Enter the Perverted Scythesman

A group of Shadows Corners a lady in the ally, twitching it's antennas as if her fear excited them.

Help! Anyone?!

In unison, they jump. But they don't land. They burst into shadowy mist around a single person, standing in front of the defenseless woman. The man wears a fur lined collar shirt over a long sleeved garb. He had a rope belt with black and white orbs adorning it. His duel scythe had an armored angel and long chain. He looks at the other Shadows through his glasses.

Are you hurt?

N-no...?

Good. Let me take it over from here.

The Shadows meld down to the floor, surrounding him once they reappeared. The scythe glows with a white aura, and he swings it. The Shadows turn to mist again once he cuts through them. The Heartless were cut down one by one til none remained.

Phew.

My hero!

Not a problem, miss.

What could I ever do in return?

Could show me your panties?

Anything for my- wait, what?

What? It's not like i'm asking you out or-

The lady smacks him across his face, leaving a red hand print and his glasses askew.

PERVERT!

She storms away out of the ally, probably to the marketplace. He readjusts his glasses.

That'd be fifty-seventh time I've gotten slapped. You'd think one girl around here would try and be cooperative with the guy that saved them. One pair wouldn't be the death of them.

The man was Corvus, the local guardian of the Radaint Garden. He was known as an apprentice to Merlin and the only guy in the Hollow bastion Restoration Commitee. He did some repairs, but Heartless took more time out of his repairs. Not that he minded, considering it gave him enough time to rescue "damsels-in-distress". But his perversion streak cause said damsels to fear his help at times.

"Hmm.."

Rodan watched calmly as the young lady rushed past him, seemingly unaware on account of holding such a furious glare foward as she clomped away from the man who had "saved" her. Looking back toward her savior, Roden smiled calmly, mildly interested in the garb. What was the man wearing? The weapon he held in his hands--was it glowing a moment ago? What type of magic was that..?

Curiosity clutched the scruff of Rodan's shirt in its grasp. With a boldness unknown to him, he approached the strange man, thinking how he could begin conversation. Would he be friendly? Funny? Whatever.. did it really matter? He could be anything, so long as it wasn't open. Like a rose in bloom, he would be presentable, approachable, and mysterious, as always.

He smiled cautiously, eyeing the weapon in the man's hand before turning to his face.

"Er, you all right there, mate?"

Rodan adjusted the large rose in his lapel before continuing, absentmindedly straightening it out a bit. If one looked closely enough, it almost seemed to be more than one rose.

"There's an easier way to get a girl to fancy you."

Corvus looked at the guy that witnessed the end result of his "panty flash attempt". He slightly critisized it. Corvus just laughed.

Aye, I'm alright. Can't say much for my ego though, but whatever.

He mentioned that there were better ways to get a girl to fancy him. He tilted his head slightly, with a sort of puzzled look on his face.

There are? Old Man Merlin said the exact same thing once or twice (one hundred and forty-nine times, I believe). So you may be onto something, Mister...?

Corvus drew out the ending to the sentence to alude to asking the guy's name.

"--Afurodyt. Rodan Afurodyt."

Bowing politely without losing sight of the stranger, he took note of the friendliness which seemed to emerge from this character. It was interesting that such a person could be so kindly in attitude when they carried a scythe in their grasp. whether that was a good or bad thing was unclear to Rodan, though he felt himself grow calm at the sight of the man laughing. He almost let a sincere smile drop.

"And do you come with a surname yerself, along with what you may be up to whipping around a spanner like that?"

he had a feeling that the answer would be clear within moments, but he wanted to hear it from the man's own mouth.

Rodan Afurodyt. Interesting name.

I'll just call you Rodan, mostly because your last name is a killer on my tongue. I'm Corvus Chainhart, the Scythesman of Radiant Garden.

Covus turned his head back upright, to look at the man properly.

Naw, Shikyo-

Corvus points his thumb at the duel scythe.

- is my prized weapon to fight against the Heartless. Course, normal weapons aren't effective, so I use the power of Light to make the damage. All thanks to Old Man Merlin.

Corvus wondered at the time he started carrying around the large weapon. To most of the people in Radiant Garden, they couldn't deal with it's weight. It must of been because he fought with it and carried it everywhere that he was able to use it with minimal effort.

What's your weapon, Rodan? Or do ya not use one?

Corvus Chainheart wasn't a familiar name to him, though the term "Scythesman of Radiant Gardens" did ring a bell. Perhaps he was the one--the defender of their homeland from the clutches of Heartless. Was it this character who was the only creature in-between these people and doom? Roden glanced at the scythe once more, surprised that it was nothing more than a regular object. His mind traced along the words which Corvus has spoken, replaying them over and over again.

The Power of Light..

Looking back at the Scythesman, Rodan raised an eyebrow in reply, once again fixing the roses in his lapel.

"Eh? You peg me as a fighter? I'll admit that I do have a few tricks up my sleeve, but I'm nothing special.. though, I could always help out when it comes to cleaning out the Heartless around here. I use a bit of magic myself.. You'd call it 'power of Light,' am I right, mate? Let me help you out--besides, you need a wingman if you intend to get snogged sometime during your life."

Multiple bonuses in one, eh?

Corvus binds a loop of chain around the ring of the scythe, making an impromptu belt, and slung the scythe over his shoulder.

Snogged? I'll translate that as "laid". That hurts, Rodan!

Corvus laughed. A wingman was a good start, but he at least got an extra pair of eyes and weapons against Maleficient and Pete's Heartless. Even with Old Master Leon's mysterious friend doing his little sword tricks, the Heartless were the embodiment of Darkness's malevolence. He told Rodan he used the power of Light to do the damage, but he didn't want others (especially Old Man Merlin) to know he learn to accept and use the Darkness within himself. With many people in fear of the soldier of shadows, another Darkness user would put him in a position of nomadism. That was the last thing he wanted.

So, Rodan, you want to hunt for more Heartless, girls, or maybe tinker on the Castle?

"Pardon?! I'd never taste such a horrid flavour on my tongue!"

Rodan chuckled to himself. Perhaps Corvus was just like the rest of them. It seemed easy enough to get along with one another on a first-impression basis, though; he couldn't let himself get carried away. He appeared to settle, though he found Corvus' last statement to be interesting.

"Frankly, I've no preference for any sort of specific path.. though, I wonder, what do you refer to when you say "tinker"..?"

With that, the well-dressed young man turned to look toward the Castle, its mysterious and haunting figure in the backdrop of the setting lingering above their heads with an eerie tune. He couldn't help but feel chills each and every time he stared at its aura, and something within his soul cursed his own curiosity. What was there to play with in that obelisk? What was left to be discovered, other than the true meaning of the phrase "power corrupts"?

Corvus looked at the Castle as well.

Despite it's dark history, it is still our castle awaiting to be repaired to it's original state, before that witch-

Corvus pointed to the Maw, and it's Heartless Castle, where the Heartless rabble linger.

- corrupted it and turned it into Hollow Bastion. So It's my job as the secondary member of the Hollow Bastion Restoration Commitee to fix it up. So "tinker" would be building, fixing, replacing, and gathering materials to fix it and the surrounding area. Though the Heartless attacks make it a slow process. With you wanting to help, luckily, makes it a bit better to actually get something done.

"Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee.."

He scratched the back of his neck as he tried to interpret that last comment. From hsi understanding, that must be the name of the group which is working to safeguard Radiant Gardens, and Corvus was its second member. Who was the first? Were there more? The very thought of such a group intrigued Rodan to no end, though he wondered at how safe something of that level was. How well did the members trust one another? Nodding at Corvus, he smiled politely.

"Well, you have my attention. "Tinkering" sounds like a brill idea. I'll follow your lead, mate."

Alright then. Old Man Merlin is over in the Ansem Study, so we'd probably try another part of the Castle. Don't want him casting another one of his weird magics on me again. Last time he did that, I was stuck in his bag for a whole two days.

Corvus began to walk up one of several stairs up to the Castle's imposing figure. That was one thing that set Radiant Gardens apart from other places: It was old fashioned wood and stone, with a near steampunk designed workings between. Cranes were just about everywhere, either in use, waiting for use, or is holding something up. Malificient made a fine mess of the Castle, though Ansem the Wise's students weren't any better.

I've got an idea for a lil real-holograph simulation device there. For training purposes, of course.

He didn't want to mention what it's "other" uses were.

Merlin. The name definitely rung loud, obnoxious bells in his head. That one belonged to the best magician in the area--at least, to Rodan's knowledge. Merlin's praises could be heard throughout Radiant Gardens, and he had secretly desired to meet the man at least once and get a sample of what true magic must be like. Learning from a master.. wouldn't that be grand? Following Corvus, Rodan found himself almost tripping with excitement, preventing himself from faceplanting on the stairs.

"Mind the apples.."

Listening to Corvus' small introduction to the Castle, Rodan had a few thoughts cross his mind. What exactly was studied here? To what end? Glancing this way and that, he found himself mildly uncomfortable, expectign an enemy to poke its head out of a nearby corner or crevice. He was so distracted by his own perception that he hadn't paid much attention to Corvus' last statement.

"Holograms, ace.. Sounds like you've got a few ideas of your own for this spot.. What's your most recent project, if I may ask?"

Not much, Rodan. Constructing rooms, a Gummi Hanger, the training simulation, and a kitchen. That tiny house of Old Man Merlin's doesn't do much for space, even if he used his magic. Now if only those Heartless would stop attacking. Speakin' of which...

Corvus pulls out a card, the membership card for the HBRC.

Here. You'll need this. It'll probably allow you to get discounts with the pretty accessory shop ladies (I haven't had so much luck on that discount myself). Plus, it makes you part of the team.

Corvus gets closer to the Castle. Fun times were ahead.

"That's quite a bit of work you got ahead of yerself, mate."

Rodan smiled softly as he held the card in his left hand. So this was what it was like to feel included! He tried hard not to beam too brightly; he couldn't get ahead of himself just yet. Following Corvus along the way toward the Castle, Rodan continued belting out questions.

"So, does that make you my gaffer-- Er, boss? Who else is on this team, aside from yerself and Merlin? How often d'you carry around that.. "Shikyo," anyway? I've seen quite a few Heartless around, but is it really that dangerous?"

Was there a whole world he was missing out on?

((OOC: Are we going to stay in this thread, then? xD ))

†Meanwhile†

A portal of shining light opened up not too far above the town itself. Aestus descended on his black board, it slowly hovering five feet off the ground, before his armor chipped away, and he dropped to the ground, landing nimbly.

Aestus took a look around. Radiant Gardens was certainly an interesting place. And beautiful. It even had the old Heartless base off in the distance. He wondered if some of Maleficent's malevolence; he chuckled slightly at the play on words, remained, and started walking throughout the town, as the portal disappeared. However, he felt something click in the back of his head, and quickly whirled around, getting into a defensive stance. And not too late, either.

Four shadowy dots came into existence around him, forming small creatures around him that had black bodies and yellow eyes. Shadows were their names. Their antennae were a bit cute.



So evil...yet so cute.

Aestus didn't seem to have a problem with how cute they were, however, as shadows covered his right hand, forming Nightbringer. He held it with one hand, and didn't summon Radiant.

Too bad...you'd make cute pets.

He ran forward, quickly impaling one, as it dissipated into darkness, a pink heart flying into the air. He looked back as one lunged forward, and he simply backhand bashed the Shadow a few feet away, slicing through the neck of the next, causing another heart to go where it rightfully belonged. The final Shadow leaped, and with an intricate flip, he sliced through its midsection.

Admittedly,, he thought, as he watched the heart fly into the air from the broken darkness, Their size requires precise movements and accuracy...but they're weak.

His feet touched the ground, and he whipped the Keyblade to his side, ready for more. And rightly so, as five balls of darkness formed around him, forming mocking men with cute helms in the shapes of jaws. Soldiers.



Sigh...

He couldn't really blame them. Heartless were drawn inevitably to the Keyblade.

Too bad that magnetism usually resulted in causing them to be so drawn the blade went through them.

Aestus moved quickly, slicing through the first one with ease before the others could retaliate. When they did, though, it wasn't pretty. They all ran towards him at once, slashing their claws through the air at him.

Aestus leaped back, and bending the Keyblade over his right shoulder, threw the Keyblade into the midst of the Heartless, it whirling quickly and slicing through two of them, but not destroying them. What destroyed them was when the Keyblade stopped, and whirled back, landing straight in Aestus's expecting hand. Three hearts to the sky, two more to go.

He whirled around at the Soldier on each side of him, slashing each about two times, before straightening as their hearts went into the sky as well. He was ready to go, when one giant ball of darkness formed. Nightbringer over his shoulder, Aestus looked back as the darkness formed a very obese Heartless with armor.

Oh, hell no...

Aestus turned to the Large Body, and readied Nightbringer, before darting forward and bringing the Keyblade down to crush his armor.

To his dismay and surprise, it just ricocheted off.

Oh hell...

Corvus ran through most of Radiant Garden, using his fighter's sense to try and hear the Heartless. The armored ones made clanking sounds, the Mage ones made page noises, and the Shadow's antennas made sound as they twitched. He jumped onto the roofs, using height to find it. He spots a formidable Large Body already facing someone with a black swordlike weapon.

Oi! Attack it's back! It's front is too tough!

Corvus undoes the chain binding his Angel of Death from his back. He uses the chain to extend his attack range, throwing the scythe at it's back, enhanced by the power of Light. The Large Body stumbled forward.

Move around it now, kid!

Corvus pulls his chain back, slicing the Heartless on the way back to it's master's hand.

Aestus was just about to keep bashing at the Large Body's armor before someone called out that its back was its weak spot. Then, a shining scythe smacked into the back of the Heartless, knocking it forward, before the person pulled the chain back, causing the scythe to reap its back open. The man then told him to take his chance, and though he called him a kid, he gave only a grunt in response, as he jumped, using the Large Body's head as a step in the air to jump off, pushing it forward a bit more before landing behind it and slicing open its back with an "X" shaped slash, just to make sure it was dead. It dissipated into darkness, causing another heart to go to the sky.

He nodded, before quickly running to the rooftop and jumping, grabbing on with his left hand, before yanking suddenly and flipping himself over to land in front of Corvus.

Thanks for the help, and sorry for all the trouble. I'm a Keyblade wielder; should've known they'd show up when I got here. When he mentioned he was a Keyblade wielder, he indicated Nightbringer, and then continued. The name's Aestus (EST-us). I was sent by Master Yen Sid to-

Suddenly, twelve balls of darkness formed around them in midair, revealing 4 Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, and Yellow Operas. Aestus growled, putting his back to Corvus while not touching him, as he held out his left hand, sky blue light energy forming Radiant.

Does this always happen?

Corvus and the kid, Aestus, stood on the roof, surrounded by Rhapsodies. At least they were the colored ones.

Not all the time. Just around you, I'll assume. The red ones don't like ice, the blue don't like fire, and the yellow... well, just don't give them any thunder. Or if you're like me-

Corvus jumps up, scythe glowing in a pale light. He uppercuts the Rhapsody, causing him to spin about. The next little Rhapsody, a red one, began charging up his fire power. Corvus uses the scythed Heartless as a mini float step, kicking up and lasso-ing the Red bugger. He spins it, then launches it at the bundle of Yellows, making an impromptu explosion sending the magical Heartless spinning and on fire.

You can just smash their faces in!

Corvus readies Shikyo for more Rhapsody conflict. But he was curious on what more a "Keyblade" user would do.

Hn., was all Aestus said in response to Corvus as he said he guessed it was only around Aestus. And he didn't introduce himself in return, though Aestus was sure he just forgot in the current moment. He also said that magic was very effective against the Rhapsodies, Nocturnes, and Operas, but he preferred to bash them apart, as he launched forward and took at least two out, stunning the Operas with an explosion from a Nocturne.

Aestus leaped right after Corvus did, going towards the Rhapsodies instead. Inferring that the Nocturnes were red and used fire, he deduced-

It started getting very cold.

Sometimes, I hate it when I'm right...

He quickly slashed through the first Rhapsody with Nightbringer, it dissipating before it could let off its ice spell. As he swung with Radiant, the strike seemed to carry him forward through the air instead of letting him fall, as he hooked the teeth of Radiant around it, and whirled, launching it into another Rhapsody as it let off its mini-Blizzard, freezing it before knocking the Rhapsody away. Then, in the same fashion he had flown forward with with Radiant, he swept Nightbringer in a dark arc to the next Rhapsody, sending another heart upwards as it dissipated.

He turned towards the two Rhapsodies on the ground, and, raising both Radiant and Nightbringer, swung both of them down with immense power, whirling forward in a flip twice to the ground before on his third rotation, he slammed both blades into the Heartless, sending two more hearts upward as they both dissipated. He then headed back up to the rooftop to help Corvus out.

The red Nocturnes that remained fired off their fireballs at Corvus. He slams his hand to the ground.

Reject.

A sphere of light hexagons surround Corvus, stopping the fireballs from causing him damage. As the light sheilds disappear, Corvus gets up and whips his hand to the air. A little black ball floats just above it.

Magnet.

The Heartless were uncontrollably drawn to the ball, swirlling around it in an orbital fashion. He uses the chain to bind the little magical bugger's movement, then placed his hand on one of their emblems.

Freeze.

A shotgun of ice bits slam into the Nocturnes and Operas, making them disappear into shadowy mist. He had taken notice that Aestus, the Keyblade kid, defeat them and Hearts floated to the skies. Corvus didn't have that ability. So was it the "Keyblade"? Old Man Merlin didn't tell him about it.

You think any more are going to show up, Keyblade Kid?[b]

As soon as Aestus got onto the roof, he saw that Corvus had slain all of the Heartless. He nodded to him, as his two Keyblades disappeared. He looked around for any stray Heartless, or any new ones that were going to appear. Seeing nothing, he turned back to Corvus.

Well they will, but I think they're regathering for now. Heartless are drawn to the Keyblade more than Magnet., he joked lightly.

Are you a part of the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee? I need to speak with Merlin ASAP.

Corvus rebinds Angel of Death to his back again. Aestus seemed needful to see Old Man Merlin.

Those things? Keyblades you say? They'll bring in Heartless sooner or later? Sounds like an awful lot of fun, if I may say so. Sure, I'll take you to Old Man Merlin. Not sure what you need him for anyways.

Corvus turns about, and begins to run towards Hollow Bastion. So many questions, so little answers. Was something big going to happen to Radiant Garden? Could Radiant Garden survive more dark corruptions? And what powers do Aestus and his Keyblades hold?

Last one there has to clean the Gummi hanger!

Well it can be a real pain in the ass, too.

Corvus agreed to take him to Merlin, though, so he nodded, and ran after him, smiling.