{Video}

[heavensdragon]

{He is observing the statues of those who have disappeared. A blue light emanates from his fingertips and he directs it at the statues. After a moment, he pulls his power back into himself.}

What became of them, do you think? These forms, at least, are not them as far as I can tell.

{At the feet of each statue, he places small wooden tablets - carved by his hands.}

If they have died, their souls have fled. They are now part of the great wheel of reincarnation.

Or else they have returned to their homes. That is the outcome I hope for most.

Comments

voice

[grappler]

Damn, if they left, they should've told the rest of us how to get out.

[even if she's more or less wanting to leave just to see people, and not home itself.]

Selfish little assholes.

voice

[heavensdragon]

It would have been preferable if they did.

If they could.

{He doubts they were given the opportunity.}

Homesick?

[grappler]

Not exactly.

[if she had to pick an environment, this would definitely be it.]

I just need to make sure some people I know haven't gotten themselves killed while I've been gone.

[heavensdragon]

I understand. {Those he cares about are more important than any environment.} Has no one else from your world arrived?

[grappler]

Nope. Just me, myself, and I.

[she's not going to let on how much that sucks.]

You got anyone here?

[heavensdragon]

No. {They are alike in that.} I think that best and yet I do miss them.

[grappler]

[she sighs.]

Yeah, though it would be nice to let my little sister see this place. Even though it kinda sucks, it's still pretty. Y'know?

[heavensdragon]

My younger brother would like to explore this place too. I hate to admit it, but he is probably better at finding a way out.

[grappler]

Who knows. There's plenty of us around here and no one's figured out anything yet, so who knows if dragging someone else in would really help or not.

[heavensdragon]

There is a solution, I believe that. We traveled one way; that path is still a possibility. We can use it to return.

[grappler]

Just gotta find the needle in that annoying-ass haystack.

[long sigh.]

It'll probably be in the last place we look, like anything else you lose.

[heavensdragon]

Probably. {He tries to be...optimistic, but his smile is more sardonic.} If you can't keep your hope, stay angry. We need your energy.

[grappler]

Oh, I have plenty of anger to go around. I could probably power a whole city with it.

[that's part of what's been keeping her going for so long.]

[heavensdragon]

You are not alone in that. {Being angry together is comforting, oddly enough.} My anger increases each time I see someone suffering or replaced with a statue.

[grappler]

[honestly, it really kind of is comforting... usually she's told to calm the fuck down.]

The statues are dumb as hell, honestly. The suffering... yeah, that pisses me off too.

[heavensdragon]

{Calm doesn't really work anymore. For any of them.}

I see them as taunts. If we are too loud, too boisterous, too criminal, we will be monuments too.

[grappler]

See, shit like that is why I try to tear it down. Unfortunately, they seem to come right back.

video;

[galling]

Oooooooh, that light show just now.

[ ... that this blindfolded man has somehow seen through his blindfold - ]

Was it 'cause you scanned something to tell you all that?

video;

[heavensdragon]

{He has questions, but they would be rude, he decides, so he keeps them to himself.}

I can sense life. If there was even the smallest hint, I would feel it.

[galling]

I see! Nifty trick.

[ and then, because he knows he's being rude, and will continue to be so anyway. ]

You gotta hold the blacklight up each time, or?

[heavensdragon]

The "blacklight" is my power. {And not blacklight at all.} I am using my energy to potentially seek out theirs.

[baldrshand]

...That's a relief. [She had been concerned about those statues. There are legends in Jugdral of evil magic that can turn people into stone...] I don't like to think that they're dead, myself.

[She doesn't have any comment on returning home. It is probably the best outcome for most people, and she doesn't want to throw a damper on that.]

[heavensdragon]

{He had been concerned about the same. With the statues appearing suddenly, it had felt...suspicious.}

I don't either, but I know of no other way to leave a realm unless gods intervene.

[baldrshand]

If you put it that way... perhaps it was gods who brought us here in the first place. I can't imagine any human sorcerer, even the greatest in history, having the power to summon people from different worlds in the heavens.

[heavensdragon]

Neither can I. {Yet there is a problem with both theories.} I can't imagine which god is powerful enough to trap me, however.

[baldrshand]

Sorry, are you saying that your powers are... godlike?

[heavensdragon]

I am a god. I reign over the night sky.

[baldrshand]

[UHHH.]

You are? [THAT IS. the only thing she can think to say. he seems 500% earnest about that.] My goodness. I've never met a god in person.

[heavensdragon]

You needn't fear me. {He adds softly.} My only desire is to keep everyone safe and help find a way home.

[baldrshand]

Don't worry. I'm not afraid. [She's met him, he's a healer... and he's a little awkward, although she's sure if she saw him in the 'true form' he mentioned at the clinic, he would be more at ease in himself.] I'm just surprised.

It must be very hard, to be separated from your own stars.

[heavensdragon]

{Runyu has always been a bit awkward - even in Heaven. The trait doesn't disappear when he is a dragon, but at least he doesn't fully have to rely on words then. Most of his awkwardness stems from abuse.}

Yes, I miss them. I can't do anything here to help guide anyone.

[baldrshand]

...I understand that. [She feels the same about her children. Without her there to protect them, they are alone in a cutthroat world.] We have to trust that they're in good hands.

[heavensdragon]

There is no one else besides me. They must take care of themselves, I suppose.

{Maybe that's better. A part of him wonders.}