Ely's ears were twitching. The stranger had left them, but it only served to make her more than a little worried about the attention drawn to them. Again her gaze went through the crowd for possible Sentinels or the crazy blue woman. She had not had any run-ins with either yet, and had no desire to.
No. She was just a spectator like the rest of the crowd. She tugged the hood a little farther over her face, hopefully the gesture wouldn't be noticed by anyone. She put an arm on Kiga and stepped a little closer to him. She should introduce them, but not here and not now.
Ely's green eyes found Perry's violet blue ones.
"I'm sure the fire spirits will grant you their help."
She turned toward Kiga then and looked at him. She was not at all used to having him around, but she was definitely glad to see him.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
He bowed slightly toward her, inclining his head and smiling. He pondered idly if the reason he bent forward was because someone had just shoved a knife in his guts. Yeah, there was a part of him that hadn't really forgotten her, or gotten 'over it'. Well, he'd just have to suck it up. Time, like an arrow loosed, keeps moving.
"I'll be sure and make proper donation to them. Say a third of the take. I'll leave it buried beneath the ashes of the campfire after I clear up." He made sure his voice were low enough so as not to let on this fact to anyone but the assembled few.
"Have fun kids, I've got to go see if I can convince my drummer to do more than just drum." He sauntered away toward where Dom was sitting.
Kiga nodded in farewell and watched him go, then nudged Ely gently. He had an idea.
"Hey, I'm not looking for a sideshow... but did you ever wonder about combining magic? I mean... fire and air..."
He looked rather cheeky now, speaking in hushed tones and his mind filled with something close to mischief.
"Of course, you've got a night show to catch. Don't let me keep you. You three are sure to turn out quite the crowd."
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom had heard the little tete a tete and couldn't keep his chuckles inside. Especially all the faux conspiratorial money shifting. He waved a hand in Perry's direction as he approached. "Just count out whatever you think is best, a quarter or whatever suits. I'm a man of simple tastes." He smiled up at the man.
"She's quite the firecracker hmm? Got a history? What am I saying of course you have." He waved it off. "Well, if the 'spirits' would be so kind as to come to some kind of rehersal I think we could probably pull off an even better show. I'll leave the details to you." He had a little pang of sadness though, as he sometimes did. He could tell from the reactions that the fireworks had been spectacular and beautiful. He couldn't even begin to imagine what they were like. He couldn't touch them.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely's eyebrows knotted up above her nose. She was weaving her way out of the crowd when Kiga's nudge pulled her head around.
"Combine magick? What do you mean?"
This was an easier conversation to pass off, or it did not set off quite the alarm in her mind. Kiga's voice was soft and barely carried past her ears. Plus, people were dissipating fast without Perry's show to keep them occupied.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga shrugged and bounced to fall into step beside her as she walked. He waited til they were free of the crowd and then almost skipped along, his hands in his back pockets.
"Well, I know it's possible. But you know, I've never had reason or occasion to do it. But it makes sense, right? I mean, if fire feeds on air..."
He had something of an... well not entirely related thought then and had to clear his throat. It didn't so much clear his head mind you.
"Well, yes. I think it could work and why not?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely came to a halt. She spun around, tail curled about her thigh, the edge of her dress almost long enough to hide it.
"Why. I suppose it is possible."
Of course it was possible. She used air all the time to power her fireballs. Ely's head was already turning over the idea. She knew Kiga was a wind mage. She had known that the moment he had whisked her up a building to meet a coop full of pigeons. But, the idea of combining their magicks had never crossed her mind.
Ely wrapped an arm around a narrow beech tree and twisted around it. She kept her feet in close to the trunk, her head low, and hair flying around her face. She wanted to test the idea right now. But, then her brain smacked her in the face.
"What if it got out of control?"
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga followed her around the tree, then turned and switched direction, coming up right in front of her, bright eyes looking for hers. His smile was one of excitement, a daring enthusiasm.
"Well, then we simply stop. We don't have to try it on something and we can start with something really small. I mean who knows... one day we might need it."
Oh, he needed her.... magic. Or something. He could see her thinking it over and was waiting on approval, it was like handing her a small gift tied in wrapping paper. He crossed his fingers behind his back and just watched her expression.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
That was true. One day they might need it. Ely told her stubbornly persistent brain that, as well. But, it was just an excuse. She wanted to try it. She would probably try just about anything to make Kiga's eyes shine.
Huh. Eyes. She had finally adjusted the mental image she carried around in her head to include both of his eyes. Ely was still leaning out away from the tree her hair fluttering every time the wind went past. She had been mildly startled when he appeared on the opposing side, but not for long. Excitement was plowing up everything else.
"Okay. What about we try right now?"
Ely grabbed Kiga's hand and went racing off through the trees. She could not spend a lot of time on this experiment, not when she needed to meet Perry for the evening's show. But, this was too interesting not to explore.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga laughed when she tugged at his hand and then plowed hurriedly through the forest, her excitement thrilling him instantly. He almost wanted to scoop her up and run, leap and float with her a while; just act like there was nothing else in the world but them and the woods.... but well he let her guide him along, quite simply ecstatic with her enthusiasm.
"Hah! Where are we going?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely threw a hand out and continued to tug him up a small incline.
"There. That is where we are headed."
Above them and just now coming into sight were a series of ten small menhirs or standing stones. They were loosely arranged in a star shaped pattern with several smaller stones piled in the center. Ely had found it months ago and it was where she usually came to work the more dangerous fire magicks she knew.
This was not a place for control, either. This was a place of practice, of reaching up toward the sky and pulling every ounce of power she could muster.
Kiga came to an awkward, distracted halt, looking about with a wide-eyed expression. He whistled then, turning but not letting go of her hand as he took the whole place in.
"Whoa.... how long has this been here? This is... special, huh?"
Kiga wasn't much for ritual magic, his experience has been strictly martial really, the forceful and direct application of power to either enhance his own abilities or used in a very aggressive manner. He had rarely seen just what type of power he could muster and really, it should be said it was a good thing too.
But something about this place... made him stir with energy. Oh. Wait. No that was likely Ely, still clutching his hand.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely's eyes were shinning at him. She had surprised him. It made her feel wonderful.
"I don't know how long it has been here. Thousands of years perhaps. It's a focus circle, Kiga. It collects power."
Ely pointed to the tallest menhir in the center. The sun was falling down the sky and the menhir's shadow was splashed across the larger stones surrounding it.
"Look, it works like a calender and clock, too. The stone is a sundial. That might not seem like much these days, but... well... it still focuses energy. Feel."
Ely put Kiga's hand on one of the tall stones. Faint vibrations could be picked up by anyone sensitive enough to notice.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga stood there, still wide eyed and almost slack jawed. His eyes went from her to the stone... and he did as she said. He remained still, focused on his hand and felt.
Yes... there was something. Ely's hand was on top of his, just right... there, plain as day. She still hadn't let go. He swallowed, shook his head an blinked his eyes, trying to concentrate more on the stone as she instructed. He didn't know enough about such magical things...
.... but there. There was something.
"Oh! Hey.... you're right! That's.... wow!"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
"Right, so, if you want to try combining our magick this would be the best place."
She pulled her hand away from his slowly and circled the tall stones in the deasil resting her hand on each stone in turn as she went past. Ely took another glance at the sun. She was going to have to hurry or Perry's fire spirits would be late.
"...How should we do this?"
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”