[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]

Well, before the fight I talked to a shoe-maker, but... it would have cost a month of chores.

[Which she couldn't be sure she would even be able to finish.]

I might be able to renegotiate, after what the coven has done for the people here, though. Surprisingly, it hasn't been a terrible roadblock yet; I can just go squirrel to get around.

[guerrilla]

Are you sure you're not just trying to cheat free shoulder rides out of people?

[Stop it, Robin. She's not you.

[sealeted]

Is it really free if they're compensated? My fur is really soft and nice to touch, you know.

[guerrilla]

So you're selling yourself for shoulder rides? One of us has to have at least a little dignity, Master. Otherwise it's just pathetic.

[sealeted]

Well, it's actually more of a win-win. Being petted is actually kind of nice, as an animal.

[guerrilla]

[Robin suddenly looks really curious. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he reaches up and runs a fingertip from the top of her head to her back, petting her like he would any other rodent.

She's not 100% squirrel, but he has to know.]

[sealeted]

[Too bad for him she's swaddled in his cloak. He just feels familiar fabric.]

[guerrilla]

[HE'LL GET YOU ONE DAY, HAKUNO...because it's really probably better if she stays warm and cozy there.]

There should be a tiny pocket up there if you look.

[If she finds it, it'll have a few more sunflower seeds in it. The pocket itself looks like it's been pulled and scratched at recently.]

[sealeted]

[She's very comfortable right now, but obligingly squirms around until she lands in the pocket.]

Talking about little animals, have you done much as a bird yet?

[guerrilla]

Nah. My own bird's gone, so it's not really as fun as it could be.

[And it's still vaguely embarrassing for some reason.]

I should probably practice more.

[Embarrassing or not, he has to come up with ways to use this new ability.

[sealeted]

Oh.

[She pats his shoulder.]

Sorry to hear that. I can sort of glide-fly, so maybe we can do it together.

[guerrilla]

I just hope it's okay.

[He seems pretty upset about it, but rather than mope about it anymore, he grins a little at the idea of a bird and a flying squirrel gliding from one branch to another.]

Too bad you didn't end up as a squirrel who could actually fly. I don't think I'm big enough to show you what it's like when I'm transformed.

[sealeted]

Well, it sounds like there are a lot of people in Chaldea. Surely somebody is looking after it.

[As for his other comment—]

I can get plenty of air, actually. My height is only limited by what I can bound off of.

[guerrilla]

...I guess it'd be okay if it were Geronimo or Billy.

[Mostly because they're two of the Servants he spent the most time with.]

If that's how your squirrel form works, then once it isn't raining like this, let's find the highest place and jump off of it.

[sealeted]

Yes, that sounds fun.

[..................................Hakuno.]

[guerrilla]

No hesitation at all...I guess I should have expected that from you too.

[Robin's still not completely sure about their compatibility, but so far, his contract with Hakuno hasn't been bad.]

[sealeted]

I mean, I got to the Far Side from jumping off the school roof, you know?

[And that wasn't even the last big, downwards journey.]

[guerrilla]

...Maybe we'll start with something else then.

[She doesn't seem especially bothered, but...]

[sealeted]

Believe me, heights are not the part about this world that puts me on edge.

[The ocean on the other hand...]

[guerrilla]

[It takes him a few moments to realize what she's getting at, but then he looks at the sky and grimaces.]

...I guess the fact that we're not really in the ocean so much as underneath it doesn't help much, does it.

[sealeted]

Not... not that much, no. I was...

[She goes quiet.]

In the Core, I just sank and sank and sank.

[guerrilla]

[Robin's not sure there's anything suitable to respond to that with. In the end, he just adjusts his cloak around her, trying to swaddle her up even more so she'll be warm and toasty and not liable to fall out of the pocket.]

...I'm a pretty mediocre Servant, so I can't make any promises, but I'll do whatever I can to keep that from happening to you.

[It's a poor reply, but Robin can barely deal with his own baggage. He has no idea how to handle other people's, especially without coming across as insensitive.]

[sealeted]

[She snuggles up, but the smile on her face is easily heard in her voice.]

That you would even try means more than I can say. Thank you, Robin.

[guerrilla]

[He's a bad Servant but not that bad. Also, he needs her to live so he has a battery.]

I'm pretty sure I still owe you one, so don't worry about it.

[After all, in killing him the second time, she'd saved him from something far worse.]

[sealeted]

[Hakuno pats his shoulder as best she can.]

Hey, you and me are a team now. Don't worry about debts.