Completed [Rearing Stallion] Manipulating the Intangible (Maduro)

[Fubuki Kouri]

"..........." Kouri unmaterialized herself and just stared at Maduro with her serpentine eyes. He told her he was sorry for making conclusions and that he just wanted her to feel better. Making me feel better... better, huh... hehehe... Sometimes the insane part of Kouri's mind resurfaced, triggered by the memories of her mother/father. She longed for her parents, but knowing perfectly well she couldn't see them again triggered a feeling of despair and frustration that she usually offsets with anger, rage, and sadistic attitude. In this particular case, it was because Maduro made a wrong assumption about Sora, it pushed the right buttons to trigger Kouri's rather evil side. "I wonder, Sir..." Kouri's hair ribbons magically disappeared, now her very long ethereal white hair spread out behind her acting like a body-size cobra hood, giving Kouri the impression of a white viper with crimson slit pupils. The dark-haired man spoke more words, spouting random questions in a confused attitude and told her she's not a bad person. This was seen as a timid act by Kouri, like a prey pleading for its life before being devoured by the snake. "I wonder... are you just saying those words because you're... afraid of me?" She tilted her head again, but this time her lips formed a grin full of teeth in it.

[Maduro Salvitary]

To say that Maduro wasn't scared would have been a lie, but that confident look on his face would say otherwise. The ghost was either determined to attack him on an attempt to comfort her or determined to thwart attempts at conversation on account that Maduro pushed guilt for her white lie to which she had no proof. So based solely on a hunch her impulsive nature took over and she was out for blood for no other reason then to be out for blood. Part of him realized maybe that's why people did not like ghosts. And Maduro could now count himself among that lot

Now there was a thing about being around people that did not like you, it did not matter whether you were right or wrong. If you give them a reason to instigate a fight they will take it. People didn't much like ghosts, even as a little girl people still distrusted her and brushed her off with a cold shoulder.

And now her antics were in plain view in a bar, there was no cute facade anymore that she could hide behind. In her moment of aggravation she showed not just Maduro but everyone who she was and not just any bar. The rearing stallion of all places, how she morphed looked like magic and what she morphed into was horrible so much so it disrupted the balance. You could tell the clattering and incomprehensible banter stopped. And all eyes were on the two, people always had a habit for destroying that which they don't understand and that which frightens them.

Maduro could give them courage to purge the bar of her evil if he desired but instead his hand reached for his drink giving her a moment to assess the situation. It would only take one person to cry monster and brandish blade.

Fubuki could probably kill Maduro but out in public inside the stallion?

In fact if it hadn't dawned on her yet he would say

Well everyone else around you is

He shook his drink but one time and let the clank of ice tapper against glass emphasize his point

His demeanor changed,

I'm really starting not to like you, but if you sit down and say your sorry I could forget about it. Though this would be the second time you've scorned me

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "..........." His next words made Kouri deeply frowned her eyebrows. "Tch..." As much as her evil mind hated to admit, he was right. She was a ghost, beings who's feared and even hunted at some places. Here in Syliras, she was tolerated, but not by much. If she broke the already thin trust the people gave her, there would be no going back, she would be hunted by spiritists and have to relocate or exterminated. Sometimes fate is indeed a very cruel mistress, why does a little girl who had done nothing wrong in her life had to be slaughtered by a tiger and left in this unliving state? She didn't know, her master didn't know, The fortune-teller lady didn't know, no body knows... except perhaps the Divine themselves. She didn't want all of this, if the human Kouri could saw her phantom form right now and what she had become, she would most likely screamed in shock and told her ghost self that 'You are not me!!' or something along that line. If her mother and father were still alive, what would they think? Will her mother could bear the thought of her beloved only daughter became this... this mockery of a human? Most likely she would go insane. Maduro's show of bravery was working, if he had shown fear, Kouri would grew more and more bolder. This happened in the past with a squired named Kise as well. One way to thwart Kouri's insane and sadistic side is to face her with courage. "You don't like me?" Kouri's hair calmed down and her ribbons spawned out of nowhere, tying her hair back and her pupils returned to normal. "I see... I see... I don't expect anyone..." Her voice returned to being normal, albeit sad. "Why did this have to happen... I had a lot of friends before... everytime I sing... people would flock to me and praised both parents and me for... raising such a 'fine daughter' they said..." Kouri raised her knees and curled up into a ball sitting on the chair. "But... look at me now, Sir... look at... me... now..." Her voice trailed off as she gazed at Maduro's face. She hoped that he has the answer, the answer to it all. "What... happened to me?"

[Maduro Salvitary]

You could tell Maduro was skeptical, this dark side unveiled itself and as quickly as it had come it ran with its tail between its legs leaving Fubuki behind when it realized it played a bad hand. It was just a little to convenient and it left him with an impression that there was either two personalities in conflict for control or Fubuki and Kori were one and the same.

Regardless there was a feeling of resentment, this darker half was trying to play him. And at this point a miffed Maduro had no sympathy for that little devil. It was like the sob story a when a loved one is caught cheating, every word out of the upset little ghost child may have been true but from his point of view was dripping with deceit.

His hand outstretched so close he almost touched her before snapping his fingers.

Did I ask for a sob story?

Or did I ask for an apology?

Maduro felt like torturing the ragamuffin for its indiscretion against him.

Using hypnotism he swayed his Djed, he wanted to distress whatever this thing was and break it. As his Djed flowed from his form he created a tapestry of emotion to make her suffer. He could have offered her warmth and taste maybe touch tricks of the mind to offer comfort on levels she could only remember from her past. Instead Maduro would give her emptiness, a feeling worse then the emptiness she already felt it would be brought to another level.

Emotional Response would be used this time, this feeling was Worthlessness.She was upset that she was alive once, he wanted her to feel like she had no business existing in the first place. He whisked that feeling to her and would let it settle, he didn't know how she'd react but he wanted that feeling to marinate.

Still he pushed forward and began weaving a Piercing Thought his Djed flowed round and round as he wrote his piece. It was simple but better if it came from her conscious thoughts in her own words rather then subconsciously, this thought would come to her mind to drive the emotional response even further.

He's right I am worthless

It was simple but devastating, if she recognized and accepted it on a personal level

He had no idea how it would play out, but that phantom had threatened him and now Fubuki would pay.

Maduro didn't know what to do with her but he wanted to see what would happen, would that dark side revel in delight to the suffering of its other side? Would it stay put knowing that a second mishap might spell disaster or would it come to her defense?

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Kouri kept curling up on the chair she was sitting on. She truly didn't mean it, but this is precisely why ghosts are often disliked. Their rather unstable mentality and unknown thought patterns confused people and people often feared the unknown, quite a sad fact but that's how the world works. She turned her gaze away from Maduro and looked forward, focusing on nothing in particular. Then the outline of a adult human hand came to her vision. Huh? It took Kouri a second to deduct that this hand was most likely Maduro's hand. Then a sound of snapping fingers resounded in Kouri's ethereal eardrums. She felt strange and compelled to focus on his hand. Her ethereal hair stopped its independent motion and dropped down completely as a feeling washed over here. What... is... this? A feeling of worthlessness akin to despair and depression. No... no.. d-don't... This was not good, by now, Kouri had a feeling in her gut now that whenever she felt depression, something nasty... something evil awoke within herself. She didn't know what it or who she is exactly, but she is evil, sadistic, and full of anger. She was not her, yet she was herself. Then the evil voice spoke to her He's right, I'm worthless... "Wha... wha?" Kouri hold her head and shook it from side to side. She felt headache, like her ethereal head was going to split apart. But then... the voice continued on, this was not Maduro's hypnotism anymore, it was the insane part of Kouri exploiting Maduro's magic to power her own suggestion. But remember what Sir Kise said... you're not worthless, you're just... special. The worthless one is... Kouri couldn't help but turned her head and gazed at Maduro, her eyes half-opened as if she was hypnotized. ...is that man... he's a snake, a deceiver, a vagik... he tried to control you... "Wha... n-no... he's not... he's not..." Kouri spoke to her inner voice out loud, her voice was that of a low whisper so only Maduro could hear her. The solution is simple, kill him... kill him... "B-but no... he... he's my friend, he cared for me..." Usually her insane side only manifested as extreme feelings of envy, jealousy, and murderous impulses, but Maduro's hypnotism attempt made it gain some kind of awareness... for the moment at least. Hmmm... you're right, hehehehehe~ It would be bad to kill him here... so many petching disturbances... kill him someday, in the Woods, alone, and leave his corpse to be eaten by the wolves... for now, just fix the mess I just created will you, Kouri? Who is this voice? She sounded exactly the same as herself, but... "............." Kouri lost her focus, her gaze still directed at Maduro's blue eyes. "Un..." She didn't know what to do, but perhaps... the voice is right, she was herself after all, 'Always follow what your hearts tell you' is what her father used to say. That voice must be my heart, yes she was. Kouri beamed him a sad smile and bowed her head. "I'm sorry... Sir" She apologized to him. "I know you wanted to be nice to me... I should've realized it sooner... If I caused you any offense, then I'm truly... sorry" She raised her head but still keeping her gaze downwards, looking as apologetic as she could. I know what kind of person you really are... Sir Maduro...

[Maduro Salvitary]

Maduro smiled warmly knowing what he knew now each step he took to this point played out nicely. The two of them Fabuki and her other half seemed to have separate personalities and identities. It was confirmed with her whispered conversation, that clever pecher used his own weave against him. When she was saying no no no it had meant there was a core belief that was being violated. It didn't take a gadgeteer to figure out what that darkness wanted her to do to him.

All in all so far so good

But now it was time for deception, to bend the truth.

She already demonstrated subservient behavior and it would be wrong of him not to reward her at least for now.

He plucked an orange out if his cup and brought it too her.

Seeing as how you listened to me, ill reward you.

Close your eyes and envision this orange think about what it tasted like.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Hehehe... just play along with him right now... oh, hehehe... I'm gonna go now, will be watching ya... The voice inside her head faded out as if she left Kouri's mind. "Hun..." Kouri was still under the effect of Maduro's magic so her crimson eyes looked half-open and glazed. Maduro then told Kouri that he wanted to reward her for listening to him. He brought an orange to her face. Kouri's eyes locked themselves at the orange held by his hand. "Nnn..." She materialized herself and brought her hands to touch the orange. It was... cold, the orange is cold... just like her own body. Kouri closed her eyes, following Maduro's command, she then used her memories to remember the taste of oranges. Maduro's hypnotism made the taste vividly came to her mind. "Huuuunnn~" She moaned in pleasure, oh how she missed the taste of food. "Aaaaah~' She then opened her mouth wide and chomped at Maduro's hand. "Om... nom nom nom~" She gnawed at the orange, taking Maduro's hand with it. She couldn't actually bite the orange or his hand of course, her materialization skill was not high enough to actually cause physical harm; that's why currently, she used it mainly for stunning enemies by poking their eyes causing extreme uncomfortableness due to the very delicate tissue of the eye.

[Maduro Salvitary]

That was a strange occurrence that he'd never seen before, Maduro had simply asked Fubuki to envision the orange so she would be conditioned to properly experience the true flavor of orange from a spell he had yet to cast, the juicey squish, the explosion of flavor, and the tell tale aroma. But her eyes were glazed over and half shut, implying that she was under a form of Hypnotic Trance.

Maybe it was the powerful magics he'd bombarded her with had thrown her mind out of whack, or maybe the inner strife and conflict between the two ripping into her psyche had broken her mind and it was in a state of recovery.

He had cast 1 competent level spell, and two novice level spells. Rule of thumb was he could hit her with one last major spell or reserve two smaller level spells.

Of course he knew that this darker side wanted to kill him, perhaps for prodding but in the end it didn't petching matter. So what the ghost wanted to kill him, take a number and get in line.

There was something there though, the Darkness wanted control and Fubuki scorned him a third time with a lie. He had separated the personalities Fubuki was the little ghost girl Kouri was the Darkness.

It was time for a test to see if this state of Hypnotic Trance was indeed legitimate or indeed a farse as he suspected.

Tell me Darkness, what is it that you desire? Beyond me and the here and now

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Nom~" Kouri kept gnawing endlessly at the slice of orange held by Maduro's hand. It feels... it feels so good... I... I don't care anymore... I just want to stay like this forever... Her already fragile mind was like a shipwreck now, she couldn't think rationally and logically anymore. She ignored everything and just lost herself in this fake heaven. Then he asked her a question, a strange one; but a question nonetheless. Kouri stopped gnawing, released her hold on the orange, and gazed at Maduro's eyes with her half-opened ones. "Eh?... I'm not Darkness... I'm Kouri..." She tilted her head ever so slightly, she was confused but that feeling was quickly replaced by obedience. "W-what do I desire? U-uhm... I just... want to play... I want to feel warm... to see my parents again... and oh..." When she spoke her next words, her voice was much much lower in pitch. The immense hatred she had for all things feline dripped from her voice "and to... kill that tiger..."

[Maduro Salvitary]

Maduro found himself stumped again, he needed to read up on ghosts or something. Just when he thought he knew the answer Fubuki claimed she was Kouri. Perhaps his aggravation with the ghost was unfounded leaving himself to blame for meddling with something he did not understand.

The Ghost was lost in indulgence, something it was blocked and barred from. What a horrible existence to not know flavor, something so minor that's taken for granted. But without it a large piece of day to day life would be missing.

You know if you listened to me maybe I could help you kill that tiger, in the meantime I can provide taste, and warmth.

Now close your eyes

It's cold outside its winter, go inside the cabin and sit by the fire, there's a strong flame so you should feel the coldness melting off you. But don't get to close you might get burned.

He would let her lose herself in another indulgence before giving her verbal suggestions