[WORLD ONE | FINAL GOODBYES]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and the Palai
Where: The Palai Marketplace
When: Days 75 & 76
Open/Closed: Open to All
OOC Note: This is for any and all unresolved threads you'd like to get out of the way before the coven leaves Aimintas. Feel free to backdate specific prompts to whatever day is suitable for you.

The initial setting information found here should be utilized for threads here.

There's no official OOC account for the Palai people. You're free to roleplay their actions and reactions on your own, as in depth as you want -- asking questions, hand-waved interactions, becoming best friends. The new world is your oyster!

Since the Palai discovered that the coven is preparing to leave, they've been preparing for the moment their friends do eventually vanish. This means wrapping up large baskets of food and other supplies that will be given to the coven for their large caravan -- but they also like to give out little personal gifts to those that they recognize or have formed a bond with. Though the Palai are usually people of celebrations, this event is much more muted and personal. Gifts are given and they're certainly congregating, but there's also a dull hum of sadness in the air. The coven has done a lot for their people and helped them establish protection for themselves, so how they fare from here should be positive. With the Uvi gone, will another threat arrive? Who knows -- but the coven won't be here to witness it. A ▢ For those who have Palai children to take care of, the time for their final decision is here. Will they leave their hatchling with their people, or has it become a part of their own family? The Palai are fine with either decision. If your character wants to give up their Palai baby, this is their chance to say goodbye. If they don't want to, the time to choose has come. The Palai will tell them more about their children and how to care for them -- think a regular baby parenting class, except with lizards. B ▢ Certain Palai may have gotten to know your character over their time in Aimintas -- or maybe they barely know your character because they're newer! No matter who your character is, the Palai will give them personalized gifts. These can be based on your character's appearance, extremely insulting, just what your character needed, etc. C ▢ Finally, the Palai are grateful for what the coven's magic has done for them. Some of the Lyna have created little amulets out of the Elto bones, inserting them into glass spheres that glow and prevent some of the electrical sting. These can help your character amplify their powers, which may be fun to play with. Focusing on telepathy while using these amulets, however, will also amplify speech -- leading to some telepathic screaming that your character maybe didn't intend. D ▢ Wildcard! What unfinished business does your character have remaining in Aimintas? Now's the time to take care of it. They'll be gone come tomorrow afternoon.

Comments

[mapsio]

Mm, it's the same for me. People usually don't get close unless they want something from me. That's why I don't allow a lot of people to get very close to me. I don't want to be someone's friend just because of what I am and who I am related to.

It's so terribly difficult to separate yourself from the things that people want to use you for.

[Haru opens up a little more there. Jude...well, Jude deserved to hear it. This tiny piece of information that she holds onto because she doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.]

Oh...? You were expelled before you graduated?

[SOUNDS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE AKIRA.]

[talim]

[ a frown pulls at his lips, and he doesn't hesitate to grasp her hand again, brushing his thumb over her knuckles in what he hopes is a soothing gesture. ]

You don't... You don't deserve to go through that. Nobody does, but you, Haru... you're your own person, a person who deserves to be treated with nothing but kindness and respect.

[ and then he nods in response to her query. ]

I was. It's a long story, but believe it or not, it could have been worse.

[mapsio]

[It is soothing, so much so that she doesn't find herself moving her hand away.]

That's just how it was. It's... not difficult to see why people would do that. I've never really thought of myself as much more than another person, but obviously people on the outside see me very differently. Perceive me as someone I know I'm not.

[She is again, impressed. How does one manage to get expelled...]

Well, the good news is that you are alive.

[talim]

[ he can't help it; he laughs, freely and genuinely. over a year later, it's just... he can see the humor in the situation. ]

I am alive, aren't I? Like I said, definitely could have been worse. Wanted posters were involved.

[ who knows what would have happened if alvin hadn't shown up and threw some punches for a kid like him? and to think he met milla maxwell just because he was chasing after a single piece of paper. he can't imagine what would have happened without that chance, fateful meeting. it would have saved him a lot of trouble and a lot of grief, but it also would have saved him from the self-discovery he needed to find, the path he needed to follow.

jude doesn't regret a thing. ]

But putting that issue aside... what matters most is that you know yourself better than anyone else, right? You know who you are; you know your ideals, your hopes, your dreams, your likes and dislikes and everything in between. You're Haru. No one else. Anyone who doesn't see that... well, they don't matter. You do.

And I like the Haru sitting right here in front of me. I'd like to think I see her for who she is: a kind, caring, thoughtful person.

[mapsio]

Wanted posters too? That seems pretty serious. We have had police after us before... but no one knew what we looked like. So it was hard for them to put up wanted posters.

[It seems her and Jude had a lot more in common than she originally thought. She wasn't aware that meeting one person here could change her outlook on their time spent here. Where ever "here" is.]

I...

[She isn't sure what to say at first. To hear such a long string of words. To hear those words said about her. How in the world does she handle Jude? Such a kindhearted and caring person.]

Truthfully, I'm not even sure how to respond. I'm blown away time and time again by your kindness. Those people who use me because of my social standing, they mean nothing to me and yet they are the reason I am so withdrawn.

I've always wondered if that was something I could completely reverse. To brush off those people without compromising myself.

[talim]

Looks like we have even more in common than I thought. The wanted posters seal the deal.

[ jude is only half-joking. ]

I'm...

[ he doesn't really know what to say, either. jude has been called kind more times than he can count, but is he really that special? ]

All I'm doing is telling it like it is. There's nothing more to it.

Personal growth takes time and effort. It's a hardship I'm all too familiar with, and I'm not done growing, either. I'm not perfect; I'm always learning, and there's still so much I'm uncertain about, so many insecurities I have deep down. But I can tell you this: just one year ago, I was a different person. I had no idea what I wanted. I was following in my father's footsteps because I wasn't sure what else was out there for me. Over that journey I went on, I discovered a lot about myself and the path ahead of me. I owe that to the people who supported me along the way, and it sounds like you have some pretty special people in your life, too.

So... my journey isn't over. All I can say is... I believe in you, Haru, and I'll support you, too. I'm on your side, right here and cheering you on. And I'm sure your other friends feel the same.

So don't give up, okay? Promise me. I know you can figure things out. I know you will. And we'll keep on journeying together.

[mapsio]

[Jude just doesn't realize how special it actually is to Haru that he would sit here and tell her all of this. It isn't often enough that Haru hears things that give her a little more hope in the world. She's happy. She's smiling, and right now it's because of this newly formed bond. ]

I won't give up. For me, giving up is not an option. Even if I've felt like it.

[Haru thinks for a moment what a shame it is that Jude can't come home with her, that he can't continue being by her side when they all eventually get returned home. It's frightening to think of the fragility of this bond.]

Please, give me time...and I will tell you a little more. There is a lot that just may surprise you.

[talim]

I know. You're rather stubborn, aren't you? That's why I know there's no way you'll ever give up. You can do this. We can do this.

[ it admittedly scares jude, too, thinking about the bonds he's made here versus the bonds back home. he needs to go back. he needs to. he can't just let elympios die; he needs to finish his research on spyrites. there's so much more he has to do. but going home means losing haru, losing people who have become precious to him in such a brief amount of time.

it's something he'd prefer not to dwell on. so he doesn't. not right now. not here. ]

I'll give you all the time you need. I think you've surprised me enough for one day.

[ his smile is unbearably kind, and he takes one last sip of his tea before realizing just how long they've been here talking like this, sharing such personal details about their lives. he doesn't want to leave.

just a little longer. ]

I need you to know that I'm... I'm really glad we met.

[ his cheeks turn pink again. i'm glad we met... that's an understatement. he's glad he met a lot of people here, has gained so much, but with haru there's something beyond that. perhaps it's just him being naive, but he almost feels like they were destined to meet and connect. ]

[mapsio]

Stubborn only when I want to be, and this... this is one of those times.

[It really is depressing to think about. Losing all of those friends that she made here. She doesn't want that. She wants to keep them. So for now? She won't think about it. Her friends at home are missed, but her friends here need her too.]

I think you have done the same for me. I think we both need a little time to process, right?

[And then she's blushing again. Jude, her dear friend. Someone she truly cared for. She wonders if he realizes how genuine and sweet he's being.]

I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything.

[talim]

Right. Neither would I.

[ jude makes a move to stand up, so he can pull out her chair for her. ]

What do you say we get together and do this again soon? I had a really nice time.

[mapsio]

We can make it a weekly thing, if you like. I'm hoping that when we get back tot eh island I will have some tea ready to harvest.

[She sure did grow her own tea.]

[talim]

[ ... he sure is about to ask. to her credit, he sounds very impressed. ]

You grew your own tea?

[mapsio]

I found a small patch of it in a clearing back on the island, along with other herbs and plants that I was both familiar and unfamiliar with. I brought some back to the mansion garden and replanted it.

[She seems so proud of herself!!]

[talim]

[ she should be!!! jude LOOKS proud. ]

That's great, Haru. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[mapsio]

When we return to the island I would like to show you the garden, then. I can show you everything I've planted... including the tea!

[Haru is Extra Proud now!]

[talim]

Please do. I'll be waiting, okay?

[ jude is extra Extra proud. and he's thrilled to see her so lively and happy. ]