Intro Log: February

[faileas]

Intro Log: February

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 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. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the higher floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. 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. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, 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, along with those which feel to resemble yourselves in a world-traversing sense: Mirrorbound, they're called. "There's always a right lot of you coming in, aren't there." The woman sets her hands on her hips, with her Bonded casting a glance at those looking confused - newly arrived - and those who may have followed them in to talk to the newest addition of their mirrorbound bunch. "About time for introductions though- this here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament and my Bonded, and I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven - but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds, winking. "The lot of you must be as tired and confused as the last batch - hullo to those who've joined us, too! - so just a moment, dearests, I'll set all you right up—" With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have - we will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." 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, or for us to summarize an answer. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly. For those that'd like a more player-based interaction, Aefenglom has its own Welcome Wagon under the same header! These are players who've volunteered for the role, and those that didn't sign up may assist as well if they'd feel their character would -- have fun, and make friends. Additionally, those with notable injuries or sickness will be attended to ASAP by Coven-based witches, and should anyone be curious about what they are - if they have magic potential, or if they swing a different way - then this can be done during this and the general hour or so the new arrivals are within the Coven's grounds. There are ongoing classes on magic, monsters, and Bonding as well, though they take place more during the day than at night - feel free to have your characters attend them at any time!

III. THE HAVEN 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, it's time to make a trek to where you'll be staying while Nessie and Mhairi continue to search for a solution to the situation. As you're leaving with a few Bonded for guides, 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. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental-side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live - the Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in a program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra - like maids, chefs, and so on - they'll have to pay for them themselves with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services due to its roots as part of a district that already did. Much of the housing already has furnishing due to the speed at which homeowners were relocated; they were given enough time to collect their valuables, but standard furniture such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind for those moving in. Other houses appear the same, but the dust on the floors suggest these houses were left before the new arrivals even showed up - a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use it for - so long as the legality isn't questionable, on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses - and even some of the smaller ones, and the shared rooms in the barracks - the Witches put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It reads simply the information you've offered up yourself, or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

IV. Faiolleach From the 1st to the 3rd of Feoveuer is the holiday of Faiolleach, a time of spring-cleaning and purification in preparation for the new solar year, of rebirth and youth. It comes at a fitting time, after the dark happenings of the previous month - happenings that most natives are not willing to discuss, except in hushed, sympathetic voices. It was horrible, you know, best to cast that negative energy out. They won't discuss the details, not being privy to them; that's for Mirrorbound to clue the new arrivals in on. Many who have been here longer, though, will notice that Mirrorbound do not receive such a negative response in the wealthier areas of town as they did before. The vast majority of citizens, wealthy elites included, are, at the very least, polite. Despite the storm cloud of the Rathmores' trial on the 3rd hanging over the city, citizens are trying to put on their cheerful faces to celebrate Faiolleach. Originally celebrating the arrival of the sun, it was represented by a daughter of heaven whose name has been lost to ages - many still leave small offerings of food and drink out to this mythical figure, believing it bad luck not to do so. This is mostly done by older natives; the younger generation brushes it off as superstition. They're much more excited about speed-dating parties set up around the city, and blind dating, encompassing the traits of good luck and fertility traditionally held by the holiday. a. Speed-Dating The popular Faiolleach trend among the youths of Aefenglom is speed-dating, normally held in small to mid-sized gatherings of similarly-aged humans and Monsters both. The parties are all independent, usually held at small restaurants or bars, or other local shops rented out for the occasion, and many try to out-do the others - different themes, costumes or dress codes, and magical gimmicks are present at different bashes. They all hold to a similar mechanic: party participants are encouraged to make the rounds and spend just a handful of minutes with each person, sharing information about themselves in order to determine compatibility, but the level of structure (casual to organized) and the types of icebreaker games differ wildly. Revelers in the streets are out to pull walk-in participation in whatever bash is going on nearby, but they back off easily if the person isn't interested. It's certainly not a required part of the holiday, but they're eager to see people having fun. Whatever a person's tastes or interests, it's probable they'll find a gathering to their liking; some are skewed more toward finding someone to Bond with or making a new friend rather than finding someone to date, while some held in the Red Light District are a little spicier, with lingerie or kink themes to their parties. Participation is all optional, but meeting new people, regardless of how, is highly encouraged. b. Bonfires After dark, on all three nights of Faiolleach, bonfires of different sizes are held, scattered around the city, the flames magically contained in circles of runes (to avoid more possible fire damage, with repairs still ongoing from last month). People gather around them to dance, sing folk songs, and share warming drinks with one another. Like the speed-dating parties, they vary wildly from area to area; some are folksy, all-ages affairs where grandmothers tut and offer hot chocolate to ward against the evening chill. A common children's and young adults' activity at these bonfires are decorating wands of white birch wood with ribbons and baubles, and using them in the group dances to create mesmerizing swirls of color and sparkle. Others, especially those in the Entertainment District, feature beautiful dancers of all species in fine silks and satins, performing dances that are a little more sultry. At the obviously-adults-only bonfires, the favorite drink passed around is alcoholic in nature, and lightly spiked with a potion to help the drinker lose some of their inhibitions and help them loosen up. These effects will be readily disclosed to anybody who is offered a cup, to let them choose for themselves - but hey, where's your sense of adventure? c. Light a Candle The 2nd of Feoveuer brings with it a more minor, but still well-loved tradition. As dusk falls, all candles in the city are lit, casting a warm glow from every window and on every street corner as the dark of night sets in. The flickering lights lining paths and shining in homes lend a more metaphorically-magical air to Aefenglom, bringing with it a sense of renewal and shared joy. Light a candle with loved ones and new bonds alike, and it's said to bring good fortune to your friendship or relationship. As the candles burn, several food vendors can be found selling a particular festival dish, a thin pancake topped with fruits, nuts, and cream, meant to be shared with someone by feeding it to them. For couples (or those pretending to be couples), often the vendors will offer the sweet treats for free with well-wishes for their future together.

V. Inkchanted For some time already this has been hailed as the opening day for Inkchanted, a Mirrorbound led tattoo parlor in the Harbor district that offers… well tattoos, but not normal tattoos: these are enchanted. It’s not a popular use of enchantment school, but it works nevertheless. With the use of special ink, runic spells are weaved into the tattoo’s design, which allows for various effects. For Witches, this can mean instant activation of spells without the need for chanting or gestures. Just run your magical energy through the design and the effect is instantaneous! For Monsters... that’s where things become interesting because Monsters also are granted use of that specific tattooed spell. The caveat is that the tattoo must be charged with Witch magic, or draw on magic stored in a sort of ‘battery’ they also have in the store. Said batteries are made of various jewelry or pendants, ranging from simple materials like copper and glass to more expensive made of silver and opals. Ink in the tattoos does not last forever, though; they will fade away entirely after reaching the limit of their use (which is said to be anywhere between 15-30 hours of continuous use, depending on the design’s size). A cheaper alternative to the tattoos are painted spells, with similar specialized paint to help them stick to the skin. Instead of a time limit, these have a limited number of uses and will disappear afterwards. That’s what it says on the paper, but a keen eye will notice that despite opening on the advertised day, there must have been some complications quite recently. There are signs of fire around the building, and any help with painting over them is greatly appreciated. Likewise, windows seem particularly new, and there are still shards of glass that could be found outside; anyone willing to help with this particular detail will be compensated by an old sailor named William who is renting the space to the young Mirrorbound, If asked what happened here recently, he becomes serious but tries to brush off the questions. When it becomes apparent that new Mirrorbound have appeared, the owners of the parlor scramble to find something for them to do, and thus end up encouraging a simple activity meant as practice for Witches and Monsters, both old and new. They offer a vast amount of magical energy batteries and encourage the Mirrorbound to form pairs, where one person fills the battery with magic, while the other attempts to siphon it out, cycling the energy this way. The only thing they ask is to have the batteries left fully filled. Soon, it turns out that the exercise might come with some side-effects, from getting memory-flashes of another person that used the battery, to sharing their emotional state or even simple thoughts. And should someone try and steal the magical battery… they might find themselves chased by one of the owners or… knocked right into the harbor’s water by a magical ward placed on the entrance if they don’t have a way to counter it! Note: More on this player-run business and its owners can be found on the Locations page! Big thanks to Shuu and Lena and co. for this prompt!

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 new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the February's 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

Tataru Taru | FFXIV | Witch

[seemstressed]

Lovely Lady [Speed Dating]

<sub>[The past twenty four hours and counting have been, well, a lot for Tataru to take in. Being ripped away from your friends and heck, your world, only to be deposited into a completely foreign land? Not exactly up there when it comes to things she enjoys having happen to her. Initial panic attack and cry session aside, now that she's here and not in Eorzea she might as well make the best of it, right? She's been told she's a "witch" (haha, how funny, didn't they know how her last foray into Arcanist magic had gone?) and while that's all fine and dandy it's something she doesn't feel like dealing with just yet.

So, why not do what she does best and visit the local tavern to find out more? Makes sense! Heck, she worked at The Forgotten Knight long enough that hanging out in such establishments is second nature at this point. What better way to meet new people and try to find some semblance of stability.

It's only when she ends up at the tavern that she realizes there's an actual meet and greet taking place. It's more than just that though, and the word dating has her flustering, petite hands waving in the air as she's shuffled toward the area where there are wooden chairs and tables set up for people. She's the smallest one in the tavern by far as she's seated, having ordered a hot, (spiked) drink on the house, tapping her fingers nervously on the sides of the mug. They're supposed to spend a few minutes chatting with people, to meet new friends or, if the Twelve will it, love interests.

Just what exactly has she gotten herself into?

It's okay though! She can make the best of it! After all, she loves talking with people and surely she can talk to others about herself for a few minutes at a time, right? Seated on a stool that's much too high for a Lalafell (but aren't they always?) she's setting her drink down on the table before her once her conversation partner sits across from her. Might as well start with the introductions, right?]</sub>

Hello! I'm Tataru Taru! Twenty One Summers young and a Lalafell lady like none you've ever met!

_{[Was that too forward? Nah, it's fine. That's the name of the game, right? To be charming? She can do charming - especially when there's a bit of alcohol involved.]}

Through The Fire And The Flames [Bonfire]

<sub>[Despite all the travelling she's done and the epic quests she's found herself dragged on, Tataru feels a bit homesick. There are races here she has no record of and certainly none she's familiar with, despite some she'd classify as Hyur or Elezen. Certainly no Lalafell like herself, which makes her stick out like a sore thumb among the crowds. It doesn't help either that her diminutive stature has her being mistaken for much younger than she actually is, even though the way she handles herself or the words that sputter from her lips are anything but childish. It gets a little tiring though, when no one knows what you are...but hey, it's not like she's familiar with most of the races she's run into. It's a learning process for everyone involved.

The heat of the bonfire is welcoming, as is the hot cocoa in hand as she sits as close to the flames as she can. A few children had beckoned her to help decorate birch wands earlier and she'd relented, happy to have an activity to keep her mind off the growing anxiety bubbling within. She'd been given one of the wands as a token, a gift from a few of the children, and it's as she sits that she fiddles with the ribbon tied around it. It's rather pretty. Maybe she could re-purpose it into a hair pin of some sort...

Sipping away at her drink she curls in on herself, happy to chat with anyone who comes to take up the seat beside her. Later on she'll find herself tugged away by the sound of folk music, and, after a bit of coaxing she finds herself urged to sing and offer up a tune to those who are eager to listen to the tiny Witch. Despite her high pitched (sometimes squeaky) speaking voice, when she does open her mouth to sing the sound that comes forth is a lovely one, soprano in nature. The song she sings is one she sung in The Forgotten Knight, the tavern in Ishgard she worked in. It's a tune she picked up there, one about the Dragonsong War and the sacrifices of great warriors to protect their nation. A ballad for the ages, if you will. She's captivating enough and after awhile the crowd begins to grow, hushed whispering about the petite Witch with a lovely voice.]</sub>

Would You Light My Candle? [Candle Lighting]

<sub>[It's a lovely tradition, she thinks, one she learns of quickly through the chattering of locals she overhears throughout the day and really, what better way to get yourself involved than to participate? Especially when there are treats to be had. It's only after ordering the festive dish that Tataru finds herself with expectant eyes watching her as she holds her plate. Ah. Really? Does she have to share?

Apparently she does, and it'd be in bad taste to discredit local traditions! Last thing she wants to do is cause an avoidable cultural clash! The only problem is...just who exactly is she supposed to share it with? Nervously looking around she decides to just wing it, going up to the first friendly(ish) looking person she spots, tilting her head up toward them and raising an arm in the air to wave their way. It's always worked before to grab a person's attention.]</sub>

U-Um...sorry to be a bother! Would you like to share with me?

_{[She'd rather eat it all herself but, y'know, customs are customs...]}

Speed Dating!

[poisontippedcure]

[There’s alcohol, and that’s the only reason that Rose even considered coming here. She has never been one to socialize, and actually managed to scare her first few partners off before their allotted time. She’s never seen somebody so happy to see a bell ring.]

[The next person, however, catches her attention. It wasn’t that she’d discounted anyone else from Eorzea arriving, but she hadn’t counted on Tataru. The Lalafellian Terror.]

[Rose chuckles. It’s good to see a friendly face, even if there’s a chance that she doesn’t remember her.]

Tataru, I am very well acquainted with you. You don’t have to introduce yourself to me.

[seemstressed]

_{[Ah, does her reputation precede her so? The excitement that lights up on Tataru's face at the sight of her new conversation partner is, well, palpable. Does she know this Miqo'te lady? Not as far as she's aware...but a recognizable race from Eorzea brings her relief in a way she didn't realize it would. When you're a far way from home, even unfamiliar fluffy ears will bring some level of comfort it seems.]}

O-Oh, do I not? Well...are you a fan of mine? Have you seen me perform?

_{[She was quite popular at The Forgotten Knight during her stint there. Certainly that must be the case!]}

bonfire

[fordola]

[ She had to get out more. She couldn't retreat into her grief and pain.

Fordola was not taking part in the celebrations, however, but instead resting near the flames. Bundled up, she looked far more beast then person.

But she couldn't help but lift a wing, and see her. A Lalafell. But was she friend or foe? She didn't know that face, she was certain of that. Speaking in a heavy Ala Mhign accent - as she had begun to do to remind herself she was a person - Fordola spoke right at Tataru. ]

Let me guess - those children see you as one of 'em.

[seemstressed]

<sub>[The accent has Tataru's eyes widening as she turns to face the woman speaking to her. Or well, what she assumes is a woman. The lady is certainly quite beastly in appearance, yet again completely unfamiliar to the Lalafell currently fiddling with the branch she decorated earlier. There's a lot to unpack here right now. Why does this beastwoman have an Ala Mhign accent? Or was she just hearing things?

Maybe she's just hearing things. It's been a long day.

So why not focus on what she does understand?]</sub>

If not one of them they see me as someone safe to play with.

_{[Small is usually something not to be feared. Usually.]}

They've never seen a Lalafell before. I can't fault them for being mistaken.

Candle Lighting

[quintessent]

[Allura is enjoying some of the festivities herself. Everything else has been nice but she particularly enjoys the simplicity of the candle lighting, the scent of sweet treats in the air. It was... peaceful. And beautiful.

And she has an eye on those treats herself when a small arm waving catches her eye. There's the classic moment of 'Are you talking to me?' where Allura glances behind her, but with no one else paying any mind to the small person (human??) Allura looks down at her, her eyes growing to the size of the dinner plate that Tataru is holding when she sees the sweet treat right in front of her.]

Oh you want to share with me? That is very sweet of you, little one.

[Sorry Tataru, she might be mistaking you for a child right now.]

[seemstressed]

<sub>[Little One. Ah. Why is this Elezen lady talking down at her like this? Surely she'd know what a Lalafell is, right? After all even the isolated Ishgardians knew about the other enlightened races, whether they had encountered someone different from themselves or not.

Ignorance isn't a pretty look but then again, there's the off chance she's not an Elezen, despite the ears.]</sub>

Well, I'm not that little.

Candle Lighting

[krihnnges]

[K'rihnn isn't expecting to see a familiar face waving at him. His eyes are wide in surprise, though he hardly looks too much like a Miqo'te anymore. Yet... he doubts she would've recognized him anyway. It seems her Warrior of Light isn't him, much like others from their neck of the universe.

It makes him a little sad, honestly, but he does his best to smile at her. Despite everything, he still thinks of her as a good friend.]

Ah... I'd be honored to share with you, Tataru.

[... Aw, crap, he's probably made this awkward. K'rihnn runs a hand through his hair nervously.]

S-sorry, that probably... sounded bad when you don't know who I am. I'm K'rihnn Tia, a... Warrior of Light... just not your Warrior, I imagine.

[seemstressed]

<sub>[Wait, is this another fan of hers? How does this guy know her? But, ah...here we go again. So that wasn't just some weird conversation she had at the tavern with Rose. Here was another so called Warrior of Light, just not hers. Which is a weird thing to, well, think about, let alone hear with her own two ears. The look she has on her face is definitely one of mild confusion mixed with her usual, easily flustered nature.

An honour though? Really?]</sub>

I'm afraid I don't know you, Sir, and I'm not sure how much of an honour it is to share a dessert with me but...if you still want to?

_{[If they stuff their faces it'll become less awkward, right?]}

Bonfire

[inlikethebrume]

[She can handle some hot chocolate right about now as she slowly sips it, listening to the songs of those around her. But it's when she hears a familiar voice that she stops and focuses on that, seeing a familiar face, Mira wants to cry out. Why did the mirrors take Tataru here? She deserved to stay back in Eorzea where it was safer!

And yet, she holds herself. She cannot simply call out her name in worry that she may not know who she is; 'tis a matter of life and Mira is used to it. So instead as she holds her mug and brings down from her lips, she makes a clapping noise in appreciation.]

[seemstressed]

<sub>[The cheers and claps are like music to her ears as she finishes her song, delighted that the crowd seems to enjoy having listened to her as much as she enjoyed performing. There's a little curtsy coupled with a thank you before she's making her exit for another singer to take her place. A quiet hum on her lips and a spring in her step, she's not entirely watching where she's walking. Soon enough she finds herself walking straight into a woman's knees, stumbling backward immediately after.

Not a moment to waste and she's got her arms up in the air, waving them as she squeaks out an apology.]</sub>

A-Apologies Miss! I should have been watching where I was going!

lovely lady...

[morbide]

[Her partner is a boy with silvery white hair, framing his face in playful whisps that match his placid smile. He wears his own clothes — an ensemble lighter than his usual garb, but still decorated in golds and blacks. His age: dubious, but his disposition is childish in the way he twiddles his laced fingers absentmindedly and swings his feet.

Tataru's introduction is met by his cheery smile. Wow, she's twenty-one? He guessed she was of-age by her presence here, and this confirms it: she's a case like Nowi. That settled, Henry laughs. They're officially... speed-dating??]

Henry! Nice to meetcha, Tataru-Taru. [He says her full name because its entirety rolls off his tongue like a spell. A grin spreads across his face, but there's no malice — only playfulness.] So, a human and a Lalafell... That would be a pretty odd pair. Do you think our babies would be as half as cute as you are?

[j e suus christ henry, PLEASE, NOT APPROPRIATE?]

Candle Lighting

[wordsinthesoul]

[Lights in the darkness, a reassuring sight in the homes- something they probably all need, Thancred thinks. And the food doesn't hurt, either.

He'd been looking the vendors over, humming thoughtfully, when Tataru's movements catch his attention. He turns towards and- ah. Well! A smile spreads on his face, and he moves to stand beside her.]

I'd hardly call that a bother at all. Rather- it's good to spend time together after this long, don't you think?

speed dating

[unsundered]

[It had been a... tiring and unpleasant few weeks. This was one of the first times Emet-Selch had even ventured very far from where he lived; too much healing, too little motivation. And while he's still not entirely well, by now he's mostly able to mask his remaining discomfort, apart from bearing a limp, and having one damaged, blinded eye.

But he was restless and bored, and that led to the mistake of venturing too close to a specific tavern. Which had somehow pressed him into this against his protests. But he had noticed the recent influx of new Mirrorbound into the city; this was, perhaps, a chance to look over some of them, either as they participated or passed by. Perhaps there would be someone interesting, and if it all became too much trouble- well, he'd just teleport away.

So there he is. He doesn't know Tataru, of course. But her appearance, the word lalafell gets his attention immediately. Perhaps this nuisance of an event would be worthwhile after all. An Eorzean. A person from the same world.

Of the five people from his star that he hadn't recognized, four of them had been Warriors of Light (and the last a Garlean soldier). If this trend held, then this lalafell could well be...

...yet another one?

In any case, it was worth figuring out who she was. No one was brought here randomly, it seemed; it was just a matter of finding out what the connection was. How she reacted to him was the first test, but even that wouldn't clarify everything; not everyone came from the same time, after all. So, sorry, Tataru, your new companion is a tall (but weren't they all?), Garlean man who's regarding her with a certain degree of skepticism.

But he offers a polite half-bow nonetheless.]

...Emet-Selch. Charmed, I'm sure.

[Not a very Garlean name though, hm.]

speed dating

[supersoldier]

[What great and calamitous force of nature dictated that Sephiroth participate in this round of speed dating? What twisted his arm with such vigor that he now sits at this table, untouched drink of something warm and amber in front of him, with a stranger seated at the other end? Who had been so persuasive in their argument, that doing this — at least once, just once — would be for his benefit, forming connections that he could follow up on later? Planting his station in this world, one (slightly unwilling) root at a time?

We may never know. There are some things, ineffable as they are, that you never ask after. Instead, we focus on the reality — Sephiroth is indeed here, sitting as stoic as ever in his seat, listening to Tataru but certainly not sharing her same enthusiasm. Straight-backed, cat-like eyes trained on the other, he is not particularly impolite, but engagement and investment is perhaps another matter altogether.

But he’s here. And he’s agreed to it, in some way or another. Participation must be pulled out of him after a pause between her introduction and his own.]

...My name is Sephiroth. I’m human. [He’s never had to say that before.] Though in this place, I’m labeled as a monster.

[Which would be more of a shuddering insult to his pride (and more) if not for how prevalent the label seems to be.]

I’ve never met a... Lalafell.

speed dating because lol

[stopfen]

Uh...

[Mikasa wasn't sure what she was expecting. But this wasn't it. It was comforting in a way. Even if she'd already grilled the person who'd managed to convince her to go in.]

...Twenty one?

[That's the first thing she's going to question here.]

Candles!

[enkidoh]

[The worst thing is that the entire city is pretending that nothing has happened. New Mirrorbound get welcomed with feasts and gatherings. Enkidu wonders if these new humans know about the things that have happened only a small week ago. Would they know that they aren't accepted here?

And while they're lost in these ridiculously negative thoughts it takes a while before they realize someone is talking to them.]

Hmm?

[The owner of said voice is a small woman with pointy ears.]

Share? [Enkidu nods slowly.] Yes. Of course. [A pause.] Why are we lighting these candles?

[finesseblade]

[ Felix, too, is homesick in his own way, though it manifests as a restlessness that has him wandering the city on his second night, observing the festivities from a distance even if not participating. He still feels like he's left unfinished business back in Fódlan, but what is he to do about that now?

Eventually he finds himself kicking back next to one of the bonfires, nursing a mug of some kind of spiced drink he's found himself able to tolerate amongst all the sweets, listening to a girl—a child, maybe?—sing a song that feels a little more familiar, like home, than all the strange lights and machinery of this place he's in now. There are parts that sound like the kind of fanciful embellishments he usually despises, but here and now, it almost has him feeling a little wistful.

He waits until she's finished and the crowd has started to disperse before he says anything. ]

Your song. Is there a story behind it, or is it just a fanciful tale?

Would You Light my Candle

[truescholar]

[ The request is unexpected to say the least; enough so that Ienzo needs a few moments to take it in. So he ends up blinking dumbly at her for a few seconds before he's able to respond. ]

Share with you?

[ Ienzo's eyes settle on the dish in Tataru's hands, the one he'd been admiring forlornly not too long before. Oh. ]

Oh!

[bonfire]

[spirialink]

[Songs and stories were always something impressive to Kor, how they could fill a person with emotion by relating the feelings they contained in them. It was something very true of his world, one filled with fairy tales and myths, so hearing others share their tales was... inspiring to him. He listen to Tataru's song with wonder and awe.

Once her ballad finally comes to its conclusion and the crowd begins to finally die down, Kor approaches her, eager to share his feelings regarding her song.]

That was an amazing story you told there.

bonfire and my god i'm so sorry for my ignorant teenager.

[powerful]

( Cassie sees the super tiny person - she assumes a young child - all by her lonesome and is immediately concerned. She approaches cautiously, because not all kids are okay with strangers - okay, most are not okay with strangers - and offers a reassuring smile. )

Hey -- are you okay? Are you lost?

( Followed shortly by... ) ... Where are your parents?

bonfire

[exarchal]

[The music is lovely, really-- and familiar. He doesn't recognize the voice of the singer, but he's entranced nonetheless. That's... a Lalafell, isn't it? It couldn't be anyone else. No one that he knows, though her description does seem... familiar... He's afraid to ask, and certainly not about to interrupt.

Toward the end of the third verse, this cowled stranger strums a few chords on a conjured lute-- a trick he learned from someone a few months back. He isn't trying to upstage her, really, but give her some accompaniment. He matches her pace and tone perfectly.

Hidden or not, Tataru will certainly feel those warm eyes watching.]

Candle Lighting

[silentsavant]

[If this is your idea of a friendly-looking person, you've got another thing coming, Tataru! Or maybe he was the only person around? Or maybe, by some weird coincidence, everyone around him was even less friendly-looking than the Dragon? Either way, here we are.

Soren looks down at this strange, almost Fae-like creature waving at him and asking in a high-pitched voice if he would like to share her food. By now, he knows their custom, so it's pretty clear why she's soliciting him. Honestly, she's so... small that he could imagine that big plate of pancakes heaped with toppings to be just a little too much for her to eat on her own.]

You don't have any friends you'd rather share it with?

[Candle Lighting]

[murowa]

[Diana would've been lying if she said that their stature didn't catch her attention. But it was only for a moment that she allowed it to, instead figuring that they must've already been well aware of their size. And tired of the unwanted attention.

No sense in making it awkward, really.

She helped herself to only a small piece of the dish.]

The rest is yours.

[Technically still sharing.]

Speed Dating

[newtralize]

[Perhaps he should have paid attention a smidge more to what was happening. He had merely wanted a drink and not be whisked into, well, this. Newt wasn't feeling very social and this was a rather social turn of events.

Maybe it won't be so bad to mingle with others and he is all but practically ushered and sat across someone; cup in hand.

And boy does she kind of just come in hot.] I, uhm, yes! Hullo. [Wow, articulate.] A pleasure Miss Taru. I'm Newt Scamander. Thirty- [He pauses though. Oh, his birthday was coming up wasn't it.] I'll be honest that I don't think I've met a, Lalafell was it? So you would be the first I've met on top of it.