Intro Log: May

[moustre]

Intro Log: May, Game Start

I. ARRIVAL 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. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. Besides the new arrivals, however, there's one more person in the building, and only one. A young teen stands; previously bored and mulish, he's now owl-eyed and slackjawed as he takes in each arrival, either from the mirrors or coming from another floor as you try to get your bearings. In his hands he's clutching a broom like a security blanket, until - "M... Miss Nessie! Miss Nessie, something's happened!" he yells, as he drops the broom and turns tail out of the building. Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is clear, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, regardless of their waning crescent phases. Follow, or explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in? The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. "MISS NESSIE" Whether you've decided to follow the hapless young man, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion. The woman covers her mouth with a soft "Oh my!" as she surveys those who begin to crowd in, and she turns to the werewolf (?), lowering her hand once more. (The handful of others who'd come with her peer as best they can from a ways behind her with unconcealed curiosity, closer to the door out than not. The boy previously seen before he ran off can be spotted at the very back of the group.) "This is right unexpected, isn't it?" She not-quite whispers, delight and confusion in equal measure in her voice. Her companion makes a quiet noise in her throat, unscarred eye narrowed - it's hard to tell if that delight is one shared by both parties. "Well, they've always said the veil is thinner during Boaltinn... We'll have to talk to James and see if he was doing anything other than cleaning, we will, but for now, we've got a full house to attend to, don't we? Ah, if they're all Witches, that'll be something, it will!" Without wasting another beat - much to the fond irritation of her companion, certainly - the woman turns back to the newcomers of Aefenglom, clapping her hands together in glee. "Well then! I'm certain you all have many, many questions... As do we! First thing's first, though, first thing's first! I am Nerissa Bell, the Head Witch of the Coven - that's where this house is located right now, on Coven grounds - and this is my Bonded, Mhairi Ainsley. Don't worry, she's a right softie despite her looks! You can simply call me Miss Nessie - everyone does, short of those stuffy folks up in the Parliament, but, well, that's just how things are with them, I suppose." She pauses a beat, for breath, before continuing with a wave of her hand; dozens of chairs and stools, all surprisingly comfortable despite their wooden looks, are conjured in an instant, and Nessie smiles wide as she gives a small bow. "Take a seat, and let's get familiar with one another for a spell! The city'll celebrate without us one way or another, and we've already finished our business for tonight anyway. Isn't that right, Mhairi dear?" Despite the onslaught of information and excitement at three in the morning, Mhairi inclines her head slightly after a huge sigh; her voice is likely exactly as expected, low and akin to a growl. "Best to take advantage of the distraction. Let's begin, before I have to report this to Parliament." NOTE: If you wish to interact with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. You have the option of handwaving the IC interaction to OOCly ask what questions your character might have for them, for us to summarize an answer for, or you can request an IC thread. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly.

III. THE COVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, a solution is presented. Though they certainly can't answer every question, Nerissa and Mhairi promise to help find the answers, and open the doors of the Coven to all new arrivals in the Looking-Glass House. The walk from the quaint cottage to the imposing structure ahead is lit only by magic provided by Miss Nessie and the Witches accompanying her, as well as the path of stepping stones coming aglow with each step that's taken across them. Beyond the courtyard, with its high, opalescent walls, a city can be seen. There are torches accompanying the flickering light posts outside, and the sounds of life clear even this far from the heart of Aefenglom, something that sounds like... merriment? Festivities are in full swing, even this close to dawn. The rest of the world continues on, even though you've arrived, confused and perhaps missing a few aspects of your usual persons. But while they certainly weren't expecting to spend the festival like this, the Coven has worked as quickly as it can. Their doors, decorated in cowslip flowers, are wide open - welcoming to the public, and to new arrivals as well. The Coven's main building has a surprisingly large front room, compared to its outside; the ceiling stretches ever onward, with stairs of the solidly-flush-against-the-wall variety and floating-ethereally-in-the-middle-of-things variety both. Magic and mundane intermingle as if meant to, with brooms inscribed with runes to clean making quick work of dirt and dust, shadowy figures opening and closing doors as people enter and exit, plates of snacks drifting around as if carried by invisible servers. The brooms are especially attentive to the door as new arrivals step in - they don't apologize for knocking into anyone, and really, anyone particularly scruffy will get swept at until the brooms are satisfied. None of this seems to mind the Witches coming in, with small murmurs of gratitude given to the busybody brooms instead of reprimands. Doors lead this way and that, on higher floors and on the ground floor, but runes glow by their frames in indecipherable patterns. Peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid to test them out when they can, and Nessie waits for things to calm before she steps up the floating stairs and addresses the room. "We'll see to it you all have lodgings for a bit, we will, but for now, the festival's still going on - if you couldn't tell!" She laughs a little, hands on her hips. "There's nothing we can do about things right now, so you might as well enjoy yourselves, you might. If any of you want to stay in 'til morning though, well, we can provide - just mind your manners, magic's real particular about them. At least," she winks, head tilting with the motion, "that's how I teach all my classes, it is." Those deciding to stay will be lead to doors that seem to follow no real pattern by native Witches; the rule is "two to a bed," so get cozy with the person next to you. They're the ones you'll be sleeping with tonight. The beds aren't too small - enough to accommodate at least three humans - and they're fairly comfortable too, for their old-looking age.

IV. BOALTINN For those who journey out into the city, they'll be sent off with a word of warning to keep out of trouble from Mhairi, to find everything still quite lively - and still quite unaware of what's taken place. There's very little left to the shadows, with dim light filling in the gaps between the flickering streetlamps and the extra candles and such people have put up themselves. Curiously, small bonfires seem to follow a pattern, culminating into a wide plaza in the center of the Residential District where a larger, brighter one burns, with people dancing around it, their clothing jingling softly with little bells hanging from their hems. The same is mirrored on the direct other side of the city - the only difference is in who's dancing. The Eastern Bonfire has more visibly humanoid beings enjoying themselves, while the Western Bonfire has creatures more monstrous in looks. Regardless, they all seem to be happy- And the reason is this: Boaltinn, a festival lasting the next two dusks. The nights and early mornings are filled with flickering firelight, while the morning and daytime have all but the small fires leading the way to the giant bonfires extinguished; the bonfires, however, stay lit. - and in general, it seems the city is quite happy, quite cheerful, and quite close. a. The Bonfires The main attraction of Boaltinn, as they are with any fire festival, the bonfires on each side of the city are tended to by various Monsters every hour of the day. While much of the scenes are similar - there's plenty of food to be shared, with those partaking in it cowed into sitting with someone else regardless of how familiar they might be, and children of all kinds play together and invite those sitting or watching to come too, in all manner of games, such as jacks, hopscotch, and running ribbons around the tall poles at the bonfires. But there are marked differences, too. The Eastern Bonfire primarily has humans or those that can pass as humanoid in attendance, and they're much friendlier to those who look similar to them; to those that look a little more monster-like, though, their replies are far more curt and their shoulders colder. The area around the bonfire is also littered with trinkets and baubles, all shiny and new and utterly forgotten by their playmates; the ribbon poles are similarly new, made professionally as if by commission. 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. Meanwhile, the Western Bonfire has primarily those who are more monstrous in looks, and they're similarly friendlier to those who resemble them, with a similar brusque and cold manner to those who look more human. The area around the bonfire is carefully kept clean, however, and the ribbon poles look handcrafted from lumber and grass, with tightly-woven knots and clumsily-made paper decorations. Those attending here are also invited to jump through the flames, but no such protection is offered; it's simply assumed that, as a Monster, you're likely much better at handling a little fire. b. A Little Entertainment It isn't only the bonfire celebrations that one can participate in, however. All throughout both the East and West Residential Districts, as well as a portion of the Shopping and Entertainment Districts, there's a number of stalls, stands, and stores available for perusal. Take a gander at the rest of the city and find something to do. Of note: Divination readings are available in various stalls, set up by Coven-official Witches as well as homegrown ones, with tarot cards that vary from pristine art pieces that one would almost hesitate to touch to the personally drawn and cut. They offer free readings, enticing all who pass by to join them at their table. Good or bad, the cards seem to bring with them lessons and words of wisdom, interpreted expertly by those handling them... or as expertly as possible; some readings seem a little unsure and muddy. Regardless of belief, those who take part in these readings will suddenly find their day going either exceptionally well or incredibly poor, depending on the overall feel of their reading. Carts and booths are available for one to partake in more food, however there's a stipulation to taking anything from these vendors: one must share this food with others, either in pairs or a group. While relations between humans and beasts seem to be a little frosty, they can be seen intermingling a tad more freely when it comes to this portion of the celebrations, sharing the treats and small meals that are being offered to everyone. The food available all seem to be those easy to hold in hand, not unlike modern-day food trucks; of note, the thin pancake wraps seem to be the most popular, with a bubbly drink similar to a milkshake filled to the brim with drinking straws for best sharing experience coming in second. Flavors are plentiful and varied, though they err closer to the fruits, vegetables, and spices side of the spectrum. Finally, the more pleasure-based businesses offer the chance to relax one's weary feet and take a chance with a little aromatherapy with their rose baths. While traditionally this had its roots in imbuing the bather with good tidings and blessings for the upcoming seasons (or so they'll say when asked), nowadays, it's simply become a luxury treatment for those needing a little TLC. The waters here do have the added bonus of making those who share them friendlier and more talkative with their partner(s) - and yes, all baths are a shared experience. Rather than being split by sex, baths are split by monster and human; co-ed bathing exists for those who don't mind mingling with the opposite species, and if really pressed, they can offer separate baths for different sexes, but their focus seems elsewhere. c. Impulsive Compulsion Throughout the whole festival, new arrivals, particularly those with magic talent gifted to them by the world, will feel like they can do anything and will push themselves to the limit. While not inherently detrimental, those who feel it will become more reckless, their inhibitions lessened and impulses heightened; trying new things is easy as pie, with any thoughts of fear left far in the back of their minds. While magic is highly discouraged on festival days, given their rest day quality, those under the spell of Boaltinn's madness will feel the temptation to try some anyway, regardless of knowing the proper way of performing it - perhaps it's about time to try out what one discovered in that strange dream... Those found doing magic will get a firm scolding, but no actual punishment; it's only looked down on, and they'll be cautioned against using too much. If any property damage occurs due to reckless magic use, however, there are fines; those without any money to their name can be recruited to pay it off by working at the buildings and stalls they may have accidentally damaged, serving people, looks, or whatever else the business might offer.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up now as well! While technically most of them won't start until after festivities, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the May Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[galrad]

It's all right. I knew it was a long shot anyway.

Hopefully we can all find ways to return sooner rather than later. It's... I know this sounds kind of egotistical when I say it but- the galaxy needs me. Needs Voltron. Now more than ever.

[socials]

[ Truthfully, Souji should be panicking more than he is. But when you tumble through a television into another world shaped by the consciousness of society, well, you sort of try to take like a duck to water - if that duck was, in fact, shot out of a cannon first.

Despite the way that he's trying to tread water, though, he understands the frustrations and confusion that everyone else finds themselves suffering. So he draws on the way the team looked to him to remain levelheaded, and he holds onto that as he stands at the threshold of the room. It's... it looks like it's meant for people to share it in the first place, but.

People who know one another - are Bonded, he supposes - as opposed to strangers. ]

They did say that it'd be a tight fit. I think we're probably lucky they even have enough space for the number of people that came through.

[ A sympathetic smile. ] But I am fine taking the floor.

[actuallyadork]

Much weirder. This place is a lot safer than some of the places I've been to.

[For the time being. Cloud will take a spot against the wall while Souji looks around. Carefully, he takes his sword off of his back and leans it against the wall.]

I'm sure.

[usurpers]

From what?

i

[thisisamazing]

[It's a bit of chaos. The vast room is full of mirrors, but none of them stand out save the one that Hiccup - and soon, thank the gods, Toothless after him - came through; it looks like Gronckle iron and dragonscale, carved with Norse runes and dragons in flight ("You have the soul of a dragon", his mother's voice whispers in the back of his head). One minute he's flying with Toothless, staring at their reflections in the calm sea below, and then the scents of salt and spray are replaced with must and mildew and age. After his initial panic, he's lost, hanging on to Toothless' sturdy form to keep from being jostled too badly. Doesn't stop him from being jostled, though.

A very wet individual gets pushed against his side for a moment, not that Hiccup can really feel it through his armor, but it does startle him that... that the face looks vaguely familiar, like he's met this person sometime before, long ago. It's a distant sort of feeling, though what's one more strange thing in a whole day of strange things?] Woah, wait- wait, wait-

Do- Have we met before?

[alienwear]

Peridot leans back a bit. Personal space, Entrapta...

"Because it is me. I'm a Gem, and that," she points at it, "is my gem. It's what makes forming all the rest of me possible."

[tinyfood]

What's That

"Fascinating..."

Entrapta's gaze slips down from Peridot's gem to her eyes. She looks so excited.

"Tell me everything. Can I touch it??"

b

[dialtones]

[Throughout the festival, Kurapika had tried to stay separated from the rest of the groups. He did participate in a few things, but it was just once or twice before backing away and observing as an outsider. He kept his traditional kurta clothing on, too, rather than trying to change into anything that suited this place better. He's going to be this way the entire time, honestly.

Now, as things wind down, he's sitting on a stump closer to the path back to the Coven, hands nearly pressed together and eyes focused on them. There's been this tug at his mind all night to try magic, even if it's not welcomed, so he's been away from things, trying. But so far no luck.

Not until now, anyway, when electricity cracks between his fingers enough to shock even him (literally), and his hands pull back, he sits up straighter, eyes a little wider. It looks like Cain is not too far away, and he catches him, now, blinking his way and dropping his hands to his lap once he sees that it's not just a walk, but a limp.]

Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself? [Actually... he looks a little familiar, doesn't he...?]

[socials]

[ Considering the state that she's in, Souji can't help himself - he's genuine in his offer to share the meal with her, but he also wants to make sure that the older woman is all right. That sort of posture never means positive things, and quite a few people arrived disoriented or unwell.

When she doesn't reject his offer outright, he offers her a polite smile with the dip of his head. All good manners and curt behavior, as he turns the dish about to offer her one of the forks. It's some kind of pancake, as far as he can tell, though it reminds him a bit of a crepe. ]

The offer remains - after all, the spirit of the festival is sharing. The situation isn't the best, maybe, but we're here together regardless.

[rowdyraven]

[Again, Julian casts his dubious gaze back in the direction of the coven, hesitation evident in the hard line of his shoulders, the stiff fold of his arms across his chest. He'd rather not go back in there at all if he can help it, but--

--but. His companion's needs currently outweigh his own.]

I could go back and ask for you, if you'd rather. Or--

[And here, his expression brightens.]

--or I could just carry you into town, and what with all the festivities apparently going on, perhaps we'll find a stall selling clothes.

[...he probably has some money rattling around on his person somewhere, perhaps they won't mind that it's foreign.]

[socials]

[ If anyone knows what that's like, it's Souji - but he does his best to maintain his positivity, and to keep a game face for anyone that he comes across. ]

Well, that was pretty surprising for me, too. So I think being even a little surprised is to be expected after something like that.

[scaling]

The patients? [ He slides the vial back into the bag and follows her gaze down to the man.

The soothing words seem to calm him enough that he lulls back into silence. Akira wonders if the medicine will eventually bring the light back to his eyes, if the crusted, shadowy marks on his skin will begin to heal. It's hard to say when this is all so unfamiliar, but he wants to believe that it'll make a difference in his condition. ]

I've never seen anything like this before. [ He's seen different magical effects in battle—friends turning on one another in confusion or being spelled into a blind rage—but this is something else entirely. ] It's... [ Difficult to look at, yeah. ]

[rowdyraven]

Oh, I'm not that drunk.

[He says it with an expansive gesture of his hand, flashes a debonair - if slightly sloppy - grin.]

Besides, lucky for me, I don't have to walk in a straight line for this. I just need to jump. Through that fire. And not trip up.

[He seems, at the very least, confident about his own abilities.]

So hold onto my coat, would you? I don't want it going up in flames.

[Which is evidently more care than he's given to himself.]

[fearolc]

Returning Symon's bow of his head with one of her own, Mhairi files away the man's face for later. There are so many people to keep track of, but she regularly interacts with the Coven and the Parliament alike - she'll do her utmost best to remember each face of these arrivals, even if the names will take some time.

But she looks down to Nessie when her Bonded looks up at her, unscarred eye blinking once, slowly, before she lets out a soft and thoughtful sound.

"Suppose," she answers at first, before continuing, "I'll speak with Parliament regarding finding a better place for them, as I have a few ideas. I believe Lady Denholm will be able to help arrange things, considering the project she was hoping to bring to the development talks, but it'll take time, and for now..."

Her gaze flicks back up to Symon from Nessie, and she nods. "Yes, we could designate somewhere for letters for now. Until we can find a better means for you, sir, and anyone who would like to speak with us. Urgent matters, of course, will be attended to more readily than letters."

oh cool it's a club now

[sullenstallion]

['Nice'??? It feels good to hear, but at the same time:]

Did you hit your head on your way through the mirror?

[He remembers seeing her around. The horns, at least, but it's not like he was talking to anyone at the time.]

It's...don't you think it's a little vain to think anyone deserves people?

No worries! and if it's easier I don't mind switching to prose.

[rowdyraven]

[Ah. Good. This is, evidently, precisely what he'd wanted to hear. Whilst he's happiest playing the story-teller, he's also partial to hearing a tale of adventure or two, himself. He settles back a little further into the water as the other man begins, the glitter of his one visible eye resting - attentive - on his companion's face.

He makes encouraging sounds in all the right places, punctuated by appropriate facial expressions of surprise and interest. Leans a little forward in the rose-scented water as the story nears its conclusion.]

Ah, well. He sounds like a thoroughly unpleasant sort, just waiting to get his comeuppance. And the alligator! How did you manage to hurt it? And was the villain apprehended, in the end?

[socials]

[ Head tilting at her question, Souji's smile doesn't necessarily fall off his face, but it does become something besides polite - quiet, and tired for a brief moment, as he huffs a small laugh. He manages to school it back to something somber as he moves to sit near her, leaving a little space between them to set the plate down, and to allow her her personal space. ]

This isn't the first time I've tumbled head-first into another world, but I can say this is the one time that I've done it and haven't been able to find a way back out within a couple of hours. [ Frank honesty, which he normally wouldn't have offered to this degree. Not many know about what he and his team had done for them, the town, the world, but they're all a literal world a way now. ]

I'm not not bothered, but I learned to face the challenges that experience gave me. So I intend to do my best to accomplish the same here, so that I can help these people and go home.

[civicbooty]

[ Aymeric walks in silence, frowning deeply, and runs a hand through his hair. It's impossible to argue the logic — there isn't any. It has the air of a blind defense, like a boy trying a shield for the first time, raising it ineffectually and ducking to hide.

He bends their path back toward the building's foyer. ]

If I have given you the impression that I serve only those approved by committee, then I must apologize.

[ He flicks a sly glance at Franecel, subtle humor, inviting him to join in the joke, and claps a hand on his shoulder too briefly to be awkward. ]

Let us be peers, Lord Francel. Indeed — here we are both no one; these titles mean little. Between us, mayhap we should be Francel and Aymeric.

[scaling]

Tokyo. Japan. [ He goes broader after a moment. Judging by the look of some of the other people that showed up in the Looking-Glass House that night, not all of the new arrivals come from the same Earth that he knows. ] Ah. I'm Akira. [ While he may have picked up on Paris's name through hearing their employer address him, Akira's not sure if the reverse is true.

He pauses alongside the table while Paris wipes it down. ]

Where are you from?

[clickclickbang]

[He doesn't, but that wasn't his point.

He reaches out to pet the other pretty bird.]

And what's her name?

[socials]

[ Well.

Souji certainly has seen everything today.

He regards the large cat for a moment, contemplative rather than fearful, before he watches it nudge up against his new companion. And then he decides no, he's quite all right with this in the end. It certainly does make things interesting, but the animal seems friendly and so does the person. So! ]

He looks like he'd be quite comfortable to sleep with, actually, so you might have gotten the better deal here. [ The words are said with a laugh, amicable. ] Was he one of your traveling partners?

wildcard, come at me bro : )

[atsumoribiito]

[The festival is fine and good, it really is, but inevitably Nobunaga's curiosity gets the better of her. That is, she starts exploring more of the city, regardless of celebrations. How, exactly, she manages to find her way to the seedier part of town by the river... well, it's anyone's guess.

More interesting, is what makes her pause before setting foot in one of the establishments. A glimpse of a familiar long ponytail, tipped with flame. No way...]

Nobukatsu!

[Her voice chimes out in time with a playful tug on the ponytail in question, a cheeky grin on her face while she waits for him to look at her standing behind him.]

Don't tell me you went and finally lost it the moment we got here? I didn't think you had it in you!

[rowdyraven]

[Whilst he casts a longing glance back over the broad curve of one shoulder when the stranger begins to lead him away, he doesn't go so far as to protest. Becomes, in fact, notably pliant within the other man's friendly but firm grip. Stumbles only slightly as they begin to put distance between them and the danger Julian had been threateing to cast himself into.]

Oh. Well. Hmm. I suppose you're right. There'll be plenty of time later, won't there? I'm sure I heard it mentioned that there's another whole night of this, yet.

[Assuming, of course, that they won't have found a solution to the small issue of their being here by then. But right now, in this drunken moment, such thoughts are strangely far from his mind.]

Aymeric, is it? Well I'm Julian. Doctor Julian Devorak, to be precise.

[Yes, you heard that right. The man threatening to hurl himself headlong through the flames is one who should certainly know better.]

[scaling]

[ So the assumption wasn't off-base. (Although, with the way his life has been recently, would it really have been that surprising if his own were inexplicably different from everyone else's?)

Akira looks from the woman to the mirror before her, finding the pane framed with a completely nondescript design, and nods. ] Like all the others.

[ His expression turns vaguely thoughtful. Maybe there's some sort of trick to it? He steps closer to hers, trying to view it from less of a sidelong angle, but—nope, still the same. ]

[actuallyadork]

[gonna say this is after meeting Connor]

Sunshine.

[Don't laugh. She loves her name and she loves attention. Petting is allowed.]