- 95th tide | | embodiment -

[soulofocean]

[Audio]

[There's a gurgle and a loud splash, then the unmistakable sound of water churning rapidly. Maybe some dripping in between. Umi's startled voice comes from seemingly underwater, loud but still far away.]

---on't know what's happening... This-! ...Everyone: stay away from the terrace, you hear me?? DON'T COME into the apartment if you ---

Comments

at the beach || open action;

[lordofwaves]

[For the sake of keeping the apartment in one piece and also because something inside her simply craved the proximity of the ocean, Umi decided the beach was a safe bet for spending the rest of this last curse.

She still isn't used to experiencing the world through Celes' magical senses, but the waves soothe her remarkably. She's sitting on the shore, letting the tide rush against her large dragon body and enjoying how she can feel each of them grow, rise, then guess the exact moment when they'll break.

Perhaps this isn't too bad. She shakes her head and whistles loudly, a musical sound like nothing she's ever heard before.

It actually feels a bit like herself.]

action

[lordofwaves]

He's really friendly! Used to be a bouncy obnoxious thing back when he wouldn't talk to us. But he's come a long way from that.

[Umi has to laugh along, feeling suddenly a little awkward in regards of her god. Mokona's sure the sight to see.]

...Actually, you could meet him if you like. To talk about... god things! He's stuck here too.

action

[notrlyjesus]

[Grins, and grins, then looks a little stunned.]

What's a god doing here? He can't just leave? And, I'd like to talk to him!

action

[lordofwaves]

...He has the power to travel worlds. But it doesn't work in this City.

[Umi deflates a bit, even her bright blue scales looking crestfallen.]

Because of that stupid barrier! Not even beings as powerful as Mokona ---uhm, that's his name, can actually get out on their own.

action

[notrlyjesus]

[Sits up straight at that.]

Not even a god....

We tried that once! I remember. A whole group of us. We tried to attack the barrier.

But we failed.

action

[lordofwaves]

[She stands at attention at once at hearing about this. Hikaru told her about this attempt to break the barrier once, Umi remembers. But it was so long ago! Does that mean...?]

Setsuna...

How long have you been stuck here?

action

[notrlyjesus]

[Closes his eyes in mild frustration.]

Not long, this time. Apparently I've been gone for a year. I know I've come and gone about three or four times. But I can't seem to remember how long I was here before I left last time.

action

[lordofwaves]

...One of those returning cases, huh? Well. I can tell you you've been coming and going here since long ago.

[She sighs -- a little haze comes out of her snout, cold as her breath is -- and lowers her head in thought.]

My best friend's been here for around three years now, almost. She told me about that tryst with the barrier. And how it brought... consequences.

action

[notrlyjesus]

You think this place would let me stay home a bit more, but no. For me, I wasn't even gone a year, but only three to four months. At least, that's what it was in my world. It's always like that, every time I come back, too.

[He's quiet for a bit.]

I knew some people that had been here for two years or longer, but they seem to have left, now. Supposedly there were people who had been here longer, but I didn't know them. Three years is a long time to be stuck in this place. How is she holding up?

action

[lordofwaves]

I think this place will mess with you if it can. It's what it's best at, after all! And time-twists? Those are its favorite way of CONFUSING us...

[Umi shakes her head and lets out an exasperated sigh. Then smiles as sympathetic a grin as a dragon with razor-sharp teeth can smile, down at Setsuna.]

Lots of people have left, including most of Hikaru's old friends. It's pretty sad... She misses them a lot, I just know it. Even if she always keeps that stuff to herself.

action

[notrlyjesus]

Yeah. I noticed. If it can't screw with you with curses, it'll find another way. Or worse curses.

[Gives Umi a soft smile in return. Until she mentions Hikaru, then he perks up and grins.]

Hikaru! If you mean the one with the red hair, she's my friend, too. At least, I hope there's only one Hikaru here, or I'll get really confused. She's the only one I know. I remember her from the first time I ended up here.

action

[lordofwaves]

Is she really? ---Hey, I thought she might be but wasn't sure! Far as I know there's a boy Hikaru, who's also a redhead. But if you're thinking about a short girl with a braid, that's her!

[Umi's mood improves considerably. She had no idea Hikaru really knew practically EVERYONE in The City back in the day! This makes her feel a bit more guilty for giving Setsuna a start, buy hey: that was an accident.]

...She's been here for the longest time. I hope she didn't end up cursed today or she might've wound up as a lion or something!

action

[notrlyjesus]

I haven't met this guy.... But spunky, happy, cares for her friends, short and braided red hair? That's the girl I know.

[Positively beams.]

Yeah. She has.... I should feel guilty to be so happy at finding her here again. It's not that I want her stuck in this place, but it was good to meet her again.

....

Lion?

action

[lordofwaves]

The very same! I had no clue you and Hikaru were buddies! Then again ---BOY, I lose count of how many friends she has! But what else is new.

Um! Well, her last name has a "lion" thing on it... [Umi laughs sheepishly.] She may have ended up as a lion with a fiery mane if things went the same way they did for me.

Re: action

[notrlyjesus]

She's friendly and cheerful. That's probably why she has so many. And when you've been here that long, you get to know people.

Eh.... Name.

[Perks up.]

The name curse! I remember that one. Then your name has something to do with a dragon? I'm kinda glad it skipped over me this time. If it hadn't, this would have been an odd and pointless conversation.

action

[lordofwaves]

THAT ONE. Last name for me this once: mine means "dragon blossom". [An angry hiss.] The last time wasn't pretty either. But now how am I supposed to fit in the apartment when I'm this size?? Not a clue.

[Umi tosses her head, sending a slight rain of salt water flying about from where a wave just splashed on her scaly flank. Her wings shiver a little.]

Looks like the only way around the whole thing is waiting here until everything goes back to normal...