Bewildered but alive

[fonmaster]

Who: Ion and all the people!
Location: The plaza
Time: January 2nd, morning
Style: Anything works
Status: Wide open!



...friend...

[Ion tries too hard to draw in breath and gasps, sputtering. Oh, good, he'd managed to finish his sentence after all. Wait.]

H-hello?

[Utterly confused, he pats himself. How could he be wet? They were just in a volcano!]

Anise? Luke? Tear?

[He looks around. The city is beautiful, almost unnatural. It's possible that this could be the afterlife, isn't it? But he's all wet, and so cold! That doesn't seem right at all.]

Is anyone here...?

Comments

[fonmaster]

It's good to meet you too, Blue.

[He wrings his robes out somewhat.]

Do you know anything about this place other than its name? If it's not too much trouble...

[faithfulblue]

Wish it were under better circumstances.

[She stays out of arms length from Ion. If he touched her the illusion she created could be destroyed.]

It's a place under water. People and animals get sucked into this world without much reasoning. I'm fairly new myself.

[fonmaster]

I see... is there anything in particular expected of us while we're here?

[That'll be kind of difficult for her. Ion is edging closer. Not only is he cold, but she seems like a nice lady and she wouldn't mind if he huddled up next to her a little, right? Right?]

[faithfulblue]

Not that I'm aware of. I think we're supposed to touch that plant thing one a month - so I heard.

[She nods to the large coral behind her.]

Guess the locals worship it or something. We all have marks on our bodies somewhere and little starfish shaped communicators.

[She has been listening to chatter on the network and from other new residents. It is surprising what one can hear when no one is bothering to notice a 'dog' wandering around. As for the communicator - it hangs from her neck in her wolf-dog form but she can make it look like she is pulling it from the pocket of her coat to show him.

As for him getting closer - Blue has a soft-spot for humans, especially young human pups like Ion appears to be. If he edges forward much more or touches her he will feel thick fur instead of skin.]

[fonmaster]

[He sidles up to her with the speed of a cat seeking that elusive sunny spot. Ah, there, that's better. Now she's a nice windbreaker.

Wait. Is that fur?

Ion stares up at the woman, startled but not particularly afraid or repulsed. If anything, he seems curious.]

[faithfulblue]

[Blue nearly jumps out of skin at the sudden contact and the illusion is broken for the moment. Instead of a woman standing beside Ion there is now a very big, black dog with blue eyes. Instinctively, Blue hops away from the other, teeth bared, waiting for the attack that she is sure is coming. Only wolves are capable of this magic where she is from - as far as she is concerned she has blown her cover.]

[fonmaster]

[He's obviously afraid. Who wouldn't be with those teeth flashing at them? He tries desperately to remember what Arietta said about monsters. They only attack when they feel like they have no choice. Taking a deep breath, he tries to look as small and submissive as possible.]

[faithfulblue]

[When Ion doesn't attack her Blue relaxes a little. She would certainly object to being thought of as a monster considering she just thinks this is the way she has to live.]

You're not going to attack me?

[Ion has to feel a little odd with a dog apparently talking to him but Blue's body language is no longer aggressive - just wary.]

[fonmaster]

[She can talk! Is it some sort of illusion?]

Attack you?! N-no, I thought you were going to attack me though... why would I attack you? You've been helping me.

[faithfulblue]

[She concentrates for a moment and returns to her human appearance.]

I'm part wolf, that's why. Where I come from wolves are feared and hunted.

[fonmaster]

[Ion looks curious now. He's never been one to judge someone for not being humanoid if his treatment of cheagles is any indication. He's well aware of the behavior of his fellow humans, though.]

I see. Humans can be very afraid of people that are different from them, can't they?

[The thought makes him a little sad.]

[faithfulblue]

The thing is... I'm not human. I've never been human. I've always been a dog only... I recently found out I'm part wolf, too. This -

[She pointed to her face and body]

is an illusion. It serves as my protection from humans. Only wolves have this ability where I am from.

[fonmaster]

[He smiles at her.]

I didn't say that you were human, only that you are a person. That's a very interesting ability, though! Only your eyes stay the same... is that why you are called Blue?

[faithfulblue]

I generally think of people as being humans so...

[She shrugs.]

It's the only way any wolves have survived. Most people where I'm from think the last of the wolves were killed 200 years ago.

[She ponders his question for a moment. The truth is she has never really thought about the origin of her name.]

My human - my boy - he named me 'Blue' because of my eyes, I think. He never knew I was able to appear as human.

[fonmaster]

Your boy? Hehe.

[That makes Ion smile for some reason.]

That's really interesting, though. I had no idea that wolves could use any illusory artes!

[faithfulblue]

[Blue favors him with a sad smile. She still misses Russe even after all these years. Her human - her boy.]

Most people don't. It's not something we tend to throw around. That's why I got upset when you broke the illusion.

[If felt odd to say 'we' considering most wolves would not consider her a true wolf - her blood was dirtied by humans and dogs. But the fact remains that she can use 'wolf magic' so somewhere back in her heritage there was a wolf.]