fiddlesticks 25, video from standard coach: open to all

[blitzcheer]

Sooooo, not being able to talk to most of the train that day sucked, huh? I don't know what to think about any of that, but since we can talk to each other now, I was thinking: How about we share where we're from, and see who's from worlds like ours?

And who speaks the same languages too! An actual list be better if that ever happens again, but for now, tell us about the kind of place you're from, what makes home home to you! You got kings or dragons? Machines? Portals to other worlds? Talking sea life? You just trying to get through school?

I'll go first to give you guys an idea, but share whatever you feel like!


( ooc: this is open to all, meaning feel free to put up a post and chat with other characters! )

Comments

[blitzcheer]

Alright, so with that said and done, I'm Tidus! I'm from a world called Spira where tech got abandoned for a thousand years 'cause of some big ol' problem, blah blah blah, that part doesn't really matter.

[ He's waving it off, even! ]

It's a really beautiful world though, with the best sunsets. And man, do I miss the sun. It has tiny villages around by the seas, and we have animals called chocobos if you've heard of 'em! Not everyone's got one, but we use them to ride and get around, and boats. There's an airship flying out there somewhere too that got found, and who knows? Maybe there'll be more someday. We've got a people called the Al Bhed who're big on old tech, and I hear people are trying to dig up the past these days there!

[ Which is nice. He's glad for that. ]

Anyway! For what we have... there's magic, and you've got some fiends--or monsters, or whatever you call them--around, and there was a big religion around people used to follow, but I don't know about that now. If you heard me talk before here, you know about blitzball--the best sport around!

--ahaha, [ he laughs, rubbing the back of his head, ] okay, I don't want to keep going on forever, so I'll let the rest of you have a turn.

video;

[flatteries]

.. I'm pretty sure you brushed off the most important part of that entire explanation, man.

[ JUST SAYING. Most of the other stuff Tidus says makes sense to him to some extent, and some of the other stuff he already knew.. but that first part is exactly what makes his world sound unique in the first place! ]

[theturksway]

Okay first of all, chocobos are useless compared to that airship you mentioned so you might wanna get on board with the guys figuring that out.

And second, it's kind of a big deal if your world just decided to abandon the good shit for some reason. What the hell?

[You're weird and Reno is so glad Meteorfall didn't completely wipe out technology in his world. What kind of ass-backward would his world be if that had happened? This guy's kind.]

[longforgottenpromise]

Lightning told me about chocobos. [Obviously the animal part is the bit he focuses on straight away, even if Tidus' world sounds fascinating in so many ways.]

They aren't a creature I'd heard of before.

[lightsmith]

Uh...sure, I guess. Name's Scintilla, I come from a port city called Limsa Lominsa in the country of Eorzea. It's been a long while since I was there, I spend what little free time I have back home working in Ishgard to the north. The main city-states've all got their own governing bodies, and then there's the empire of Garlemald far to the northeast--that's where you'll find most magitek. Tough to find machinery outside of Garlean control, but there's a little bit if you know whereabouts to look and who to ask.

Plenty of talking sea life, too. Matter of fact there's beast tribes for just about every form of life; wings, gills, scales, lots of 'em real personable folks.

[sweetnessandfight]

But did you come from Limsa originally, or from the Black Shroud? Or somewhere else? I call Limsa my home, too. Still, I came from the Azim Steppes with my younger sister, and we passed through Ul'dah when we came west.

[Though Sarai grins at that.]

[dredefulchilde]

I’m from Earth. England, specifically. I was born and spent part of my childhood in a town called Ely, then I moved to London and it’s been my home base ever since. I consider myself to be a Londoner.

I believe it was 2019 before I came here. We have advanced technology, but nothing science fiction. Most people carry around a powerful computer in their pockets and then use it to endlessly scroll Facebook.

Magic exists, but it is tightly controlled by the various magical races and kept secret. There is a council that regulates its use and attempts to keep peace between the species. It’s mostly useless.

[blitzcheer]

That computer what you use to do your trolling with? [ TIDUS REMEMBERS. ]

What's the big secret for with magic though? They don't want everyone using it or somethin'?

[bridgetothefuture]

I guess I can talk a bit about it.

Name's Sam, the planet I'm from 's called Earth. Let's see... I grew up in Central Knot City, but after I met me wife we moved to UCA-01-0C.

[He says this so blandly it sounds like every town is a series of numbers.]

...World's kinda a mess, to be honest. Something caused the cycle of life and death to break, so now when someone dies, if things aren't taken care of immediately, they come back as something else. We call 'em BTs— beached things.

Chiralium clouds blot out the sky, and we call the rain timefall because whatever it touches it ages. People, vehicles, plants... so the cities are underground.

People like me are the only ones who really use the surface; I bring people packages they order.

[cheery ain't he]

[blitzcheer]

Ooph. [ His mouth is rather pulled in a tight frown. ] Is there something you can wear when it rains? How often does it rain?

[ Was it usually raining? ]

[popotostudies]

Seeing what you can dig up from everyone, hm? Let's see where it gets you! It should be interesting. Ahh, let's see..

Of late, I hail from Limsa Lominsa, continent of .... mmm.. Aldenard I think, very specifically of the crew of my family's ship The Merry Dancer, a completely legitimate and legal privateering vessel that in no way ever remotely is involved in piracy. Beautiful ship, big guns. We're working on converting to a proper sedentary-like lifestyle on the shore, doing the whole man-of-the-land thing but pir-- privateers struggle a bit with the swing between sailing and farming! I suppose my idea of 'home' is pretty colored by that these days, steady climate, unpredictable seasons and the smell of the sea on the wind. [Deep breath!] Ul'dah, a neighboring nation, has a sultana. Had? Anyroads, if you want it it can probably be bought there for the low low price of an arm, a leg and a soul, not necessarily your own. Gridiania has some sort of tree worshiping cult in power. Garlemald's got an emperor, and they focus on tech over magic since they can't actually do any magic without some very bizarre modifications. Head to Ala Mhigo and the place is run by a sort of elected commune of some sort, don't generally venture there. Keep going north, and you'll hit Ilsabard, which is where lion-folk come from, and as scary as they might look they're not into eating other intelligent races. Doma used to be a pretty major nation but ever since the giant flaming nine-tails fox took over the government it's just been at war with Garlemald over who has the prettier population. Normal people can't get to other worlds, but if you want something unusual that talks just look around a bit and you'll find catfish people, lizard folk, little puffballs with pompoms on their heads, dragons, the list goes on.

[Fandaniel crosses his arms over his chest and frowns.]

I can not recommend what passes for public education in Limsa.

[sweetnessandfight]

Aldenard? Limsa Lominsa is on Vylbrand! The island! That's off the coast of Aldenard, it's not on it!

[Well, she's been good and not tailing Fandaniel around shooting him suspicious looks, but smearing her adopted home? She can't stand for that, and thus, she speaks up. Though she has to smirk a little at the 'completely legitimate and legal privateering vessel'.]

My Ul'dah still has a Sultana, she didn't get the chance to step down. [Luckily, Nanamo didn't get assassinated either.] It also has the Syndicate, which is...a low down group of money-grubbing rakes...oh, for the love of the Twelve, if I have to fact check everything you say, there's not enough alcohol on this train for it!

[rookiemistakes]

My name is Elena. I am an employee of Shinra Electric Power Company, in the Office of Administrative Research.

My world is called Gaia, though most people just call it ‘the Planet.’ I was born and raised in a city called Midgar, which was the largest city on the planet until about two years ago, when it was largely destroyed in a natural disaster. My colleagues and I were assigned to help in the evacuation. Now that the world is rebuilding, it’s more difficult to get access to the technology we had gotten used to. I had to trade in my smart phone for the old flip phone I used back in high school, for instance, since the cellular data network is no longer reliable.

Magic is harnessed through crystallized mako—the Lifestream of the planet—called Materia. There are offensive and defensive materia, as well as healing and purifying materia.

As for languages, I could communicate with those from my world, but no one else.

[blitzcheer]

That sucks about not being able to talk to anyone else. There a few people here though from the same world as you?

[sensitiveapple]

My name is Misa. I'm from the desert planet of Cantonica, the main city Canto Bight to be exact. I speak Galactic Basic, and can understand Wookie, in a pinch. I'm somewhat adept at reading lekku language in some instances, but not all.

Where I'm from space travel is common place, and even encouraged in some circles. I was born on a trader - a ship that carries cargo - between systems, that is, between planetary systems.

I'm studying to be a courtesan. I will not be one until I am sixteen, so three more years.

I have a guard, he's a Twi'lek named Jocko, and there's the Mistress of course, but the House I live in also has a cook named Freema. Freema makes the best strawberry/peach tarts. Oh! And Glorfindel and I are going to try to grow the Bothan Peaches so that, maybe, we can have some for people.

[popotostudies]

Is 'lekku' a people or an object or something other? I am imagining something like hand sign but I fear I might be wildly off-course..

[thebetterweapon]

Name's Vic Creed. Come from Earth, can speak a few languages. [ As people on the train came to find out. ] Originally from a place called Canada, been all over since then.

Got a husband and a kid back home. Ain't human, don't call me it. [ That might be a threat. ] Others like me at home, but won't go into that. Currently live in Wakanda, with the husband and the kid.

[dredefulchilde]

Where is Wakanda? I’m not familiar with that place.

[blue_ice]

I'm another one from Earth. Domino City, Japan. Early 21st century. A city on the cutting edge of the future, largely thanks to my company's contributions to technological advancement. My duel disk is a small example of the tech's potential, if anyone wants a personal demonstration.

As far as 'magic'...I've been dragged kicking and screaming into accepting it, but I have to admit it existed, once. People with the potential could allegedly transform their souls into monsters, to be used in combat. It all happened in the deserts of Egypt thousands of years ago, and was meant to stay buried...but as long as the battle remained unresolved, the souls of the dead were stuck here, I guess.

Some idiots made bad decisions with the artifacts that contained that power, the spirit of a lost pharaoh ended up haunting my classmate...and then the pharaoh taunted me, through him. Souls were stolen and sealed and ripped apart all while I was just trying to beat said pharaoh at a game of skill to settle our differences. It was exhausting. And then he had the nerve to leave without a word to me, after everything he'd put me through.

But he finally got to rest, I guess. Got the last laugh after all. And...well, a few thousand years is a long time to have to wait to go home.

[blitzcheer]

[ Well that's...a story. Tidus didn't have much of an idea of what he was expecting to hear today, but some parts of it is...strangely familiar. At least, something something souls and monsters.

If one wanted to reach with fayth and aeons. ]

Sounds like an ordeal. [ To put it lightly. ] What was the game of skill you had to do?

[ Physical fitness? Battle? A show of smarts? Whatever it was, it didn't sound small. ]

» video/action????

[kabe]

( don't mind yuna as she's secretly eavesdropping on this whole thing. she still isn't talking to tidus specifically but she is here for others. )

Hello, my name is Yuna. I come from Spira, specifically Besaid Island. I'm actually half Al Bhed from my mother's side and well....I've been trying really hard to learn my mother's language. I've gotten pretty good but I'm not as fluent as my cousins or uncle.

I um...I'm not sure what else to say but if anyone has any questions about my world or what I've done, I'm here to answer.

( it's pretty obvious she's aware tidus has pretty much told everyone everything about spira, so there isn't much more for her to say )

[theturksway]

He always this cheery? [Referring to Tidus, of course. Whom his has a low opinion of, but hey you're pretty and interesting. Let's chat, babe.] What's with all the juicy information he just conveniently left out?

[springforth]

Well, I'm Persephone and...[She twists her hair around her fingers nervously] I'm the goddess of spring on my world. I've only gotten to spend a few months outside the mortal realm but I can talk about where I grew up there. It's my home.

I grew up in Sicily--it's gorgeous. It's an island with mountains and forests, we grew grapes for wine and grains. And just so much fruit and vegtables. It's so fertile, you could grow practically anything. I lived near Mount Etna, well, near-ish. You don't want to be too close, it erupts and makes a mess of the gardens. It was the most beautiful place to grow up. Kind of backwater to most people I know, but--lovely.

As far as beings go, I mean, I grew up mostly with nymphs...of the flowers, trees, the rivers. There's plenty of other sorts of beings but I grew up around the ones associated with the harvest and the land. I couldn't possibly list them all...So...yes.

[blitzcheer]

Oh...hey! You're the first god...dess? I've met. Or seen. Hi.

[ Considering he's been holding a small grudge with a pair, it's surprising to actually meet one here? ]

What're nymphs? And uhh...that sounds like a bad place to have a garden, next to the mountain.

[myblueskies]

I'm Romeo!

I come from a place called the heavens! That's not the first place I'm from but I don't really remember my first world I just know that I come from a place called Italy and sometimes bad things happened there and I died but I don't remember that either but I had a best friend called Alfredo and we made a promise to be friends no matter what. I remember the sky was very blue and nice!

Anyways after I was dead I went to heaven which was in another world. It was a very pretty place! It had lots of temples for all the gods and lots of flowers and rivers and green grass, except when there was a volcano because that was a bit bad!

I lived in a temple with my god and it was a huge library! It was a fun place to live and we had a cat and a goat who lived with us too!

We could also go to a place called Earth and a country called Japan though we also went to other places like Hawaii and Peru! That world had lots of things like a theme park, cars, trains and aeroplanes! Humans couldn't really see me, but everyone seems to be able to see me here so that's good! And there were monsters called Ayakashi which humans also couldn't see but the ayakashi tried to make all the people sad so they could eat them! The gods could fight them though using shinki!

That's what I am! I got named by a god so I can be a weapon and help!

[dredefulchilde]

One day we’ll get you to Milan so you can see the place for yourself. Okay?

[wisdominshadows]

There are old stories which say that Hyrule was enchanted from the moment of creation. That it was a land chosen by the goddesses of creation, and by the lesser gods after it. I... enough of it is true, I think. But I am not sure of all of it.

What is true that Hyrule is enchanted, and that it's wounds linger in the land's being. That, at least, I know is true. I was born in the waning years of a great civil war; the land was at peace when I was a child, but when night fell, the skeletons of the unburied dead were known to rise at night and dance in the field, and to attack any traveler who came close.

These days the Stalchildren are gone, but night in Hyrule Field is still haunted by the dead. If you leave the road for too long, you run the risk of following a ghost into the realm of the dead... and of joining them forever.

[blitzcheer]

S-spooky...

[ He wasn't expecting to run into a spooky story today, Zelda....why.... ]

So people come back as fiends in your world too? ...Do any of them still have their minds about them?

[najaran]

[Gremlin alerted Najaran to the post and she looked at it while the small scaly creature hit reply. Unaware of what exactly he had done she turned to the man headed cane that she was holding.]

"I think we are just supposed to talk back to it, like the person in here," [she said, for all to hear. She was still unclear on all the functions of the network. Or you know, any of them.]

"I suppose you may as well try it, Naja," [the cane replied.]

[She nodded.] "Alright, um, My name is Najaran, I'm from Gilman Island where I love with my Master most of the time. This is Goligan. Our world is called Raka and the main continent near the island is Bablashca." [What else to say?] "Um... this kind of feels like reciting a lesson..." [she mumbled to the cane, who told her to get on with it.] "I mean, we have lots of Gods and Goddesses, and most people worship whoever they want but we're all aware of the Great Goddess Culdra even though no one here seems to be... Um... LEt's see, what else. Oh, when the Gods' war broke the Culdcept, Culdra's book of creation it fell as cards, and Cepters can use those cards to summon the things Culdra described. But I know that on other worlds, the pieces of the Culdcept broke into other forms. Um.... Oh! We also have lots of different kinds of yummy foods!"

[The cane looked like he wished he had hands just so he could face palm.] "Not everyone thinks with their stomach, Najaran! I'm sure whoever asked wants to know about important things."

"But yummy food is always important! People die if they don't eat, Goligan!"

"But they also die if they are killed by the Black Cepters."

[Her shoulders sank.] "That's true... but how am I supposed to help stop them if I'm stuck here....?"

[They may have forgotten they have a virtual audience.... ]

[blitzcheer]

[ This is... something of a show. Technically what he asked, though he does feel bad for the girl at the end of there. ]

"Let's hope you can get back and help everyone soon, yeah?" [ He says encouragingly, or hopes so, giving Najaran a smile. ] "And you can talk about the food if you want! What kinds do you eat where you are? You said you're from an island?"

1/2 This will be long, I am sorry. CW: potentially all. Also spoilers like whoa.

[sell_tickets]

[Khary found this by accident, as he never really thinks to check the network. But it happened to be blinking this time. It took him a bit to remember or figure out how to reply though.]

"You know, I give the person who created the web some credit. I've had to answer this question a few hundred times already it feels like. I never imagined that things I always took as basic could ever be so confusing for anyone."

[Grinning he sat back in his chair as he considered what to say. Mind there was no visible chair there, but he was sitting on something, all the same.]

"Alright so where I come from there are three Realms. The Realm of Light is Terrielle, but it is still a mess after the war. The Realm of Shadows, Kaleer, where I am from. And the Dark Realm, ****. The only Realm ever to be ruled by a male. Specifically The High Lord, Prince Saetan. Other than Uncle Saetan though," [He was pronouncing it Satan, for those who are wondering.] "Pretty much only Demons reside there usually. Cold, kind of depressing. I haven't been there much recently, not since the war ended actually... so not sure how much I can say, because I have no clue how much is the same. The High Lord claims he needs to withdraw from the living these days, but he'll still always let us pounce on him at the Keep when we need something. I probably should go bug him and be a pain in his *** once I get home..." [he mused with a grin.]

"Other than ****, since only the Blood can become Demons or Guardians, all the species in each Realm falls into one of two Categories, Blood or Landen. Blood are those of us with magic. There is usually one Blood for every five or ten Landens. This goes for all the various species, though there aren't that many Kindred in Terreille..." [she stopped and gave the kind of grin that just made people want to smack him, eyes twinkling with mischief.] "Though there are more there now than before Cassidy stepped up as Queen. But that's a whole other story..." [He laughed, quite amused. There were now fourteen Scelties in what had once been Dena Nehele. Fourteen little dogs, a few thousand Landens, a few hundred Blood. The dogs had them all out numbered. Thankfully Cassie's Court was smart enough to realize that.]

"I can tell you a little about the Landens, probably more than the Blood in Terrielle could. But I am not sure what there is to tell that isn't already obvious. They're just people. People who have to make do without Craft. But beyond that? You have some who are generally good and decent, some who look for any excuse to make trouble of the worst sorts, and all the kinds between. They're people. As varied as any. Though Landen animals seem to lack the brains that their Kindred cousins have. Landen Eyrians and humans seem smart enough. Jhinka....." [He shrugged.] "None of them have Craft, but we're pretty sure what makes Jhinka stupid is their base nature, inbreeding, and the fact that they are perfectly willing to die by the hundreds to take down a single foe, so they never have a chance to be more. Who knows. They're hardly willing to sit and chat with any non-Jhinka for us to find out. Even Witch never could get through to them." [A shadow over his eyes for just a moment as he remembered. It didn't so much bother him that she killed five thousand of them in the space of a breath. Okay, it did. But it was more what was left of her after.]

[To shake that off, he continued.] "Now the Blood in general I can speak more about because unlike Landens we have more that unifies us than divides us. This isn't to say we always agree, we almost never do. But across all lines of Species, there are things that all Blood have in common based on their gender or Caste that transcend all other differences."

"Also, the vast majority of us, those of us who survive to adulthood and survived the War, that is, all learned Protocol from a young age, and that is a strong unifier. Even if the Ladies back home like to pretend that it doesn't exist when it suits them. But it is like a game, and when it matters, like all games, it is put aside."

"Protocol outlines how we are expected to behave in formal situations based upon who we are with, what we can ask of another person, and what we owe to them in return. As an example, I am married to the Queen of Scelt, Morghann. I am her husband, I serve as her Consort, I am her friend, I serve with her in the Dark Court as a Brother of the Dark Court, and I serve under her as the Warlord of Maghre. By protocol there are things I am allowed to ask of, or even demand of my Queen that if I tried with my wife would have me sleeping in my own room for a month. Likewise, there are things I can ask of my wife that I could not ask of my Queen. Protocol not only makes it clear what I can ask, but which relationship we are working under at any given moment. My wife might be *****ed at me, but my Queen has to take me seriously." [He hoped that was clear, because how in ****'s name did you summarize lessons you learned from the cradle up in a way that those who have never heard of it could understand?]

"Now some people here seem to be under the impression that Blood Males such as myself look down upon females." [Nope, can't do it. Can't keep a straight face. That was still just so ridiculous it always cracked him up.]

[When he was done laughing, he wiped his eyes, the put his hands back in his pockets and leaned back to continue.]

"The Blood are matriarchal. the highest Caste is that of a Queen. The Queen is the law where she rules. Women rule, males serve. That said, Protocol gives us rules on what we are allowed to ask of a woman in return. And limits what they are allowed to command us to do. Or rather... what commands we must follow. But service is a contract. Any female can ask me a favor. Actually any male could also, but un less we're already friends, I'm far more likely to help out the woman who asked than the man. But only someone I have agreed to serve has the right to give me an order. There are a few different kinds of contracts, the two most common are a timed contract and a lifetime contract. A timed contract is usually in increments of one, three, or five years. During that time you agree to do whatever you are commanded by the Queen to whom you have given your loyalty, or walk away from her. Now Protocol does give us all sorts of room to try and change her mind, but her word is law. As an example, there was a bad Queen giving a friend of ours a hard time a while back. A hard lesson, if you will. She ordered one of her males to kidnap a youngster who served in my friend's court indirectly. Now had the bad Queen's court had the ****s they were born with, they would have filed a formal complaint with Sabrina, the Queen who rules the Territory that includes the district the bad Queen ruled. They didn't. So other than filing a formal complaint, his options were to comply and rend his honor doing a dishonorable thing, or to break his contract which would make any Queen think twice about ever letting him serve in their court. Further, had he refused, the bad Queen would have been full in her rights, by law and by protocol, to have him punished, and that could include whipping or even having him killed. She was also within her rights to beggar her Court, which she did, and let a once prosperous district fall apart. Which she did. Sabrina, on the other hand, was within her rights to terminate her Contract, which she did, and take over ruling to save the people and the Land. Which she did. She was also within her rights to have the woman killed, which she did not do."

[He needed to stop talking about Kermilla.]

"A good Queen, however, not only would not have given a dishonorable order, but she would listen to the males who serve her. Even if ultimately she did not agree."

[A faint smile teased around his lips, which was his first warning that he had stopped smiling.]

"As an example... my cousin and the Queen of the Dark Court... oh did she ever get furious with us all one time. All us Boyos, that is. The people to whom she was born" [Those horrid excuses for Blood were not her family.] "Had come under the misunderstanding that she and her half sister were under contract to the Dark Court, and to try and take them both away. Well her maternal Grandmother had brought two Queens who served under her and their escorts. The problem was, one of those Queens had her sights set on my best friend, Aaron." [He shook his head. Then realized he needed to clarify something in case it was not the same for other people.]

"Among the Blood, a Queen, even if she is married, is allowed the pleasure of other males that are hers to command, though most Queens who are married make their husbands their consort and remain faithful. They do not have to, it is just polite and honorable. A man however, pledges his fidelity with the marriage contract. We are allowed to be with no others but our wife. In fact, when a child reaches the age of their Birthright ceremony, that is also when a woman declares paternity. Until then our legal rights to our children is limited. But at their ceremony the mother claims or denies paternity. So any husband with a young child is especially vulnerable to predators like her. Because even the suspicion of infidelity can cost them their marriage and their children."

[He rubbed his face. This was all too heavy for him, really, but it was important for people to know if he really was stuck here. And more for if any of the ladies got caught in the web.]

"Aaron of course would never even consider stepping out on Kalush, and not just because all of us would have skinned him alive, brother or not, if he ever hurt her. He loves Kalush and their little daughter Arianna with all that is in him. But the other Queen was after him. The rest of us were running interference as best we can. Mother Night he even hid behind Surreal at one point and that was before she came to accept we were treating her as one of us, as family. Well, things hit a boiling point when Vania publicly implied that Aaron had been entertaining her that morning. Aaron lost it. Would have killed her then and there. Would have if Surreal hadn't stopped him. Frankly I would have helped him. But Surreal was sure he'd get in trouble with our Queen. And she was right. But the reason he was in trouble, the reason we all were, was a mark of what makes her a good Queen. She wasn't angry because she believed Vania. She wasn't angry because Aaron almost killed her. She was angry because Aaron was suffering this whole time, and never let her know, that we all helped cover it up to keep her from having to confront her grandmother, since it was the older woman's place to shut down the Queens who served under her when they were misbehaving in another Queen's territory."

[A faint smile as he forced himself to think of Jaenelle, not of Vania and Alexandra.] "When she came to understand why we had done it... she is the Queen, she couldn't tell us we were right to do it, because that would imply she was alright with us keeping things from her. But she could in her own way show that she wasn't angry any more and that the punishment was over." [A huge smile then, and a chuckle. Mother Night he loved Jaenelle.] "She stubbed her toe." [He was his usual amused self again. "Oh, I doubt she actually did, because none of us would ever condone her intentionally causing herself even that small amount of pain for our sakes. But she told us she stubbed her toe and then put up with hours of male fussing as if she had broken her leg or arm being foolish. She let us get her pillows and cool drinks and books she hadn't read yet and tucking her in and hovering without grumbling at us at all." [Another laugh.] "It was great. I still owe Aaron and Choasti for making sure I was aware of the time frame for the fussing, since there isn't space on her balcony for all of us to have gotten a turn to fuss."

[His usual bright smile was fully back.]

"Fussing is a great example of what Protocol allows us males to get away with. There is just something wonderful about the look in the eyes of a female you care about when she is plainly just putting up with this because she cares about you. And well, it is in Blood Males to serve. It is a pull in us, an instinctive drive. We yearn to serve a woman we can respect. And what is fussing but the chance to serve and be a pain in the *** at the same time? Plus there really is no better feeling for a Blood Male than knowing that a woman you care about is safe and nearby and well. And if she is pleasantly grumpy with you then she isn't screaming at you or thinking about the next stupid risk she is going to take that she is sure is perfectly reasonable, that you know is utterly foolish. It is a moment when you aren't arguing."

"And trust me, I love thew whole Coven as though they were my sisters and my cousins. And in all but blood, they pretty much are. But we can scream at each other like the worst of foes when we get at it." [Another laugh.] "When Yasi and Jaenelle get into it the windows rattle from their voices. And the only people who can really stop them are the High Lord roaring them both quiet until they can talk at normal levels, or Ladvarian. For those of you now aware of Scelties, Ladvarian is a Scletie, which mostly means he is a tiny tog who lives to herd stubborn sheep of any species, and who has sharp teeth. He is also one of the few Kindred who has no qualms nipping any of us if he feels we need a nipping. Though he's aware that if he ever nips Jaenelle we'll all turn over our rights to go after him to her husband." [A grin.] "Of course then he and Jaenelle would wind up arguing and the rest of us get to sit back and enjoy the show."

Re: 1/2 This will be long, I am sorry. CW: potentially all. Also spoilers like whoa.

[sell_tickets]

"That said, as to fussing and protecting, it is not for a second that we think females are in anyway inherently less able to protect themselves than we are. Need to get that in here so Karla and Gabrielle don't find this and kick my ***. To say nothing of what Surreal would do. That's not why we're protective. There are a number of reasons, but one of the strongest is that we are all aware that we are replaceable. Doesn't mean anyone of us WANTS to die. Mother Night, no. If any of us die for a stupid reason we have to deal with the High Lord ripping into us for being stupid. Trust me, you don't want to be dead while Saetan is angry at you." [Poor Morton.... He missed Morton a lot, but refused to focus on that now.] "It is that among the Blood, females are rarer to begin with, but they're also stronger, and they can do so much more than us males can. It takes a Queen to sing the Land back, to heal the Land. Only a Queen has the proper instinct and right to rule. Queens are rare. Good Queens are rarer and treasured for it. But even Warlord princes... are far more common. Black Widows can do things no other of the Blood can even dream of, and with only two exceptions in the whole of our history, Black Widows are only female. Priestesses are the ones with the intrinsic instinct for opening the Gates between the Realms. And Healers can do so much more to mend the body then any male trained in Healing craft. So we are trained from the cradle up that the women are simply more valuable. Also, if we use our strength to protect them, they have their strength for doing what only they can do. Then there is the nature of female temper. While not true of all females of the Blood, for many their temper burns colder and longer once it hits the tipping point. If a Blood Male finds himself on the Killing Edge, a woman he trusts can easily bring him back before he can slaughter anyone. Part of that is protocol, part of that is just the instinctive bond between us and a woman we can trust. We say they hold our leash, we mean it. But there is no instinct there that can pull a woman back. Protocol can help, but it can't..." [How to explain it.]

"When Aaron was going to kill Vania, Surreal couldn't stop him. Lucivar and Chaosti couldn't get through to him, they were all physically touching him, speaking in his ear and he couldn't hear them through the red haze. But Jaenelle stepped into the room, and ordered him to attend, and that snapped him out of it, brought him back. But when Jaenelle went cold after her half sister was injured when someone tried to kidnap her... Nothing any of us could do could help her, could calm her. Females can help us stop from doing what we will regret. It is far harder for us to help the women. So that is another reason males defend."

[He leaned his head back a bit.] "And if I die defending a woman I care about... I'll be upset I died, but I will at least know she is safe. I can take pride in that, and comfort. But if I fail to protect her and she dies? That is with me the rest of my life. So protecting is also selfish."

[He grinned as bit.] "Alright, this is getting long so I'll try and speed through the next bit. Castes. Castes are set at birth. No one knows what leads one person to be a certain Caste or another. Black Widows often run in families, but not always. Otherwise, there is no rhyme or reason that we've ever found. So male castes, from weakest to strongest. Blood Male - basically the catch all for ant male of the Blood, but also used for any Male of the Blood who does not have any other Caste. Then there are Warlords. That is my Caste. We're on the weaker side, but also tend to be less aggressive than the other male Castes. We are roughly equal in status with a witch, not to be confused with Witch, which is a whole other topic." [he grinned.] "Then there are Princes. Now just like Blood Male is a catch all for all males of the Blood as well as a Caste in and of itself, Prince is a Caste, but it is also a title used for Princes and Warlord Princes in formal settings. A Prince, as in the Caste, is roughly equal to a healer or a Priestess. Then the strongest male Caste are the Warlord Princes. They are the most aggressive, most passionate, most drawn to females and most in need of them. They are the second highest Caste among any gender and are a law onto themselves, other than a Queen. A Queen is the only Caste who outranks a Warlord Prince."

"Then on the female side, Blood Females, again a catch all as well as a Caste. Then a witch, not to be confused with Witch. Then Healer and Priestess, which I more or less explained already. Then the next rank is Black Widow." [Where to even start.] "This is the only Caste you don't have to be born into. Natural Black Widows have a snake tooth under their nail that has poison sacs. How lethal their poison is usually depends on their Jewel Rank, which I'll get into. They have an instinctive awareness of poisons, and are immune to most of them. All Black Widows are trained in weaving Tangled Webs, which can be used to see the future, or at least, possible futures, as well as they can be woven to ensnare minds. Much like mine is ensnared, making me think that I am here. All the months I have been here, could have been a second in reality, or years. No way to know. My mind fully believes that I am physically here so I am, in all practical ways, here. If I die here, it might return me to my body, or it might kill my body. No way to know, really. It is why Black Widows are so feared and respected. Also, not sure why, but every Black Widow I ever met seems to have this lovely wonderful tartness to their personality. They're the women generally the most likely to give you a feral smile while offering to feed you your own entrails." [There was warm amused affection in his voice.]

"And then of course Queens. Queens are drawn instinctively to the Land and to serve the people by ruling them. They are the focus of our society, they form Courts and unless they serve under another Queen or live in another Queen's territory, they are answerable to no one. Now Kaleer is currently in an odd situation. You see a Territory Queen is the law in her territory. Basically the realms are broken into Territories, each ruled by a Queen, then the Territory is broken into Provinces each of which is ruled by a Queen who answers only to the Territory Queen, and each Provenance is broken into Districts, each ruled by a Queen who answers to both Queens above her. But in Kaleer now, for the first time ever, there is a Queen who rules over the Territory Queens. Jaenelle. Witch. Those of us in the Dark Court, Jaenelle's Court, are the only males allowed to serve two Queens. So I serve my Territory Queen, my wife Morghann, but I also serve Jaenelle. It is a unique situation, but was the only way to protect Kaleer, so she stepped up when we needed her. She claims she is no longer the Realm Queen, and if she shows up here and tries to tell you that, just tell her that's nice and move on." [He chuckled.]

"The next consideration is Jewel Rank. When we reach a certain age in our childhood, usually about eight, we have our Birthright Ceremony. We go to the Dark Alter and pray, and if we are to be strong enough, we are gifted with our Birthright Jewels. Then we emerge and our mothers announce or deny paternity. When we come of age as adults, if we have finished our training and fulfilled basic biological rites of passage, we return to the Dark Alter and pray. And if we are lucky, some or all of our Birthright Jewels become up to three Ranks darker. The Darker the Jewel, the more power we can hold within ourselves safely, the stronger we are, and the further into the Abyss we can go without shattering our Inner Web. The Jewels from lightest to Darkest are White, Yellow. Tiger Eye, Rose, Summer-sky, Purple Dusk, Opal, Green. Sapphire, Red. Gray. Ebon-Gray, and Black. Unlike Caste, Jewels tend to follow bloodlines. Darker Jeweled parents tend to have Darker Jeweled kids. I wear the Sapphire, as some of you may have noticed. That is my Jewel of Rank. The Jewel I earned as an adult. So this means my reservoir of power is shallow compared to say, the High Lord, who wears the Black, but far deeper than Cassidy who wears the Rose. Also the Darker your Jewel, the more food you eat and the more alcohol it takes before you get buzzed, let alone drunk. Two people with the same Caste generally settle dominance by Jewel Rank, and there is some range within each Rank as well. One friend I know had Birthright Purple Dusk and after his Offering to the Darkness came away with a Purple Dusk that was only slightly Darker than he went in with."

[He took a deep breath.] "The last consideration in our society is social standing. This basically comes down to political and financial power. There is less of a defined social structure here, but there is one term to know. Aristo. Aristos are the people who have more money than they could spend if they live reasonably. Often Territory Queens become Aristo if their Territory thrives, just from the tithes. Some of us are born to it. There is an expectation of certain levels of behavior from someone born Aristo, of course, and additional lessons to be learned. Aristo households usually have a staff of at least four people, ranging from butlers to maids to cooks to groomsmen. I am always willing to trade cooking for other chores here because frankly... I've always had someone to do my cleaning and washing for me, and I am quite content to leave it that way. I have more than enough work serving in two Courts as well as ruling a Provenance on my Queen's behalf, and being a father. My focusing on those tasks is not laziness, it is sense as much as a Queen focusing on being a Queen rather than on the dusting and mopping, no matter WHAT Cassidy claims," [he said with a laugh.] "That said though, nearly every male I know not only knows how to cook, but enjoys it, even if he has a cook on staff. Every Queen I know has her own private garden that the gardener is not allowed near, and while yes I have stable hands, I raise my horses myself and train them. Even had I not been born rich, even had I not served in two Courts, I would still probably be rich off of the horses I raise and train for sale to loving homes. I will not appologize for any of that, of course. And should we come to a mission with horses, please know that no matter what team I am assigned to, I will be working with the horses unless someone I have agreed to serve orders me otherwise."

[He had a soft spot for dogs too. Don't let him fool you.]

"So as Uncle Saetan likes to say, our culture is a complex dance with the lead always changing, centered always around a Queen. Based on Jewel Ranks, I outrank Rainier, for example. He wears the Opal which makes my Sapphire Dominant. He outranks me however in Caste, being a Warlord Prince, as well as in personal history as he was our dance teacher when we were children. But I outrank him in the Dark Court as I am one of the First Escorts in the First Circle. So depending on how we are speaking changes which of us is Dominant in the conversation, and it can change in an eye blink, with Protocol as out guide."

"I think perhaps, other than the legend of Witch, and some stories here and there, that is probably enough information for the purpose?" [He asked, more to himself then anyone else, then realized one more thing he should add.]

"Ah yes, Chess. I am happy to teach Chess to anyone who is willing to play rationally. Playing chess across gender lines generally leads to arguments, however. Someone recently commented on how Chess seems to mirror the gender relationships in my world. This is actually a very good observation, since in Chess the most powerful piece is the Queen, but when she is taken the game is over, making her the one that must be protected at all costs. Every Queen I have ever played Chess with will sacrifice her Queen to save her males. Which is why we males usually start screaming and wanting to throttle the girls. Then we just wind up playing Cradle to put the ladies back into a smooth temper so that we don't wind up sleeping upside down hung up by our heels over the sofa rotating slowly all night," [he added with a chuckle.]

[death_from_above]

"Which one?" [The cat asked, as a simple enough seeming question.]

[blitzcheer]

[ ...that's a talking cat. ]

"Which one?"

[ Going to blankly repeat that back. ]

[marriedanidiot]

Ah, well home to me is the city of Tirion, in Aman the Blessed. Our world we call Arda, or sometimes Ea - That Which Is. Kings we have indeed! And more now the Reborn walk free of the Halls of Mandos. But most are content to lay aside their ruling, for they are weary yet of such things, even as Life is once again new to them.

[blitzcheer]

Wh, so... you had a bunch of sleeping kings that recently woke up? That sounds like a story.

[ Not that he isn't hearing plenty, but you know! ]

But what's Tirion like? Is it more inland or close to the sea?

[goingthroughaphase]

I'm Kitty Pryde. I'm another person from Earth...or at least, a version of Earth, it seems.

There isn't really much to the place I come from. Except... [ She hesitates a bit, not sure how much to really go into it. ] So, some people in my world have...special abilities. Whoever has these abilities depends on whether they have a certain gene, but what abilities they can have is kind of random.

[ That's a pretty big thing for a place that doesn't have much. ]

[blitzcheer]

That cause problems for you back home? [ He waves his hands, a reassuring gesture. ] You don't have to talk about what you don't want to! But no one here's going to judge you.

[sos_pilot]

Where do I even begin?

I come from Duckburg, USA! I live with my uncle, Scrooge McDuck, the richest man in the world and the world's best adventurer to boot! There's also my twin brother, Donald, my three boys, Huey Dewey and Louie, the Housekeeper and her granddaughter, Duckworth, and that's everyone who lives in the mansion.

... Actually Duckworth might not count since he's a ghost, but you get the idea.

But our world's got a little bit of everything, and that's what's so fun to explore! We go anywhere and everywhere to find new things and unlock new tales! You name it, we've either done it or are about to do it. And I fly them there, because I'm the family pilot! Not Launchpad, me.

[blitzcheer]

You gonna leave out how you're a multi-world adventurer too? And get up to all sorts of trouble?

[ Heheh! ]

video;

[mynameisallen]

You already know a bit about the world I come from. But if you really want me to say something...

[Tidus you asked and Allen is gonna do it, but making it seem like he is also going to mention all the things he has to the other.]

I come from Earth that is nearing the end on the 19th century so the tail end of the 1800s. We have a mixture of magic to an extent, some technology and just all that fun stuff.

[He smiled slightly, his friends would know there is more to it than what he had stated.]

I could say more, but that is only if people are curious about anything.

[blitzcheer]

Earth's a really popular name for worlds! [ This is what Tidus is getting out of this 'let's talk about our worlds' session. ] I'm getting the idea a lot of the planets out there aren't really as unique as you'd think.

video

[draconite]

I don't... think I could tell anyone very much about my world, but perhaps I could talk a bit about the country I come from?

[ She looks pretty enthusiastic about the thought. ]

Or perhaps even the entire continent! I'd been doing quite a bit of traveling in the months before my arrival here so I'm certain I'm quite knowledgeable!

[ She doesn't know shit, my dudes ]

[blitzcheer]

Sure, go for it! What's it called? What's life like where you're from?

[ Give Tidus ALL the deets while I also make us another thread for deets. ]