Sing Me a Song [Tsumiko, Pm to Join]

[Drake Pathos]

Run, run, run. Run until it burns out. Darius couldn't stop his feet. Like a raging flame, he dashed through the wilds of the Castle of Dreams, making his way away from the bandits trying to chase him. He could take them on, but they have yet to discover who he was. Dive! Ellis shouted telepathically to the boy. Darius did so and dived into a ravine which held a river. Horses instantly made the gape and jumped to the other side. Seven at least made it, with one collapsing and almost landing on the boy. It crushed its own rider, killing him instantly. Summoning fire to his hands, Darius waited until a bandit wielding a great bow aimed down at him. The arrow flew from its rest, fire consumed it and the boy, turning them to ash. The man holding it was consumed by the fire and ran away burning and screaming. Darius unleashed his sword, feeling the art of flight encompassing his body. Ellis warped to his side in a burst of fire as the two soared into the air. Darius flung his sword between trees, bewildering the bandits. Several bangs could be heard, the trees shaking from the force. All of a sudden, the sword was lodged into one of the bandits, tearing itself away before spinning into a position Darius could catch it in.

Flying towards the bandits, Darius took the time to cleave his blade through the heads of a few bandits. Their blood spewed all over the horses and he just stared in horror. Due to his distracted nature, he smacked against a tree and slid down. "Owwwww." With the four remaining bandits, they all took to arms as they dashed on their horses over to the boy. Smiling, he awaited Ellis' assault. Bolts of fire swam across the shroud of leaves and into the heads of the bandits. They were not killed immediately, but they forced their horses to ram them into various branches and trees, causing them to at least be knocked out. Darius held fire in his hand, and in a fit let it consume the area around him. "HHHHHYAAAAAA!" Darius slammed his fist into the ground, watching as wildfire spread across the field and took the tries. Consuming the bodies of the bandits, he let his nitro charger take away the flame. Sheathing his blade, he held out and arm and let Ellis land on it. She crawled up it and sat on his shoulder, sharing a smile and interlocking eyes. "That'll show them to think I'm some prize." Darius nodded, however his intent held ulterior motive.

They may speak telepathically, but that's only if it is willed. Darius planned on killing those bandits because they were the seeds of evil in his earlier years. They were the reason he was led to what he did, so he killed them in order to cut yet another string from his life. He couldn't let himself live on and know that the people he helped were still alive, even if whatever he provided was not enough and they have failed to utilize his maps. In fact, he searched the purse of their leader and still found the older maps. It was of Castle of Dreams and whatever is accessible to a commoner. He was happy to be reunited with his self-made guidance, and used it to refresh memory of path. However, he donned a robe that would render him unrecognizable to the citizens that have condemned him to solitude. He needed to see his homeworld once again before Neverland became his final abode and the fact that he destroyed his place in Twilight Town. He only dreamed of his place in society, but the rebel he was was not going to die soon enough for that to ever be possible. People would only see him as a wanderer as he entered the city. Dust crawled across the stone and dirt of the roads, and he saw the shit he grew up in. However this shit was his shit. Smiling underneath his mask, he found a spot at the edge of town with enough green and the right assortment of things to call it beautiful. Sitting by a lone tree on the hill, he awaited for fate to bring him something of value to nudge him. Ellis flew around the open air, enjoying it and calling out to Darius without using his name.

"This is...wonderful! So free!" Darius chuckled at the sight of the fairy dancing around with flight. He liked her happiness. Her glow. The shine that brightened his heart. There wasn't anything really to keep the flame going but that fairy. She calmed him, kept him from causing things like mass death or explosions. She was her own person now, and even though he felt the locket, he still had no clue of her origin. Only that he wanted to embrace her. Ellis eventually came down and lay on Darius' stomach. Thinking on their meeting, he thought about how she considered the ash he brings to worlds. Where he steps burns at times, yet she still accepted him. In a world of beasts, he felt the empty one. Yet, she was a Belle to him. Someone who sapped knowledge but paid in smiles and unspoken love. It was so sudden, so surreal. It was a Dream. For those lacking the knowledge, it was a beautiful joining. For those that would realize what she was...it could be as an unfair lie with unspoken slavery. While Darius couldn't part with Ellis, he still wished he'd see the people he met at the lonely castle again. "You know Ellis, in some other universe I bet a boy and a girl met here and had the same view with the same amount of freedom." "Yeah? Were they as odd-ball as us two?" "You fuckin' know it." Ellis looked up as Darius looked down, and then their gazes shifted to the vast view of the city. From a distance, the rot was invisible and it shined with beauty. The same could be said for Darius at times. Especially when he needed to imagine someone into existence in order to fill the void.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko came to the world of Dreams in hopes to take in its simple charms and beauty, to share her gift of song with the people. And while she did for a short while, it became painfully obvious that no one was listening. Which was fine. There were times when it just wasn't needed. So instead, the songstress chose to explore the fine town which sat on the footstep of the grand, white castle. As she wandered wherever it was that her feet took her, Tsumiko took note of just how put off people were. She smiled and nodded all she passed. While some returned the gesture, others shied away, keeping to their own business.

”Can't win them all, I suppose,” the songstress thought to herself with a disappointed grin.

Continuing her wandering expedition, the silver-blue haired woman made her way to the edge of town. Since interaction with the people was next to naught, she may as well explore all the world had to offer. Living in Radiant Garden, she's already seen her fair share of the cityscape. Time for some wilderness hunting! Prospective adventures, ahoy! Following a partway out of the town, she hummed a chipper tune to herself, her voice projecting rather far. As she went, the whole of the town came into view, having climbed several hills and the such. Walking backwards, Tsumiko laced her fingers behind her back and admired the scene.

“It's so peaceful out here... It's a wonder more people don't come out this way...” she said to herself, obviously not paying attention to where she was going at this point. Lately, she had a knack of getting herself swept up into things and getting lost. Turning around, she was startled to find another person on the road. A robed figure sitting by a tree some ways off had a glowing something on their stomach. By instinct, Tsumiko smiled at them and nodded. “Hello~” she said, waving in greeting as she aimed to just pass by.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius was relaxing with Ellis, pondering about the things they could be doing. Exploring the worlds, trying to race before the symbol on his hand would restore and push him through another hole. In fact, it seemed that it was starting to take longer before it would do such, so it might be that it's wearing off. Ellis and the boy hummed in tune together, his arms behind his head to prop it up and Ellis snuggling his chest. The moment was so peaceful, and they nearly fell asleep before someone approached. Turning his head, Darius momentarily uncovered his face as Ellis rolled off his chest. She flew upwards, pouting before smacking him. He tumbled for a short distance and looked at the sprite in fear. "Rude ass!" Darius waved his hands in apology, then rubbed where she hit him. "Ellis, I'm sorry! This, this is my friend Tsumiko. I met her briefly while traveling the halls of a strange castle." Walking over to Tsumiko, his arms opened wide for a hug. Meanwhile, Ellis crossed her arms and entered resting bitch face mode.

If she would embrace his hug, Darius would lift Tsumiko into the air in excitement that she survived whatever had come to them. He would then turn to Ellis and wave his hand between them to introduce the two. "Ellis! Meet Tsumiko, Tsumiko meet Ellis! Ellis is my, uh, friend. And Tsumiko is from that castle I was sent to by the mages in Twilight Town!" Ellis was still in resting bitch face mode, staring at Tsumiko. Telepathically, she spoke to Darius. Just a friend is she? I don't trust her. She has the hair of a whore! Darius widened his eyes at Ellis and his face turned red. What is up with you! Ellis wouldn't say it, but she was jealous that Tsumiko was a full-grown person. It was clear for those that took a moment to see the two look at each other to know the Sprite and Darius were clearly more than friends. However, they didn't quite see each other as people in a relationship either. Ellis sometimes wished her body was of normal size so that she could do things with Darius regular humans could. Like actual hugs, actually playing instead of her flying around him while he did something, and maybe...more. But for now, she just had to watch the regular humans come and take his attention.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko froze in place when the robed figure suddenly becoming animated, her smile puckering into a look of mild surprise and confusion. The glowing fire on his stomach rolled off, and quickly after reprimanded the figure with an added smack to the face. Blinking, the songstress watched as the figured waved it off and then began speaking. When she heard her name, she spun on her heel to face him. The voice was familiar, but she could decipher it until she seen the boy's face as he approached her with arms wide open.

Seeing Darius' face, her eyes lit up and she stepped forward to give him a tight hug. Even though the boy was a bit taller than she, it didn't stop her from pulling him down and hugging the side of his head into her bust as soon as she was set back on the ground from being picked up. Squeezing him gently for a short moment as she swayed, Tsumiko then let go of him and smiled up at him. With a lighthearted laugh, she said “Darius! It's so good to see you well! I was so worried when you just off and disappeared like you did. Well, me and Terra both, actually...”

Darius addressed the flame that had slapped him, which the songstress identified as some type of sprite, introducing the two to each other. Her silver-blue eyes turned to Ellis, though the smile on her face stiffened at the expression the fairy wore, her small arms crossed. Being stared down like she was, Tsumiko was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable and retracted her hands to fold before her chest. Perhaps she had interrupted something and Ellis was unhappy? Or perhaps the fairy was just normally like this. The songstress sure hoped not. Finally breaking eye contact with her, Tsumiko turned her eyes to Darius to see his blushing face. No words were being said, but it was painfully obvious that something unseen was going on.

“I-I'm not... causing any trouble, am I? The last thing I want to do is be a bother. I was just really relieved to see that you were okay,” Tsumiko said with a nervous chuckle, tipping her head to the side with her eyes closed. When she opened them, she looked back and forth between the two.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius was wondering if Ellis was actually jealous, for her reaction to Tsumiko was instantly hostile. When he tried feeling angry towards her, something fiddled with his mind and he entered a state of forgiving thought. Whatever accusation he had towards Ellis felt false and faded, as if someone just messed with him. The blush hidden by her fiery body, Ellis had just altered Darius' mind to make him forget the notion of her being jealous. She had to let it be, so sighed and floated onto Darius' shoulder. Smiling at her, he turned back to Tsumiko after she was clearly felt off-put by Ellis' instantly hidden viciousness. "No issues, Tsumiko. Right Ellis?" Ellis mumbled under her breath, crossing her arms and pouting towards the punk. "Mhm, that's what I thought. It's great to see you too Tsumiko! It's just...hard to explain. A little tired for the ol' fold and patty of speech and cakes. Oh, there I go, same ol' me." He was really tired, and he tried avoiding his signature comfort of speech as he crept through the world that hated him knowingly rather than the symbol that seemingly plagued the citizens before his actions.

Darius brushed a finger underneath Ellis' chin, trying to cheer her up as he looked at her with solemn eyes. Ellis...don't be like that... Ellis couldn't help but mix a smile into her pout, still a little bothered that the boy knew other women. I thought...but you... Darius held in a laugh, only letting out a humble hm-hm-hm. Do you want me to sing you a song? Not around her, I want it all to myself. Darius nodded and momentarily closed his eyes, turning to the songstress. "Well, I would hope you two like each other. So just stay, stay. Not like I should be talking to others anyways. Come enjoy the view with us." Darius took his seat by the tree and hummed, which aggravated Ellis because she knew he was ready to sing. He wouldn't however, and simply would relax. He covered his face in case someone wandered by, but really just wanted to spend some time in peace. "It's...N-nice..." she glared at Darius before choking out the words. "Nice you meet you." whore. She made sure to keep her insults to telepathy between her and the warrior, just so she didn't offend Darius' friend. He wondered, though, what the two would think of his ash-making habits. Of him setting Twilight Town ablaze.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko's eyes followed the fairy as she sat herself upon Darius' shoulder. Her cautiousness melted when Darius reassured her that nothing was wrong, but didn't fade completely. A light chuckle escaped her as the boy spoke. His speech was always something to listen to, though it seemed far more tame now that it was in the castle. Tipping her head to the side, a soft smile touched her lips. The technicalities of their relationship was beyond her, but Darius and Ellis seemed closer. It was nice to see that he had a companion like that.

“Don't mind if I do. Thank you,” Tsumiko said with a small bow, following him to his seat. "The townspeople pretty much ignored me today, so some company would be a nice change of pace.” Sitting on her legs beside Darius, the songstress folded her hands in her lap and listened to the soft humming. Looking to Ellis as she greeted her, Tsumiko responded with a warm smile, unaware of the added insult. “And it's a pleasure to meet you, Ellis.”

Noting how the boy covered his face, she was curious about the act but refrained from asking for now. Prying too deep was sure to get a negative response. If Darius wanted to share, the songstress would be eager to listen. For now, she focused on the sound she heard. “Sing often, Darius? That was a rather musical humming just now,” she asked him, turning her eyes from the fairy to him with a curious smile. Being that singing and music composed a vast majority of her life, it was exciting to find others who shared in the same hobby.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius bobbed his head left and right slowly, getting Ellis into the tune, refraining from their song but instead singing about what's around. Darius smiled, letting the negative thoughts fall behind just so he could see light ahead of him. Tsumiko took a seat, and eventually Ellis just relaxed against the boy's stomach. The two hummed as they got into tune. Looking at each other, they looked into the distance. "Well, maybe a musician would be nice so that people can see the things I can do for good...instead of bad." His eyes distanced into remembrance of what he did to Twilight Town, but he shook it away as he kept tune. Clearing his throat, he let his head hang in Tsumiko's direction, looking at her. "I see trees of green..." Ellis sprang up, knowing what he was singing almost instantly. Totally not related to their telepathy. "OOH! OOH! Red roses too~" Darius hummed as they paused. "I see them bloom, for me and you!" "And I think to myself." Fire. Destruction. Death. Tyranny crumbling on top of the crushed innocence of others.

"...I see skies of blue..." Ellis didn't pick up on it, but she kept on singing. She let her happiness instill a duplicate into Darius' heart and mind. "And clouds of white!" "The dark blessed days." Darius and Ellis locked eyes, the sprite floating back up to Darius'  neck so they could nuzzle each other. "The dark sacred nights..." "And I think to mysellf, What a wonderful world...." Darius couldn't stop seeing it, and underneath his mask he started tearing up. Ellis cried too, and it was because the boy didn't know what to do and the fairy felt it. He didn't know how to handle the mistakes he just made, or how to own up to it. If he told those who did not know, he'd simply crush himself. The best he could do...was sing a song. Ellis' voice was soothing and kept the fire at bay, but even she collapsed at the touch of Darius' powerful emotions. Even her empathy was too heavy at times. They shared pain, and that was because she could see into his mind.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko looked to them with a soft smile as they began singing, making eye contact with Darius as he looked at her. Though she wondered what he meant when he mentioned the 'things he could do for good', her interest was held in the tune of the song he spoke. It didn't take much for the fire sprite to spring up and join in. Tsumiko's smile widened and she closed her eyes, listening to them. In her mind, she imagined the lyrics coming to life. Red roses blooming and wilting, the petals falling into a blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. The skies darkened, and the petals touched upon a water's surface, the ripples shifting the dark sky's reflection into that of night. Even though the scenery was that of darkness, there was a calming serenity about it. The missing line of lyric caught her slightly off guard, but the songstress opted to instead dismiss it and continue the song.

Opening her eyes, silver-blue orbs peered out into the distance, gazing upon the lights of the town below them. With a melodic tone, she sang, “The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,” she tipped her head to the side, imagining a vivid arch of color over the town. “Are also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands. Saying, 'How do you do?' They're really saying, 'I love you',” as she sang, her head slowly tipped to the other side, the same smile still playing her lips. If only everyone could be accepting of others, where there was never such things as outcasts or loneliness, things would be so much better. She thought for a moment how that also applied to herself. Her misery was her own doing. Tsumiko had no one to blame but herself. “I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know... And I think to myself... What a wonderful world.” She took in a deep breath, before singing the final line. She looked to Darius and Ellis in hopes that they'd join her for it. “Yes, I think to myself. What a wonderful world...!~”

The songstress covered her lips with a hand as she giggled, now feeling relaxed and comfortable. “I was right. You do have a rather pleasant singing voice, Darius. Oh, and you as well, Ellis. The two of you seemed to sing very well together, and in a perfect harmony, no less. It's a pleasant surprise that I'd like to head more of, if you wouldn't mind too much. I'm usually the one singing, so it's nice to hear others every once in a while.”

She asked him this, not knowing of his inner turmoil. The mask he wore hid his tears, and so even visually, Tsumiko couldn't tell. Perhaps not to the extent in which the ginger experienced, but Tsumiko knew hardship. Should the boy choose to confide in her his sadness, the songstress would do what she could to ease his mind. No one deserved sadness, and a smile was the best expression anyone could wear.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius and Ellis continued to sing along with Tsumiko, humming until it came to a part where the song would conclude, in which they would sing at the same time with Tsumiko. Ellis herself felt a fuzzy feeling from singing in duet with Darius, not minding that Tsumiko joined in. While she was able to tinker with the boy's mind, his voice was a calming melody to her in any moment. Her jealously was quelled by him giving her good feelings, and the two just rested together in happiness. When the song ended, Tsumiko had complimented his singing and revealed she herself was a bit of a bard. "I sing only for people that matter. Otherwise my voice is locked in Sallies and sultry." He smiled towards the blueberry girl. He hoped that she could see that he wasn't simply a confusing mess of words. Ellis understands him, so maybe other people could eventually. Sighing, he pulled out his notepad and flipped through his sketches. He saw his pendant's sketch, touching his hand to it. Ellis looked up at it, feeling entranced by its glow.

"Whatever happened to Terra?" Darius was excited to see Tsumiko, and with that excitement came a solemn realization that out of the two he met, only one showed up alive and well somewhere. Now the real question was, did Terra survive? Selfishly, he was hoping the Keyblade in his hands could be Darius'. He wanted it, and he didn't want it to fall in the right hands or for the right hands to crumble. "What's wrong Darius?" Darius shook his head, just awaiting Tsumiko's answer. He remembered what Hayden had said about the Unions, and if Terra was one of those who oppressed the public. Controlled the people. He burned those who held such a grip, and he didn't want to have to do the same to someone who saw him for something good. It didn't take understanding, and Terra certainly couldn't follow him. Darius didn't think anyone could fully understand him. No one but Ellis at least. "Ellis...The universe has a plague. Let's leave it at that." And what is this plague? Leadership.

[Tsumiko]

“I sing for others so that I may see them smile. If I can make one person's day any better with just a single smile and a simple song, then I know I've done my part,” Tsumiko said as she turned to face him. Seeing the smile on his face, she could help but do so herself. While she found his odd form of speech both mildly difficult to decipher and rather amusing, the songstress didn't mind it at all. It was a part of who he was, whether he wanted to acknowledge it as such or no, and there was no reason for her to think any less of him for it.

For a short moment, her gaze returned to the town in the distance. All those people there, and so many refused to smile. Was she not doing her job right, or was that really just the normal vibe around here? The sound of flipping pages tugged on her attention, and so Tsumiko looked to her side to see a sketchbook in the ginger's hands. She remembered that even in the white castle, he had it, wanting to sketch down every detail. Even in the dark. Darius spoke again, and Tsumiko blinked at at him.

“After you mysteriously vanished like you did, you had us both worried, ya know. Terra was rather distraught about it, but we managed to press forward with Sitri. Along the way, we got separated, and Terra fell into this bottomless darkness...” Tsumiko looked down that the hands in her lap. Her brows knitted together with the shame she still bore. All because she was too afraid to act, she put the Keyblader in such a difficult situation. She had no one to blame for that but herself.

Taking in a deep breath, she put on a smile and looked to Darius again. Prompted by Ellis' question of concern, the songstress thought maybe this information had made him worry, and she didn't want to leave it on a bad note. “I'm not sure what happened to him after that, but we met up again in Radiant Garden some time later. He seemed fine. Was just on a hunt of a Master to teach him more about his weapon. Seemed rather adamant about it, too. But, uh, what's that you got there, Darius?” she asked with a genuine curiosity at the pendant sketch present on the page. It was really well drawn, and rather detailed. It was quite a beautiful design in general, and it had Tsumiko wondering if the boy beside her was indeed the one to think it up.

[Drake Pathos]

The Darkness? Darius started worrying about Terra, if the darkness was such an evil to consume the brightest lights. He worried that Terra might have become corrupted, as he saw something bright in the boy just like he radiated to others. He couldn't protect his friends, so maybe he could create something to protect them for when he's gone? His hands didn't just create weapons or devices, but they created wonders that normal people couldn't build. He was happy that Tsumiko would try to instill a smile into him, however things weighed heavily on his mind and it was hard. It was hard for him to smile genuinely without it being instinct in response to social moments. Smiles that were warm and given to others who he truly felt deserved something more than the grin that punk made often, that was washed away by his actions. Maybe he over-exaggerated what he did, however the images of burning children rest in his sub-conscious. When Tsumiko mentioned that Terra resurfaced in Radiant Garden, a place he had yet to venture to, he was relieved.

"That's good, then he's safe. But how safe are you guys? How safe can you guys be in these worlds? People are going around, burning buildings down, peddling drugs. Tsumiko. If you let me, would you let these hands work a forge in your name? To protect you? Because from what I've seen as of late...everyone's in danger." Darius thought on the keyblade unions, how dangerous they could be as an unknown and how dangerous the leaders of the worlds were. Water washed away his flames and killed many, not as much as he had killed but a substantial amount regardless. Darius feared for the future of the worlds, and only wished that he could grasp a keyblade with his own hands. If anything, he'll just take it. He had a thought, an idea of sorts. "What if I built a sentinel to walk for me? When I am bound by this mark, I cannot stay in one place for too long. Then...I can make a sentinel to guard us both, the three of us, but more importantly you." Ellis looked at Darius in frustration, but she knew that it was because she would always be by his side, he would want to protect her directly.

Jealously turned into understanding, and she just continued to nuzzle him. Touching his pendant, Darius hid the picture of his drawing away from the girl, knowing she saw it but of course being too shy to admit it had some meaning to him between Ellis and the boy. They loved each other in such a genuine way, but shotgunned by unnatural development. He was still too afraid to say it, because the kid was arrogant and tough, and things like "I love you" were too powerful to throw around and a clear breach of his hide. "It's nothing, just something I made...Anyways." Darius blushed a little, as did Ellis. People wouldn't understand what it was like for the two. The connection between man and fairy that transcended the fragility of human and human. They'd think she was a pet of his, while he sees himself as her sentinel and her as his leader. "Just something for the Rudolph of my sleigh." He smiled, and it was genuine this time. Some things do bypass the rules of depression.

[Tsumiko]

The songstress blinked at Darius, caught off guard quite a bit by his sudden request. It seemed less like a request, and more of a frantic plea for assurance. Not for his own safety, but for hers. It surprised Tsumiko, to say the least, but the thought warmed her heart. The boy thought of her as such a friend that he'd go so far as to construct something to protect her, as well as himself and Ellis. It began to make Tsumiko wonder what he was capable of, when it came to such things as creating a guardian for them, by whatever means.

She knew not what his mark signified, or what it did. It made her curious, almost as much as the meaning of the pendant that brushed aside with a vague explanation. While she wanted to pout and further pull information from him, Tsumiko bit back to take in the change in the atmosphere. From uncertain to a sense of warmed calm. Picking apart the mood wasn't exactly her forte, but something she was growing more accustomed to doing.

“Alright Darius Fetch. I will agree to letting you construct this sentinel, but on one condition,” she said in a playfully authoritative tone. There was a small smile on her lips as she turned the upper half of her body to face him, holding up a single finger. “If it's not too much trouble, I want to help you make it. It's only fair that I help build it after all, if it's going to be protecting me to some extent. And hands-on experience is the best way to learn, right?” Tsumiko asked with a light chuckle, tipping her head to the side as she gazed over the details of the mask he wore. "Teach me the ways of... construction? Crafting? ...The ways of whatever you classify this as!~" With a tone full of far more energy, she pumped a fist into the air, the attempt at a serious expression failing her miserably.

He seemed like such a sweet kid who meant well. And there was no shame in that. So long as the intent for good was there, she believed, then there would always be hope for forgiveness. Tsumiko knew not what had happened between their last meeting and the current, but it was apparent that something had. He mellowed it seemed, and found himself a companion. Even his odd way of speech seemed to have a level of 'normalcy' about it. Between the two meetings, she could say she was proud of him, in that aspect. Though she didn't really know him well enough to feel beyond that. It made her curious though, and enough to want to know more about him. Just what shade of Darius was the real him, and was it the one he wanted to be?

[Drake Pathos]

Excited, Darius pulled out a tiny gizmo to hand to Tsumiko. It was a mechanical bird that he had built from cheap, fragile parts. His body stuttered in excitement as he show the blue-haired girl his creation. He twisted a piece on its back, causing its head to turn and the wings to stiffly flutter. It chirped, but it was the sound of a coil scraping along a turning wheel. Darius loved gizmos like the one he held, turning to Tsumiko with a smile and offering it. Ellis enjoyed this creation of his, as with all the other things he built. Petting Ellis with his index finger, she acted like she was purring and arched her back. He made sure he was gentler, and she hugged his finger when he pet her belly. "Darius! Not now!" Darius realized what he was doing and put his hand away. Ellis coughed cutely, as Darius put his attention back onto the bird. "Who needs magic? Machines. Metal. They can have life on their own, Tsumiko. The only thing magic is needed for...is separating machine from creator so it is its own."

Instilling his will and magic, Darius put his free hand over the bird as blue and golden energies released and imbued into the bird. The metal that moved with rigid structure actually bent in compliance and the bird flapped with might. It flew around the two, chirping away. Darius looked at it with a bright smile, seeing his creation live so lively. "I'unno how I know, but I just feel it in my heart. I can feel that when you imprint your magic on things, you can breath LIFE into them. What we build...will need your will. And mine, but machine needs to be free. It's kinda like having a child. But if you want to learn how to make weapons, or armor or anything of the sort. Just talk to me. I do have one idea though." Darius smiled devilishly, looking Tsumiko up and down. Whipping out his notepad, he drew a robotic Tsumiko with the proportions making her out to be a giant her. He thought it'd be pretty funny, and even dubbed it Tsubot MK I. Tsumiko might not agree, but he could always change the sentinel once Tsumiko was elsewhere.

"I feel the best term for the craft would be synthesis. I'unno why, it just fits. Y'know? But there's more to it than knowing. You gotta feel it, you gotta absorb it. The sleigh has no need for life if there is no synergy among brethren. If you cannot connect to your creations, the step where you free them or form your bond and tighten it is erased. They'll feel empty. But that's a concern of the creator, not so much the wielder. It makes me think of some legends I've once heard. A smith who made a blade that chose what it cut through, and a worthy wielder could choose for it. If it didn't want to cut, it'd pass through, leaving the object unharmed. That was created with the soul of a passionate smith." Darius unsheathed Wildheart and stabbed it into the ground next to him. "This sword? It was a reward for saving a smith. I caused a ruckus so his assistant threw me out. By a ruckus I mean I pissed off some people and that endangered them. They are likely dead now because of me, because villains like to punish the undeserving. I use this as a reminder that each creation has a purpose and place in the heart of the creator. Be careful when making that dedication, Tsumiko." Darius allowed the sword to warp in a burst of harmless fire back into his sheath.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko blinked at the gizmo that the ginger pulled out, reaching out curious hands to take it from him. Before she could take it, however, Darius' excitement seemed to get the best of him and he twisted the wind-up key on it's back. The small bird sprang to life, its little wings flapping. It even made a mechanical chirp. With wondrous eyes and a wide smile, she took it and brought it closer to her to get a better look. All its little pieces seemed to fit together perfectly. She was rather impressed by the piece, amazed that something could be build from metal that seemed so... alive.

Ellis' voice broke her staring and she looked over to the two of them with a dazed grin. The songstress didn't know what happened, so she just turned her eyes to the boy when he started to give a briefing of his view of it. Machines could... have a life of their own? The thought was a little beyond her range of understanding, being that seen life as something born, not created, but Tsumiko was open-minded enough to accept it at least. Perhaps by the time they were done, she would understand what he meant.

Shifting her attention to the hand Darius held out, she tipped her head to the side to the ebbs of energy that he instilled into the bird. In her hands, with went from stiff, robotic flapping to a more natural, fluid one. It chirped a few more times, and then took off, circling around them. Tsumiko followed it with silver-blue eyes, a breath of awe escaping her lips. As it rounded a second time, the ginger began speaking again. She looked at him, listening with a small smile. Breathing life... into a machine via will and magic. It sounded simple enough, and yet pretty complex. Though when he offered, her mind was reeling at all the possibilities. Looking off to the side, her eyes scanned the town below as she tapped a finger against her chin. She hadn't noticed the way in which Darius looked at her, though it was probably for the best. If she wanted to keep her mind focused, being looked up and down was not the way to do it.

“I think I have an idea, too. But I don't know if it could actually be done...” she thought out loud, the image of a watery blade made it's way to her mind. It was malleable enough to change shape, but dense enough to still cause damage. Shifting her eyes Darius, the songstress seen him fast at work on a sketch. She leaned in closer to see that it was of, nearly leaning into his shoulder, and saw that he was drawing... what looked like her. Tsumiko blinked at it for a moment, before turning her eyes to him again as he spoke.

Listening to his short tale, she looked over the blade he stuck in the ground, her eyes going over all the intricate details. She remembered seeing it for a brief time in the white castle, but now that there was a substantial light source she was able to better see it. It was very well crafted, adding to the point that Darius was trying to make. Tsumiko jumped a little when the sword turned to flame and returned to its sheath. At that moment, she felt the hand that had raised itself to her heart, laying there with a delicate touch. What he said about the smith and his assistant had her worried, and she looked him over out of concern, but ultimately decided to leave the topic for another time.

Dedication wasn't a concept foreign to her; she spent many a day studying and teaching herself not only musical arts, but magical. Perhaps this... synthesis was just another thing in which she could learn and being a practice in. “I understand the responsibility, Darius,” she said to him in a tone brimming with confidence. “All things created where made for a reason, be it good or bad. But the fact remains that they were created with a thought in mind. I want what we make to be for a good reason, like what you said in keeping us safe. But I also want to take what I learn and apply it myself to my own creations. I want to breathe the same life as you did for that bird.” Upon mention it, Tsumiko's eye flicked to the bird and watched it with a content smile. If she could do something even remotely as cool as that by the time the day was done, she'd be happy.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius smiled, thinking on how he could give life to something so artificially animated such as a mechanical bird. An item was a child of his when made, but it truly reaches birth when his will touches the frame and forms a flaming heart. It was a wonderful thing to let things breach the boundary of reason and science without destroying its fundamentals, as magic was a wondrous and terrible thing. It belonged but didn't, and it bent rules to share its wonder and terror with many. He just liked exploring the wonder, but knew very well of its terror in the face of hard decision. In the face of political corruption that needed scorching. Little did he know, in the distant future someone would be killed because of him. Someone powerful. He wanted to create a sentinel so his actions didn't get Tsumiko killed. Eventually someone would recognize him, and eventually someone would hunt him. She wanted to learn the craft, but one cannot find the inspiration or will in a sitting.

Darius may put on a fancy show, but the dedication it takes to create such a complex golem such as the bird was tremendous and time-consuming. No amount of knowledge cuts down on the time it takes to create perfection. He understood and accepted that, but Tsumiko need to too. Looking down at Tsumiko's concept, he took time to think on it, eventually having a bulb shine in his head. "Tsumiko. You the handle to act as a control rod, using the breath of your magic to control the water of the blade. In fact, I can create a version of this that doesn't use water. I can breath life into metal with fire as it is one of the elements that connect with my heart. What you'll need to do is reach into your heart and extend your will into the things you create. Then you may create something like this. I'd suggest taking time to practice, learn the craft through experience, not words. I faintly remember destroying a forge with one of my creations because I let my heart get out of control."

Darius meant the forge in which he crafted his pendant, a forge located on this very world. A forge violently and furiously destroyed with fire and molten metal. A roar of passion that consumed it, and possibly injured others in the crossfire. But he understood that his craft built something of great importance to himself. He didn't build a weapon or set of armor, he built himself a reminder that Ellis, wherever he goes, will always be with him. A piece of his soul was what gave her life, and she became her own being. He wish he knew why he cared for her so, but he knew it was more than just her being a wonderfully cute sprite. Standing up, Darius offered a hand to Tsumiko while using the other to catch a tumbling Ellis. "God. Damn. It. Darius! Ugh, don't forget I'm laying down! Flinging me around and shit." "Oi, calm down. Tsumiko, take my hand and I'll help you build the Sentinel. AND I SHALL NAME IT!"

Ellis looked at Darius as if he was stupid as he took a Captain Morgan pose. "TSUBOT! M! K! ONE! AND SHE WILL LEARN TO BE YOUR FOLLOWER AND MINE, AND SHE WILL BE A HULKING FIGURE FOREVER IN YOUR SHADOW JIHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ellis face-palmed, shaking her head. "Darius. You're an idiot."

[Tsumiko]

The songstress listened carefully to Darius' suggestion on her vague idea. He made such a thorough concept from nearly nothing, carrying on to explain a similar concept in which he already dabbled in. He also hinted at the fact that she'd need to practice. It wasn't going to be easy, but she wanted to avoid destroying a whole forge, if she could. Picturing the destruction of something, based solely on her ignorance... that didn't sit well with her at all. If creating something awesome took time, then she'd have to respect that aspect and take the time to learn it all properly.

As she began pondering what all that entailed, Ellis' shouting brought her attention back around to blink at the flame sprite which had been caught in the ginger's hand. A side note had her wondering if the sprite was hot to the touch, or if her bond with the boy allowed him to harmlessly handle her. Darius held his other hand out to her with a sudden bundle of energy. She began to hesitantly reach out to take his hand, but stopped to cover her laughing lips with that hand. Not only was the pose he struck amusing, but the proposed name of the sentinel. She was flattered by the gesture, but finding herself in the same boat as Ellis.

Muffling her laughter, she reached out to take his hand and used it to hoist herself to her feet should he give her that support. Though if that's what he insisted on, then there wasn't any real reason to deny his creativity and enthusiasm. Why not make her very Synthesis adventure a fun experience while she was at it?

“Tsubot MK1, it is!~” Tsumiko said with a nod and a giggle as she bounced on her heels. Darius' energy really was infectious. “But it's gotta have at least ONE flame thrower!” She grinned, holding up a finger.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius took Tsumiko's hand and shared a look with Ellis, the two smiling at each other. Immediately as Tsumiko rose to her feet, he'd have the fairy let Darius lift his feet off the ground. Pulling Tsumiko along, he'd fly on across the sky. Fire would trail off of Ellis and Darius, as he would find a smithy to purchase the materials to build Tsumiko. Looking around to make sure no one else was around, Darius would reveal his face. "Yo, Jorgi, I need the smithy." The smith looked at the kid with a big, warm smile. He shrugged, it had been a slow day anyways. Leaving the smithy, he put the "out at lunch" sign on the door. Winking at the two pretty ladies accompanying him, he 'd rub his hands together. Excited to start, he'd throw some ingot into the smelter. "This process as a whole is important. You need to make sure if you physically craft something, you make sure every detail is to their best." Picking up the smithy hammer, veins of molten could be seen shining through his arm. Alarmed, Darius had a quick flash of when he smashed a hammer down and destroyed the forger with his furious fire.

Spinning the hammer, Darius hid the molten veins, feeling the heat calm from his arm once they went away. He didn't understand what he was seeing, but there was a task at hand. "Tip-top the hammer must pop, Tsu. Now, watch the genius at play!" Darius took to the forge, beginning to craft the first limbs of Tsubot. He started with the innards of the prototype, building the mechanics and taking them over to a table to finish the circuitry. He'd create a core that'd be introduced later. Forging a frame with slots and complex machinery, Tsubot would appear to be a skeleton. Banging on the forge, wildfire would flare as well as molten. Infusing it with part of his own will. The shell was being crafted as he wore molten-resistant gloves to let him create articulate details. Using his memory, he'd craft a replication of Tsumiko's appearance, scaled to a much larger scale. Tsubot's body was hung with chains, and Darius was slowly adding on parts of the outer shell. They'd lock onto the skeleton with all the gizmos connecting. Gears churning, air-tight locks, interlocking locks.

Darius would open up Tsubot's chest, inserting the core. Turning to Tsumiko, he'd offer his hand once more. "Tsumiko. Let me show you the next step. You want Tsubot to live? You need a part of yourself in her. I'll start it off...but I'll leave room for your will." Darius felt an orange energy secrete from his body, crawling on to his hand and releasing into the core. Inserting his flame and light, Tsubot's eyes would light up and her body would slightly animate. She wasn't exactly moving, as there wasn't enough energy in the core. Ellis would get close and look into the core, hugging it and letting a piece of herself release into the core. Flying on over to the synth savant, they'd wait for Tsumiko to do the same. "Just...reach into your heart. Let it speak to the outside, don't keep it locked up. Let your heart see and speak to Tsubot's. She has a heart, too. We are giving her one."

[Tsumiko]

As the songstress placed her hand in Darius', it wasn't long before they were off to their destination. But it wasn't by any normal means, no. The flame sprite did something which made the ginger began floating off the ground. And he began flying, pulling her with him. She didn't know how, and quiet frankly, she didn't care. She was flying! Though the air!~ There really was a first time for everything, it seemed. There was a wide smile that spread from ear to ear as they sailed across the skies, and all she could respond with was a loud, childish laugh.

It wasn't too long after, sadly, that they reached their destination, landing on the ground. Darius greeted the man, apparently named Jorgi, in a familiar way and asked for a smithy. The man happily obliged, allowing Darius to close up the shop. He then faced them with a wink as he rubbed his hands together. Tsumiko blinked at him, wondering what was going to happen. This was honestly the first time she had ever been in a place like this. She had always purchased her weapons from shops should they both interest her enough and if she had enough munny. Taking a look around, she watched as Darius began what would be the beginnings of a very long, very complex process of creation.

Picking up the hammer, he spoke a couple words to her before starting. Tsumiko nodded in understanding and watched carefully. Though before the first strike of the hammer she noticed a short moment of hesitation in which he paused. Not too long after, though, he was right back to his task. He crafted it piece by piece, and assembled them with a knowledgeable ease. All the mechanics of such a feat was beyond her ability to comprehend. Her first attempt at this synthesis stuff was going to much simpler, for sure. At this point, Tsubot was starting to come together rather nicely, all the parts interlocking together. As Tsumiko stood back and watched the ginger hard at work, it really did look like an over-sized version of herself. Realizing this, she grinned to herself like a child.

The last piece to be inserted was the core, Tsubot's source of energy and the thing that would connect it to the three of them. After setting it in and connecting it as needed, Darius turned to Tsumiko with an outstretched hand. He was going to start off the process of infusing their wills into the core, which was what was going to give Tsubot life. There was an excited smile that played her lips as she watched him release and orange energy into the core. The bot's eye glowed a little, and it moved a little. The songstress blinked at it in surprise, not quite knowing what to expect. Looking back down, she seen Ellis hugging the core and releasing her energy into it. After she let go and returned to Darius' side, the two looked at her as they waited for her to do the same.

Tsumiko nodded to Ellis as she said what needed to be done. For some reason, she was suddenly feeling nervous as she took small steps up to the machine that looked like her. She reached out a hesitant hand, her fingers touching the core with a delicate touch. Just let the inside... speak to the outside? She closed her eyes to better concentrate and used her mind's eye to visualize both her heart and Tsubot's incomplete one. From her hand, a turquoise colored energy was released and joined that of the others' in the core.

Exhaling, she turned to face them with a smile that showed how proud of herself she was. “I did it!” it seemed to say without words. Turning her eyes back to Tsubot, the songstress waited to see how her energy had affected the bot.

[Drake Pathos]

Darius connected all the proper wires and tubes to the core, watching the magic flow throughout to power all of Tsubot's gears and pulleys. Tinkering around with the insides, he made sure everything was in place. Closing the torso, he took a step back with the fire wisp on his shoulder. Tsubot's eyes flickered with light and it began to animate. Darius' face made a look of wonder, realizing he created something that lived. He took his skill over synthesis, got some metal, and breathed life into another creature. It a glorious accomplishment...one he should continue to do. Making different beings and instilling life...it gave him power. He wanted to share his creations someday, but he needed to slip into the shadows soon and Tsubot would be what would protect his friend while he slipped into the shadows.

"It's wonderful...We...we gave birth to something new." Placing a hand on Tsubot, he put his other hand up to his mouth as he held back tears. Ellis clasped her own hands together and looked in awe. "How did you...Darius! You really -- she's moving!" Tsubot twitched, her head shakily shifting around to look at the three. "Hell. O. Master. S." Tsubot nodded at the three, beginning to creak and waddle. Darius pulsed his will throughout the metal body, giving it much more flexibility. Tsubot moved towards Tsumiko, looking down at her. "Are. You. My. Mother?" Darius chuckled, putting his hands at his waist. "Well, Tsumiko. I guess you're a mom now. Go on, Tsubot, give 'er a good ol' huggins." Tsubot enveloped the songstress for a powerful hug that might harm her severely. Darius laughed, not realizing that the monstrous strength of the robot might splatter Tsumiko across the robot's chest.

Darius would leave the two to their love and tenderly care, continue to make something on the forge. He had a warm, calm smile on his face. Once he built the shell of his design, he'd built a much larger version. Tinkering with the mechanics, he built something similar to his Nitro Charger, his Nitro Fist. He placed it on his arm, but the larger glove disappeared into Darius. He made a giant sword for his weapons to enter, also making it absorb into his body. Darius needed to be prepared for when someone attacked him, frowning while his back was turned to Tsumiko. Turning around, he smiled, allowing the Nitro Fist gauntlet to shift its parts, the sound of gears turning ringing off. It formed to his hand, and he wiggled his fingers. "Well, Tsumiko, if you survived the hug of ultimate love, I guess it's your turn on the forge." Tsubot then began singing. "AND. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. WILL. ALL. WAYS. LOVE. YOU. INSERT. EMOTION"

[Tsumiko]

The songstress watched as Darius completed connecting wires and tubes, giving at a few finishing touched before closing Tsubot up and taking a step back. Looking upon their creation, there was a wide smile spread across Tsumiko's face. The bot was moving, its eye aglow with the life they breathed into it. It really was a wonder to behold, and an experience the woman never dreamed of having. Funny things, dreams. She wondered for a moment if Tsubot was capable of them...

It wasn't until the machine started to speak about that Tsumiko began to grasp more fully what it was they accomplished. It greeted them, nodding to each. The songstress had a hard time holding in her giddy laughter. She didn't know what it was that the ginger did, but Tsubot was suddenly a bit less rigid in its movements as it moved over to her. When it spoke to her, the woman wasn't sure how to respond and so just gawked at it like a grinning idiot. When instructed by Darius, the robot reached and embraced Tsumiko in a tight hug. But, as to be expected, Tsubot wasn't awake of her own strength, and the hug was far tighter than any human being should ever have to live through. Thankfully, the appearance of the songstress was misleading as she was able to take quite a bit more damage than one would think she could.

When she was released, the songstress gasped for air, placing a hand on the robot to catch her balance. Was definitely not expecting that... When she had finally regained herself, she turned to Tsubot and cracked a grin, a nervous chuckle following suit. “I-It's nice to meet you, Tsubot. I would be honored to be your mother!~” Taking a quick look at the ginger-haired boy, it seemed he was back to forging. All the better to get to bond with the bot.

When he finally turned around to face then, he'd find that the songstress had scaled Tsubot's backside, hanging comfortably from over one of its shoulders. Her name being called, Tsumiko turned her attention from poking the side of Tsubot's head to Darius. The look she gave him was like a child being caught and trying to play cute, and she slipped from the robot's back and started to walk towards him. She stopped mid-step and flipped around to face Tsubot when it started singing.

“Atta girl, Tsubot!~” the songstress cheered with a big smile, pumping a fist in the air. Turning back to Darius, she placed the tips of her pointer fingers together with a sheepish grin. “Would you mind if I had a page of your sketchbook? I don't know exactly how I want it to look, so I don't want to dive in before I get a more concise idea...”

She had spent a good time thinking on functionality, but not aesthetics. If Darius would be so kind, she would sketch out a rather rough outline of the weapon she had in mind.

[Drake Pathos]

Panting at the end of his crafting, waves of heat emitted from both Darius and the Forge. He looked down after making his creations. Time seemingly slowed for him, and on the inside he felt the fire burn within. He was making tools of war, tools to destroy things lying within his path. The obstacles or people that obstruct his future. But knowing this, he obstructed the futures of many. Closing his eyes, the pyres of Twilight Town rung within. Opening them, he looked towards Tsubot and Tsumiko. Creating a copy of the schematic, he left it near the forge for the blue-haired girl to read and follow. It had a few instructions. Looking down at his hand, he nodded. Walking past the two, he turned back to wave them off. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Maybe the next time you see me, I'll be under the gullotine. Rightfully so." While he couldn't understand the mark, he understood it was still a part of him. Tapping into it, he let it connect to his heart.

His body began releasing streams of flame and he engulfed himself in glorious flame. Burning up into nothing like a phoenix dying, he vanished before their eyes. Tsubot viewed with empty eyes. Momentarily directing her attention to Darius, she spoke with a rigid yet still trembling voice. "...Dad. Dy?" Tsubot wondered where he had gone. Ellis had vanished too, seemingly. Taking rumbling steps towards the door, Tsubot pawed at the air. "Mas. Ter. Daaaaaa. D." The core within burned brightly with the elements formed, shining through the metal body. Hunching over, Tsubot looked quite sad from seeing one of her masters disappear.

[Tsumiko]

When Darius’ eyes were turned upon her, the songstress blinked at him, wondering what it was what was going through his head. He seemed kind of serious all of a sudden. That’s when the ginger made for her a schematic of a weapon, which was left near the forge. She watched him design it, and was thankful for the instructions that were left for her. Picking it up, the looked over it and turned a grateful smile to the boy. “Thank you, Darius. I can’t wait til-” The songstress’ sentence stopped midway as he walked past both her and Tsubot. Tsumiko tipped her head to the side, and listened to him speak. There was a slight frown on her face, displaying both her confusion and concern to what he said. “Oh… Well I certainly hope that our next encounter is not so… grave. Next we meet, perhaps I’ll treat you to some ice-cream for being such a big help with all of this!~” Tsumiko raised her hands to gesture to the forge. “So farewell, but not goodbye, Darius Fetch.” She said, wearing her mask of a smile, waving to him as he disappeared. It was much like what happened in that strange castle with the white walls, where he was just gone from sight. It must have been that, that took him away the first time.

The songstress then turned her attention to Tsubot. She seemed distraught over Darius’ departure, calling out with a saddened, robotic voice. Walking up to the robot, Tsumiko placed a comforting hand on her arm. “It’ll be okay, Tsubot. You’ll see him again. I promise!~ He’d be an awful daddy if he didn’t come see you every once in awhile. Right?” She offered the bot a soft smile, not sure to what extent her ability to register emotion was and so treated her like she would any other person. Though from what she could tell, the robot had the emotional complexity of a young child, which was better for her. The songstress was surprisingly good with kids.

“Now…” She turned back to the forge and looked at the paper that was still in her hand. “...let’s see if we can’t make ourselves a badass weapon, Tsubot.” Reading over it, she went about following the instructions given to her. They weren’t in great detail, but it was enough to help her get on her way.

She spend the next couple of hours at the forge. She got tired and dispirited a few times, but with one look at the miracle of the robot the two of them made, she smiled and went right back to work. It wasn’t impossible if she just kept at it. Sooner or later, Tsumiko was finished and beyond giddy. Giggling to herself, she held it out at arm’s length and marveled for a bit. “We did it, Tsubot! Check it out!~” She said, turning to show it to the bot, whether she was paying attention or not. “Now let’s see if I can’t remember how to… Ah! There we go!” After flowing her energy into the weapon, connecting her will with it, it performed exactly the way she wanted it to. Pleased, there was a wide smile that played her lips. Tsumiko was proud of herself for her job well done.

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