video | un: druidic

[arrowroot]

[It's evening on the 23rd when this goes up, starting with the camera view being shifted around a bit before whoever is holding it settles it overlooking a quiet part of Greatmoon Groves. The sun is casting gold and red across the scene, reflecting off the flame-colored hair of the young woman who steps in front of it holding a green violin in one hand and bow in the other.

She doesn't bother with an immediate introduction, instead putting the bow to the strings and giving it a few testing notes before starting a somewhat melancholy but high energy song. She plays through to the end and lets the last note linger before letting out a breath of obvious nerves and returns to her communicator to pick it back up.

It takes a moment for her to adjust properly, being too close at first but eventually pulling away so she can give a proper wave and awkward smile, freckled cheeks tinted pink.]

Ah, hello Lunatia. I'm Illyana Ackermann. I arrived here last month, and...

[A pause, attempting to funnel some of her nervous energy into staying something coherent and not rambly.]

And I've been hearing amazing new music since I got here, so I wanted to try and play something. That is, I should say, new to me. I'm mostly used to tavern bands and talent guilds, and most human music in the Kryta region is more what you'd expect drunken soldiers to loudly sing along with. There's also Charr metal...

[Don't ask.

Or do.

She pauses and tucks some errant hairs back behind her ear, looking off into the distance.]

I didn't do so well when I first arrived here. I was upset and foolishly took it out on myself. Drinking too much, hangovers well into the night. Thought I was better off under blankets in the dark than trying to make the best of an unusual situation. I'm sure I'm not the first one to do something like that, or the last.

[Off screen she's idly running a finger up and down one of the strings, making a soft but inadvertently haunting noise.]

I've made some friends here somehow in spite of my best efforts to become an unwashed undesirable hermit, so I'm going to swallow my pride and actually put myself out there. Playing was always more of a hobby for me and came second to anything else that was going on in my life, but there's no time like the present I suppose to become more serious about it. It's not like I have much else to do here. I'm curious about whoever else might be interested in music here, or even interested in lessons. I play a few other instruments, though violin is my strongest skill.

Sorry this was so long, but thank you for listening if you stayed this long.

[... how does one end these things?

Another wave?

... okay, she's just going to awkwardly shut it off.

She'll be in the park probably until dark if anyone wants to find her there continuing to play on the bench she sat at.]

Comments

[irondaddy]

( James himself is more than happy to not put a name to these things with any haste; not for lack of caring, of course, but... He's never budgeted himself for a relationship. Years and years ago, perhaps, he might have thought it possible— he had been wrong even then, and he realized as much. Once the accident had happened and they'd skyrocketed him in rank and responsibility, then it was really beyond his grasp. No one deserved to have a ball of stress at their side with a body destined to break down again in some near future. Someone with his entire country at the center of his heart instead of the one he loves.

But this place is different. His life had come to a screeching halt and he had to learn how to... be a normal man, here. And he's always loved people. Their stories and their backgrounds and what made them unique. His Ace-Ops were proof of that. Having Faunus in such high-ranking positions was still incredibly controversial, but all he'd seen was skill and loyalty. He'd always reward loyalty without discrimination. The sad part is that he is also quite the romantic at heart, now that he has the wherewithal to stretch his legs in it.

Which is to say: he's going to scoop her right up in a little twirl, bite-sized as she is, in response to the way his chest puffs to her smile and the brightness of those pretty green eyes. Is that his real weakness...? She's certainly not the first of his fondest acquaintances here to have such green eyes. Then he's craning down to bump his brow to hers. )

They're supposed to be quiet, yes. Stuffy, however— not the intention. I much prefer the open air.

( Are they swaying? They're swaying. He's totally dancing with her, however simply, right here in the walkway under the leaves. )

[arrowroot]

[It's certainly easier to deal with compared to the anxiety that the "find a man, get married, pop out kids, die" mentality causes. Ana still doesn't understand how so many humans can still think that's the way life needs to be but then again she's never been one to go with the majority anyway. That said, he's not the only ball of stress here. She just happens to be the one left with more scars than metal.

Getting lifted suddenly earns a squeal of surprise that dissolves into excited giggles. She doesn't feel any fear that he might drop her, not only trusting his strength but his obvious affection for her. It goes on for a while before she recalls something, tapping his arm rapidly.]

Oh! Put me down! I just remembered, I have something to show you!

[irondaddy]

( Yes, that it is. Even James had never been pressured to have a family. He's wondered sometimes if he missed his chance, or if he's missing out on some aspect of life most seemed to still manage, huntsmen and soldiers alike— but being here almost seemed like fate's funny response to all his pondering.

Her giggles are a decade younger and make him feel just the same when he's scooped her up for a twirl of an embrace, setting her back down to sway and letting her go as she baps at his arm nearly as excitedly. )

Hm?

( All right, you have his attention. )

[arrowroot]

[Good!

She practically bounces over to the bench, turning her violin case over after zipping it shut in order to dig into a pocket in the back. She pulls out a small, intricately cut glass bottle, bordered oddly with brushed metal of all things and bright red liquid in it, almost enough to make one think "poison" not "drink that won't kill you".

Although it might still kill you.

She bounds back over and holds it out for him to take.]

Soooo... [She rocks on her heels a bit, hand tucked behind her back once he has the item in his hands.] Remember when we first met, and I was lamenting that the alcohol here just wasn't all that strong?

[That is certainly a mischievous grin on her face.]

[irondaddy]

( What she ends up producing is, in fact, a very strange looking vial. Why the metal reinforcement? Why is it so.... bright? It reminds him of the sap from Forever Falls, actually.

She holds it out to him and he'll take it, examining the bottle for a moment and glancing back up to her. )

I do. Blood whiskey, right? Is that what this is?

( He'll pop the top open and have a careful sniff, and it probably about burns his nose hairs right out his nostrils, brows furrowing, but.

But he's no coward!!!! Though his sip is a tentative one, he does take a small swallow, feeling the burn harsh down his throat and tongue aflame, heat burning through him and like to be enough to raise the hairs over what's left of his body.

Potent. Very potent. He sucks in a deep breath and eases it out, but otherwise... )

I see why your comparisons fell short.

( And then he has to shake his head, as if to clear it by flinging water from his ears like a dog, stoppering it back up to pass back. )

That is strong, you weren't kidding.

[arrowroot]

Special Reserve Blood whiskey.

[She adds that with a raised finger and a grin. She made sure to go for the best of the best, for obvious reasons. As to the metal, that's really just a charr thing. Can't properly show off your Black Citadel pride without making sure everything looks like it was forged under fire and iron.

She can't help but laugh quietly behind her hand at his reaction to it, taking the container back once he's had his attempt. She's not so heartless as to force him to stomach more of it.]

I'm not about to drink this entire thing any time soon. I just wanted something from home and this seemed like the best first choice.

[After she's been here a little longer, though, she is absolutely using one of those summoning orb thingies to get at least one of her mounts back.

Probably her Skyscale.

She can take James flying.

But that is, of course, later and will be another surprise.]

I figured you'd appreciate at least getting to try it.