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A lot of different types. If there's something you like best, tell me, and I'll put it on.
You got it. Find the jade archway, I'll be there.
[once malik goes looking for the jade archway, it will appear before him. stepping through feels like stepping into a soothing landscape painting. the atmosphere goes grey, but rather than the monochrome of other areas, it's the mist of morning fog, still hanging low in the air. his feet touch down onto dirt and grass. he is standing in a quaint country garden. there are tall, dark green trees all around and rolling hills far away, but in the immediate vicinity is a flat, empty area with a few fenced in garden patches. the fenced in area in front of you looks to be a tidy herb and vegetable garden patch. there's a small shed towards the back of the garden, and gardening tools are scattered about.
in the distance he can see a pond and across the pond, far away, a small cottage with smoke billowing from the chimney. there are a few stone statues scattered about the garden, but after a moment, you notice that one of them in particular is waving, standing near a table with a tea pot and some cups.]
I'm doing alright. Come on in.
in the distance he can see a pond and across the pond, far away, a small cottage with smoke billowing from the chimney. there are a few stone statues scattered about the garden, but after a moment, you notice that one of them in particular is waving, standing near a table with a tea pot and some cups.]
I'm doing alright. Come on in.
[ this is genuinely one of the nicest places he's ever been. he'd like if there was some sunshine or something, but seeing nature - lush and green and extending far as he could see - is not something he gets to experience very often.
he makes his way to their two person tea party. ]
It's quite nice out here. I can see why you like it...Is this something the prism did for you, or did you do it yourself?
[ yeah did you build this cottage with your bare hands, shale, ]
he makes his way to their two person tea party. ]
It's quite nice out here. I can see why you like it...Is this something the prism did for you, or did you do it yourself?
[ yeah did you build this cottage with your bare hands, shale, ]
Hey, thanks. That's sweet of you to say.
[they wait patiently for him.]
A little of both. This place sort of grew around me, I think. The things I wanted, the things that make me happy. But I've worked it to try and fit, too. I think that's also part of what I want and what makes me happy, the ability to help this place grow and change.
[they wait patiently for him.]
A little of both. This place sort of grew around me, I think. The things I wanted, the things that make me happy. But I've worked it to try and fit, too. I think that's also part of what I want and what makes me happy, the ability to help this place grow and change.
I don't tend to lie very often. I'm not any good at it.
[they will pour a little tea. it's a simple oolong tea; he couldn't tell if malik wanted green or black tea, so something a little in between. it's a nice calming blend, though.]
It is nice, to have a place like this. It's good. Any sugar?
[they will pour a little tea. it's a simple oolong tea; he couldn't tell if malik wanted green or black tea, so something a little in between. it's a nice calming blend, though.]
It is nice, to have a place like this. It's good. Any sugar?
Um... maybe a little.
[ his lack of familiarity of tea party protocol is glaring obvious, and he hates that he's vaguely aware of it. he's used to having his needs met without asking, so having to fumble through polite gestures is a little frustrating. but he's trying. ]
Your request said you wanted an honest conversation. Does this mean you had something in mind, or do I get to tell you more about how inhospitable my home is compared to yours? Though perhaps you wouldn't be interested in hearing about that, with its lack of plants... Or any greenery, really...
[ his lack of familiarity of tea party protocol is glaring obvious, and he hates that he's vaguely aware of it. he's used to having his needs met without asking, so having to fumble through polite gestures is a little frustrating. but he's trying. ]
Your request said you wanted an honest conversation. Does this mean you had something in mind, or do I get to tell you more about how inhospitable my home is compared to yours? Though perhaps you wouldn't be interested in hearing about that, with its lack of plants... Or any greenery, really...
[they listen casually. there doesn't seem to be much protocol here, it's not fancy. the tea cup in front of shale has a chip in it. They put a small spoonful of sugar in malik's, and then push the cup towards him. and then take a sip from their own cup. a little odd to watch a statue do, but they seem fine.]
I'm pretty interested in hearing about people. If you want to talk about your home, I'd like to hear about that.
I'm pretty interested in hearing about people. If you want to talk about your home, I'd like to hear about that.
[ he takes a sip- it's good enough. he doesn't have a refined palette or anything, after all. ]
The differences are quite jarring. You have comfort and security in belonging to your own space. I've been told my entire life that I belong there, but it was nothing but miserable. No life in the desert besides me and my family. [ sip ]
Nothing I could do was going to change my place. It had existed long before me, and I was there to maintain the status quo.
The differences are quite jarring. You have comfort and security in belonging to your own space. I've been told my entire life that I belong there, but it was nothing but miserable. No life in the desert besides me and my family. [ sip ]
Nothing I could do was going to change my place. It had existed long before me, and I was there to maintain the status quo.
[hmm. they seem sympathetic to that. a few vines loop through the cracks in their chest.]
It's hard to be isolated, especially in a place like that. Were you close with your family?
It's hard to be isolated, especially in a place like that. Were you close with your family?
That's hard, being away from the people you're close to. [...] But I think most people eventually have to choose between staying near the people they love and striking out on their own.
It's not an easy decision.
It's not an easy decision.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's just one decision instead of another.
[hmm.]
What are you working towards?
[hmm.]
What are you working towards?
[they give him the time to think.]
That's a lot. [they nod, thoughtful.] And after you avenge, him, what then? Got any plans?
That's a lot. [they nod, thoughtful.] And after you avenge, him, what then? Got any plans?
Doing whatever you want does sound like a pretty nice plan to me.
[they don't sound like they're criticizing him, really.]
What happened to him? Why does he need to be avenged?
[they don't sound like they're criticizing him, really.]
What happened to him? Why does he need to be avenged?
I'm sorry to hear about your family, and your father.
[they sound calm, too.]
[they sound calm, too.]
...Thank you.
[ it's strange; he wants to be angry, and truly, he still is - but it isn't boiling just beneath the surface as usual. shale's phlegmatic nature doesn't give him anything to stoke the fires of his fury, instead calming them to a sort of simmering ember. it's still there, just blunted. less harmful. ]
Do you have a family? Or have you always been here, alone?
[ it's strange; he wants to be angry, and truly, he still is - but it isn't boiling just beneath the surface as usual. shale's phlegmatic nature doesn't give him anything to stoke the fires of his fury, instead calming them to a sort of simmering ember. it's still there, just blunted. less harmful. ]
Do you have a family? Or have you always been here, alone?
[shale is a good listener, it says on their profile. they never appear to be discounting your feelings, but they listen quietly and calmly. the anger is maybe not something they understand, but they understand that malik feels it, and that it can be painful.
when malik asks, they pause, going statue still for a long time. they scratch at some of the lichen growing on their chest. most of it is gray-green, but there's a little patch near where the heart would be on a human that has gone pale pink in hue.]
...No, no family. I don't know whether I've always been here, but I've been here a long time. Not alone, though. I have Bass, Riff, Steel. We're a little bit like a family.
when malik asks, they pause, going statue still for a long time. they scratch at some of the lichen growing on their chest. most of it is gray-green, but there's a little patch near where the heart would be on a human that has gone pale pink in hue.]
...No, no family. I don't know whether I've always been here, but I've been here a long time. Not alone, though. I have Bass, Riff, Steel. We're a little bit like a family.
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