ioduanlogs | [EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

[EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

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.

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[Padparadscha gets rather alert for a moment as he explains, as if they just remembered something, so they have an answer ready by the time he inquires about where they're from.]

Sometimes I forget animals need to eat. My people survive on sunlight alone. And our children are born of rock. But animal "children" are made by animals, aren't they? To pass on their knowledge, and replace them. Is that how humans and those kinds of species work as well?

[They know very little about humans, so any knowledge they can get or get confirmed is useful to them. Not going off murmurs and fragments of old legends is something they'd like to progress to as soon as possible.]

Huh. Easy to not run out of food, then. [The surprise lasts only a second or two, and then Rokuta flashes a grin and then shrugs, glancing around.]

And, uh. Probably? Haven't seen any indications here they're born differently. [He shrugs, and then, spotting someone clearly pregnant hurrying away with their partner, nods and points them out.] Where I'm from though, everything comes from ranka, which grow on particular trees. They're fruit shaped like eggs.

[At least, with the born from rock information, he doubts there'll be much confusion about the ranka from this person, compared to your regular kaikyaku or... anyone at all elsehwere. But that's a minor concern, honestly; another look around, then towards the funhouse. He wishes he'd heard about the disappearances earlier in the day. It probably wouldn't have mattered, but looking around and through the funhouse while the disappearances were happening might have yielded better results.]

[That makes them laugh a little.] Well, our winters are harsh, so we have to hibernate. The quality of the light isn't good enough to sustain us then.

[But it makes them wonder about the winter in this world. This place certainly seems lush and lively, but so is their own world outside of the winter. It might be something they'll have to learn when winter begins to approach, or an equivalent season.

Padparadscha turns to look at the pregnant person, tilting their head slightly as they watch them go. So the children are formed within the body, rather than within rock...

They turn their attention back to Rokuta before long.] Everything? They must be very special trees where they grow, then.

Too far north, huh.

[It's more a thoughtful comment than a question while he keeps looking around - he's been asking questions for the past few hours, but no one seems to have seen anything which is just... weird. There were, after all, a lot of people around during the disappearances.

Grunting softly, Rokuta nods.]

Everything. Humans, hanjyuu, livestock and grains from the tree that'll be in the village or town, wild animals and plants from trees in the wild. [Pausing, Rokuta runs a hand through his hair, cocking his head.] I'm Enki, by the way. The rocks you come from can be any rock?

[But, either way that explained the quality of the hair and the glimpses of actual stones set in the chest.]

Maybe. There's little land to choose from. [And that's all they're going to say on that particular matter. With so many humans here, they have no interest in letting out the information that humans are merely a mythical ancestor who once lived on their world to them.

The idea of trees that grow all life is an interesting one, though, and Padparadscha considers the thought at length with a faint smile.] I think that would be an interesting world to know.

[But as it is, they shake their head.] I'm Padparadscha. And we're formed of gemstones alone. The inclusions that give us life only seem to take root in that.

[Barring one rather unusual example bearing alloys.]

[There's a sense that there's no wish to talk further about the state of their home and Rokuta just shrugs easily. He doesn't mind. Though the comment about his world gets a snort before he smiles softly.]

Mostly, it is. Seems like it ends up looking kinda weird if you aren't born there, but people live their lives like they do everywhere. [Nodding slowly, Rokuta stops looking around - there's really nothing to see, and if there's any trace amount of magic, it's probably long dispersed; he wouldn't be able to follow it either way.] So somehow the gemstones are special... kinda like the riboku tree. Guess those gems have to do with which you formed from?

[The smile sharpens a little into a grin as he nods to the partially visible gems in their chest. It seems like an easy assumption given what he's been told, now.]

Well, most worlds would look weird to someone not born there. [Growing up familiar with one place only to be suddenly transplanted to another is hardly an easy feat. The best one can hope to be is adaptable to the new environment.

Padparadscha's keeping an eye on the lingering people and confused victims still, but they know better by now than to think their last body will return so easily. So they continue the conversation as if it's their only concern right now, tapping their torso slightly.]

These gems are me. Or they are now, since my holes were filled in again. Maybe these ones will stick.

[Maybe it's being completely surprised by his amusement, but he sniggers softly and nods, though quickly sobers up again. It just makes him think of Taiki... and he's very relieved that his absence won't be noticed, not just for En's sake, but Taiki's, too. Taiki's been gone long enough as it is.]

Usually always something that makes 'em like that, yeah.

[Gaze straying to the gems again, his eyebrows climb up on his forehead and he looks Padparadscha over.]

Huh. Didn't expect that. So the rest is... padding? I was kinda thinking something like hanjyuu. They've got an animal form and a human one.

[But, you know, in Padparadscha's case, something to do with gems instead.]

Edited 2018-01-21 20:58 (UTC)

[There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding there, but Padparadscha just laughs and shakes their head a little.] No, the rest of me is still gemstone. I just never bothered powdering this part of myself to cover it up, like I do the rest.

[Padparadscha taps at the join between the gem and white surface, running a finger over it as if to show that there's a different texture there.] I'd rub some off, but I don't think I'd be able to find powder flower here, so best not to risk it.

[They'll already have to be careful not to wash it off, since they don't have any resin with them.]

[Definitely a misunderstanding, though Rokuta takes it an amused grimace.]

Oh. Well, that makes sense. And don't worry 'bout it. [Waving off the need for further demonstration, he laces his hands together behind his head.] That's a lot of work, and you don't have to ruin it just to show me. Maybe you can find some sort of replacement?

[Surely there must be something around here? Since there could be any number of things that might rub or wash it off, and they clearly prefer to look as they do.]

I hope so. Maybe there's something here that will stay on a little more consistently, huh? [Though they laugh a little even as they say that, it is a serious thought. Phos hadn't seemed to have that same powder as the rest of them once they got on good terms with the Lunarians, and the technology level on the Moon seemed to be at least somewhat similar to what's here.]

But that's something to look into a little later, I think.

Hopefully. [Rokuta nods, sincerity in his tone even as he casts another distracted look around, frowning again.] Aside from the fact that most shops are probably closed by now? Yeah. Don't know if taking another look around will help, but...

[A sigh escapes and he straightens up, glancing up at Padparadscha, head cocked.] You got any way of sensing energies or magic?

[Probably a long shot - if there's anything there at all it might have dispersed by now, but since no one seemed to have seen anything, this seemed to be what was left. Chasing shadows.]

Oh? It's almost like humans can't function in the dark either. [Padparadscha says that like it's some kind of personal joke before moving on from it to the more serious topic.]

I'm afraid not. I'm a simple sentry, reliant on my eyes and my ears. [Gems are versatile creatures, but they have no abilities that could truly be described as magical.] So you don't have something like that yourself?

[Rokuta snorts, muffling laughter behind a hand - even if that joke is thoroughly personal, it is still funny on its own. Then he takes a breath, holds it for a moment, and lets it out in a huff, amusement fading.]

Hopefully someone else will, then... and no. [Grimacing, he waves a hand in the air loosely.] Not any magic like that and not... random people. There's... things I can do, but following traces of magic isn't one of 'em.

[Frustration lacing his voice, Rokuta crosses his arms over his chest. If that was only true, then he would undoubtedly have found Taiki already, no matter what else might have happened.]

["Not random people" is noted - maybe identity is important to magic, and it's worth noting if it's something Padparadscha is going to be encountering a lot. But otherwise, they remain placid enough, if a little preoccupied.]

Then maybe we'll simply have to rely on this sentry living up to their name. A day is awfully little time for us to be thinking we know the mechanisms of things here.

[Padparadscha doesn't seem too fussed about leaving it to them, despite the thoughtful look.]

They should know what they're doin'. [It's an easy agreement, even as Rokuta shifts on his feet, gaze flicking around the area and landing lastly on the funhouse.] I just don't like not doing something if I can. And a kid...

[Of course, it wouldn't matter if it was an adult that was the only one gone; he'd be as adamant then to do what he can if he can, but it seems so typical, that'd be a kid who was the only one still gone.

His desire to help has nothing to do with distrust - surely the Sentry aren't just well-trained, and know the workings of their own world and city - it's simply an inability to sit by in the face of apparent cruelty. Literal inability. This isn't En, the child isn't one of En's inhabitants, but since he's here right now...]

It seems like there's little you can do, doesn't it? No traces, no hints, and no familiarity with this world to know what to suspect. [It's phrased casually - Padparadscha's certainly not going to tell him what to do or not to do here, but right now, there's not a lot of options.]

It's a shame that it's a young one, but that might light more of a fire under them. The young are a greater loss in times like this.

[The older are experienced, but have often made their contributions by the time they're grabbed away. The young ones have potential yet untapped.]

I'm used to having nothing to go off of when looking for someone.

[Rokuta shrugs, but there's a quiet, almost stern, determination in his tone. Not that making circled around the fun house is going to give much of any insight. But just... going back to the Bridge at the end of the day just doesn't seem right.]

In my experience, it's always a kid. [He grimaces, shaking his head sharply.] But I hope so.

[So he's one of those ones, then, who won't be convinced. In that case, Padparadscha isn't going to waste time in the attempt, merely raising a hand to indicate stepping back from the subject.]

It seems like it, doesn't it? The little ones are always the first targets. But there's no lack of interest in finding the answer right now.

[Assuming they can find one at all. People becoming lost for thousands of years is a familiar occurence for Padparadscha.]

[Unfortunately he is, though less from stubborn optimism or refusing to give up... he simply can't not.]

Hopefully that means there'll be an answer, and soon. [He huffs, slumping briefly before he straightens up, glancing up at Padparadscha.] I'm gonna make at least one more round... you staying, or going back? It is getting kinda late.

[Which is why he'd understand if anyone would prefer to take a break... though he isn't including himself in that, nope.]

Time will tell, huh? [Padparadscha is much more prepared to wait for an answer, but that might be because days, weeks and even years aren't a long span of time for them anymore.

As it is, though, after a few more moments of looking over the scene, Padparadscha turns on their heel abruptly, raising their hands into a luxuriant stretch.]

Ah, I'm starting to get drowsy. Maybe it's the moon worship. But good luck on your search.

[Perhaps they'll look into it themselves if no answer comes to light.]

[He grunts softly in agreement, then looks up, eyebrow quirked, at the mention of moon worship - what does that have to do with being sleepy? But, if they are getting tired, he won't keep him. Maybe he can just ask later.]

Uh-huh. Thanks. Sleep well..?

[It's a hesitant wish mostly because who knows if that's what they'll actually do, drowsy or not. Being not... organic, Rokuta would assume there are probably more differences than just the hair and what they're made up out of.]

[For reasons definitely not immediately obvious, Padparadscha breaks into rather hearty laughter at that.]

Don't worry. I sleep better than anyone. [They've spent centuries doing it, after all. Even if their record is only two hundred and thirty one years at a time.

As they start to head off, they raise a hand in farewell.] See you around, little one. Or maybe "seedling" would work better, huh?

[If all his people are from the trees.]

[What was so funny about that, he doesn't know, but with the follow up comment, Padparadscha isn't the only one to burst out into laughter after a startled second of processing what was just said.]

Oh, yeah, guess so. Never thought of it like that.

[Snickering, Rokuta shakes his head and gives a wave of his own.]

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[EVENT] Moon and Mirrors (Welcome Mingle Log)

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