Normally Rocks Shouldn't Skip You Back

Surprisingly, and for one of the rarer times in his lifetime, the action more came to Basil rather than the other way around. Although interesting events could be found all over in this place, of course, Basil was still pleasantly surprised. He'd been exploring the area around the lake, when seemingly out of nowhere, there was a bunch of nearby activity. And splashing. And yelling. Hard to miss, even without his senses. After locating the origin of all this, he lingered at the edge of the lake, enjoying simply watching what was going on for a minute or so.

"I've never seen someone fight it out with a rock," He mused, giving a low whistle.

Shadows gathered around him with his dirty energy, seeping in automatically, and a plant or two might've started to wilt. Normal nature really didn't like him, for good reason. He was a threat, and announced it, purposefully or not. It was simply a state of being. Well, perhaps it was fair to have a built in warning, at least for the sake of anyone around him. Basil always tried to look as cheery as possible, in the face of his own nature.

"You need some help there, buddy? Or shall I just keep playing bystander?" He could assist with his invulnerability, easy peasy. Or maybe an evil rock creature would take a shine to something like him. He wouldn't mind befriending an evil rock.

The smile on Basil's face turned into a grin at the commentary and snark. "I don't know, it looked pretty cute to me, if you get past the aggression. Shame you had to get rid of it."

He shaked the offered hand with a flourish and extra energy, nonplussed by the dampness. Basil had always felt drawn to water. He tended not to stay wet for long, as well, possibly due to not quite being as physically there as others were. Basil often kept handshakes going a bit too much time for comfort, perhaps forgetting to blink for a moment, before letting go.

"Professional? Swoon. What a glamorous career that must be, working with rocks all day," Basil teased. "No, no, let me keep my illusions of you having a job like that. The image is great." He paused a moment. "Basil's the name. Basil Velius. So what are you actually doing out here? Was the rock tamer thing serious? Oh, please let that have been serious, that would make my day."

Basil's grin grew sharper as his stare tracked the other's movements, taking his time to reply. "Well, terrifying monster is a rather vague way to put it, but not inaccurate, according to public opinion- so rock tamer it is, friend."

"That much we have in common, then. Although I'd call myself more of an all around meddler, if anything. Though student is a vague term as well, you know! What is it that you're studying here, with your, ah, antagonistic rocks and muttering?" The thin eldritch horror's interest was unhidden and honest, dark eyes glittering. Aeden must be a college student, since he looked a bit older than Basil. Had the air of a college student, too, Basil added with no small bit of mental snickering.

He offered a smooth shrug to the question. "Haven't been around for long, so I'm making it my business to explore and mess with absolutely everything I can get into. You look like you're doing something far more specific."

Basil raised his brows high and tried not to laugh. "Oh, yes, I can see that. Keep trying, I'm sure you'll get it right eventually..."

"If it'll distract you from that painful looking thing you just did, sure," Basil said, peering at the now slowly rolling rock. He stepped over to it, picking it up far too easily, turning it from side to side and examining the thing as he spoke. "Not like it's much of a secret, kind of a rule that I have to tell people if they ask me. To ah, warn them, haha." He smirked. "Anyway, me, right! Love talkin' about me. I'm an Eldritch Abomination of unknown horrors, apparently. So, y'know, my sincerest apologies if I give you any headaches or a pressing sense of ominous despair. Perks of the species."

"That's me, pal. If you're not too spooked by that bit of news, will you stop being so vague about what's up with you? Only fair."

Basil offered a wink. "Don't I know it."

He then gave the rock a friendly pat. "Aw, just hyper, huh? Maybe it just needs to let out some energy, get it out of its system a bit dramatically."

Basil eyed Aedan's work with no small amount of fascination. "I think I've grasped the rock taming thing by now... what I really want to know is, what exactly are you doing with that chalk? Is it. Is it magic chalk? Magic chalk for tree fixing and rock purposes?" The monster was just throwing out ridiculous guesses, rambling to go along with the greedy glitter in his eyes. He wanted to be corrected on this, given more detail.