middaeg | [open] 🔶 spread my wings

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[open] 🔶 spread my wings

Who: Ferran & you! (feat. Rikku, Tsutha, and current CR)
When: Mareuer
Where: The Haven, Shopping District, Undermael College, Entertainment District, &c.
What: Flying practice on top of your house, enchanted baked goods (free samples!), metaphysical world discussions & assorted closed threads.
Warnings: n/a

A. 1st~7th (haven; open)

[Riding on the high of his recent full moon experiences, Ferran decides it's time to start putting his wings to work as more than just decoration—or worse, a hidden nuisance. Very early in the month, with the weather warming and the sun shining clearly in the afternoons, the Fae takes to... well, not the skies just yet. After a bit of practice to warm up in his own space, he uses his roof as a starting point, fluttering over to other rooftops, fences and walls throughout the Haven. His glittering wings make him hard to miss if anyone even kind of looks up, even if the rest of his fairy-like features are still hidden beneath his glamor and clothing. He's not as steady on his landings as he'd like to be, but that's the reason he's practicing! If he wobbles or nearly loses his balance a few times, it's probably fine.

After the moon's influence has waned and some of his previous trepidation returns to him, well—he's already put in some work. It would probably be stupid to let that effort and the potential go to waste, even if he still feels distaste about his transformation. After his uncharacteristic hopping about in the first few days, he focuses more on building endurance, hovering in place several feet in the air a little closer to his own home, usually with a book or sketch pad in hand. Hopefully he doesn't drop anything on anyone's head.

... flying is a little bit cool. He guesses.]

B. 5th~12th (shopping district; open)

[Ferran also manages another goal early in Mareuer—after several months of much less tasteful or otherwise temporary methods of acquiring funds, he finds a bakery in need of workers... that also uses mostly magitech appliances. To a stranger, he might attribute his avoidance of all flames to the known Fae weakness, but it's honestly because he doesn't trust himself to be able to work around them without driving himself up the wall with anxiety.

He might have spoken to Rikku about working on their respective phobias, but his noncommittal maybe helps his Fae mind discard any thoughts about deliberately placing himself around safe, controlled fires for any self-improvement.

The place is apparently in need of some new customers, as Ferran is asked to help encourage passersby to come take a look. He stands outside the front door with a tray of several baked goods—his wings under his cloak and other fairy traits hidden as usual—smiling a perfect customer service smile at anyone who sends half a glance his way.]

Care for a free sample?

[The assortment of cake bites, miniature tarts and flaky pastries may taste a little fresher, a little sweeter, or a little closer to the eater's favorites, and there's an especially enticing smell to match. ... He hasn't asked for permission to apply any illusions or blessings, although the thought crosses his mind to. Maybe in the near future.]

C. 6th~10th (haven; closed to current CR)

[Not everything is sunshine and sweets, though—several of Ferran's friends are still recovering from the last month's events, whether they were personally harmed or simply struggling with what happened to their loved ones. For any who have recovered enough from the Cwyld to hold no more danger of contagion, Ferran decides to come visit, a bag under his arm and a knock on the door.

Maybe not everyone will answer, but they'll find a few gifts on their doorstep regardless: homemade snacks enchanted to encourage a feeling of comfort, a puzzle or book of some kind, and a handwritten note wishing them well, letting them know he's available to help.]

D. 7th~19th (modern metaphysics; open)

[As cagey as Ferran can be about his experiences, he's mostly avoided speaking about them due to the fear of being asked about the emotional aspect of them—but really, he's fascinated by the logic of how all their worlds function, whether it's the science or the magic involved. Given the opportunity to speak about things on an objective basis, he sees no real reason to turn it down, especially not if he's being paid for it. It helps that he hasn't been anxious in front of large groups of people in a long time.

The lectures that Ferran sort-of heads are more of a round-table discussion, where at least a couple of Mirrorbound have been invited to speak about their experiences and field questions from the lecturer and students directly. After their basic introductions and a few starting remarks, Ferran turns to whoever has joined him today with his usual social ease, whether they're complete strangers or not.]

So, what about you? Do you have magic in your world?

[After the class is done, he can be found lingering in the halls, watching students and faculty pass by, peeking into the library and stopping to listen to the echoes of lectures with a wistful look on his face. He's probably given a few curious looks, but he hardly notices them. It doesn't seem like he wants to leave.]

E. 13th (entertainment district; closed to Rikku & Tsutha)

[Putting aside any complicated relationship thoughts, Ferran thinks it's probably important for his bonds to properly meet. They're sort of his "emergency contacts" in this world, after all, so it's a practical idea if nothing else... but more than that, he thinks they'd make good friends, and the more people who can support the people he's come to care about, the better.

He sends them both a message on the 10th explaining his intentions—outright stating that he'd like them to meet his other bonded over lunch, without any mysterious riddles, actually giving them time to prepare and making sure that he doesn't need to work around any unexpected schedules.

As much as a large part of him would like to host the occasion himself, he's still a little unsettled by his own behavior at the end of the previous month, so he suggests a spacious cafe in the entertainment district instead. Neutral ground where he'll be kept in check, and hopefully everyone will feel more casual about the meeting. Ferran is early, of course, and he acquires a table for the three of them. Maybe he isn't personally hosting them, but he does feel at least kind of responsible for the occasion...]

Wildcard.

[OOC: You can check out Ferran's info & current goings-on over here. Feel free to hit me up over pm or at

lumieresdedragon and we can figure something out! You can also find his TDM/dreamscape toplevel here!]

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( he's passing by and though his eyes are forward, it's his thoughts that keep him from really paying attention to his surroundings. though he's mostly healed after the events of the kidnappings and the cultists and those morbid affairs... it's the wounds on the inside that have yet to completely mend themselves. thoughts of whether the streets are safe, whether he should have to worry about another random man coming to attack him, whether the people around him know who he is and that he's no threat to them and--- )

Huh?

( it's only then that he recognizes the fae in front of him, offering a snack. he stops, rubs his eyes, then smiles wearily. )

Oh. Of course, I'd be happy to. Uh... do you have any suggestions?

( it's ferran. he knows who this is. a sight for sore eyes, even if one is a little out of focus. )

[He doesn't think to mask the sound of his wings fluttering under his cloak when Ranulf approaches; he's glad to see the laguz again, although his dazed state is a bit concerning. Ferran is doing incredibly well given the circumstances, but it's not like he'd expect that of anyone else at the moment.

He hums in thought at the question, wondering if cat-like diet restrictions apply to Ranulf, too. He looked into that sort of thing once, and even if it might be a rude assumption, it can't hurt to apply it... it's not like Ranulf can't give an opinion after he offers a suggestion, anyway.]

How about an apple turnover? [He pulls one off of the tray by the paper shell, holding it out—and blessing it to hopefully clear the cat's mind a little. He's grown decently familiar with his Fae powers by now, which appear to be mostly triggered by feeling very strongly about things in a certain direction, so he doesn't have any worries about the effect. It comes easily enough when it relates to his friends, at least.]

( he nods politely, taking the turnover with both hands and gives it a look over. it looks... fresh. looks tasty. how many pastries has ranulf had? certainly not many while on tellius! but here, he's certainly had a few. this one, however, as he sinks his teeth in--- he chews thoughtfully as his eyes widen slightly. as he pulls it away so that he can swallow and think about it...

and then ranulf grins. )

Tastes delicious. Sweet. Probably exactly as I'd want one to taste. Wonder what that means.

( but the smile softens soon after. )

Have you been well?

[With a wink and a slightly dragging, lighthearted tone, he suggests:]

Maybe it means you should come visit the bakery sometime?

[But he drops the advertisement soon enough—he's not going to slack off entirely on the clock, but he's more than happy to simply catch up with someone he'd like to view as a friend. It's like the difference between night and day, the way he's responded to Ranulf's approach between now and the first time they met.]

Really well. Probably better than I have any right to be, [he says with a subdued chuckle.] It's good to see you again. I know it's been hard for a lot of people recently... you seemed a little distracted.

[He... really is not expecting an honest response about how the laguz is doing, but it's not something that would bother him. He'll worry and offer encouragement either way.]

( maybe he should. maybe he should drag soren along, get him to have something sweet to eat. maybe it will jog his memory, maybe it'll brighten his spirits and his mood to a relatively even level? the still somewhat dour, yet affable type that soren could very well make his way into a dictionary definition of. it makes ranulf smile, but that soon fades once he realizes that he's not exactly there there, too busy in his thoughts and not interacting with the friend right in front of him. )

Yeah... yeah. ( he rubs the back of his own head with one hand, holding onto the snack with the other. ) It's been rough. I've only started walking around again. Thank goodness for magic, right?

( another soft exhale and his shoulders slump. )

I'm happy to be alive.

( even if he doesn't look it. )

[Ferran nods at the rhetorical question. As complicated as his relationship with it is, healing magic will get absolutely no complaints from him. A little more quietly, he replies:]

I'm happy you are too. [Normally such a thing would go without saying, but he thinks people could probably use a little extra encouragement right now.]

And I'm glad you're back on your feet. Feel free to sit down if you want, though—and I can get you a snack and a drink, on me. [Luckily, the shop has a couple of tables outside, so Ferran wouldn't have to abandon his post to talk to Ranulf if he took the offer.]

( those words bring a tired, but genuine smile onto his face. )

Yeah, sure. As long as it doesn't interrupt what you're doing. I'd hate to be the reason you get in trouble for anything.

( the closest table is where ranulf will park himself, finishing up the apple dessert as he does so. he's somewhat slow to settle, but otherwise he does end up relaxing in that chair after a moment. his tail starts to sway. )

I'd like something light. ( a beat, then: ) And I'm going to pay.

[Although he huffs at the laguz's refusal of his offer, he resists the desire to argue, which would be his normal inclination even if he weren't a Fae. He'll have to treat him another time, even if he has to be sneaky about it...

Regardless, Ferran dismisses Ranulf's concern with a wave.]

They'll hardly complain if I'm drawing in a new customer. [He turns to head in with his tray of samples, promising:] I'll be right back.

[Soon enough, he returns with a glass of water with a lemon slice on the rim and a few cream puffs dusted with sugar. Both are enhanced with Ferran's minor "tasty" blessing, of course.]

How about these?

( his mood brightens as soon as he spots the drink and additional snack. how could he not? rarely does ranulf indulge in such things; sweets are so uncommon to begin with and he's not used to how lovely they are... magic notwithstanding. )

At this rate, I'll become a repeat customer.

( water first, he takes the slice and immediately squeezes it (aggressively) into the drink before lifting the glass up and gulping down a third of it. )

Has it been easy? Getting used to this place. Not here here, but... you know. This world, here.

( after all, it's been a while since the rooftop. )

[Ranulf must have really needed the drink—he certainly looks like he needs a few nice things, and Ferran is glad to provide if he can. While he doesn't want to turn any significant concern towards himself when others have been dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy he mostly managed to avoid, he's not about to pretend "normal life" around here has been a breeze, either.]

Definitely not. It's probably—well, one of the hardest times in my life, at least.

[He's been dealing with it better than some previous times, at least, despite having to deal with even his body and mind being changed against his will. There's a reason most of his physical Fae traits are hidden.]

... But it could have been worse. It's been nice meeting so many new people.

( hard times differ from person to person. while ranulf's efforts in the war to save his world would be considered monumental and perhaps the most difficult... he'd argue that some of the more personal troubles he's had are what makes his current situation the most difficult he's encountered. that being said, he's not one to speak about them openly, especially when there's someone else who's struggling just as much as he may be. )

It has, hasn't it? ( a polite smile as he puts the water down and nods vigorously. ) I'd say I've made more friends than I thought I'd ever make in my life here. Even if it's... you know. Not under the best circumstances.

( he closes his eyes, then when he reopens them, he feels a little more at ease. )

So. Have you bonded with anyone yet? I figure I should ask... it's important.

Yeah.

["Not the best circumstances" is certainly an understatement, but that doesn't mean the friendships have been worth any less... or maybe they mean even more because of it. He doesn't know that he wants to qualify his relationships like that, however. And speaking of relationships, he answers the question with ease.]

It was one of the first things I did when I got here. [It is important—too important to ignore. But then again, Ferran feared losing control of himself far more than exposing his inner flaws to a stranger, even if the prospect is an unpleasant one.]

Thanks for asking, though. I know a lot of people are really put off by the idea, but it was the best decision I could have made. [As concerned as he might be about the things his bonded get up to, he's found no good reason to regret it so far.] What about you?

Oh! I'm glad. Nice, good. ( ranulf nods a few times. ) I did the same, actually... though I guess I was lucky. A friend of mine had been here for a while and he'd been ready for me once I permanently showed up.

( there was, after all, a time when ranulf was just a temporary resident. for better or for worse, he was able to bring that friend some comfort when homesickness was wearing on him. now? he provides more than just a respite. )

His name is Soren. A dragon. Maybe you've seen him around before?

[Ferran's eyes light up with interest at the name, and at first he's surprised to make any connection between the two, if just because of their clear differences in personality. Still, sometimes opposites work best together.]

We met just the other day, actually.

[The Dragon wasn't... in the best of states at the time, and although he heavily considers telling Ranulf about that incident, he decides against it for the moment, if just to keep from dragging the conversation down. Along with that, Ferran puts the word permanently to the side, maybe to pursue later. It invites a lot of questions from someone who's doing his best to understand and prepare for whatever might happen during their stay in Geardagas.

For now, though: they all need a bit of normalcy, and the Fae knows the value of a little reprieve, even if artificial.]

I'm glad you had a friend here already. I can imagine how much easier that must have made things for you. [Ferran is a little jealous, himself.]

Oh? That's a relief! I'm glad he's been able to go around and try to get back into a normal routine.

( it's not that they've been avoiding themselves, but just giving themselves space. after all--- he's not completely healed yet, and the words don't necessarily come easily considering they were mostly made by the dragon himself. not in his own mind, of course, but... )

He's become more than just a friend. We were comrades back home, but nothing to this degree.

( actually--- )

Hey. Do you think I could take something back with me? Not too sweet, but just enough to cheer someone up. Any ideas?

[Ferran wonders just how much Soren was trying to get back into a normal routine, and how much he was trying to retrieve enough things all at once so he wouldn't have to leave home. He'd sure been carrying a lot at the time...

It's easy to imagine friends from home becoming even closer in a place like this—especially if they have no one else from home to talk to.]

Tying your soul to someone will do that.

[It's kind of inevitable, and most people are not like Ferran in that they're willing to bond with whoever will give them the time of day for the sake of necessity. Most people have a decent investment in the person they decide to bond with.]

Of course you can. If you're looking for something less sweet, the cheese danish is one of my favorites so far. [It would do the trick even without any enchantments or illusions, but he'll be sure to add a little bonus for Ranulf's bonded... maybe a blessing to help sharpen the Dragon's focus and cut through the confused fog he seemed to be struggling with.]

You're right. ( a laugh, as ranulf's ears flick back. ) I've forgotten that... as easy and simple as it sounds, I never thought about the actual Bond first. I thought about making sure our existing bond as friends was intact more than anything.

( because that's what has been keeping him grounded here the most. )

Oh! Then I'd like to take... say, half a dozen. It'll be nice surprising him.

( but also: )

Ferran? Thanks. For listening, you know?

Honestly, that's probably the best way to do it. The magic is just an extension of that, right?

[Ferran doesn't really like how subjective the whole experience is, but he's glad it worked out for Ranulf well enough. He's pretty lucky for meeting his friend here, but it seems like the laguz is pretty level-headed in general, so he probably would have been fine even if Soren wasn't here.

He's already halfway turned back towards the entrance when he's caught off guard by the gratitude, and he has to chuckle at the idea of being thanked for something so simple. Listening is probably the easiest thing ever.]

It's the least I can do, especially for a friend.

[It's a lot easier for him to call people that, these days.]

( he is a cat who has made many friends in his life, and it always feels the same way when he hears it from others--- especially a beorc. or human. another laguz might be disinterested in what ferran has been saying, but ranulf... it's humility. respect. knowing that he's not going to have every answer and that other people's experiences aren't invalid just because of race. )

It is. I guess magic alone doesn't mean much when there's no force behind it.

( because magic has to start somewhere, right? for him, it's always been in tomes and staves. )

Friend... haha! You're a wonderful friend too.

( feels nice saying it. )

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[open] 🔶 spread my wings

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