bravenewworld | Not a creature was stirring, not even a Pikachu....

All across Union, its citizens prepared to ring in the Salvation holiday with cheer. Dedicated to their beloved Savior, many of the houses were decorated with garlands, ornaments and other fineries in preparation for this truly special holiday, and while it had been uncharacteristically cold the last few days, not a single flake of snow had fallen. Children eager to start the festivities the following day did their best to stay up in the hopes of possibly catching a glimpse of one of the Delibirds they saw the previous night. However, try as they might, the late night would get the better of them, and soon the city was asleep, nestled warm in their beds, dreaming of parties and presents, candies and cakes.

As they slept, the first snow began to fall, snowflakes silently dancing through the night sky, dusting rooftops and covering sidewalks in pearly white. It would seem that a Salvation miracle was at work in Union that night. The streets were empty, save for a young woman and Pokémon, scarcely visible even in the lamplights. Her steps made no sound, even in the accumulating snow, and she left no footprints, the strange Pokémon by her side taking the time to peer into every window.

Should anyone wake during this peaceful snowfall, they might find the young woman and her companion in their room, transparent as a fog, a placid smile on her face. She did not speak, but simply smiled warmly, almost maternally, before disappearing from view.

When dawn finally broke, the people of Union would find a simple gift within their home, rested alongside a familiar note. The snow from last night coated buildings, streets, and sidewalks, blanketing the city in white and shimmering in the gentle, early morning light.

((OoC: This is a Salvation Mingle Log for all characters. There are decorations and the like in various squares for celebration around Union, so feel free to tag around!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But my gift was very nice.

[....he's taking that phrase with a grain of salt, because he knew Eluvian's nature and knew that his circumstances with Merrill were far from kind.]

What did you get?

When we were writing down our wishes, I asked to see any piece of Arlathan that still exists. And I got these.

[She shows him some photographs she got, of locations they've been to before when exploring for the Seekers.]

So that's how it worked?

[He leaned in, as if to get a better look at the photographs that Merrill was showing him over the feed.]

Has this sort of thing happened before?

It's only my second Salvation here, so I couldn't say. I don't remember anything like it from last year, though.

...We'll need to ask Yuuna, then, but it sounds like something different happens every year?

Maybe. But she's excited too. We both saw the Savior in our apartment in the middle of the night.

Yeah, Yuuna was saying something about that...

[Although he trusted Yuuna, he still didn't understand why the Savior would even care about a nobody like him, and why a 500 year old ghost was going around giving gifts.]

We're going to go look together after the snow melts.

[It makes perfect sense to Merrill, based on everything she's heard about the Savior. That, and this is something she really wants to believe is real - and so she does.]

[Though a Magus, Waver was also an academic and a skeptic-- he wanted details, he wanted data. And, when he couldn't get them, he wasn't comfortable with settling for a ghost story.

It felt like a cop out

But....he did trust Yuuna to not lie about these sort of things.]

That sounds like it'll be a fun trip for the spring.

[Well, that's exactly what the trip in the spring is meant to accomplish! Plus, how could he possibly throw a wet blanket on Merrill's current bubbly mood? It would be like kicking a puppy.]

Would you like to come too? You are my historian, after all.

[The glint in his eyes visibly brightened at those words-- and for a moment he seemed shy.]

That's right, but are you sure it's okay? I don't want to interrupt anything with you and Yuuna...

Of course. What would you be interrupting?

[It's not like they're going to make out on top of the ruins of her peoples' ancient home or anything.]

I-- uh--

[Face burning, Waver took a deep breath, and--]

I just don't want to get in anyone's way, that's all.

You won't be in the way. There's plenty of room for everyone.

Well, if you're sure, I--

I'd really like that.

You're certainly welcome to come along too, then. I was thinking of inviting Raine Sage to come along as well. Do you know her? We got to talking a few weeks ago, and she seemed very interested in learning more about Dalish history and culture.

She would be-- she's another academic from Sanctuary who loves this sort of thing. Somehow, I'm not surprised that the two of you ran into eachother.

Oh, good! You already know each other. That makes things much easier. You don't mind, do you?

[Waver shook his head.]

Not at all. We were actually talking about exploring in tandem, and finding a group to go with. A pair of academics from Sanctuary doesn't make for an ideal travelling party, but things will will out nicely if it's you and Yuuna coming too.

How convenient! It sounds like we have a good group for the trip, then.

We do! And, uhm, I'm looking forward to it, too.

I'll let you know when we start planning. It won't be for a little while yet.

Thanks. That'll be great-- it'll give us some time to wait out the weather, and get Raine set up for an expedition. She's done some travelling, but not much.

It's all so exciting. I want to go now, but Yuuna said it would be best to wait for the snow to melt. But as soon as we're ready, we'll let you know.

I'd better get started planning myself too, and let the Seekers know. Happy Salvation, Waver.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a Pikachu....

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