festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

[beleos]

COMMUNION WITH YIMA

After given some time for recovery and for Yima to hear reports of what transpired at the Tree of Life last month, a Communion message gently flows through the minds of each Shard-Bearer. They will have to choose to accept this message, and once they do, they will be greeted by Yima’s voice resonating pleasantly in their heads. She first apologizes for their harrowing experience with the Dryad, and that she hadn’t anticipated such a violent reaction from the Tree; she believes that their experiences point to an imbalance within the Tree itself, most likely brought about by the soon-to-come arrival of the Oracles.

She has spoken with Cyrus, and they have jointly decided that an investigation into the matter - and potentially the destruction of the Dryad - may be required to purge its influence from the Tree. Yima requests that any who would willingly seek out the Dryad volunteer to do so and will be outfitted with a ward against any tampering to prevent them from falling into the creature’s clutches a second time. It will take her a bit to fashion enough of these wards - but she anticipates being ready toward the end of the month.

She concludes her message with another heartfelt apology for your suffering, that she would not have sent any into such a situation she believed were truly dangerous. That being said, she takes responsibility for your ordeal and asks that if there is anything she can do in recompense, you have but to ask.

Yima will be available for Communion chatter here!

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE - HIGHSTORM

Takiltu is a month cycle the natives of Kenos regard with some amount of reverence and a hearty helping of excitement: the first part of the month (November) is spent reflecting on and celebrating the differing cultures and worlds each Kenosian represents. The second part of the month (December) is spent celebrating unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time.

Each city celebrates differently, the flavor of their festivals a reflection of their people.

In Highstorm, the first thirty days of Takiltu are spent in Remembrance. The city is decorated with string lights, paper lanterns, candles, and torches to illuminate the streets in beautiful colors and shimmering magical illusory shapes. The focal point of the festival takes place in The Court, where the reflecting pool has been especially decorated with arrangements of flowers and lights. Festival stands erected around the Courtyard peddle paper lanterns as well as refreshments, fanciful decorative items, and enchanted jewelry that is said to make one’s recollections of the past temporarily clearer.

The pool itself is the main attraction, here; citizens who approach its waters and gaze into its depths will find its normal abilities to reflect memories enhanced. The images are surreal for their clarity, vivid - and normally, one is requested to look into the eyes of those most precious to them whose souls remain lost, to pay homage to their memory and sacrifices, and to wish them rebirth in the new world to come. A purchased lantern is then lit and sent skyward where it floats into the moonlight, joining the others hovering above.

But this year, there is an addition to the usual fanfare. Emet-Selch has been asked to assist with the festival; as long as he is given permission, he can recreate the memory displayed in the reflecting pool. Yima has granted him a temporary blessing which enhances his natural creation abilities - a gift for their people she is grateful for. Your character can choose what it is they see in the water - whether it’s a place, a person, or the feelings of a certain point and time, he will temporarily recreate it around you. Everyone will be able to see this conjuring and interact with it while it is functional. It will last between 15 to 30 minutes before dissolving into beads of light that slowly trickle skyward before disappearing. You’ll be told to light a lantern, send it adrift, and that this will give peace to the part of you and your Shard that surely aches. But does it…?

Elsewhere in Highstorm, the High Theater has been painstakingly decorated and aglow with magical floating motes of light; the interior has been transformed into something of an Art Gallery. The pieces within are dedications to parts of worlds long gone, as well as the people in them; some are beautifully painted landscapes of exquisite, far-away places beyond the imagination. Some are more mundane and familiar snapshots of life in a home world not too different from your own. There are portraits of families, loved ones, and those the Zenites long for most. This is their time to mourn, to grieve, and to appreciate their pasts - the pasts that will lead them to a brighter future, one day. They must move on into the future, but treasuring that which came before is equally important to them.

Should you touch any of the motes of light that are around the art pieces decorating the Gallery, you will find yourself able to feel, hear, see, and taste a piece of the world the piece represents. Some of these are warm gatherings over a dinner table with family; others are heart-wrenching expressions of loss and bitterness and pain. Be cautious which you choose. Oh, and do be careful not to stand too closely with someone else when you touch one, or one accidentally touches you - the experience is absolutely contagious through Communion.

CELEBRATION OF CHERISHMENT - SPRINGSTAR

While Highstorm’s Festival of Remembrance is a more demure and reflective time, Springstar takes a much different approach to the season. In true Meri nature, the Celebration of Cherishment encapsulates celebrating life in all forms - and that means parties! The Psychagogía is the main hub of excitement considering, but festivities can be found in almost every single district of Springstar. Wherever you go, something is happening and someone is trying to rope you into having a good time.

The city has been decorated with bright and colorful multi-purpose magical ivy-like vines that sprouts buds that bloom over the course of the month into gorgeous flowers. These flowers are considered sacred, and their blooming is a momentous time of joy and good fortune. Each flower is left intact; disturbing one is tantamount to a war crime by the natives, so don’t get observed if you try to pluck one!

The Psychagogía is incredibly lively, teeming with people and events; almost every venue is peddling some kind of ‘Cherishment’ celebratory sale or discount. The first portion of the month includes what the locals call “the meri-ment” (and seem quite chuffed about that pun), in which Kenosians are encouraged to go bar hopping and taste the wide variety of specialty ales and liquor unkegged only around this time of year. Participants are highly encouraged to share stories of their worlds and cultures, to tell those they mingle with tales of the worlds they will one day return to and why they’re special, unique - to celebrate their one-day return.

Alongside this comes a great deal of outdoor grilling, fresh meats and vegetables sending tantalizing scents everywhere you go once the evening hours arrive. Some of these food and drinks can cause… interesting… effects if you consume them in excess, especially at the Emotional Damage - so try to show restraint. It would be a bit embarrassing to find yourself strangely infatuated with the first person you lay eyes on after your fifth night out on the town, or feeling compelled to express warm feelings aloud you wouldn’t normally commit to another. Luckily, it only lasts a short period of time - but beware the wicked hangover afterward. Strangely enough, if you’re suffering, you feel oddly compelled to seek out a little TLC from someone else - someone with whom you might have some unresolved feelings toward, positive or negative. Is it longing? Anger? Jealousy? Unspoken affections? Love? Whatever it is, you're more likely to seek them out for some care.

At the Coliseum, nightly brawls between Meris take place and the usual assortment of monsters are temporarily taken out of offer. This part of the festivities is one where each Kenosian is encouraged to settle any differences or misgivings with others and to get it out of their system, cleansing them of bad mojo - “leave it in the ring,” as it were. Despite beating each other bloody at times, most combatants willingly stop before it gets too serious and fighting to the death is not permitted. You must embrace your adversary before you leave, and your ‘bad blood’ will be considered purged and settled so you can start anew.

The Empório district is celebrating consumerism, because of course it is! All the usual goods are on a considerable discount, and for a brief time, gardening tools and supplies are free! The reason for this is that Springstar’s citizens are encouraged to plant one seedling in the gardens in Katoikitikós once the flowers lining the city have gone into full bloom. It is said this honors gods across cultures and time as well as invites good fortune. You are encouraged to plant a seedling in a group or pairing, as space is limited - and there are superstitions regarding this togetherness resulting in more favorable results. Should you plant a seedling with someone else, you might indeed find that something is beginning to blossom between you… Based on your Aspects, you might find yourselves feeling closer and more connected - or repulsed depending on your compatibility. This effect will last through the month after planting. Should you check on the seedling later, its health will be reflected in the state of your relationship. Friends will find the little plant thriving; enemies will find it is sickly and dying.

For those Shard-Bearers who have already harmonized with the Meridian or who have quarters in Heliopolis, you will find the communal meals much more lavish and indulgent than usual. There may even be a taste of home waiting for you among the spreads on offer, or some comfort food you haven’t had in a while. It is encouraged to share anything to your taste - or even to share why it is meaningful to you via Communion. Or you can just eat. You do you, man.

Once the flowers have bloomed and the festivities reach their peak, one might find the city loud and boisterous and sleep a little more difficult to come by. Springstar is absolutely thriving and alive - and you, too, feel more invigorated and energetic despite any lack of zzz’s. Should you leave the city, however, this effect will vanish and you might find yourself unnaturally fatigued and in need of more rest than is customary. Returning to Springstar will slowly build up your stamina again. This effect lasts until the end of the month.

THE MYSTERY OF ALENROUX

Once celebrations are in full-swing in the cities, some characters (i.e., any characters that choose to participate in this prompt) will be contacted by Cyrus or Yima, depending on their faction or whichever they feel a stronger inclination towards if they are currently Unharmonized. Both will explain that there’s something that they’d like you to investigate, but also to prepare and be careful, since this request doesn’t come without danger… A Shard has been lost in Alenroux, and they both hope you’ll be able to retrieve it.

MERIDIAN

“I’ve gotten word that a Zenith Shard-Bearer was sent to Alenroux a little bit before you arrived, and they haven’t come back yet. Normally, none of our business, but based on what some of the farmers have been saying, I think they’ve gotten hit by Discord. If it gets high enough, well… You don’t really have your mind anymore. We can help them through Purification. Even if it’s just for long enough to calm them down, it’s better than them being trapped in madness. It might be easier to dissipate them first, though, then Purify their Shard. They were last seen heading to the Northern forests. Let me know what I can give you to help, and make sure to help each other. Good luck.”

ZENITH

"Please heed my request, though I do not ask this of you lightly... One of the Zenith's children has been lost among the fields of Alenroux come nightfall and I fear the worst has befallen them. There are dangerous elements attracted to the presence of a soul, and the likelihood our brethren has been lost... it is great. Seek out the Shard - and if you are able to retrieve it, please do so. If it has suffered corruption too great to be saved or would place you in too great a danger to take back, then... I trust you to make the merciful choice. I place this in your hands and will give you whatever you require to see it through. Look out for your fellow Zenith and work together, as I do not want to lose more of you. Be well."

Both factions will offer their recruits access to standard weaponry and armor/protective clothing. If a character asks for more, they’ll be given a weapon or a piece of armor with minor magical properties which would normally cost 1 AC token to purchase. Magical weapons are on loan however. If your character takes these and/or chooses to keep it, please note this in your Committed Actions! If they choose to keep standard weaponry, Cyrus/Yima will just be disappointed in your dishonesty. :(

When you arrive during the day cycle, you’ll also find horses and magic hoverboards to use (they go the same speed tbh), because heading North to the forests is a bit of a trek, and you might not make it there in time on foot! As the sun starts to set, you’ll see the people in Alenroux start to leave, going clearly your opposite direction. Once night falls (Nov. 9th OOC), it doesn’t take long for things to change.

There’s just a sliver of a crescent moon in the sky, which makes the rolling hills and forests much more ominous than they were during the day. And as the stories say, it only takes an hour or two before you start to run into strange creatures. Closer to the Cornerstone, there are indeed strange creatures, and while they may not all look scary, they might present different kinds of dangers such as…

• A light in the dark looks like a fairy, but stare at it too long and you’ll find yourself hypnotized by a ghastly fish will lead you to a body of water to drown you.
• An innocuous puddle may form up into a mass of corrosive goo, complete with the bones and items of the last person it came across. When you slice it, it simply creates a copy of itself, so hopefully you realize this before you’re surrounded.
• A strange straw poppet (sans pins, of course) that possesses you once you touch it and will use your body to try and fight anyone else while your consciousness is trapped inside the doll. To be freed, you only have to destroy the doll, but you’ll feel the pain of how its destroyed even if you don’t bear any injuries from it.

However, as you get closer to the Northern forests, they become significantly more fearsome…

• With a roar, a massive, multiheaded beast descends, and each of its mouths is perfectly capable of taking a bite out of you. Watch out for the snake’s head in particular, since its venom will cause you to hallucinate your worst fears.
• As you come face to face with an odd creature, bioluminescence lights up on its skin, and the spins on its back quiver with a sound like a rattlesnake’s. As the spines quiver, you find it exceptionally difficult to take your eyes off them and move as it stalks closer slowly. You can fight blind, right?
• Diving in and out of larger shadows like its water is a slimy beast that’s incredibly fast. Its teeth may be small, but its tail is a razor-sharp whip that could remove a limb if you’re not careful.

These are just examples, however. There are many creatures lurking the wilds of Alenroux, so feel free to create your own monsters with unique effects.

It's a difficult trek North, and you may be tired from hours of running, fighting, or both… But eventually, a few people do find what they were looking for. They might have even missed it, if not for how their Shards suddenly felt like they were burning. From the shadows, a twisted creature of roots and lights which what looks like many crystals in a glowing mass appears and one of its eyes locks on you. It looks like now is your chance.

NOTES

Weather summary for the first 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

Highstorm is in late fall, early winter season. Some flurries may occasionally fall and it is getting considerably cold out there! Bundle up!

Springstar is in the throes of early summer; the weather is climate and pleasantly warm for outdoor celebrations (but not sweltering). There are occasional afternoon showers, but they don’t last very long.

Notable city changes:

If you wander the Markets in Highstorm, you might notice some of the peddlers seem a bit wary of you. Hm, guess something happened around here! Probably totally unrelated, but Silco and Vander (or anyone with them) will be treated with nervous suspicion.

Similarly, if you're traveling with Set (or you're Set) in Springstar, you might occasionally find yourself getting strange looks. Ask Set why.

Faction updates:

There are no explicit changes in faction behavior at this time. This will be a staple in all future event write-ups to catalogue the fluidity of the conflict as it progresses, though, so we're including it here for posterity!

Event Notes:

The Reflecting Pool in the Courts of Highstorm can be observed normally with no addtional effects or can bring your memory to vivid life thanks to the help of Emet-Selch (and Yima). If you grant him permission (which can be handwaved), he will breathe life into whichever memory you have chosen to view! If this includes any NPC’s or interactive elements, you will be responsible for playing them out in any tags until they disappear. Please see Emet’s toplevel for any interactions you’d like to thread out with him as a part of this.

For the Gallery in Highstorm, the art depicted in and scenes experienced through the pieces are up to you to create! Feel free to go wild with any associated NPC's in the scene and worldbuild as you see fit. Highstorm holds a variety of citizens from across the multiverse, so you could feasibly go fantastical places, or experience something distinctly profound and beyond your imagination...

The drinks and refreshments in Springstar can be enchanted in just about any way you’d like, including bringing upon minor physical changes of the cute, fun, and flirty variety! Feel free to get creative (as long as you get permission from your thread partner), the Meris would also merrily insist growing extra fluffy, scaly, etc bits during the celebration will only help you party harder! 🥳

As reminders for Alenroux, once night falls, a character is not able to leave until sunrise, which is 24 hours later. If your character is dissipated, you can have a PC retrieve their Shard or the respective Faction they're allied with will send out a search party to find it. Remember to report character deaths!

CODING

Comments

[prizeneck]

[Huh. People around here seem interesting, at least from what he's watched in the ring, and in the streets. Whoever decided that he'd be here along with a group of people has a penchant for the extraordinary, and while he's not exactly a weakling, he knows he is at a disadvantage most of the time.

(Nothing new, all things considered)

The girl sitting beside him is no exception to that remarkability if the way her steadiness as she maneuvers herself across the stands and through the crowd is anything to go by. He can't really see her posture, not now at least, but there's a nagging thought at the back of his head that keeps telling him to pay attention.

Even though there are some people jeering at him from other places now that they realized that he's there, trying to distract him.

Ugh, Set fans.

The sigh Mamoru releases is exasperated.]Y'don't need to fight often to make a name for yourself here. [He jerks his chin to where the groupies are, not caring if he looks like he's challenging them or if they hear him.

Thankfully they don't.] I showed their idol a lesson, and now they hate me.

[gravings]

Their idol...

[ Does that mean this man is that impressive a fighter? It isn't hard to believe based on his general aura. She supposes he must also have a certain fortitude to sit alone among a large number of people trying to get a rise out of him. She also supposes he might just be reckless, but she errs toward the benefit of the doubt — though it may be more accurate to say that she's often nervous about what strangers might be hiding.

He doesn't seem to be annoyed (by her) though or especially scary despite his apparent combat prowess, so after a couple of seconds in which she looks to the ring and then peeks back to him from around the wall of her hood, she speaks up again. ]

Who is that? This is actually my first time here...

[prizeneck]

[If Grey were to ask him if he's impressive, he'd say he's pretty strong, but not as much as the powerhouses he's felt around here. People in this place hold power beyond his own comprehension, even more so when he can't really see, and it's been hard to grasp.

It also makes the whole narrative about the world ending much more plausible, but that's something beyond the scope of the conversation he's having now.

So he merely tilts his head, making sure he's being heard.] Just someone posing as a god.

[He snorts at the even louder gasps from the groupie... group, really. The heckling increases, but they just get busy shit-talking about Mamoru between themselves, interestingly enough losing their focus on the object of said shit-talking. Cheater, no honor, taking him while he's down.

To Mamoru, that's only tactically valid. Still, his lips quirk, and he does aim the rest of his description at Grey.] You may know who he is right as he steps into the ring. The crowd either loves him or loves to hate him, so it gets particularly loud. [He sounds as though he's not really a fan of that, fighting for show, but it's true that he did seem to drink in some sort of strength from it.

That and how he seemed all around familiar whilst foreign all the same. ] Don't really know his name, only that he's a redhead and pretty from what I heard. [Not that he can tell anyway.] And that he gets particularly hands-on. He'll try to grapple his opponents first and foremost.

[gravings]

[ Gray listens to the people around them muttering indignantly and isn't really sure what to make of it. She's never really been exposed to things like honorable combat, and she would expect even less in a Coliseum. It's all a bit silly, but she also supposes that when things like pride and reputation come into play, things easily become warped.

When her neighbor mentions a redhead, Gray involuntarily lets out a little "oh." ]

Someone who sounds like that caused a commotion at the Church recently. Maybe it's the same person.

[ Sera described the man as stinky. Maybe he was stinky from fighting so much. ]

Do you think he's the best fighter here? Or, um, since you defeated him, would that be you?

[prizeneck]

[A black eyebrow slips underneath the hair on his forehead as it arches, suddenly.]

A commotion? What kinda commotion?

[He can't help but be slightly amused if Set had stepped into a church and caused a ruckus. It would fit the guy, somehow.

He cants his head at her question.] Why d'ya ask?

[gravings]

[ Gray looks up briefly as she recalls the memory that was shown to her. ]

A commotion... as in he was fighting the acolytes and shouting to see someone. It looked a bit bloody. And he was throwing people over his head.

[ She glances at her neighbor at his question, but her gaze timidly skitters away from his. ]

I wanted to learn from the fighters here. If this red-haired man is a strong fighter, I was thinking I should make the time to see when he's here.

[prizeneck]

[Throwing people over his head? Set, what the everlasting fuck.

As is, Mamoru merely chuckles, amused.] Wish I'd been there to watch.

[Which, in itself, is a joke, because Mamoru really wouldn't be able to. He nods over to the ring, where a duo of… fishmongers, if the scent is anything to go by, is brawling to and fro without much technique.] While you're skilled, you shouldn't just look at the fighters. There's a lot to be studied from those who aren't used to fighting, you know?

[gravings]

Yes. I agree...

[ She trails off, thinking about how much she should say, but ultimately decides against confessing that she's always studied people because she was too afraid to actually talk to them. It's a flaw she's attempting to remedy in the present, anyway.

The crowd erupts into cheers as one of the fishmongers crudely tackles the other. This isn't the type of fight she was hoping to see, but it does make her think. ]

Why are you here, then?

[ The question comes out a bit more bluntly than intended, but she's had to become used asking direct questions. ]

[prizeneck]

Well, I can't exactly watch, can I?

[The corner of his lip twitches as he adjusts the perch of his shades on the bridge of his nose. His sense of humor is terrible; sorry, Grey.

Arching an eyebrow as he hears the crowd cheering and jeering, he takes in what's happening through sound, through the commentary.]

People like to talk here. They think that everyone is so taken by the fight no one is here to listen.

[So he's scouting for intel, really.]

[gravings]

[ It dawns on her finally that his sunglasses aren't just for blocking light. She sits up a little straighter with surprise, and she feels a bit silly — but then again, why wouldn't she assume that a man in the audience wasn't there to watch the action? And according to him, he was able to defeat a prolific fighter without sight? ]

Ah. I didn't realize...

[ She pauses, listens to the crowd for a moment. Maybe it would be more courteous to stop talking to him so that he can go on with his eavesdropping, but ultimately curiosity wins out. ]

What are you listening for?

[prizeneck]

[The smile in the line of his mouth is drawn dryly but dismissively. It's not exactly an affront for him if Grey hadn't realized he's blind. Granted, he doesn't look like it, and he does tend to sort of 'cheat', but the technology his shades usually holds isn't on, so he's relegated to simply not seeing anything at all.

(Still, a 'Don't worry about it' would be nice, Mams, geez.)]

Anything. I've just arrived to this place, so I can't afford to be selective.

[gravings]

[ If he's just arrived, then that would make him another Shard-Bearer. The foreign construction of his sunglasses should have tipped her off to begin with, though. No matter how skilled he is, it must be doubly tough to adjust to a whole new world without sight. ]

... Would you like to see what it's like around us? I'm a Shard-Bearer too.

[prizeneck]

[For someone who is blind, he does an excellent job at looking at Grey as though he's not. He'd… communicated with someone with the shard, or something like that, but seeing?]

How does that work?

[gravings]

Ah, um. If you open your mind to me, I should be able to share impressions of what I'm seeing. I wish I had a more technical explanation, but it's easier to try it.

[ If she only had as much experience as she's accumulated on Kenos, then she'd be a lot less confident. But combined with the last world, she's been doing this for at least half a year. She taps into her Shard and gently reaches out to him with her mind; he may feel her trying to make a polite connection like a feather duster knocking on his door. ]

[prizeneck]

[Ah, the Shards. He keeps forgetting about those, even if he has been sent impressions, ideas, concepts. All very abstract and less present.

He's very curious about this. He absently rubs at the center of his chest, where his Shard is lodged on his solar plexus.

The feather duster suddenly gives way. He's still a very fast learner, despite being at an age where he's already considered an 'old dog'.]

[gravings]

[ She feels his acceptance, and he in turn may feel her faint pleasure that he's managed it so quickly. ]

That's right. I'll try now.... Let me know if you want me to stop.

[ She says that to be polite more than anything; she should be able to feel his distress if it should come to that. The crowd at the Coliseum is a lot at the moment, and she isn't sure if it would be too much to dump all at once on someone blind.

Rather than looking at the crowd in its entirety, she decides to start small. She looks at just her neighbor, letting the details of the people around him unfocus to a blur. Sharing a live feed of what she's seeing is a bit trickier than just sharing an image or a memory, but she manages it with some concentration. She lets her consciousness flood beyond herself, until she imagines it reaching her neighbor. ]

Can you see? I'm looking at you.

[ Without access to her magical energy, her vision is keen but within normal parameters for a human. She watches his mannerisms, looking for the clues there too for how he might be feeling. ]

[prizeneck]

[And he looks like shit. That discord really did a number on his hair, haphazardly everywhere. At least, he finds some comfort that in a place like this he sort of does blend in with the rowdy crowd if it weren't for how slightly out of place he looks with his shades.]

I do. [It's still odd. He's used to seeing things through gridwork layouts, through pictures shoved into his retinas. But he does see a lot of color, and it's the most striking part of it all.] Huh. This could come in handy.

[Even if slightly invasive, if you're not careful.]

[gravings]

[ It seems like he's adapting well, so that's good. She looks away from him and to the ring, where the bloodied fighters are having their customary embrace. ]

If there's anything you'd like me to show you, let me know. I don't mind.

[ As the current fight wraps up, the next fighters jostle to take center stage. The crowd cheers them on and Gray automatically focuses on how the fighters move, trying to predict what kind of fighters they'll be, but she doesn't need to be Sherlock Holmes to analyze them in the end: their undisciplined footwork and flailing, widely projected movements spell things out neatly, this fight more about blown steam than killing intent. That's probably better, Gray thinks, even if it means there isn't much for her to learn from this clumsy encounter except for what not to do in a fight, and her attention relaxes from the match with that realization. ]

[prizeneck]

Show me the crowd.

[More than the fighters, the crowd is also important. Many people are looking for others, and this isn't exactly the most wholesome of places, either, so their intentions could be less savory.

It's not as though he hasn't felt the behind-the-scenes of this place already, but a little illustrative help doesn't hurt.]

[gravings]

[ Obediently, she turns her attention to the crowd. She scans away from the fight until she's looking at the people sitting around them, her gaze subtle under the deep cover of her hood. She lingers especially on the people she noticed were heckling him earlier — just in case that knowledge might help him later. ]

[prizeneck]

[He doesn't say anything for a while, just picking up traits here and there that his own perception may have missed. Search for confirmation more than anything else. His shades would have picked up on it if they were turned on — they can project every outline of their surroundings into his retina so that he could pick up on a possible broken arm, long hair, a slight gait — but as they aren't (yet), this is the next best thing.]

'ppreciate it. [He rumbles, then tries not to have his lip twitch too much.] Guess I'll owe you?

[gravings]

[ Her instinct is to deny that he owes her anything for such a small bit of assistance, but she stops herself. Maybe he can feel the mental brakes she puts on via their Communion before she impulsively goes in a different direction. ]

If you want to owe me... then maybe you could owe me a fight.

[ A bit embarrassed by her own boldness, she blinks and breaks her focus on the people around them, more wrapped up in what she's saying. ]

[prizeneck]

[The reluctance, more than the offering, is what surprises him.

It's not everyone with a sense of ability that keeps themselves in check unless they're somewhat experienced.

Still, that she goes forward with it intrigues him. Mamoru tilts his head towards her.]What makes you think I'm a good adversary?

[gravings]

[ She blinks over at him, surprised that he even has to ask. ]

I think anyone who can thrive in this environment without sight must be amazing... and you beat that red-haired man, too. I'm sure I could learn something from you.

[prizeneck]

[Well, he's not expecting the compliment. It all sits very wrongly on him, anytime it happens. Mamoru is used to being praised by his adversaries. Which, really, is what Grey is proposing she'd become, right?

His lip twitches.]Alright, anything in particular you're willing to learn?