[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

[sealeted]

[It's a very distinctive tail.]

--oof.

[The bara... is this how she dies? Crushed into a chest? God, it's like meeting Kiara again.]

Well... maybe so, but I wanted some fresh air. I didn't expect this to happen, you know.

[lohengrins]

If it wasn't rain, it could have been something else.

[ yep, he's pressing her real close against those pecs now. his lips quirk into a smirk as he begins to gently scratch at her head. ]

Hmph. Where were you headed?

[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.

[lohengrins]

[ he raises a brow, fingers combing through her fur, and opts to scratch behind her ears. ]

You're cold, aren't you? It'll be some time before we find shelter.

[ he sighs. ]

I don't have anything to cover you with. [ percival's eyes rove down towards his shirt -- or chest rather.

does she want to slip inside. it's better than nothing. ]

[sealeted]

[Hakuno's eyes have been there, once, maybe twice, maybe a few times, but she is not a rude passenger and does her best to keep her eyes a foot higher, because she is a lady and a scholar. If she were not, she might point out that it's a little weird being gently petted when she's more girl than squirrel, even in this adorable size. But she is—and also, the petting feels really nice and comforting—so she keeps her mouth shut.]

I have a change of clothes back... home? Well, where I've been sleeping, anyways. But, they're probably still normal-sized, and we'd both be cold and wet if I asked you to slog all the way back there. Um... maybe there's a dishtowel somewhere I could borrow?

[lohengrins]

[ percival's gaze shifts from side to side, and he hesitates for a moment. his cheeks begin to color, and well--...

he doesn't...have many options, so tucks her into his shirt, just into his cleavage window so her head can pop out for air. ]

This is all I can do. Where have you been sleeping? At the coven, or elsewhere?

[sealeted]

[Woah.

Hakuno squirms just a little, her mostly-dry tail wriggling against his bare skin as she pops her arms out so she can properly grip onto his neckline.]

Um... yes, the coven. It's... well, I have a bed, and a pillow, which is great. If I sleep as a squirrel, it turns into something fit for a king.

[lohengrins]

Understood.

[ well, with that said, he wraps his arms around himself to lock her in place before...beginning to bolt in the direction the coven. if she's suffocating against his skin, she should probably tell him? ]

Ha -- a king, you say. An endearing little squirrel is hardly a king. How exactly do you revert to your human state?

[sealeted]

Hey, I may not look like much to you, [or anyone, at first glance] but where I'm from I'm the acknowledged equal and partner of a legendary King of Heroes.

[Oof.

Well, she feels very warm and safe now, so she can't really complain...]

Well, I'm mostly human now. It's weird, but I'm sort of—stuck. I can't shift fully squirrel or properly human. I think it was something I ate, but I'm not sure.

[lohengrins]

Legendary king of Heroes? And what exactly has he done to warrant such a title?

[ he scoffs, but at least the coven is within sight now. percival huddles her a bit closer, glancing to look at her for a bit. ]

...Are you still breathing?

[sealeted]

He's the protagonist of the oldest, original story, his Epic. Also, he's two-thirds divine, and... a lot of other things. He liked to boast from time to time so I just sort of tuned it out after a point.

[She shrugs as best she can without jeopardizing her stability.]

Yeah, I'm okay. Don't worry, I've put up with worse conditions plenty of times before.

[lohengrins]

So what? A king is defined by his competence, capabilities and ability to tend to his peoples.

[ they make it to the coven in due time. percival sets her down, promptly fetching a towel afterwards only to then dry her off himself, uh...rather passionately? ]

You're not a human then, I presume.

[sealeted]

He was terrifyingly competent, infuriatingly capable, and the citizens of his ancient kingdom famously loved and feared him above all else.

[She manages to get that out before he starts... attacking her with the towel. She bears it with as much dignity as she can muster, since she can't exactly stop him in this condition.]

...well, yes and no. I'm not naturally born, but I'm an exact physical replica of a human girl who once lived. ...well, normally I am.

[lohengrins]

Hm? How so? This tale you speak of, tell it to me.

[ he wrings out strands of her hair with his fingers once he's done. ]

Then you're a clone, in some sense of the word. How were you birthed?

[sealeted]

The entire epic? ...well, I certainly never read the whole thing in it's native Sumerian, but I can hit the highlights of what I did know and what he told me. Is that good enough?

[A certain troublesome kouhai occasionally stood in her way when it came to learning more about Gilgamesh. Still, Hakuno is nothing if not stubborn.]

Something like that. The Moon Cell, our world's Holy Grail, was an unparalleled magical entity that created me. I would have probably been given that Hakuno Kishinami's basic memories and personality too, but she suffered from a debilitating illness that destroyed her memories. As it stands... for a while, I myself didn't realize I wasn't a normal human for a few weeks. I have it on good authority that the wavelength of our souls matches, though.

[lohengrins]

I suppose. I'm more interested in you, however, so it can wait.

[ he rubs one of her ears, and likely does not realize how this...all must seem but well, what can you do. ]

For what purpose were you created, then? To serve as a replacement for her -- or have you decided to take upon your own purpose?

[sealeted]

[Geeze, what a smooth operator.

If Hakuno weren't inherently, low-key suspicious that beautiful people saying things like that to her also wish her grievous harm or unlimited imprisonment, she might swoon.]

For what purpose, huh...?

[Her ears had been lazily twitching under his doting attention. Now, they go still and flat against her hair.]

I was... meant to be an ornament. ...no. That's too generous a description, I think. I wasn't meant to be eye-catching or important. I was meant to be a background character, not a player on the most important stage. Just an extension of the setting, a disposable piece that was mislabeled and stumbled her way into something way outside her weight class.

[Her tail sways, beneath his shirt.]

I was created to be seen and then destroyed once a certain event concluded, so yes. I did decide to take up my own purpose.

[lohengrins]

[ percival is nothing more than silent at that, eyes slowly closing as he thinks. his lips gradually furl into a smirk. ]

A good answer. An even better resolve.

[ he flicks at one of her ears this time. ]

The only force capable of deciding your purpose is yourself. You must realize that now, don't you?

[sealeted]

Yes.

[Ouch. She bats his finger away, rubbing her poor little ear.]

My entire life so far has been that single lesson, repeated again and again.

[lohengrins]

[ he chuckles at that before rubbing at her ear as well. percival's finger grazes along her tail. this would be weirdly erotic if she weren't a squirrel. thank god. ]

Do you have a dream, then?

[sealeted]

Well... for a long time, 'to live on' was my dream. Now, without a major threat looming over my head...

[She puffs her cheeks out and bats his finger away again.

She's not going to forgive the flick that easily!!]

I have too many to count. I want to try everything.

[lohengrins]

[ keep being feisty! it amuses him. ]

Hmph. Ambitious, aren't you? And where do you intend on starting?

[sealeted]

I'm still figuring that out.

[Beware, Percy, this girl out-stubborned the oldest computer in the solar system.]

Well, I still haven't managed to get my hands on any shoes, so... that narrows my options a bit. No dancing lessons for me, yet.

[lohengrins]

Shoes -- dancing shoes. You don't know how to dance.

[ he smirks, a haughty upturn of the nose. ]

I suppose I could teach you.

[sealeted]

You could fill a library with all the things I don't know how to do yet.

[Hakuno's frank enough to admit her own faults.]

...what, right now? I don't know how well that would work, logistically speaking...