video; kazoo 18

[happyends]

[ Guess what, train. If you happen to look at the ICPs, you're greeted by not one, but two cute kid faces. Both of which are smiling. ]

Um.. hi, everyone! [ Okay, maybe smiling slightly shyly, in Madoka's case. It's a lot to realise the whole train can hear you talk.. ]

I know some things have.. um.. maybe been a bit rough lately. But that's why we wanted to do something fun that anyone could join in on! Near the end of the month, on the 27th, we're planning on holding a fun art day! You don't have to bring anything, since we already took care of everything..

[Romeo's grin is a lot more confident though he thinks Madoka is doing great talking to everyone like this!] Yeah we bought lotsa art stuff already, we got paper and pens and paint and glitter and even paint with glitter in it already!!!

[Isn't that the most exciting thing?]

We can do whatever type of art you like, painting, drawing, even paper folding because that's fun too. Everyone is welcome! [Big grin before he remembers something.] Oh yes! It will be in the garden carriage!

[ Madoka nods once Romeo is done talking. ]

Y-Y-Yes, it's going to be a lot of fun, so please make sure to be there that day if you'd like to join in! And, um, I guess if someone still has questions, they can ask us now..

(ooc: expect responses from both madoka and romeo!)

Comments

[phobophage]

Haha! Like that, probably!

[Shadow's world has different household names, but she can recognize the spirit in which that was said.]

Though it's mostly under different alias over the years. There were reasons to hide for a while, though not anymore. It's a long story. But I do have works in a number of museums.

[happyends]

[ Madoka nods. Of course it's probably a long story if this person really is someone who has lived that long - and she wouldn't want to be nosy and make the other say stuff they don't really want to share. ]

Maybe you could help some other people out then during our art day..? You know, if someone has trouble getting started, or trouble painting something specific.. U-Unless you'd mind!

[phobophage]

[Ah, good, this girl didn't press. A sad story like that isn't a good fit for this conversation. Maybe it can be discussed another time. But for now ART.]

Certainly, that was my plan. I'll probably be spending much of my time doing that, though I can knock out a quick project.

[myblueskies]

That would be nice of you miss! [It does sound like a very long story and though long stories are good she probably had lots of other things to do.]

You must be really really good if you got works in museums.

[happyends]

Yeah, yeah!

[ The girl says, quickly falling in verbal step with Romeo. ]

After all, only the really good people get their works shown there!

[phobophage]

[The reply comes a little late.]

That's right. I'll show you something I've done already while I was on this train. [She holds up a paper that was drawn on with charcoal. It... is an extremely high quality but kinda surreal stylistic picture of an owl superposed with pomegranates. As in there's some overlap between the bird and the fruits.]

[myblueskies]

Oh!

[He peers at the picture and then at Madoka. That was really good!]

Wow!

[happyends]

[ Madoka is so used to trying to make realistic drawings that the whole superposed thing about the image is definitely making her eyes grow wide. That's such a creative idea..! ]

I like it! [ And with a glance over at Romeo, she realises-- ] Um, I mean, we both like it. [ That much seems obvious. ]

Is there any reason you picked an owl and that fruit? Is there some sort of secret meaning?

[myblueskies]

[A secret meaning?

That would be so cool! He is quiet, but he is excited to find out!]

[phobophage]

I mostly picked the owl because she's a stealthy predator and I pretty much embody those. So she's not exactly a representation of me but I do feel a connection with her. And pomegranates traditionally symbolize death, which the owl brings to her prey. Hey, owls gotta eat.

[happyends]

[ ...

Madoka feels.. entirely unsure how to deal with someone saying that they embody stealthy predators. Not that she doesn't know that there are some people on the train who are both super strong and also super nice, but.. still.. It feels a little awkward..

And she's about 70% sure Romeo may not pick up on those words as much, so Madoka tries to keep her awkwardness contained to her smile as she speaks up. ]

A-- Ahaha, I.. I guess you're right, they do..

[myblueskies]

[Stealthy predator. Like an owl? She embodied a predator? He glanced at Madoka but she was smiling so it was probably alright!]

So you turn into an owl?

[phobophage]

That drawing is of some random owl, but I can turn into an owl, yes. I turn into other stuff, too, a sabertooth cat is one of my favorites. But I vary things up some. Here, I'll demonstrate.

[Have a video of a woman turning into a sabertooth.]

[happyends]

[ It's a good thing that people transforming into animals - and the other way around - is something Madoka has seen often enough now on the train that it's at least not shocking to her anymore. But her eyes do grow a little wider, if not just because of the choice of animal. ]

B-But you aren't a bad sabertooth cat, are you?

[myblueskies]

I bet she's a friendly cat! [He also doesn't look surprised at the transformation. After all he is very used to shinki and though he knows this is different, she is turning herself rather than being turned by a god, it is basically the same.]

[phobophage]

I'd say I'm more mischievous than bad. Though prey animals would consider me a villain, I'm sure. But it takes a lot for me to kill people. I don't really do it casually.

[happyends]

[ Madoka is getting more nervous by the moment here. Sure, this person is saying it takes a lot for them to kill people, but.. the 'not really casually' remark does have her sweating. ]

U-Um, I see.. Thank you for responding to our announcement.. [ SHE JUST WANTS TO OLLIE OUT, THANKS. ]

[phobophage]

[Oh. Usually she doesn't mind people being scared of her. But over something like this? Getting the idea that she's a wanton killer or something?]

I'll tell you this: the only people I have ever killed were those that killed or tried to kill those I hold dear. That's what I mean by it taking a lot for me to kill a person.

[myblueskies]

Um. [It's okay Madoka, he's got you. Romeo reaches out to hold her hand. They can talk to this scary lady together!]

Well that's good miss because you shouldn't really kill people. It's very bad.

[happyends]

[ Yeah, all this killing talk definitely isn't putting Madoka much at ease. Sure, she's gotten a bit more used to the concept thanks to these missions, but she sure still doesn't like it.. so the moment Romeo moves to hold her hand like that, Madoka tightly squeezes it.

She doesn't even say anything, too worried - and Romeo is already expressing the sentiment she very much feels too, anyway. ]

[phobophage]

[Her tone turns sad.]

...I'm aware killing isn't a great thing to do. But a lot can happen in millions of years.

Let's talk about art instead.

[myblueskies]

Millions of years?

[But wait. Art. That was a better thing to talk about, especially with Madoka so worried.]

If you got that much experience you can definitely help everyone make nice art miss! But maybe not about killing...

[happyends]

[ It feels bad to stay so quiet and let Romeo do all of the talking. Even though Madoka is definitely still fussing. So she bites her lower lip, willing herself to be stronger. To be braver. To speak up even when she's scared. ]

Y-Yes, it'd be better for a topic like that to not come up during the art day.. [ Let alone actual killing happening there! ]