Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

"I think you should come to the party," Svarik said. "At least to give the presents yourself. The more people come, the more it tells them that people actually care for them, and that’s a thing that’s rather hard to believe after only knowing people who don't care for a long time. After that, you will see if you should stay or leave."

---

Senecio took a deep breath and looked first at Tide and then Hans, as if undecided to whom he should listen. He was aware of what was happening, his mind working keenly even as his body was frozen in terror. He rolled his hands into fists and dug his nails into his palm, trying to ground himself. He felt it helping, a little, but not enough. He turned to Tide. "I... I'm trying. It feels ilke danger ahead. I need something. A scare. Another danger, fake, so that it can pass and I my stupid body can relax. Can you... turn into another form and pretend to bite me or something?"

[VisAnastasis]

That was a middle ground creature could be comfortable with, and it smiled ever so slowly, taking deep breaths, gathering resolve and straightening its shoulder a little bit more hopefully.
"Well... I have been a meddler with less encouragement than this, so might as well allow myself to be persuaded, " Alpha had no mouth, but Svarik had a warm tingling sensation, as he felt as if the creature grinned at him. " When we're already doing this, let's go the extra mile, and find the way to get those adorable little bastards and that poor old fosill to play a little. Let's trick them into having fun! " he waved away with his hands, with more energy in his voice, as he stood up - Janus indeed seemed to be onto something when he said Alpha's attribute was creation mixed with playfulness, because he seemed much more in his element when fun and something new and interesting was involved, compared to how lethargic he was when he would feel left out of it. His eyes were already bubbling with scheming and plans. " Do you have any plans for your gifts or shops you want to visit? Do you need recommendations for good spots? We should plot out and coordinate our gifts as much as we can so we can pull the heist properly. They might be sombre kids, but if we both team up, cute sugar, " one orb of his eye closed up as if he winked. " There's no way we can't sweeten their day at least a littlest bit, if with nothing, at least with sneaky secretly fun gifts. "


---
Tide quickly glanced to the side, to see if anyone was watching, but since they were concealed by the side curtain for now, he felt like it would be safe enough to comply without creating commotion among humans by the sudden appearance. A thoughtfulness lingered in his mind but for a moment, before he grinned - as if choosing to risk it all, instead of holding Senecio back by asking for reassurance first. He disappeared for a brief moment, lingering between layers of the world - before appearing, in a new form the actor had not seen before. It seemed to show him a more monstrous side of himself was the only way Tide felt he could properly surprise him, and distract him, by showing him that, little bit more trust, by giving him something older and less refined. It was a humanoid form twice as large as his usual one, and he had to kneel and lean heavily forward , and lean its palm against the floor, to ever get to Senecio's eye level. Its head was mostly concealed by a giant mask skill, but a set of teeth and bright foamy eyes peaked underneath it. There were a lot of sharp rough and coarse edges around it - but as if reflecting Tide's gentler nature, the clothes the creature wore were soft and flowy. Softest floating sleeve brushed Senecio's cheek, as the creature wrapped one of its unsettlingly long nails around his neck. Tide had trouble, balancing its heavy horns, staggering a little, leaning his skull mask against the actor's shoulder a little - it seemed Demon didn't wear the form for quite a while and needed to get used to it.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/38/53/81/385381363b033073e192c1d23ef4f479.jpg

His warm breath played against actor's neck, as the creature spoke up. Its voice was hoarse and crude, but it held a certain otherworldly allure, unused to speaking Lowlandian, doing so with a heavy melodic accent. It felt like a voice fit for a demonic creature from a fairy tale but the words it said were unmistakably Tide's. In this trying moment, what it offered him, was not encouragement, but lyrics. Monsterous creature offered him words of dark poetry, hoping to lure and distract him with an atmosphere different to what he was used to or expected.


" Let me indulge.
I shall smile so softly,
Perfectly content,
As my knife splits your heart...

I dig my nails into the skin of your palms,
Watching, entranced, as the red drips down.
How beautiful it creates a pattern
Across the pale skin of yours...

I cup your face in my hand,
Ghost my lips over your jaw.
Before twisting my hands so lovingly,
Your neck turns with a snap..."

The tall monster spoke the words of a poem, as it leaned close to him. As if acting as if it is really going to snap his neck, in the game of pretence, it followed the poem's words, and it cupped his head as it spoke, but suddenly, in the end, instead of a harsh snap, it leaned its teeth on actor's bare neck, so very carefully - not piercing the skin, but, due to crude nature of the teeth, giving him a gentle bite and a tinge of pain that was sharp enough that would definitely turn into a bruise later. Creature laughed mischievously, as it followed the bite with the kiss on the  same spot, as if checking if his mischiefl went too far.

[Mirach]

Svarik grinned back. "That's exactly what Ihad in mind. First I wanted to get them all some cute plushies. You know, something soft and huggable that they might be too embarassed to play with with people around, but that would feel indulgent in privacy. Then some board games, which they can pull Janus into playing too and are not viewed as childish that much. Then something mechanical that they can play with and study it in the same time. Also some books with fairy tales and adventures. Do you have more ideas?"

---

Senecio watched him, mesmerized by the form, still frozen in place. He could trick himself into believing that the danger comes from the creature, not from an irrational fear. He closed his eyes when Tide picked him up and tensed with the bite, the pain finally registering as the result of the danger... and when Tide put him down again - the danger was over. He sighed shakily and then took a few deep breaths. "Thank you," he whispered. "That helped. Uhm... Hans? What's the first line of my text?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Splendid, splendid! And since there are three of you, you can easily divide gifts between yourselves, so it doesn't feel like too much is thrown on one pile. All of us can pick one or two groups of presents, and pack them in cute little boxes of different colours. There's nothing more fun than unwrapping boxes and finding out what's inside them, " creature clapped three pairs of its hands, growing brighter and more excited, with an invitation to partake in something wholesome, throwing in his idea into the mix. " Great minds think alike, as I also naturally gravitated toward ideas like those, but there is something extra that I am leaning toward. Board games are very good when it comes to tricking them into playing with something that does not seem too childish, but we should do even more. What I was thinking would be good, is giving them musical instruments. I know to play pretty much every instrument under the sky, and you and you cute little Melody also know the couple, don't you, and if I am correct, your boyfriend here plays the lute? Playing some nice simple instruments on a decent level does not require too insane time investiment, but it is a good hobby to take your mind off things, and when there is music, everything is more bright. Even if it would be hard to get them to dance anytime soon, breaking the ice a little could help. We can spew some cute shit to Janus, how it is good for little Emmet to practice using his artificial hand, and how it is good for children development to learn music. Though, to be honest, another reason why I am biased toward instruments, is to give them something more abstract - a way to be able to give something back to Janus, just like playing board games together can, " he grinned innocently as he explained. " They are bound to grow increasingly unsure and uncomfortable, you see, with how hard that cute old fosill is trying to provide for them. I know it may seem to you that showering them with things is good - but if they have no means to give it back, receiving too much feels rather shitty, instead. But they can not give him any food, and they can not even hug him without causing him distress. Not even that much - they can not even hold his hand without throwing a panic attack on the poor guy...But Janus likes music, you see. It is one of the few things he can enjoy intellectually, without it being tied to a sense of taste or touch that is faulty in him. So, we can pick cute rascals some easy-to-learn instruments, and we can also play some music at the party to help calm them down, and break the serious atmosphere by teaching them a bit. And as for Janus, I wanted to use the chance to sneakily buy him a violin, too, and spin him a tale how children will surely be more comfortable with him if he takes it up as hobby and plays for them sometimes. Janus never leaned any instrument, you see... When he was a God, he wanted to, but he does not have an innate talent to pick it up instantly, as you, sweet sugar. He would have to learn slowly, like everyone else, and his priests convinced him not to, as it would be bad for his image as a God, if he was the one playing for his followers instead of them doing it as an act of worship - order was reversed. Besides, they convinced him it would be quite bad if rumours spread that God was doing something much worse than humans can, so he gave up the idea at a time. In last three centuries, he sacrificed any pleasure in favour of always working and scavenging, and he would refuse my offers to teach him, saying he can not afford the time to learn. But I often play him some instruments to pass the time, when we work together on things, and I know he likes it, in his own feeble way. String instruments are his favourite, so I definitely told myself, as soon as he settles down one day, that I will find an excuse to get him a nice harp or violin, I think it would be the perfect excuse. There's no reason not to try to make their lives more rich by guiding them to play for each other. " he clenched his hand in a fist and waved it dramatically, as if he was overcoming a great hurdle, apparently, taking matters of play and passion very seriously. " You just have no idea how frustrating last centuries were, sweet sugar, trying to convince that stubborn fellow to do anything for himself. He wouldn't even budge when I offered to make a deal with him and give him nails in exchange for letting me teach him. If we don't catch him now, that he is taking a break from scavenging, we never will...  "

---

Hans easily repeated the lines with proper intonation, even a slight wave of hand used in the first scene as if trying to help him get back into the feeling of it.
" Just remember, even if you don't do as awesome as you hoped, you did not fail - you just succeeded 80 persent. Even your worst performance is better than everyone's best, so no need to lose yourself worrying. I'll take you out on a cake when it's all wrapped up, so just have fun, okay, my littlest apple pie? "
" I'll be preparing the biggest applause as an appetiser! " Tide confirmed gently, nodding his giant head softly, before he slowly changed back from the mysterious form into his main human body, and gave him thumbs up brightly.

[Mirach]

"If that is so, then we certainly need to get them some musical instruments. There's this great shop in the Fourth city that I've been to, but I'm sure you know it and all the best toy shops too. Should we borrow the bag from Janus and go there or are there some shops that you would recommend here, as well?"

---

Remembering the first lines helped Senecio to recall the text in his memory. He repeated them a few times to himself as well as the following line. Then he nodded to himself and entered the stage.

[VisAnastasis]

" There are some decent ones here, but if we mean the same musical shop in the Fourth city, yes, that was is definitely the best, and when we are going all in, we should go for the best ones, and Fourth city is bigger, so it has more shops... plus, while people here are more used to seeing Beings, they still give me somewhat wary looks here and there, and at Fourth City, everyone knows me generationally and grew up seeing me, so we should have a smoother time shopping. Would Fourth City be alright, if you do not mind? " Being negotiated, as it hopped more playfully on its feet, stretching its arms as one does before light exercise. " I can go ahead and take the bag from Janus in a blink, so we don't lose shopping time. Oh, and you don't have to worry about travelling time back and forth to the city, sweet sugar. I am a goddamn Star, you know, " he chuckled, waving away with a couple of his hands dramatically. " Even if I don't fly, no one can compare to me in speed, except that unhinged bastard Solstice, not even that cute vampire child that follows you around. Time fragmentation is the biggest hurdle that stops me from normally carrying people around, but if I carry you in Janus's bag, I don't have to worry about such things around you so that I can get us to Fourth City in five minutes, tops. It is just a couple of jumps away, after all. "

---

Tide and Hans stayed a bit backstage, watching him from that side, before they moved to the auditorium among the Beings that came to offer support, judging it would be better for Senecio's reassurance if they were somewhere he could see them clearly, sitting in front row closest to him. Thet watched him intently, and when he would be forgetful of lines, Hans seemed to use some tricks Listeners normally use, to sneakily feed him lines by transferring sound as a whisper to his ear.
When he would be doing well, though, it seemed they could not help but whisper to the Beings around sitting in the first row with them. Especially Hans, who was full of energetic pride, judging by his feelings and flamboyant gestures, was clearly bragging about him to others a lot every now and then, while Tide was more worried, as was his nature, so was quieter, but he would clearly beam whenever Beings would likely say something nice about Senecio or his acting.

[Mirach]

"Sure, let's go shopping there," Svarik nodded. "If we can get there so fast, we still have plenty of time."

---

Senecio felt a bit shaky all the time, and the audience was distracting with their feelings. In some parts of the play he managed to get into the character, while in others he just went over the lines and moves mechanically, feeling like he was controlling a marionette instead of his own body. There were several pauses in the play, too, as Erdel was new in it and needed instructions about where to stand in some parts, and those pauses actually helped him feel a little better, as he could think about his vision of the play and how to make it better by incorporating the new character. He seemed to pull himself together close to the middle break and managed Death's monologue with a song perfectly before he left the stage for the break. But backstage, he made sure that the other actors are not in sight, and then slumped against the wall, breathing heavily as if he's been running.



(ooc: I don't remember the structure of the play so correct me if I got it wrong)

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, as long as I can use Janus's bag, I can take proper advantage of my speed. To be honest, I wished I could offer you a fancy flight like Solstice could, but alas... our power outputs are too... different. My case is a bit special since I am technically the personification of not one star, but Two stars that orbit next to each other, so I am quite more powerful and my power is more chaotic, compare to Solstice's... that is to say, when I put more even little more power output than this into my form, I bend time and space around me too much. I tried to refine a flying form a couple of times... and it's not like I can't technically fly. I just end up tearing the fabric of the world and messing up with threads whenever I try to fly, when I put even a tiny bit more power than this bare minimum that I'm putting in right now... It is terribly unfortunate. I always wanted to pull off a cute fairytale taking-your-lover-on-ronantic--flight type of date, but with my gravity, the boat has sailed on that one, "The creature waved away with his hand with disappointment, indeed, Svarik could rarely see such a regretful face on someone that was clearly treating being powerful as an awful misfortune. " So I can't offer you a dazzling morning flight and the great scenery that comes with it, but when it comes to getting there and back fast, you can put faith in me, sweet sugar! I'll go ahead and take the bag. Would you like to pack something first if you need to pack, or should I just leave and reappear in the gardens in front of the mansion, if you'll wait for me there? Just as a heads up, Janus's bag is top secret, but you don't have to worry. I'm a Star, after all, I can make it so that no one sees when you and your cute polyamory entourage enter the bag, as long as there isn't a crown there to see it. "

---

Erdel, who gave himself the task of watching over him, did not follow such rules of propriety, stepping in. He made sure no one followed him, and he was at a safe distance. The actor could also feel demon trying to be as collected and calm as possible, so unlike worried Tide or passionate Hans, he would not distract him with too fierce strong feelings to perceive. He did not come closer, but, as Senecio was catching his breath, he leaned on the safe distance on the wall opposite to him, and crossed his arms, as he said.
" Tide and Hans will probably be wondering if they should come to comfort you during the brake... do you want that, or would you rather have some time for yourself? If you say your wishes out loud, Hans will surely hear them. He's currently whispering to Tide, wondering what option would be better for them to do,  " he asked carefully when he saw the chance. " I can also leave the corridor, should you want me to. This theatre is tiny, so I can easily cover it with my senses, but I admit I feel reluctant to step away too far, with your current state... "


( OOC: I don't recall too many details either, but from as much as I remember, the structure was generally like this - it started with Death healing two Demons friends, and sending a messenger to Demon King to invite him to the coronation, we have coronation scene, later we have some establishing scene that Demon King fell is love and later lost his wife, then his fight with Death and start of the war. In the second part it was mostly about how one of Demon friends at the start died and became Spirit who continued fighting in war, while other friend kept looking for him through war, and in the end, Spirit, who has no memory, ends up killing the demon,but is wounded, and they both die. In the ending scene Death erases both their memories and turns them into Spirits and has sad closing monologue. I remember that part because I like circular narratives, and we made a point to have play start with Death healing two mischievous demons, only to at the end after the war started, end up healing the same two people under different circumstances :)

As for Death's molonogue with a song, if we mean on same thing, we did include songs in play, and one song I remember was "if you were gone" by Alexander Rybak. It is a song that speaks of how world would lose ones brightness if one they love is gone, so we had key characters, Death, Grendel and one of Demon friends sing the song on different languages, so it would be poignant and sad, since all three of them will come to lose who they love, and they don't know it, but the audience does. I love that song, that's why I remembered, so if you meant on Death's monologue with a song, I think that's probably the one, though there might be some other that I can't remember :)

Btw, I don't know well how long play rehearsals usually take. Rehearsal was to start in 9, while party for children starts at 10, and after staying for a bit at party, Janus planned to go to theatre, to give children space to enjoy themselves without feeling pressured, and to support Senecio instead, so I'd just need to know when to put him in scene, if he's going to have any dialogue or support scenes, if not, Senecio can just notice he joined in at some point and is watching rehearsal from safe distance, that's all <3

[Mirach]

"In that case we'll wait for you in the garden," Svarik said.

---

Senecio shook his head, still breathing too fast. "I don't know. I'm not sure if I can do the second half. I'm wondering if I should ask Hans to take over. I don’t know if this is worth it. I don’t know. I don't know..."

(ooc: I remember a song in Spirit language that Senecio was training to get the pronounciation right. Let's just say that the first half ends with that because I don't remember where it was.)

[VisAnastasis]

Alpha waved at them, and, excited about being invited to take part in something wholesome, he was clearly a little more cheered up. His feelings reflected in his leave, and, while usually Svarik felt Beings slip through fabric more quietly,  Alpha's slip was quick, and it created a little sharp gust of wind, as if the fabric of the world could not help but shake, and time to bend just a little bit under the weight of his excitement, having slight rebound reaction.

He indeed fulfilled his promise to be quick, as it seemed most of the time he did take, was a bit of time it took to explain the situation to Janus and be given the bag since he was very quick. With another bubbly gust of wind, the creature appeared in the garden almost as soon as the group reached it, appearing in the air in front of them and gently floating down on the grass, with Janus's bag in one of his hands.

--

" Tide and Hans don't love you because you are a great actor... there is no value you will lose in their eyes, even if you choose to never set foot in the theatre, you know... But this isn't about them, but you. You, Senecio, " Demon watched him quietly, and slowly, he stepped closer to him, until he was in front of him. He did not reach for him yet though, but tried to catch his gaze. Since he was taller, he leaned a bit so he could do so. " Senecio... Senecio di parvaio, the greatest actor in the coast... " he more gently repeated the words he used a few times already for him, the words of introduction the actor gave him when he first revealed his name. " Tide and Hans will be fine with you giving up, but will you be satisfied? Had you not been through much worse things among these walls, than enduring shadows of the dead? Your scent lingers ever on, within every part of this place. You paid for your right to be here with your body, so does it make sense, to not get what you paid for rightfully? " Despite Erdel's words may appear harsh on the surface, Senecio could feel there was no reproach or even a shade of judgement behind them, but rather, even a light streak of confusion, as it seemed he had a more unique view of the situation compared to common people and was genuinely unsure why the actor did not feel a stronger desire to fight for his right to be there. " Who has more right to be here, than you, given how much of yourself you gave, to carve your place in this place? No one deserves it, as much as you do, not even Hans who bought it with money. Should you just yield, and give the bastards here who abused you and used you for their benefit what they want the most - the theathre without you in it? Is it not better, to take away any joy of work that they have, and thrive so much they feel sick from envy every time they see how happy you are with your work? Is it a satisfying narrative, for you to live the life of a mouse, when people that abused you thrive in your theatre as beasts? " he asked quietly, with just a tinge of sadness. " All those bastards are hoping that you'll either fall out of Hans's favour, lose interest in acting, or fail spectacularly... so wouldn't it be much more satisfying narrative, to ruin their sweet moment of hope? Why should you not be able to live the life you want in future, just because of the past?  "

[Mirach]

Svarik waved to him as he appearedd in front of them. "Let's o shopping!" he grinned.

---

Senecio shook his head fiercely. "I'm not giving up," he said. "This is not giving up. I just don't know if I should push myself this fast. I... I died because I was pushing myself too hard and didn't pay attention to what my body was telling me. So now I don't know if I should do it again. I wonder... if we could finish with Hans taking over for now, and I'll take some time to collect myself and do the next rehearsal in full. Or take a longer break now and finish in the afternoon. Or would it be better to push myself now and get it over? I don't know..."

(ooc: I forgot to reply, the rehearsal usually takes a bit moe than the play, because it can be stopped and some things adjusted. So if play takes 2 hours, then the break is around 10 and Janus should be already going to the party.)

[VisAnastasis]

" Just enter the bag, you cute rascals, I'll steal you away from here! " Alpha finally laughed, opening it in for them, " I'll smuggle you in to Fourth City before you can even sit down, hehe! " he promised, and once they got in and got comfortable it indeed didn't pass more than a couple of minutes, before creature opened the bag and had them go out, as they were already in the city, speed being indeed incredulously fast that it took a little to get used to sudden change of scenery. They were in a luxurious tailor shop when they went out, as it seemed Alpha decided to lead them out of sight of others, in his shop where it was safe, so nobody would see them appear out of the bag by accident. He was more bubbly and impatient, clearly looking forward to what things they'd all buy for the kids.

---

" What your body is telling you is important, but what your heart is telling you is important, too. There's nothing more important, than following the will of the mind. If you followed the will of your body, and stopped the play when you noticed you were poisoned, would you not be utterly miserable and feel it as defeat? Paying with your life is a high price, for success, but you paid for it, so the success you have is rightly yours. You have earned it, more than anything, " Demon retorted to his argument, gently, but with firm and simple conviction. " Why say such false things, that you died because you didn't pay attention to what your body was telling you? Why go out of your way to find a ridiculous way to somehow make it your fault, when you merely died because one bastard tried to hurt you? That was then, this is now, though. No bastard can touch you on my watch, so why trouble yourself over whether it is right to follow your body or not? Just do whatever the hell your heart wants to at the moment, and that will be victory in itself, in front of people who want you to fail," he said in a simple, poised way, and slowly, hesitantly, he put his hand on actor's shoulder, and left it there, as if trying to clumsily offer his support. " You... you died because a bastard killed you, no more or less. None of it is your fault, so you don't have to overcompensate, by listening to your body at the expense of your heart. You had no fault when you died, and you will have no fault now, whether you stop or not. Why put so much faith, in following the responses of your body faithfully and acting as if not listening to it will lead to a new disaster when it won't, anyway? Does your body not heat up when you are in pain, no matter what your wishes are? Don't you get aroused when you're in pain, whether you're with someone repulsive who degrades you or not? It is bad enough that you have mixed feelings towards people who abused you, just because your body responds as it does to them, so why shape your future based on what your body is telling you even now? Bodies are flawed and a mess, why should you make your life choices based only on their signals? Whether you stop or don't stop, do it because you want to, not because you are trying to weigh out if it is smart or not.  If you see cake in from of you, eat it, if you desire to eat it, even if it makes you sick afterwards. Why worry so much about the smartest of your choice when you have a lot of support to help you get over your stomachache if you happen to eat too much? Why should you not do what you want, without feeling burdened by deciding if it is smart or not? "

[Mirach]

"Lead the way to the nearest of the shops," Svarik told him.

---

"Because... it can leave scars," Senecio whispered. "Not in the body, but this...  all of this is a scar that I got from that bastard. Going on the stage and feeling like I'm going to die, that's a scar that he gave me, among many others. And when I want to spite him and enjoy it again, I don't know if it's best to push through the pain and possibly hurt myself again, or take it more slowly. The fact that it's not  physical scar just makes it harder to predict. I'm afraid that if I go back there right now, I'll get another bad experience and will have an even harder time to enjoy acting ever again. I think... I think I don't want to go into the second part of the play like this. I want to start over again. It was hard this first time, but I feel I'll be able to do it again and enjoy it more, because I already pushed through it. I need that enjoyment to get through the second part. But I don't think the other actors will be too thrilled to repeat it all..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Your wish is my command, little cutie! " Alpha ggigled a bit at Svarik's enthusiasm, but he seemed quite content be be a guide - here, in only place in the world where people were used to seeing him on the streets and wouldn't try to attack or stop him, here, where he knew all shops and all the people, and everyone knew him. It rather seemed as if he took on the role of their host here, and they felt they were more welcome than before when they were on their own, as, seeing them with Alpha, shop owners were much more open and warm even if they were strangers, and ready to chat with them and advice them on best wares.

---

" So, your favourite option would be to repeat play from the start, correct? Alright... So, how about us using this opportunity to spill the rumour that Hans wants to adopt you? You can just act honest about your feelings, Hans can just coddle and spoil you to his heart's content, and overplay people for overtime, and if someone grumbles and opposes, he can act all innocent and spill the beans how that is the least he can do, for someone who will become his family so that people better understand the gravity of the situation and don't feel temptation to argue or decline, " Erdel suggested practically - it seemed his wat of support was to give his best to make a way out and come up with practical plan to get him what he wants with least losses. " We can refine it, but, using fear of offering someone Hans plans to adopt as a whip, and a large overtime pay as a carrot, seems like the best way to get through this smoothly. If you want to scare up the other few bastards that are here that dislike you or hurt you and get some confidence boost from it, we can always have Tide scare them up a little, "by accident" How about maybe having him turn into that huge dramatic form at some point, like it is no big deal, to frighten them up a little and make them doubly doubt when they consider Being mean to you? Tide currently looks too human passing and proper, some older form is bound to cause some commotion, and commotion isn't necessarily a bad thing - people that hate you will be more apprehensive, and other actors shouldn't be too scared once they see all Tide does it dote on you, no matter the form. Since he's going to come to the theatre all the time in future, anyway, it might be good to have others get used to his many forms sooner than later, anyway. "

[Mirach]

They got all the toys they wanted from the shops that Alpha took them to. Svarik enjoyed picking the plush toys most, and when Conrad was distracted by something that Melody was shoing him, he also got a little plush dog, inspired by their talk. They left the visit to the music shop as last, and discussed what instruments would be best suitable for each kid.

---

"I'd prefer to avoid dealing with that right now," Sebecio murmured. "Could we make it look like the idea to repeat the first half is not mine? Could Hans just order it and claim he didn't like the feel of it or something? Could you ask him, please?"

[VisAnastasis]

For instruments, for Janus, Alpha was insistent that it should be violin, as it was conclusion he came up with after long consideration of years of knowing him, and he seemed quite content as they picked out the one with the richest sound and lovely look, saying he will pay for instruments himself, as they were quite pricy. For children's instruments, though, he didn't have any sure ideas, and asked for their advice - apparently, it seemed that he knew how to play all the instruments they came across in the shop, as it seemed music was one of his cherished hobbies, but it was hard for him to figure out what would be considered easiest to play.

---

" How about you stay here and take some time to chill and relax a little and act like you are not involved with change of schedule and are surprised once it happens, while I go talk to Hans. I don't mind even being a scapegoat to your plan, I did cause quite a bit of little breaks here and there in first half, since it is my first time, so we can have Hans complain about me and snobbishly claim we are doing it again because I was standing out too much, and that he wants us to do it again so I can integrate better now that I have passed through it once, so that I don't ruin the whole play with bad acting if I don't practice enough. What do you think? Don't I make a perfect excuse? I can do it... if you make deal with me, " Demon grinned but little bit, as if amused with a chance to use some dramatic language as Beings do. " Let me take this for myself... and I will go speak with Hans and have us do this. Give it to me, and we have a deal, " he said, as he innocently moved the hand that was on Senecio's shoulder, and lightly with the tip of his fingertips brushed the place on the neck where Tide bit the actor before, that was sore, not quite that visible yet, but that would end up forming into quite a big bruise later. It seemed Erdel would not be Erdel, if he did not use the chance he had to ask to take it away, not wanting to leave it if he could help it, even though it wasn't a major injury.

[Mirach]

After some discussion, Svarik got them a mandoline, a flute and a lyre, that they could divide between themselves as they like.

---

"Okay, but can you wait for after the rehearsal to take it?" Senecio asked. "It's kind of grounding to have it right now..."

[VisAnastasis]

Once they were done picking, Alpha seemed to bend space around them a bit, as he casually reached for the sea, and acted as if he was tearing off part of it with his fingers - and as he did so, long ribbonlike like material appeared in his hands, with foamy wave painted across it, as if he tore of part of the wave through optical illusion without actually doing it. Whatever unrealistic way he casually used, it seemed to be the same way he would act as if picking stars from the stars to decorate things with them. He reached for one white soft cloud, and pulled it toward him, and turned it into a soft white bag. It reminded Svarik of Liron's magic a little.
"This should be distracting and pretty enough for kids to be curious about. Should we also buy some simple drum for little Xia, so she can play it even with her lack of opposable thumbs or strong vocal cords? " he suggested while packing picked instruments in a cloud bag, and wrapping the ribbon made from sea waves around it. "By the way, would you like me to also package the presents you bought, and what would you like me to wrap them in? Cloud looked positively scrumptious, so I just had to use it as a base for the bag, you see, and you can't wrap presents without at least one fancy wave, but I can accept any requests. Your eyes are quite bright and blue, would you like me to wrap the stuffed toys you bought with a piece of blue sky, sweet sugar? Or something else? If we can see it, I can take it for our mischievous goals, hehe! "

---

In a serious atmosphere, Erdel could not help but chuckle. He seemed pleased, and he even smiled a little.
 
" Well, for whatever irrational reason you do, I'm glad you feel comfortable enough with me to be honest about how you feel about it, instead of just going along with my request right away to keep up some fake appearances... I am glad I can always count on your honesty. So, very well, you may keep it until the rehearsal ends, " he accepted gently, retreating his hand, and straightening up. " Just stay here, and leave it to me, I'll go talk with Hans, we'll send Tide to  "inform you" that we unexpectedly have to repeat the first part of the play. By the way, if fear and pain help ground you... Well, I am not confident I could make you afraid of me, since you were quite unfazed even when I was biting into your forearm bones the day we met, but what about little pain? Would it help during rehearsals? " Demon asked, his feelings reflecting his impartial and inquisitive mind, clear of any shadows of judgement again - it indeed seemed he did not look down on any way that could help, as long as it helped, seeing no difference in the method. " Well, I usually try to be comforting, but I mean, hurting people is much easier, anyway, and I am always right next to you, as Riversong, and often stay close by... In the second part of the play, there will especially also be many times when Death watches war events helplessly, and it wouldn't be strange if Riversong would hold on to the edge of your sleeve or hold onto your arm at a side. When it seems to be like you're out of it, would you like me to pinch your hand a little between scenes, or press your arm strong enough to hurt you a little bit? When I think about it, since you're not easy to affect with pain that comes without actual danger, I wouldn't mind giving you a bruise or two, as long as I can take them right away after rehearsal. If there's anything else I can subtly do to distract you or sign you can give me to do so, I can play along and pretend I am just clumsy with acting and am relying on you for guidance in new situations, by clinging to you for support, especially after Hans scolds me for doing poorly in first rehearsal try. Riversong always dragged along as dead weight to Death, so it wouldn't compromise the truthfulness of the play, anyway...  "

[Mirach]

"I already got her one, but it would be good to get her a present, too," Svarik agreed and picked another drum for Xia. "And for wrapping... let's do the one with the sky, but not go too overboard to not make the wrapping more interesting than the presents, I guess.:

---

"I use to pinch myself here, if I can," Senecio showed him the inside of his left wrist. It seemed that he was doing that during the first half of the play, as the skin was reddened there. "If you see me spacing out, you can do that. It doesn't have to be there, but it needs to be sharp, not dull."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, but why not? I would not mind sprinkling some joy directly in the gifts too, but even if it's just in packaging, nobody says they have to throw it away. Wouldn't it be like to give them something they can explore, but never figure out? After all, they live in a world full of mysteries, delights, and incomprehensible wonders, " Alpha commented brightly, taking out one of the storybooks they bought. He opened it on a page with fields of dandelions - and he used a delicate hand gesture, and took out a handful of dandelions from the page, with his hand packed full of them. " Isn't it good, to give them a taste of how ineffable and rich the world is, full of wonder and things beyond our understanding? No matter how much you learn and understand, there's always something whimsical, fresh and new, just around the corner, sweet sugar... " he spoke softly, and brought dandelions in his hand up to his face, and gently blew into them - and dandelion seeds in his hands sprinkled and flew all around them, and sparkled in iridescent colours as he did so, and he laughed brightly - a Star, that had a decent amount of power over reality and could do terrible deeds, but felt great joy when it could share how whimsical the world felt to it with others.

---

" Oh, uhmm... Would it be alright if I just pinch you a bit now first, and you tell me what is the exact amount you expect? It would do no good if I experimented with this on the stage, and had you scream out in pain. Just because I look like a regular human for the most part, I am not sure if you are aware of how my dullness and sharpness are... different from yours. I need to know what pain threshold you prefer. Because, your sharp may mean to stop just before I tear through the skin, or draw a bit of blood, right, up to some point? I can literally pinch through your skin and bones, or casually pull off part of your skin as one pulls of piece of cotton candy to the side. I need to know what is the distracting level of pain, but not painful enough to stop you in your tracks. It is easy to control my strength when I am just doing everyday tasks, but I don't know what pain is dull and what is too much to you. I mean... bitting through your hand was something you got through casually without really screaming, and with bitten into bones, you were introducing yourself dramatically, without batting an eye, instead of begging for painkillers, um, so, " he chuckled a little nervously. " So it is hard to make an educated guess in this case... "

[Mirach]

"Ah, so the wrapping stays after the present is open? In that case I agree, do what you like with it. Maybe the sea, or sand, or flowers?"

---

"Yeah, that would already be too much. It's not that it doesn't hurt, I'm just good at not letting it affect me. By sharp I just mean focused into a small point, but not enough to break the skin or be too noticeable onstage."

[VisAnastasis]

" If I can see it, I can take it, sweet sugar, so go wild! I accept any inspiration! See, sand? You name it, and I'll get it! " the creature said brightly. On the next page of the storybook, there was a page with a vase of field flowers, and from it, he took out one forget me, not watercolour shaded flower - and he folded the greenery and extended it a bit, turning into a little hair clip. As he was snickering, he leaned forth gently to Svarik, and innocently put forget me not hairpin into his hair, fixing up one loose hairstreak that seemed to bother him with it. " Let's make packaging extra lovely! "

---

" Alright, I'll keep that in mind, but you are free to glare at me and berate me later if I overdo it. I doubt I'll do it often, though, you'll do well. I'll go talk with Hans, you just stay here and take a breather. And do not worry about me being away - remember, I am just a whisper away. Just whisper, okay? Just say my name, and I'll get back to you. Nothing can get to you when I am here, and if someone even tried to touch you, I'll break their wrist and claim self-defence and have Hans represent me in court in the worst case, so just take it easy, deal? There's nothing to worry about, " demon smiled a little, before he turned away to leave, to make arrangements.

[Mirach]

Svarik touched the pin and smiled. He started pinting out some interestnig textures he saw around to make into wrapping.

---

Senecio retreated a bit behing a rack with costumes so that he could have a moment to breathe before the rehearsal starts again.

[VisAnastasis]

Melody and Conrad joined in as well, and together, they had fun around it, combining different things, until they made the perfect wrappings,  that seemed as if they came straight from a fairy tale. Alpha handed presents to them for safekeeping as he opened the bag for them to enter, as he wouldn't be able to carry the gifts in his arms when running without damaging them with his speed. Once they entered the safety of the bag, he carried them back to the Third City - to the garden on the outskirts, where the building Hans bought for theatre staff was, and where the little party was to take place. Upon the largest, oldest tree to the side, once they went out, Svarik could see the newly built tree house, detailed, and colourful, with a lovely large swing below one of the branches.

---

It took a little while before Tide was the one that came, and invited him to join him, saying they were going to repeat the first part, as Senecio wanted. When they went back to the stage, he could see some actors grumbling, but accepting of change, as Hans clearly must have promised them hefty overtime pay. Spirit was currently in process of talking down to Erdel, berating him and giving him tips on how to act, indeed, doing to accurately and in detail, as if he was indeed unsatisfied with him. Demon also put on a restrained pitiful face as he was nodding and following critique, his expression naturally sullen and regretfully to the point some child actors would pat his shoulder and encourage him. But Senecio, who could perceive feelings, could clearly see vampire was just acting like he's sad to draw attention to himself and away from Senecio, as there was clearly no actual sadness, but calculation, behind his feelings. When he was young, he probably had to look pitiful enough to draw sympathy from others to survive, without it appearing fake, so pitiful expressions came naturally to him, and he was clearly using it to make it seem as if repeating the first part of play was his fault for being inexperienced, as it must have been something he and Hans briefly agreed on and went along with.

Everything seemed same as when he last left the stage, there was but only one difference - Senecio could feel another, familiar presence joined in in meantime. Janus, who sneaked away after start of party, was sitting in his own corner. He seemed tense about being with other people and was on safe distance, but he clearly wanted to come even if he wasn't really needed with mechanisms, so he could offer support. His means of support were limited, though, with his lack of experience. When Senecio looked up to him, Being was in his own little world, holding a package with cookies and fresh pastries from a nearby bakery, and browsing through them carefully - it clearly brought some cookies and goods Senecio liked and was trying to double check if he has enough variety to offer him later, if he seems distressed.

[Mirach]

Svarik looked around for Janus and the kids, and when he saw them, he went straight to them waving cheerfully.

---

Senecio felt a bit better when repeating the performance, already knowing that he can do it. He focused more on the audience, not trying to suppres the emotions he felt from them, but tentatively experimenting with the feedback loop it provided to incorporate it into his acting, adjusting it to elilcit the response he wanted. His performance the first time wasn't entirely bad, but it was much better now, and that made him, in turn, feel better about the performance and not give in to anxiety.