Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 23, 2017 4:31:09 GMT
Apparently everyone spoiling Sienna rotten would soon become a thing, and Edelweiss had no protests on that since she was one of the people spoiling the dark-skinned girl as well.
Although Amon's question brought the redhead out of her own particular daydreaming, she had to take a few seconds to think of a reply. Somewhere that had perked her interest on the way? Well, there were indeed a couple places that had called her attention as they walked, but she honestly doubted Sienna would have fared well in them. They were all either too crowded, too noisy, or otherwise too full of everything... then again, that's what this holiday had always been like every year. "Hmm..." She hummed while musing about it in her head, after taking a little time to nibble on her own doughnut. "Not really. I'm fine with just walking around more or just going anywhere you two pick."
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Sienna nodded her head and smiled at the baker, looking forward to trying something new. She hesitated a bit at that question from Amon though. Had she seen anything. Yes. Lot of things but nothing particularly interesting, or at least not without her having an episode that would ruin the evening. Ah but there had been one thing she'd seen. Off the the outskirts and away from the noise. "Goldfish." She announced, pointing to where they'd come from.
Post by Stephen Leland on Feb 23, 2017 16:59:53 GMT
Stephen frowned as the blonde general addressed him, irritated that he was getting shooed away but Medivha spoke up before he could leave. Glancing at Mary for a moment, he crossed his arms in front of him as he waited for Medivha to adjust her appearance. He resisted the urge to reach up and rub his aching head since he did not really want to draw anymore worried looks from Mary.
His attention was drawn back to Medivha as she stood up and addressed him. She could not even look him in the eyes though. His first thought regarding her behavior was disappointment. What kind of a horrible person had he been to her to garner this treatment? Did he deserve this...? The worst part was that he had not the slightest clue but one thing was for sure: he did not trust her. Who could trust someone who could not even meet his gaze as they spoke.
"... I want to know a few things- the simple truth is all I ask for. If you cannot tell me the truth then say nothing," he stated firmly but carefully. "I only have three questions: Who was I to you, do you care to know who I am now, and what is your favorite color?" His third question might be a bit peculiar but he asked it as a sort of test. Nan had taught him this small trick and he could almost here her saying it to him now in her sandpaper voice: 'If you want to know if someone is lying to you just do this. Ask the questions you want answered then throw in something simple -like what color is the sky or what is their favorite food or so on and so forth. If you can tell a difference in the way they answered your first questions and the simple one, they could very well be lying to you.' He was no expert at picking out the truth from the lies like her but he knew this much at least.
He made it sound like they were simple questions, to him, they probably were simple questions. To her they were not. To her, he picked possibly the hardest questions possible. Viekaris sighed, her own headache forming in her temples as she closed her eyes and thought the situation through. She would never lie to him of cause; she never had and she wasn't about to start now, but she didn't really want to give him all the details right now. For starters, that would be far too much information for an amnesiac to take in, or for anyone to take in in one sitting actually.
"Sandsworth, I'll be back later." She spoke up, moving towards the entrance of the tent before tentatively pausing by the red head, looking just a touch uncomfortable. "Would you... mind if we went out for tea and spoke privately? Your questions aren't as easily answered as you would think." She stated, flickering her eyes up to his stormy blue for a moment before darting them away. Such a familiar colour, and yet she hadn't seen it in so long. Looking at him was difficult, it made her want to hold him close and not let go- something she didn't think he would appreciate right now.
"There are numerous cafe's dotted about right now thanks to the event. I would like to find a quiet one before talking.... it's quite.... personal, your questions."
"those who know how to think need no teachers." -Mahatma Gandhi
Post by Stephen Leland on Feb 23, 2017 18:48:12 GMT
As she approached he simply watched her with a weary eye, listening to her thoughtfully. So she wanted to discuss this over a cup of tea? Not really what he had in mind for the festival but he was never one to turn down tea. A hint of a smile finally tugged at his lips, an amusing thought occurring to him.
"I never knew that asking someone their favorite color was so complex. There are many different types of colors though so I can see how it might be difficult to settle for just one," he chuckled before turning to Mary. "Shoo, go find someone else to be anxious over. Your hovering bothers me," he stated as he turned to leave, gesturing for Medivha to follow him.
"W-wait what! I do not hover! Whatever, don't get lost and watch your head," The woman huffed but made her retreat, pausing to give Stephen a look that said 'be careful.' That's what he liked about Mary. She knew when he needed to be left alone.
Stephen nodded then turned back to Medivha. "Shall we? I am a bit pressed for time since I have a play I wish to attend later today."
Sienna nodded her head and smiled at the baker, looking forward to trying something new. She hesitated a bit at that question from Amon though. Had she seen anything. Yes. Lot of things but nothing particularly interesting, or at least not without her having an episode that would ruin the evening. Ah but there had been one thing she'd seen. Off the the outskirts and away from the noise. "Goldfish." She announced, pointing to where they'd come from.
Amon blinked, confused for a second while he stared in the direction that Sienna pointed to. Goldfish...? He didn't remember any fish or pet vendors, so what was she-
"Ah," he said, understanding her request. "That large goldfish plush that we passed by, the one at the shooting booth, correct?" He had vaguely seen the large, bright yellow/orange shape as they passed through the festival. "Well, when everyone's ready, we'll be one our way. No real rush right now though..." he said as he finished his first doughnut and offered some of his second to Edel.
He waited until Sienna was ready before getting up, half leading the way, half trying to get Sienna to lead the way.
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 25, 2017 16:31:13 GMT
Edelweiss smiled slightly at the offer of a second doughnut, but could only shake her head. Thanks, but no. She wasn't all that hungry and one had been enough, so she'd just follow after them for now.
Though... goldfish? That confused her as well, and Amon's little rambled explanation was very welcome. So the goldfish was a toy from one of those game booths, right? That actually sounded really fun; it had been a while since the redhead had last found a chance to play with that kind of thing, so she might give it a go as well, be it just to turn Sienna's home into an ocean of aquatic plush toys alongside Amon or just to get one for herself too because why not.
"That sounds great." She finally stated. "Lead the way, Sie~"
Sienna didn't lead the way, but did walk close behind, her flamingo in tow. She was excited about getting a fish plushie. But she'd be lying to herself if she thought any of this was normal. Everything felt strange. Even after so much time had passed. The idea that she was free to move as she pleased was so strange to her now. After nearly two years of imprisonment freedom felt like a bad idea. But she wasn't going to let such a thing keep her indoors. She felt at least remotely safe in the company of her friends.
This was why the gold fish was something she fixated on. It was the first thing she'd seen that she felt an honest desire to possess. For her own enjoyment. She'd just spent so much time being someone else's desires that it felt weird to have any of her own. It felt nice to want something, not out of desperation or survival but simply because she wanted it. For the sake of wanting it. Tat alone was liberating. She wouldn't be much good at trying to get it yet but one day she'd get back to her old self, maybe not the same but close enough. These positive, but still strained thoughts allowed her to pull ahead of her friends for a few steps before stopping at the booth and pointing confidently at what she wanted and then turned expectantly to them, expecting it to be delivered. She had all the respect and confidence that they would do so with ease.
Amon couldn't help but chuckle at Sienna's enthusiasm as he approached the booth. She was such a little kid; he would've given her a pat on the head if she wasn't deeply affected by touch.
"Well hello there little lady~" greeted the booth owner. "You're going to need to hit as many targets as you can if you want the big prizes~" he continued, turning his attention to Amon and Edel, showing off the clockwork contraption of moving targets and offering up a pellet gun.
It took Amon a half a second to realize he was the only one qualified to make an attempt a Sienna's prize. "I'll give it a go..." he said, stepping up and placing the fee on the counter.
"Ohoho~ Trying to show off for the ladies I see~" the booth owner said, handing over the gun and the pellet loader.
"Yeah yeah yeah..." Amon said as he loaded the gun, slowly becoming irritated by the man's subtle condescending nature, a sneaking suspicion he was being scammed. "Any rules I should know?"
"Just aim and fire, ten shots, ten targets," the man explained, showing off the points system. "Depending on how many points you get will depend on the prizes you are eligible for. But remember: you gotta knock the target down to make it count~"
"...Got it..." Amon replied, eyeing the points and prizes. At a minimum, he needed to hit at least five white, large targets to get a prize. To get Sienna's fish, he need to hit all ten small, blue targets.
Yup.
This was gonna be rigged.
Well two can play at this game.
"You sure you can see through all of that hair?" the man asked as he readied the machine.
"I can manage," Amon said as he readied to take the shot.
Pah-ting!
Pah-ting! Ding!
His first few shots missed, or even better, hit the target but did not make it go down. Eventually...
"Oh..." the man said sympathetically as he reset the machine. "Better luck next time buddy...but at least you can get a consolation pr-"
"Again," Amon said, placing down another fee. "I'll get my prizes at the end."
The man paused, smiling with a small twinkle in his eye as he prepared the pellets and machine. "Sure thing buddy~"
Yup.
He was being scammed.
Two can play at this game...
===
"Man...what a lame festival..."
"Hey, at least there are some good chicks around here..."
A pair of subtly obnoxious gentlemen (best described using the modern day word "bros") we sauntering through the festival, occasionally winking at or making catcalls to any ladies that they deemed worthy. They were meandering around, flipping between complaining and flirting when one of them stopped.
"What's up?" asked Bro1.
"Take a look at this punk," said Bro2, gesturing to a shooting booth a few yards away from earshot, where some guy was trying (and failing) to hit the targets presumably to impress the two ladies with him.
"What a dweeb..."
"But those chicks are pretty hot...I'm liking the short, dark one," Bro2 said, wetting his lips.
"I'm more partial to the fair skinned one," said Bro1.
"Shall we relieve this fine gentlemen of the heavy burden of entertaining these ladies?"
"Let's."
And with a nod in agreement, the two guys approached the trio with a "Hello ladies~"
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Feb 26, 2017 22:56:35 GMT
“I’d like to pet the chicken too,” a quiet voice spoke up from beside Aldvar Ragnulf. His head was tilted down, face covered by a hood. Despite seeming shy, he stepped forward and tentatively reached out to touch the bird’s feathers. The bird turned to peck at him and he flinched before the beak even made contact. Figures. Animals never did care much for him. “…Maybe I’ll just watch instead,” he added in a soft voice.
Lasair hadn’t planned on attending the festival. He was going to stay inside and study (again). But as the sun moved over head, he grew restless within the same old halls. Eventually, he found himself getting up and heading out the door, but not before he took some time to adjust his appearance somewhat. He didn’t want to be recognized, not today. Edelweiss would be busy tending to Sienna (whom Lasair truly did not know well) and Sayvahn was still taking some time away from the guild leader. Clairee hadn’t asked him to meet her here either, so he did not have anyone he needed to meet. Thus, he wanted to run into nobody.
So as he got ready, he had taken up a glob of gel in his hand to slick his hair down. He was due for a trim of that anyhow. He dug out his old cloak as well (one without a mask stitch onto it) and donned it, tying the hood so that it would rest over his eyes. It restricted his vision, but that was alright. He was just another man in the crowd. It was a refreshing feeling.
“You’re kind to the animals. It’s nice to see,” he added after a few more moments. It was an honest thought for it was rare to see them treated so gently.
Post by Gladys Hayden on Feb 26, 2017 23:04:47 GMT
Gladys had been given the day off for the festival, by some grace of some kind of God. She almost felt bad for the people having to work it, especially when she noticed a sheep wandering down the street. She had heard that they would be setting up a zoo of sorts, but she hadn’t expected it to hold so many animals.
While she wasn’t on duty, she did feel responsible for the creature ambling in front of her. Sighing, she tilted her hat a bit farther back on her head and walked towards the animal, light dress trailing around her ankles. She had worked with sheep back at home and the memories of their behavior came back to her fluidly. It was a ram, so grab him by one horn and tug him gently where you wanted him to walk. He bleated at her a bit, but followed without great complain. She led him back to the pen and tucked him inside before turning to leave again, only to bump into a brightly dressed girl standing nearby. “Oh sorry,” she mumbled, eyes darting downward. “I was just heading on my way,” she added a moment later.
“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ―William Faulkner
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 27, 2017 3:51:03 GMT
Tech. A clockwork contraption and an ignition-propelled pellets gun. Of course there had been that (very likely) possibility since the start, but Edelweiss had in vain hoped they could play whatever this game would require with something else - like a crossbow, squirt/watergun, slingshot, throwing darts or rings manually, anything that was non-techy enough for her to handle and give it a try too for fun independing if she hit or missed... but no, it had to be all techy, and the childish pout on her face was blatantly visible then. It was a very minor, silly little thing yes, but it wasn't fair. It was starting from the tiny things like that that turned hard to live in that city while being an ander.
So disheartening. Plus that game seemed rigged. But Amon was still trying it again, and Edelweiss didn't think he was naive enough to not have noticed that already, so it might still be interesting to watch whatever is it he's planning unfold.
----
Meanwhile that, apparently the distance had made it for a considerable misjudgement of the trio's heights - as the two newcomers would soon find out, since Sienna was a couple inches into the tall range for a lady of her times and only looked short because she was standing next to Edelweiss, who actually is as tall as most average guys (and even taller than some) and in her own turn only didn't look her own height from afar due to standing next to Amon (who is by all means tree-sized).
"Can we help you?" Edelweiss responded when turning to look at the incoming hobbits guys. In fact, one of them was exactly Sienna's height and therefore the redhead actually towered over him. A slightly amusing detail to think of, and in that first second made her smile slightly in amusement. Dumb mistake. Edelweiss mentally smacked herself for it. Never smile at a flirt. Ever. For the same reasons their immediate reply reminded her of:
"You seem bored. How about we leave this place and go somewhere else?" "No, thank you." Keep it quick and polite, and with some luck maybe they'd go away. Although she did unconsciously take a half step in front of Sienna to half-hide her in her own shadow. "Ouch, so fast! But we promise we won't bore you as your buddy over there." "We are not interested." Keep it clear and polite, no need to drag herself to their level. And best to try and not scare Sienna further, since at the moment there was nothing she could put between those two and the dark-skinned girl besides the redhead herself. Nonetheless, Edelweiss endured it gracefuly, mostly because her store of silent colorful language was becoming impressive. "I bet you're not serious." "Remove your hand from my shoulder." She was trying to keep it polite still, but her patience was wearing thin, and getting lower and lower along that hand. "Com'on, it'll be fun~" "If you're bored leave, you uncouth moths." She grabbed that hand away by the fingers and it took a second of gathering will to not twist them wrong. "Go please yourself with a cactus."
Last Edit: Apr 2, 2017 15:55:16 GMT by Edelweiss Fjäril: fixing typos
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
Sienna was afraid the game was cheating. She could easily see him hitting the targets. She hated cheaters. People like this were why she had ended up in that hole for so long. She frowned, noticeably but didn't say or do anything since she still had confidence in Amon to get it, regardless. Of course her focus was a bit ruined when voices along with bodies came into their general area. While she'd been fine walking around thus far the idea that there was a strange man even actively looking at her sent her heart into a race to a finish line she didn't want to cross. She shied away instinctively ducking behind Edel for protection. Her hands and body shook with fear and her breath started coming out in short, rapid gasps. It was ridiculous but she had no control over it. She knew full well that her friends and Mingo would rip these men apart before they allowed so much as a finger to be laid on her. She knew all of this but it didn't stop the ball of dread weighing her stomach down as her knees began to quiver as flashes of those awful times appeared before her eyes.
The more the men tried to convince them to leave the more upset she became. Edel was doing a marvelous job of fending them off but Mingo decided that the approach wasn't enough. His pet wasn't happy and he need to fix that. The large flamingo, who had until that moment been hidden on the other side of her large dress poked his head up and held his head high, extending to the top of his nearly five feet of height. The bird turned his head to look them in the eye and when a hand reached out to touch Edel again his beak clamped down on the wrist, hard.
The machine was rigged so that only certain targets could actually be felled at certain times, giving the illusion that one had to hit them in just the right way for them to actually go down. To add insult to injury, the gun was permanently made to be way off calibration; so even if someone could make up for the skewed aim, the rigged targets would make sure that the shooter would be denied their points. In a sense, the only way to actually win a big prize was to not only get lucky with aiming, but also happen upon the one time all the desired targets would be able to fall down.
That, or simply counter-rig the system.
Amon carefully observed the gun. Metal, except for a simple wooden stock. Good. He then looked up at the targets, and had just finished some quick, mental calculations when he heard the sleazeballs saunter up and started to flirt with Edel and Sienna.
Really?
I mean, really?
Just then, he got an idea. Two birds with one stone really. Actually, more like sprinkles on top of a sundae but whatever.
Making a big show, he reached into one of his pockets, got out a hair tie and some hair pins, and proceeded to slick back and tie his hair into a small bun.
"Hm? See? That hair got in the way~" the owner chuckled as Amon finished up and picked the gun back up. "Might want to hurry, those boys be trying to steal your dates~" he nodded at the two greasebags.
Amon pretended to ignore the man, proceeding to hold the gun more like a pistol, right arm outstretched. It was around this time that Mingo decided to make a snack of one of the guys' hand.
"Ouch! Why you little-" Bro1 grunted in pain as he freed his hand, aiming to try and hit the poor bird.
Before he got the chance, four orbs on Amon's "bracelet" each popped out, extended from his wrist by an inch, and immediately crackled with electricity, arcing onto the pellet gun for a moment before Amon fired.
WA-TANG! Ding!
Ah...much better.
At the sudden loud noise, the owner and the two jerkbags flinched, causing them to stop what they were doing, unable to help themselves but watch in slack-jawed awe as the remaining nine targets were forcefully felled, leading up to a brief crescendo of bells, the signal of a grand prize.
"I'll be taking the goldfish please," Amon said as he set the gun down, pointing at Sienna's desired prize. "As for the additional consolation prize..." he continued turning to Edel. "What would you like? Sorry if it isn't much..."
"As soon as you can, take Sienna to a quiet place. I'll catch up with you in a sec," he quickly whispered to her before giving Mingo a "good job buddy" pat on the head.
"Now, as for you fine gentlemen..." Amon turned his attention to the two garbage dumps, his left eye glowing intensely as every word was coated in blood lust despite his calm exterior, causing the two garbage dumps to involuntarily take a step back.
"H-hey...calm down there pretty boy..."
"Y-yeah...we were just keeping them company...y'know...entertained is all..."
"Oh, well in that case..." Amon smiled. "Allow me to thank you for your services..."
He nonchalantly poked the man who laid his hand on Edel in the chest before once again activating the tesla orbs on his arm. The other man could only watch in horror as his buddy let out a silent scream, the electricity arced throughout his body before he collapsed onto the ground, groaning and unable to move. He himself fell on his own behind when Amon turned his attention to him and walked towards him.
"Consider this a warning," he said softly, squatting down to get on the man's eye level. "Take your buddy over there and kindly leave us alone. And if I catch you anywhere near us, I promise you: you won't be bothering anyone else again. Capiche?"
The shorter man nodded nervously.
"Good...so what are you waiting for?"
At that, the man scrambled up and ran to grab his taller friend, practically dragging him away as a few women here and there laughed, some giving Amon a wink in appreciation before going about their business. He merely rolled his eyes and let out a sigh as he stood up and strode over to where Edel and Sienna were.
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
Sophia nodded and smiled at her soon to be employer until she walked away, dropping into a more casual expression. She watched the woman chat up some hunter fellow and debated herself if she should join them and kiss up a little buuuuut that would mean going near that chicken. Birds seemed to hate her the most so she probably should avoid the situation at all cost. Speaking of birds, one of the chickens pecked at her shoe, mistaking the fake gems on them to be a treat. "Oi! Shoo," she hissed, jumping away from the "ferocious" creature only to bump into something. Turning she got a face full of bust.
"Woah, you're tall, aren'tcha?" she laughed a little in disbelief as she craned her neck up some. "It's fine. I'm pretty short so I am use to being trampled by giants like yourself. I was about to leave myself so why don't we go together! I really don't know that many people here and I got a whole bunch of treats so eat, drink, and be merry with me." Festivals were no fun alone so she might as well try to make a friend or two here. "That can be pay back for almost trampling me to death," she added with a wink, exaggerating for comedy's sake. Gladys Hayden
Last Edit: Mar 1, 2017 21:55:18 GMT by Sophia Gatto
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