Complete Isulus Hats Off to You

[Bluebird]

A day after the fall of the Kurungaar Matron...​

Ruby hasn't logged back in since the fight.

Bluebird closed her friends list and tried to to push her worry out of mind. The fight had been long and grueling - she still remembered the nightmares she'd had the night before. It was no wonder Ruby wanted a break. There would be a chance for them to catch up later, but for now, Bluebird had her own business in Camp Nisus. It didn't take long for someone to understand who she meant when she asked about the "fancy hat man" and direct her to the infirmary. Not everyone could simply rest and recover, it seemed. Those dubbed 'landers' had to heal the slow way.

The infirmary hummed with discomfort, and she had to force herself not to crumple the brim of the hat she was carrying as she walked through. She would help as well, she decided - once she'd returned the hat, of course. With a short whistle, she lifted herself briefly into the air, long enough to pick out the white suit and purple hair, seemingly hard at work. She considered simply flitting over there, but it seemed impolite.

Instead, she landed, took a moment to triangulate, and trotted swiftly in his direction. She came to a sharp stop a few feet behind him and cleared her throat. "Excuse me! Could I have a moment of your time? I have something for you!"

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

The nature of song and dance was founded in rhythm and note, both that could be accomplished with just a specific eye for timing. Though he had burned away much of his energy in the battle against the Kurungaar Matron, whatever the Starcalled exhausted in battle could be restored with a night's rest and a break in reality. Danielle herself had taken a lovely shower, gone off outside to a nice, normal, non-homicidal park, and did a photoshoot for Kari Traa's autumn catalogue, before hopping back on and...getting back to work.

There was something weird about it, wasn't there? Logging into Terrasphere in her spare time to sit at an infirmary, listening to the sufferings of landers who took much longer to recover from injuries than players. Still, Cain, Flagbearer he was, would not falter in the face of such tedious suffering. Landers could not be revived. He had learned that the hard way once, and as a master of the Harmonic Symphony, he was simply obligated to do as he needed.

So naturally, he orchestrated. Standing at the center, fingers effacing the invisible ripples of noise that accompanied every hurried step, every uncorked bottle, every tightening of fabric, and every whispered prayer, the midnight-haired muse highlighted what matched and muted what did not. A song made of work, founded in activity rather than guiding it. Granting an extra sense of momentum to one's haste, granting a clearer precision in one's movements, granting a rhythm even to the agony felt, so that one may predict and brace, so that one may enjoy the lulls in sensation.

A sweatdrop beaded down his temple. But only one. And so long as he took care, he could do this even whilst holding a conversation.

"Ah, the Bluebird." A sauve smile crested his angular features, followed by a backstep that crossed his legs and an inclining of his head. "For one who has perform so admirably during this expedition, I will always be willing to partition my time for you. I suppose you've come to return my hat?"

 

[Bluebird]

Ah, yes, I am Bluebird! And I did bring your hat.

Her wings twitched as she half-focused on the otherwise silent melody of the infirmary. A song of labor weaving pain and duty together... and at its center was this man, plucking the strings so that the song might sing with his guidance. A little like her own work, but where she needed her voice, he seemed to do so with motion alone.

Thank you for letting me borrow it. And for your words of support. I might not have been able to push onward.

Bluebird had thought of leaving once her friends were free. Part of her would have gladly tried to march them out herself. But they had stayed, and in the end, so had see.

You saved us, he had said.

She held the hat out for him to take. It was only after he reclaimed it that she turned her attention to the infirmary around her. Her fingers tapped along on her leg, echoing the silent melody being woven.

...you're doing this, aren't you? Not changing, not vocalizing, but... guiding the song here. Like a conductor. Do you also practice Harmonic magic?

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

He received the hat gingerly, holding it up for inspection with the tips of his fingers pressed against the rim. After a full day's of exploration, a terrible time spent in the Broodmother's folds, and then a subsequently battle to the death against the demon-ruined insectoid, the hat itself remained pristine still, perfectly white and perfectly in shape. The Stormdancer's feather sparked still, an electric current running through his skin as he smoothed out its edges. It fit on his head perfectly, until he twisted it to one side and slanted it over his left eye.

"It wasn't a matter of lending, just a matter of entrusting." To new generations what older ones could not do in the past. He had heard the tales of Arachna and Azog, the sacrifices made. Had witnessed the death-seeking behaviors of Titanius and her Core. Compared to what once was but a reckless charge for an instant of glory, they have improved, without doubt. "And you would have, regardless of the words of a stranger."

His lips quirked upwards at her final statement.

"Oho? Was this an effort at rhetoric, Bluebird, or have you yet to hear of the tales of the Flagbearer of Miracles, Master of the Harmonic Symphony and Bearer of Hylia's Score?"

 

[Bluebird]

Bluebird relaxed as Cain took the hat. Taking care of it had felt like more responsibility than she was ready for - like there was a weight to it she couldn't understand. She clasped her now-free hands behind her back, swaying back and forth as Cain announced himself.

She raised a hand to her mouth to suppress a giggle, and looked rather embarrassed to have to do so.

What a long and dramatic title you have, sir! You must have done quite a bit in this game, then.

Her finger-tapping paused for a moment. Her attention was caught by a stutter of pain, one of those things that Cain worked into his harmony. For him, it was something to work into his work. For Bluebird, however, it was an irritation, a snag that consumed her attention.

A couple of more rapid finger taps, counter to Cain's motions. A low whistle that could be mistaken for nerves. Where the feeling of suffering sang, she responded with acceptance and endurance. Under her attention the negative emotion faded, like a candle flame being smothered.

There. That's better, she thought. He shouldn't mind.

I've only played this game for a short time - I do not know of this world's heroes. I do recall seeing you some time ago, waving a flag about, but nothing since then.

I suppose you must be quite important then, Mr...?

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

His orchestration changed slightly. Had been changed by her.

Was this kindness, or self-satisfaction? For those of the Harmonic lineage, it naturally became both, no longer distinguishable. As performers performed both to entertain and to empathize, the healing that came from Harmonic magic drew out strength from within those who heard it. At times, it drew out what was already there. At other times, it forced out what wasn't there. Like the Fever. Like the Demon.

There was perhaps a philosophy behind whether or not a healer should ease suffering or encourage growth, if they had to choose between one or the other. With both of them, though, there was no choice needed. Made urgent by suffering sounded, medics and apothecaries worked with clarified speed. Sufferings stilled and agonies quelled, the injured and distressed rested easily in the dark fog of unconsciousness, blanketed by the birdkin's subtle sounds.

"Well, of those Starcalled known to be true heroes immortalized in memory, I am not one of them," he spoke, laughing in a way that perhaps was not so self-deprecating. "I own no land or titles, and in the four years that has passed, my fame has fallen too. Few know now, of the Heroes of Honeyhome, of the Slayers of Miracles and Falsehood, and in the absence of such stories, the only star that shines upon me is my adjacency to the lords and legends who fought and vanquished Titania."

He winked, snapping his fingers.

"That is to say, I'm not that famous. I'm just friends with famous people."

Or, at least, not enemies.

 

[Bluebird]

Mm... I understand.

And she did understand. Over in that other world, Mira was not particularly famous in the grand scheme of things. She was more of a novelty, a glimpse into a world that few others knew. But it meant that there were people out there who could put her name to her face. Not quite friends, but as the moon reflected the sun, she benefitted from that proximity.

Such stories sound like they would be quite fascinating! I know so little of what happened in this game before, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

She tilted her head and listened to the way the song routed around her own. It wasn't like being with Ruby - that was a call and response, one following the other. With Cain, she felt like she facing something much greater - something that might not welcome a more direct impulse.

So she kept her own song subtle, followed instead of led. That was the way to keep peace, here. She clapped her hands together, both to match the beat and to emphasize her own words.

That fame could so easily be reignited - people do love to listen to tales! Even if they are not yours alone, the teller grows in the telling.

As handsome as you are, I imagine it would not be difficult to win their ears!

She smiled. It was a simple compliment, a statement of fact. People did love to have a face to put to history, and if that face was attractive, then it was all the better.

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

"Such confidence is endearing, of course, but Terrasphere, by its nature as an game that allows for fully customizable player avatars, has a surplus of supernaturally handsome individuals." He brushed his hair back, time itself seeming to slow as infinitesimal sparkles shone in the air and the strands floated with a fleeting elegance. "As handsome as I am, there are thousands more who are my equal. Such is the nature of the lotus-eaters' metamorphosis, after all. And if one were to consider all things more broadly..."

Well, Danielle was confident in her appearance both in real life and in Terrasphere, but that didn't change the matter that a dainty waif like Bluebird, one who so cleanly expressed her emotions and thoughts, one who had both the vigor to helm the vanguard and the charm to demand the protection of all others, would feature much more broadly in the strike zones of others.

"...the two of us both stand at the precipice of a new era, on footing that is ultimately equal. Old tales fall out of favor as new stories sound their songs, and the people crave novelty. I do reckon then, Bluebell, that your star will shine all the more brighter than mine, if you would make an effort for it."

He stilled his orchestration for a moment, allowing hers to fill the silence of his departure.

"Would you? Or has trailblazing taken your heart, no matter what you've witnessed?"

 

[Bluebird]

"All stars shine in the heavens, but only those that burn brightest will shine over Eden."

Her quote is spoken with an odd, stilted quality. She heard it often in sermons as a child. "To rise above, one must work hard", it meant, and even now it guided her. But now it was a warning, instead of a goal. She had learned a lot in the past years.

...but the brightest stars are first to die. Fame is such a fickle thing, and being a novelty hollows the soul. I would be glad for simpler things, and nature cares only for what you work with your own hands.

Bluebird scrapes idly at the ground with a talon. There's something exhausting about these thoughts, rooted in old memories from darker times. It feels like an intrusion from a world that she'd rather escape, here in Terrasphere. Her contribution to Cain's orchestration has stilled, her focus

...so long as my friends blow the whistle, I'll lend my own to that choir. For all the horrors of this world, it offers wonders in equal measure, does it not? Even an old soul such as you must find it surprising sometimes!

If nothing else, that insect matron was-

She trailed off and bit her lip. The hot stink and horror still lingered in the back of her mind. A vision of hell, one that had consumed more than a few of the whistles, and several others besides. It would be a lie to say it hadn't affected her, but... it had been something she could fight. An enemy without complication - a demon with no shades of grey.

...wonders and horrors in equal measure. You cannot have one without the other. I would gladly brave them both, and the Explorers are the forefront of such things.

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

So it had taken its roots after all.

The excitement of near-death, the fear that draws one to delve further and further into the abyss, mistaking anxiety with attraction, building bonds upon suspension bridges. He had experienced it himself, after all. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows, grinding into the paste that you used to paint your face for war. For all that you suffer, there was no place in reality where you could suffer like this, and once you surpass that suffering, you reach a peak, an instant, that burned away all your accomplishments in reality.

Starfire, scorched into his vision. The Eclipsing Astraphere, a culmination of his prior victories, rushing out of that four-year dam he had constructed. Addictions to feed the heart and slay the body, even as he still felt that scathing spite against what the game had done to those he loved.

“Equal measure…”

He mused. Could feel that slight tremor in his hands, recalling the fight once more. Fear, or excitement? Heroism and idiocy.

“Our hands are capable of averting tragedies. More capable than they are in reality. But Bluebird, do not let this one incident become your shining example of how fate unfolds in Terrasphere. There will never be a guarantee that the horror you claw at will reveal wonders at the end.”

A smile crested his features. Mirthless, merciful.

“Sometimes, you will dig, not realizing all you’re doing is going deeper down. Make sure you keep the things that orientate you close to your chest, alright?”

 

[Bluebird]

Bluebird was orating, she realized - at some point Cain had stopped being a person and become a member of the crowd. One among many that hoped to see into her depths, unaware that they gazed into a mirror. Perhaps this man was more than that, but the need to withdraw behind that barrier was too strong to fight.

Her smile was guarded. Silk cloaking steel, ready to fend off deeper inquiry. It was all too familiar, and she hated how easily it came to her.

Not so different from reality, is it? It's comforting, knowing that.

The steel faded. Or perhaps her shroud was too thick to pierce. Either way, all that remained was the brightly smiling Bluebird from before, like someone had flipped a switch.

...ah, but I do ramble on! Thank you for granting me your time, and your trust, however brief. I will leave you to your conducting - I have business of my own I should return to.

She bowed apologetically, hands clasped in front of her, then straightened up with a flutter of wings.

I hope you find your own path to paradise, be it here or beyond. May your day be a good one, sir!

She bobbed her head once more, and then turned her attention to the sky as she turned to depart. The sun told her that she had a little longer to spend before she had to log out. Hopefully she could make that time count.

@Cain Darlite

 

[Cain Darlite]

A brow raised, but it smoothed out as the atmosphere changed.

The bluebird wore her mask well, after all, and though he wished her the best, as he did with all players who plunged headfirst into Terrasphere whilst aware of its dangers, of how directly it would savage even the greatest amongst them, they were strangers all the same. Connected by tangled emotions and bundled tragedies, bound, perhaps, only because he noticed her.

There was no need then, to form any deeper connections. He had enough to balance, between the steadily-increasing amount of time he spent on this game, the people he thought dead now rising back from the grave, and the entire proposal that she needed to send of towards Chelsea after this. There was that saying, after all.

Spread your fingers too wide, and all that you wish for will slip between the gaps.

But he too, was greedy. And he didn't like those particular words of hers.

"I would be remiss," Cain spoke, stalling her departure with a single step forward, "to let you off without reward. Following the long tradition of fetch quests, allow me to bestow you a gift, at least, for your troubles."

It ripped soundlessly, the fabric he freely tore out from his own Battle-Banner. The substance of space, remade into a ribbon. Stars gleamed within the black, infinitely far and close enough to touch.

"I will not bear a Whistle, but if you and yours are in dire straits once more, I will not hesitate to weave our fates together once more." Cain smiled, tipped his hat towards her once more. "Good day, Bluebird. And stay safe."

 

[Bluebird]

Bluebird paused in her departure, turning with a tilt of her head. Then Cain began to tear a strip from his banner, and her eyes widened with shock.

Oh, your banner! You...

But it was too late for her protests - the deed had been done too quickly and effortlessly for her to stop it. She took it silently, working the soft and starry fabric with her fingers as she stared down at it. It was such a fine thing - too fine for her. But already she was imagining what she might do with it - her hair was too short to tie it, so it would have to be worn in some other way.

After all, it was more than a ribbon - it was a promise, a symbol of a bond. She would be a fool to refuse it.

...thank you. I will keep this safe. And perhaps when we meet again, I will have something to give you in return.

This time, her smile was genuine. She raised a hand in farewell, then turned away. This time there was no delay in her departure. With a fluttering of feathers and a warbling whistle, Bluebird took to the air, leaving Cain to his work once more.

<Thread end!>