[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

[talim]

Implications... ?

[ the change in gears has jude puzzled. he studies mikleo with a tilt of the head, waiting for him to elaborate. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[telepathically, instead:]

I'm worried about the rain coming from the ocean itself, and that the Palai aren't used to such rainfall. Did we destabilize the ocean somehow? I don't want it to fall on them.

[talim]

[ jude immediately takes the hint and switches to telepathy himself. ]

I... I admit I never took the time to stop and think about it. I've been so focused on the Uvi, almost everything else has just slipped my mind. It's like I've become too accustomed to just how upside down — literally and figuratively — this planet is. What's going to happen when we aren't here to help the Palai anymore? I can't bear the thought of leaving them to suffer. They've been so kind to us total strangers.

[oneandmikleonly]

I'm not sure how they'd survive if the planet became water-covered again, even if they could be sheltered as the ocean came down...

Haah. We'll just have to fix it before me move on, right? As best as we can.

[talim]

You're right. There's no sense in fretting over it when we could be using that precious time to brainstorm ideas in regards to what we can do in the long term. There has to be something. We'll just have to work together as a collective whole to find it.

[ there's a hesitant pause before jude switches back to speaking verbally. ]

... I should introduce myself. I'm Jude. Mathis.

[oneandmikleonly]

Nice to meet you. I'm Mikleo...er, no last name.

[he wonders why seraphim don't have surnames sometimes, honestly. maybe because they have around in the world long enough and there are few enough of them that they don't need the extra differentiation...?

he introduces the Palai child too, though they don't seem that forthcoming right now]

[talim]

[ jude leans down to give the palai one, two gentle pats on the head, an affectionate gesture. a soft smile curves his lips. ]

It's good to meet you, Mikleo. The Palai certainly seem rather attached to you.

[ he chuckles and scratches the palai behind the ears. ]

Are you good with children?

[oneandmikleonly]

[the child wriggles; Mikleo looks a little sheepish at the question]

Not really. I mean -- I haven't had much experience.

[babysitting Sorey doesn't quite count if they were roughly the same age at the time?]

They just, ah, seemed lonely, so it made sense to keep them company if they wanted it...

[talim]

[ jude nods, understanding. ]

Mm... Do you want me to hold onto him for a little while? I'd be more than happy to.

[ he smiles and waves at the palai in mikleo's arms, clicking his tongue. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

[they reach out to him much like a human child would; Mikleo lets them go to Jude, the barest twitch of a smile on his face]

You're a lot better with them than me. Had practice?

[talim]

I suppose you could say that... I do have a good deal of experience dealing with kids, but none quite as young as this little one.

[ when jude takes him from mikleo, it's with a fond smile. he cradles him in his arms, as gentle as possible, and reaches out his pinky for the palai to play with with a soft hum. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

The last time I dealt with a kid this young, we were pretty much the same age, so...

[gives the kid a reassuring smile -- and his hand for their other hand -- when they look back at him with big eyes]

No, no, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.

[talim]

I don't mean to pry, but was it Sorey? I met him back when it was raining fish, and he might have mentioned a childhood friend. Before we started talking, he was running around and I had to usher him indoors.

[ still a kid, maybe, but jude is quite fond of him. ]

[oneandmikleonly]

That sounds like him. Yup, you caught me. Thanks for not letting him get brained by a shark, or something.

[talim]

No problem. That's what I'm here for, I guess.

[oneandmikleonly]

[huffs a tiny bit; he's only recently started getting comfortable with letting Sorey out of his sight again.]

Everything just keeps happening, huh?

[talim]

[ everything happens so much ]

Well, that's life. Just have to roll with it, I guess.

[ that's something alvin would say. ]

Let's do our best.