EVENT | GUIDING LIGHT

[alderwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: June 1st-5th, 2014
Location: Keeliai, all sectors
Situation: Following Evandau's announcement about the soul lanterns and new housing, the Foreigners are shuffled around while Malicant's agents try to complicate this as much as possible!
Warnings/Rating: Possible mentions of violence from the cultists, plus various characters' reactions to moving.

LINKS
Fire Sector | Earth Sector | Metal Sector | Water Sector | Wood Sector | Cultist Shenanigans | Speak with Eva & Celaunn | OOC Plot Post

The new Basswood Commander, Celaunn, stands watch outside of the building with one ready hand resting on the hilt of her sword while her protectorate goes inside. A prodigy of magic as she is, liberating all the Foreigners' souls right out from under Malicant has left Evastelei far more expended than any of them care to admit. She looks as tired and worn as Evandau sounded on the radio post, but she tries to cover it with good humour, much as can be mustered given the situation. Eva's sent out messages to the ones whose essence she's felt resonate for each address and upon arriving, carries the lanterns into the new units whether they're all present or not... she's a busy lady and when this is all done she might just sleep for a week.

"Couldn't rightly explain some of these set-downs," Eva says as she goes about hanging the lamps up in the central part of the house. For most of the units, this equates to the main living area, though sometimes in the kitchen or unfinished room -- the layouts on each building has variations, after all. "One of those things you just have to feel, I reckon. Never figured Evandau much for leaving new bottles of wine on the pillows after all, so this will have to do."

While she's in the buildings, she'll run her hands over the wards built into the walls, letting them light briefly with various colours of light depending on the purpose, a symbol-based language not unlike runic illuminating at her touch and then fading to invisibility again.

"Now for these," she'll continue once she's sure she has all their attentions. "These are the best I could do on short notice, what with the Creature throwing all his resource at breaking Eshai's spells. That's why none of you could get into the Throne Room few weeks back-- that was a right bold move on your parts, by the way. See if you can't talk tall and smileless up there," she jerks her head toward the front of the building to indicate Celaunn, "into learning something from it. Chilu's are too by the book."

She'll explain how the lanterns are strengthened by proximity of those whose soul they house, and the dangers of staying away from them (particularly in a Dreaming state) for too long. "You don't want the Creature coming to rip you out of here," she says, jabbing them in the chest for emphasis, a deep frown distorting the burned scar on the one side of her face. "Be something like putting your insides through a wind shearer. Don't recommend it, that's for certain. Are you paying attention? Don't be moving these anywhere. With the power of these, I can understand why Eshai wanted to keep them close but keeping them from you... well, it wasn't the only thing she and I disagreed on."

Once she's satisfied that they've got as much information as she can provide at this time, she'll remind them as Evandau did: these lanterns are their Keeliai anchors and should they be destroyed, it won't be a trip back to their worlds that they can look forward to. "Without these, I can't keep you from being lost for good," she'll add seriously. "Good luck with them."

Comments

METAL SECTOR

[alderwood]

The new buildings in the Metal Sector remain hallmarked with the sleek lines and minimalist decoration of the former living quarters. A monochromatic colour palette dominates these spaces with only tasteful accent colours to provide spots of contrast. The lighting is likewise cool and white, giving these lodgings a sterile sort of feel. Brushed metals in silver and platinums has been used as accents in the various rooms, on an assortment of buttons that power these units' many amenities. Though only basic sets of furniture have been set up -- perhaps in anticipation of the Foreigners moving their own into this space -- it's still evident that the overall theme of the district has carried through. The names of these buildings begin with JIN.

Aya | JIN-GAI

[looksfine]

[Aya had no personal attachment to her previous residence. This was still not the Interceptor, and thus, it still was not entirely home. Although, strangely enough, the message Evandau had delivered regarding the Lanterns...the knowledge of what she must have possessed in order for her existence to remain....]

[Razer had once told her that she possessed far more of a soul than he ever had. Kyle had scientifically confirmed with his ring scan that this was true. She really was alive. Organic.]

[Yet, there was something about seeing the visual evidence before her now, in the shape of that Lantern, that really drove the concept home for her.]

[She did not sleep. Quarters were not necessary for her, when she could be doing more important work down at one or both of the labs. But if that was what it took to ensure her continued existence here, then Aya would do as requested, and designated a certain amount of time to the Jin-Gai residence of the Metal Sector.]

[Even if that entailed sitting quietly, unmoving, as she continued to stare at the Lantern.]

[...hope you don't find that slightly creepy, new roomies.]

[shorttempered]

[Mark had just brought over the last of his boxes. He really didn't have an attachment to his old place either, and so it was pretty much his clothes, his family's photo album he got one landfall, and Eve's stuff. All of it, even the clothes.

He really should donate those. He had grabbed them out of desperation in the moment, and really hadn't been in a position mentally to let go of them. Now... now was different. It had been months since she had left, and though it still hurt that he couldn't see her, it wasn't as intense as it once had been.

So now Mark's carrying the box of women's clothing into the common area, as a reminder for him to drop it off somewhere later. Out of the corner of his eye he catches Aya staring at the lanterns.]

Not gonna lie, it's super weird that those things are our souls. I mean... I'll admit I'm a litty iffy on what exactly makes a soul, but isn't it what makes us, us? How can we still be us if it's in there...?

[looksfine]

[It was almost more a question of philosophy, not science, which is why Aya did not have an answer right away.]

Until a short time ago, I was not even aware I was in possession of a living soul.

[shorttempered]

Why not? Because you're a robot? Wouldn't it just be what made you you, regardless of whether it's guts or circuitry?

[looksfine]

Because I did not know I was alive.

[And the concept of a soul, living or otherwise, was still so new to a young robot with barely a year's worth of life experience.]

casey jones | JIN-HAO

[sticksaround]

[ Casey can't be particularly bothered about this big move-around when it comes to himself, really. Unintentionally true to Metal Sector form, he doesn't exactly keep a mountain of personal belongings sitting around (a bag for the pseudo-sports equipment, a bag for... everything else), and he's still in the same sector and all. No place that isn't home is home, so a place to live is a place to live, and it won't matter much to him as long as his dad doesn't end up coming to town.

All this soul-lamp stuff seems pretty random, though, so it leaves him worried about where the turtles ended up and how they're dealing. He'll have to find out how to hit them up later. Check in, see if anyone needs to go heavily bruise some criminals, that sort of thing.

For the time being, he's getting a feel for the new digs, and generally just watching those lanterns with mild unease. It's not particularly threatening, and it takes a lot to intimidate him anymore, but it's still pretty creepy. But whatever. Casey Jones can do the social game, rusty as he may be. 'sup roomies, sup. He'll be looking to at least say hi and introduce himself individually to everyone. ]

... nice to meet you guys, I guess. [ Even if it's more of a nice to meet you in person for Korra. ] Not so big on havin' my soul moved around without permission, but you gotta do what you gotta do, apparently.

[deusrexmachina]

[Much like Casey, Rex isn't bothered by the relocation, itself. As is, he hasn't been in Keeliai all that long and hadn't really done all that much to personalize his previous living quarters. He had little to take with him to the new place and, really, he's happy to be living in a situation where he can hear and see other people regularly. Living on his own wasn't really his idea of a good time to begin with. Bonus points that one of the people he's living with now is Korra.]

[But this whole souls in lanterns thing? Oh no. No no no no. Not cool. Rex turns a frustrated look on the lantern on the wall that contains his essence before glancing in Casey's direction.]

Yeah, nice to meet you, too... Just wish it wasn't with all this weirdness involved.

[And he's back to glaring at the lantern again.]

Totally with you on this soul lantern stuff, dude. This is all kinds of creepy and wrong.

[alphatar]

[Korra had accumulated a few belongings over her time in Keeliai, and once she's done just getting everything into her space upstairs, she sits on the floor the instant she's in the living area. Break time, she can unpack everything later.]

Casey, right? [With the explosions going off and the attack on the palace, Korra's amazed she remembered his name right off the top of her head. That may have something to do with her having fun talking to him.]

I didn't know that Emperor Eshai had our souls in them, let alone in the palace. But yeah, Evandau's got to do something about it I guess. [Her blue eyes wander up to her lantern.] Kind of creepy.

Frank Zhang | JIN-WEI

[iguanasolution]

[As soon as Frank realized that the fact that he’d been told to come at the same time as Annabeth hadn’t been a coincidence, he let out a sigh of relief. This whole thing as already making him feel uneasy- being told your life basically depends on staying close to a lamp that has your soul isn’t exactly what most people would call good news. And while he wasn’t particularly attached to his suite it had become kind of his house, his place to stay, a place to call ‘home’ in this particular madness even if it would never really be home. And now he was being told to leave it behind and move. Just like that. He respected authority, yes, and he understood the situation… but he could still get bothered by the whole thing.

But at least if Annabeth was nearby, things wouldn’t seem too bad.

Still, Frank is looking at the lamps hanging on the ceiling with a big frown on his face, as if wondering if a little of wind could knock them out, make them fall and break them.]

[sophos]

[Annabeth isn't exactly... happy, to be moving. A lot of that stems from just being in the same place for over a year and a half, and she clings to her stability. But on the other hand - it might be nice to have a fresh start, away from the suite she shared with Percy for almost a year.]

[It doesn't mean she won't be grumpy about the move, though. She has a lot of stuff to transfer over. It helps, once she realizes Frank is going to be nearby, rather than a cacophony of strangers.]

[She's got a box of her books in hand, though she gets a little distracted by the lamps herself.]

If they had to move me, at least the company's an improvement.

[iguanasolution]

[He blushes, but still he gives her a smile. He'd usually assume he's being teased, but Annabeth wouldn't do that... so he just feels a tiny bit of pride at being at least considered good company.]

Same, and at least we weren't moved to fire. What do you make of these things? [He motions to the lamps.]

[sophos]

[His smile gets her to smile a little, as grumpy as she is about the move.] If they moved me from Metal, too, I don't know what I would have done. [It's already shaking up her stability.]

[But she sets the box down, looking up at the lamps.] Honestly? I'm still trying to figure that out myself. [She sighs a bit.] I've trusted what Eva said in the past, and it's not like she's been wrong exactly, but - our souls just feels like a lot to take in.

[iguanasolution]

[He nods, looking up as well.] Right? And it wouldn't be so bad if it were just, like, our souls being put somewhere for safe storing or something like that? I mean, it'd be creepy. But as it is it just feels very... unsafe.

Donatello | JIN-CHEN

[i_speak_softly]

[Donatello is not having a great day. He has just been forcibly relocated back to the Metal Sector, while one brother and his cousin remain in Water. The security system and refrigerator he worked on so painstakingly will now be the property of some lucky kedan, leaving Don to start over, again in this new place. He'll be sharing his third apartment (how can he be up to three apartments in barely more than a month?) with a total stranger, and, oh yeah, he's just learned that his soul is not in his body, but in an alarmingly-flimsy-looking paper lantern, which has been hung from the ceiling of the living room.]

[At least he still has Leonardo.]

[He stands staring up at the lantern, nearly catatonic and incredibly tense at the same time, trying to figure out where things went wrong and how he should begin making them right.]

Saint Walker | JIN-MIAO

[burnseternal]

[In truth, Saint Walker held very little attachment to his previous living space. He is a soul in transience so much of the time, and he is as content with a roof over his head as he is camping out in the wilderness, as little protection as any canopy of trees provides.

Nevertheless, he takes his time making his way to his new lodgings, carrying with him little more than the clothes on his back; even after all this time, he hasn't managed to accumulate much. He stops as soon as he opens the door, pausing momentarily to glance up at the lantern said to hold their souls, then focuses his attention onto whoever is in their common room.]

A good evening to you, [he says quietly, inclining his head gently in the direction of his new companions.] It appears that we will be sharing our space for a time.

Re: Saint Walker | JIN-MIAO

[powerofchange]

[Maria is standing in the living area of the suite she'd been assigned. She's very new, having just arrived in Keeliai, and she's still feeling a little disoriented. She's not sure how much she believes of what she's been told so far, either. It all seemed too crazy... not that she was a stranger to crazy.

She turns at the sound of the voice, a little surprised. That was quiet.]

Good evening, Sir.

[She offers a small, tentative smile. And resists putting her hand on her blaster.]

My apologies for barging in. I have just... arrived, and this was the address I was given.

[burnseternal]

[Saint Walker quietly shuts the door behind him and steps further into the room, hands held loosely behind his back and a slight smile upon his face.]

I believe it is I that barged into your space, [he says, full of good humour.] No apologies are necessary, friend. I am Saint Walker, and I welcome you to Keeliai.

[He knows that even he cannot offer much of a welcome. There is little good about this place these days, and all have been introduced to a climate of ever-present danger and strife, but he is confident that they will work past it. They must.]

[powerofchange]

[Now Maria smiles. Granted, this is her first encounter with his kind, but she's not a stranger to species other than her own, and he seems to radiate with peace. And giving her his name first - she's taking that as a good sign. Though maybe she's also still a little too disoriented to continue remaining on the edge.]

Thank you. My name is Maria.

[She'd briefly considered not using her name anymore, in a dream of going off to live in peace where she could start anew... but clearly, this place was not where she could live in peace.

She looks around the common room for a moment.]

This place looks rather comfortable, for a world at war.

[burnseternal]

A pleasure to meet you, Maria.

[His expression sobers at Maria's comment, sadness touching his face though a hint of his smile still remains.]

It does, yes, though I regret to inform you that the war they speak of is quite real. It simply does not resemble the wars that you and I may be familiar with. There are moments of peace, however, and those moments are to be cherished.

Kon-El | JIN-XIAN

[tactile_telekinesis]

[The whole message from Evandau had riled Kon up something awful. He hated the idea of moving because he had grown so attached to his home here. He knew all the nooks and crannies of his treehouse and had just grown to feel comfortable there, he also knew the sector very well. The Metal sector wasn't so bad though, he'd spent a lot of his time there visiting friends and hanging out. But still, moving sucked.

The other thing had been the souls. The fact that they hadn't been told about this, that Eshai hadn't told them...he had been furious. That was a major thing, a major part of themselves and they had had the right to know.

But then again, for both things there had been a silver lining. Kon had a soul, which he hadn't really thought about and didn't think he would actually of had since he was a clone. And the other lining being that Bart had been at the same address that he was told to come to.

Inside Kon's sprawled out a couch looking around the shared space.]

So roomies, huh?

[backinakidflash]

Roomies.

[Bart doesn't mean to sound so offhand and distracted by it, but... he's in a new space and everything is disorganized. Not that his room is ever organized but he usually knows where everything is in the heaps. It's a talent, almost an art form.

However, he'd rushed when he'd brought the stuff over here and it's a jumbled together in a heap that is threatening to swamp the entire place. Knowing where things are is that a good chunk of the stuff was originally Tim's, and Bart had never gone through it.

But right now, the mess is only part of what's bothering him, and he pokes with suspicion the soul lantern that keeps drawing his eye. And pokes. And pokes. And pokes. Without any real reason or effect, he thought he might feel a shiver down his spine or something.]

well that coding sucked

[tactile_telekinesis]

[Kon rolls over and ends up kneeling on the couch with a slight frown forming.]

Y'think he took into account the amount of stuff people had before he made us move? I mean, I had a 2 story place to myself and like, two years worth of stuff. No way am I gonna find room. And you, you got like, two peoples worth of stuff in a four man place.

[Kon has no idea how four people are going to share the place even if it is slightly bigger, it was less personal space. Now all Kon had was his room to go to if he needed to be alone. Like CADMUS.

He moves away from the couch and floats over to Bart, watching as he pokes.]

Why wait 'til now to tell us? Think if the Big Bad didn't take over the palace they would have told us at all?

[backinakidflash]

[And pokes. He really will not leave it alone because that's his, and it's supposed to be in his body, dammit. Bart would like to not have to be chained to a stupid house if he wanted to protect his soul.]

I don't think he cares. About us or our stuff or our souls. The only reason he told us is because he couldn't leave them with Dumbass.

[Poke. Poke. He is glaring at it now.]

At least you're my roommate. At least we don't have to get used to people.

[tactile_telekinesis]

[Kon had wanted to grab his own off the wall, had wanted to hold onto it. Something. Just having it just there felt odd.]

Course he doesn't care. He never has. Not for us anyway.

[Kon sighs as he rises enough to turn and float on his back, staring up at the ceiling.]

Yeah, that's pretty cool. Cuts down on the travel. [Cause they really spent a lot of time doing that.]