Twenty Rose Petals Fall - [Voice]

[its_rose_damnit]

[It's never simple with the Malnosso. Never. You give, they take, it's common knowledge around these parts now. Expecting anything less is just asking for trouble. Perhaps that's why Dist happened to return from his mission in the midst of an experiment. Or maybe his luck really is as poor as he complains about. Take your pick.

Regardless, instead of a man casually returning to the village, a young and very nervous young boy is stuck wandering around the square. He...knows this place. He remembers it. The name isn't ringing any bells right away, but Saphir knows he's been here before, long ago. And he also remembers two very important things about his sudden surroundings:

The Professor is here, and there should be a book - a book he can talk into.

In no time, Saphir locates his journal and hesitantly opens it up. He fiddles with it and - due to his skill with mechanics - figures out how to turn on the audio as well as make a filter. He doesn't understand, though, when the filter breaks, and just talks regularly into the strange and fascinating little book.]

P-Professor? ...Professor Nebilim, are you here? I-I think...I'm lost...a-again. [He ducks his head, somewhat ashamed, and on the verge of a meltdown.] Can you come get me? I'm...I-I see the fountain. I can wait there. P-Please hurry...

[There's a lot of really weird stuff wandering around right now. Halp. ;A;]



[OOC: So Dist here is now chibified! Replies will come from minifontaku!]

Comments

[action]

[albioreiii]

[It isn't easy getting into buildings when you don't have any arms to turn doorknobs with. For the moment Ginji has given up with windows (you don't want to know) and has settled for flapping around outside. It's not so bad being stuck as a bird. At least he can fly!]

[He's been swinging around back and forth across the square, trying to get the hang of his wings when he spots a boy that may look the teeniest bit familiar. Curious, Ginji will swoop down and land roughly on the ground a few feet away, recovering with a hop-hop-hop and a flick of his tail. Okay, so he's had better landings...]

[The kid seems pretty upset, and he doubts the whole talking bird thing is going to help much, so instead he tilts his head and gives a short wheedling cry. You look down. What happened?]

[action]

[minifontaku]

[Dear Lorelei, that bird is terribly uncoordinated.

Saphir stares at it after it plops down near him, and he jumps back a bit, startled by the sudden, well...thump. What just happened? Was it hurt? Ah, it didn't look it, what with its hopping and tweeting and stuff, but wow. Saphir's never seen a bird so unafraid of humans before, and definitely not one that looked like this one - so vibrantly colored.

Carefully, he holds out one hand, leaning a bit closer like any curious child would.]

H-Hello... Did you fall from somewhere? [He gives the area a quick sweep with his eyes, not seeing much in the ways of nesting areas.] If you're hurt, I can have the Professor fix it. Just...j-just don't bite me...

[action]

[albioreiii]

[Dear Lorelei, that poor kid must be afraid of his own shadow.]

[Which seals the deal for Ginji. He's going to try to keep his mouth--beak shut and not scare him further. The kid must be disoriented from everything that's been going on recently; it can get kind of scary when the Malnosso are involved, after all.]

[Ginji's not sure whether to answer or not. Birds typically don't do things like that as far as he knows, but a question's still a question. He does his best to shake his head "no", but it's more of a sideways swaying of his whole body. He still hasn't figured himself out yet beyond wings and beak and tail. Ginji hops a little closer, stopping short of Saphir's hand, and tilts his head at him. No biting.]

[action]

[minifontaku]

[Well, it's not biting him, and the little thing seems really friendly, and kind of tame as well. Saphir smiles at the little birdy and pets its head with a few fingers. Unfortunately, he didn't really process the little body bobbing as more than what it looked like so he just assumes the tiny winged creature is just an ordinary bird. Someone's pet, maybe? Perhaps it got loose...]

You're really nice. [And very pretty, though he won't admit out loud. He will, however, admit this--] You look like a Malkuth soldier, too, but you're a whole lot nicer than they are. Do you belong to someone? If I find the Professor, I can try finding your owner, too. Or bring you back to your nest...

[nephaery]

[Oh, dear. She can see him from the fountain, and hear him asking for Professor Nebilim.

Oh. Dear.

It'll be a bit slow going, but a green-tinted fairy makes her way over to Saphir to float in the air in front of him.]

Hello?

[minifontaku]

[What. The. Hell.

Saphir backs away from the very peculiar floating light, thinking it some kind of bizarre imp or monster or something that'll do him harm. He was pretty sure the last time he was in this crazy place, it had a whole lot of dangers. Plus, with the other things he's been seeing just by looking around from this one spot, Saphir's a little distrusting.

Thankfully, the whatever-it-is speaks, and it doesn't sound frightening at all. In fact, he thinks he recognizes the small creature as something from one of the children's books he read once.]

You're...a-a fairy!

[nephaery]

Yes, I am for now. Don't worry, I can't hurt you.

[minifontaku]

I know! Fairies are supposed to be good creatures, and they can use healing artes. I--i-it said so in my books! [He holds out his hands very slowly, and still a bit hesitantly, for the little fairy to land on if she chooses.]

I didn't know they could talk...

[voice]

[kindhearted]

[He doesn't recognize the boy, but oh does it break Roji's heart to hear him calling out for the professor. He doesn't know if he can even break the news to him...]

Um, do you need help? I'm not Professor Nebilim obviously, but I'm nearby.

[voice]

[minifontaku]

[Oh, this is...perplexing. Saphir's more than aware of the "don't go with strangers" rule, but it's taking the Professor a really long time to respond. He looks really uncertain, but...he can always call for help with the book, right? Yeah. But first--]

I-I'm fine! I'm not hurt, just... I just can't find my way. ...Who are you?

[voice]

[kindhearted]

[Roji tries to keep a positive expression, considering the subject.]

I'm Roji. I'm ah...I am [was] a student of Professor Nebilim's at the school.

1/2

[depressedude]

[...]

[There is a tiny Dist in the plaza. He sounds upset and Noct is the only one in the immediate vicinity.]

[WHAT WILL HE DO...
>Assist
>Hug
>Mock
>Flee

...]

[depressedude]

[..................>A-Assist.]

[But only until he gets him somewhere with someone else who can look after him!! Since, it's not like he really cares or anything, but it would be a pain if something happened to him, right? O-Or something...]

Hey, kid.

[...doesn't mean he has to be nice about it though.]

[minifontaku]

[Saphir practically jumps when he's suddenly addressed, and turns quickly, expecting something far stranger than just some other boy. He's pleasantly relieved, but only for a moment before his suspicions and nerves flare up again. Wh-Who is this guy? It's not the Professor, or any of Dist's friends...or that lady that helped him when he was here before, so.]

Ye--uh, what?

[H-He can be brave and huffy, too! Sob.]

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[So many kids running around Luceti these days! It's like this place is a playground or something.

Anyway, Pao-Lin will probably spot Saphir looking like he's on the verge of tears, and so she'll walk over to check on him with a gentle voice and soft smile.]

Hey, there, are you okay?

[He's plainly not, but whatever.]

[action]

[minifontaku]

[Or the Malnosso are just their usual, experiment happy, jerky selves. Y'know, the usual.

Though Saphir still jumps a little bit at the voice, it's considerably less than he might have if it were an adult. Pao-Lin's tone helps matters as well, and her smile is also comforting and reassuring. She looks a little older than him, by maybe five, seven years? He can, m-maybe, trust her. The Professor was taking a long time to respond. Maybe she was working? He did remember there being a school here, somewhere...]

I-I'm not hurt... I just--I'm looking for the Professor, um. Gelda Nebilim. If there's a school nearby here, she would be there! She's my teacher!

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[Gelda Nebilim...she's heard the name a few times, but she doesn't think she's ever met the woman. But Pao-Lin knows where the school is.]

I can take you to the school to look for her, then, if you want.

[seleniahymn]

[Tear was just returning from having to do some errands, and for all intents and purposes she would rather return home as soon as possible and not have to come out for the rest of the day after yesterday's embarrasing Shift. But when she happens to spot a rather familiar-looking child, she has little choice but to stop and gaze at him worriedly.

She couldn't in good conscience leave him here on his own when he's so clearly distressed.] Are you all right?

[It was a pointless question with an obvious answer, but it was better to ask anyway.]

[minifontaku]

[Saphir turns with a bit of a muffled squeak - he's never going to get used to people just suddenly calling out to him - and shakes his head meekly. This isn't the Professor either...where could she be? It's been so long since he contacted her before, should he try again later? Ah, but for now, there's this lady to contend with.]

I-I'm not hurt, I just--...I'm looking for the Professor. P-Professor Nebilim. I tried talking to her, but she didn't talk back yet. [Maybe he did the filter thing wrong. This technology was pretty funny.] She's my teacher.

[seleniahymn]

Professor Nebilim? [Of course he would seek her out right away, but to explain that the professor was no longer here was likely not something she should be tasked with. She had respected her and been taught by her to a degree, but by no means had she been close with her.]

How exactly did you try to talk to her? [Was it through the journal, or had he already tried to seek her out in person?]

[Action]

[failguardian]

[Huh, who's this kid? He looks kind of familiar.]

[And he also looks very lost, and very upset.]

[Aaaaand he's also talking about Professor Nebilim. Was he one of the students in the school...? But how come he didn't know the Professor is gone?]

[Taking pity on him, Anise heads on over.]

Hey, what're you doing here all alone?

[Action]

[minifontaku]

[Turning a bit quickly, and a little fearfully (seriously, all you people suddenly showing up), Saphir calms down a little. Just a kid, a girl. She looked a little older than him, and she wasn't all that scary so...]

I-I'm lost... [He looks away, embarrassed by the admittance.] I'm looking for the Professor, but she hasn't spoken to me, yet. It's been a long time since I used the book... I-Is there a school here? She may be teaching right now! She was my teacher back in Keterburg, so I bet she's a teacher here, too!

[Because the Professor is the best teacher ever. B|!]

[Action]

[failguardian]

[Wow RUDE she's not 'just a kid'!!!]

Yeah...but Professor Nebilim's not here any more.

[wise_maiden]

[During any stretch of days, this young child might catch a glimpse of a woman with white hair going about the village.

Although the best time to try approaching her would be on the 1st day of the new month, when he might stumble upon her just taking some time to tend to some of the plants outside of the schoolhouse that had been neglected during the week.]

Day 3

[minifontaku]

[Unfortunately, fate has never been kind to this poor boy, and the woman he's staring at - who he almost thought was his dear Professor Nebilim - seems rather...peculiar. He can't exactly place how or why, other than she bears a striking resemblance to his white-haired teacher, but something just feels a little out of sorts.

Maybe that's why he's keeping his distance and staring from afar. Sadly, Saphir's not exactly being subtle about it, either.]