001

[thedivinevoice]

[action, against the walls of Union]
[Today, anyone venturing outside the walls of Union may come across an interesting sight - a woman with long, green-tinted hair slumped up against the walls.

Surely she's hurt! Injured! Exhausted or starving, having barely made it back to civilization only to collapse right against its front gates. Perhaps if care is swiftly brought, she may still be able to rec -- ]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

[A light snoring can be heard.]

[public video, much later on]
Well met, everyone.

[The woman appearing on the Warp Band has a mild, pleasant smile as she dips her head slightly. There is a brief flicker of the eyes to her wrist as if she's not entirely sure what she's doing.]

I have been told it would be to my advantage to introduce myself through this device. ...My name is Tiki. It's a pleasure to find myself in such a lively place, though... I see this city, too, has seen better days. Tragedy has been recently averted, I hear.

If there is aught I might be of aid with, I should be glad to lend my help. I am what you would call a Shifter.

[She dips her head again, and it might be noticed now that her hair is a bit too green and her ears too sharply pointed to be normal.]

Comments

[Action]

[second_destiny]

[Asemu notices Tiki very quickly. He reacts just as quickly.]

Hey!

[Asemu runs closer. He notices that Tiki is sleeping, but that does little to reduce his sense of urgency. Sleeping outside of Union, even against the city wall, was extremely dangerous.]

Hey, wake up!

[Once within range, Asemu reaches out to put his hand on Tiki's shoulder and gently shake her.]

Come on, this is no place to sleep! You need to get up before you end up in danger!

[thedivinevoice]

............?

[Her eyes slowly blink awake as she registers that there is someone calling out to her. For a few moments, she stares blankly before her eyelids begin to droop again.]

...Would you... come back in five years.......

[second_destiny]

...Five years?

[That gets Asemu to pause. Who in the world would ask for five years? Then again, she's groggy, so...]

No. Now. We need to get you away from here, because this is a bad place to sleep.

[thedivinevoice]

Is that so...?

[Tiki's head droops down so her chin rests on her chest for a moment. ...Then her eyes blink open wide.]

Perhaps you can show me somewhere better to seek respite, then.

[She speaks clearly, as if she weren't half-asleep five seconds ago.]

[second_destiny]

Ah.

[The suddenness of it all catches Asemu off-guard. There's a pause before he replies.]

Yes. Please, follow me. I'll lead you back into Union.

[thedivinevoice]

...Thank you.

[She stands in one fluid motion, pauses to lightly pat some dust off, and smiles at Asemu.]

Then I shall trust you to lead the way.

Okay let's do this in order then (sorry about that)

[rydiaofmist]

[A Pidgey flies overhead, landing on the arm of a rather tall woman. She seems strange somehow, green hair wild, almost like it had a life of its own, and is dressed strangely; a Goomy stands at her side.

At first, she simply looks past Asemu to look at Tiki.]

Lady Tiki, what's going on here?

[She then drew her attention to Asemu, frowning deeply.]

Who are you?

[public]

[ice_cream_ai]

Ah! Another Shifter!

Welcome to Union! It's a pretty nice place!

[thedivinevoice]

Ah -- I am glad to hear it.

I am pleased to see there are more of our number here as well. Have you been treated kindly in this place?

[ice_cream_ai]

Yup! I've been given a job and a place to stay.

[Granted the half of his job was kind of sprung on him, but it sounded fun!]

I'm Kaito, nice to meet you Tiki.

[thedivinevoice]

The pleasure is mine, Kaito.

I suppose I ought to make haste in searching for such as well... But dear me. It's been so long; I have very little knowledge of what a human might consider 'work'.

What is it you've been given?

Video

[heartstorage]

[Welp color him surprised to hear this woman talking.]

Wait, are you saying...you're new to the city?

[thedivinevoice]

I am a dragon by birth. It would be more unusual if I claimed to be born within these walls, would it not?

[heartstorage]

A dragon?! [whoa]

[thedivinevoice]

Hm... I have not seen any of my kind here. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with my people - we live on high mountaintops and cliffs. Far to the north of this city, I would say.

Why don't I leave it a surprise?

[heartstorage]

On high mountaintops and cliffs...? Sounds cold.

[And definitely not anywhere near home. He simmers down]

But, uh a surprise? Okay....what brings you to Union?

[thedivinevoice]

Oh, sightseeing.

[Tiki's response comes promptly, and she gives a small smile.]

I'm participating in our annual scavenger hunt, you see. The one to retrieve the most interesting souvenirs from every corner of the continent will receive a fantastic prize.

[heartstorage]

Annual scavenger-

Wait! You've been all over the continent?!

[video]

[reborn_love]

[Elly's going to reply, really. But she's just left staring down at her warp band, trying to process this funny, black and white image. It's so--it's so real. Technology has never done this before-- and more than that, when Tiki talks, when she moves, Elly can see it.]

[It's the first time she's ever seen this before. She gawks at Tiki silently for a long time. She tries to make sense of it; it might even be a little rude.]

[Then Elly's shaking her head quickly down at her warp band. She smiles, finally, and then she nods at Tiki.]

Oh, oh, yes--um, welcome to Union, ah... sorry, I'm having trouble getting over seeing a this as a moving image!

[thedivinevoice]

Ah! So such is new to you as well.

[Tiki seems relieved.]

I had wondered how much awe would be appropriate to demonstrate. Very well, then. I am not such a simpleton as I had feared.

It is indeed a marvel, is it not? These devices... So many tragedies might have been averted with such technology...

[reborn_love]

It is. Don't worry, ah... we won't think you're a simpleton. We've never...

[No, Elly thinks, they've encountered other humans. Not directly, to be sure; there are humans out there that they just haven't met yet. But this is the first time she's spoken to one. The conversation with Sora comes to mind.]

[That makes her smile.]

You're the first person outside of Union that I've spoken to, to be honest.

[thedivinevoice]

Ah, I understand.

You are one of the first people inside of Union that I've spoken to. We shall serve as novelties to one another, then.

There are many things here unfamiliar to me...

[reborn_love]

I can only imagine... where do you come from? Ah, what was it like, out there?

[Elly pauses, then adds:]

Union is a nice place. You should see the towers and the shops. It can be a little intimidating sometimes, because it gets crowded, but there is a lot to see.

[thedivinevoice]

A lot to see...? Ah! - you think me a tourist?

[Tiki laughs pleasantly, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes.]

I suppose I may as well partake of what Union has to offer while I remain here. It would be a shame to depart without any more knowledge of the civilization that has formed.

I was born atop high mountains, far to the north of this place.

[reborn_love]

Ahaha... eheh, sorry, I guess you would be the first tourist.

[Elly shakes her head, but then she considers that. She nods, then.]

I've seen mountains, though they're to the east of here. You should see what you can of the city, though. It is a nice place! But I might be a little biased, here.

[A pause, while Elly remembers herself.]

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Elhaym van Houten, a Ranger of Union. [That feels weird to clarify.]