first_darkness | 12 Black Feathers [Action]

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12 Black Feathers [Action]

[ It's early in the morning when it happens.

A small area of black appears near the fountain, just floating in the air. As the minutes pass, it slowly grows until it's about ten feet in diameter, even partially consuming the fountain. About ten minutes after it first appears, Saten fades into view in the very middle, appearing almost as if she's asleep. She floats there for about three seconds before abruptly dropping to the ground.

At that, she seems to wake up. She lifts her head after a moment and slowly looks around. It takes several more seconds before she slowly pulls herself to her feet.

She spends a while looking about her, but before too long the fountain catches her attention. Or in particular, the water in the fountain. When you've never seen anything before, fluid dynamics are absolutely fascinating. So despite the fact that everything non-living within a five foot radius of her turns pitch black, she spends the next several hours running her hand through and splashing at the water. After all, she can see it just fine.

She can be found in the vicinity of the fountain for pretty much the rest of the day and well into the night. Saten is more than content with just staying where she is and observing everything around her for a while. She may not be dressed like a New Feather, but she does seem to be acting a lot like one. ]

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[ At the words, Saten looks up. She's quiet for several seconds as she studies Saori. The expression on her face is blank, but there's distinct hints of curiosity and wonder to it.

She takes her hand from the water and rests it on the side of the fountain, giving Saori her full attention, and she smiles. ]

You're like me. I'd thought I might be alone.

[ There's something different about the words versus her normal speech, in that way that different languages never sound quite the same, even through the automatic translation. ]

[Well that's not a reaction Saori expected. But...she smiles right back. Clearly it's a kidnapping effect of some sort, but if Saten's being friendlier than usual there's no reason she can't be friendly right back. She did like the other, after all.]

Yes, we are similar in a lot of ways. [She waves a hand at the water] Are you thirsty? Or do you just like water?

Thirsty. Thirsty is... [ It's a word. She knows that it's a word. But the concept it's tied to is vague, still. It's a want. She knows that much, for sure. But it's a want she doesn't understand yet, and after a pause, she shakes her head. ]

No. I'm not thirsty. It's just really interesting. It moves so much when I touch it.

[Well that's odd. Seems like they've made Saten simple, and that means that Saori should probably make sure she's alright. Smiling a motherly smile, she steps over and takes a seat on the edge of the fountain, running a hand through the water.]

It does. Water can do so many things.

[She raises a hand, and a little cloud pools up out of the water, floating over the basin and then beginning to rain a bit, sending out ripples.]

Water is the thing that gives mortals life. It's what makes plants grow and it's one of the most wonderful things we've ever created.

[We, of course, meaning beings like the two of them.]

[ Saten watches the ripples, fascinated. ]

What are plants?

Green, growing things.

[They really did do a number on you, didn't they Saten?]

[ Yup! :Db Those thousands of years of memories are going to be fun to get back all at once. ]

Like those?

[ She lifts her head and points towards where there are some trees peeking out between buildings. Those are "green" right? ]

[A pain she knows quite well. Thanks Malnosso...]

Yes! Exactly. They need water to grow, and the sun to get stronger.

Oh. I see.

What's the sun?

[Blinking once, Saori just points up to the glowing orb in the sky]

That.

[ Saten looks up, staring right at what Saori's pointing to. It takes several seconds before she recalls the word, but she knows she has a word for it. ]

... That's a star.

[ She turns back to Saori and nods self-assuredly.

"Sun" will have to wait at least a thousand years to have any meaning to her. ]

It is a star, yes. The Sun is the name for a particular star.

[She's very patient, Saten. Really.]

Why does it get a name?

All stars have names, mortals give them names. The sun is just the name of that one because it's closer to us than any other. [May as well go for the simple explanation instead of bringing up her aunt]

[ Probably for the best! ]

Oh. I guess that makes sense.

[ A pause. ]

Who are you?

Saori Kimura, the Daughter of Wind and Rain.

When...your head is clear, you and I are friends after a fashion.

What does that mean exactly?

[ The "head is clear" bit. 8| ]

I presume this is an experiment. The Malnosso interfering with your memory. [Not an unpleasant one, at least]

[ Blink blink. ]

Who? What memory?

Oh, it's very complicated. But you are not...as I know you.

Really? How do you know me?

[ After all she wasn't even born yesterday ]

[Sighing softly, she launches into the explanation]

This place is called Luceti. You were brought here from your world and trapped here by an organization known as the Malnosso. Occasionally, they kidnap us from this prison and perform experiments, including changing our bodies and memory wiping us. I know you from this place, and you appear to have had your memory altered to not remember much. Including myself.

My world? But... I don't think I have a world. Do I?

[ This is all so very confusing I mean really

Saten landed herself smack in the middle of "crash course on reality" and nothing is making much sense anymore. ]

You do. It's more meddling with your mind. I...suggest you and I not talk too much more on the subject, it's rather complex and far less amazing than the world around us.

[She holds up her hand and a tiny little cloud appears, complete with miniature lightning]

[ Saten watches for a moment, then holds up her own hand.

It takes a couple seconds, but a cloud soon appears in hers as well, and she stares at it expectantly. ]

... How do you make it flash like that?