Making it as we go

[GamingLord]

Ma had been able to see that it hadn't been Alzamus, but rather one of the other high council member representatives of Dalos that had exited the transport.

"Well, a reaper's body is mostly determined by that, though if energy absorption is done in extreme excess at times, it seems to trigger something reminiscent of overeating in our bodies. Working off that excess energy through exertion undoes that, and in some ways triggers a different response in that we use our energies more efficiently. It's probably something that lingered back when reapers were more human-like long ago in our history."

Jacob thoughtfully chewed the small offering of meat, finding the flavor of the food to be particularly good before he swallowed it. Silently, he gripped the side of his chest, wordlessly saying nothing as he fought to ignore a curse pain for a moment and succeeded.

"Well, I suppose after that part of my curse was gone, we've noticed that bits of exercise started to finally improve me a little, while also what I've been eating had put a little more weight on me. It doesn't seem to be by too much, so I'm not sure what the limits are, but it's probably better to try to stay on the healthier side of things I suppose, even if I still have the longevity.  

[GamingLord]

Jacob nodded. "Of course, I don't plan on letting my health slip anymore like I used to in the past before I met them."

He then scratched his chin idly at the mention of him growing facial hair.

"Well, no, I haven't really been able to grow a beard or anything, and my hair seems to stay at this same length... As far as I can tell as well, no marks have been left on me either."  

[GamingLord]

Jacob and Githar quietly listened to Ma's thoughts, just wordlessly nodding a little here and there to show they were listening, but weren't able to come up with much to say about his situation unfortunately. Then again, he was mostly just expressing himself it seemed. When he asked them about using disguise runes to become vampires, they finally spoke again.

"Hmm..."

"Honestly, I hadn't thought of that. I'm pretty sure it might be possible, I've just only see them for utility type uses instead of recreational for myself."

"The same goes for me, although when I was younger I did experiment a little when I first got my original disguise runes. I remember the first time becoming human was disorienting for me in a variety of ways. Anyway, it would be a learning experience, that much is for certain. I wonder if Minazi's done that before."

"Definitely would give me a much better perspective and an interesting experience. Thanks for suggesting that, I'm going to have to try it now... On a related note... Githar, what *do* you look like as a human?"

Githar chuckled a little, idly noting that they arrived at the park, entering underneath it's welcoming archway sign.

"It has been a while. If I recall, somewhat caucasian, with a hint of some sort of asian ethnicity in me I think. I never had any blood or genetic work done on me to confirm what sort of background I would have had, so earthwise, I'm not sure what culture I could have come from. I also had a bit of a goatee apparently. I can't remember my eye color. It may have ended up actually being brown instead of the blue I'm used to as my natural reaper form. I'm also not quite as tall, probably stopping at around six foot tall, if not a touch shorter. Still tall for a human I recognize, but not my real height. Also, black hair, not quite as long as yours Jacob. I wonder if hair cuts would save after using a disguise rune.

And I'm familar with how you two look like as you are, I'm curious as to how you'd appear as reapers."

The park before them was actually very well kept, and particularly Githar's favorite color.. green. Lots of plant life, flowers, and the like trimmed the areas and walk ways that weren't intended for play or walking on such as spots with plain grass. Immediately, Ma noticed a type of flower that wasn't seen as much in other parts of Limbo being used here to provide light, as well as the standard light crystals... it glowed, looking familar to a tulip with varied, beautiful pastel colors on each flower... They also grew in bunches, so each batch of them resembled a rainbow of light.

There were some sheltered areas that looked like they were made for eating and resting in if it rained, which actually did every now and then in Limbo, but mildly. Weather in Limbo always seemed to be mild, and never in any extreme, at least in the civilized areas. Some had chalked this up to tampering with technology, but it was more due to a natural, strange phenomenon with the energies of the realm. Benches and little tables were present also with board games, both traditional and more "digital" versions that were built into the tables, playing like sci-fi holograms

Ine one of the patches of grass, there were two performers doing their art for the public at night, one of which was spectacular to see in the dusk hours... A "light magician", that was able to bend streams and waves of colorful light into patterns and shapes around herself in interesting and wondrous ways. Sometimes, the demonstrations involved them becoming solid. She worked in tandem with the other an aquamancer in this way, her solid beams and waves of light moving water, while his water floated and shifted about in similar ways of beauty, reflecting her light and mingling as well. They had a small, modest crowd around them watching.

There were a few signs posted that pointed to different areas of what seemed the fairly large park, such as walking paths, a playground for the younger visitors, and even a pond. A decent amount of people were currently occupying the park, and if it were one of a smaller magnitude, it would be overcrowded, but at the moment it seemed to be sparsely populated... enough to be comfortable and peaceful almost.

As they passed near a tree, Ma suddenly was faced to face with a cute, big-eyed lizard creature with paw-less limbs wrapped around a thick tree branch, it's head dangling down. It "churred" almost adorably, staring at this new visitor in curiosity. It's colors let it blend in with the tree pretty well. A tree climber, it caught Jacob slightly off guard as he hadn't been paying attention to the tree, as another tree-climber lizard, a smaller one, grasped onto his arm playfully.

"Heh... It looks like these climbers have gotten used to people being in the park."

Jacob gently put the climber back on a tree limb.

"Like.... ducks, or pigeons in some Earth parks, right?"  

[GamingLord]

"Hah.. Well, go figure. I'm pretty sure Malos didn't have the vaguest of ideas, because he probably would have mentioned it to me. He might have thought you may have been a hybrid of a reaper, like Galantros is, but perhaps without as much of the ability to easily gain languages into our minds like we normally can."

Jacob scratched his head and started to muse to himself at this, what Githar had said triggering something that he needed to remember.

"That reminds me... speaking of hybrid reapers, I need to see Yelix for some more construction nano-spell potions. The live-in caves some of my demon friends inhabit could use some sprucing up, and he has just what I need..."

Something fluttered in the dark, and what it was became more clear as a flock of creatures flew over a light crystal lamp... a flock of feathery winged, almost snake like animals soared by, one of them stopping to coil itself around the lamp, and ruffle into it's feathers for a moment, before taking off again. Although not not extremely common, they were native to Limbo, (and more easily seen at the Soul Fortress). Another dove near a pond, and plucked up an unawares merper for a quick snack. It barely had time to "merp!?" before it was gulped down in a flash.  

[GamingLord]

"Good point. Our night vision is better than Jacobs, so I don't think a night walk in the park would be as enjoyable to Jacob as it would be for us. He'd mostly only see a few flowers here and there, and the glow of my eyes.

As for appreciating my surroundings... Admittedly, I haven't done that enough in the past. It's what my friends and Minazi have tried to beat into my head many times before, but I'm slowly learning. The most I used to do in the past would be to tend to my rooftop garden and practice my art.

Now whenever I go out to "merchant", I find myself actually taking breaks on those trips to find interesting locations, as well as just slowing down in general."

Jacob nodded, agreeing with Githar in a non-verbal way. It needn't be repeated that he was taking more time now to enjoy what was around him more than he used to as well. Eyeing the light and water performers, he thought that might be interesting to watch. Particularly since aquamancy was one of his minor talents.

"Why don't we take in that show over there? Maybe I could pick up a few interesting tricks, just for the fun of it."

Something splashed in the water of the pond as they made their way over to the magic performers, and Ma probably could sense it was some sort of simple mollusk creature being the quickest out of the group. Seemed like the park was teeming with both animal and plant life.

Eventually they stood before the two performers alongside the rest of the small crowd, who quietly applauded with awe and amusement at their act. The light mage sent up a small sphere of rainbow light into the air above the crowd's head that glowed gently in the night sky, where it eventually stopped a ways up and hovered there. What was apparently either her husband or significant other from the way the two acted with each other, created moisture out of the air that surrounded the sphere, and set out streamers of water in fantastical ribbons that swerved around and over the heads of the spectators. Soon, the water streamers began to fill with a rush of the same light from that rainbow sphere, making patterns of light and shadow dance about the park around them... There seemed to be something strange about the way the two combined with each other as well, not normal water or light, as they produced musical chimes of sorts as the water wavered in place with the light, the glow streaming through the moisture.

One being that had their small child on their shoulders, beings that both resembled a leech and a bat at the same time in humanoid shape, lifted his claw like hand to touch the water stream, and giggled oddly as it made a reverberating musical tone, rippling waves throughout the water and light. They had probably seen this act before, but were still fascinated by it.

The performing couple encouraged the crowd to touch the streams of combined light and water for a while.  

[GamingLord]

The light performer grinned at Ma, and played some more of the tune in response to his music playing, at the applause of the rest of the crowd. She and her husband (it was more apparent now, that he saw their wedding bands) seemed to be humans, at least from the outside... something about their heart rhythms seemed off though.  

[GamingLord]

“Hmm... that does sound very interesting, I have to admit. We probably should train together much more so we can do better...”

Jacob paused for a moment, but said nothing... He repeated what Ma said in his mind, “...you can become so much more frightening than you already are.” Add to the fact that he thought he'd been feeling a slight twinge of fear, though he wondered why... No, he knew why once he thought about it for even just a second. He was a necromancer for one reason, and they can do either wonderful or horrible things for any undead being depending on how benevolent or malevolent they were feeling. The vampire he made an example of some time ago that tried to backstab Veni, using the vampire's skeleton to pierce and kill him... That was exceedingly brutal, but swift. He had to admit, at the time he was possibly feeling vengeful as well.

Another reason, was that he was directly Veni's master now, something that he never thought too much about either. He usually saw himself on equal terms with Rosemary and Veni, never wanting to abuse his title as master to them, yet still willing to accept it. At any rate, since Veni was Ma's master, and Jacob was Veni's... That made him Ma's as well. And one with necrotic abilties and a spell list like his could be very frightening he supposed, though he would never ill-use it against someone who didn't truly deserve it.

Jacob said nothing else on the matter, at least not now in public. This at least further awakened him to just how much dangerous knowledge and power he had in him that needed to be wielded all that much more carefully.

The couple were finishing up their act by this point and time, beautiful swirls of light and water in little funnel shapes around the crowd, harmless but elegant, streaming out to each other in a circumference. They all reached up with a “beam” to form a dome over their heads, making a chandelier that glistened and sparkled, chiming wondrously in the night sky. Finally, from the dome, geysers of water shot up like a fancy fountain, each with individual bright lights of color illuminating it like a sort of fireworks display. Finally, they allowed the water and light to gradually dissipate.

A few crowd members were placing some money in a watery looking tip “jar”, the water causing the funds to float all around in a lava lamp like fashion. Githar tossed in a few valuable shiny coins himself, as did Jacob. Next to the jar were business cards, and Jacob picked up one of these. He thought that maybe Black or some of the other young demon children would enjoy seeing this show and they did performances for parties it seemed. It was fortunate that he had a way of contacting the performers, for they immediately thanked the crowd for their attention and vanished in a flourish of liquid and glowing light, leaving practically no trace that they were there... A type of showy teleportation spell it seemed.

“Hmm, shame. I was hoping I could discuss with them about some of the magic they used. I'll just have to contact them through their card about that.”