Senecio and Tide

[Mirach]

"I understand..." the old artist nodded. "I will suspend all other projects, and hire help with the rough sewing. My apprentices can do the details and finishing touches. In that way, we should be able to have the finished costumes in a week. For the price of a month of work, I fear..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright... Deal. You are doing a month worth of work in that week, so it is only fair. It is fair price for getting an expert, in such tight deadline.  " Hans said simply, as for him, it was good  offer, as nothing was as important as making Tide happy . " We appreciate you doing this for us. We will work on hiring actors right away as well, so you have measurements to work with as soon as possible. There is also one thing I would like taken care of, but that is already delving into details - but script is being worked on, and I want to make characters more sympathetic, so... Spirit King will have a very charming little sympathetic scene at start, while we introduce his character. It is supposed to be court, so lot of actors are needed to give it weight of court, instead of tea party - and I wanted to hire lot of kids for simple, non speaking roles, or roles with couple lines. I want to do it for demon court as well, in fact - so I can make Kings pose in more protective, parental manner compared to their subjects. There were always children, playing at courts. I know my friend would like seeing that, and be reminded of happier times. I don't want to ask for impossible - but some very simple, nice costumes for the kids, that is what I would like. They can really be simple, as time allows, they only have to fit general color theme of each court. I would like you to design them, and then at my expense, naturally, hire someone you trust to sew the costumes for their measures. As roles will be simple and mostly non speaking, and won't require that much careful picking, we will probably by tomorrow, I hope, already decide how many younger rising actors and which ones we want, so you can do your part in designing, and hire sewers. As a designer, you will get a bonus for every of those costumes made, of course, naturally. Would that be acceptable to ask for?"

[Mirach]

"Is it acceptable if I give the work on those costumes to my apprentices? I would rather have the main costumes designed before getting to them, but then you would be losing time," Benito said. "I will focus on the costumes of the main characters, as those need to be the most eye-catching. Just tell me, on a scale from 1 to 10, how pompous do you imagine them?"

[VisAnastasis]

" As much as time would allow and you feel is within good taste. I will trust you in this. I prefer having all cards laced on table, simply, as this. I like to get expert, and let him his part. I only wish to make sure to chip in with advises, to make sure our culture is not apropriated, that's all. And... I will say one suggestion - that is, that my friend is very... visual creature. He adores appealing things, and he loves sewing as well - he makes most of my clothes and vlothes for Sage and Sage's family himself. For him, main actor costumes have to be quite an eye candy, but Spirit and Demon king, especially so. This is not a condition, of course, only suggestion, but if you could work in some details like jewelry or something here and there that sparckle, in costumes of Kings, that would be great. Spirit King"s costume is most important, as Senecio will be playing him, so it needs to be as big of an eye candy as possible, and very flowy and elegant."

[Mirach]

Benito looked at Senecio ponderingly, as if already imagining a costume for him. "Good... I will start with the two kings, so I have most time to add details while working on the rest. Can I take your measurments right away? It would save a bit of time..."

Senecio nodded, and the artist took out a measure and starting taking them right away.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans agreed it is reasonable, letting actor and designer work that out, as they did, just watching the two thoughtfully, little wonderingly.

[Mirach]

Benito did that quickly and professionally, writing them down in a little notebook. "I guess you will have the actors picked sooner then the final script, so send them right to me while they are waiting for it. It's easier to design a costume not just for the role, but also the person who will play it."

[VisAnastasis]

" Of course. I will send them to you as soon as we pick them, while script will have to be worked on stil - we already have some names in mind, and we will start hiring actors from tomorrow onwards already."

[Mirach]

"Then I know everythinh I need," Benito nodded. "I will return to my workshop and start designing the costumes."

[VisAnastasis]

" And we will continue working on script and other things then. Thank you very much for your time, it will be a pleasure to work with you, on this project and in the future. " Hans nodded, bowing to him lightly and with respect.

[Mirach]

Master Benito nodded, and left to start working on the big project.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans watched after him for a while, thoughtfully, and then he smiled slowly.
" His eyesight has deteriorated... Those glasses don't do him justice. They are not strong enough. He couldn't even see I was not human. " he said thoughtfully and wonderingly, after they were alone anew. " I think I am going to make a few calls to see where can I currently find that sly raccoon, Janis, the clock maker. He loves to work with lenses, and he makes those incredibly cool custom glasses for Demons and Spirits with weakened vision, that adapt to any eyes perfectly, to give them full vision with little straining. I loved those. He made me one pair as well, 300 years ago.  " he stroke his beard thoughtfully. " I think I am going to make a deal with Janis, to get Benito one of those, as a little gift to mark my good will at our cooperation, sure. Janis only makes frame of glasses in green and blue, though - which color do you think our designer would prefer from those two? "

[Mirach]

"I think it wouldn't matter to him, if it helps..." Senecio said a bit sadly. "Do you think he can't afford custom made lenses? He has the best he can get. He's going blind... His apprentices do most of the work by now, he just describes his visions to them. He works personally only on the most important projects. This might be his last big work..."

[VisAnastasis]

" That is what I am saying - they are custom made lenses, sure, but they are not doing him justice. They are not strong enough. I was temporarily blind, after... our fall under the empire. It happens. I couldn't see anything, but basic shapes. With glasses, though, I could see again, and they are corrective, so my vision improved slowly over time. They are magic and respond to your eye lenses, they can work as long as there is some trace of vision left. " Spirit murmured quietly and thoughtfully." I don't.... like working with Janis. His prize for these deals are highly.... unpleasant for Beings. Nobody likes working with Janis.. " He frown a little with a bit of a dark foreboding." But I am ffair in my deals. I am going to push this man to do a month of work in a week, and who knows how much he will force himself to work until job is done - and I am going to equip him with a tool that'll help him out... No project is worth, making a good man go blind over it. I can not heal, but the glasses may buy him some more time in future, doing what he loves.  "

[Mirach]

"I think blue, then...." Senecio said thoughtfully. "What are Janis' prices?"

[VisAnastasis]

" You know how... When you pull out a nail from the flesh fully, it stil grows back?  Our nails, if pulled, always grow back too, at expense of some of our magic. " Spirit set us an explanation." Janis.... likes food that is drenched in emotions. Nails of Beings that are pulled of forcefully, with proper pain attached, are a special treat. He pulls out your nails till there are none... then you pass through fabric and return with new nails, and he pulls them again. Until he fills a big jarr with  them." Hans smiled a touch uncomfortably, as if it was big prize, for service in Spirit world." What can I say.... man likes his snack. To each, their own. "

[Mirach]

Senecio grimaced with that picture. "That's a bit too much even to me..." he muttered. "Not that I wouldn't fantasize sometimes, but I don't think I would actually do that willingly."

[VisAnastasis]

" He just likes the taste, just like Tide likes taste of human and being  remains. There's no malice to it. Or lasting harm. " Hans explained." It is generally safe... only all in all unpleasant, as you agree not to take any painkillers. You are only left with some redness and soul pains in your hands and feet for few days, that's all. Tide payed for my glasses, back them, and I wouldn't dare disturb him for this, so I will just go tonight when I find out if the demon stil lives on same place in fourth layer, to pay up to him. It would be nice if I had them available by the morning. "

[Mirach]

"If I would be of your kind, I would go there instead of you readily, but the harm would be more lasting to me... And if conditions are the same to humans, it would take years to fill a jar..."

[VisAnastasis]

" He doesn't make deals with humans. Human knight cut of his tail and hurt him quite badly once. He is super uncomfortable with them. He only makes deals with Beings, I fear. And, really... " Hans smiled a bit suddenly." Do you really think I would send you to get your nails pulled all out, even if you were a Being? Don't be silly, like that. I would never do that. Pulling out your nails is not quite same kind of pain as one when your lover bits your neck, scratches your back,  or pinches your nipples. I wouldn't send you to do this. I want this, so price naturally fals on me. "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded shortly. "Someone might think *he enjoys it, let's send him*..." he murmured. "So, I suppose... you don't want Tide to know where you are going?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not that big of a deal, really. I'll get through it. It's not first time for me.... Only first time in last couple centuries, I admit. But, no biggie. Don't tell him tonight, or he'll insist to do it instead of me. You are free to tell him by morning, if you feel need and it's eating you. " creature shrugged, but then it frown a little. " Seriously, though.... Don't... throw yourself in such dangers randomly. Me and Tide are Beings. We are much harder to kill. Don't go around... trying to take shots meant for us. You are too frail. You can get permanently hurt, and Tide and me are not healers of body. It's like with the hand. Erdel got you straight to the bone - I doubt it was all that sexy, having to worry about long painful healing, and all that. I would not send you on a battlefield, just because you're quirky in bed. If you'd pick up a wound that would take months to heal, even if as little as torn out nail, Tide would be devastated and always stare at it, as if staring would make it heal faster. " he grinned a bit. " Besides, I wouldn't send you on such errand, anyway, not when I can go instead. You work for me now, like that old costume designer, just and I look out for my own. I believe you just like what you like. You don't have to get physically injured for me to believe you like such roughness in making of love.  "

[Mirach]

"Okay..." Senecio nodded a bit wonderingly, as he was probably used to be picked when something potentially dangerous had to be done on stage. "Good luck then... I your fingers will hurt after that, we should finish writing as much of the script as we can today."

[VisAnastasis]

" That was my idea as well. I am used to work through pain, but for today, since script must be worked on fast, I want to patch up all holes in old script, so we have that first draft whole. " creature looked down a little wonderingly, estimating text. " There's not that much of patching up left, so... After that, I think it's important that we have at least couple first pages rewritten and polished, as sample of how play will look when all is done. I think it will help us convince actors to agree to have part in play - to see two back to back, and see improvements and changes for the better. " he whispered quietly. " I know I did not have yet chance to discuss much of changes I want to make with you.... I didn't even tell you about adding scene with Death in court, with children, and everything, before Benito came. Do you think it would be good change? " he inquired hesitantly.  I think I would perhaps like to even start play with that scene... Originally, play really started of blandly, with straight up exposition about Spirit realm and everything. It's as it was, yeah... it's true to reality... But I'd like to start with something gentler, softer. Spirit King is supposed to be really easy on eyes and heart, and have an image and personality of someone very kind, loveable, that is  only later forced to do something terrible by circumstances. Demon King is supposed to look menacing on first glance, but have a very soft heart and soft spot for weak and those that are kind to him, grim in look, but kind and protective in actions. He fell in love with Spirit in first place, because that Spirit was so gentle with him, and that gentleness attracted him like honey, as he recognized in her his own good heart, refined. He wanted to have children with her, even if he knew it was wrong, and she wishes the same. That is... not something you can just drop in in exposition, but have to show, to make audience want to root for both... "

[Mirach]

"The old introduction was really sudden, like the writer knew the characters, and so he somehow assumed that the audience will too. It will be much easier to play Death if his character is established first," Senecio said. "There is a thin line between a heartwarming scene an a cheesy clichéd one, though. The audience knows when you try to force it into loving a character by showing him with a child or puppy or something like that."