Mingle: For a limited time only...

[hearsthesea]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Anywhere on the hub
When: Days 134-139
Open/Closed: Open mingle goooo!

[Copper, lizards, and vines - oh my! With the recent installation of 9S and co.'s scanning equipment and the also recent, significantly wetter rainstorms there's quite a lot to check out on the island right now. Plus, the monitor robot still needs a name. You're not going to leave them nameless forever, are you?

Too bad Genette's put out word that everyone's about to be moving location soon. That means these are the last days the coven has for a little while to get everything in order, whether it's to take things to the next destination or to leave them behind. Get your bags packed and your huts cleaned, everyone!]

Comments

[hearsthesea]

I'm not sure. I don't know why anyone would pick me to help them when I don't have the same power here that I did back home...especially if they could have taken people from the past or future.

[Her words are negative, but they're matter-of-fact enough to suggest that Shirley isn't too broken up about it right now. She is, actually, but it also isn't what Shirley's focused on right now.]

[rootandbranch]

I'm sure there's something. Some reason, something like an affinity or a frequency... if she's telling the truth, that seems to be how she does things.

[Geir hums a little to himself, betrayed into thoughtfulness. he does still feel that uncertainty, the question of why he got brought here on this mission, when... well.]

I'm certainly not what anyone would pick to save the worlds...

[hearsthesea]

If it's a matter of compatibility, then maybe it doesn't matter what kind of person you are otherwise as long as you're willing to help.

[Works for Nerifes, after all.]

[rootandbranch]

Haaah. There's not much reason to think that I would help, though! That's why it's strange. I don't think she knew more about me than I knew myself.

[there's something odd in Geir's tone, rueful and amused and self-aware; he has a sneaking suspicion that as he's been discovering himself as a person, he could in fact have turned out very differently, if he'd seen different information and come to different conclusions. he doesn't think Qri can see that for into the future, if she even can.]

Maybe she'll tell us someday.

[hearsthesea]

[What exactly does Qri know...?

But no, Shirley doesn't want to read into the possibilities too much right now. There's too much unknown right now, and besides she isn't entirely sure she wants to linger on where that could go. So a mystery it is.]

Yeah. If she does, I hope it's sooner rather than later.

[rootandbranch]

Don't count on it.

[Geir's voice is rueful now, sympathetic. he doesn't want to get this strange girl's hopes up. he shifts a little with a tiny sigh, stretching out in his long serpentine sprawl.]

[hearsthesea]

[Ouch. He's right though, so Shirley just sighs.]

I know. But I do wish there were a way to get everything done more quickly.

[rootandbranch]

I can see why...

Oh! I should tell you. I heard something very weird from someone I know just a couple of days ago. Maybe it will help!

[the idea of alternate times is still very strange to him, but even just Alphonse sounded very sure when he was talking about it.]

Some of us think that Qri can bring people, and return people, to different times, even on the same world. Someone who came with his brother said his brother remembered things he didn't, and other people from his world did the same thing.

[hearsthesea]

[That...that sounds like a thing that might be relevant to her. Shirley looks unsettled by that information.]

Does that always happen, when you have two people from the same world?

[rootandbranch]

No-- I don't think so? Dirk and the people from his world are from the same time... I think. And Vern and I are, too.

So it might be a memory thing, or it might be a time thing. It's very strange!

[hearsthesea]

Ah...I see.

[That doesn't help her figure out whether that's the case with Jay or not, but she has a sinking feeling. He had known some things he shouldn't when they first met...it doesn't mean he came from her future, but it doesn't mean he hasn't either.]

Why are you telling me this?

[rootandbranch]

Because if Qri can pick us up and put us back any time she wants, I bet she can put you back right where all those people are depending on you! You might not have to worry at all!

[he doesn't even know she's the "Shirley" that Jay mentioned. well, how could he? neither of them have mentioned that they know anyone else here.

maybe it'll make Shirley feel better if she can see a path back to her people that won't involve letting anyone else down.]

[hearsthesea]

Oh.

[She hadn't really thought Jay had told Geir about her - Geir would probably treat her differently if so. Still, the fact that he doesn't seem to know their connection if he knows Jay at all comes as some comfort. So does his rationale.]

I hope you're right. I wouldn't want everyone to think I ran away.

[rootandbranch]

I don't know if that's the first thing they'd think. You're really worried about all this. They must know that, too!

[hearsthesea]

Well...I've failed everyone once before.

[She's heard more than enough whispers.]

It doesn't matter if I'm worried or not, if I still let everyone down.

[rootandbranch]

Oh... that's true. I suppose it doesn't matter to what the result is at all.

[Geir puzzles at that a little. it's perfectly accurate, but it doesn't seem to quite track the point he was making.]

I think it matters to whether they trust you about it, though...?

[hearsthesea]

I...

[Maybe Geir is right; she isn't sure. Shirley just knows that she feels like being here is a failure in itself.]

I just don't want to disappoint everyone again. Even if it's because I got taken away.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir fiddles at the ground with the tips of his talons, drawing little patterns there. he isn't worried about disappointing anyone but Vern, he tells himself firmly. he's sure he doesn't care about what his family would think of whatever he's doing now. and if he tells himself that firmly enough, maybe it will be true...]

It sounds like that's important to you, so I hope you don't.