For Argilla (and/or Gale)

[scarsolderthanyou]

Option I. Syn AU

Another liminal change, another influx of new people, and Stone was tired today. The last Jaunt had been... well, strange. And uncomfortable. And Stone wasn't feeling like going out and meeting everyone else just yet.

So he and Azure were on the platform in his created space, with the door behind him to the rest of liminal open, while she preened his hair and he considered the fake canopy of leaves overhead and possibly a nap.


Option II. Three Worlds

Stone was napping when the scent hit him, and he sat up sharply, startled. An Arbora who had been tending to one of the plants on the same platform jumped and dropped her basket. "Line-grandfather?"

He waved a hand at her rather than answer, climbed to his feet, and shifted, taking off immediately almost before his winged shape had finished settling in. That was the smell of an asura, and he did not want anyone else to be the one to find him first.


Option III. ELSEWHERE take your pick, her world or another random one

Traveling had broken something, as far as Stone could tell. He hadn't seen the colony tree for more than a couple days at a time, before bouncing off to some other world again. He didn't have anything he needed to fix or change, like actual Traveling, it just... lasted as long as it lasted before he found himself able to open a portal again to get back home.

This time it seemed like one of the modern Earth-ish worlds, as far as Stone could tell. He got a few funny looks for the height, the gray skin, and the bare feet, but no one had stopped him yet. Since he hadn't tried to smile yet, no one could question the teeth. Right now, he was just looking for wherever he could sit down for a while, take in the scents, and listen to people so he could get his bearings.


Option IV. WILD CARD

Got something else you feel like playing out, an AU of some sort or a private walkabout or something? Go ahead and make a starter and I will tag!

Comments

[vorenado]

Gale is quiet as he watches Stone deliberate. Between the raksura and the pack, stepping in closer to offer comfort and support almost an instinctual reaction now. Being told about something is far different than actually experiencing it himself. Now that he's finally here, he feels... nervous.

"If they wouldn't have noticed then, they likely wouldn't notice now. So theoretically the time you say you were taken will not matter."

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone pauses to consider that. "It would probably be easier to say it happened now than ten days ago, at least," he finally agrees, reluctantly. "Then I wouldn't have to explain why I didn't tell them from the start."

He shakes his head, frustrated and impatient with thinking too hard. "Come on. Let's just go introduce you to the Arbora first, and maybe by the time you get to Pearl they'll love you and she'll have to give in. If you want to stay with the colony, that is."

Belatedly, he realizes he ought to at least make sure of that.

[vorenado]

"I came here to be with you." He says, watching Stone. "It doesn't matter where that is." Gale has never had a place that was a home. Things had changed too much too often for him to connect a location with a sense of belonging. He understands the concept of 'home', but has never experienced it the same way others had.

For him it's people more than a place. Wherever Stone goes, so will he. As long as he's still wanted.

Green eyes meet Stone's again, hesitating before following. "There is one problem with this plan."

[scarsolderthanyou]

Though Stone's expression doesn't really change, a tension does go out of him. There had been a little part of him that figured Gale hadn't shown up because he hadn't actually wanted to be here, would have rather gone back to the spectres of his friends. Hearing differently is... good. He hasn't had to worry about things like that in a long time; it's annoying, but it's still there.

So it's a relief when he can snort at the second comment. "There's a lot of things wrong with this plan, starting with it being less like a plan and more like a futile hope that this won't end in a fight with my great-granddaughter." He takes Gale's wrist to lead him along the branch, towards a more open place where he can shift and take off again. "What's the problem you mean?"

[vorenado]

They never really defined the nature of their relationship like most other Travelers tended to, but there is a very distinct sense of mine in how Gale feels for Stone. It's never been jealous or possessive, Gale just isn't that way, but it's still there. He lost his tribe years ago, the pack too now since all this happened. He doesn't want to lose Stone too.

"Your clothing." Gale follows obediently, sensing out as far as he can, but there's so much going on in a forest it's hard to pinpoint anything that is or isn't a direct threat. "If you've been gone for the time we are claiming, it's unlikely that you would still be wearing what you wore the day you left."

[scarsolderthanyou]

Defining relationships isn't really something Raksura do, anyway. If he wants to bite someone or have sex with them, or just cuddle while he naps, he just asks. It does, however, tend to leave things a little uncertain when things like this happen. Thankfully, things like this don't happen all that often.

Stone makes an incredulous sort of sound. "I thought you knew me. I wear the same clothes all the time. All my clothes look exactly the same. Besides, I came back in the same clothes when it actually happened, only difference was I had this on." He holds up his free wrist, the sleeve sliding down to show his consort bracelet from Azure. The original Azure; the spirit Azure didn't make it to the Three Worlds with him, which was another uncomfortable feeling. "And I've been wearing it since then, making the Arbora whisper about it once they noticed. I got used to it, and it still works as a Dreamcatcher, anyway."

[vorenado]

"You hadn't explained that you'd been gone, so they had no reason to think you had left. Trying to explain what happened to us is going to be difficult even without trying to describe the illogical properties of liminal space. Clothing becomes warn and tattered over time." He knows and trusts that Stone knows his court well enough to navigate the situation, but Gale can't help how his mind works, trying to seek out any flaw that may exist in a plan.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone gives him an annoyed look. He's pretty sure it won't matter, but if it's bothering Gale, he'll at least make a comment. "And what do you suggest I do about it, then? If I go get different clothes, everyone will see us anyway. All my things are in the colony tree."

[vorenado]

Gale has a tendency to overthink all situations. It's what kept himself and his tribe alive, but it tends to overcomplicate situations he doesn't truly comprehend. If not for the lack of gossipiness, he really would make a good arbora. "I am merely pointing out a weak point that may be exploited. You know your court better than I."

[scarsolderthanyou]

For a moment, Stone considers it again, but he winds up with, "Even if it winds up being a problem, there's not anything we can do about it. Besides, it's mostly Pearl we have to worry about, and she won't think about my clothes." He tugs them out into a more open patch. "I should carry you in, instead of giving away the shapeshifting thing right off. They'll probably be more ready to accept me coming in with a strange groundling than a feral warrior Raksura, anyway."

[vorenado]

Gale follows along without any more interruption. He's not sure if this manhandling way of leading someone around is a raksura thing or a Stone thing. He'd always assumed a Stone thing, but now that he's about to meet others he has a feeling that he's going to be discovering a great deal of new things.

The first being exactly how big of a wave he's going to cause. "What should I do when we arrive?"

[scarsolderthanyou]

It's definitely a Raksura thing, and Stone is really not that bad about it-- except with Gale, or Moon. Have fun learning about the way everyone hauls each other around in Indigo Cloud, Gale. "Just be polite. Don't move too quickly, and don't stare too hard. Try not to look too much like a predator. I know that's hard."

Stone lets him go, turning back to look him over, then offers some more specific advice: "Keep your shoulders loose and your hands still, either clasp them or put them on me, that'll show you aren't likely to lash out. You can make eye contact with anyone who isn't a queen, you can tell them because they only wear jewelry and don't have a real groundling form. Also, they're taller than everybody else." Gale will probably feel a queen's presence immediately, knowing his empathic abilities, but Stone still has to make sure.

[vorenado]

"Do I usually look like a predator?" He asks genuinely. He knows all too well that he is on. In more that one way at this point. But he also looks human most of the time, and he's never considered them to be particularly predatory given his experience. He may unfortunately smell like a predator to them, though there's little he can do about that.

He listens carefully and nods at the suggestions, committing them to memory. Despite his usually calmness, he's got an air of unease about him. This may be the first time he's actually be nervous about anything.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone looks briefly amused. "Yes, you do. A very calm predator, but the focused way you look at things is very predator-looking. Raksura in groundling form do the same thing. When you live on a world with shapeshifters, you learn to notice things like that." He cuffs Gale affectionately on the side of the head, then says, "Come on, let's get this mess started."

Then he shifts, and offers Gale a hand to be carried in.

[vorenado]

It's not as though Gale has never thought of himself as a predator, but he'd figured the lack of intent would ease that a bit. Goes to show that he's not always as self aware as he likes to think.

Still, he smiles softly as Stone changes and climbs up close. Out of habit he reaches out mentally for him, but without the liminal network he can't feel the the raksura. It's a bit jarring considering how much time they'd spent in each other's heads. "I'm ready when you are."

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone, oblivious to the mental attempt at contact, does still dip his head down to nuzzle a little at Gale's chest before tucking him close to his own chest and leaping into the air.

The flight is short, at least, but by the time Stone drops his feet down and lands on the platform, there's half a dozen Arbora in their scaled forms waiting for him, crowding together just out of reach so his backwing doesn't bowl them all over. Stone sets Gale down, shoots them all a one-eyed glare that says firmly "no attacking this one", then shifts back to groundling. Even then, he keeps close to Gale, whether protective, possessive, or just supportive.

"Stone, who is this?" one of the Arbora asks, spines all tilted around in confusion.

Lucky for everyone, living in each others heads for so long means Gale knows Raksuran enough to understand it and speak it, not just when Stone speaks it.

[vorenado]

Gale runs a hand along the scales on Stone's face while he's within reach, then settles against his large chest as they take the the sky. His grip on the raksura is stronger than it necessarily needs to be. Not for fear of flight, but what lies ahead. He can general handle diplomacy, but he knows his failings when dealing with people in general.

He spends the flight trying to come up with contingency plans that don't result in Stone having to leave his home. Not that he would allow for that. They are Stone's court, he belongs there.

He's quiet at first when Stone lets him down. It hardly registers at first that he's hearing the other language after hearing all languages for so long. Understanding it and speaking it seem to have an odd disconnect, and there's a hesitation where he needs to translate before he speaks.

"I am Gale." He says. No Embryon tribe, finally letting that part of his life go. They are still important to him, and orange will always be a color he wears, but he is the only one left. You can't be a comrade alone.

[scarsolderthanyou]

"I'm bringing him here to stay with us, if Pearl doesn't throw him out," Stone adds. "And the rest of you don't object too much."

There's a stir of surprise as the Arbora look at each other, then back at Gale with more curious expressions-- still wary, but curious. The last time Stone brought someone to the court, it was Moon, and that turned out better than anyone had a right to expect.

Of course, that was also after being gone for months, in search a consort from another court. This is not even an hour after he flew away from the tree, and this isn't a Raksura. "How do you know each other?" the first Arbora asks, apparently the spokesperson of the group for now.

Stone looks inscrutable, and offers probably the simplest, but also least helpful, explanation he can: "We were kidnapped by magic people together."

[vorenado]

Gale lets Stone take the lead for the most part, though he heaves an internal sigh at that explanation. It's not incorrect, but if the arbora are anything like Stone had described them as, it's not going to be an acceptable answer.

"It is a long story." While he may process things faster than most people, he still needs to translate before speaking. Since this is his first time actually trying to speak the language out loud, his pronunciation isn't flawless, but decent enough for a first go at it.

"Their magic works outside of time. They had taken me years before they took Stone. It is possible that little to no time has passed at all here while he was gone."

[scarsolderthanyou]

The accent, and the language, isn't missed. It isn't commented on, but it isn't missed. The spokesperson Arbora looks between Stone and Gale, and says, "Jade experienced something like that once. But backwards...."

"It's not quite like that," Stone relents. "More like I got dumped back here at the same moment I left. Like Gale said, it's a long story. Do you want us to tell it out here, or inside?"

"We should tell the queens," another Arbora says.

"That is the plan," Stone shrugs. "Once we get inside and introduce him around."

"So we already know him before Pearl gets a chance to make a decision," the spokesArbora said dryly.

"That's Grain," Stone tells Gale, voice dry. "He likes to think he's being clever."

[vorenado]

"Or perhaps you were being obvious." He says in softer, amused tones, though he's not necessarily trying to hide it from anyone. Shifting closer to stone, he offers the old raksura a sideways glance and one of his small yet meaningful smiles. The more they can prove that they've known each other for an extensive period of time, the better.

Then he looks back over the crowd thats gathered, trying to get a senses of the overall mood of the situation.

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Well, I suppose my court knows me pretty well," Stone has to agree. "Come on. Let us in, Grain, before I knock you off the platform. I'll take him straight to the mentors to test him out, if that'll make you all feel better."

Grain doesn't honestly have the rank, or the age, to stand up to Stone, so after a moment of looking hesitant, he steps aside. One of the other Arbora behind him darts inside, ahead of Stone and Gale, presumably to warn someone, or maybe get Bone, who is older and wiser and knows better what to do when a line-grandfather gets pushy.

Because Stone is getting pushy. He's got Gale's wrist again, and if Gale doesn't follow, he'll get pulled in his wake. "That's Plum, that's Gold, that's Fall. There's a couple hundred of us, you'll get scents in your brain before names, probably," he tells Gale, pointing to the Arbora as they pass.

[vorenado]

Gale does his best to keep a neutral air about him as Stone and Grain face off, and he stands close enough to the older raksura that their shoulders touch. He purposely keep his eyes from Grain, looking across the crowd of Arbora and to other platforms where others have gathered.

The grab to his wrist is enough warning that they're going to be moving, so he follows rather than be pulled around this time. Sharp green eyes dart to those being pointed out, and he does his best to catch as much detail as possible as they move.

"It is very likely, though I do still have a very good memory." Scent is an oddly powerful thing when it comes to the mind, he'll give it that.

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Just be glad you're at Indigo Cloud and not one of the bigger courts," Stone comments. "Then there'd be a couple thousand to meet and sort out. That might tax even your brain."

There's a lot of scents to pick up, as they move through naturally-formed corridors in the living tree. The Arbora follow them, because this is the most interesting thing that's happened in a season, and they want to see it through. Even if it results in something dangerous (maybe especially if). They're moving steadily downward, until they reach the wide, open central well, lined with balconies and short staircases, and with a waterfall running down the far wall.

Stone gives Gale's wrist a light squeeze, whether in reassurance or warning, then shifts and spreads his wings, holding out a hand for Gale. This is politeness. He could just scoop him up, like he does with Grain in his other hand.

"I guess we're all going," Grain comments dryly, patting Stone's arm. The other Arbora just start climbing down, themselves.

[vorenado]

He doesn't mind, having learned that learning things in the traditional way is far more satisfying, even if it's a roster of faces and names. He no longer has or wants the hood that would giving more storage space and power. It would effectively dull him out emotionally.

Gale keeps close to Stone, able to keep up with the Raksura without any sort of struggle on his part. He could easily outpace any of them, but he's never in his existence ever felt the need to show off.

Okay, maybe a bit if it was to make someone else happy. Never for his own pride.

He instinctively tries to take in as much as possible all at once before he remembers what Stone said and turns his eyes forward, or to the old man himself. Once they reach the well, he climbs up into Stone's hand without question. The ease of which he does so and settles himself is proof that he's done this many times before.

"Was that ever in doubt?"