she disappeared, to which Roa only really had one response in him. She would flee into the shadows, marking that as her territory. The only proper thing to do would be to steal her territory.

Opening both hands, Roa spread the influence of his seals further out until it became a bounded field. The shadows wouldn't disperse, but Roa had applied sealing traps every few feet all at the same time. It was a counter measure meant to steal away the True Ancestor's freedom, but for Ariadne, he was simply interested in catching her the moment her other side's bloodlust peaked.]

I was worried I would get bored. If you're this strong... Maybe you'll last long enough to calm me down.

[ His words are like water against the beach, breaking upon the rocks. Ariadne -- the creature, because she's far more monster now, all teeth and claws and hunger -- simply snarls, tossing its head.

Come and get her, if you've been so bored. ]

A bad time to hesitate. If you insist I make the move--

[He lifted one hand. The beast's claws had definitely been the most splashed by his blood. Having let it tear through him, there was certainly no shortage.

Closing his fist, the blood on the beast's limb suddenly crystallized, bursting. Shards of sharp, crystal-like blood shot out inwards, attempting to crush her limb.]

[ There's a loud shriek, the sound disturbing any birds still in the area. The claws on her other side immediately start trying to rip the crystallized blood off, teeth joining in when it isn't enough.

Oops. ]

So, you've still got fight in you? Your tolerance to pain must be elevated in that form.

[He snapped his fingers, creating another seal underneath Ariadne's feet, to bind her in space if she remained distracted.

Cruelty in mind, at the same time, he focused on the blood on Ariadne's other arm, to crystallize and puncture her there as well.]

Though, I wonder. Which of you is winning this fight? The woman--or, the beast? Whoever survives, I'll consider giving my boon.

[ The creature thrashes, tries to dig the crystallized blood off more -- not fast enough, teeth and claws ripping into the shadows to try and rip it off, away. She stumbles, one foot slipping out of the seal by sheer blind luck.

The beast has all but forgotten Roa, for now. Bits of shadow start to peel off and away, and very suddenly the creature falls to its knees and the shadows vanish, revealing the woman -- who is still frantically trying to rip off any crystallized blood that may have lingered. ]

[Sitting down next to Ariadne, Roa patted his shirt and pants down, repairing his clothing with a few magic seals. When it was all said and done, he looked as if nothing had happened in the first place. Not a scar left on him, he simply let Ariadne do what she needed to do.

He didn't crystallize anymore blood, nor did he let any of what was hardened turn back into liquid--else Ariadne definitely would have been in trouble.]

So, where'd you learn how to do that? Was it a boon?

[ Can't eat it. Shouldn't let it make contact with any cuts, either, which rules out pulling out a knife and slicing the crystals off. Ariadne hisses as she manages to get her nails under a chunk of crystallized blood and pull, not letting herself scream when she gets it off. She does flick it in Roa's direction, though. ]

Which part? [ She can talk; it's a distraction from the pain. Besides, at least it means he's not finishing the job. ]

[He was done teasing, at least. Ariadne seemed a bit too interesting to turn into a Dead, so he relaxed his circuits for the moment. She seemed too busy to really invest herself in attacking, too, so it seemed like a good time to chat.

Then again, Roa was also really bat at reading social cues.]

I'd say 'all of it'. You didn't seem to give off the vibe of a magus, so it's definitely not something you must normally practice.

Magic doesn't exist, back home.

[ More tugging, more pulling, more cursing slightly in French under her breath. That simple sentence should be more than sufficient for an answer, she thinks. ]

[Roa responded in French, fluently. He had an entire life then, anyway. Though, his French was more rustic and rural than anything Ariadne would hear in a city.]

Magic hides itself well. Ideally, your mindset is the one we all want folks to have.

[ It shouldn't surprise her when other people know the language, but somehow, in the Drabwurld, it always does. ]

I've heard that.

[ She'd argue the point but she's a little busy trying to get your psycho blood off her, Roa. ]

That's good.

[He spread his fingers, the shards of blood still embedded in Ariadne pulling themselves out all at once. The blood that was caked on her began to crack, dissolving on his command.]

It's boring to be secretive, isn't it? Otherwise, I can't chat with folks like this.

[He was absolutely comfortable where he was. Since he was certain Ariadne didn't have much combat experience, he didn't think she would take a second swing. All the same--he was comfortable being able to talk without blood gushing through his throat.]

[ That doesn't actually feel any better, but once it's all gone she breathes a little easier. A brief moment of hesitation and then she's using healing magic, making sure that she's whole and healthy. ]

I guess I've never been that secretive.

[ She has absolutely no idea what to make of all this. ]

I don't think you had a reason to, before this place.

[French wasn't a local language. That was all it took for him to tell. Further confirmation that only shard-holders could look at the 'lockets', as well.

Still, what Ariadne was doing surprised him. It was uncommon, where he came from.]

Though, you're getting more and more surprising. You have the mind to control two definitively different types of magic?

Maybe.

[ There was dreamsharing -- but even that was something she could talk to a select few people, the rest of the team, about. ]

I- yes?

[ It's all just magic to her. ]

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