[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
Maël nearly jumped out of skin when he heard Lady Ren's voice. However, he quickly played it off and cleared his throat, offering a smile. He needed to have a good appearance around her, especially since she was the one who was suspicious of him the most.
"Madame." he said, taking her hand, "Nice to see you again, though a bit unexpectedly." He chuckled, "Fascinating place you got here. I will admit, though, having a wolf be in a place full of people is a little dangerous. But...your customs are much different than mine's, so I can't complain."
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
"Well, you should travel more - Aeolia and Tír na nÓg are two of my favorites," Shinako said, "the parties at Tír na nÓg are really something, if you know what I mean."
"Anyways, speaking of partying, what are you two planning on doing while you're here," she said, "besides sampling the hors d'oeuvres?"
edited 22nd Nov '13 9:09:45 PM by Sonzai
Danger: Intense gravimetric distortions nearby. Please reverse the polarity on your deflectors now.
Drummer Boy
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
"We don't normally let animals at these events, but the relationship with his pack and my husband's family is special." Lady Ren knew perfectly well that Wolfram weren't simply animals, but if they were going to use Balto to spy on suspicious people, it would be best to let them assume that he was just a wolf. "He's quite courteous. And he helps tighten up security, doesn't he? The guards and I can't be everywhere at once."
Lord Ren approached Samson. "Well, Balto seems particularly social tonight. I'm Lord Ren. Care to introduce yourself?" He wasn't sure if it was all right to ask about Samson's appearance, but his gaze lingered on the glowing patches on his skin.
Common Manifestations are created by advanced mages who want to amplify their magical ability. Just kill an animal over the right rune circle. We tend to emulate some of our partners' personalities. And we can only be killed by killing the mage.
Tempest hopped a little closer to Solin, trying to read his notes again. We're not too rare around here, but Republic mages haven't figured out how to create us. And then there are the special cases, which are extremely rare. Lady Ren's son, Taiyin, is a mind reader. Somehow, a Manifestation formed and latched onto him while he was still in the womb, fusing with his mind. It's not an independent entity—you can't talk to it the way you're talking to me. Lady Ren's daughter, Seilaan, has made a contract with an Elder Manifestation, the avatar of an ancient being that lives beyond this world. You can talk to Agnesi. But I don't recommend it.
[Palace Garden]
With a shaking hand, Feng reached for a shotglass of a clear, sweet and sour liquor on the nearest table and consumed it in a quick gulp. Lady Seilaan was smirking at him. She couldn't have been the only one who heard. Wait, why was she walking over here?
"Sorry. Your name's Proseda, isn't it?" She made a small bow. "Really, I don't mind if my candidates form simultaneous attachments. Whatever makes us all happy. But remember where you are right now."
Feng turned white as she flounced away. "A-anyway." It was barely louder than a whisper. "Of course I know what they want. But I can't brazenly—I'm not the only man in the world who's—I mean I can brag, but you don't just—you can't—"
He took another glass.
edited 23rd Nov '13 8:56:40 PM by SnowyFoxes
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
They/Them
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Samson chuckled at Lord Ren's statement, "Yes. One could say it's a good thing, I rarely get along with animals of any kind usually."
Samson straightened himself out as he responded to Lord Ren, bowing lightly, "My name is Samson Matthews. I come here in the name of Aegis, to serve as a delegate of sorts. I assume that you're one of the host of this party?"
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
[Palace Garden]
"Going for the alcohol already? Really, I must reign in my tongue."
He crosses his arms, "Yet the obvious has been confirmed, Seilaan was and now is more than definitely aware of her fate. I hope her parents have a plan more cunning than the one I've laid forth, or this island is going to have a heck of a time procuring an heir. You really are a military man at heart." He laughs gently.
"Now the real question.... we shall see about that."
Proseda lifts his plate upwards, red magic forming around it holding it in the air for him. He makes a turn away from Feng and his form changes, shifting into a perfect copy of Seilaan. As he makes another few steps and turns back toward him he changes back into his normal self.
"If there is anything I can do to attempt to sweep up a bit of the mess I've made, I'm all ears."
The plate descends into his oustretched hand, and he immediately selects one of his remaining pieces of food, a steamed bun of some kind, taking a bite out of it.
"These really are quite good you know."
Bet you didn't see that coming
Solin nodded and unconsciously tapped his truncheon. An ancient being that lives beyond this world? Sounds like Elas. Will have to stay on my guard. But no reason to assume the worst yet. (The existence of the Eyes and Teeth was not public knowledge, for many reasons.) He knew to let Nore do the talking, though.
Nore nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you for the information. And do warn this Taiyin that, as ambassadors, our own mages have seen fit to grant us defenses against telepathic intrusion. They are intended to be non-lethal, but accidents have been known to happen. I imagine it would best for our nations' relationships if he understood their existence if he did not test them." Nore didn't really know about the "intended to be non-lethal;" for all she knew, the truncheon's spells would boil a hostile mind-reader's brain in their skull. But best to make sure she was covered in case that happened, without seeming over-aggressive. With a frown, she added, "again, I'm sure the ambassadors of your own nation take similar precautions. It is to be expected."
For the record, as mentioned, the result of trying to read any minds near the truncheon will be agony, but no real damage. But Nore doesn't know this, so she's covering her bases.
Drummer Boy
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
"Yes, I am indeed." Lord Ren smiled and offered his hand to shake. He never would have guessed that Samson was being sent as a delegate—he would have expected him to be dressed more professionally. "I'm very pleased to welcome you to Ren Island. Were you sent for any particular reason, or...?"
I regret to inform you that Taiyin has no control over his abilities. There's a reason why you won't find him here; his presence disturbs everyone greatly. He is currently at Phoenix Park, probably alone. I suppose he could just be kept away from meetings. Tempest pecked at Solin's notebook, but her ghostly beak passed right through it. You're a dedicated fellow, aren't you? You're at a party. At least eat a little more. Or are you waiting for the roast duck? That should be coming out in a few minutes.
[Palace Garden]
Feng sighed heavily. "I suppose I can deal with it myself. You're an outsider, after all. They can't really blame me. I hope. I suppose I can—WHAT ARE YOU DOING."
Seilaan managed to turn her laugh into a cough.
"All right. All right. All right. All right. Please never do that again. Whatever it was. Just—no. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble that would cause? Anyway. What do you mean by 'a military man by heart?' I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. I'm a good soldier. I suppose. But—aha! Are you accusing me of being too aggressive?"
The last battle's curtains will open on stage![Palace Garden]
Proseda laughs gently, "No, what I mean is you are a perfect example of someone who can take orders, and likely give them out," he gestures towards Feng's medals, "but when it comes to handling yourself in a social situation you have all the grace of an opera singer with tourette's. You're all good until someone hands your own reigns to you and you alone."
He smirks, "As for being aggressive, I haven't the slightest idea. The only thing you've prevoked so far is a bit of pity and it would seem Lady Seilaan's amusement. Keep being this cute and..."
He reconsiders the last sentence, choosing to instead finish off another bun.
"Oh well, no matter. A major thank you to the chefs however is likely in order."
Bet you didn't see that coming
[back palace gardens]
Holy shit this place was awesome.
Elijah Cline was in his element. Surrounded by pretty little orchids and helpful, fluttery pixies sitting on the edges of his sketchbook, he wandered about, sketching and sketching whatever caught his fancy. Which of course meant everything; he was starting to go full-on landscape here and had to admit, for once, that math, evil, evil math, could be aesthetically pleasing, even beautiful.
While many seemed to be wearing robes and somesuch, he had come in a black suit, a well-fitted evening jacket with long tails that fluttered slightly behind him, obligatory waistcoat, and his own touch- a plum-colored tie with subtle silver pinstriping. His skin was close to olive, close enough that the checkpoint guards didn't even ask him where he was from, and dark-haired with sharp, classically handsome features under a short, well-kept beard.
He looked up with eyes that seemed a bit closer to red than brown in hue and noticed a girl, at the end of the path, watching something in amusement. Very lightly, he noted the shading that the pixies cast upon the stones in the picture and headed closer, peering around to see what all the fuss was. So far, it seemed to be a drunk guy... and a winged guy? Cool!
Eli brought his sketchbook back up as three new pixies in yellow, pink, and lavender took a seat atop the paper and watched their glow take shape.
edited 24th Nov '13 8:52:20 AM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Drummer Boy
[Palace Garden]
"You are the most infuriating—" Feng shook his head and sighed again. "Is this about pretending not to know what her parents wanted with me? I said I was perfectly aware of their plans, didn't I? Everyone is! I mean, I thought I said it." He was so close to strangling Proseda. "No, I entreat you! Finish that sentence. I'm dying of curiosity."
Some of the guests around Seilaan and Feng's age—friendly acquaintances and rivals alike—had gathered near them to see if the rumors of Feng's involvement with her were true. They were following her lead and snickering rather loudly.
Seilaan was distracted when she thought she recognized the man with the sketchbook. She squinted at him. Well, maybe—no matter. It was her duty to give him an official welcome regardless. She made her way over to him, wondering if she should go ahead and just say something. He looked quite busy, after all. Years of knowing Wilhelm and Jonathan taught her that it was usually a bad idea to disturb an artist unless something was on fire. But at least this one wasn't a musician.
In her presence, all the pixies turned red and gold.
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Solin seemed briefly alarmed at having been directly addressed. He stammered out a reply: "been to parties. Banquets. Orgies. Religious debates. All the same. Job comes first."
Not exactly how I'd have put it, Nore thought. But I think it works. Then she said, "we only choose the best for international delegations. And make no mistake, Solin is the best." Then she smiled and added, "of course, I shall make sure he eats. He sometimes forgets that part of the job," she playfully poked his wiry chest, "and an emaciated bodyguard isn't much help to anyone." She was about to ask what a "duck" was, but thought better of it. She'd find out soon enough. Couldn't be worse than that time she'd eaten a funerary banquet with the cannibalistic Kykzavi.
[Phoenix Park]
Tayin would, if he was paying attention, hear the Enlightened's footsteps as he entered the park and began to practice his martial arts forms, devastating imaginary enemies with a speed and precision that would inspire envy even among cyborgs, though the Enlightened was naught but flesh and blood. But the Enlightened's mind was an enigma Tayin could not pierce. To call it anti-magic would be incorrect, for that would imply an opposite force that recognized the existence of magic. Instead, where he walked, magic simply stopped existing.
To those unable to sense the devastating effect he had on the arcane, the Enlightened was not much to look at. Though in his late twenties, he looked much older due to his shaven head and gaunt frame. His eyes were grey as stormclouds, his skin was sun-kissed and copper-brown, and his face, angular and hard, looked distinctly Uelane. He wore a loose robe, made of various pieces of cloth stitched together and dyed red, and his palms had a number of precisely applied scars hinting at ritual bloodletting.
edited 24th Nov '13 8:22:39 AM by KillerClowns
They/Them
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Samson shook Lord Ren's hand and straightened himself out, "I'm only here to observe and take mental notes of the celebration. I apologize for not being in better attire, Aegis is a more," he paused, "Relaxed organization, in comparison to our more fervent rivals, Ancile."
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
"I see." Maël said, "That explains why it came over to me and my companion." He smiled and kissed her hand. "No need to worry, madame. I assure you that I am no threat. Just a man who just so happened to come over to this place."
His eyes widened. "Oh! I never got a chance to ask for your name."
[Palace Garden]
Maël's servant surveyed the garden area. Keeping a tight grip on his hood, he glanced over at the people. He gave a small nod to Feng and Proseda, not wishing to disrupt their conversation. The sketcher and the pixies, however, caught his eye. He stood behind and watched, hoping to find anything else to report to Maël.
Attitude is prohibited
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
"Tír na nÓg?" Said Tanis, looking a little surprised. "I've been to a place with that name... Although I doubt we're talking about the same place. There certainly weren't any parties at the Tír na nÓg I'm familiar with." She picked up her plate and leaned back against the table. "As for what we're doing here, well, I guess you could say it's a semi-formal diplomatic visit. We're always looking for new allies, trade partners and the like. But this place may be a little too far away for trade, much less a proper alliance..." She paused briefly and looked around.
Unless Ren Island had much more potential than was obvious, neither option was particularly appealing. She saw a lot that she could for them, but almost nothing that they could do for her. Between the apparent lack of technological sophistication and the way the locals stared at people with a different skin colour, she was seeing less and less parallels between her home and Ren Island. But she knew that she hadn't been here very long, and wasn't about to let her judgment be coloured by an hour or two of experience.
"Anyway, what are you doing here, if you don't mind my asking, Shinako? Oh, and would you like to sit down with us?"
Not entirely dead.[Palace Garden]
"Oh, are you now. If you keep being this cute and painfully awkward I may just have to crash the wedding and pick you up myself."
He laughs, "Ask and you shall recieve. Besides, I could hardly obstain from amusing our audience."
Proseda shakes his head in mock disapproval. "I have been employed to ruin quite a few careers over the past millenium, but you truly are special. I wasn't hired, nor did I intend to do so."
He sighs, "I'm so disappointed Feng, I thought you had a chance."
Bet you didn't see that coming
[palace gardens]
For how much pencil he was laying down, he managed to move quickly yet accurately, the pixies watching with amazement as even individual leaves and cracks between the tiles were accounted for. The girl's approach did something to his light and he paused, wondering what to do with the one now colored a deep red, now looking up at him almost apologetically. He ended up simply moving the gold ones to the unfinished areas, which they seemed to be fine with since it gave them more to look at, then continued as normal on the last of the tiles. At last, after what was actually a minute in real time, he was done. He dropped his left hand and flexed the cramps out, then suddenly turned to her.
She seemed to recognize him, too, even with the beard.
He smiled, that sweet, handsome smile with just a touch of the wild and eccentric.
"Hello, Bianca."
[street fair > phoenix park]
Yes, Vince understood that Lise was a walking, barking people magnet. He usually got on fine with people, mostly children, who found themselves with intense urges to pet his Samoyed. Who wouldn't; she was perhaps the closest one could get to owning a cuddly polar bear. But what he had experienced thus far in the hour since his and Marla's arrival was something else. For the most part, she was willing to answer those questions for him... that is, until they split to go snack hunting.
In the few minutes it took the vendor to get his order packaged, she had attracted four people. Four! Kids, no less, who naturally want to know what her name is, feed her snacks, and whether if she's friends with Lord Ren's Wolfram or not. Which, as far as he could tell, seemed to simply be a giant wolf rather than anything related to the chemical element.
As tired as he was getting, all he could do was smile kindly, try not to scare them with his blood-colored eyes and hawkish Disney villain looks, tell them her name, say for the millionth time that, no, she hasn't met this Lord Ren's Wolfram but she might later tonight, and hope that the parents would show up or something because he was quite frankly getting annoyed. Lise, on the other hand, continued smiling the Sammy smile and offering her paw to passerby.
"Lise, let's go." Immediately, her smile dropped. She gave the group of ladies that had been cooing about her from afar the saddest of looks and turned away, fluffy tail wagging slightly atop her back as the two headed off to that park they agreed on.
He located a bench, plopped himself down at one end, and let out a sigh.
Ahh. Peace and quiet at last.
Noting the man who just entered, he reached into his breast pocket and began flipping through a leather-bound notebook the size of his palm, picking up a morsel of sweet and spicy sauced poultry with the mini skewer he was given. Mmm, perfectly junky. Soon after, Marla joined him on the bench, nibbling on a coconut cookie-like dessert of some kind and savoring every little bite. She missed food so much.
Tonight, the two were both human; even the long-ghostly Marla had a functional human body. Looking for a change from the distressingly bloodied white gown she had been stuck in for the last hundred-odd years, she chose a dress in royal blue silk that was probably slightly short for her- just short enough that she wouldn't have to lift it up if she needed to run, if one was observant -with lace detailing on the bodice, elbow-length sleeves, a silver necklace borrowed from Mrs. Cline, and simple flat shoes. Given what she wanted to accomplish, she didn't particularly feel like tottering around the stone-paved streets in heels. Her long, dark hair was pinned loosely into a chignon, and her blue eyes practically smouldered.
Vince, on the other hand, seemed quite happy to have an opportunity to dig out his old Anakali formalwear- reproductions of it, at least -having always felt most at ease in a warm cloak with his favorite dagger and revolver at his side. This one was solid black- much like the rest of the outfit, for that matter -and a bit more fluttery than others, but had little movement above the elbows thanks to its fastenings, a silver chain and broach. The broach held a glass aquamarine-colored medallion stamped with his clan's symbol, four feathers arranged and angled like the blades of a pinwheel. The only other splash of color was a dark blue cravat tucked into what was basically a shortened, closed frock coat, placed for the express purpose of making the red in the typical Anakali wearer's eyes pop. The mostly unremarkable breeches and knee-height boots suggested that the designers fully expected wearers to fight or duel while wearing them, or even hop on a horse and ride out.
He felt his dog paw at the edge of his boot. Once Lise had gotten his attention, she stared a second, then looked away at the strange man who was now practicing some sort of martial art further away.
"Go ahead," he said in a moderately hushed tone, "be careful not to step on the flowers." Having either forgotten about or mostly gotten over the loss of the people outside who had been showering her with attention, her smile returned and she padded off.
edited 10th Jan '14 5:59:09 PM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
"Well, it sounds like you went to the wrong Tír na nÓg," Shinako said to Tanis, "and a diplomatic visit? Sounds pretty ordinary to me. Although I haven't found trading or allying with nations in other dimensions terribly convenient or practical."
"As for me? I'm really here just for fun," Shinako said, as Baster (the miniature white rabbit on her shoulder) rolled his eyes. "And sure, we can sit if you'd like."
Danger: Intense gravimetric distortions nearby. Please reverse the polarity on your deflectors now.
Drummer Boy
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Lady Ren pressed her lips into a thin line. Hand-kissing was not a custom here. "You may simply refer to me as Lady Ren. And how may I address you, sir?"
Your dedication is to be admired. Tempest hopped to another spot on the table, trying to get a glimpse of the door to the kitchen. Food was coming out more slowly than expected, but there were also more guests than Lady Ren told the cooks to anticipate. Very thin, antisocial young men with bad handwriting being employed as bodyguards might be more common than I originally—never mind. Speaking of antisocial bodyguards, there was one in particular that Tempest enjoyed tormenting, but since he wasn't there at the moment... Are the two of you close friends?
"Well, formal attire isn't necessarily the most comfortable." Lord Ren laughed. "Honestly, if I had it my way, everyone could turn up at this party wearing what they wanted, but my wife... well. Why don't you tell me a little about Aegis and what it wants from us?"
[Palace Garden]
"What are you even talking about?" Feng seemed ready to tear his hair out. "You're not asking to sleep with me, are you? Didn't Lady Seilaan just expressly forbid that?"
Balto came out to keep an eye on Maël's servant, as well as Feng. The latter was drawing most of his attention. Seilaan really has a taste for the socially incompetent and chronically confused, doesn't she? he said to Lord Ren. Reminds me of Yinha.
Lord Ren sent Balto a mental wave of annoyance.
So it was him! Except... beard. Huh. "It's so good to see you again, Eli! You can call me Seilaan here, actually." The second syllable, where most of the stress fell, had an almost harsh tone. "I only use Bianca in the Republic because not a lot of people there bother to pronounce my real name correctly and after a while it just sort of hurts." She giggled and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. It was a bit shorter than Eli might have remembered from the last time they met. And that was before she got the metal arm, wasn't it? The long sleeve of her robe hid the entire metal arm when it hung loosely at her side, but she forgot to put away the fork extension after she finished her appetizers, so she held up her hand to watch it slide back inside her finger. Cyrus's work never ceased to amaze her. "Is your brother with you this time? How has he been doing?"
[Phoenix Park]
Taiyin cast out his mind in the direction of the footsteps. It was not quite the same force that Lord Pallone had managed to create and Cyrus Fenrir and Seilaan had brought back from Geier, but it was similar enough to alarm Taiyin.
He got up from the bench and made his way to the Enlightened, using the horrible sense of nothing to guide him instead of the target's mind. A couple of gardeners, also sensing that there was something off about the man, were watching him from behind a willow tree.
Taiyin put his hand on the shoulder of a thin man in his fifties. "Keep looking at him."
The gardener had no choice but to obey. He fixed his eyes on the Enlightened and Taiyin delved into the gardener's mind so he could see.
"You," Taiyin said harshly. "What are you?"
Wait, what was that? A... dog? Well, if it did anything stupid, the gardeners would go bonkers. The trickle of thoughts from the other gardener near Taiyin told him that the dog seemed quite well-behaved so far. There was currently no need to ask its owners to do anything about it. And the owners themselves... more outsiders? This was ridiculous. But he had to deal with this man first. He was the threat.
edited 25th Nov '13 12:01:07 AM by SnowyFoxes
The last battle's curtains will open on stage![Palace Garden]
"No actually I believe she stated she wouldn't mind if her candidates had simultaneous connections. Surely you intend to experience something special before that ability leaves you."
He chuckles, "Besides, I can take the form of anyone I have ever seen. Do you know how much people pay for this? How many people have died and lost for this over the last few millenia?"
He puts his hand to his chin, screwing up his face in a mock imitation of the thinker.
"Then again, perhaps doing that would tarnish your reputation, and your decisions are impaired. I'd tell you to protect your dignity, but the only kind you have left is in your pants. Besides, wouldn't you just love to take all your aggression out on me?"
edited 25th Nov '13 12:00:20 AM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming
[Phoenix Park]
The Enlightened paused mid-stance to look at Taiyin, balancing on a single leg effortlessly. Looking Taiyin over and clearly unimpressed, the Enlightened said, "names are an Illusion of Self, but you may refer to the vessel before you as the Enlightened. The Enlightened is an avatar of the Cosmic Song." He finally brought his foot down and flowed into a more natural stance, though he was still clearly ready to strike if necessary. He glanced down at Lise, then decided to ignore the creature. "The Enlightened brings no ill-will, and comes, as directed by the Cosmic Song, to offer liberation to those bound by the Illusions of Self."
Shit, got late, will post for Nore and Solin later.
edited 25th Nov '13 7:02:51 AM by KillerClowns
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
Maël let go of her hand.
"Maël of Utona." he said, "Or, to make it nice and short, call me Maël." Seeing that the wolf was gone, he smirked. Good. "So, now that my friend is away for the time being, I suppose we can get to know each other a little more. I mean, if you wish."
[Palace Garden]
Maël's servant continued to watch the sketcher and Seilaan, even more curious than before. Was this some kind of reunion? How many other people knew each other here? He wondered if there would be a chance someone he knew would show up as well. But he knew that would be impossible.
He then turned his head away for a brief moment, noticing Balto yet again. Unlike Maël, the hooded man had no problems with the wolf. In fact, he enjoyed its company. It was nice to see a (normally) dangerous creature act friendly around humans.
"Hello again, friend." he said softly, bending down and petting him. "Nice to see you."
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Solin had his mouth full of some sort of noodly appetizer, but nodded and said through the food, "yup." Socially awkward or not, he wasn't stupid, and had a suspicion of where this conversation was going. Same place it had gone several hundred times before; some variant of "you two dating and/or fucking?" Something about the use of "close" did it. Once upon a time, such inquiries would have (like many things) left him flustered, stammering, and blushing so hard it could be seen even through his dark skin, but you could only endure the old script so many times before it wore thin and banal. It didn't faze him any more, whether it was the innocent curiosity of his fellow Uelane, the condescending sneers of puritanical Maurosians, or the back-slapping and ribald jokes of the Kykzavi; he mostly just let Nore deal with this sort of thing.
Nore continued his thought. "Indeed. Solin has been an indispensable as both an agent and a friend, and he was the latter before the former. He is close as clan-kin, and I trust him with my life." Tempest's response to this would be a test of sorts.
edited 25th Nov '13 4:32:48 PM by KillerClowns
Drummer Boy
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Lady Ren managed to smile. "Your friend's predilection for hoods continues to intrigue me. If this is indeed the usual custom in your homeland, what purpose does it serve, if I may ask?"
Tempest moved out of the way of someone trying to grab some pickled vegetables. Unfortunately, I've developed a fondness for the sport of teasing young fleshlings. Something tells me I should stop there. Because Solin's lack of a reaction seemed to indicate that he knew exactly where it was going. Well, she was still curious. Are you from similar backgrounds?
[Palace Garden]
Oh, he noticed him. Balto flattened his ears and allowed himself to be petted.
"GAAAAAAAH. Can we stop. Talking. About. Sex. You're capable of not talking about it, right? Can we just—what are your other hobbies? Let's start there."
What a disaster. Balto was tempted to jump, grab Feng's collar, and drag him away before he further embarrassed himself, but that might disappoint Seilaan. He gave the servant a look that seemed to say "Wow, isn't this stupid?"
[Phoenix Park]
Taiyin honestly thought that the man sounded like a pretentious fuck, but as long as he kept to himself... feh. "Lower the barriers around your mind, and I will see if you speak the truth. And you two—" He pointed his cane at Vince and Marla. "Come here." They were not beyond the range of his telepathy, technically, but since he was occupied with the gardener, it would be much easier if they were closer.
edited 25th Nov '13 8:23:31 PM by SnowyFoxes
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
[Phoenix Park]
The Enlightened shook his head, and said, "you see, but you do not comprehend. If there was a barrier, the Enlightened would take it down to prove no ill will. But there is no barrier. The answer is simple, so simple I doubt any here can comprehend it: magic is an Illusion of Self. The Enlightened has overcome it. To ask the Enlightened to submit to an Illusion of Self is to ask water to no longer be wet."
He turned to Vince and Marla and gave them a strange greeting, bringing his right arm to his left shoulder and tapping it, but did not speak to them. Instead he took an impossibly swift step away from Taiyin, and resumed his forms.
[Ballroom/ Banquet Hall]
Nore was actually slightly disappointed that Tempest hadn't gone with the usual route — but still, it proved she was smarter than most. Solin was just glad he wouldn't have to waste any time with the usual dumb questions.
Nore decided to stick with the overall truth, albeit told in a way that would make her culture look good. "Well," she said, "can't say we are. My parents are corn farmers. We never went hungry, but swinging a scythe just wasn't for me, so I made my way to Oriyith. Great city; if you get a chance to visit Uel, you really should go there." Because it's less xenophobic than most of Uel. Can't con someone in a rigged game or sell them fake Valmoth glass or pitchblende while spewing vitriol at them. "Solin's parents both do the same job as me," best to let Tempest make assumptions about that for now, "but as you can see, talking to people isn't really his tea." With a wry smile at Solin, she added, "might've made a good corn farmer, though."
Solin corrected, "rice. North of the Legion-Eater Swamp, too wet for corn."
I don't think she cares, Nore thought, but decided to ignore the interjection. "Still, Solin's better at listening than talking, and moves like a rattlesnake. We made fast friends; I helped him out by telling his folks they were wasting his real talents trying to make him like them, and he pulled some strings to help me get in the Pearlescent Order." She smiled. "That's the great thing about Uel," she said. "Everyone is their own person, free to pursue their own ambitions instead of being bound by their birth or their parents." She paused as she considered the last part. Too unsubtle an advertisement for her culture? Maybe. She'd see how Tempest reacted.
edited 25th Nov '13 7:42:46 PM by KillerClowns
[Ballroom/Banquet Hall]
"I can't say I've ever even heard of a floating island before." Said Tanis. "Although, admittedly, I don't like to travel much." She shrugged. "There's probably some floating islands somewhere, I just don't know about them... Anyway, we haven't done much since we got here, aside from get some food and sit down..." She paused and glanced over at Valerion, who merely looked back at her and said nothing. "But I suppose we may have been a bit careless with our conversation as we walked in."
Not entirely dead.