Log View

Source	Contents
Bright Journey	It's an ordinary kind of day at Rohan Ivory's Kabobs on the south side of the Colosseum. Well, ordinary if you're used to the hustle and bustle of people in a city the size, not to mention the wondrous variety, of Great Forks. It's pleasantly sunny and not nearly as muggy as yesterday, a blessing indeed for the throngs of people trying to catch a glimpse of some of the best warriors still going at it hammer and tongs in the Colosseum. Most of the crowd is still in there, though, making just enough room for several people to actually find one of the relatively few tables set out near the stand. One such table is staked out by a pink-haired young lady in a short white dress, a couple paper-wrapped kabobs in front of her and a cup of some kind of refreshing fruit juice in her hand. Her legs are delicately crossed as she leans forward, waiting for the person she'd come here with to get his portions. Plural.
Fudou the Mountain	The problem with legend building is that it can be hard to get peace for yourself, especially if you present yourself as open and approachable Thus it's been harder and harder for Fudou to ...well..get away from the arena without attracting a crowd. Under regular circumstances this wouldn't be to far from the norm anyway given that he's a walking mountain range, prone to pull eyes towards him with the sort of gravitas draw one would usually attribute to the largest and most monumental of legendary beasts of burdens. Now it just occasionally results in organized chaos. It's enough to nearly drive a man to wanting to shape change into a mouse or something! Nevertheless, he eventually manages to break away from the crowds and his approach to Bright Journey is long heralded by the very sound of his feet impacting against the earth. When he finally reaches her and the table he grins, holding up a red 'oni mask' with a wild mane of dark hair upon it. "Greetings!" he rumbles, deep voice a cheerful vibratory tone as it quakes over the area and he holds the mask out for her to look upon. "What do you think? I had it fashioned in memory of some of the ones we encountered in the south east. I should send General Gale a hello sometime." He lifts the mask up and looks its horned visage over. "I had it commissioned because I think I might want to change my 'look' up some. Maybe persona. You know it can be fun to cheer for a 'villain' from time to time. A 'heel' you want to see take a fall. But I may need a new name to make it work."
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree is making his way down the street at a leisurely pace, his eyes flowing along the buildings and roadside carts with the aimless air of a tourist. A very large tourist perhaps, and one who has no trouble seeing over the crowds. And being in no rush, he's also taking care not to overrun or hurry any of the people crossing his path. As his gaze swings across to the other side of the road with the outdoor eatery however, he comes to a stop abrupt enough to cause the person behind him to collide into his hip. He doesn't even seem to notice the person nearly falling down though as his gaze fixes on Bright Journey, his expression going slack for several seconds while his hands flex at his sides. Then he pivots his bulk and begins striding towards Bright and Fudou, forgetting to watch his step for a moment until he does actually knock a man off his feet as he crosses the pattern of foot traffic. This snaps him back to paying attention to his surroundings and he kneels down to help the man up, apologizing profusely in a baritone voice. By the time he stands back up and sends the man on his way, he looks back over at the other two with a sheepish, embarrassed smile on his face.
Bright Journey	As it happens, Bright is facing away from the road and thus away from Tree. She watches Fudou arrive with an amused expression, resting one elbow on the table, chin in her hand, with a fondly exasperated smile. "Oh, Fudou, what am I going to do with you," she replies. Her tone is fairly jocular. "I'd say you love the attention--because you do, and I of all people should know about attracting attention!--but would you really be happy for long time, being one of these 'heels'? I assume everyone is supposed to know who you actually are, because I'd sooner believe you're my long lost aunt Matilda than think you're going to hide your physique." She chuckles a bit, still smiling. "The mask looks good, though. It should! Both of us accounted for quite a few of them, didn't we? We saw plenty of examples. A few even lived." She chuckles again, this time a bit darker and more conspiratorial. She also said it while Wandering Tree was in audible range. While she wasn't being especially loud, she does pause and turn halfway around, taking a sip of her fruit juice as she hears Tree's baritone voice, apologizing to a man in the street. A look of mild confusion crosses her features as she does so. "Huh. Where have I heard...?" Her voice trails off, the rest of the question relatively obvious in context. Her mug just touches her lips as she turns far enough to see who spoke. Her lazily swirling, multicolored eyes make contact with Wandering Tree for the first time. The mug hits the cobbles, the sound of beaten metal ringing against stone the only noise anywhere near Bright Journey.
Fudou the Mountain	"I'll have to think about it.." Fudou's not looking into the streets yet either, standing as he is before Bright's table. He holds the mask up and looks it over, "I suppose it wouldn't be much of a mystery luv." he adds after some considreation. "At least here in Great Forks. Perhaps if I return to The Hundred Kingdoms for a time. Also, I imagine if I turned heel' I might make young childrne and pretty ladies cry and we can't have that. Not without a payoff worthy of it!" He seems to already be scripting the entire thing in his head. The streak of a performer once more raising itself up. His ears then seem to twitch and he looks up and turns his attention towards the encounter in the streets and Wandering Tree's arrival. The giant mans plight is well understood by The Mountain. Such perils of navigation in a crowded city like Great Forks are well known to him but that doesn't prevent him from belting out a laugh. "Hah! Do not flatten them, friend! If you break them in the streets...that's fewer to cheer for me---" His voice trials off as Bright's drink hits the ground and he snaps his attention down towards her in alarm, mouth opening slightly in surprise at her sudden mood change.
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree's eyes flicker to Fudou as he speaks, but they are quickly drawn back to the pink haired woman next to him. He moves toward them again, his earlier disruption of foot traffic drawing enough notice for people to decide to get out of way for now. He stops when he reaches the small fence around the patio seating area, hesitating for a moment as his hands coming forward a foot or so before he seems to realize it and then purposely tuck both hands behind his waist. He takes a deep breath before speaking, his words coming out slowly as he tries to piece together what to say. "I apologize, I did not intend to intrude, but... I'm afraid I feel that I must. We've met before, haven't we? Some time ago, perhaps?"
Bright Journey	"I...I..." Bright Journey slowly stands, the drink completely forgotten. She stammers like a schoolgirl for a moment, completely at a loss for words. Wait. Bright Journey, quite possibly the most glib socialite in the entire East, at a -loss for words-? What the hells? Regardless, she's five foot eight, and he's closer to seven feet, so despite her not being short he still towers over her. She looks up, though, her brain obviously racing as she tries to remember how to speak. "I...please. Come. Sit," she says a bit lamely. "I know you. I -know- that I know you, and yet I cannot remember your name." She looks down at the table as she sits, her fair features betraying her as she furiously blushes. Please...tell me."
Fudou the Mountain	"-We- have." says Fudou, his usual cheer more surpressed as his brow knits together. "In the arena. During the match between Raullaur and a mysterious towering woman." His gaze narrows a touch as he watches Bright and his expression becomes more neutral in consideration of this behavior. "But I don't think you mean me." he concludes while his eyes settle on Tree once more with a sort of added intensity. A true study of him that is followed by his narrowed eyes widening a bit once more and his chin lifting upwards as he draws back slightly. His face then shifts again, a tight lipped smile and amusement in his gaze. His eyes narrowing once again behind the glasses of his circlular eye pieces. "Mmm..." is all he rumbles now, processing this information. Prudency prevents him from blurting out whatever he noticed but he seems to be aching to say -something- but is also watching this interaction more closely now. The faint hints of something known tugging at the back of his mind,. "Perhaps you crossed paths..." he offers, "You're both distinct, after all. An encounter you're likely to have not easily forgotten but still may have...."
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree steps over the fence as if it were merely a minor suggestion and settles himself into the open seat with the careful practice of someone who's learned to mistrust furniture made for normal people. His hands fidget for a moment before he forces them still in his lap, his own lack of calm and confidence at the situation also clear as he fumbles for words. "I don't think... No, that is fair, it was a different name then. And that one I do not recall. Sorry, this is all a bit disorienting. It's like, memories that are from a dream, perhaps? But also real. But pardon me, I failed to answer your actual question. I now go by the name Wandering Tree. Which isn't even my first name of this lifetime, actually. Uhhhh... What might I call you, miss?" Only after that does Tree blink and refocus his eyes on Fudou, realizing the additional layer of rudeness he was incurring by ignoring the other man. "Oh, you are correct, we did meet then. I remember speaking to you after the match. I'm sorry, I must sound like I am made of apologies today, but I did not mean to ignore you. I was just a bit... distracted."
Bright Journey	"Crossed paths? Both distinct?" Bright blinks a few times as she starts to come back to herself, the stammering, distracted behavior starting to give way back to her normal behavior. Her wide eyes narrow a bit as she thoughtfully looks at Fudou. "What are you not telling me, big guy? Spit it out. She won't..." Bright pauses, visibly stopping and gathering herself. "-He- won't. And..." She pauses again, her expression rapidly changing as she's clearly starting to put two and two together. "-He- won't," she repeats. "And I -knew- that. I knew it because I knew you." She looks right into Wandering Tree's eyes. "Don't I? I knew you. In a way...in my dreams, I know you now." She gets a wan sort of smile. "Kind of. I..." She sighs deeply. "I'm right, aren't I? This isn't how I envisioned it happening at all..."
Fudou the Mountain	"I understand it rarely ever is." Not from personal experience mind you but...it seems he clued into what was happening just before he did. Then there's the fact that she just read him like a book so he couldn't have this from her for long regardless. He looks towards Wandering Tree and then reaches a hand up as the other massive man takes note of him. He pats the top of his head, around where Wandering Tree's 'ears' would be and he narrows his eyes a touch and just inclines his head in a sort of 'I see you' sort of look to his face. "It's fine if you didn't notice me. An impossiblity but the imposible seems to be more and more common around these parts." Fudou gestures to the food that had been ordered, "I think he can have this. He's not quite my size but smaller then me have eaten more. You are welcome to it. I have just cause to believe the time has come for me to take my leave." He takes the oni mask back up and reaches up and slips it over his head and after a quick gesture to remove his glasses, pulls it down to cover his face completely. He grins, behind it, but the though hidden the grin is pretty clear in his eyes. "Goodbye for now. Enjoy your food!"
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree gets a large borderline goofy grin on his face as he looks back to Bright Journey, his hands twitching on top of his legs. "Ma'am, I am sure you are right. You are someone I've dreamed of, even though we both had different faces. Even with that though, it feels very real, very strong. I must admit that I did not have a clear vision of a moment like this, or a plan for if it happened, but... Now that it's happened I would very much like a chance to meet you. To learn who you are now, I mean. Hmmm, these words really do a poor job of covering something like this, don't they? I suppose it will not surprise you to learn that I am not known for my skill at poetry?" Tree turns his head to regard Fudou as he speaks, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully at the cranial gesture. "Are you sure? As I said, I didn't not intend to interrupt, and I don't wish to rob you of your meal."
Bright Journey	"Offhand," Bright Journey murmurs, "I think I'd argue for both of us to get a pass, just this once." She chuckles a bit, the wan smile from before starting to brighten into something a little more positive. "That's awfully kind of you, Fudou," Bright says as he makes to leave. In any other context, she would normally not want anyone to leave, but...this is a very, very special occasion. One of a kind, even. She offers Tree a fond smile. "You're forgiven for not being able to find the words. That's usually -my- job, after all, on top of being a sorceress, and an archer, and just generally someone who brings people together. My calling, of a sort," she says with a smile. "Only on one condition, though, and I expect you to follow this demand to the letter." She's still smiling, the humor blunting the harsh words. "You may never call me 'Ma'am' again. I'm Bright Journey, or Bright, or occasionally 'you with the bow' when things get really hectic. But Ma'am is my mum, not me."
Fudou the Mountain	"Oh I'm sure. Doubly so now. As amusing to me as it is to watch her get flabbergasted or to see someone of your stature and imposing physicality stumble about akwardly, I am afraid she's reinforced my need to depart. This is, indeed, a one of a kind event and it doesn't need a spectator who is only involved by happenstance of being 'in the know'." Fudou's deep bass is lightly muffled by that dang mask but his words still rumble across the table to the both of them. "Besides. I need to go admire myself in a mirror and perhaps have others do the same." His previous good humor has returned. The weight of the moment passing over him now with the ease of the great weights he's been seen throwing about. "Goodbye for now! Perhaps we will meet again in the arena!" And with that, the colossus turns an begins heavily treading away, stepping over the fence and back into the streets again in a path that mirrors Wandering Tree's arrival.
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree's smile does go all the way over the line to goofy a Bright delivers her condition. Even after his earlier protest, he barely seems to register Fudou's departure as Bright captures his full attention once again. "I think I can live with that condition. Bright Journey... I like that. It sounds quite cheery to my ears. I'm also happy to leave finding the hard words as a task in your care. My strengths and habits are a bit more... direct. To be quite honest, I had to struggle quite a bit to resist the urge to come over and just hug you. At least a little of that was from another me, I think. But I also had the feeling that surprising you like that would have been as risky as it would have been rude. Boundaries, right?"
Bright Journey	Bright glances at Fudou once more as he leaves, a touch of a smile on her face, as she looks back to Tree. "I think I owe him a gift basket or something. Maybe with a raksha mask on it. Either way, I think it's fine if you go ahead and have his food for now. I'm sure we need to talk." She chuckles dryly. "A lot." Bright thinks a moment. "Mmm...The name Bright Journey was something I chose after...well, a pretty low point in my life. One where I thought I had nothing. Almost gave in to despair, thought I had nothing to offer the world. And then I had the Second Breath, and a vision of unity. Of Creation shoulder to shoulder in harmony, standing to face its enemies together. And..." she shrugs, smiling. "That has been essentially what I've been trying to do since. I've seen some success but I have a long, long way to go. "As for you...yeah. Direct. Much like my memories, really. We can talk more about what I remember later, but know this: We were far more than just friends. That I -do- remember. I have to admit...I thought when I met you my old memories would flood back, and the me that was and the me today would...I don't know. Merge, maybe." She self-consciously tugs at a necklace around her throat, the pendant under her dress and the chain barely visible beneath the golden collar she wears. "Instead, my memories are just as spotty, and I -know- you're my mate, as sure as I breathe. But it's just...raw knowledge. The emotions I expected aren't there. I'm not sure I could just...I don't know, jump into your arms. Boundaries I think are a good thing, at least for right now. Let's just...talk...and see where things lead."