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middleofsomewhere2021-09-11 10:10 am
voidtreckermods) wrote in middleofsomewhere2021-09-11 10:10 am
Wangji was watching with more than slight concern at the bows and arrows pointed at the seemingly defenceless child, but at the leaders words he focuses and looks towards the top of the islands.
He wordlessly agrees with Jake that they should refrain from explaining exactly what the train is to these people. He's trying to keep all three of them within his field of view in case they decide that fighting is better than diplomacy.
"There are many of us scattered across the island, some have healing abilities if you have any injured." Medics are always welcome right?
"Do you have a leader we can speak to about coming to an arrangement?"
He wordlessly agrees with Jake that they should refrain from explaining exactly what the train is to these people. He's trying to keep all three of them within his field of view in case they decide that fighting is better than diplomacy.
"There are many of us scattered across the island, some have healing abilities if you have any injured." Medics are always welcome right?
"Do you have a leader we can speak to about coming to an arrangement?"
There's an inclination to tell the child that it's okay. That they don't have to help out, especially when it's dangerous out there, somewhere between the birds and the boars and all the other fighting going on. But Madoka knows what it's like to want to help out, and she knows what it's like to be told that in return.
So she doesn't. ".. okay. That would be a big help, actually. I think a lot of the animals got really scared by everything that's going on, like the one you've got there.."
Instead she turns her attention towards the beam, walking up to it and inspecting some of the rubble that's blocking it. It doesn't seem impossible for her to move, so she starts shoving the rubble off to the sides the best she can.
It'll take a few moments, but she thinks she can do it. As long as she watches out that nothing else collapses..
Meanwhile the sali's words echo through her head. The Forevers.. Were those the beings some others talked to?
"But.. um, I haven't spoken to the Forevers, but I think some of my friends have.. Are they usually the ones who help you all out when you're in trouble?"
So she doesn't. ".. okay. That would be a big help, actually. I think a lot of the animals got really scared by everything that's going on, like the one you've got there.."
Instead she turns her attention towards the beam, walking up to it and inspecting some of the rubble that's blocking it. It doesn't seem impossible for her to move, so she starts shoving the rubble off to the sides the best she can.
It'll take a few moments, but she thinks she can do it. As long as she watches out that nothing else collapses..
Meanwhile the sali's words echo through her head. The Forevers.. Were those the beings some others talked to?
"But.. um, I haven't spoken to the Forevers, but I think some of my friends have.. Are they usually the ones who help you all out when you're in trouble?"
"Honestly....we don't know much of anything. We can offer skills, and we were planning to start investigating, but....something here is interfering with what we can even do, even if we can still do some things," Emporio admits somewhat ashamedly- idly holding his hand over his heart and grimacing at the personal reminder.
"...I think a few felt better after talking to the statue- uh...the Forever One?"
Admittedly he isn't always best at listening to the coms, but he was busy finding out the hard way that summoning Weather was a bad idea. Perhaps he should have tried that himself. "...But we were hoping to be able to work together. We at least noticed that there was a lot in need of repair," he adds, nodding. "...um, from when we arrived on the central island, anyway. We're willing to help with reconstruction too, if you'll let us. Mostly....we want to stop this storm. Before it does more harm."
"...I think a few felt better after talking to the statue- uh...the Forever One?"
Admittedly he isn't always best at listening to the coms, but he was busy finding out the hard way that summoning Weather was a bad idea. Perhaps he should have tried that himself. "...But we were hoping to be able to work together. We at least noticed that there was a lot in need of repair," he adds, nodding. "...um, from when we arrived on the central island, anyway. We're willing to help with reconstruction too, if you'll let us. Mostly....we want to stop this storm. Before it does more harm."
Danny wavers a little under the dizziness, but stubbornly sticks to it and finds his way to the craft. The bodies give him more than a moment's pause. He grimaces and makes his way into the craft through the crack.
Cassie walks alongside Masumi, bending over to examine one of the parcels.
"Not sure if what they were carrying had anything to do with what happened. But it couldn't hurt to check, right?"
Beat.
"Well, I mean, we should check anyway."
"Not sure if what they were carrying had anything to do with what happened. But it couldn't hurt to check, right?"
Beat.
"Well, I mean, we should check anyway."
By this point, Kyoko's heard some of the chatter about the statue on the SCA. It's enough to make her curious and trek out to take a look for herself. Even if she didn't know to look for it, she can sense that there's... something... about it. She doesn't know how to describe it, and it isn't anything familiar. But she partially lives by her magic senses, she's used them to track witches ever since she became a magical girl. Even if she can't recognize it, she can feel it.
... even without that, though, this statue makes her think of a monk. Or a Buddha. So, really, it isn't surprising that it has power to it. That there's something alive, here, in a manner of speaking.
Slowly at first, then with more surety as it feels right, Kyoko lifts her hands and presses them flat together, like she would at a shrine.
Hey, you can hear me, right? She doesn't know how well her telepathy will work when everything else is weird. But it's worth a shot.
... even without that, though, this statue makes her think of a monk. Or a Buddha. So, really, it isn't surprising that it has power to it. That there's something alive, here, in a manner of speaking.
Slowly at first, then with more surety as it feels right, Kyoko lifts her hands and presses them flat together, like she would at a shrine.
Hey, you can hear me, right? She doesn't know how well her telepathy will work when everything else is weird. But it's worth a shot.
"There's more than just him..." the young sali murmurs. Then she steels herself. The Forever One might know what to do. About the sali acting really weird and these outsiders.
"You'll have to keep up with me!" She bounds in the direction of the shelter housing the Forever One on this island.
The older sali is distracted by the escaping young sali. This gives Jingyi an opportunity to break free and follow the young sali or attempt to subdue the older sali while Ryo gives chase.
"You'll have to keep up with me!" She bounds in the direction of the shelter housing the Forever One on this island.
The older sali is distracted by the escaping young sali. This gives Jingyi an opportunity to break free and follow the young sali or attempt to subdue the older sali while Ryo gives chase.
Potato waking hours later with the energy of a kid on xmas @ 5am like-
philosopherspotato
2021-09-15 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Potato, for her part, barely even stirs. Sometimes an overactive bean of a mana generator just needs a long sleep, and with the Forever One's help and presence, she can rest easy. As the blanket of plants folds over, she rolls only slightly in her sleep, a whispery mutter passing her lips-
"....good night horns person..."
Most likely, she'll still be here when Ryo returns.
"....good night horns person..."
Most likely, she'll still be here when Ryo returns.
You'll have to keep up with me is all Ryo needs - he turns in time to see the young sali leave and goes from zero to flat sprint, keeping up with her as best he can. He's at a disadvantage - she knows the terrain better than he does - but he can Sense her, and he's quick, and he'll be damned if he loses her when they're finally making progress.
Jingyi is capable - he should be able to handle himself, and Ryo can heal him afterwards. They don't have time to discuss any plans otherwise.
Jingyi is capable - he should be able to handle himself, and Ryo can heal him afterwards. They don't have time to discuss any plans otherwise.
He sees the two pulses - for yes - and watches Potato roll over in the freshly-grown grass, murmuring quietly, and a fond smile crosses his face. "Thank you," he says quietly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He takes his hand off the statue and walks away, heading east and putting a call out for help as he walks.
Hours pass.
It's fully nighttime by the time he returns, walking slowly and carefully in the dark. It had been a long afternoon - a slow, low-flying flight to the eastern island with Jingyi, actually finding the crystals once they got there, and realizing that the crystals weren't the easiest thing to break and made them feel woozy in large quantities (which would be difficult for walking and even worse for flying). They'd finally figured it out - Jingyi had punched the crystal, which would've been both hilarious and impressive had he not already felt like he was recovering from a hangover, and broken him off a piece small enough for him to handle - and they'd headed back to the center island. He's tired from the journey, tired from their efforts, tired from this world, and even if the crystal he's carrying isn't enough to knock him sideways, it's still not helping.
But, thanks to Jingyi's help, he's made it.
He approaches the statue, passes the still-sleeping Potato, and unwraps the crystal from the cloth he'd been carrying it in, gently depositing it into the statue's hands. He then puts his hand on the statue's shoulder, wondering if that connection will still be there and hoping it will. "I got what you asked for," he says quietly. "Is that enough? Will it work?"
Hours pass.
It's fully nighttime by the time he returns, walking slowly and carefully in the dark. It had been a long afternoon - a slow, low-flying flight to the eastern island with Jingyi, actually finding the crystals once they got there, and realizing that the crystals weren't the easiest thing to break and made them feel woozy in large quantities (which would be difficult for walking and even worse for flying). They'd finally figured it out - Jingyi had punched the crystal, which would've been both hilarious and impressive had he not already felt like he was recovering from a hangover, and broken him off a piece small enough for him to handle - and they'd headed back to the center island. He's tired from the journey, tired from their efforts, tired from this world, and even if the crystal he's carrying isn't enough to knock him sideways, it's still not helping.
But, thanks to Jingyi's help, he's made it.
He approaches the statue, passes the still-sleeping Potato, and unwraps the crystal from the cloth he'd been carrying it in, gently depositing it into the statue's hands. He then puts his hand on the statue's shoulder, wondering if that connection will still be there and hoping it will. "I got what you asked for," he says quietly. "Is that enough? Will it work?"
The feelings rush through him, worry, danger, home, people. A plea for help. It feels fuzzy and hazy but he brings his attention fully from the bridge that he had been pointed at to focus on the statue, reaching out to touch it gently, reassurance.
He's never attempted to communicate with a statue before, this is new. He nodded at Murphy. "Yes... It must be terrible to not be able to help... I wonder if they could before... Help I mean. Doing anything here is very tiring."
Was that just how these islands were, or something that came with the storm? "We can go and see... If we can find them... The people I mean."
He's never attempted to communicate with a statue before, this is new. He nodded at Murphy. "Yes... It must be terrible to not be able to help... I wonder if they could before... Help I mean. Doing anything here is very tiring."
Was that just how these islands were, or something that came with the storm? "We can go and see... If we can find them... The people I mean."
"We have no... leader. You may speak to us all." They still did not attack though, which was probably a good sign.
They glanced between the three of them, "If you wish to purge the land of the storm, that is good. It has caused a lot of destruction."
The weapons still are not lowered, but the Sali holding them look more curious than angry now.
"Both healers and builders are something we have a need of. You are stuck here?" Attention swung to Jake. "Your transport is damaged?"
They glanced between the three of them, "If you wish to purge the land of the storm, that is good. It has caused a lot of destruction."
The weapons still are not lowered, but the Sali holding them look more curious than angry now.
"Both healers and builders are something we have a need of. You are stuck here?" Attention swung to Jake. "Your transport is damaged?"
Leia had made her way to a cluster of buildings that seemed to have suffered some fairly serious damage from whatever had slammed the settlement. The reddish haze that seemed to be everywhere to some degree was giving her a bit of a headache, but she was used to focusing through worse; she could manage. As she moved carefully among the partly collapsed buildings and rubble, she kept her yes and ears open both for signs of people who might be in need of help, and those who might attack out of fear.
She also kept an eye out for those who were... beyond their help, both to know where to direct locals to later if need be and to know where to tell the younger members of their group to avoid; nothing about this situation was conducive to a clean death, after all.
She also kept an eye out for those who were... beyond their help, both to know where to direct locals to later if need be and to know where to tell the younger members of their group to avoid; nothing about this situation was conducive to a clean death, after all.
Now this was interesting. It reminded her vaguely of certain Jedi statues that she'd seen or heard about, a similarity that was comforting when so much else felt off. And yet, there was something more too it than mere stonework. Something alive, almost.
"Well now...", she said, "what are you, hmm?" She sat down across from it in a pose not too dissimilar from the statue's own. She breathed deeply- ignoring the way the plant pollen tickled her nose as much as possible-, settling and centering herself. Not quite into meditation, but enough to focus despite the garbled connection to the Force here. For now, she didn't try to push through the static or even examine it too closely. Instead she simply sent out a gentle pules of Force energy around her to see if the statue- or anything related to it- responded, the equivalent of carefully feeling around semi-blindly. "Can you hear me?"
"Well now...", she said, "what are you, hmm?" She sat down across from it in a pose not too dissimilar from the statue's own. She breathed deeply- ignoring the way the plant pollen tickled her nose as much as possible-, settling and centering herself. Not quite into meditation, but enough to focus despite the garbled connection to the Force here. For now, she didn't try to push through the static or even examine it too closely. Instead she simply sent out a gentle pules of Force energy around her to see if the statue- or anything related to it- responded, the equivalent of carefully feeling around semi-blindly. "Can you hear me?"
By now, there's been a few visitors - more visitors with foreign energies than the statue, Hemla, has had to deal with. But they are a practitioner in energies, know their surroundings, and so when Kyoko reaches out to them with their prayer and telepathy, it's received.
And they give back in greeting, what they've learnt to (from Murphy, and Wei Wuxian): a pat on a shoulder, warm and welcoming (slightly ticklish, too), and two glowing pulses around its open-palmed hands, signalling confirmation.
And they give back in greeting, what they've learnt to (from Murphy, and Wei Wuxian): a pat on a shoulder, warm and welcoming (slightly ticklish, too), and two glowing pulses around its open-palmed hands, signalling confirmation.
The energy - this world's equivalent of the Force, existence, life - moves in that disagreeable way to the pulses, as Leia is likely expecting. But there is something that reaches out back, to guide the energies better in the direction of the statue - the statue itself, as the faint feeling of greeting, confirmation, comes across from this action.
If, with a slight ticklish sensation.
If, with a slight ticklish sensation.
Hold. Wait- or so a feeling presses on them both, once Taiki says what he does. Gentle at least, only the light ticklish sensation than anything painful, more uncomfortable. The statue then goes 'silent', possibly ruminating, when-
A feeling guides them, to the open palms that glow softly. The white tiny flowers at the statue's feet (hidden by statue-cloth, no peeking), growing up, coming close to the hands, long-nailed and bumpy with what is supposed to be fur. It's muddled in translation, but there is an attempt to explain:
Accept. Flowers. Guide. (My) Eyes.
A feeling guides them, to the open palms that glow softly. The white tiny flowers at the statue's feet (hidden by statue-cloth, no peeking), growing up, coming close to the hands, long-nailed and bumpy with what is supposed to be fur. It's muddled in translation, but there is an attempt to explain:
Accept. Flowers. Guide. (My) Eyes.
At least for Wangji, as he touches the statue and asks his question, the connection made is one lightly ticklish before anything deeper, going for the easier forms of communication (if, bare-boned):
Confirmation. Gratitude. A moment, as thoughts try to find a word: Fix.
By the direction of the bridge they were leading the flowers in, that might have something to do with it...
Confirmation. Gratitude. A moment, as thoughts try to find a word: Fix.
By the direction of the bridge they were leading the flowers in, that might have something to do with it...
"Forevers--" There's a pain that stops it, but it bites on it, continues. "Forevers are people who became one with the land. They see things we don't see. They are one of us, and they're really powerful! You do not have Forever Ones?" They look at Madoka with curious eyes.
"They learn to weave the lands' energies, and become one with them. They become stone!"
Surely, everyone had Forever Ones.
"They learn to weave the lands' energies, and become one with them. They become stone!"
Surely, everyone had Forever Ones.
As Potato rests, continuing to draw in energy, the statue - Hemla - continues to take it into themselves. It helps them too, and shamefully, the extra energy they take from Potato's reserves in the process; but with it - and only taking a little with the flow, knowing that there's plenty, they won't harm them - it helps them to recover as well. Through meeting other Voidtreckers, through recovering after their land was attacked, single-handedly attempting to defend it and themselves.
It's been a long day for many. But Hemla doesn't rest either. They study, they attempt; to find ways to better help their aid from other worlds, to also help them on their lands. Slowly, by the end of the first day and through the night, they move the smaller floating pieces of land to better form jumping spots, around the South Island and the West bridge.
Rest will come at another time, when there is not their people, their allies, their land, that needs them first.
But also, never will anyone get to know how cool Hemla would have found a guy punching crystal to be.
Through the different people visiting them, they have begun to notice patterns to their energies, though still vastly unconnected. But still, somehow; and it's with Potato there that Hemla studies, when Ryo approaches. They vaguely recognise their energy, and when the hand comes upon them, the warmth in greeting is given instantaneously - but at the same time, they sense the exhaustion.
They give gratitude, confirmation, both by a feeling and by the two pulses to their hands; then, there is concern that wavers, a slight tickling to Ryo's body, but that can't help but to wrap around him with warmth. It senses too, the way the energy of the crystal reaches out, wavering and mingling and stirring the energies of Ryo and Potato - and it directs its energies towards itself, to stop that.
But still, its concern doesn't leave. It attempts, with a light prod, to ask:
Rest?
It's been a long day for many. But Hemla doesn't rest either. They study, they attempt; to find ways to better help their aid from other worlds, to also help them on their lands. Slowly, by the end of the first day and through the night, they move the smaller floating pieces of land to better form jumping spots, around the South Island and the West bridge.
Rest will come at another time, when there is not their people, their allies, their land, that needs them first.
But also, never will anyone get to know how cool Hemla would have found a guy punching crystal to be.
Through the different people visiting them, they have begun to notice patterns to their energies, though still vastly unconnected. But still, somehow; and it's with Potato there that Hemla studies, when Ryo approaches. They vaguely recognise their energy, and when the hand comes upon them, the warmth in greeting is given instantaneously - but at the same time, they sense the exhaustion.
They give gratitude, confirmation, both by a feeling and by the two pulses to their hands; then, there is concern that wavers, a slight tickling to Ryo's body, but that can't help but to wrap around him with warmth. It senses too, the way the energy of the crystal reaches out, wavering and mingling and stirring the energies of Ryo and Potato - and it directs its energies towards itself, to stop that.
But still, its concern doesn't leave. It attempts, with a light prod, to ask:
Rest?
HEMLA. Hemla sits by the way to the East Island bridge, a small dome covering their back, filled with delicately hanging crystals, crystal carvings, and other tokens of appreciation. Tiny white flowers grow at their feet, though their statue is covered in a hood that allows their magnificent horns to poke out, curling around the back of their head.Their head is bowed, eyes close, a look of content on their stone face. Hands sit open-palmed on their lap.
They will greet any Voidtreckers that come to them, and two sali sit with them, helping them in ways that aren't so obvious to the Voidtreckers. But they will act as interpreters while conversation is still difficult with the Forever Ones, yet won't stop if they want to 'speak' with Hemla one-on-one.
( Note: If you would like to handwave a meeting - leaving energy, asking about something to the salis/Hemla - then leave it here! Or feel free to play out a thread. )
"Um.. No, we don't."
Madoka doesn't look at the sali as she's saying it, but it's mostly since she's focused on getting rid of this rubble so she can free them as soon as possible. It can't be comfortable to be stuck like that, after all, and she doesn't even want to imagine the ways this situation could get worse. So even though she knows it's still going to take a few moments for her to clear this enough by herself, she's going at it!
And she can still totally talk while clearing rubble. It only means she can't look the other's way.
"But--! You make them sound really amazing, you know..? Are you saying they can see things through that energy of the land?"
Madoka doesn't look at the sali as she's saying it, but it's mostly since she's focused on getting rid of this rubble so she can free them as soon as possible. It can't be comfortable to be stuck like that, after all, and she doesn't even want to imagine the ways this situation could get worse. So even though she knows it's still going to take a few moments for her to clear this enough by herself, she's going at it!
And she can still totally talk while clearing rubble. It only means she can't look the other's way.
"But--! You make them sound really amazing, you know..? Are you saying they can see things through that energy of the land?"
Jake nods along eagerly to the explanations from the other two.
"No, it's not damaged. It...left us," Jake says somewhat awkwardly. Is that right? It had better be. "Because we're not allowed to abandon you. That's our team's code. We see a problem, we help. However you need."
He takes a deep breath. He doesn't want to push too far. "I know some first aid, and I'll help where I can, but I'm a mysteries guy. It's my job to look at clues and figure out how something went wrong. For example, how the birds got here, and why they're attacking you all, because knowing that will help us stop it. So I'm hoping we can talk, maybe find some clues?"
"No, it's not damaged. It...left us," Jake says somewhat awkwardly. Is that right? It had better be. "Because we're not allowed to abandon you. That's our team's code. We see a problem, we help. However you need."
He takes a deep breath. He doesn't want to push too far. "I know some first aid, and I'll help where I can, but I'm a mysteries guy. It's my job to look at clues and figure out how something went wrong. For example, how the birds got here, and why they're attacking you all, because knowing that will help us stop it. So I'm hoping we can talk, maybe find some clues?"
He sees the two glows and feels the warmth, and it's enough. Now that it has the crystal, the statue can help Potato. That's...that's good.
He wavers badly when the crystal's energy is redirected, stumbling a bit and clinging to the statue in order to keep his balance. He'd spent the return journey feeling pushed, like he'd had to throw his weight against the crystal's energy to remain upright, and that pressure abruptly disappearing nearly topples him over before he can find his balance again. It's a relief, honestly...and it leaves him open to feel the weight of his exhaustion instead. Between that, and the warmth, and the suggestion, he wants nothing more than to just sleep.
But he has to make sure.
"I will. You- do you need anything else? To help her?"
Not that he's in any fit state to get it himself, but he could at least let someone know.
Murphy looks down at the flowers in confusion. Lack of experience working against him, but he is trying.
"Alright, so, we take some flowers or? I'm pretty new to this whole magic statue thing." The question is sort of absently directed at Taiki, rather than at the statue. But he reaches to pick one of the flowers hoping that it's the right thing to do, ready to tuck it into his coat pocket.
"Alright, so, we take some flowers or? I'm pretty new to this whole magic statue thing." The question is sort of absently directed at Taiki, rather than at the statue. But he reaches to pick one of the flowers hoping that it's the right thing to do, ready to tuck it into his coat pocket.
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