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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 11, 2017 5:12:59 GMT
On the streets that formed the paths and roads of the French Quarter, jazz music could be heard at almost any time, be it day or night, summer or winter. It was often seen as the true sound of Bellerouge with its soulful singers, frantic drumbeats and powerful saxophone and trumpets. However, it was far from the only type of music that could be found within the highly diverse city. And on the warm and fragrant air of that day, the sound of a single Spanish guitar could be heard even over the music that issued out from the surrounding clubs along the Quarter.
Along one of the main thoroughfares, a single young man could be seen playing the instrument as he leaned against a nearby wall, a tin can labeled 'tips' on the ground in front of him. And despite the hustle and bustle along that section of the Quarter, a fair group of people had stopped to watch and listen as the young man played.
Manolo smiled at the crowd that surrounded him, his fingers agile and strong as they danced across the strings of his guitar. The music he produced was upbeat and lively, the kind of music one would want to tap their foot and even possibly dance to if they were so inclined. He smiled for the crowd but seldom lifted his brown eyes to actually look at them.
As time passed, people moved on and new ones took their spots. Many left nothing in the tin as they departed and the few that did only deposited loose coins or a crumpled up dollar bill. At least... that was what they thought they had left. None of them had any idea that they had been enchanted.
Soon enough, Manolo finished playing and the few people that remained gave a small applause before moving on. Once they had left, the young man stepped forward with a smirk on his handsome face and collected his tin. Inside was far more then change and a few dollars. No, the money in the can consisted of a multitude of tens, a large amount of twenties and even a few fifties. In fact, there was well over four hundred dollars in the can. The smirk on his face widened as he took out the money and counted it out. The people who had put money in the tin might have thought they only put in some quarters or a single bill, but a simple enchantment was all it took to make them see that when what they were really putting into the tin was much more. And the thing that made it all the funnier was that the very music they had stopped to listen to had been the enchantment.
"And people say you can't make money from music."
The young man chuckled softly to himself as he pocketed the money, pushing his black ponytail back over his shoulder as put the tin back down. Another group of tourists was making its way towards him, no doubt their wallets fat with money they were perfectly happy to use on cheap trinkets and gaudy tourist traps. They were eager to get ripped off in these ways but when it came to music they were reluctant to drop in even a few measly dollars. Well, the joke would soon be on them when they got back to their hotels and found themselves shorted some dough.
With this in mind and his fake 'tourist-pleasing' smile back in place, Manolo began to play the guitar once more. The music sailed over the passing crowds and once again the enchantment began to take hold of those who stopped and listened. |
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 11, 2017 17:31:31 GMT
At first, Jane thought the person who had been playing music was her father. He loved to just go to the park and other places where people gathered to entertain. It wasn't about the tips to him, just being around people. But Jane found herself compelled to go over and immediately reaching for her wallet. But wait, she didn't tip musicians unless she had at least spoken to them first. Something wasn't right. She glanced around, seeing other people doing the same. No street musician was good enough for people to fork over money hand and fist. She grabbed her headphones and slipped them on. Her music battled with the performer's music but it muffled whatever he had been doing to her head. She felt relief. No longer needing to hand him the contents of her wallet. Only, that pissed her off.
Magic. It had to be.
Now, Jane had very minimal magic of her own, just a know how of when magic was being used. Her foster parents made sure she knew what manipulation magic felt like because she was their 'heir apparent' and people would try to 'use her' only they used her just as much as anyone else would. But to use it on these people who had no way of telling or stopping it, only served to increase her anger. She marched up to the performer and grabbed the neck of the guitar, silencing the music and she hoped it would break the little spell. She was glaring at the man. Some little voice in the back of her head whispered that she should have called the police and let them take care of it. But she was still of the mindset of 'take care of things yourself' without the police. Even if she did know a single officer who wasn't as bad as the rest.
"And what do you think you're doing?" she hissed.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 12, 2017 4:33:35 GMT
Manolo was just starting to attract a fairly large group of people with his music when one of them, a slender woman with brown hair and blue eyes, marched straight up to him and grabbed the neck of his guitar. Immediately the instrument gave out a disjointed twang. He paused in playing and stared at the woman in mild surprise for a split second before speaking to this annoying stranger, his smile firmly back in place.
"Why, playing le música of course, but perhaps señorita didn't like the piece I was playing?"
Although Manolo kept his eyes on the interfering woman, he could tell that the crowd was already starting to disperse. As always, when any kind of trouble started they were only too eager to run away from it. The woman continued to glare at him and cling to his instrument. This caused him the most annoyance and so, making a small gesture with the hand supporting his guitar, a small yet painful shock jolted her hand where it touched the strings. To anyone on the receiving end of the small jolt, it would have felt like nothing more then static shock.
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 12, 2017 18:45:01 GMT
"Buddy, no musician is good enough for people to turn their wallets inside out over." she snapped.
He strummed the guitar and the sensation of the chords thrumming against her hand made her let go. It hadn't necessarily hurt, but had not been a comfortable feeling either. The palm of her hand stung though she could ignore it for now. Her own fault for grabbing the neck of the guitar like that. To be fair, he was lucky she didn't just go in swinging. She really did have to control her temper sometimes. She was perhaps only so angry with him because her father was a musician and this guy was all but giving street performers a bad name by enchanting his crowds. She almost made some snide comment about how he could only get people to listen to him with magic, but thought better of it and held her tongue. That being said, people had all but dropped their wallets and bill folds into his tip jar.
This was pretty much robbery. If some kid had dumped their allowance or something, Jane might have just forgone any decency and tackled him outright. She didn't have magic to fight him, but she could punch not to mention she had her conceal and carry if things got too bad. Though, mister 'nice guy' likely wouldn't have tried to hit her with a crowd. It would be bad for his image. Crowds did not linger for people who were violent. Normally people ran. Though, this guy was an unknown. She had never seen him in town before. She didn't know what kind of person he was or what brought him to town. |
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 12, 2017 19:42:10 GMT
"Oh? Well perhaps you have not been listening enough then."
The smirk never left his face as he spoke and only grew when the woman suddenly snatched her hand away from his guitar. However, he wasn't such a fool to think that it would be good to continue playing in this area anymore. Clearly this annoying chico had seen through the enchantment that had entranced others and had some sense that things weren't quite right. However, it was also clear that she only had the vaguest idea of what he was doing.
She seemed to think he was tricking people out of all of their money when he was only altering their perceptions so that they added bigger bills to his tin while only seeing smaller ones. This woman knew how to recognize magic but obviously not how to distinguish the different spells. Either way, it was time to leave.
"Maybe next time you'll actually try and listen to the music, si?"
As he spoke, he gathered up his tin can and strung the strap of the guitar over his shoulder, the instrument resting familiarly on his back.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:08:21 GMT
Shiro was not normally one for stepping but the Unseelie Fae sensed the magic brewing and felt it necessary as he stepped through the crowd some of them knowing him and letting him through. "You know its not very nice swindling people in this side of town sir?" he slightly growls his eye flashing yellow briefly. His magic flaring just enough to be a warning before he looked at the woman "Are you alright miss?" he asks gently.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 15, 2017 6:30:38 GMT
He had barely placed his guitar on his back when another stranger from the crowd, this one a man with tan skin, white bangs and a scar across the bridge of his nose, stepped up next to the woman and seemed to immediately side with her. Despite the flaring yellow of the man's eyes, Manolo felt only another flash of annoyance.
"Pretty words. Why don't you go ahead and tell the real swindlers that? I'm sure you can find them in the business section of town or the mayor's office. Maybe give the police department a try while you're at it."
And despite the fact the smirk never left his face, there was real bitterness in the guitarists words. However, he didn't wait to hear what the man or woman might say and instead pushed passed them, heading down the walkway.
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 16, 2017 2:26:08 GMT
"I catch you doing that again and I'll let you talk to the police yourself," Jane sneered.
She caught herself after she said that. Really? She would call the police on him? She hated the police. Just because one officer happened to be good it didn't mean... No. She shook her head. Probably best not to get too involved. This was getting too public as it was, what with this guy stepping out of the crowd trying to 'see if she was okay' as if she needed rescuing from the wannabe Casanova with a guitar. She'd likely break the guitar to stop him from casting more manipulative magic but that would only get her in trouble.
To the newcomer she added, "Listen, I had it handled. I don't need help." |
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 22, 2017 6:11:23 GMT
At the woman's words, the young man suddenly swung around so quickly it was jarring and the look on his face was one of pure rage. However, instead of trying to strike her or slinging curses as the look seemed to suggest, all he did was let out a sudden peal of laughter. However, there was no mirth or humor in the sound and only a deep anger.
"Go ahead and call them. I'd love the chance to show those uppity chota they can't intimidate everyone into taking their shit."
Manolo's fists clenched tightly, every muscle in his body tensing as the anger coursed through his blood and made his words reckless. This woman thought she could threaten him with something like the cops? He'd love the chance to take a few swings at them or make them look like fools. It's what people like them deserved.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 19:05:25 GMT
Shiro backed up a bit putting his heads in almost surrendering motion "Sorry sorry just can't help it if someone is in pain.. but I honestly don't think the police need to be called especially given his statement it probably do more harm then good." he says softly looking over to Manolo "While it may seem a little silly my name is Shiro...". He knew that look far better then most was a look his father got doing his job and knew deep down calling the police was only going to get bystanders hurt so doing what he did best he tried to diffuse the situation.
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 22, 2017 20:29:18 GMT
"Why I ought to -"
She grit her teeth and clenched her hands at her side. This musician was egging her on. She didn't care about the police. They could all go stuff themselves for all she cared. No. The man's arrogance oozed off him like second hand smoke, choking everyone around them. But her first reaction shouldn't be to jump the guy and beat his head in with his own guitar. Then there was the bystander who was trying to get them to be friends. Not happening. She hadn't been in pain. She hadn't needed his help. She wasn't a damsel in distress because she had been the one to stop the trickster in the first place. Then this guy didn't want to call the police. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the both of them. She had been told she had a look that could give lectures and as a teacher, she hoped it was true.
"One of these days someone is going to put you in your place," she told the musician, "And I hope I'm there when they do."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Sept 25, 2017 22:51:43 GMT
Manolo's intense glare didn't pull away from the woman until the man spoke, introducing himself as if they were the best of friends meeting for lunch. The guitarist shot him an incredulous look as he spoke of not wanting to get the police involved and his worry about civilians getting hurt. What, did he think he was the one threatening to call the damn cops? If he had an issue, he should be speaking to the woman and not looking at him. And speaking of...
"Put me in my place? Hah! Why don't you go play somewhere else chica before you end up saying something to someone who doesn't have a problem hitting little girls."
His voice dripped with scorn as he spoke. This woman truly was lucky. He might not be the kind of guy to hit unless someone threw the first punch, but he knew plenty of guys who wouldn't hesitate to take a swing at someone, even a woman, if they opened their trap and said too much.
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Post by skyeknight on Sept 26, 2017 15:19:14 GMT
Things were escalating. She was pushing this the wrong way, the more logical part of her brain argued, they needed to back track. No more threats of violence or promises to do ill. But she hadn't known what else to do to stop him from using magic on the tourists. She took a slow breath, trying to calm herself. It wouldn't do for her to let things get so out of hand that someone would have to come bail her out of jail. Her dad wouldn't like it, even if it did give him an excuse to go see his blue haired faery girl.
"Listen, let's take a step back," she tried to reason. "Just... if you're going to con people con people who deserve it. The tourists don't. Take from people who won't miss it like those rich bastards up in Lieu Sanglante."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Oct 4, 2017 2:35:25 GMT
"Oh, and you think that these tourists are so innocent?"
The contempt with which he spoke almost seemed to come off of him in waves. In fact, it almost did look like waves of heat were coming off of the young man's frame in response to his anger and only someone who had experience with Others would recognize it as the beginnings of a magical aura. It had been a long time since Manolo had been this angry towards a single person and it was starting to make him lose control of his powers, the shimmering air around him a clear indicator he was about to let loose a blast of magic.
It was only with the greatest of efforts that he was able to rein himself in and take a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting his clenched fists relax so that the blood could flow again.
"Yes, I enchanted those people. But would you like to know why only some and not everyone who heard my music was effected? Want to know why they didn't empty every last thing of worth into my hands even though I could make them do just that?"
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 4, 2017 13:00:04 GMT
"Magic doesn't discriminate." Jane said quietly. "You might think you're only targeting one group but you might not be."
The change in mood was a little strange. She was now the calm and level headed one and he was the one fighting to control a temper. Two hotheads together was a recipe for disaster. Jane was only known for her patience regarding children. But if there was one thing she realized in this conversation, she had no room to judge him. He was just doing what he had to in order to get by. She had done the same thing in foster care until the moment she could run away. She smoothed a hand through her hair.
"Just because you can do this, it doesn't mean you should." she pointed out.
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