hugtopia_logs | (no subject)

♥ Who: Magolor and eeeeveryone (who wants in)
♥ Where: Chillin' outside the housing complexes
♥ When: One fine day in the beginning of August/Achtom
♥ What: Everyone loves a good survey, and even if you don't, you're all getting one anyway.
♥ Rating: G, no warnings here
♥ Note: I'm happy to match your preferred format, so proceed as you wish!

[Could Magolor have done this over the network? Of course. Maybe people would have appreciated that more. But that's not how he chooses to go about this: over the network, he'll be easier to ignore, and that's no good. And over the network, he can't give anyone any earnest handshakes or touches on the shoulder to contribute to his bank account, I mean, the wellbeing of this planet! Praise Diacht!

So instead of ringing up the populace to ask for their input, he's doing this old-school.

Upon leaving their houses today, anytime between midmorning and late afternoon, any character is subject to being hunted down and approached by a perky little hovering alien with a clipboard and pen in his hands. He's pretty fast in waving people down, and pretty relentless:]

Helloooooo~! Won't you spare me just a moment? I promise not to keep you! You'll be glad you did. This is for the good of our community, and I can't do it without your help!

[He at least sounds and looks very earnest about this, like a bright-eyed canvasser on their first day on the streets.

Or maybe it's something else. Maybe you've seen him lurking out there for hours now and want to give him an earful, or like, a snack or something, which would be much appreciated. Maybe you have some bone to pick with him. The world is your oyster! He sure is making himself obnoxiously visible.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Plenty of wallflowers at that thing. With all this, though, I'm sure you'll all soften up eventually. And I don't mind helping out with that! It's all for the greater good ♥

[And as such, he's going to keep this handclasp going on until he's forced to stop, just standing there casually while they chat.]

If not this, what are you working on? How does balancing nature work for your people?

We sing. Our songs heal plants, animals and people alike.

That's some impressive magic. You know I have to ask to hear a verse or two! Just for fun?

[ hm. on principle, reyson dislikes performing for others. still, it was asked sincerely and reyson had no real reason to deny him.

he takes a deep breath before singing his galdr. the words don't mean anything to magolor, but he would feel it in his soul. like a richness coming to life. the air feels less stale, the colours seem brighter. even the greenery seems to shiver in delight. ]

[Ah . . .

However he acts, which is often and exaggerated, it's rare for Magolor to truly be emotionally affected by anything. The world can only penetrate so deep in him before it hits the carefully constructed wall around his core. But there is no resisting this feeling. After a few moments the smile begins to slide off his face, and his ears twitch, trying to decide without asking his brain whether to perk up to better hear or lower in deference. A part of him hates it burningly, in the same way he hates everything that loosens his grasp on his self-control—but even that is drowned out by the peace that seems to blanket both him and the world around him. For just these few minutes he could be back on Pop Star sleeping in the grass under the sun on his lunch break, stuffed with good real food that didn't come from a machine and doesn't taste like a meal run back and forth through Google Translate.

It takes him a couple of beats to realize the song has ended when it does. This is where he'd normally applaud. Bravo! But instead, he needs to rejoin reality.]

. . . I see . . .

[ reyson doesn't mind the reaction or lack of it. everyone reacts to the galdr differently. sometimes pain bleeds through. sometimes they feel refreshed. in every way, it touches the soul. ]

Are you all right?

Who, me?

[Who else? But they're just words he says to buy time while he pulls himself together. And he does, quickly enough—his expression lifts again into a smile and he begins to clap. Like usual. Phew.]

Bravo! That was so touching I was at a loss for words . . . ! And that's me, so that's saying a lot!

Thank you.

[ though he says that in a flat tone. reyson doesn't see innate ability as something to be praised or proud of. he was born with it, why should he be commended for it?

still. he wonders. ]

You can say if you disliked it. The galdr touches everyone differently.

[He waves one hand as if dispelling any doubt, or maybe the rest of his lingering mixed feelings.]

I don't disbelieve you, but it's hard to imagine what anyone could dislike about it!

It is true that it rarely happens.

[ dislike is probably not the right word either. ]

We sing variations of that song and they all perform different services.

Well whatever that one was supposed to accomplish, I could feel it working its magic! . . . Say, would you mind helping me test something sometime? Could be now, could be later when you're free! I'm curious to try something out!

[When an idea occurs to him, it's easy enough to refocus himself on more comfortable things, and what could be more comfortable than potential personal benefit? By now he's fully back to his usual cheer.]

I am listening though I make no promises.

[ he's careful with his word. and also strangers. the last time he went alone with an old friend, he got sold to a pervert. ]

[He reaches into his cloak and pulls out a fruit—an apple, and that size and shape, but it glows and sparkles like a faceted jewel. He holds this out, not offering it to be taken, but giving Reyson a better look at it.]

I've got a tree of my very own in the botanical gardens, thanks to our hosts kindly offering me a little plot of their land to keep it. It's growing up beautifully! But I'd love to see the effect your singing would have on it. I'm really attached to it, so anything to make it healthier and happier would be doing me a huge favor.

[ hmm. reyson nods. ]

I would be happy to.

Reallyyyy? Thank you so much!

[He twirls in the air, joyous, before reaching to take Reyson's hands again in a grateful squeeze.]

It's been looking all right, but I can't help but be worried about how it'll hold up on a brand new planet! Especially one this mechanized. Gem apples aren't used to this kind of environment . . . but the gardens are kept pretty well, so here's hoping it works out. With your help!

[ reyson starts at being touched suddenly, flushing a little. ]

Think nothing of it. It's only a little of what I can do and I'm happy to share what I can.

Don't sell yourself short! It's really kind of you. Here I thought you were the stuffy type!

[He shakes Reyson's hand, then lets go again, politely.]

I would not say so. I only believe that I should help if it is within my power to do.

[ he rather do something instead of nothing. also, he's bad at compliments. ]

You're not with Ainea by any chance, are you? Just curious.

[He's met an awful lot of people who expressed the same sentiment to him, and they all tend to lean in that direction, which is interesting.]

[ reyson shakes his head, golden hair spilling over his shoulders. ]

Diacht. It makes more sense for my patron to be a bird.

. . . Is that why you picked it, or was that just a funny coincidence?

[Because this immediately brings back what Taranza had told Magolor in Diacht's temple last month, upon seeing the feathers he keeps carefully hidden under his robes: So you're suited to this place too. He'd treated it as a joke at the time. Of course it was just a dumb coincidence. Wasn't it? It's weird to think about any kind of deeper affinity being involved.]

I'm with Diacht myself, so nice to get to meet you, god-buddy!

No, I chose it. It made sense to me.

[ diacht's characteristics lined up with his own after all. ]

And likewise.