thenearshore | (no subject)

[ After getting the comment to use actual doors not the tunnel, Caster is tempted to just suddenly arrive in the middle of the kitchen. But he visited the Dagda's temple only once, the forest linking both temple's groves disappeared along the way, and he's just Not Sure if he can hit the trajectory just right. And not end in a wall or something. Ugh, that would be the worst.

So he teleports in the general vicinity of the temple and walks to knock like a normal person would. Amazing.

He's also brought the guitar so... full serious mode about uncovering the secrets of "Uaithne Chants" ]

[ Plus, getting to the front of the temple would let Caster see the valley that normally had a particular hill. One that actually fit and belonged with the tunnels that he'd come up previously. Aside from the modern, though simple, house altering the Brú na Bóinne's twin image, there was an outside semi-circle of shrines that was meant to be the Dagda's touchbase between here and the Near Shore's shrines.

It's a few seconds before the door opens, and while Shizuo's drinking a coffee, he's looking over to the guitar.

Siiiiip.

Stepping aside to let the other god in, Cu can see the long haired shinki standing behind one of the couches in the open living area. Ah, soulless shinki and their natural ability to unnerve people by their stares. ]

When'd you go about getting guitars? I thought you spent all your time fishing.

[ It's an interesting mix. A blast from the past mixed with modernity. Guess who's going to be hanging around randomly at unspecified times of day at night, just because he feels like it?

Anyway, yeah. Staring, and sipping, he can live with that, so he just walks inside- and then Shizuo drops The Bomb. Caster stops mid-track and turns at him ]

You- [ Okay, sure maaaybe someone told him, but that's not that likely. Caster instantly drapes his arm around Shizuo in that awful, friendly, personal-space ignoring style ] You remember everything, that calls for a celebration!

[ Quick, bring the cold ale- or beer, or whatever ]

[ It's really a good thing that he's so solid, that the whole gesture doesn't even slosh the coffee around. Usually he didn't drink the stuff, because of how bitter it could get, but he had a feeling it'd be needed. This was already proving to be true, if only for how unused to the casual familiarity Caster could present.

Though he does remember how much the guy could ignore the rules of personal space at this point. ]

Ah, maybe later. I still have to go and right a few things now that I remember what happened. I've got some coffee made if you want, but aside from that...

[ This is a dry house. Because ale and beer don't taste good enough to him to keep it around. ]

Right, we have a job to do. Chants to discover, magic to unlock. [ He presents the guitar as if it was some sort of trophy, or key to unlocking all those secrets. He's confident it would be. ]

A friend inspired me to try learning playing this, see. He said it's very popular these days.

[ He's hoping that Shizuo might have some knowledge about playing it in fact, but if he doesn't, they'll figure it out as they go ]

Come on, we could sit on that spot with a view.

Yeah, it's usually pretty common. Most people get the electric guitars so they could do things without noise complaints.

[ And despite not playing himself, he knew about it because... Well, there's the mystery, right? ]

Most places here have a view, but sure. Come on in and I'll get some coffee together.

[ Because why get colder working on stuff outside, when the view is the same in that living and dining area. Though even inside, it's not very warm, but just warmer, with the bite of the season and temperatures taken out of the picture. ]

[ Caster follows and sits on the floor, but not before dragging a pillow down to sit on. He gives the stings few plays to check if it's tuned, and when he considers it to be he offers the guitar to Shizuo. ]

You sound like you know all the important stuff already. [ The mention about electric guitar and the joy of playing it on headphones had not escaped him ] Give it a try. And focus on how you want the music to flow.

[ It's magic, after all. Without intent it's probably not going to work ]

[ WHY DON'T YOU JUST SIT ON THE COUCH? Honestly, he can't even be surprised anymore. ]

I've got a brother.

[ That's the only explanation to how he knows things. Going into the kitchen, he comes back out with a couple mugs, setting them on the coffee table. ]

Which is how I know the strings'll snap if I try it. At least it did back then, and I don't think you brought a dozen replacement string sets.

[ BECAUSE COUCHES ARE FOR THE WEAK. Nah, because he genuinely enjoys sitting his ass on the floor, especially when it makes him closer to the view. Couches are kind associated with naps, and he's not here to sleep ]

Huh, well crap. [ Shizuo generally can seem to control his strength just fine, but now that he got memories he knows even better where it doesn't work as intended. He grabs a chord and strums the strings absent-mindedly. If a guitar is too delicate of an instrument what more sturdy there would be? ] Hmm, how about singing?

[ He also hadn't tried since he was a teenager, which was around the time when his temper was at its worst and he was going through all those changes.

The question does have him taking a sip of his coffee, looking away to hide anything else. Mostly because it had him thinking of something that was a bit embarrassing from while he was a shinki, and how it was around Alex. Ah... He really was an idiot during those times. ]

I wouldn't say I'm good at it, but it's the closest thing to an instrument I've got.

Great! [ Caster gives the strings another strum, with a different chord, and he adjusts the strings a bit. When he's satisfied he starts playing few simple chords in succession. ]

Let's try it. Sing whatever and I'll just adapt.

[ Improvise and adapt, he thinks he can do that. ]

Ah.

[ He didn't particularly feel comfortable with it, but this really was all they had left to try and figure the chants out. Part of him would rather nap, as important as this whole thing is... ]

Just don't laugh or anything, I guess...

[ The thought of wanting to nap is what ends up having the main effect in this experiment. Though with how Shizuo isn't really projecting and sort of doing that 'singing softly to not embarrass yourself or be heard past the initial room' thing, while the drowsiness isn't quite as strong as it could actually be.

However, doing that with a lack of confidence isn't exactly the most flattering, it certainly is a song that was chosen because of the whole snow and winter thing that comes up in the two verses he sings. Then... He peters out and stops, because it started feeling awkward.

Think of this as your introductory and preparation course for the enka that gets offered in December's training. ]

[ With few chords he makes his best to fit as the background sound to the song. He might have expected something more energetic, but the slower tempo makes it easier to adapt. Awkwardness aside, Shizuo has a good voice, no complaints there, no laughter definitely either.

But as the song goes, the drowsiness hits. Slowly. It's a yawn at first, and the only a vague tiredness hanging around. Now he could use a nap too. ]

That was nice. [ he says stifling the yawn ] Ah, don't mind this. I just got an urge to nap.

[ WAIT

And that's when the realization hits him. ]

Was that your intention?

I wasn't really intending anything...

[ Which is entirely true, but he knew where that might've been coming from. ]

I mean, while I asked for the help and everything, I was just thinking how I'd rather nap instead of having to sing around someone. It just feels... awkward.

[ That's because he is awkward, and naps are easy. ]

[ Intent in magic does wonders. Caster snickers and crosses his arms, letting the guitar rest on his lap instead. Look how they got this figured out, they are geniuses- okay might be too quick to call it a victory yet, it still needs more testing. ]

Maybe it's not about what you sing or play but what kind of effect you want it to have? [ Though there might be a possibility that a soft song will enhance the "go to sleep" intent better than an energetic one. Caster claps his hand, they're ready to go- ]

Try again but with thinking about some different emotion. [ a beat ] You got a really good singing voice, ya know?