3225/Musical Au'Ri

Musical Au'Ri
Date of Scene:	18 October 2015
Location:	The Citadel - Field of Trials
Synopsis:	Yari needs a tutor in illusions. What she doesn't expect is music lessons too! Laer tutors, and Yari tries not to strangle the elf!
Cast of Characters:	353, 691

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Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari is at the Field of Trials, swiftly enough. Dressed in a blue and white patterned kimono, the Au'Ra has opted for tradition today. Her red and white pipe is billowing smoke as she awaits her newfound elven tutor, the Field's grounds converted to a simple training room. There's a chair or two, and a table with water. She'll probably need it.

Otherwise the ninja waits patiently, tail occasionally flicking.

In the viewing area, one might note, is a turtle. It has a little hat on, and is munching celery. Yari occasionally glances over and makes cute little hissy sounds at it.

Laer (353) has posed:
Laer is already here, and was when she'd announced the meeting location. Of course, Yari may not know that, because the elf is sitting under an invisibility illusion, watching from the other side of the room now, standing carefully still to try to avoid making a noise. She's waiting to see if Yari loses patience and tries to leave first, complains first, or manages to spot her first.

Or if the spell will wear off. It's only good for another six hours or so, if Laer doesn't make any sudden movements.

She's kind of a jerk this way.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari, it seems, is a wellspring of patience...at least when she tries. After about half an hour, she sighs, and then pulls her feet up to sit cross-legged. A deep breath, and then slowly, she focuses on her surroundings in the way that Kagenashi taught her so recently.

As she does, after about twenty more minutes, she seems to perk up. Something prods at her magical senses as she reaches out to the world, and a kunai appears in a hand.

"...Who's out there? Show yourself."

Laer (353) has posed:
Once that's been stated, Laer will drop the illusion, the elf sitting on the floor in the corner with a guitar strapped across her back. "Took you long enough. You were right; you do need practice seeing through it. Can you play any instruments?" Laer asks, curiously, making her way to her feet.

She doesn't bother introducing herself, evidently presuming that Yari knows her credentials and such. "At least you didn't try to complain about my not showing up or some such."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari blinks, and cuts back a little gasp, and then her eyes close. Sigh.

"...Instruments? One or two. A flute and shamisen." It seems she didn't bring either however.

A glance to the guitar. Hmm.

"It's a poor soldier that complains about conditions, Miss Laer. Welcome. I don't understand, how will playing instruments help?"

Laer (353) has posed:
"Well, let's see." Laer says, digging around in a bag at her side, coming out with what looks like a beat up flute. "Do you know much about illusion magic at all, currently? Teaching you to try to recognize it is much easier than teaching you to try to use it." She'll warn.

She's not even certain that the ninja will have the sorts of talents needed for her lessons to use it, after all.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari takes the offered flute, peers it over, then makes a few experimental notes. Oddly, for some of the lower notes, she has to put her tail to use for obvious reasons. She's not bad for an amateur.

"I know the basics. Shaping aether to change the perceptions of those around you through understanding of how people view the world. At least, that's how my Master explained it to me."

Laer (353) has posed:
"Well, there's the problem - that's not exactly how it's going to work if you can learn how I do it." Laer says, seeming to approve of the basic playing. "Which will probably take a while. There is a combination of music and magic that is the key to how the word works; an illusion is a reflection of that, a variation that is close to that unknowable song."

She'll play a simplistic tune, three notes ascending, and the glass of water on the table will change colors, looking like blood. She stops, and the illusion maintains for a few seconds before dispeling. "This is as simple as it gets, and you'll want to start with this. As for defending against them... Well, the best way is by being observant, and it's not really practicing if you're expecting it. So instead I will be ambushing you with illusions from time to time to work on your observation skills."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
"Even if I can't learn your specific style, Ma'am, just attempting should give me insight into various methods." Yari, after all, is nothing if not innovative. Music might run counter to her usual tactics, but she can see the benefits.

"So, unravelling the mysteries of the Multiverse through song?"

An ear and a vibrating horn catches those notes as she observes. Then, tentatively, she starts to practice them. She plays well enough, but it seems that managing both magic and playing is a bit difficult.

Her first attempt has the glass of water turning /pink/! And bubbling. That bubbling's not an illusion. This will definitely require practice.

"Nnn! Fair enough. I've been practicing observation and focus with Miss Kagenashi. It seems I'll...what's that phrase? 'Two chocobos with one magitek cannon'?"

Laer (353) has posed:
"That cannot possibly be the phrase." Laer says, tsking. "But yes. I'll try not to interrupt your sleep or any important missions, at least, unless I feel like it." She'll state, looking over towards the glass. "It's probably worth mentioning that all my magic works off the same general principles, and that I'm one of the most gifted ever to come out of my school. Having any effect this early is generally considered impressive."

She'll keep watching, at least, not demonstrating or assisting further unless specifics are requested.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
"Probably. It wasn't exactly subtle." What /is/ she talking about?

Yari nods swiftly.

"I'll endure anything to become stronger, Ma'am!" Comes the woman with all of that soldierly enthusiasm. She's energetic for a ninja.

The compliment has her blushing a little, but she doesn't comment. Her next attempt has the thing seemingly turn upside down in all defiance of physics. Frown. More playing, a missed note, and then it shatters.

It seems that the act of changing things and manipulating magic, even in something like this, isn't beyond Yari. Control, however, is certainly a problem.

"...I was going for the blood trick." A new glass of water. It becomes filled with an illusory turtle.

"It's not too hard to force aether into music, but how do you control it? This seems so...how to put it, less permanent than when I use the land as a focus."

Laer (353) has posed:
"Oh, there's your problem." Laer will state, giving a glance towards the shattered glass, not seeming too worried about it.

"There's nothing at all permanent about it, at least until you're truly advanced, and even then it's just slightly lasting. You need to be able to adapt, to feel it out, and there's not really any teaching that other than talent and experience and practice. I can show you how to start, but you shouldn't be shooting for permanence. You should be trying for a temporary illusion, that you adapt as anything tries to disrupt it. Every note matters until you're much more used to doing displays like this."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari sighs a little, then focuses again. "Impermanence..." She mutters, listening to the elf's advice. She starts to concentrate more on the notes that forcing magic as she has been. There's less magic flowing from her now, less of the brute force she's been using, and slightly more finesse, if not outright control. The glass seems to wobble a bit, but it doesn't break, and the water ends up an off-white color. It's an improvement. Yari keeps trying, eventually producing some colors that may very well not technically exist. It's a water lightshow for now. No blood yet.

Laer (353) has posed:
"Well, that's a little better. Just put in a few decades of work, and maybe you'll get it at this rate!" Laer says, encouragingly, having started to scribble down some notes and glancing up now and then.

She won't correct Yari if Yari thinks the notes are about her; the elf is actually working on her next book, though, unless Yari goes disasterously awry in some way.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
A brow twitches. "...That wouldn't be too useful, Ma'am. The average Au'ra lifespan is sixty-five years." Mutters Yari, but then she's back to work! More notes, and the occasional glance to Laer's work. That water suddenly floats, and then, splashes. Right into Yari's face. Sigh. She gets a towel. Cue glass number four.

"If nothing else, this will help my control." She adds more positively as she forges ahead! It'll be a long day from how much she's pushing herself, though it seems like she's running out of magic.

Laer (353) has posed:
"There is that. Anyway, I'll be glad to show you more basics, once you happen to get good enough to do that. Anyway, I'm only eighty-five, so it's not like there's no hope for you to pick this up! And I only started learning when I was four or five or something."

That's a little bit harsh to teach. "And I'll be seeing you about seeing through illusions, too. Don't worry; I won't hurt you if you fail." Also reassuring.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari's brow twitches again, and she has to bite down the urge to hornbutt the elf. She's incredibly infuriating!

"...How did your teachers tutor you, Miss Laer?" She asks suddenly. Hopefully not with such 'encouragement'!

The last part gets a nod.

"I'll look forward to it. Just nothing too embarrassing." She'd hate to be illusion'd and stuck upside down in some silly place, or dunked into a lake. Again.

This time she almost gets it! It's more of a nailpolish red, but at least it's closer.

Laer (353) has posed:
"I grew up in the school. I learned by living through a lot of lessons by a lot of teachers who weren't teaching me." Laer was an honest to god prodigy, and orphen, so her standards are a little strict. Unreasonable, even.

"Still, I'll try to take into account that not everyone has that much talent. It really is good that you're getting any results at all. I was worried you wouldn't, and then I'd have to just leave."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
The utter arrogance of this elf grates on the soldier. It's telling: clenched jaw, squinted brow, and how that glass is vibrating again as she pumps in too much magic.

"It sounds like you've learned to improvise."

Smash! With that last bit of 'assurance', Yari pumps the last of her magic into the glass. A sigh, and she shakes her head.

"I think that's going to have to be it for now, Miss Laer, I need to recover my aether."

She stands up, and bows deeply.

"Thank you for the lesson, Ma'am, I'll look forward to your guidance. For now, how about I compensate you with dinner?" Cooking, at least, is one thing she has confidence in!

Laer (353) has posed:
"Out already? Ah, to be young again." Laer says, with a sigh. Even though she's actually quite young by elf standards, she's gotten away from that. "But I'll be seeing you, then, when the time comes." Either Laer hasn't noticed that she's grating on the ninja, or more likely she doesn't care.

"I suppose I'll take you up on dinner. Let me get these fixed up." She'll whistle, and the glasses that had shattered will reform on the table.

That's an illusion, of course. If Yari tries to grab them, they'll likely cut her. Laer's on her way out, though, so she won't even notice.