Walking at a brisk pace, Ivy made her way down a street in Wistvale, trying to see if she could find something to do. And trying to see if she could find the cursed pumpkin head brothers and try and help them. She didnt expect to find them, but it didnt hurt to try. She adjusted her new bow on her back, glad for it and the boots that she now wore. She hoped that if she couldnt find Barley, there would be something interesting for her to see. Or maybe she would just go find Sera and help her with her silly books.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
I'm fairly certain Barley and his brothers would not be out strolling the streets in the middle of the day, and no way would the pumpkin-headed potion maker allow for Preston to leave his room. Too much attention would be drawn and that was the last thing Barley would want.
Anyway, it was a rather nice sunny day in the jolly old town of Wistvale. Most of the residents walked with a spring in their step as sunshine tended to inspire good moods, as long as it were not too hot. As Ivy meandered the streets, her ears picked up on a rather high-pitched, melodic tune that fluttered on the gentle breeze. It came from a flute or some such instrument, and almost sounded like a bird chirruping.
The sound came from somewhere in front of the blonde-haired girl, then behind, then at her feet, then on a balcony above.
Ivy paused and looked around. How could the sound of the flute be in more then one place? She didnt like that, but it sure did make her curious, and all thoughts of looking for the pumpkin heads vanished. "Hello? Whos playing the flute?" Even thoguh she was curious, she disliked not knowing where it was coming from.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
"Oh no, no, my dear. You have it all wrong. It's a piccolo you hear. Did you like my bird song?"
The music had stopped and in its place, right next to Ivy's ear, a merry voice spoke. Standing beside her, perhaps a little too close for comfort, was a strange looking man wearing a black suit with frilly white bits at the end of his sleeves and down the front of his jacket. A rather large and tall black hat sat upon his head, adorned with a white feather and a purple ribbon wrapped around the crown. His face was pale, his lips were red, his hair was shoulder-length - brown with red highlights. In his fingerless-gloved hands he held his silver instrument of choice.
Ivy jumped and spun away, startled at the voice next to her. She peered at the strange man who spoke in a rhyme. "Uh. It was beautiful?" she didnt know what else to say. But he didnt appear to be someone she needed to use her bow and arrows on, so she left it on her back. "Who are you?" she asked, making sure to keep her distance from him.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
The eccentric figure sprang back, mortified, and proceeded to make an overly grand and theatrical swooning motion.
"Oh, my dear, Oh! How can this be? That you do not know Of little ol' me?"
The man followed this by dropping his piccolo into the front pocket of his jacket, placed both hands up to his mouth as if blowing a trumpet, then struck up a fanfare.
*DAH DA-DA DAAAAH!*
"I am the man Who toots musical sounds, Who travels the land, With power, unbound."
*POP*
The man with the top hat simply vanished from where he stood, only to reappear immediately behind Ivy dressed in what could only be described as a Little Bo Peep-inspired costume; all pink and white and frilly, his black hat traded in for a white bonnet.[/i]
"Or am I the girl Who lost all her sheep, Watched her sanity unfurl 'cause she just could not sleep?"
*POP*
He disappeared and was now standing on a balcony above wearing a golden dog costume that covered his entire body; painted black nose, floppy ears, and all. He rubbed a paw against the side of his pale face.[/i]
"Or am I the pet Of a spoiled Princess Who chose to forget And thought of me less?"
*POP*
Returning to his original spot and back in his usual unusual black suit and top hat, the man pointed a finger at Ivy. Had she been noticing the odd looks people were giving her as they walked by?[/i]
"But less about me, Have I no shame? I'm here about thee, What is thy name?"
Ivy didnt notice people were staring at her, as she was busy staring at the...she would call him a man, but what kind of man can dissapear and reappear instantly? She eyed him, not sure if she needed her bow. "My name is Ivy. Why are you talking like that?" She just met him and he was annoying her already. "And what do you mean by here for me?" the start of a scowl was forming on her face.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Had she been good at it, Ivy would have punched the rhyming man out. That is, until she heard there was an adventure to go on. "I didnt bring you anywhere." she huffed. "But Im not going to say no to an adventure. What kind of adventure?" she couldnt help sounding excited.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
The man looked confused at Ivy's denial and scratched, wonderingly, at his temple. He folded his arms, took a single, long stride forward and looked down at the girl in the white dress.
"So it was not You that I heard Wishing a lot For adventure? Absurd!
I felt you speak, From the depths of your heart, For excitement to peek And a quest to start."
He shrugged and jumped back, confusion replaced with a merry grin.
"But before all of that, Come, follow me, Because my young sprat We shall kickoff with tea!"
A fancy walking cane suddenly appeared in his hand as he turned and walked to the nearest alley. Once he was out of sight of the townsfolk, and deeply hoping the young blonde girl was behind him, the man dressed in fine black clothes spun around, tapped his cane three times upon the ground and *POP!* a table just appeared in front of him. A plain white table cloth was draped over the top, while a chair stood empty on the opposite side to him for Ivy to sit. Two small, delicate teacups and a large pot of steaming hot tea sat on the table, accompanied by a bowl of sugar lumps, a tiny jug of milk and a silver teaspoon.
The man with the top hat made his cane vanish and begun pouring the hot liquid, not waiting for Ivy to sit down.
"Some tea for you, madam? Please, don't be shy, You don't know me from Adam, But naught will go awry."
Ivy frowned to herself when he finished his annoying way of talking. How could he tell all that? Her frown grew as he walked away, and unable to pass up the chance for an adventure, she shrugged and followed him. Her eyes widdened when she saw him stop and make atable appear just by taping his cane. Who was the man, and why was he setting up tea? "Why are you setting up tea?" she asked, eyeing the empty seat that she assumed was for her. So she walked over and sat, figuring if she went along with it, she would know what kind of adventure he had in mind. "How did you make all this appear?" her voice betrayed her curosity, as it was evident she was extreamly curious.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Once the eccentric man filled Ivy's cup, he proceeded to do the same with his own. Not a drop was spilled, despite the fact that he was looking at the girl the entire time and not once did he look down as he poured.
"Tea is the best, It helps me to think Of how I am blessed To guide those that might sink."
He placed the teapot down to one side and magically summoned himself a chair in which he seated himself. Still without removing his gaze from the girl, the odd stranger dropped seven cubes of sugar in his drink and added a little milk, then stirred the hot liquid with his left index finger without any sign of pain.
"I am not of this plane, I come from another, But nothing's the same And so I discover That here is all new And help is long sought for, 'Cause your world's askew And high spirits are poor."
He brought the tea to his lips, little finger sticking up in the air, and sipped silently.
"I possess greater gifts Than some in these lands, I can create rifts With a wave of my hands.
To make things appear In the blink of an eye, To make destinies clear, If I really do try.
I mean not to boast Of the talents I hold, I am merely a ghost Who warps reality's mold."
Ivy didnt touch her cup, not sure if she should drink from it or not. However, she did stare at him as he spoke, finding it odd how he kept staring at her. "So you help people with something, you can open rifts because you arent from here, and youre a ghost?" she looked around and frowned. "Does this mean Im seeing things that arent really here? Can others see you and all this stuff?" she felt confused as she reached for her tea and took a sip, grimincing at the bitter taste.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
"Oh no, my dear, For you clearly see That I'm really here Drinking this tea."
The odd man gave a wink and sipped his hot drink.
"I am the spark, But you are the flame That fights back the dark And takes all the fame.
I open the door But you must step through, I do little more Than act as the glue."
*POP*
The things on the table vanished and the teacup from Ivy's hand simply disappeared, as did the man's, leaving behind nothing but the plain white table cloth. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a deck of cards. The back of the cards were decorated with a gold floral design on a sky blue background. As the man began to shuffle the deck, very fast and with much skill, he looked once again at Ivy.
"From inside, you must speak, And say it out loud, What wishes you seek To pull down from a cloud.
What does your heart want And call for at night? Where dreams like to taunt, To keep only in sight."
Ivy visibly jumped when her teacup vanished, as she hadnt expected it to. She looked up at the strange man, not really surprised that the table was clear. She wrinkled her nose at the mans rhyming, but said nothing, as she wanted to know what adventure she was going to go on. Her face relaxed and she smiled a little despite her annoyance at the mans way of speaking. "I wish to be able to go on an adventure." she replied immediently after the man finished speaking. Now she had to wait and see if he would really give her an adventure to go on.