144.98750 Public Channel [Day 63]

[amusicaladventure]

Hey, guys? Anyone -- I hope you still have your radios...

[Ash sounds worried to the point of frantic, barely keeping her alarm and panic covered under a veneer of anxiety.]

Listen, something's really wrong here. Have you guys actually talked with anyone else? It's scary as hell, guys, they're hollow, it's like their brains have just shut down -- they're running for kicks and thrills like they're the only thing that matters. I mean I know all the drugs and stuff here can have that effect, but it's not just the junkies. And some of you all are scaring the hell out of me too just from what I've seen...

This place isn't safe. We're not safe here. It's too much pleasure and it might even be more than that. Pull out, guys. Please, now.

Comments

[amusicaladventure]

I think I've been indoors, mostly... but this may just be a closed dimension? Like entirely inside?

[kingsroads]

Perhaps? There's a green area on top of one of the buildings but even that doesn't have the sky.

[ Strange sighs, a brief little siiiiigh. ] This might be something where my being from the past has thrown me for a loop, but you're right. This place...it's worrying.

[amusicaladventure]

Look, worrying is underselling it. I -- there are things that matter to me and they are starting to not matter to me here. [Things like personal space, like consent issues. She doesn't want to explain why those matter to her, there's no gentle way to explain that her species was pretty much literally created to satisfy a fetish.] And this isn't just 'I'm loosening up and enjoying myself', these are things that matter as much to me as my name and my magic.

It's wrong.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange doesn't fully get why Ash has so many issues with this place. But she does, it's worrying her, and he trusts her judgement so really, that's enough to get him to join 'team let's fix things maybe.' ]

The problem now is, what could we do about it? I'd suggest petition the Ringmaster but I've no idea where she is.

[amusicaladventure]

She's fae. She probably doesn't even understand why anything happening here would be bad. I'm pretty sure fae thinking goes along the lines of, "Well if he didn't WANT to be lured into my bed and ravished to the point of dangerous exhaustion he shouldn't have fallen for my charm spell."

[Look, she likes the Ringmaster, she owes the Ringmaster so very much, but -- she doesn't have any illusions about fae morality or ethics. Hadn't she just bet her powers on whether or not someone would kill her? That's not thinking a human, or catgirl, mind can understand.]

[kingsroads]

I imagine she thinks this is supposed to be relaxing, [ said with a little sigh. ] I have faith in the Ringmaster, however. She explained to me that due to the arrangement of the contract, we're under her protection. If something were to go terribly wrong, she'd know.

[ at least, he hopes she'd know ]

And yes, I know that doesn't change the fact that this place is dangerous to begin with but honestly, I'm not entirely certain what any of us cold do. I don't know any sort of magic to help make people fully comprehend how dangerous this place is—my world's magic doesn't mix well with the mind. [ magic can't cure madness, it might not be able to cure mania either ]

[amusicaladventure]

I do, Strange. My magic doesn't have limits. I can do whatever the hell I want.

[All her anger and fear crystallizes into resolve in that moment, and now Strange gets to hear a rarer facet of Ash: the absolutely arrogant mage, the girl who has never consciously met a problem her music could not solve if she chose to use it.]

I'll burn this whole dimension to the ground if that's what it takes to save everyone.

[kingsroads]

[ It's so odd being the responsible one that Strange has to pause for a moment to try and figure out a way to actually say what's on his mind. ]

I doubt some people here want to be saved. After all, I'm sure some people sought the Celebration out willingly.

[ of course, his main problem is that he desperately wants to like this place and wants to cut loose in the first place. ]

[amusicaladventure]

And? Just because some people let themselves lose their mind, it doesn't make it any less wrong. They're not allowed to change their mind once they're in deep. [No safe word, in other words, though Ash isn't certain he'd understand the reference. Strange seems kinda vanilla?]

[kingsroads]

But because of that, they'll be averse to being saved to begin with and might end up making things worse. This won't be easy.

[amusicaladventure]

Things that aren't easy to other people just mean I haven't found the right song. [Though she pauses briefly.] Oh, just -- be careful if I have to start composing. That's more powerful and more chaotic magic. Just a heads-up. Just in case.

[kingsroads]

I'd be happy to help if you want me to.

[amusicaladventure]

Yes. Please. This will be easier and safer if there's more than just me.

[Not easy or safe. Just a matter of degrees. And Strange is, quite helpfully, off-limits to her, which means she'll be less tempted towards her own particular vices... Or if she IS tempted, she'll be more likely to recognize the fact.]

[kingsroads]

[ and this way he can keep an eye on Ash and try to talk her out of it if she does something dangerous. A win-win situation. ]

Tell me where you are and I'll be there in moments.

[ the Celebration might be messing up some of his magic, but Strange is pretty confident in his ability to just pop on over via mirrors to where Ash is. ]

[amusicaladventure]

I'm up in my room. Safest place I could think of. [Which isn't saying much, but at least no one else is in here lurking with temptations and whatever is degrading her willpower.]

surprise action! c:

[kingsroads]

[ A few moments later, Ash can hear an odd creaking noise in her room, coming seemingly from the bathroom mirror. A moment or two passes before Strange appears in said mirror and then steps out of it and onto the bathroom counter. ]

There we go! [ said with a smile as he starts to climb down from the counter onto the floor, trying not to step on any creams or soaps or what have you that might have been on the counter in the first place. ]

So, how does your composition magic work and what can I do to help?

[ Strange is going straight to business and just ignoring the fact that he hasn't really explained how he popped on over into Ash's room via mirror like a creep ]

[amusicaladventure]

[Ash is not particularly girly in the bathroom; most of the supplied toiletries are still stacked up on the sink in their original packaging. Ash herself lets out a low whistle as he passes through the mirror and into her room proper. Gotta give him credit, that's some impressive magic.]

[But, to business.] Okay, so, if I write something on my own, if I play something original? Well... if playing a cover is like turning on a faucet, playing something original is like turning the water on and breaking the faucet off. A lot more water comes out at once but it's a lot harder to control any more than the general direction.

[kingsroads]

Admittedly, control isn't my strongest suit either. But I'm certain we can come up with something useful.

[ It's all hypotheticals as he walks over towards Ash, sitting down on a chair as he thinks. ]

I suppose the biggest question is what do you need most: power or control?

[amusicaladventure]

I've never lacked for power. [She moves out of the way to let him into the suite proper, dropping heavily onto a couch herself to sprawl out.] But you know, imagine you sing a song to get a ball off a roof, and the way that happens is tilting the entire roof. Man, Mom and Dad were pissed till I figured out how to fix that...

[Never mind her brief walk down memory lane.] So the best way you could help is to fill in gaps. Cover what my magic doesn't do... and, uh, try to keep it from doing what it shouldn't.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange nods, like he's 100% sure he knows what he's doing. In actuality...look, when there are two recognized magicians in England, that severely limits the opportunities to do practical magic in groups. As such, he's trying really hard to hide it but he's pretty stoked about the idea of doing magic with other people. ]

I must warn you, I might be a bit slow to start off with. After all, we have two radically different styles of doing magic in the first place. But I'm certain I'll pick up on what needs to be done fast enough.

[amusicaladventure]

We're totally just winging this anyway. [Ash has never met another music mage, not one like her, and she thinks that's probably a good thing. What if their magic was multiplicative? A band of music mages might be too powerful for their own good in that case...] I mean, if it's dangerous I can always just stop performing, but that would be bad if my magic is doing something important at the time.

[kingsroads]

If you need to stop performing, I'll simply swap my magic to keep whatever important thing you're doing afloat before you shut it down.

[ Does that make sense? Maybe? Strange is talking like it makes sense, at least. ]

[amusicaladventure]

I don't actually know how strong your magic is. [Ash regards him as her finger rubs idly over her lip, trying to put together a plan in her head that will account for everything.] Or what it costs you to do.

[kingsroads]

Truth be told, I've no idea how strong my magic is either. [ It's said with a small little frown. Strange has certainly tested some limits of his magic but he honestly has no idea just how much he can do and how far he can push his limits.

Spoilers: the end result is surprisingly powerful. ]

As for the costs...that all depends on the type of magic. Unlike you, I don't have a singular focus. If I'm to do elemental magic, some of that depends on the nature of the elements and if they'll listen to my request. If I'm to do other forms of magic, I might combine or rearrange previously written spells in order to get the desired result. Some of the more older forms of magic use symbolism, such as having something last as long as a flame.

[ Strange shrugs! ] I suppose that's one of the consequences of my world only having a few magicians to begin with. One must make do with whatever's at hand.

[amusicaladventure]

But what about you personally? Do you have an inner reserve of power you draw on? Or is it based on how long you can focus and concentrate? [Admittedly, one limitation to Ash's magic is her physical ability to keep playing -- but if she switches up in the middle of one epic performance, she can magic herself up a soothed voice and claws that aren't cracked and split any longer and strength in general.]