Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[stopfen]

[A lot more than just her eyes weren't human. Even if it was only a series of small little things. Little things that after a few seconds looking her over, the goblin merchant starts mumbling about fae being tricky and roaches.

It was a good job it was diffcult to offend her. The coffee coloured antenna and small patch of chitin covering her neck would have fit quite a few insects. It just got a small eye roll. As the pupil on non-compound eye narrowed slightly. Then she shrugs it off.]

Four months now. [That was a long enough time.] ...Are you one of the ones that turned up in a bathroom?

[zewu_jun]

[Lan Xichen is already at the edge of the lake in moments, the water up over the bottom of his boots as he extends his hand to Jiang Cheng. If he didn't mean to end up in the lake (which should definitely have been obvious from the start) then he must be in need of help. Once he is sure that the other sect leader is safely on the bank, he removes his outer robe and offers it over.]

I am afraid that is difficult to be sure of at the moment. There are mirrors in this city that bring people from many different lands, but I have never heard of people appearing through the water. There must be something wrong. Please, take this. You should at least remove your wet clothes.

[He should have practiced more spells. Something to draw water out of objects or a warm wind, perhaps. But without those skills, he's stuck doing things the normal way.]

You should go inside and dry off where it is warmer. I suppose we should just be grateful you are a strong swimmer.

[tothemetal]

[sulking is something that Styx is more than equipped to handle - used to, one might even go so far as to say - and when he sees the other man settle down into such an emotion his own good mood seems to silently increase. this was completely worth the sacrifice of what would have been his fifth snack of the past hour.]

Me? Haha, no way! Can barely make toast, let alone something that killer.

[he laughs and places his now empty hands behind his head, the picture of leisure and a contented nature. that he's been called 'human' as if the person he's conversing with isn't has completely escaped him.]

Got it from one of the booths a few rows over! They make it right in front of you 'nd let you add all kinds of toppings, 's fun to watch.

[mockingself]

Eh?

[ He squints at Jiang Cheng, tilting his head to the side which only shows that those cinnabar scales were growing over the ear covering it almost completely. Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue against his teeth and stood up, swaying a little as he tucked the wine jar into the sash around his waist. ] Ah, sorry, sorry, sorry! I forget!

[ Gu Yun bows with full court manners, only one step off as his sash moves - well it acted like a sash but was actually his tail coiling around his waist for comfort. He had been tall back home, but his dragon form was taller still though it still retained the frail beauty that had marked him throughout his life. ]

This one is Gu Zixi, Marquise of Order, General of the Black Iron Camp and Commander of the Ghost Army. [ He laughs and straightens, reclaiming his wine and taking a deep drink from it. ] Or I was. I had no aspirations of claiming the dragon throne yet dragon I am.

[ And leaning forward, he squints at Jiang Cheng, tilting his head as if he couldn't focus at him at all. ] And you are... not a fish?

Ruby Rose | RWBY | Monster (Dragon)

[clickclickbloom]

An Unusual Arrival

Ruby had experienced a lot of strange things in her life. Travelling through a mirror and appearing in a strange new world was a new one for her. She had just finished a rather intense day of training at Atlas Academy so she found herself feeling pretty darn hungry. Luckily she landed in some poor souls kitchen.

She's happily helped herself to a few sandwiches because that's about the only thing she can make without over or under cooking. She's just about to take a bite into the first one when there lights turn on. She yelps and grabs the sandwiches. Making a run for the closest door out of there and onto the streets.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But thank you all the same!"

A Wilde Hunt

Honestly Ruby had felt more than a little freaked out at first when she started sprouting gold scales, fangs and sharp claws. Any sort of fear disappeared the moment she found herself with a pair of wings. Now things were going to get fun.

She certainly wasn't an expert or anything when it came to flying. But she was able to a few really high places he could jump from and get a glide going. Once she was she sure she could do this without falling part way through she'd find trees or ledges to hide by until someone below came into view.

She'd leap from her perch. Wings spread as she dove down to playfully tackle the person from above.

"Rawr!"

Wild Card

[Not a fan of these prompts! Feel free to choose your own adventure or hit me up at jjabarrett on plurk.]

[shithogs]

I think most people here can relate. In different ways, maybe, but we're all 'in progress' for awhile.

[Her newest features may not come with new limbs or horns, but it's still a lot to tackle at once, even for someone who's used to wrangling with unnatural power.

She nods her understanding. Restless is reason enough.]

May as well use the outlets available to you to get used to it. If you aren't afraid of coming face-to-face with Shades, you're welcome to tag along— so long as you don't get in the way.

[From the way he carries both himself and his weapon, she doesn't think he will. He reminds her a little of someone, but she can't quite put her finger on who— annoying if she lets herself think about it too long.]

[electrod]

[ The tales on how dangerous and intense this whole "moon" business is going to be, did not escape Reno's attention. Some were dramatized to the point of ridiculousness, others were far tamer, but so far most did not trigger his new "bullshit alarm". This means dealing with the moons differed from monster to monster. Someone accused him not once or twice of living half-feral anyway, so he assumed he'll do good—

He's not doing anywhere near good.

Not that he's going to admit to that, but he does take the outlet the Wildes provide. With a fried, hair-trigger temper, and glitching self-control it's much better to choose the forest over getting into trouble within the city.

When he spots a strangely familiar figure he chooses to stalk Cloud from the distance for a short time. Just enough to confirm that he did not imagine the familiarity. ]

Oh for the— [ Of course, he already met people he knows, why not this guy? Ha, he could just fly away, ignore it. The dude is hefty strong while he doesn't have any weapon aside for...what... talons? But isn't he itching for a payback... So this is, of course, a mistake Reno has to make. He glides low, almost soundlessly until he's close— ]

Eat shit! [ An attempt at stealth attack is ruined when he overeagerly announces himself way too soon. Still, he's going to follow the initial plan and attempt to topple Cloud over on the ground with a kick, and sheer speed as he sweeps down ]

[fortakeout]

[It doesn't seem to bother her. She gets that a lot. So she's content to continue fawning over him, hands clapped over her cheeks as if trying to cool them down.]

Hauuu! So cute! I wanna take you home with me!

[She bends over him from where he leans out of the tub, though she isn't all that much taller.]

Ehehe... Can I touch it? Your tail...

C!

[freecshow]

[Gon is occupying himself by trotting around the island, asking inane, incessant questions to its natives, and being unable to process half of the information doled out to him. with his cognitive processes needing a break, Gon is now simply exploring...

which is when he sees—a tree explode, which makes Gon jump, eyebrows raised. he watches the bark smoke, blinking at the splintered, peeled hide, and like any idiot, decides to go investigate! a normal or smart person might decide that's dangerous and turn on their heel, but not Gon! to him, it seems interesting.

and it's then that Gon spots Izuku—but Gon has snuck up carefully, since these are unknown magics out in the wild... Gon approaches curiously, intending to make his presence known. which he does, jumping back with a loud shout when the lightning bolt radiates so widely and suddenly—Gon's instincts and reflexes are sharp as a tack, but no one's faster than lightning!

so...he's definitely knicked, the sleeve of his jacket torn by the heat, the fibers of the fabric smoking and curling as he feels his skin char.

oops.]

[weiward]

"Uncle...do you have someone like that?"

Even Wei Wuxian noticed it at the time, pointing out how he and Lan Zhan had been on night hunts together despite being from separate clans. There was something special between the daozhang in white and the daozhang in black. Still, he's not quite the shipper that his Bonded is.

He finally ladles some of the dark soup into a bowl and brings it over. Bichen flutters over to the next chair, clearly to allow their guest to eat. And if his nose is twitching in the direction of the soup, it's only because there's yummy carrots in it.

"Here we go. I hope you don't mind that it's vegetarian. But the flavor will more than make up for it."

Yes, the flavor might possibly make him forget about everything ever.

[thatsamoray]

[It was in his nature, like the scorpion and the frog! Only the scorpion was so startled that the frog seemed to actually care that he forgot to sting him.]

Hm, well it's not like I'm exactly a fish. I'm a mermaid~♪

[You know, mermaids! Those horrible fish/human creatures with long eel tails and sharp teeth. Ariel he ain't. Floyd pushes himself up to try and sit upright-ish. There's another instinctual thrash of the tail.]

And I'm a mermaid the whole way through.

[It's not like his top half wasn't a mermaid, after all. And no part of him was "human." He'd learned from his year at school that humans liked to make assumptions like that. He could still remember when the Sea Urchin had asked him what happened to his "normal" form... hehe, "normal."]

What about you?

[voktys]

⟪ a few years at the side of one stannis baratheon have made melisandre immune to most shapes of bluntness – there are worst things said on a good day and by accident. what is strange is the moment of surprise on the young woman's face, the way she covers her mouth, and then does it all again when she next speaks.

the idea of a truth potion does not quite hit her yet, though she's knelt down as well, aiding her in picking up the tomes and scanning her for injuries, finding none. scales, yes, bright ones, but nothing that indicates the potion was some manner of acid, for instance.

small blessings. ⟫

You must not apologise. Many a thing could have gone wrong.

⟪ and alchemy is no child's play. once the books are sorted and the basket is safely back in the stranger's arms, once they both stand again and melisandre finds herself near-towering over her, her eyes not blinking once through all this – ⟫

But I do ask your forgiveness.

leviathan

[uncommonsense]

[ Haruhi wasn't familiar with magic in the slightest, naturally. She had always hoped it existed, but when faced with transformative magic, she couldn't help but be excited about it! It might be worth giving it a try out in the forest.

The plans went out the window however, the very moment she spotted the massive serpent above the trees. Regardless of how good she was at her magic, there was no way she wasn't going to get to the bottom of this!

Which is why she shows up, breathing a bit heavy due to the sprint she had done to get here. The girl nearby didn't seem to be afraid of it, but at the same time... as massive as the serpent was, she didn't necessarily feel like she was in danger. Not yet, anyway.

All she can really get out was-- ]

So big! It must guard the sea here! [ Just throwing out an immediate backstory for Leviathan, apparently. ]

[thatsamoray]

Eh? You can't take me home, I already have one.

[As if that were the only problem with her proposal. Weird wasn't a bad thing to Floyd. It made things more interesting. So, he's more than happy to to bothered by a weirdo stranger.]

You wanna touch it? [he shifts his tail, the tip wriggling back and forth above the water. It's got a sheen of something slimy over it.]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Okay! [despite the long "hm" it doesn't seem like he really had to think about it at all.]

[ruinedempire]

[Honestly, he's not much in a mood to entertain a complete stranger, even though he's the one that willingly ventured into this bar and selected a sad corner table to himself. Truly, if he really wanted to be left alone, there are far better choices, but there's always a chance to see someone of interest here. Of course, he's not completely getting his hopes up, as Rufus prefers to be realistic about his situation.

So there's actual surprise striking across Rufus' face when the redhead saunters over and pushes the lady aside, a rare look of honesty on him that's almost as noticeable as the relief that makes him slightly less tense.

He doesn't deign Reno's comment with any real answer, however, instead going for something else that will hopefully establish some normalcy between them.]

...You're late, Reno. [There's a small upward twitch of his mouth, one that isn't filled with its typical 'I'm getting ready to screw you over,' and something that might be even considered genuine as the Turk takes his seat at the formerly empty chair.]

But the first Turk I've seen all day. [He eyes the further ruination of Reno's uniform with a raised eyebrow, but Rufus would have to be entirely blind or unobservant to not recognize one of his most loyal employees.] Whose pay do I need to dock?

[Or more accurately, Rufus wants a report from Reno, who their allies are, if there are other Turks in town.]

[moneytwin]

Apology accepted. [for all that nothing happened. but it's still appreciated]

[ The formal bow is new, and in a style she does not recognise, and her head tilts to one side as she commits it to memory. The gesture makes her pointed ears more obvious, but given the liberal mix of races, never mind "monsters", it's unlikely to be that remarkable.

It's a good question, and she can't help but smirk in reply. ]

Well, let me ask you a question in turn. What is a "fair price"?

[moneytwin]

[ The scales are taking some getting used to, as is learning to fold the wings to her back; why did the have to be red? Maybe there's a way to change that colour..? All very inconsequential thoughts that are had as she makes her way towards the designated hunting grounds.

Though she does stop when addressed, arching an eye brow at Ao Lengshan. ]

You don't just go around asking people what manner of creature they are.

market

[sandu_shengshou]

[ despite knowing that many of the wares being sold in the market are less than savoury in their intentions now, Jiang Cheng still finds himself wandering through the stalls with sharp eyes and a curiosity that he doesn't quite bother to hide. he knows that there are familiar faces here but, for the most part, he is unknown amongst these people and does not need to worry so much about keeping himself in check. and there is so much for him to look at, curious things that he has never before seen or heard of (he finds the lies that spill from the mouths of vendors almost entertaining now, the claims they make outrageous).

winding his way through the stalls, Jiang Cheng finds himself stilling when a familiar laugh reaches his ears.

it has been some time since he has heard it, so lighthearted and free, but-- he has many memories of that laugh before the world burned around them. he turns towards the sound, catching sight of a familiar figure leaning against a wall with a book in hand and a smile on his face. easily making his way over, he stops not far from the other, peering at the book in hand.

the contents startle a snort of laughter out of him before he manages a greeting.]

Sect Leader Nie. [ an incline of his head. ] I see you have found some enjoyment in these vendors.

Zadh'Ilai | Original | Witch | OTA

[vannerbond]

II: Unusual Arrival
[He'd been walking the hall of the Lord of Herald, preparing for their negotiations. The scribe that was tasked with recording the minutes of the meeting had met him at the door of the Councilhouse and walked with him, rambling the whole time about things Ilai pretended to pay of interest to, but truly he wanted to focus on his own mission. He was here to secure safe passage through Herald into Grimora, he was here to offer compensation for this protection...

...only to be distracted by the gleaming light of the torches lining the halls gleaming off the large bronze mirror on the wall. It was a rather gaudy and audacious mirror, covered in golds and jewels at the border and shined to perfection. It draws him in and he doesn't know why. The scribe's voice vanishes entirely, the sound of his own hooves against the stone flooring fades to a dull sensation in his bones. He's alone with his reflection in the mirror. He reaches out to touch it--

--and finds himself stumbling through into a busy, cramped dress shop in the area curtained off for women to try on their potential purchases. A woman lets out a surprised shriek as he rears back, confused and befuddled.

"Excuse me! I am unsure how--" He knocks over a rack of fabric "--Apologies, I just need to--" He continues to try and maneuver himself out of the claustrophobic corner he's found himself in. Steps on a dropped dress and tangled his leg in it before shaking it off. He moves as quickly as possible because there are people staring and he has no idea why he's no longer in the Lord's hall and instead in a shop with not nearly enough room for his bulk. He's lucky not to have torn all the curtains down before making his way into the small story proper.

"Get out!" One of the women yells and shoved at his side, which doesn't do much good as there is a wall to his left and he's trying to go right as that's the only exit he sees. Once he begins to calm down, he's able to make his way out of the shop of very unhappy ladies without knocking anything else to the ground, but he's so confused and tense by the end of it, looking around for anything familiar.

Had the mirror been spelled to teleport people who touched it without permission?

Someone bumps into him and tells him to make room so he steps to the side with a quick apology. Running hand through the hair trailing over his shoulder he takes stock of he situation.

Someone please take pity on this poor centaur and inform him of everything going on?]


III: Goblin Market (mid-Month)
[It had taken some adjusting, this new world, especially the machines and technology being so vastly different. Certainly intriguing, what with these "Watches" doing things he never would have thought possible before. It's all very new and indeed, more exciting that he would admit. A new world with new people and new cultures to learn and study and come to know? A world full of people from other worlds also vastly different from his own? Yes, it's exciting indeed.

He gets as many looks from others as he expects. He understands the reason is different, but he is a centaur who spent years traveling between the Human Lands so it's not as if he is unused to it.

But it had been a little different when he'd found his way into one of the goblin markets. People calling to him in hushed tones offering him herbs and potions to ease his transformations--of which he has none, but it does allow him to get more information from them about their wares when they believe it so.

Then he came across a merchant selling trinkets that he claimed were charms and potions to help new Witches gain better control of their magic. These were an intriguing find considering his situation and that he would like to put new trinkets into his hair. It's been some time since he bought some, but also there is the wariness of whether or not these would be as advertised. The goblin even offers to find someone to test it on! But who walking nearby might be the person enticed into helping them test the effects?

Then some of their assertions are less than...believable, though they sound persuasive.]

"So this is a back-scratcher that also wards off curses?"

[Someone else want to see the odd things this goblin insists will cure everything?]


V: Wilde Card
[OOC: If you'd like to do something else with Ilai, hit me up at chocolateisbrainfood or a PM to this journal!}

[hoshikiri]

Ah. [Takame sure was someone who never did anything in halves, but he did realize, especially with as blatant a reaction as that, that he could overdo it.

There's a vaguely sheepish rubbing at the back of his neck that coincidentally was starting to itch again and he nodded.]

Indeed. [A short pause as he tried to remember when this started for him.] It was the same for me. I merely concluded that someone played some manner of prank on me as I do not recall sleeping anywhere near feathers. [Said matter-of-factly, as if that was a regular occurrence for him, and bringing a hand to his chin.] I didn't assume they were coming from me.

[bright_moon]

The question has him blink, though he probably should have expected it, considering the subject. Carefully, "someone similar, yes. But it has never been physical, between Zichen and I." They'd never spoken of expanding their relationship, and he's content with how things lay between them.

Xingchen watches Bichen flit over to settle on another chair, despite the flash of loss he feels at the now missing warmth. He smiles at the apology and shakes his head a little. "I do not mind. You are kind to share what you have with me." Which is precisely what he'd hope from his shijie's child.

Although when he takes his first bite of the stew...

There is an almost immediate cough that he hastily turns away, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. And a strange whoosh! of wind that swirls around them, playing with hair and cloth and fur - sorry Bichen! before it fades on its own after a moment. His eyes grow wide as he looks for an open door or window to explain it, though he has a feeling he is responsible.

Which makes it even worse.

Xingchen scrambles to his feet and bows low, swallowing another cough that wants out through sheer determination. Once he's sure he can speak without letting it out, he keeps his gaze lowered. "Please forgive me! That was rude." Just because it was a complete accident and he doesn't understand what had happened doesn't make it any better.

two!!

[supersoldier]

[The markets are of passing interest to Sephiroth, unable to see the practicality in outright ignoring them. Though some of these wares might be questionable in origin — paired with a few vendors who do not even try to pretend otherwise — their uses are (purportedly) many, the potions in particular so varied in color and viscosity to match the many ailments they’re advertised to cure. It draws his eye along the rows as he passes, expertly weaving through a throng of people here and there, each tonic worthy of attention as his feet move him forward nigh automatically.

But then a man (animal-like, he can tell just from his frame; was he a Turnskin? But he spies feathers, too.) stops abruptly in front of him, and Sephiroth’s body stills accordingly, avoiding impact through sheer honed instinct alone.

He glances up at him — he’s taller than even Sephiroth — with a placid expression, as if the stranger had just told him a joke without delivering the punchline.]

...No.

[nah my dude]

Is it so bad that you have to stop and ask a stranger to do it?

Arrival and hello!

[strongspirited]

[Sypha is slipping through the streets, casual as can be. She's comfortable here, though she's still wearing the baggy robes of a Speaker, and keeps her hair in it's androgynous, boyish cut. There are some habits that one simply does not let go of, and when you have a signature style, you stick with it. She's not actually heading to this shop in particular, but she does stop when she sees a stranger with his hand on the doorknob.

And, not recognizing the man (because why would she), Sypha wrinkles her nose in amusement.]

...Listen. I don't mind if you're stealing to survive...but you could at least be a little less conspicuous when you make an exit.

[Also he doesn't seem too bad off, so why...?]

OH. MY. GOD.

[turmoiling]

[Jin Guangyao's self-control is so very good only because there are still eyes on them, but his fingers dig in just a little more before he stops himself. He doesn't even dare leave bruises for this fluttery little fop to bring crying to Da-ge. Jin Guangyao isn't so keen to die a second time, especially so soon, over something so little.

It's not at all an insult here but... Fuck you, Nie Huaisang.

That smile is still well fixed in place when he replies, oh-so-nicely-and-informatively:] It's only a word the locals use, for those of us 'Mirrorbound' who are changing as well. It's nothing bad, Huaisang.

[And still he knows that Huaisang knows it bothers him now and he wants to wring that little neck. 'Nothing bad,' he can only curse his own words, because every aspect of it is terrible.

Every aspect? There was one thing, he'd thought too risky to ever try before. Staring with unblinking snake eyes into Nie Huaisang's wide-eyed gaze, he lets a little of the strange pressure he can feel inside run through him, into those slit pupils and his calm, soothing words.]

Please, Huaisang. You're really causing a scene, and it wouldn't do to insult so many people here by accident. Why don't you just come with me. We'll go for a pleasant walk away from here and get a little more fresh air. Surely this sounds like a good idea. Don't you agree? We have so much to catch up on, after all.

[He's never dared try releasing that hypnotic, persuasive ability even once, has no idea how well or even if it will work, but if there was ever an opportunity to use it... and if it was useless, he still wouldn't have harmed a hair on Huaisang's head and nothing could be proved.

Might be better to look away if you're feeling a bit funny, Huaisang.]

arrival

[oathkeeper]

[It's been kind of a strange month! Sora's finding more and more random people plopping out of nowhere and he's starting to wonder if someone busted up the mall of mirrors. Which is pretty scary to think about since those are their gateways home too--

The splash is what catches Sora off guard and Sora nearly jumps three feet in the air. Which is pretty plausible now that Sora's legs are growing strong. The two long brunette-furred rabbit ears on his head twitch and he sees some lady face down in a puddle and he immediately shouts and goes to help.]

Whoa- are you okay?!

[Is she an angel?! Where did she fall down from?! Sora holds a hand out and his now-yellow eyes blink while he looks quite worried.]

You fell pretty hard, I hope you didn't break a bone or something! The coven has decent witches for that kind of stuff but I heard mending bones can really take a lot out of you too!