[video]

[smilingarmor]

[Sylvando appears on the mirrors, giving everyone a cheerful wave.]

Hello, darlings! I hope everyone is having a good day.

The point of this message, though, is that I'm looking for a few volunteers from the audience for a few magical, musical experiments. Nothing harmful, I assure you, but it's the sort of training that can't be done with an inanimate dummy.

While I've certainly mastered the basics of wind magic, there are times on a mission when something more subtle than a whirlwind might be called for. Hence the spells I've been practicing recently. They seem to be effective enough on the local squirrels and songbirds, but if I'm to be truly sure of their effects, I need to have someone who can actually report to me what they experienced afterward.

Anyone who's game can stop by the training grounds this afternoon, or of course, I'm happy to answer anyone's questions right here.

Comments

[takeitsleazy]

Hey, Sylvando. I'll come help, I could use some wind practice, too.

[smilingarmor]

Well... what I'm looking to practice today is a rather different sort of magic. After all, a whirlwind is good when you want to do damage, but that's not always called for. What I've been working on is a bit less direct, and potentially, a good bit more fun.

[takeitsleazy]

You can always count me in for fun! I'll be there.

[and so he is, soon enough, without his jacket, sleeves rolled up, ready for hard work and Serious Fun]

Good to see you, Sylvando! Feels like it's been far too long. You throw one hell of a good party, though, I have to hand it to you.

Video > Action

[smilingarmor]

Fabulous, darling! I'll be waiting.

[As promised, When Michael arrives at the training grounds, Sylvando is waiting for him. But oddly enough instead of a sword, he has a sort of long flute.]

Likewise, honey. And I'm glad you enjoyed; I thought that we could all use a bit more fun in our lives. And there are a few of us who need to be occasionally reminded to take a little break.

[He's looking at you, Mal.]

[takeitsleazy]

I can think of someone, and it's probably the same person if you're thinking of purple hair. ... Maybe we should have an intervention.

But what's that you've got there?

[smilingarmor]

Perhaps, though I'd rather try more conventional encouragement before confronting her that way. It doesn't seem to be harmful, really; she just needs to learn to balance herself a bit better.

And this is a type of flute native to Gallopolis, in my world; it's rather a favorite instrument of mine. And I've been practicing channeling magic through it for different effects than I can get with a sword. Which is why you're here, Michael darling.

I've been trying spells to make creatures sleep, dance, or simply to watch me while ignoring everything else around them, but there's only so far one can get with squirrels and songbirds. I need someone who can tell me afterwards how strong the effect is and what exactly it feels like, as well as to see how well it works on an intelligent being as opposed to a simpler animal.

[takeitsleazy]

Oh! Okay, sure.

[he's not entirely sure he likes the sound of this, because he's always been in control of his own mind and body, and by always, he means "for all eternity". but ... he trusts Sylvando. and if Sylvando can cause these sort of things, maybe it will mean he can help fend them off eventually, as well. he's not sure what the sudden feeling that comes over him is, the one that makes him feel as though every single one of the little tiny baby hairs on his body are standing on end. why it's suddenly a good five degrees colder in their little training pocket of the area. why he's aware of ev e ry thing. it feels like it could almost be fear, but he thinks: that's not right. no one here is in danger. why would he be afraid?]

I'll warn you, my dancing isn't great. Unless you play a samba. Jose taught me that one.

[and another thing: why doesn't smiling feel like it's coming out right?]

[smilingarmor]

[That may be because it isn't; it's pretty obvious to Sylvando that Michael is nervous. He gives a bit of a sympathetic smile in return.]

You know, you don't have to do this if you'd really rather not, darling. That's why I asked for people to volunteer. I can understand how this sort of thing might make someone a bit nervous, after all.

[takeitsleazy]

I'mnotnervous!

[no, Michael, honey, you just don't realize you are, there's a difference]

[smilingarmor]

[Yeah, Sylv's not buying that.]

Tell me, are you feeling rather cold and prickly? Maybe even a teeny bit twitchy, like you're half expecting something bad to happen, even though you know that's not the case?

[takeitsleazy]

[enthusiastically] Yes! Oh, good, that means your magic is working, right?

[smilingarmor]

No, honey; that just means that you are, in fact, nervous. I haven't done anything yet.

[takeitsleazy]

[he actually looks a little happy about that, strangely enough]

Oh! So that's nervous. I'd always wondered. I guess I've known that one for a little while, then. I do get it sometimes. Thank you for clearing that up.

[smilingarmor]

[Sylvando chuckles.]

You're very welcome.

Though what I said before still applies; if you'd really rather not go through with this, that's perfectly alright.

[takeitsleazy]

[now that he knows what he's feeling, it's a little easier to break it all down. he didn't want to be controlled by the likes of his boss and co-workers, certainly not. but Sylvando had said he was doing it for the purposes of practicing his magic. not for the purpose of humiliating or torturing him. and, well, Chidi was always so fond of saying that Kant thought the only true good was a good will. and he was pretty sure that, at least as far as his friends were concerned, Sylvando didn't have an ill-willed bone in his body. that settled it.]

No, no, I - now that I know what that is, and why it happened, I - I should be okay. I just ... had to remind myself, if anything does go wrong, you don't mean it. Like ... well, like a lot of people used to. Let's just put it that way.

[smilingarmor]

[Michael would be largely right there. Sylvando's ill will was reserved for his enemies, in particular those who went out of their way to make others miserable. And while Michael may have once fallen into that category, he now quite obviously did not.

He nods. There's definitely a story there, possibly more than one, but he lets it go for now.]

Alright then, if you're certain.

[He readies his flute.]

We'll start with that dancing magic then. Ready, darling?

[takeitsleazy]

[there will be plenty of time for stories later, maybe over refreshing beverages. for now, there is dancing. Michael takes off his jacket and hangs it somewhere nearby, where it won't get wrinkled or dirty]

I am now, yeah.

[smilingarmor]

[Refreshing beverages are always welcome!

Once Michael is ready, Sylvando puts his flute's mouthpiece to his lips and begins to play a jaunty tune, winding Charm magic into the music. Michael will feel a bubbly sort of cheerfulness filling him that just makes him want to kick up his heels and dance. Not necessarily to the tune that Sylv is playing but just to dance in general.]

[takeitsleazy]

[at first he really does just enjoy the music, smiling - and then the Charm starts to take hold. he's aware of it, and there's a spike of fear before the cheerfulness overwhelms it, and soon enough he's tapping his foot and bobbing his head... then his shoulders start moving, too ... and within a few more measures he's doing some pretty standard Old White Guy Dancing, balling his hands up into fists and moving them at his sides, stepping from side to side with a little bounce of his legs, head bobbing]

[smilingarmor]

[Once Sylvando notices the spell taking effect, he stops playing, not wanting to overdo the magic. As a result the urge to dance will fade away after a few minutes as the spell wears off and Michael will be able to settle down.]

Well I'd call that a successful test. Alright there, Michael darling?

[takeitsleazy]

[once the spell stops, his shoulders sag a little in relief. it was over before he even had time to really get freaked out about it]

I ...

[he takes a breath, trying to assess the situation]

You know what, I think I am. It was a little weird, but ... it seems like it worked! So I'm glad I was able to help.

We can just handwave the sleep and enthrallment spell testing if you want.

[smilingarmor]

Wonderful to hear! Now, how strong was the effect? Did you feel like you'd be able to resist it if you truly had to?

And I also have two other spells that I want to try as well, if you're game. They should only take a few moments as well, and shouldn't be any more dangerous than the dancing spell.

[His tone makes it clear that Michael is still free to refuse at any time, if he's too uncomfortable.]

You're my only Michael tags r/n, it's all good

[takeitsleazy]

Well, I didn't really try. ... that is ... I wanted you to know if it worked. I'm sorry, Sylvando. Maybe we could do it again, and I could ... try, I mean. And then we could do the others twice, the same way?

[now that he knows what it feels like, what's coming, it's much less frightening. like seeing a horror movie for the second time. and he really does want to help]

\o/

[smilingarmor]

[Sylvando shook his head.]

Nothing to apologize for, darling. We'll give it another go, then follow your plan for the other spells.

Though do let me know if you're having trouble seeing or hearing me; that's how we'll know I've used a bit too much Charm magic, and if it happens we'll have to wait a bit until it wears off.

[takeitsleazy]

Wait, you disappear?

[his eyes widened]

That's got to be difficult. I just sort of ... stop being able to focus on things, and get really winded. At least if you're invisible nothing can attack you, though, right?

[smilingarmor]

[He shrugs slightly.]

Different sort of magic, different sort of side effects. Though now that I know to expect it, it's much more inconvenient than upsetting, at least when practicing.

Though you're right; assuming the Corroded have senses that work enough like our own, I can definitely see this particular side effect being useful, under the right circumstances. Unfortunately however, there'd be only one way to test that, and it's nothing we can do here.

[The only way to test it would be to exhaust his Charm magic against the Corroded, and see if they could still sense him. And needless to say, he would rather put off that particular test, if possible.]

Now then... ready for round two, honey?

[takeitsleazy]

If the opportunity to test it ever comes up out there, I've got your back. And so would any of the rest of us if we were with you, I'm sure.

[everyone he knew had no issues with Sylvando, at the very least, and he had a hard time believing anyone would ever wish him harm: he was so kind, and patient, and helpful. case in point: exhausting himself to not only learn his own powers, but teach others how to strengthen their defenses. Michael thought about how his own power could be best put to use against Sylvando's music, and nodded]

Yeah, I think I've got an idea or two up my sleeve. Let's do it.

[smilingarmor]

Alright then. Here we go!

[Sylvando began playing again, once again turning his Charm magic to trying to make Michael dance.]

[takeitsleazy]

[since his element was Air, it was perfectly easy to keep it from flowing properly through that flute. he wasn't going to suffocate Sylvando, the way he did the Corroded creatures in the jungle - he could breathe and blow and puff just fine, but however hard he tried, it just ... wouldn't go through the flute properly, as though someone had blocked the holes. it did take a good amount of concentration, though, trying to block the air just so for each note so that the magic did what he meant it to]

[smilingarmor]

[Oh! That was clever. He'd have to tell Michael so once they were finished.

But in the meantime, two could play that game. Sylvando's element was also air, and as he played he added some of his own air magic behind it, trying to fend off Michael's efforts to disrupt his playing. Could Michael fend off both of Sylvando's magics at once?]

[takeitsleazy]

[ha - no, he didn't have nearly enough Sparks for that. it was taking almost all of his focus to make his first defense, so when that second layer of Sylvando's attack hit, it was like a barrier between Michael's own air and the flute - making his magic into a lot of effort going absolutely nowhere. he didn't have to try at it long before his toes already started tapping of their own volition]

Hey! Two things at once?! No fair!

[it was an excited, amused sort of protest, at the very least]

[smilingarmor]

[Sylvando smiled around the mouthpiece of his flute but couldn't reply just then without breaking the spell. Not that he'd keep it going much longer; just enough to be sure of a thorough effect. But the music changed tone slightly, taking on an almost somewhat cheeky air, to let Michael know that Sylvando shared his amusement.]