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roland crane

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Well, I didn't get everything I wanted done, but I'm happy with the progress I've made. [A sigh, then softly, mostly to himself, while shaking his head:] Baby steps.

Just to give everyone a heads up before this hits the news, there's going to be a few changes in how this city is run. It's mostly just behind-the-scenes stuff, though, it won't be affecting your day-to-day life.

...Unless you're living on minimum wage, or need disability accommodations. We'll be doing our best to make your lives a little easier.

[Streeeeeeeetch.]

Now, if I stay in this chair any longer, I'm pretty sure my butt is going to fall off, so if anyone needs me, I'll be at the park.

---

[True enough, Roland can be spotted at Garden Park that afternoon, having changed from his suit to a simple T-shirt and soccer shorts more suitable for exercise. He's chosen a spot off the beaten path with plenty of open space around, and starts going through katas with three fantastic-looking swords, each one appearing in his hand in turn with a flash of light. Nearby, his higgledies chase and get chased by ducks by the pond.]

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[It started innocently enough -- a curious Butterfly swinging by to see what those higgledies are -- some kind of spirit? But that's when the unwitting butterfly happened to discover she did not know about ducks. Apparently they are just as inclined to chase butterflies, too.]

[So along with the higgledy chirps, Roland may also hear a rather unmistakable voice:]

HEEELP! ITS TRYING TO EAT US!!!

Roland pauses his practice to turn toward the voice -- a child playing pretend, perhaps? But no, he doesn't see any children around. Approaching the sound, he finds... a butterfly fleeing from the ducks? Unless his higgledies have started talking, which he doubts.

"Hey, leave it alone!" Roland does his best to put himself between the duck and the butterfly, vaguely waving his sword at it. Do ducks eat butterflies?

Oh thank goodness there was a person. Freedom from flat bills will soon be upon her! The butterfly hurriedly flies up to the person and hides behind him. "Oh my gosh thank you thank you thank you!"

The duck, meanwhile, seems to protest being removed from whatever it considers the butterfly. Food? A curiosity? Who knows what goes on in the mind of a duck.

The butterfly wants none of it. "Buzz off, feather-head! I'm not about to be your dinner! Go on! Shoo! Shoo!"

Yes, that butterfly is definitely talking. Well, Roland supposes he's seen weirder before.

"Go on, get out of here! Find something else to eat!" Roland tries to scare the duck off with his sword again, but he doesn't really want to have to hurt it... or get hurt by it. It's not a goose or a swan, true, but it's similar enough to leave him wary.

Thankfully, the higgledies come to the rescue, tackling the duck (or trying to) and finally chasing it off. A human with some kind of shiny pointy object and those weird creatures don't want it around? It knows when to cut its losses.

The butterfly, still gracious to her savior, is now feeling very tired. Oh, that seems like a pretty rock. Let's just... rest on it. Phew!

"Oh, thank you again stranger. That was probably one of the nastiest creatures I've had the misfortune of running into. Nasty nasty things. Not at all like chickens. Though I guess they are a little chicken, ha."

Despite her words (or perhaps because of it) the pants for air a little, trying to catch their breath. "What was that thing, anyway? I mean, apart from evil incarnate, of course."

Roland's sword fades away, and he kneels down by the rock, offering his hand for the butterfly to rest on as well. (The backside, so he can't accidentally squish her by absentmindedly closing his hand.) Normal butterflies like salt, but he can't help but think a talking butterfly has too much dignity to just drink someone's sweat, though she's welcome to if she wishes.

"Wow, you're really a talking butterfly. What's your name?" Some kind of shapeshifter, perhaps? But then why didn't she just change form when she was chased by the duck?

"It's called a duck. You've never seen a duck before?"

The butterfly takes a moment before lifting itself up in the air. She seems to want to show that she wasn't in that much need and was doing fine now. "No, I haven't seen ducks before. Eaglets, roosters, and pigeons, sure, but never a duck."

She's doing a better, just a few huffs every now and again. "But I guess they're just seeing me as a snack. So... I'm going to hate them for a little while, but I think we'll be okay."

Oh right, he asked her a question. Well... "Butterfly! You can call me Butterfly." Yes, that will do. "Say, um... do you know what those things are that were being chased by the ducks? They kind of look like elemental spirits, but... not?"

"I think ducks do eat insects, so that's not surprising. I've never seen them go after a butterfly, though." He smiles a bit wryly at the name. "Okay, Butterfly it is. And I'm Roland."

Right on cue, some of the higgledies come trotting back and happily hop up and down at Roland's feet. Some of them seem to be trying to catch the butterfly as well.

"Guys! Be nice. She just got away from the duck!" Roland stoops down to pick up one of the higgledies, who waves its arms at Butterfly. Hi~!

"These guys are called higgledies. They're a sort of nature spirit, I guess, it's complicated to explain where they come from and I don't fully understand it myself."

Yeah, no no! Those wings are delicate--! She flaps away, and may be considering getting closer to Roland's head for safety. She does appreciate the waving one and would consider it gladly if... you know, there was a way for her to do so.

"They're pretty lively! And its okay if we don't understand everything. Especially elementals. You must be pretty special in or to see them, Roland!"

Roland's eyes follow her as she flutters around his head, and having an insect flutter around in front of his face like this does speak to his instinct to swat, but he easily suppresses it; she's in no danger. Though, the higgledy keeping his hands full helps too.

He nods at her compliment. "It's said that only the pure of heart can see them. Most of the people I've met here can, though."

Edited (extra word) 2019-06-09 04:53 (UTC)

"Oh so they are elementals! Just um... not like elementals I've seen..." She floats nearer to one that seemed more friendly and sort of... waves with her wing? Is that a thing butterflies can do? Oh, maybe she's just flying a little lopsided.

"Only the pure of heart, huh..." She considers it. "That must mean that either there is a lot of pure-hearted people here... or..." She gives it a think. "Something is different about this place?"

"Er, not to say you're any less special to see them! O-Or that I'm pure of heart! Ah-ha-ha!" Butterfly, you just admitted to being able to see the elementals of your world. This girl, seriously.

The higgledy seems to giggle (it's difficult to tell when the only thing they can say is "higgledy piggledy" and permutations thereof ~~like a Pokemon~~) and waves its arms a bit more, then playfully blows a puff of air at the butterfly.

Roland, meanwhile, shakes his head. "I'm not really that special. I barely have any magic." Her talk of elementals has him interested, though. "Your world has elementals, huh? Are they similar to higgledies?"

The Butterfly really likes the higgledies (except the one that want to decorate themselves with her wings, of course)!

"I guess that makes you a magican't." She... heard that back in her world. She floats back up to Roland, keeping an arms length this time, but mostly to give him space.

"Sure! There are four major types. There's earth elementals, fire elementals, water elementals, and sky elementals! Most of them are content to just be, but if you are pure of heart you can see them and some may let you use their magic power! Sometimes though they can gather in a place with lots and lots of magical energy and then they become really big and sometimes they become mean!! That doesn't happen very often, though."

"They sound a lot like higgledies." Roland nods, with a soft groan at the pun. "Well, except for the big and mean part. Higgledies are like young children mentally, so they need some looking after, but they have powerful magic to be called on." Roland shifts the higgledy he's holding to one arm so he can gesture at the different types.

"They come in six elements, though. Wind, water, fire, light, dark, and the white ones don't have an element." It's pretty easy to tell which is which just by looking.

"Oh! I've heard of light and dark as elements before, but I don't think they have elementals. I don't think those exist. That's more the stuff of demons and divinity."

Butterfly was impressed. "You know a lot about magic for somebody who can't cast it, Roland!"

"Dark higgledies are a bit more mischievous, but none of them are evil." Seeing as the only element he can use without the help of Zing or higgledies is dark, he's a bit defensive about the element.

"I know how to read, that's all. And I can cast a couple of spells, or channel magic through my weapons, but the rest of the entourage I was with in that world... well, they had more." Even Batu and Bracken. Roland smiles with nostalgia at the thought of his companions.

"I'd show you some of them, but they're mostly for combat, and I don't want to accidentally hurt anyone.

She nods -- though its hard to tell since she's just a butterfly, after all. Though she has come to disagreement with her sister, she never really intended to be evil. "You like to read? I like to read too! There's a library in Castele that has a lot of books and I would go and read all about Reveria."

Her floating droops a little. "Of course, we're not in Reveria anymore."

Before immediately returning to her cheery mood. "Well, maybe if another duck gets too close you can show me what you can do!"

Roland face droops at her saddened tone, reaching out with his free hand with one finger extended, as if to stroke her or let her land. She's much too small for any of the usual comforting gestures (like hugging) to work, but he's trying.

"You miss your world?"

At her suggestion, he shakes his head with a small laugh. "I don't want to hurt the ducks either. They're a lot more squishy than the monsters I've gone up against, they'd probably explode into feathers if I tried that." Metaphorically squishy, not literally squishy, considering some of those monsters were slimes.

"You know, as much as I would like to see that you may have a point." She's practically grinning before addressing the first part. "A bit. I've only just arrived, and the place seems a lot of fun. You see, I was just getting used to being a part of my first world, and was almost settled in."

"I'm just trying to see this as another adventure!"

He nods with a smile.

"This isn't my first time world-hopping, so it's easier this time around. You let me know if there's anything I can do to help you settle in here, okay?"

"Got anything for ducks? And uhm... overly affectionate higgledies?"

Roland gives a soft chuckle at that. "Nothing for someone your size, I'm afraid." He can do something about the higgledies, though.

Roland crouches down, setting the higgledy he's been holding down on the ground, then addresses the gaggle at his feet.

"You need to let her have her space, guys. You could hurt her if you're too rough with her." The higgledies seem disappointed, but reluctantly nod their assent.

She floats down close enough that some of them could jump up and grab her if they were so inclined. "Aww, its okay! But you wouldn't like it if somebody tugged at your arms and legs either, right?"

Despite herself, the glow seems to become... more soothing? "Thanks, that'll be a big help! Maybe someday I can repay the favor."

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