13790/The Lure of Music

The Lure of Music
Date of Scene:	06 September 2021
Location:	Columbus Park - Chinatown
Synopsis:	Yaozu practices his violin in the park before dawn and is found there by Wanda. He plays for her until the dawn comes.
Cast of Characters:	Yaozu Lin, Scarlet Witch

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Yaozu Lin has posed:
For reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD8ep3wGUjg

The park is quiet, at this hour. Those who come to it seldom ever visit at this time of night. Children are told that this is the time that belongs to demons and devils, tales spun to keep them tucked within their beds and safe. Yet there is one who is here. One who oft comes here at such an hour. The tales told to children are ones that he has outgrown and long ago. He knows better, in some ways. And worse, in other ways. Dawn will come in couple of hours, and he will stay here until it arrives. The sunrise is beautiful here in the park.

Yaozu softly shifts his wings at his back, resettling them there as he stands and gazes out over the water. His long black hair rests mostly free, tumbling over his shoulders and down his back. The sides of it have been drawn to the back of his head, braided and knotted there before being speared through with a carved wooden hairstick in the shape of a phoenix. He wears a set of traditional Chinese robes that are in a paler shade of green than spring leaves, and the sleeves are embroidered with a pattern of leaves and ivy in a darker shade of green. The inner robes are of the same darker shade of green.

A bench sits nearby, empty save for a worn violin case which is open and empty itself. The violin is held in Yaozu's hands, and he closes his eyes before he lifts the instrument. He draws in a breath and holds it for a brief moment before letting it out, and he lifts the bow to start to play.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
And then there's Wanda. For some, she /is/ the demon or devil that prowls at this time of the night. So it's not really unusual to find her out and about. She has an advantage, afterall. Magic. It's helpful. She walks through the park, and pauses as she hears the strains of that violin begin. Her lips curl up ever so slightly, and she remains for a time. It's not until the song is at least halfway through being played before she starts walking again. She's not going to same way as before, however. Instead, Wanda Maximoff's feet take her toward the source of the music.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Once upon a time, Yaozu could have pursued a career in music, for such is the level of his skill. He's been practicing, though that practice has not been anywhere within Liansong's hearing and he's kept the instrument out of sight back at the suite of rooms that they share.

His eyes remain closed even though he hears the soft sounds of approaching footsteps. It's unexpected that someone would come to the park at such an hour, and more so that the footsteps would turn in his direction. Yet it doesn't stop him from playing. The melody continues. Yaozu's feathers have a soft sort of fluffed out nature to them, for he's both relaxed and calm in these moments of playing. Rulan would have noticed in the years of Yaozu being his student that the playing has always been good for him, that it's given him balance in ways other than the physical.

The melody comes to an end, and the last notes fade softly into the darkness. Yaozu lowers the bow to his side, and after a moment he lowers the violin as well. His eyes open and his gaze lifts to the dark sky, and he takes in a deep breath before he slowly lets it out.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Playing music can be a form of meditation, if it's something that the person playing, or singing, the music really enjoys doing. Wanda continues walking until she finds the source of the music to be a familiar figure. She is quiet until he stops, for she doesn't want to interrupt his concentration. "Yaozu, that was beautiful," she says, the appreciation easily heard within the tone of her voice, as well as on her face in her expression.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
For Yaozu, music is a form of meditation, and yet it's more than that as well. It's something that he's always enjoyed. The sounds of the footsteps are listened to until they reach him, and he tilts his head a touch to one side. A smile parts his beak in the moment before he turns to look to her. Smoothly, he brings his hands together before he bows to her, his dark hair falling forward over his shoulders, the gesture one of respect and causing his gaze to lower. "Thank you, Wanda," he says softly.

"I learned to play when I was young," Yaozu says softly, his tone thoughtful. He's quiet for a moment, watching her. "I stopped playing, after the mutation finished. I have only recently started to play again," he adds, ducking his head slightly.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda Maximoff strides forward as the avian bows and casually reaches out to flick him square on his beak. At least, if he doesn't dodge the move! "None of that," she says, her tone admonishing, whether that flick lands or not. "You're welcome. But still. No bowing." She looks at him for a long moment, studying him. "I can understand why you stopped playing, but I'm glad you started to play again. This world would be somehow less without your talent within it."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
There's a quiver that runs through him at the flick that lands upon his beak and he blinks a number of times in succession. Ack! His feathers slick back for a moment and then fluff once again back to that calm and relaxed posture. If he could think of an argument to offer to her statement of no bowing then he would likey say it, but... he doesn't seem to have one. And so instead, he gives a small nod to her. "I will try to remember. It is a strong habit," Yaozu says softly, a smile parting his beak a little bit.

"There were reasons for stopping. But there were reasons for starting again, as well," Yaozu says softly, giving a nod to her. And the reasons to start playing again far outweighed the reasons he had stopped to start with. "I am also glad that I have started to play again. I have missed it. It is very kind of you to say so, Wanda. Few have heard that I can play," he says softly. It is essentially of his own choosing that such is the case. "I will play for you and we can watch the dawn come to light the sky," Yaozu says, glancing briefly towards the sky before his attetion turns to her and he gives a small nod. He waits only a moment before he lifts the violin to start to play another song. And he'll continue to play, either songs of his own choosing or songs of her choice.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Besides. Any argument he would have, Wanda would likely have a counter-argument to back her stance. Wanda makes a sound like a 'tsk'. "If I have to flick you in the beak every damn time you do it until you remember it reliably," she says in a very firm tone of voice, "Then I will damn well do so." So there. Hrmph. She nods her agreement with his plan. Play more beautiful music for her, in exchange for watching the sunrise together. Sounds like a win-win situation. And so it is that Wanda settles to the grass and looks to the sky, while she listens to the avian make music.