He smiles "Most people call me Casil or Ace, and I promise this is no prank. I've heard her friends mention this rumor a few times. In fact, I apparently mimicked you to this person, which then upset her, even though I have no memory of that"
Tyrrin sighed. She really should speak with the Headmaster. But she already knew what the nightmares were warning her about. It was the Empire. She knew about them already though. "You're right Jaiye. I probably should speak with him. Not right now though. I can tell by that thrum that I've already missed opening the concert." she looks at the telescope, determined. "It's... Wyrd, right?" Tyrrin finally included the elemental in the conversation. She was thankful that he had been polite thus far. She didn't like showing weakness as she had.
Ardiente looks back at Tamina, suddenly looking confused, and honestly a little lost. He glances at Sadie, then back at Morrivan, then finally back to Tamina, whispering just like she had. "But... aren't they both... um. Female?"
"Yeah. So? Why should that be a problem? They both have that particular preference, so it could work," she said, doing her best to keep Morrivan from noticing the conversation. No need to embarrass her.
Vai has almost dozed when she hears the sound of someone climbing the walls and then landing next to her. She opens a draconic eye, and sees Fei in front of her. She smiles , and stretches out before standing up on all fours, in a manner very similar to that of a cat having just been woken up from a nap. Shaking out her lethargy, she sits up, the harness clanks slightly, as it is not fully secured. "Good evening, Fei." she begins warmly, "Did you have a good afternoon?" Vai had to resist the urge to nuzzle the young monk. Contact was easier in dragon form, and it was only for Fei's sake did she old back.
"It was...eventful," he answered with a smile as his eyes scan across her and the various loose components of the saddle. "There appears to be a new firebird at the Academy that your mother will have some interest in...if his curiosity does not prove to be his end first." (^-^)
"He entered our training room while I was in there. He is alright," he quickly adds s he notes Vai's look, placing a hand on her neck.
"May I help with these last attachments?" he asks as he grasps one of the straps with his other hand.
Noting that she seems awkward about all this, Ace explains I'm a Doppleganger and I used to have problems with shifting into others by accident. I had thought I had gotten that under control, but apparently not. I have no recollection of whatever happened, but I feel awful about it. So when I saw you, I thought I could maybe make amends and help out a friend. Its Morrivan who likes you, and has for awhile now. Not sure if you feel the same way, but I take risks all the time in life and they usually pay off. Hopefully this time it will again. If you don't like her, please don't hurt her. She seems like a gentle soul"
"It was...eventful," he answered with a smile as his eyes scan across her and the various loose components of the saddle. "There appears to be a new firebird at the Academy that your mother will have some interest in...if his curiosity does not prove to be his end first." (^-^)
"He entered our training room while I was in there. He is alright," he quickly adds as he notes Vai's look, placing a hand on her neck.
"May I help with these last attachments?" he asks as he grasps one of the straps with his other hand.
"Please. I can't quite bend properly." Vai demonstrates briefly how the last few straps are supposed to go, so that the saddle is completely stable in the air.
"Another firebird? I hope he is nice to Raelle. Apparently some of the other firebirds haven't been nice to her, because of her plumage and magic." she continues as Fei completes the fitting. The feeling of his hands across her scales is sending tingles up her spine. "Why would my mother be interested in him?"
Ardiente looks back at Tamina, suddenly looking confused, and honestly a little lost. He glances at Sadie, then back at Morrivan, then finally back to Tamina, whispering just like she had. "But... aren't they both... um. Female?""Yeah. So? Why should that be a problem? They both have that particular preference, so it could work," she said, doing her best to keep Morrivan from noticing the conversation. No need to embarrass her.
Ardiente still looks confused. It was only very occasionally that such a thing had been mentioned. It never seemed like a real possibility. "How... how would such a pairing bear children?"
Ardiente seems to have no problem with the idea of two girls personally, it just doesn't seem very practical.
"Someone .. will have added alcohol to the drinks? Why.. oh. I think I can understand." She gives a chuckle while looking about and spotting some people she had met and seen before, studying their odd, yet happy filled, dancing style.
With his pro-offered arm out, Anahita considers it a moment, then takes it, standing at his left side. She slips the arm through, not simply laying it atop his own.
"I don't recall asking how long you've been here- you appear to be well versed in the flow of things." Then, while standing there looking about, she looks to the ceiling, then over to the refreshments and snacks.
Slipping her arm out again, she looks to him and says, "I've sipped some spirits and wines in my travels. It has never really affected me too greatly, but .. do you think it will be a very strong dose?" She looks around to see if there are other people 'drunk', considering things.
Then she notices some of the outfits people might have on, starting with the females and then the males. Always looking around, snapping a glance this way and that. Ehos can tell at this point, if he's perceptive, that Anahita does not appear too calm and restrained, but rather, a bit scattered, taking in all the motions and reactions of people, with a look of uncertainty in her face.
"Please do as you would, Ehos, I .. would like to watch, and get familiar with this ritual. I'm not familiar .. it's, different. The music has improved though." She ends that on a positive note while playfully pushing him lightly, towards the dancers and engaged crowds.
Ehos does his best to answer her questions. He notes that she looks a bit overwhelmed, but doesn't immediately take action on it. She would have to get used to it sometime, if she was gonna stay at Avalon. 'I have only been at the school for five months... since my condition manifested. You learn quickly though. There are patterns here, just as elsewhere. The strength of the drink is usually quite strong. A few cups would be enough to put me under the table.'
Hoping to ease her nerves, he puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. 'There is an area with less people over in that corner,' Ehos motions to where a group of teachers stand, supervising. They must've drawn the short straws. 'I believe I will dance. If you feel ill at ease, do not hesitate to come find me, and we will return to the tranquility of the garden.' He very briefly pulls down the scarf so she can see his reassuring smile, before he turns and is enveloped by the crowd as he begins to dance.
Ardiente looks back at Tamina, suddenly looking confused, and honestly a little lost. He glances at Sadie, then back at Morrivan, then finally back to Tamina, whispering just like she had. "But... aren't they both... um. Female?""Yeah. So? Why should that be a problem? They both have that particular preference, so it could work," she said, doing her best to keep Morrivan from noticing the conversation. No need to embarrass her.Ardiente still looks confused. It was only very occasionally that such a thing had been mentioned. It never seemed like a real possibility. "How... how would such a pairing bear children?"
** spoiler omitted **
Tamina laughed. "There are other reasons for romantic attachments you know. But I suppose if they were in a long-term relationship and decided they wanted children they could always adopt."
"Please. I can't quite bend properly." Vai demonstrates briefly how the last few straps are supposed to go, so that the saddle is completely stable in the air.
"Another firebird? I hope he is nice to Raelle. Apparently some of the other firebirds haven't been nice to her, because of her plumage and magic." she continues as Fei completes the fitting. The feeling of his hands across her scales is sending tingles up her spine. "Why would my mother be interested in him?"
"He seems honorable, if a bit....flamboyant," he answers with a slow nod. :)
"And I believe I would be betraying a trust if I answer that question directly. I will say they appear to have something in common, if my observations are correct."
Fei carefully follows Vai's instructions to ensure everything is connected properly. In the end, he finishes tightening two of the straps coming down around her torso, with each arm partially encircling her lower ribcage.
"Is this...secure enough?"
Noting that she seems awkward about all this, Ace explains I'm a Doppleganger and I used to have problems with shifting into others by accident. I had thought I had gotten that under control, but apparently not. I have no recollection of whatever happened, but I feel awful about it. So when I saw you, I thought I could maybe make amends and help out a friend. Its Morrivan who likes you, and has for awhile now. Not sure if you feel the same way, but I take risks all the time in life and they usually pay off. Hopefully this time it will again. If you don't like her, please don't hurt her. She seems like a gentle soul"
"Morrivan? She...likes me? Likes me likes me? I always thought it was just an advanced case of hero worship...I didn't realize that she felt that way...........I think I need to go ask a girl to dance," she said, suddenly grinning. "Thanks, Ace. I owe you one."
Sadie headed across the dance floor, using her forcefield ability to keep a clear bubble around her through all of the bouncing people and waving arms. She tapped Morrivan on the shoulder.
"May I have this dance?"
Morrivan goes pale and then blushes. And then repeats that process several times.
"Y-y-y...I'd l-l-like that," she stammered.
Tamina laughed. "There are other reasons for romantic attachments you know. But I suppose if they were in a long-term relationship and decided they wanted children they could always adopt."
Ardiente's firebird colours are showing true in this case. For the noble families, often the only reason for marriage was children. A marriage was a failure if they did not produce at least 2 children, in many people's eyes. The lower-class families like his might be interested in other than children. Adoption was unheard-of. There simply weren't enough firebirds for it to be a consideration. "I... I suppose you are right." Ardiente conceded, still sounding confused. "I suppose Love may burn like fire, touching everything equally, not discriminating. Thank you Tamina." he flashes her a smile, trying to hide his continued confusion.
"Now, where were we?" he redoubles his efforts at the dance. Ace was talking with Sadie, so Ardiente was now responsible for three young women, and one was the... succubus. Just don't think about it. She's just a girl, like the other two.
Well, Ardiente's plan for Sadie had been much more subtle... perhaps sometimes subtlety was overrated. With Ace returning to Ginni, and Morrivan now dancing with Sadie, Ardiente was left alone with the most skilled dancer.
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"Here, let me check." Her heart was racing, but this time it wasn't fear. It was joy. She knew she couldn't stay in dragon form forever, but it was liberating, and that was practically a hug just now.
She sits up on her hind legs and shakes her upper-body, wings flapping lightly. Nothing shifts on the harness. "Nice and snug." she purrs. "I think I may have met him." the flamboyant caught her attention. Ardiente had definitely been flamboyant. "He was treating Raelle with respect, so I'm glad. She could use the company of more of her kind other than family, I think."
With the harness properly fitted, Vai is back down on all fours, bent so that Fei can easily climb on. Once she's certain that he is secure, she spreads her wings and leaps into the air, beating hard to gain altitude.
Her imagination has already gotten the better of her. She's reminded of a fiction book she read recently. In her mind, she is Gwyneth, and Fei is the noble knight Huma, and they are riding into battle against evil.
Sadie took Morrivan's hand and drew her a little bit away from her friends. She was actually enjoying herself now. Dancing with a pretty girl was a lot more fun than standing by the wall. And now that she knew Morrivan liked her...it did change her perspective on some things. Morrivan's grand gesture of following her during the War exercise seemed kinda...well, romantic really. She twirled Morrivan around to have an excuse to draw her in closer.
For the next few songs Lang remain quiet just watching the show. he tries to maintain a repectable distance hopefully not insulting his guest.
Why do I keep getting her mad at me
finally he looks over at Ignace
I'm really sorry, I never meant to scare you, or hurt you, I feel like I've insulted you and your family. Please forgive me.
He offers Ignace some firebird snacks or at least what he hopes are snacks to her likeing.
can we at least be friends?
Sarlight is now poping up all over the dance floor, human sized , she seems to have lost control a bit winking in an out of being like some mad strobing ghost . at tine 10 to 12 of her can be seem and the number is growing one of her looks at Dom and mouths the words “I can,t stop ” befor despairing again, she seems some what drunk,
Tyrrin sighed. She really should speak with the Headmaster. But she already knew what the nightmares were warning her about. It was the Empire. She knew about them already though. "You're right Jaiye. I probably should speak with him. Not right now though. I can tell by that thrum that I've already missed opening the concert." she looks at the telescope, determined. "It's... Wyrd, right?" Tyrrin finally included the elemental in the conversation. She was thankful that he had been polite thus far. She didn't like showing weakness as she had.
Wyrd had been watching quietly, but now he stepped forward and bowed, Yes. I am Wyrd. I hope you do not think it inappropriate - Miss Jones tell me I must work on not being inappropriate - I overheard that you needed to move something very heavy. I am strong, and I can ease the task by asking the earth to assist. Wyrd gestures at the contoured space where Tyrrin had been sleeping, and as he does so, the Tyrrin-shaped depression seems to be pressed out of the floor from below as the stone returns to its previous shape.
Watching Ehos wander off and get into the dancing, Anahita's expression is calmer as she tracks his movements. She does seem to admire him in some fashion, eventually though, the her attention shifts.
With her right arm straight down her side, and the left crossed over her middle to clutch it with a chained grip, she turns to regard the punch bowl and starts towards it.
Looking around for some cups, she obtains one and spoons some of the juice into the cup. With a sniff and then a sip, her face appears to seem slightly surprised and enticed. She proceeds to drink the punch readily while peering around. Once that cup is devoured, she smiles and refills another, though this time, slowly sipping it.
She wanders around some more, exploring what's going on while her path takes her roughly in the direction of the garden doors again. It's clear that being in a large crowd of people really isn't her thing for either cultural or personal reasons.
When she steps into the outside air again, she closes her eyes and smiles lightly, as if walking into a mist. When she opens her eyes again, she has a light smile and her punch- being sipped.
for starlight the party has go into slowmation she can see the movents of others but the have all slowed to an imperceptible crawl . She moves from open pace to open space danicing to the music of her mind faster an d faster, a shadow close by with a much faster time speeds, another part like this and a different band, it was getting hard to separate the two,
back in sliw time at the dance star was now hiting 30+ incidence and yes madness was seeping out in the form of localized time dialation around each of her incidences some slowed some sped up, time was getting wibly wobble
For the next few songs Lang remain quiet just watching the show. he tries to maintain a repectable distance hopefully not insulting his guest.
Why do I keep getting her mad at me
finally he looks over at Ignace
I'm really sorry, I never meant to scare you, or hurt you, I feel like I've insulted you and your family. Please forgive me.
He offers Ignace some firebird snacks or at least what he hopes are snacks to her likeing.
can we at least be friends?
"I....I do not think I am supposed to have friends," she said, hanging her head. "I am too dangerous. I might hurt them. I do not want to hurt anyone else. Not again. You have not insulted me, Lang. I am sorry. Perhaps coming to this event was a mistake."
She looks nervously at the door that the crystal had led her to.
Lang looks to her and smiles
It wasn't a mistake I made a promise to you to see your sister perform and I, or I should say, we, will see it through.
Lang glances down at all the other dancing Lets enjoy the show. I enjoy your company.
Lang starts to point out some of the silly dances the others are doing and points them out to Ignace being carfull to not indicate Dave and Raelle. He somtimes mimics them in a comical way.
Dom barely saw her mouthing the words but it was enough to alert him to the trouble. He wasn't sure what was wrong so he only could think of a few things he could do the most powerful was to use his healing water, but with her rapid movements there would be no possible way to get close for a long enough time. The second was a bit of a risk seeing as he had yet to fully control his arcane performances. It was too late to worried about that any how. His dance changed the water he had floating about smoothed to a match his own movements. Before he changed his movements it was easy to tell he was dancing with others but now the dance was obviously a single person dance. Some of the other dancers around him took notice and started cheering for him, unaware there was trouble. Too Star it would have seemed forever till his performance took effect.
Dave stops dancing for a bit, seeing the alarming number of starlights "is that supposed to happen, there are multiple of her and it's not an illusion"
Dave stops dancing for a bit, seeing the alarming number of starlights "is that supposed to happen, there are multiple of her and it's not an illusion"
"Ummm....should we get a teacher? I don't think they've seen her...well, she's hard to see right now....that blur is star right?"
"I could cast a slow spell, that might help but a teacher might be a smart bet" blur?
Raelle notices Dom doing something strange with the water he was bending. She'd been around Morrivan enough to know that water could be used to heal. Perhaps he was trying to help the small fey girl.
"Dom!" she yelled. "She's going to be right above your head in 1.657 seconds!"
Realle's prediction would be perfect as long as Star was watching the performance she hopefully be healed just above him. He wasn't sure if his bardic performance would be enough but he could only hope that it would help enough for her to gain a bit of control. At least long enough for him to use his bending to correct the rest.
Dave is just about to finish gathering the energy for a slow spell when he sees Raelle's perdiction come true. He holds the spell and turns to her and says to her with an air of mild wonderment "how did you know that?"
"I....don't know," she said, looking confused. "It happened when we went to visit James at the factory too. I just knew the part was the wrong size even though there was no way I should. I don't understand. This doesn't make any sense."
"Hmm I don't know what to tell you about this save one thing, that was really freaking cool, is that your 'special power' or someshuch or is this a new development?" Dave looks to he trying not to look too excited.
"Oh, you don't need to worry about it. There are a lot of us who use telepathy naturally....seems to go along with shapeshifting if the other form doesn't have obvious means of understandable vocalization. For instance, I'm a dragon, and when I'm in that form I can't really talk like a human. Hence telepathy. It's fine if you can't speak with your mind," she said, carefully gauging his reaction to her saying that she was a dragon.
"Ah. And the uniforms? Under the earth is a rough place for such things, so if I must wear one, it must be sturdy cloth. A dragon, you say? I had heard rumor of dragons on my way through town. In my travels, I have seen dragons, but none as fearsome as those here, if half of what the townsfolk say is true. The ones I saw may have been very young, or perhaps lesser forms of dragon. I would like to study dragons here in my spare time, it would help with my psychometabolism."
"Hmm I don't know what to tell you about this save one thing, that was really freaking cool, is that your 'special power' or someshuch or is this a new development?" Dave looks to he trying not to look too excited.
"I thought my ability to make illusions was my only special power. I don't understand what's happening," she said, starting to get upset. She was getting really freaked out.
"Oh, you don't need to worry about it. There are a lot of us who use telepathy naturally....seems to go along with shapeshifting if the other form doesn't have obvious means of understandable vocalization. For instance, I'm a dragon, and when I'm in that form I can't really talk like a human. Hence telepathy. It's fine if you can't speak with your mind," she said, carefully gauging his reaction to her saying that she was a dragon."Ah. And the uniforms? Under the earth is a rough place for such things, so if I must wear one, it must be sturdy cloth. A dragon, you say? I had heard rumor of dragons on my way through town. In my travels, I have seen dragons, but none as fearsome as those here, if half of what the townsfolk say is true. The ones I saw may have been very young, or perhaps lesser forms of dragon. I would like to study dragons here in my spare time, it would help with my psychometabolism."
"Let me guess, about this big?" she said holding her hands a few inches apart. "I hear there are still some pseudodragons out there that weren't hunted to extinction. And I'm really not sure how studying dragons will help with psychometabolism," she added, bemused.
"Teachers don't need to wear a uniform. It's encouraged but not mandatory for students. Most of them choose to wear their uniform or some variation of it though. It saves having teachers mistake them for new arrivals."
Uppon seeing her reaction to something he ment to be encouraging he holds her and says"shhh it's ok it's ok.. Whatever's happening we will get through this and you will be better for it, and I will be right there with you, so will Gini and Tamina your sisters it's ok, shhh" he rubs her back trying to comfort her on a whim he adds a candle worth of fire to the rubbing briefly.
She calms down as he comforts her, her mood shifting back to something more positive.
"Sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to freak out. It's scary when stuff starts happening without any explanations."
Tybalt notices the multiple starlights and shifts down next to dave "uh whats with all the speed fairies?" Attempting to catch several as they blink out of existence when he nears them.
"Let me guess, about this big?" she said holding her hands a few inches apart. "I hear there are still some pseudodragons out there that weren't hunted to extinction. And I'm really not sure how studying dragons will help with psychometabolism," she added, bemused.
"Teachers don't need to wear a uniform. It's encouraged but not mandatory for students. Most of them choose to wear their uniform or some variation of it though. It saves having teachers mistake them for new arrivals."
and as far as his psychometabolism goes, he can technically turn into a dragon, but not really. he can gain the actual dragon type, and he can grow wings and a tail and a bite attack and scales and gain a breath weapon, but it isnt the same as wild shaping into a dragon where you could get the feats/Ex/(Su in some cases) abilities of a dragon.
"It was about the size of small livestock, living high in the mountains. It had wings but could only fly clumsily. Studying all forms of life, especially exotic ones, is important to psychometabolism, especially as far as metamorphosis is concerned."
Starlight looks and as the other talk but she can not make out the slow growns of there words, then Dom starts doing some thing, water around him moves in painful slow speed as she finds it harder and hard to stop the dislocations and instances around the room, by the time she see that a area of water has been made above his head, shes up to 80+ instances and starting to feel sick from the drink,
"why is he making water there? I need to get it it, he must be trying to help me so how, but I have not control o **** im speeding up"
Then to her great surprise just at the water in slow motion makes a full orb, she materializes in the center of the water, at this point there is now 200+ instances of her in the room and her collective light has started to make it a lot brighter.
Drunkenly she thinks
"How did he know...?"
Then the water hits, and in an instant she is very much sober, now this can think clearly,
"o dear"
She was using her will to try and slow, but the best she would do was, stop from speeding up, she was stable now with just the 200 of her popping in and out of being each second in the room but try as she might she could not stop.
Then she remember the eye,
"Ssssstooop Tiiimmmme"
All was still to the others in the room for an instant all would be light as 200x200 Starlights came into being, but it would give her a moment, just a moment to get a message out, she grabbed a napkin and her lipsick and started to write as fast as she could in that still moment.
In the room there was a flash of light 1000s of starlights came into and out of being in a fraction of a moment,
Dom finds in his hand a napkin with writing in lipstick.
"HELP, I,M SOBER NOW, BUT STUCK IN A TIME ECHO LOOP, TO MANY OF ME TO STOP, I NEED HELP, YOU HAVE TO SLOW ON EVERY ONE OF ME AT ONCE, NO IDEA HOW, HELP"
200 starlights are randomly winking in and out of being at random locations in the rooms, they each appear for an instant before winking out of being and showing up some other place, a few even out side now in the school as a hole.
She calms down as he comforts her, her mood shifting back to something more positive.
"Sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to freak out. It's scary when stuff starts happening without any explanations."
Dave smiles glad he chose the right thing to do, he doesn't let go unless she gives indication she wants to be let go as he quietly says "it's ok, that's a fairly typical responce, fear the unknown, the different, espicly when it's you that you don't understand, we'll figure it out, I promise. Well figure each other out together"
Dave sees the explosion of starlights "awe **** didn't work, no time to get help time for plan C" and he casts the spell he was holding, given the sheer quantity of starlights around its nigh impossible to miss
David, Raelle! She needs to be slowed the cause has been taken care of but I can't slow all of her at once! Without encasing everyone in ice! Get a teacher or something! He shouts across the room while looking back to David and Raelle. He was hoping that it would alert others in the room to the problem as well.
After a few moments laying in his bed, he issues a groan, and half opens his eyes, seeing Enre and Caedes.
"Wha..what happened?" he asks, quietly
Both of them turn to look at Gavin, Caedes is the on who speaks "Seems you are being taken over by some spirits. Also seems you are not ready to learn to control it, it said you need to be taught the ways of war, before you are allowed to control it."