aefenglom sample post | monster (harpy)

[sonnestark]

( prompts drawn from the fourth wall event )

i. boaltinn

a. bonfires

[Bonfires have often evoked pleasant memories for her, and these are no different. For as strange and chaotic an experience as coming into this world has been, there is something universally comforting about a bonfire, and so she gravitates towards them shortly after arriving to investigate the Boaltinn festivities.

People of all sorts are gathered around them, witches and monsters alike, and it helps her to feel just a little less self-conscious about the stray feathers she's found mingled in with her hair and in small patches along her shoulder blades. It's said that monster transformations are meant to take some time, but the rules seem to mean little this time around— along with arrivals being out of the ordinary in and of themselves, newcomers seem to be experiencing changes at a rapid rate. It's worrisome, but for tonight, she's inclined to let herself enjoy the festivities— for awhile, at least.

She pauses near the East Bonfire, just in time to see someone else leap through the flames, and a curious smile pulls at one side of her mouth as she looks to whoever might be standing nearest to her.]

It's supposed to be cleansing, isn't it? Do you think you might try?

[Flames with the power to burn away poor relationship experiences... well, she has plenty of those. It's tempting.]

b. rose baths

[This isn't her first shared bathing experience: she had warmed up to such things during her time in Japan, and the soft scent of roses reminds her of Lucia's talent for aromatherapy, something she hadn't realized she would miss until suddenly it wasn't available to her any longer. All of this has been a great deal to process, and so the chance to unwind is a welcome one. She exhales softly as she sinks down so that the water is up to her chin, leaning back so that her head is gently resting against the edge of the bath, the heat pleasant against the sore spots where feathers have begun to grow.]

This is awfully considerate of them... do they always do this for new arrivals, or are these strictly a part of the Boaltinn festivities?

[She sort of hopes it's the former. She could get used to this.]

ii. wilde hunt

[The moons' effect on her is much stronger than she'd expected, even having been warned. When the opportunity is offered, she heads out to the area of the Wilde that has been barricaded to allow new arrivals to test their new abilities and forms without the risk of harming passers-by. There's no guarantee that they won't hurt one another in the process, but given they're all going through a difficult adjustment period, she wants to trust that they will all do their best to look out for one another.

The talk of Shades out among the trees has piqued her interest— she has yet to see one for herself, but she would like to see evidence of the Cwyld up close if she can, be able to recognize it for what it is and see its effects in person. She's left behind the games of cat-and-mouse to venture deeper into the woods themselves, sword drawn as she advances, wings now fully-developed and folded against her back. Balancing on what she thinks are shaping up to be talons isn't so different from walking in heels, and actually makes picking her way through the forest a bit easier. All things considered, though it is difficult, she's doing her best to take these changes in stride.

A low growl from within the trees ahead draws her attention, causing her gaze to narrow and the grip on her sword to tighten, but her attention is quickly drawn elsewhere— the rustling of brush somewhere to her right, the space between the trees too dark to make out if it's a Shade or another Mirrorbound approaching. Either way, her wings flare as she raises her blade, prepared to defend herself if necessary, taking up a ready battle stance.]

Show yourself.

[It may not mean much to a Shade, but another Mirrorbound would respond, she assumes.]

Comments

[sonnestark]

[It may be a lot, but Karin listens with interest. Nothing about Rikku offering information so freely strikes her as odd in the least, and she finds herself curious to hear whatever it is she has to offer— perhaps an effect of the bath, that they've found themselves relaxed enough to talk openly? The tale, either way, is an interesting one, even if she doesn't recognize the names, and she smiles as she shakes her head slightly in response.]

I may not recognize the names of people or places, but I think I follow.

[It sounds complicated, but she's used to complicated.]

I'm Karin. It's nice to meet you, Rikku. It's nice to know someone has experience with this kind of thing, even if it's secondhand.

[al_bhed]

[For Rikku's part, her talkativeness could equally be attributed to her general personality, especially since she's more or less determined in her short time in this new world that there's little risk in talking about where she comes from. And who knows? Maybe dwelling over Tidus' experience can lead to some kind of breakthrough to get them home that much faster.

Not that she has any idea how, unless some Sin-like creature carried them all here. But that's a consideration for later.]

Nice to meet you, too!

I'm glad I can help, even if I can't really offer more than that. I wish I could talk to him and ask some advice about how he handled it, you know?

[And a lot of other things. She misses him almost as much as Yunie does, and being here isn't exactly helping.]

[sonnestark]

It would be nice if there were a way to get in touch with the people we've left behind in general.

[Although from what Rikku had said, she gathers there's a little more than just this place keeping them apart.]

Do you think— does anyone know we're gone?

[Are they worried...?]

[al_bhed]

[Rikku startles at the question, splashing water as she does so.]

Of course they know! They have to know we're gone! I bet our friends and family back home are looking for us right now.

[She honestly can't imagine Yunie and her father and Brother and all the others simply being okay with her suddenly vanishing. Unless... maybe they all assumed she was with someone else somewhere else in the world. She had been alone when she got pulled in through the mirror, after all, and communication across Spira isn't exactly immediate. It's very possible that her disappearance hasn't even been noticed yet.

It's a sobering thought that makes Rikku visibly deflate.]

...right?

[sonnestark]

That was my first thought, as well, but...

[She trails off a little, shaking her head as her gaze falls to the water. It's still plenty warm, with the smell of roses still strong enough to keep her engaged and relaxed, but it's not quite as comforting as it felt just a few minutes earlier. Some things can't be helped by aromatherapy, she supposes.]

I don't know. I've heard conflicting reports from other people, but it's hard to know what to believe. I hate the idea of having left them to worry.

[Except they wouldn't, would they? Even if not for this place— they were all going their separate ways.

Nobody would know she was gone regardless.]

Sorry. [She looks towards Rikku again, offering a faint smile.] I didn't mean to ruin the mood.

[al_bhed]

[Rikku watches Karin's gaze fall to the water before returning to her and furrows her brow a little. This bath has turned out to be just a quick reprieve from the bigger issue, which really is all Rikku should have expected. At least the water's still nice.

After a bit of consideration, Rikku scoots closer to her newfound friend. Now isn't the time for sulking and giving in to despair--they just got here! They'll never find a way home this way!

Forcing herself to rally her mood for both of their sakes, she returns Karin's wan smile with a bright one of her own.]

Nothing to be sorry for! We'll just use it as motivation to get home that much faster.

[sonnestark]

Oh—

[Her gaze quickly snaps upwards again, because even being used to group bathing, having someone suddenly move closer to her in the bath isn't something she's had much experience with. She flushes just a little, but her smile warms in response— she understands and appreciates the sentiment, of course.]

You're right. Those things will only drive us forward.

[She nods, just in case either of them needed any further confirmation.]

Chins up and eyes ahead, right?

[al_bhed]

Right!

[With that settled, Rikku lets herself get back to lounging in the water. She keeps her whole head above water this time so that she can keep the conversation going without too much trouble. It's nice to have someone to talk to.]

What do you make of all this stuff that they told us, anyway? With the witches and the monsters?

[sonnestark]

[Where to even begin with that...]

I'll admit, it's a lot to process, but I've heard stranger things.

[She wouldn't be too surprised to learn that there was a village a little bit like this place tucked away in her own world, to be perfectly honest, but she knows she's had a lot more practice than some when it comes to having to just take these kinds of things in stride.]

I've known people who were able transform into monsters before now. They called it 'fusing'— but it was a little different. My friend can transform at will.

[al_bhed]

[Of all the responses she thought she'd receive, 'I know someone who could turn into a monster' wasn't on Rikku's radar at all. Now it's her turn to be interested in the other's experience.]

Oh! So this isn't a totally new thing for you at all.

[After a pause, curiosity gets the better of her.]

Was the monster your friend turned into scary?

[sonnestark]

Scary?

[She pauses for a moment, thoughtful, then lets out a soft chuckle as she shakes her head.]

Hm... he can turn into all sorts, and I think most people would think he was scary, but... the first time I saw him, I didn't think so. He was fearsome, but I could feel his kindness. He protected me.

[al_bhed]

[Rikku's eyes light up, and she nods knowingly.]

So he's the big-and-scary-but-actually-friendly-and-loyal type, huh? Or at least, he is when he's a monster.

[The description reminds her of Kimahri, so she is more or less imagining him in place of Karin's friend for lack of a better reference. Of course, Kimahri's a Ronso and not a monster. But it's the same general idea.]

That's a good friend to have on your side.

[sonnestark]

Sometimes, I think he has that effect on people no matter what form he takes.

[She can't help smiling just a bit, even if there's something just a touch wistful about it.]

Word gets around, you know. But you're right— it's come in pretty handy on more than one occasion. You sound like you're speaking from experience on that one, too.

[al_bhed]

I do! Although I'm not the one he protected at all costs. That was Yunie--my cousin.

[This is said without ire or envy. Of course he cared about Yuna first and foremost. They were her Guardians, after all.]

Although, I guess you could say Pops is kind of like that too. I've seen him threaten people's lives for messing with his family or other Al Bhed. Some people say he's scary, but to me he's just my father, you know?

[sonnestark]

If you grew up with him, it makes sense that he wouldn't be scary to you. I suppose if other people see it that way, those threats are working as intended.

[She seems amused by the idea of it, all the same. Her own family had never been like that, though they had certainly cared for one another. She had been the one to put herself on the line for others, and while she wouldn't consider herself the threatening type, she can certainly understand where Rikku's father might be coming from.]

I think it's nice. He's passionate about protecting what's important to him. 'Al Bhed'— do you mean other members of your family?

[al_bhed]

Oh right. I, uh.

[Rikku makes a mental note that the Al Bhed are not a thing in every world. And even if they were, blabbing like this is irresponsible without knowing what other worlds think of their Al Bhed. That don't exist in other worlds. Apparently.

Maybe the rose water is having more of an effect on her than she thinks.]

We all consider each other family, but a better way of putting it is that we're a race of people. The giveaway is our eyes.

[She leans in a bit and opens her eyes wide, demonstrating a swirled pupil amid the bright green of her irises.]

We speak our own language and have our own culture and everything. It's... well, we're not well-liked back home for it. But it's who we are.

[sonnestark]

[She leans back just a little on instinct before she readjusts and straightens up so that she can see what Rikku is referring to. The difference is subtle, and she might not have noticed it if she hadn't thought to look for it— but from the sounds of it, it's a distinguishing trait where Rikku comes from.]

I see... I never would have realized if you hadn't said.

[She might have eventually noticed the eyes, but she wouldn't have thought too much of them. Yuri's were bright red, so abnormalities in that department didn't seem quite so abnormal anymore (and isn't that just the story of her life).]

I'm sorry to hear that. There are plenty of cultural divides where I come from, too, but... you never get used to seeing it. People start wars over those kinds of things.