LANDFALL | TAVIMBI | MARCH MINGLE LOG

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: March 1 - 31
Location: City of Hatal, Tavimbi
Situation: Tu Vishan is still anchored just off the coastline of Tavimbi, and the city of Hatal continues to welcome kedan and Foreigners alike.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.


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The Tavimbians continue to be welcoming to their guests, and while Foreigners are still required to carry their issued pass stamps while in Hatal, they are starting to become recognized. The stamps are made of a brassy metal, a little larger than a credit card, and inscribed with their information, their date of arrival, and whether they've had any run-ins with the laws in Tavimbi (it will be stamped accordingly by the authorities if such happens.)

OOC: There are starters in the comments for various areas of Hatal, or you can use the rest of the post for anything on Tavimbi which doesn't fit under those headings. All city descriptions, as well as NPC contacts for threading, can be found in the Tavimbi OOC post, which is currently stickied in the OOC comm.

Be sure to also check the March Itinerary for up to date happenings in Hatal, and to tag this entry with your character tag when you join in.

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LINKS
Hatal Exterior - The Metal Heights | The Causeway Level | The Reservoir Level
The Artery Level | The Lorn Level | The Jagaiz Rings | OOC Post

Comments

THE RESERVOIR LEVEL

[ironwood]

The Reservoir Level is also making an overt bid to court the Foreigner's favour, offering to showcase wares by them or by the kedan in their shops, promoting it as free advertising since Hatal sees so many different visitors, but not all of them want to wander around unfamiliar Keeliai. This is an excellent chance for Foreigners who create original wares to secure a brand new client base, since they will be on Tavimbi's shores for the foreseeable future. In a similar vein, these shopkeepers will be highly interested in attempting to reproduce wares from both the Foreigners and the kedan, and will pay a "finder's fee" to be able to borrow items for a while, in order to try and duplicate them.

Closed to Heojin

[wolfstrike]

Yuri's been doing a bit more exploring these days and less fighting in the rings. Though the promise of higher payouts certainly is a bit tempting. But not today, he's out looking around at the shops, and advertising Brave Vesperia's services. He'd managed to recruit a few Kedan to the guild and they're all looking for jobs to do.

However, as he's walking along, something gives him pause, along with one of his Kedan guild members. Have a little bit of staring, Heojin. Cause they see you over there, with the boobs and the breastfeeding. Yuri turns to his companion, jabbing a thumb in Heojin's direction. "Uh... is that normal?" This just earns a shake of the head and an explanation that he must be that good at shape shifting. Huh... okay then. But on a second look, Yuri is suddenly struck with an idea.

Sending the Kedan on his way, Yuri approaches Heojin, giving a little smile to all the little Kedan kids who look at him curiously.

[rawiron]

The group Heojin is with is comprised equally of men and women, with half as many babies as there are adults. The oldest of the children are about a year old -- old enough to be squirmy and intent on what they wish to do, not old enough to be walking or trying to escape very far.

None of the group seem to find it strange that their leader has been able to grow a pair of working breasts. He's not even the only man in the group to have a pair -- though in the case of the second kedan, the child isn't a newborn and the breasts seem to be a matter of weaning off an oral fixation rather than actual feeding.

Conversations fall quiet as Yuri approaches, though not completely vanishing; those nearest to Heojin eyeball the Foreigner, but don't stop his approach. Heojin looks up with a smile of serene contentment, making no attempt to cover himself. Breast-feeding is a social activity among the kedan. "Your name is Yuri, yes?" he asks in his quiet, even tones. "How may I help you?"

[wolfstrike]

Yuri pays no mind to the looks and hushed conversation, instead giving Heojin a friendly smile when he's greeted warmly. While he is a bit weirded out by the fact that a guy has... boobs. He's not exactly uncomfortable about the whole breastfeeding thing. It's not like he hasn't seen it before. In fact, he was kinda raised communally like this himself. Having been an orphan, everyone in the Lower Quarter had pitched in with his upbringing.

"Yeah, that's me," he says. They had talked once before so he didn't find it unusual that Heojin remembered his name. "Didn't know you liked kids."

Placing a hand on his hip casually, he glanced at all the babies around. Many of them were about the same age as the baby he had found.

"Actually I could use a little advice. I found a Kedan baby a few months ago. Been trying to find her parents but no luck. So my girlfriend and I have been taking care of her. But you know how Foreigners come and go and all. It wouldn't be good for us to keep her, especially if we end up disappearing one day."

Though Dove was becoming quite attached to the baby, Yuri was the one who remained the most practical. He liked the kid a lot, but they had to think about what was best for her.

[rawiron]

Despite the evidence of responsibility the Foreigners had lately shown, on an individual level many kedan still thought of them as fairly irresponsible, at least when it came to thinking of people other than themselves.

This is a pleasant surprise, and it makes Heojin smile more warmly, and indicate for Yuri to join him in sitting on the wall.

"I think you are right," he says. The fact that the Foreigners constantly left was, as he understands it, a point of contention between the kedan and the Foreigners' desire to put down permanent roots. "What is it, precisely, you wish to ask? Help in your search, or something else?"

[wolfstrike]

Yuri took the offer and sat on the wall next to Heojin. Good to know he was being taken seriously at least.

"I'm not a Kedan, so I'm really not sure what's best for her," he admits. "So whatever help you could give would be great. Even if you want to take her yourself."

Which he wouldn't be surprised if he did. He was sure the Kedan would want to look after their own. But then you never know. He didn't want Heojin to think he was just trying to pass her off either. Yuri was sincere in his desire to do the right thing for the child. He just needed some help or atleast guidance.

[rawiron]

"Adoption or guardianship to a kedanese family may well be best," said Heojin in his slow, measured tones. "You know this, I think, or you would not have come to me. For instance, a kedan learns to shapeshift very early. If one does not have that example, one may not learn it properly."

He glanced toward Yuri, not sidelong but still measuring. "Have you seen her do much of that, on her own?"

Pregnant kedan had to shapeshift frequently during one part of their pregnancy, and then not at all through the last of it. Exposure was important. Not shapeshifting could mean anything from simple lack of that exposure, or something as serious as neglect or abuse. In this case, Heojin felt the former was more likely than the latter.

[wolfstrike]

Well, yes, that was part of the reason Yuri had come to Heojin, obviously. She needs to be with her own kind and not Foreigners who could disappear at a moments notice. What he hadn't realized, as shows on his face, is that Kedan children learned to shapeshift when they were very young. It made sense though, considering how even human kids mimicked their parents early on.

"No, not really," Yuri admits. "If that's how it is, then she needs to find a Kedan family as soon as possible." He didn't want to hinder the girl's growth on account of people taking care of her who couldn't shapeshift.

"Another reason I came to you," Yuri continues. "Is that I was an orphan too. I was raised by my community instead of my own parents. When I saw this," and he gestures at Heojin and the others around him. "... It made me think of that. Growing up without your own parents is pretty tough. I just want to make sure she's taken care of, you know?"

Thus the reason he had been a little guarded about it. Opening up about his own past is not something Yuri does often, so it's kind of a big deal for him. As is the fact that he can relate with the little Kedan girl.

[rawiron]

For some long moments Heojin regards Yuri. When he does speak, the evenness of his voice hasn't changed, but his tone is sympathetic and gentler than usual. "I am sorry to hear that. I do believe the best thing for her would be to turn her over to our care--we would be able to find someone to foster here among my family."

At that, there's a few definite, if murmured, agreements among the other parents.

"But it is not only you who makes the choice, am I correct? Have you spoken with your lady on this matter?"

[wolfstrike]

He hadn't been looking for sympathy. Yuri had come to terms with the fact that he was an orphan a long time ago. It was only mentioned to get across his point of view. But Heojin's kindness was appreciated nonetheless. He nodded in agreement with the Kedan.

"Yeah, we've talked about it. She's kind of attached, but I know she wants what's best for her too."

Yuri didn't think he would have a problem convincing Dove, even though there might be some tears involved. The angel had a particularly soft spot for children after all.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it. But would visits be okay? Might make it easier on her."

[rawiron]

"Of course," Heojin said. "It would be well for her to remember those who saved her from destitution." Yuri hadn't said anything on how or when they'd found her, or what condition she'd been in--but sometimes even among the family-oriented kedan, people slipped through.

"There are documents which must be signed," Heojin continued, "in the event someone is looking for her, there will be a record of her fostering. How would you like to proceed?"

When, rather. Even if Yuri's partner was aware of the possibility, that didn't mean she would allow this to be rushed.

[wolfstrike]

Yuri nods slowly at that. Of course there would be papers to sign, that makes sense.

"Just tell me where to go. Or stop by our guild house. I'll talk to her tonight. Maybe give her a day to let it sink in. So... I can meet you the day after tomorrow?"

The baby needed to be with other Kedan so he didn't want to wait too long but he didn't want to rush Dove either. That felt like a good amount of time to him.

[rawiron]

A few of the kedan laughed, and though they weren't derisive laughs, Heojin nevertheless sent them a faintly quelling glance. "I think," he said gently, "that your lady may wish for more time than that. I would advise you to discuss the length of time with her before you make arrangements with me."

He knew that if he was given only a day to come to terms with the fact a child he had been raising would be sent elsewhere--well, it wouldn't be enough. He was expecting a week at least. "It will not harm the child for another week or so."

[wolfstrike]

Yuri blinked cluelessly at the laughter, then rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as Heojin explained. Yep, his inexperience in these things was definitely showing. But Heojin had a point. The guy was probably saving Yuri some grief with that suggestion.

"Oh... Yeah, maybe you're right."

It's about this time that Lambert comes wandering back. The dog looking at the Kedan and then a Yuri meaningfully before sitting to wait.

"Okay, I'll be in contact then."

[rawiron]

"If you give a note to any of the Woodsmen merchants," said Heojin, "they will deliver it to me. I shall await your response and reply with a location."

He couldn't bow, but he nodded to both Yuri and Lambert with a measure of respect he didn't offer to all the Foreigners he had thus far met. "I wish you luck."

[wolfstrike]

Rising from where he had been sitting Yuri nodded in both understanding and in returned respect, a sincere smile on his face.

"I'll do that. Thanks for your help."

It meant a lot really, and he definitely now saw Heojin and his family in a different light. And with that he went on his way with his dog to catch up with the rest of his guild. About a week later Heojin would receive a note from Yuri, stating that they were ready to give him the little girl they had named Aveline.