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TEXT/(eventual) ACTION
[... Well this isn't Cairo.
No they were at least five thousand percent sure they were going to Cairo, that's what the bus driver said, and bus drivers never ever lie, right? That's like... against the law for humans, isn't it? Twenty to life for being a lying bus driver?
They're looking about their little awakening area blankly, with their map, sitting docilely and deeply confused where they are.
Also... Electronic device near them. Their kingdom for Hiro to be here, they'd know what to do with this stupid thing...
Thank goodness they know the alphabet though]
Hello!
I am very lost.
Very sorry.
I am looking for Cairo. I do not think it has moved as of late, and should still be firmly attached to Africa.
If anyone has seen where Cairo has been placed, please contact me and direct me to it.
It is not dire. I can wait.
Where is the closest city, in the mean time? It would be nice, perhaps, to not be
[They glance around the cave]
here.
It is pretty. But I do not think I should live in it.
No they were at least five thousand percent sure they were going to Cairo, that's what the bus driver said, and bus drivers never ever lie, right? That's like... against the law for humans, isn't it? Twenty to life for being a lying bus driver?
They're looking about their little awakening area blankly, with their map, sitting docilely and deeply confused where they are.
Also... Electronic device near them. Their kingdom for Hiro to be here, they'd know what to do with this stupid thing...
Thank goodness they know the alphabet though]
Hello!
I am very lost.
Very sorry.
I am looking for Cairo. I do not think it has moved as of late, and should still be firmly attached to Africa.
If anyone has seen where Cairo has been placed, please contact me and direct me to it.
It is not dire. I can wait.
Where is the closest city, in the mean time? It would be nice, perhaps, to not be
[They glance around the cave]
here.
It is pretty. But I do not think I should live in it.
Re: -->[Action]
"Oh, ha, Amalu you can stop texting now. We can have words face-to-face. I'm rather curious what a shadow sounds like."
Re: -->[Action]
[They seem quite sheepish, fussing with the hems of their sleeves ]
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"Oh, is it because you're dumb? Er, mute? At any rate I'm sorry to hear that." [Word choice, Ted. Even so, that was especially sad to him. Life hardly seemed worth living but for talking. Guess he'll just have to talk enough for the both of them.]
"Well, ah...let me show you Gengar, anyway." [Someone that smiles as often as he does ought to brighten spirits. Ted produces and opens a pokeball, expelling the purple ghost in a flash.]
"Here he is! Say 'hello', Gengar." [He didn't. Gengar was at once attracted and repulsed, leading to a stalemate. He was the "shadow Pokemon", so he wanted to get all up in that, but there's something about Amalu that unnerves even a Ghost type.]
"Huh, he's...shy? You are someone he's never seen before, so maybe he's just getting the mark of you. Like a dog! Oh well, give it time. Ready to depart?"
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I am mute, yes. It is okay. I am used to it.
[And there was the shadow loving pet! They wiggled their fingers pleasantly at gengar, but as the creature refused to move closer, they didn't push it.]
Yes, let's go. Perhaps he will like me more later.
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[Gengar might've been wary, but he was still stubborn. Refusing to at least mess with this guy violated whatever passed for his code. Ted saw and laughed when he saw him in his own shadow, noting the inconsistent and mocking shapes.] "Ah, he's in tow. Let's away. You seem like one used to walking, so the hour or so it'll take ought to be no trouble."
[It was a pettily perilous journey. Ted would, trying to match Amalu's praise, spout enough worldly trivia to populate a Jeopardy panel. Even at the best of times, Ted was oblivious. Add having to read the responses by text, and it's a miracle they didn't meet a vehicular end.
Gengar, whom he felt accounted for, was likewise left to his own devices. Amalu didn't sit right with him, but neither did leaving well enough alone. It was a challenge, or a threat, or a test of his nerves. So he got nervy, doing what he did best: pranking. Thus, their journey was punctuated by bouts of naughtiness. The contents of a fruit stall would invisibly lift themselves before flying into Amalu. Loud, seemingly inexplicable noises would sound off like a fifth-rate horror movie. Writing might appear on the wall, but Gengar wasn't keen on English so it meant nothing. Anything to make the new guy jump or screech or any of the usual responses he liked. It was Gengar's way of breaking them in. Ted, as usual, didn't notice any of it unless a text message brought it up.]
"Blah blah blah and there's the donut shop, whom one youth was especially insistent on finding. What do you make of comfort food, especially the unhealthy ones? Doubtless there are some strict medical types who'd advise against unhealthy eating as a bulwark to misery, but I don't know, giving people what they want rather than what's good for them is the principle of gift-giving, isn't it? Blah blah blah..."
[And when he's not telling him about the world, Ted's going off into philosophical tangents on everything. Lord have mercy on Amalu's many souls.]
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As for Gengar, the shadow seemed pretty adept at avoiding trouble. More than once did the entity seem to melt into shadow themselves, only to pop up else where and out of trouble. Hands full of fruit that they happily ate as their new friend chatted.
Well if the fruit was thrown at them, it was now their fruit, right?
They seemed quite unflappable, even trying to share their gains with Ted, happily handing over a peach.
Nope, they find Ted absolutely fascinating. They're gonna follow him and listen right the hell to everything he has to say]
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[Gengar's this close to losing his Cheshire grin. Nothing's working! That's it, he'll have to get...mushy.]
"Oh, hah, looks like you've managed to provide for yourself already, eh? Thank you." [He'll take a peach and forget entirely to ask some pertinent questions, like where it came from. His curiosity wasn't always consistent. They came to a large archway, promising them entry to the quaint, the rural, the wild, and the fantastic. More fantastic.]
"The journey's over by half; keep your necklace handy and we'll enter perfectly. What color is it, anyway? Supposed to signify which fifth of Genessia suits you best." [In they go, Gengar being quick to regroup lest he get left behind. Stupid necklaces. One they're through, he's there in all his incorporeal glory. He made a motion towards Amalu, perking his...lips? Mouth?]
"Ah, nice to see you again, you rascal. What is it you...oh. Oh-ho-ho! Amalu, I think absence made his heart grow fonder. I believe--also like a dog--he'd like a kiss. Is that all right? I hope you won't think it vulgar; he's actually very affectionate." [Ted had forgotten how ghost 'kisses' paralyze their victims, which was precisely Gengar's intent. He'd had it with someone not paying attention to him. Time for the personal approach.]
Re: -->[Action]
They look to their necklace, a lovely brilliant blue, and dangle it at him happily. Look! It's so pretty! No they don't know what that means. They seem thrilled regardless.
They glance back as they're called over, cocking their head curiously. Oh? He wanted a kiss now? They fuss for a moment with their veil, a little nervous about that. They... really would rather not remove it.
Well, maybe just a lick won't hurt.
They go to stoop in front of the ghost, cautious yet hopeful]
Re: -->[Action]
"Gen...gar." [Ted probably would've thought about the consequences were he not absorbed with thoughts about the necklace. As it stood, he looked on lovingly at how Gengar got over his shyness. How sweet!
Gengar pushed himself to go for the primordial being, and darted his tongue as boldly as he dared, ghostly saliva painting poor Amalu with all the paralysis that implied. What would happen to either of them Ted had no idea.]
Re: -->[Action]
Oh!
There was... tittering. The entity was laughing, softly and dryly, wiping goo from their face before reaching with the dry hand to gently brush their fingers over the ghosts spiky head.
Not even a blink. Not even a second of hesitation. They weren't even bothered by it, just relieved their veil remained firmly in place.
What a good shadow thing.[
no subject
Gengar hated every second. His self-image was wounded beyond repair. Not only had he failed to scare this guy, let alone irritate him, but now they're laughing at him. They think he's being cute. Oh the shame. Oh the Pokanity. He was too stunned even to pass through the petting hand, which only added to his embarassment. His smile dropped, his eyes scrunched, and he went upside-down into the ground, half-submerged into the shadows. His feet kicked back and forth in mild, defeated tantrum.
The mood switch left Ted confused.] "Gengar has...much more complex feelings than I thought. Perhaps he's tired." [[In a red beam, the pokeball reclaimed Gengar.]
"Just as well; we'll have need of another like him in time. But there's a ways to go before that, into the wildnerness proper. Let's resume." [Ted would resume his train of thought too; the blue necklace. Usually he wouldn't speak such half-baked strains out loud, but he felt so comfortable and so thoughtful as to render it natural.]
"Huh, that marks you for Everglade, then, to the west. I suppose that makes sense; that city's certainly dark enough. But I wouldn't want you to, that city's very wicked. Meaning no vanity, I should say you're too good for it.
So many are drawn to that place anyway, as if it, and not Genesssia City, were the center of the world. The soul of Genessia. Well, that has comparable allegory. Human hearts aren't symmetrically placed either. Goodness, it was recently revealed to me that my own heart were blue in color, after a certain manner of being. Ah, but you've nothing to do with that, thankfully. Why blue? I can't figure the meaning.
Thankfully it's just a suggestion; you may live anywhere, and I'd recommend anywhere but there. Ah, but then perhaps I'm thwarting destiny? Maybe you were meant to be there. Maybe what Everglade desperately needs are those too good for it. Heh, the other cities must be pretty jealous, seeing their wayward sibling get all the attention. Lost sheep, prodigal sons, and all that. What do you think?"
no subject
Amalu had never fancied themselves a dangerous or particularly scary sort to begin with. Perhaps it could all be worked out at a later date]
Wicked is subjective.
[They hummed for a moment, the sound low and rumbling]
And blue is quite lovely. Very soothing.
I wish to explore. I have never lived anywhere. The desert was my home, in all its vastness. I lived with many humans that long time ago, I enjoyed it.
Maybe one day I will go to the city here. It seems to strange for me right now though. Too many machines.
There is darkness everywhere, friend. Even the sun sports spots, doesn't it?
no subject
[He suspired.] A thought I'm sure wickedness has little trouble with. [Not a fan of subjectivity. He was much more enthused with what was communicated next.]
Yes...though Everglade hasn't known much of the sun for some time. In a...poetical sense, I mean. They still have daytime, for all the good it does them.
A shadow among the desert...ah, I'm sure you're a good person--er, gathering of persons. Nowhere would darkness be more welcome. [There was a serene calm to his tone in contrast to the bubbling excitability of before. He wondered if, perhaps, his own darkness might be of the better and sacred sort, rather than the obvious inference. He waxed lyrical, mildly singing a hymn the talk reminded him of as they kept going.]
But flowers need night's cool darkness, the moonlight and the dew;
So Christ, from one who loved it, His shining oft withdrew:
And then, for cause of absence my troubled soul I scanned
But glory shadeless shineth in Immanuel’s land.
no subject
Shadows heed just one set of laws.
I have found day time pretty, though light can become harsh and dangerous. I still prefer the nights I spent in Egypt, back when the Pharaohs ruled. Warm and sweet with scented wax and incense.
I am still me. There is but one me, everything has coalesced.
[They listened to the song for a time, able to place just what the other was sing about after catching on to the lyrics]
An Abrahamic song, yes? I recall when the tribe converted to Islam.
no subject
[He had a renewed shock to discover that the stranger hailed from Earth. He'd all but forgotten it, what with the height and the silence, but for the odd laugh.]
[He shook his head sadly.]
No, that's not so strange. You will know wickedness when you see men call sweet bitter, and bitter sweet, call light darkness, and darkness light, good evil, and evil good. Happens...well, not all the time. But too often, all the same.
Ah, that's right, you're an Earthling. Yes, it's a hymn of that kind. [He didn't know much about Islam, other than that they were wrong, but close to right. A creditable mistake. He had vague intimations that Islamic conversions weren't as gentle as others.] Though you speak--er, text as though you weren't of the tribe's mind in that.
no subject
I have seen the others, Christianity and Judaism. I remember when they first came about, though I never did meet the man named Jesus. Just heard tale of him. He seems like he was quite kind. I would have like to have seen him in person.
Shadows do not hold any human religion. While I would have continued with them regardless, I was deemed a
[There's a pause. They don't much care for any of the words used to describe them, when they were turned away]
Deemed pagan. The leader drove me out.
no subject
Does not white contain every color, and black none of them? Doesn't leave much left. Even so, it's the deliberate confusion that's the problem. To call a thing what it isn't is, I think, a good example of wickedness in its entirety.
[He's not especially fond of calling something 'human religion.' Humans play an important part, true, but that's like naming a book after the supporting character, or even the reader. It sounded too slight. His tribe also struck him curiously. He couldn't help but admire them for taking faith, even wrong faith, seriously. Piety of any serious consequence was a rare trait in this world.]
I would've liked to have met Jesus too. Heh, wasn't always nice, of course. The money-changers at the temple weren't fond of the whip, I'm sure. To say nothing of calling his best disciple "Satan", a rebuke which I'd be a while in recovering from. His mirth...that was something you don't read about. I wonder...well, speculation won't bear fruit.
Are shadows not allowed to hold to religion? It'd be a curious rule if so. But if you held no belief, why deem you pagan? [It was a word of interesting history. It could mean a pejorative, i.e. 'not Christian', but it could also mean positive belief in something else, which seemed the normal use.]