Video

[serpentinthegarden]

Hey people.

[The man in the dark shades waved coolly at the screen as he sat on the edge of a small stone fence. It was freezing cold outside but in spite of the clouds that appeared whenever he spoke Crowley didn't seem to notice.]

We've all been brought here, had our powers taken and dolled out to us again in much smaller pieces... it's inconvenient, like being trapped in a baby walker... or trying to save the universe with your hands tied behind your back.

Point is, I need some volunteers who are skilled with Light magic, Healing magic, Animal magic, Kinetic magic and maybe another Elemental magic user who thinks they would be up to controlling sand. Think of it as training.

Also Angel, meet me on the Inn roof before midnight. Not sure it would work with an angel and a demon but if it does we could use some good luck for the new year.

[He doesn't know about the fireworks. Those are going to be a nice surprise.]

Comments

[serpentinthegarden]

Plants. They hate the winter sun. There isn't enough light and its too bloody cold... But if they had a miniature sun of their own they could grow even if it is winter.

[dvine]

Ah! Well, I don't know how much it will warm them up. This magic light doesn't make much warmth.

Have you tried lightbulbs? They get really warm. I'll still do it but you know, a plan B is always good.

[serpentinthegarden]

Lightbulbs require electricity and wires to be installed...

It could still work so long as the light you can create is light sunlight? I'll provide the heat.

[dvine]

I... don't know? It's bright! We can give it a shot, that's for sure. If it doesn't work, we can try something else?

Maybe move the plants inside a house? Greenhouse perhaps?

[serpentinthegarden]

I'm working on that, the greenhouse thing... Still could use the light to wake these plants back up. Feel like popping over and wishing up a lightball?

[dvine]

Of course, no problem! Just tell me where and I'll be there in minutes!

[serpentinthegarden]

You know that road that leads back towards the white cliffs? Take that and there will be a small farm cottage just outside of town. That's the place.

[dvine]

Okay, then that'll take me more than a few minutes, haha. But I'll be there!

[serpentinthegarden]

Until later.

[ Crowley waved at the screen then before signing it off. In the meanwhile he would work on finishing off that greenhouse so the plants, once they were awakened, would have some where to live. ]

[dvine]

[Kise makes his way over in around an hour, carrying some pots where plants can be potted. He asked the Innkeeper if they had any spare they didn't need and he grabbed some bigger ones. In case the guy needs more space to plant stuff.

When he shows up, he does look a bit confused because he didn't ask for the guy's name. So he's looking around to see where he is, and once he spots him he cheerfully calls out-]

Hey there!

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Crowley had been expecting another helper to arrive, he was surprised to find a helper buried under a mound of free pots. Wow, how did the guy even manage to carry them all out here?? ]

Hey.

[ He waved before slithering over to open the low gateway which lead through the fence to the back garden. ]

Did a pot seller's cart break down some where?

[dvine]

[Kise laughs a bit, stepping inside and placing the pots on the ground. They are not heavy or TOO big but decent in size. For big plants.]

Nah. Since you said you need light and warmth for the plants, I thought to look into bringing over some pots. I asked around the Inn if they had any spare that they don't need. These three look unscratched if you need them.

I'm Kise Ryouta, by the way!

[serpentinthegarden]

Crowley. Anthony J. Crowley.

[ His name was offered Bond style for he always enjoyed that style of intro. ]

That's above and beyond.

[ And way more than he expected. Even if they were only used pots he was a touch taken aback by it. Still he tried to play it off like he wasn't by gesturing to the framework of a new greenhouse. ]

Thought your sunlight, if it works, would do better in a greenhouse. The plants are already in there if you want to introduce yourself.

[dvine]

[Well that's one unusual surname. Crowley, Crawl-y... Then again his own is Kise-Kiss so he says nothing. Besides, his name is pretty ordinary.]

It's not that big of a deal haha. It's just... pots?

[And Kise just wanted to help?

After putting them to the side, he walks up to the framework of the greenhouse and looks around. Introduce himself huh?]

Ummm, hi... plants? Kise here! I'll make you some light, I guess? [He looks around nervously. Are they gonna talk back? Honestly, at this point, he's ready for anything. When no answer comes, he takes a deep breath and brings his hands up to his chest, as if he's scooping water, and an orb of light shimmers into existence. A mix of white, yellow, orange- colors that remind him of the sun, pretty much.

But before he makes it bigger he stops-]

Umm... I think this will actually be bad for people's eyes... [It's already pretty bright.]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ It was right at introduction time that Crowley realized he ought to have been more specific, instead he was left to roll his eyes at the overly sweet intro. Ugh... One didn't say hello to plants like that, one intimidated them into submission! why was he the only one who knew that??

He didn't say anything on the subject however as what was done was done and his cringing had been interrupted by the light anyway. Behind shades he had almost missed noticing just how bright it had become but he did almost have to squint to look at it. That might be a tad much. ]

Maybe keep it at 'grow-light' level? We don't need a bunch of people accidentally going blind.

[dvine]

[No!?! Kise always thought that love and nurturing is a way to make things grow and prosper!? Like with children...? Maybe it's for the best that Kise doesn't know.]

Ah, yeah! I won't increase it more. Maybe! If we can find a lantern to put it in. Maybe enchant the lantern with it! You know- those old-timey oil lanterns, minus the oil!

[He has no idea how to explain it and hopes Crowley gets it.]

Then you can cover the lantern or uncover it depending on how much light you need.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He had an idea what the kid meant by 'old-timey lantern' and in his mind's eye it turned into one of those handheld styled ones that train conductors used to use. Further thought on the subject jogged his memory enough that he popped out of the greenhouse and into the cottage to the backroom where a bunch of old things had been stored. After a glass shattered crash, a loud curse, and the loud clanking of a metal bucket Crowley reappeared holding a lantern from it's handle. ]

Something like this? The former owner left it behind when he moved to town. I don't see any reason why we couldn't use your enchantment idea on it.

[dvine]

Yeah! That one!

[Kise defuses the light he summoned to take the lantern. He places it on the ground and crouches and starts summoning the light inside of it but it feels... odd to him. Weird. The light isn't as bright and it's choppy in some places.

Kise's familiar, Vila, materializes behind him through the wind, after sensing that he keeps using magic, again and again, worried her charge is in some kind of danger. She eyes what Kise's been doing and floats down next to him.]

Try enchanting the glass..., [she suggests and adds a bit of her own magic to it. It takes a little bit of time and concentration (around ten minutes), but he finally does it and actually sits down.]

Phew... okay... I think it will work now.

[He picks up the lantern, that has no light, and turns the little wheel it has, and the enchanted glass lights up. The more he turns it, the brighter it becomes until he can't turn it anymore, making daylight in different intensities.]

Will this do?

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Another one with a familiar who could talk! Crowley stood back trying not to dwell too long on the fact that his familiar only ran around, neighed and got into trouble... Well, that last bit was approved of. How difficult would it have been to say a few words though!

He approached a few steps closer when the lantern was completed... only to then have to raise an arm to shield his eyes and back away again when the full brightness of that enchanted lantern was revealed. ]

It'll do! Tone the light back down to cloudy day, would you?

[ The sunlight in a lantern effect had been accomplished! ]

Can't believe your...

[ He gestured at the ghostly looking woman as he didn't know her name. ]

Actually helped.

[dvine]

Oh! Sorry, sorry!

[Kise turns down the lantern's light to a bare minimum- he was just testing how far it could go. It seems like it would do the trick for now. He stands up, shaky a bit from all the magic he used, and hands him the lantern.]

I'm glad I could help!

[Confused, he looks at Vila who looks between Kise and Crowley, floating as if held on the invisible breeze. Her upper body is human-looking but the lower part has whisps of the dress just disappearing into thin air.]

Oh, this is Vila. Does your familiar not... help you?

[She quirks her eyebrows-]

He is my protector as I am his. A partnership.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He reached out a hand to snag the lantern and set about installing it from a beam near the center of the room where it's light would end up doing the most good. ]

I'm no one's protector.

[ Except Aziraphale and the world... And potentially anyone who was in trouble that might result in death... Point was he didn't feel like a protector. ]

Maybe that's the difference. Shadow isn't either. He would rather kick up his heels and chase deer.

[dvine]

[Kise just calmly watches the guy hang the lantern but Vila gives him a questioning look.]

Offense is the best defense. [Vila supplies.

And then Kise gives her a look of "Then why are you teaching me to cast shields and invisibility".]

I think what she wants to say is they are many ways to protect aside from obvious ones.

[...he thinks. He's still giving Vila a look and squinty eyes, but Kise believes what he says.]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ If he were paying attention Crowley might have noticed the hard looks familiar and 'protector' were giving each other and might even have thought it was similar to those he and Aziraphale used with each other. He and Shadow however, they needed more time to get that close. ]

I'm retired. That's the best protection anyone here can wish for.

[ Because clearly Crowley was the worst demon humanity had ever seen. He wasn't, but he did have his accomplishments. ]