Senecio and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

" I... counted, with your education, as actor, with plays and everything, you have to have known at least decent amount of fairy tales, and know something of mythology, when you know enough of Demons and Spirits. " Hans murmured out quietly to him, seeming still, very, very tense, shifting uncomfortably, nibbling on his pen subconsciously. " You know, don't you, that whenever hero wants something, he makes a deal with mysterious figure, but he always doesn't seem to know at first, what exactly figure wants? It's often blatantly cliche trope, because it stems from courtesy of real life.. Don't you remember one, when Demon helped lost king find way out of forest, to safety, and asked only for king to give him first thing he sees when he gets home - and later it turned out first thing he sow was his daughter? It's a common theme... Just like, when you make wish upon spirit locked in a magic lamp, you often get something you didn't bargain for if you don't word it carefully... Message... being like... be careful what you wish for, and all that... " Hans spoke quietly, thoughtfully, as it seemed stories and writing was something easier to speak of, than his feelings. " Tales like those... reflect truth. Not, like, ever Being is jerk... But we Beings tend to be subtle, in our deals. We let what we want remain unheard. You need to make an effort, to make sure you interpret them and know what you bargained for. I offered to help you court Tide - and my condition for helping you court Tide, was to be allowed to protect you. I would get no direct benefit from it, but your enhanced happiness. " he educated him quietly, though with a little hoarse voice, hesitant, unwilling. " We do not spell out things. For us, deal that has no benefit for us, but only for one we deal with, is nothing if not offer of friendship. We are indirect, subtle, specially in things we are insecure about. We have trouble, saying words out loud before we are sure we mean them. It's from our deals, that the saying came around, don't you know it? " he smiled mirthlessly. " The devil is in the detail... You won't know what Being wants, if you don't take time to figure it out. "

[Mirach]

"Maybe I would figure it out if you wouldn't set the other condition and insist on it. I would make the deal for Tide, and then figure it out later, when I would forget the insults a bit, probably..." Senecio said. "But I could not make the deal at the moment, as I saw it, so I did not try to figure out the details..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It wasn't in my plan to push any other conditions. It was my plan to just make a deal, and then let you figure it out on your own with time... But things don't always turn out, as you plan them to. " Hans responded honestly, without pretense this time. " I was just.... Agitated, that's all. It was... Very alarming to me, when you suddenly refused talking, after you had no problem telling me of list and personal things regarding it. I did not plan to make that into condition... It just.... Is not a laughing matter, to me. When you call something *complicated*. You refused to give me any hints, at least. You refused to give me any way, to prepare myself for dealing with something that sounded so grave and unpredictable. Do you ever begin to comprehend, how terrifyingly dangerous and hard life is, when you're a wanted criminal of your people, and have to always struggle to predict every bad thing, just to protect yourself and person most dear to you, who never did anything wrong in his life ever, but exist? " Spirit kept his voice even, but his hand was flickering nervously around edge of pen, as if he was trying to ground himself, against something dark and heavy, sounding almost a little erratic, obsessive. " We would be long dead, both of us - had I not always been prepared. It's better to overreact all the time, than to die once and for all, don't you get that? " he gulped. " Don't you.... Really get, how it is, to always live of edge of a knife, in order to survive? I have to be prepared, always, for Tide, for us... I did not plan to make it a condition. I just couldn't bring myself... to seal the deal, when you suddenly caught me of guard, like that. I spent two days, tediously preparing to meet you, and I ended up....Unprepared..."

[Mirach]

"And I met you without any preparing," Senecio said. "From Tide I only knew you are his best friend, and from Lorenzo that he admired you and that you work closely with Sage, but other than that, he was very secretive about you. You did not suggest that you know everything about me either. How could I know what you will assume?"

[VisAnastasis]

Hans was quiet, before he shook his head, saying quietly.
" To everyone - their own. " He murmured . " You like the pain, the helplessness? That is fine - as long as you do not force yourself with it on no one, there is no reason for putting you on my list, or underlining you. It was legaly rape until you were 18, no matter if it was pleasant or not, and afterwards, no matter how good it phisicaly felt or not, it brought you way too much emotional pain to be anything but abuse. Hence, you are a person that could really benefit from Tide's caring nurturing nature, to grow away from it all. You are not helplessness flower, though. You are a survivor, with tough skin. You survived worse on your own - you could survive any awkwardness in no time... You don't need my help to survive - but I am decisive to give it, to make surviving this easier and more comfortable to you, for a change. " Hans spoke, simply and quietly, uncomfortable with being so open with someone he didn't feel safe with, but knowing it is right thing to do. " I started our conversation being wary of you last night, but I ended up being more sorry than wary. I did not feel like that at the end, but at first, I was so angry - all I wanted was to take comcept of my terrifying rage, turn it into a phisical weapon, and smack you to death with it. No metaphor. " Spirit smiled with some kind of troublong melancholy, staring into paper before himself quietly, before he gulped." Is that.... transparent enough for you, little actor? Because I do not know how to spell it out any more clearly, so you do not assume like that anymore. I did not tell you I knew all of you precisely so you wouldn't assume I hate you for knowing, or any of that rubbish... Anger and hate are different things. This was way too personal than fact you are sleeping around for roles, and I feared if I told you I know, you would be too ashamed to even give me the list, and insist that you have to be on it or something equally unreasonable, like that.  "

[Mirach]

"Probably..." Senecio murmured. "But still I'm glad that the first I talked about it was Tide. Knowing just what I knew yesterday though, I really don't know what I should have done differently."

[VisAnastasis]

" Made a deal, probably... but perhaps it's better this way. It just turned out as it did, and that's it. No reason to cry over spilled milk.  " Creature shrugged slightly, growing a little more thoughtful. " So..." it cleared its throat. " I do not plan to come in between you. But I wish to know. You said it was different with him, right?" He cleared his throat, as if trying to find some more pleasant curve in conversation, as he sighed a bit wistfully." He was worried about me, alright... but I have lot of experience, in this particular field... he couldn't quite hide to me that he was glowing. "

[Mirach]

Senecio couldn't help it but smile hesitantly. "He was, wasn't he?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Yeah.. Like a sun after the rain. " Hans responded with little smile, measured, hesitant as well - but little more open with actor's smile, in more of his comfort zone. " He has never been intimate this early on, and he's way too infatuated. I tell him, slow down, fledgling, you can't just jump headfirst into something you know nothing about... " he paused dramatically, before grinning a little bit, hesitantly still, as if making some kind of leap of trust. " I told him - you must start out small, and grow experience as you do. Don't go sneaking around creepy places, browsing through whips, handcuffs and whatnot, people will get wrong idea... But there's that and that place, where you can get what you like - a nice beginner stuff, a good rope for some simple bedroom bondage, soft enough to restrain but not hurt, and more than 5 mm in foundation, so it wouldn't cause nerve damage or stop blood flow in struggling or whatnot as too thin ropes would. " he winked. " He said, like, gee, thanks, that sound safe enough and is just what I want, I 'll go to market right, now, and I said, gee... You're welcome... "

[Mirach]

Senecio chuckled with that. "You really had such a conversation? He wanted to tell prety much everybody in the morning... I hope he didn't..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Nah, I hope he did. I shall feed very fondly of your inconvenience. It just feels too good to miss. " Tide teased a little, for a moment, perhaps, appearing as he would to unknowing eye - bright, dandy, amusingly flirtatious. " But seriously, though.... This is just a little deal between me and him. He was ever clueless about making love. He did not evolve to need it, you see... So he had to understand it from perspective of someone without those desires, in order to start growing them. He is more experienced, now, and human form is really grateful, for explorations, and he knows better - but still feels safer with tips when it comes to unknown, and he is all about feeling safer.  " creature offered a piece of information, as if smiled somehow fondly, at thought that followed. " He does want to tell everyone, he is so jolly... But you don't need to fear. Knowing him, it'll probably be, like... Hay, did you hear I have a boyfriend, baker? Hey, do you know I have a boyfriend, mister guard? Hey, flowers - I began dating again.  Hi, sky, I found someone special... " Hans rolled his eyes, as it spoke words that, for its taste, were quite too sugary, but were, undeniably, what Tide would say. " Look, Sun - I have a boyfriend! "

[Mirach]

Senecio smiled fondly. "As long as he doesn't give the sun a detailed description of his night, that's okay..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It wouldn't really change anything, as Sun's not technically listening, but yeah.. " Hans agreed. " Solstice, though, a spiritual personification of Sun - she was always really nice, though, in bed and otherwise. " he shrugged innocently. " Generally very vanilla, but she's full of understanding and warmth - not really she, he in same time, as she can choose whatever. But even if she heard a detailed description, she'd probably, like.. Just give you a high five. So, you're good. "

[Mirach]

"Really?" Senecio asked, finding that little fact interesting. "But the baker or guard probably wouldn't..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Who cares about what baker or guard would think, when you and your boyfriend are having fun, am I right? " Hans rolled his eyes a little, leaning back a bit in his chair, as if little freer, in subject he was comfortable with. " Everything's different, from different point of views... Take humans, for example, in this current time . Many people here would deem me of loose morals - but I knew I had a very, very good time, making love with every kind of willing creature on this wonderful world. When you're Singer, among Beings, sensitive to music - you can charm pretty much everybody, and charm, you can bet I did. Who cares what baker or guard would think? I prefer to hang out with people who'd give me high fives, like Solstice. " Hans's eyebrows lifted a little naughtily, as he added, innocently stroking his chin. " There was too much things to enjoy, specially before wars - take Solstice, for example. I had a thing with her, for few months. For some reason, she is really attracted to doing it at night, surrounded by fires burning all around two of you. She really gets a kick of it, when people are watching as well - she's very confident about her skills, and likes to show them off. She totally melts in your hands, in those conditions. " he sighed little wistfully at the memory. " That's why nowadays Summer Solstice rituals in countryside are as they are - tailored to fit her tastes.... She has her thing, she'd give you a thumb ups, for having yours, I am sure. "

[Mirach]

Senecio relaxed a bit more when he assured with that that Hans is not condemning him or finding him a bad influence on Tide. He still did not feel that comfortable talking about it though, and jumped a little when he hear a knock on the door - it was noon and Benito arrived. 

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed it was something Hans wanted - with offering a little insight about himself, to give actor a better chance to understand, why peculiar tastes in bed were not of as much interest to him, as who Senecio is, as a person. It helped lessen up some tension between them, to really know Hans does not mind that. With a little bit of tension between them relieved, Spirit was able to slip more easily into his role as a host, role Spirits and Demons seemed to think of in very high regard - and he welcomed Benito kindly and earnestly, giving him comfortable chair at their table, offering him snacks and beverages, taking freedom of intruding himself and Senecio to him, just in case.

[Mirach]

The costume maker was old, with balding white hair and thick glasses. He just nodded to Senecio, knowing him. "So I hear you are going to revive that peculiar play about demons and spirits..." he said. "A strange play, that one. It's wasn't that bad, but the public didn't like it much. The costumes were nice, though. Are you sure you really want this play?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Completely positive. " Hans replied, simply and truthfully. " We won't play it in original form, I admit. We are going to alter plot and pacing a little bit, make some changes to script and everything in general to make it flow more coherently - it will be more of a close adaptation, than just as it was back then. But I'm quite certain I want this one. If you permit me stating the obvious - this is no costume. " he waves his hand up, at his own quite humanoid, but in many ways, clearly not human form. " I am a Spirit. And as a Spirit, there're not many things that peek my interest as much, as play about Demons and Spirits. "

[Mirach]

Benito adjusted his glasses to look more closely at him. "I see... You just bought the theatre, didn't you? Well, that's understandable... Most new owners first stage some play they like, lose money with it, and then focus on the ones in demand... I'm just warning you, but it is your business. As I said, the costumes were nice, and I get paid for costumes, not the success of the play..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am fine with losing money on this one. It's for me, but it's also for a friend that is like me, and for other people like me, that I will invite for occasion. Besides, it's first time I am collaborating with Senecio, on a project. Passion projects are good for first time things like those, and we want something where we will have lot of artistic freedom, not something already done many times before. " he said simply, once they were all seated down comfortably. " You are paid for costumes, not success of play - and we will be glad to pay you well, for the job. Senecio said you were very good, and I admit I have little experience on this particular field - but cooperation is most important to me. If we can cooperate well on this, I'd be happy to give you more jobs in future, when other plays come around. "

[Mirach]

Benito nodded seriously. "Good, good. My eyes are not what they used to be, but my apprentices will do the sewing, not me. I found the sketches of the costumes for the previous play," he said, taking out some pictures, carefully folded in a leather case marked with the title of the play and date of premiere. "I say, they were nice, but I got better since then. How much of freedom do you want to give me in designing them?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Designing is most important part - that's why we wanted to discuss this with you in person. It's fine if someone you trust does sewing, as long as designing itself is done thoroughly, and as I have no much experience in it, I need to have someone I can trust in this. I have little experience in costume designing - but fashion of time, is bit different. There, I can offer you inspiration or needed insight. I used to spend lot of time, on both Spirit and Demon court, in that time, before wars. " Hans said, as openly, but more slowly, giving Benito chance to take in information so he can understand his creative decision. " I don't want to recreate anything as it was, that fashion is a product of its own time - I would like to see hands of someone outside of that world, into this. I want something fun, and something your own, with unrestrained budget. But I'd like to have word or two, still - as some things would brake suspense of disbelief, for some of my older friends who remember those times, and I don't want that. Nothing big, but basic things, specially about colors, and some materials. Things like - that Spirit king preferred silky flowy aesthetic, like wind, while Demon King preferred more firm, strong one, like pillars of the earth. That in court, only Demon king would wear pure darkest black, and only Spirit King would wear pure whitest white, and all others would wear colors to match their courts, sometimes but with little details of either black and white, but otherwise, nobody wore darkest or brightest. Like, for example, if you'd be nature being on Demon court, you'd wear dark shade of green, but if you were nature being in Spirit court, you'd wear very soft, light shade of colors.... Demons would wear darker colors, higher they are in chain of command of their king, and Spirits would wear brighter colors, higher they were in chain of command of their king. That's why Spirit King's court was rather pastel-y, like lightly colored cotton, and Demon King's was more deeply colored, like rich soil. There are couple of quite accurate remarks about how it was, in the play itself, so I don't know if original designs were so - but for sake of my friends, it's really but important for me, to keep the general shade value differences, so it's easy on the eye by colors to distinguish who belongs to which court, and that Spirit King and Demon king, and two of their highest in command who have lot of speaking parts, are dressed in appropriate color. Just appropriate color scheme, to get accurate feel of the time, that's all. But as for shape of clothing, cut, details, and everything else, other than colors - that already, is something I'd be very much delighted to see what you can come up with. "

[Mirach]

"So, unlimited budget, and only one condition about colors?" Benito asked. "I see it will be a pleasure working with you. "I will bring you sketches to approve in a week."

Senecio sighed. "We don't have that much time, I fear," he said. "The premiere is twelve days."

The old designer looked rather taken aback by that. "Twelve days? You want to make a play in twelve days? But only sewing the costumes will take at least ten! And we will need the actors to take their measures, and they need to try them on..."

[VisAnastasis]

" We know. This is why we need an expert, wiling to push through with this with us to make it look as good as possible, in such short time. I realize I ask lot from you - that is why I am willing to overblow budget on this so much. " Spirit said simly, looking at the artist intently. " It does not matter, if it's financial loss in end. But it needs to be as good as possible in little time. I am going to work day and night on it as well.  Each single hour of your work will be compensated, though. You are allowed to hire as many people as needed for sewing costumes, too - all will be paid ful wage, without you having to share your profits with anyone. You are designer, an artist, and your main task would be that - to design, and oversee others that work on your vision. That is position I want to put you in. I will pay you double your usual rates, if you find that fitting and are willing to see this through with us. " He paused, before adding more quietly. " I am not happy to push this so fast, either. I would rather have more time. But I... have a dear friend, who really wants to see this play... But he may die soon. If fate allows it, I wish to fulfill this last wish to him. I won't sleep, in next two weeks, for that, if I have to. Do you understand the nature of this deadline? If I wanted to be cheap, I would just lazily buy some dozen black and white tunics, and call it a day. But instead, I want a master of craft, like you, to manage as good as possible, with little time my friend may have."