[WORLD ONE | POST-UVI CELEBRATION]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and Palai
Where: In and around the Aimintas marketplace
When: Day 39
Open/Closed: Open to All

After an appropriate amount of time for mourning, the Palai have shifted into a more positive mood -- they're a very resilient species, though there is a bit of a muted tone to their celebration. The whole event is a little hodge-podge, mostly because they aren't used to having to celebrate with the coven members added to the guest list. The Palai have gathered together all of their people and have invited the coven members to a small, intimate gathering -- the purpose of the event is to thank them for their service in fighting the Uvi, and the success of freezing the Uvi in their home. While no one knows how long the Uvi will stay gone, any amount of time without the Uvi being a concern is fine by them. The event takes place in the very center of the marketplace, with the Palai interacting on the fringes of the party throughout the rest of the large building. The coven members have time to spend by themselves, but there's room for moving around on their own and also spending time with the Palai if they so choose. A ▢ One of the more noticeable editions to the food the Palai have provided is a large pile of sweet, sugar dusted pastries. You may notice that something about them seems...odd, to say the least. It looks as if the pastries are vibrating slightly, but they smell divine. If you're so inclined to ask what the deal is, these pastries are magically infused by Eltos, which somehow gives them a sweeter flavor and enhances the sensation of tastebuds. The Palai sometimes eat these before meals in order to better the flavor of their entire spread -- though adding this energized magic to an already magical being means magic powers may be a little off kilter. Don't be surprised if suddenly your abilities go a little crazy. B ▢ The Palai aren't participating the party for two big reasons. One, the purpose is to celebrate the victory of coven members. The other reason, however, is one that may be more interesting to outsiders. While previously the Palai were peaceful people, happy to exist submitting to the Uvi, the coven's show of strength and valor has inspired them to be more aggressive in their approaches. Grown Palai can be seen working on makeshift weapons, but the idea of smaller tools like slingshots have already been constructed and almost perfected. The Palai youth have discovered these tools and are playing with them gleefully, though occasionally hitting each other -- and potentially you -- with energized, paralyzing rocks fueled with Elto energy. Watch out or you might get zapped! C ▢ Other Palai youth aren't as fortunate to be so distracted and happy. While fewer Palai died during this attack, the casualty number wasn't zero. Most Palai children still have at least one family member to care for them, but they're still a little disconnected from their people by means of grief. Some are milling about with the coven members, trying to eat or pester them for attention. If you're good with kids this may be more your speed, but those bad with children can find this irritating. Some Palai youth are more muted, however, content to just sit and listen to stories or eavesdrop on conversations. D ▢ For some people, rain isn't that big an issue -- but it certainly puts a damper (get it?) on a party. The Palai seem a bit confused by the sudden shower that comes in heavy as the evening dies down. The Palai have never experienced rain before, using irrigation systems and existing ground water as their means of hydration (both for themselves and for plants). Because the rain is coming from the ocean, the drops are large and salty, and the marketplace quickly begins to flood. The Palai move the party indoors for the most part, but that doesn't mean you or the food aren't already soaked. It's much warming underneath the roofs in the marketplace, but that doesn't provide much relief since the ocean rain is warm and humid. E ▢ Wildcard! How will your character handle this violent and volatile situation.

Comments

apparently nothing?!

[actus]

[ ... where is his suit? why isn't he wearing one? all great questions -- ]

Ah. Actually, I don't own one.

[ there's an almost modest twinge to his tone just then as he flicks his gaze away. listen, he's had no reason to have one, and they aren't very comfortable. his uniform is bad enough. ]

How are you comfortable?

[actus]

[ !!! you're making him blush. stop that, madoka. you're too sweet for this world. ]

...We try. It's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it.

[ a beat. ]

And I think I can trust you with the secret. So no worries.

[sealeted]

[Instead of soft fur, her current condition means that he just ends up ruffling her fluffy hair into even more disarray. Her ears twitch, but she doesn't stop him.

His hands are very warm, and she's still shivering.]

Anywhere that was dry, really.

[soulcomet]

[whoops now she's turning pink.]

I promise I won't tell anyone. That's one of the most important secrets a superhero has, right? [his identity, she means.]

But I'm glad that you and Haru-san are here ... we should be able to figure out how to stop whatever's causing the rain together.

[needmetoo]

Um... it's not... I don't think it's too common?

[That was how the Organization had presented it, at least.]

But one of my friends has it, and... [Suddenly she scowls.] I know there's another person from home who does here. His name's Sora.

[Who as it turns out, she's still rather angry with - they haven't had a chance to really talk since their disastrous conversation right after arriving at Aimintas.]

[actus]

[ ... he notices that, and instead of outwardly prying, he decides to frame it slightly different. ]

Ah. Yeah, that guy. I met him my first night here. Did he also have a boar nearly break down your hut?

[ idly, he rubs at the back of his neck, nose wrinkling. it had been far too interesting of a first night with the coven. the boars were odd and the people were odder. all in all, things could have gone a lot worse. ]

[actus]

[ she is far too precious for any world. ]

I probably need to invest in a cape, in that case. [ a grin, and he feels his fingers tingle but not catch on fire. a close one!! ]

There's a lot of people here with different powers. It can't just be random what powers were granted.

[soulcomet]

[don't be surprised if one day Madoka gives him a compilation of her favorite stupid jokes. it's important to always be prepared, okay.]

Hmm ... You would look really cool with a cape! [but. she's not actually joking here.]

It helps that a lot of people here have powers from home that they can use here, too. Um ... would you be okay explaining to me what your powers are? From back home, I mean.

[actus]

Yeah.

[ he brings his hand to his lips and blows over his fingertips, whistling over horus. the golden birds stops its ferry-system and flys over, landing on the ground a few feet behind them. he's bright, so it's probably for the best so as not to blind them. ]

There's others besides him. They help Haru, Ann and I fight these things called Shadows back home.

[soulcomet]

[she whirls around, squinting, shielding her eyes with her hand. and. she's absolutely delighted.]

Ah! He's so beautiful! You really use him to battle?

[actus]

Yeah.

[ he nods and then rubs the back of his neck again, feeling a bit embarrassed. stop thinking he's so cool, madoka!! ]

He's been really helpful the past few months. [ before the island, he means. ]

[soulcomet]

[prove her wrong then, Akira!]

[she was about to cautiously approach Horus, but pauses, perhaps thinking better of it (next time, she'll bring sunglasses). but what he says would have stopped her anyway.]

Oh ... was there a lot of trouble back home?

[deem]

[9S angles his face down and away, glancing toward his arm, and frowns. The sparks still bound between his fingertips, evidence that his repairs are incomplete still yet. He lingers on this briefly, dissatisfied with his own unsettling lack of efficiency, before he looks back up at Julius]

I was just doing some maintenance... I wasn't built for contending with magic.

[And now, supposedly, he's been given some magic ability. If it's not the broadcasting that they're all capable of, what is it?]

a.

[deem]

[Were he not perceptive by design, 9S may have wandered right on past without noticing Hakuno at all. As a Scanner, however, details stand out to him — so it is that he halts right next to her and leans over to observe, planting his hands on his knees.

As of yet he hasn't ever seen anything humanoid at such a diminuitive size, and it's enough to prompt a thoughtful hum as he contemplates what could cause such a phenomenon. What small parts would be necessary for such a design, and what purpose might it serve...?

Well, nothing like a direct answer, right]

Excuse me, Ma'am?

[actus]

No. I just figured you were always a squirrel.

[ it's said in utter deadpan; he isn't being serious. he's not that dumb. ]

[actus]

Yeah. I've seen that.

[ a nod. huh... ]

What do you think can stop it, then?

d.

[deem]

[Thanks to his goggles, 9S can tip his head back and look at the sky without concern... Or rather, the ocean which occupies it. Due to the fact that the Uvi's base was at least partially frozen, and the sky-sea itself seems to hold together quite well otherwise, he can only wonder how it is that they're experiencing this rain.

Is that a sign of things to come? Then again, he has his doubts that the Uvi have the power to influence their habitat in such a way]

Not according to the locals.

[He glances Flynn's way then, notices his shivering, and doesn't miss a beat in starting to remove his uniform coat. Don't mind him stripping without explanation, Sir]

[actus]

"You doing okay?"

He recognizes her from the other day and figures he might as well say hello. Upon closer inspection, something seems off. Of course, he doesn't really know her too well, but months of listening to strangers talk about their problems back home gives you kind of a sixth sense for when people are troubled.

[sealeted]

I actually met a talking Tanuki here.

[sealeted]

[Hakuno hurriedly finishes her current mouthful of pastry, swallowing thickly.]

Yes?

[deem]

Can I ask the functional purpose of a unit your size?

[Right to the point, and readily assuming she's artificial just like he is, because he knows of no organic humanoid life that comes in this size...or with those features.

At least his tone is brimming with a rather rapt curiosity as opposed to anything else]

[actus]

Really?

[ blink. ]

I mean, my tiger talks so. [ shrugs. byakko is kind of different than a tiger, but oh well. ]

[needmetoo]

Wh- he did that?

[She does remember the boars being a bit... much. Attacking a few people, things like that. But still... She sighs, her frown turning into something more sad]

He seemed so nice when I met him.

[actus]

I mean, I don't think he did it on purpose. The boar was kinda ticked off and following him.

[ he shrugs, tilting his head to the side. her words are interesting... this seems kind of personal. ]

When you met him? Something happen?

[sealeted]

A 'unit'...?

[...well, he isn't wrong, just working off the wrong premise.]

Oh, I'm not usually this size. Usually, I'm either a normal-sized girl, or a squirrel-sized squirrel. Something put that new power on the fritz, I guess.