[EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

[khuimods]

Characters: ALL
Date: January 15
Location: At the Dreaming Bridge and all over Aifaran!
Situation: A large influx of Dreamfolk arrive in time for one of the Lunar Festivals, and they're all invited!
Warnings/Rating: N/A


A surprising amount of Dreamfolk have arrived within a short time frame - a peculiarity remarked upon by a number of Aifaran's residents. It is unusual in that it coincides with a lunar festival, one which only happens every fifty or so years.

Newcomers will find the streets packed with all sorts of people, stalls of fried and sugared foods, carnivalesque games and rides, and all other manner of things to do. Merchants are very keen to get their wares out there, and the stipend given may just burn a hole in your pocket when you see what's for sale.

Comments

[psituational]

The cat didn't turn into a person and start talking back to X, but he did at least seem interested in further conversation. X took that as cautious invitation, and he was on his haunches stroking the little cat's head when his new roommate came out of the bathroom.

... In a towel.

X got his feet in a flash. The cat went and wound itself around the woman's legs, which helped X relax, but not by much. For a second he just stood there, staring, waiting for his brain to reboot.

"I -- I can come back later," he managed. "I didn't realise you'd be in the middle of -- I'm sorry."

For as genuine as the apology was, X didn't drop his gaze or look away. Quite the contrary, he watched the woman's face unblinkingly, waiting to gauge her reaction.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis tipped her head, still trying to decide how to handle the current situation. Anani mewed, pausing in his affection to look at the man again, his gaze mirroring hers right down to the emerald green eyes. Then she smiled.

"If you wish."

She let the towel slip to the floor, seemingly unconcerned that he was watching her, and finished crossing to the bed. She picked up the shirt, pretending as if she didn't care about his presence. She was in no hurry to leave the room anyway. Anani followed in her footsteps, leaping back onto the bed and jumping onto the pillow, where he flopped down and started purring.

[psituational]

Well.

Okay then.

If she was unconcerned, there wasn't any reason for X to be. Still, he... well, even in Earth, there weren't many people so utterly dismissive of their privacy. It was strange. This woman was strange.

"I'm your new roommate," he said, looking down at the cat again, "as long as we both have the room number right." Then, with a smile: "I'm X. What are your names?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis found immense interest in the fact that the man had no reaction to her at all. Most humans would have been appalled, interested, or some combination of the two. But if they were roommates, she'd have plenty of time to figure out how to push his buttons. She turned her back to him, slipping the button up over her arms to cover the shimmering tattoo that had appeared on the back of her left shoulder. She'd have to investigate that detail later, but the man, X, apparently had questions.

"You'll have to be a bit more specific," she replied, "I have many names."

She turned to face him, looking down as she buttoned up the shirt.

"But the creature on my pillow is named Anani."

[psituational]

The shimmering mark caught X's attention right away. It looked like his own, and that... he couldn't decide if that was worrying, or if it was a relief. A relief because at least he wasn't the only one; worrying because an injury shared among multiple people didn't make the injury any less serious.

It took him a second to realise his new roommate had answered his question, and X belatedly chuckled at the response. "That's become more and more popular," he murmurs. "Alright. What would you like me to call you?"

Creature, she said, as if Anani was less than sentient. X suppressed a shudder. Different cultural rules, he reminded himself. She couldn't have meant any harm by it.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis gave no sign that she felt the man’s anxiety, she didn’t know exactly why it crossed her senses so sharply and, since it faded in the next instant, she paid it little attention. She moved around the bed and sat down, crossing one bare leg over the other, opting to engage in conversation instead of continuing to dress. As long as no more unexpected, and unwelcome, visitors appeared, she held little concern.

“I suppose you can call me Valdis,” she replied, “That’s the name I usually go by, though some people add ‘Lady’ to that. It’s really up to you.”

Anani stretched out, poking her leg with his paws, her hand drifted over to give him the attention he so clearly wanted. The feeling of his fur between her fingers was soothing, at least she had something familiar here, it made starting over a bit less daunting.

“What kind of name is ‘X’?”

here comes your other roommate

[bestofthevein]

There's already some conversation coming out of the room that the friendly folks downstairs had indicated would be Kit's room--well, Kit, plus the injured and still slightly sopping wet bibiru he's got tucked under his elbow--and he hopes that's going to be a good sign.

The dwarf leans his head into the doorway and glances first from X to Valdis--who currently has almost no clothing on. Uh.

"Ancestors," he mumbles under his breath, followed by a quick, uncomfortable grin, "Uh, you know what, I can come back later," he adds, holding up his free hand and backing away. The bibiru, spotting Anani, fluffs itself up in a hilarious display of either fright or fight me bro, it's hard to tell.

[psituational]

"Lady Valdis." X nods, then almost immediately grimaces a little. "It's not a name," he admits, self-deprecating for the first time in the conversation, with one hand on his neck. "I don't have a name. 'X' is a placeholder."

Back home, anyone X spoke to would know instantly what he meant, and either be backing away or much colder in their demeanour. It was refreshing, in this world, to have encountered more curiosity than judgement.

They're interrupted before he can explain, however, and X looks around with vibrant interest. "No, please," he says before he's even fully seen who's at the door. "From what I've gathered, it's how she says hello. Don't be afraid."

[redlightgreenlight]

Didn't have a name? Well, it wasn't as if she cared enough to question it further, especially once another person entered the equation. The short man's discomfort amused her for only a moment, but the temperature in the room may have actually dropped by several degrees after X spoke.

Valdis' entire demeanor shifted, "Generally, when I mean to say hello, I use the actual word."

But she didn't move, her narrowed eyes shifting to the newcomer, "Would it hurt you to knock?"

[bestofthevein]

Shit, this is getting off to a rough start, isn't it?

"Sorry," he repeats himself, shifting his eyes from X to Valdis, then back again, and adds, "Look, the nice folks downstairs said this was supposed to be my room, but I can probably, you know--" vague hand gesture, "--go get that straightened out." As in go live somewhere else, if things are going to be Weird.

[psituational]

"I'm sorry," X says, in reply to Valdis's chilly reaction. He manages to sound both genuine, and like he's not sorry at all, a little like a friend teasing another friend who's realised they may have gone a bit far. "People aren't nearly as... secure, where I'm from. Not where our new roommate's from, either, unless I miss my guess."

Dwarf, is X's first thought, as he studies the newcomer. Only it looks like he has the misfortune of his brand -- tattoo -- getting put squarely on his face. The sight of it almost makes X flinch. Fortunately, he's had enough practice fighting his bias not to show it, aside from his gaze lingering longer than what might be considered polite.

He smiles. "I'm X." With a gesture: "This is Lady Valdis, I've just been told. Don't worry; I think she's only taking her anger at me out on you." Another gesture: "This is Anani. I don't know much about him yet."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis arched a brow at the dwarf. Honestly, she could care less if he left, it might be more convenient for her anyway, she didn't want roommates. X's apology fell on less than receptive ears, but she decided to not take it further.

"Thanks for the introduction," she stated in a manner that suggested she very much did not appreciate it. "Is there something I should be insecure about?" She directed the question at X, though the dwarf was welcome to answer if he wanted.

The fluffy, white cat sat up, yawned to show off his teeth and then mewed loudly at the bibiru.

[bestofthevein]

The dwarf in question has no intention of answering. If he could possibly back pedal harder out of this situation, he'd be doing it right now. But the bibiru seems very agitated by the presence of Anani, and has puffed up its fur and feathers to cheep at it again. Let it show you who's boss! (The narrator: it would be the cat.)

"Um. I'm Kit," he begins, attempts what he hopes is a friendly smile, and looks between Valdis and X. If he notices how X's stare lingers on his face tattoos, he's old hat at ignoring it too. "I think," he adds, and finally takes a small step back, "that I should probably sort out lodgings elsewhere."