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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 26, 2021 13:39:28 GMT -8
Eis was trying to think of a location of a kid by getting into the headspace of a kid, and found she merely stared at the playground within their purview. Wayland was already looking with her head on a swivel, but maybe it was nerves that prevented her from spotting anything else than the scrambling children at play.
Blaze locks onto a loud voice—as high pitched as the rest, but different from the added context of an adult sounding concerned. A trio of preschoolers sat close by, trying to copy one showing off her grass whistle trick. As one noted the trio of Lost, he blinked with casual interest.
As Blaze drew their attention, the Snowskin felt her blood needle with unexpected nostalgia. She looked just like her own late daughter, in age and chestnut hair, though in this case it was messily braided with daisies threaded haphazardly through the creases. Her button-up shirt was more a dress by the way it went past her knees, with the cuffs hanging off her shoulders as she gestured excitedly.
The mother of the second, black haired girl had a pinched expression, cutting off the ramble as she asked again where her parents were, looking around for a hint or clue. She snatched the snack the black haired girl was about to eat, to her surprised protest and asking if she was in trouble.
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Eis
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Post by Eis on Jul 26, 2021 17:22:04 GMT -8
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 26, 2021 17:42:27 GMT -8
Eis recalls younger children can see through the Mask and the illusion of glamour in general, given their open perception of what constitutes "reality".
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Eis
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Post by Eis on Aug 5, 2021 5:56:41 GMT -8
The Autumn is given pause; first in the momentary feeling of loss, which is quickly overtaken by a sense of self-preservation. All the better. Young children asking the wrong questions could derail their efforts altogether. And that's the best case scenario. But what, really, can she do about it? Under her breath, she mutters "The children can see us. As we are."
But, rather than let their opportunity slip by, Eis seizes the moment.
"Isla! Is that you?" she calls out from afar, loudly enough for the children and parents to hear.
Once more in hushed tones for her companions' sakes, she adds "The best lies have a kernel of truth. I am her friend Leith's teacher. If we need to improvise... build on that."
Perhaps, though, she could avoid conversation with the other girl's mother altogether.
"Over here, dear!" she calls out, gesturing for the girl to come forward.
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Post by Krakenbox on Aug 5, 2021 9:48:27 GMT -8
Isla tilted her head at the Fairest calling out to her, a silent 'huh?' curling her lip. Excitement shot through her like electricity, shaking the black haired girl and pointing.
"See! It's a winter dignitary," she said, sounding out the word, "And a big knight! I think the last one's a wisp. Like from Brave."
The mother glanced at the trio, cocking an eyebrow. She saw her out and prompted Isla if she new the trio, to which she shook her head. "Nope, but they know my name. Probably been watching me and waiting for the perfect opening."
The black haired girl was dumbstruck, mouth full as she forgot the food she was chewing. She doesn't hesitate as Isla tugs her new friend over, the mother sighing and uselessly calling Salena back as she shrugged at the gathered women.
"I like your hair," Salena whispered to Blaze, but hiding behind Isla as she spared furtive glances to Wayland and Eis.
"Where's the unicorn?" Isla sniffed, "I hope not in the car. It's too hot." Salena looked elated that there might actually be a magic horse.
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Post by Blaze on Aug 5, 2021 14:32:04 GMT -8
That veered towards awkward really fast. It looked like Eis didn't elicit quite the reaction she was perhaps going for, and so for the moment it fell to Blaze to keep their interest until all relevant information is extracted and threat is assessed. The Elemental crouches, bringing her face to the level of the two girls. Since they already see the truth of their forms, she might as well play the part of a nice wisp lady.
"Hey, thanks! Yours is pretty too."
She answers, smiling, to Isla's black-haired friend. She wasn't in the mission parameters, but could still be relevant - which meant they need to keep *her* engaged as well. Then she turns to her primary target.
"You mean this little guy?" The unicorn drawing attached to Isla's letter is shown "The one the goblins are interested in?"
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Post by Wayland on Aug 6, 2021 9:49:21 GMT -8
Since returning from Faerie, Ramona hasn't spent a lot of time around kids. Or any at all, really. Did every child she passed on the sidewalk see her silver hands, her sharp ears and sharper teeth, her swirling scars? Children stare sometimes, but she always figured that's normal, not anything special about her. She files away Eis's revelation for later thought. At least finding Isla, and getting her to talk to them, had been considerably easier than she'd hoped.
When Isla comes nearer, it's hard for the Ogre not to immediately feel for her. This is a child that has clearly been neglected. Her big-sister instincts clench tight in her core. Someone needs to give this girl a bath, brush her hair, dress her in clean clothes that fit, and feed her macaroni and cheese now. And Ramona's a someone. But fae traps often have tempting lures, and she's not sure what to make of all this yet.
She lets Blaze and Eis take the lead, they seem to be the focus of Isla and her friend's attention anyway, and they're surely better suited for it. She lingers behind them, scanning the park for anything that might be amiss. Any sign that they're being watched, or that hobs might be lingering nearby.
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Eis
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Post by Eis on Aug 8, 2021 11:41:39 GMT -8
Not what she'd hoped for, this. Not at all. Let Isla rant and rave about pop-culture influenced half-truths all she wants, but damnit wait until there's no one else around to hear. The corners of Eis' mouth dip into a most unimpressed smirk. These little girls have no idea what trouble their seemingly innocent speculations could cause. And Eis just isn't equipped to deal with these children. For all intents and purposes, Eis would have a better time with that mother.
That seems to settle it. Blaze appears to have an approach for the children, and Wayland's silence may mean she's still... 'weighing things out'. Eis steps over to the side to speak with the dark-haired girl's mother. She needs the mother and her daughter gone. Immediately, if possible.
A polite, apologetic smile graces the Fairest's features. "Children and their imaginations. What are we to do?" She punctuates things with a shrug. "Rebecca Goodman, by the way. I'm a schoolteacher. A student of mine apparently knows Isla, here, and I was a little concerned to hear she'd often be out without her parents. I hate to spoil your daughter's fun, but would you mind if we talked to Isla alone? I'm sure we'd both prefer if your daughter weren't privy to our conversation."
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Post by Krakenbox on Aug 8, 2021 21:06:22 GMT -8
"You did get my letter!" she said, clearly happy and relieved. As far as Blaze can tell, Isla is being genuine in her approach and seeking this mythical entity with a one-track mind. She isn't showing any signs that she's gearing up to sound the alarm or shout to hobs, completely comfortable with the strange of the fairies, and excited she had a friend with her to validate these stories. Someone was dressing her, clearly, without much care or understanding for clothing size or hygiene. Whether the messy braid and flowers was the girls' doing was impossible to discern.
It was making her a bit of a show-off as she acted the authority and is clearly starved for attention. There's a desperation as she looks at and around the others, wanting to see if they brought the entity and hands clenching with anticipation when she saw there was nothing to be found. In fact, she is so unsure that her mood will probably swing accordingly, with explosive tears or anger if she were to be tricked or teased. Whether Isla posed a threat right now appeared to be purely social, but she could absolutely make a scene or call for help. Could she wield the Wyrd? That was a special circumstance. Isla blindly nods to Blaze's question, "Mhm! I'm supposed to help, then I can go home. Did he want anything? I'm sorry if he's scared."
Salena chewed a nail, smile dropping at the thought, then alarmed at how sad Isla seemed, holding her hand and asking if she would like another granola bar from her mom's backpack.
The mother laughed at Eis' comment, nodding in agreement. "Nice to meet you, Rebecca..." she offered reflexively, looking unsure as she was given a story. She tilted her head at the other two, mouth forming a question as she seemed a little guilty to call Salena away now, "Oh, no, no of course. If you need me to answer any questions with the Ministry. You're one of those...what's the word? For people who have to report incidences? I totally understand," she said as she gestured to her own child.
She smiled sadly at Isla, "We'll just be over there, sweetheart, okay?" she murmured, gesturing to the bench and playground. She shushed Salena's questions, gently explaining that Isla's getting some help, and her own phone going to her ear once she started looking up some numbers. Blaze noted the good Samaritan was blindly looking to help and likely going to contact Child Services and the police, rather than abandoning the kid to some strangers in case this was a weird custody issue. Parents sometimes lied to gain access and take children from gullible authority like a school or daycare, or even sent a third party that pitied their cause enough to assist in a kidnapping.
Isla sighed, lifting her chin, "I miss my mum, too, you know. She's nice, but I need to do my job. I'm trying to be responsible... Is the King or Queen going to help me? I was told you usually like helping."
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Post by Blaze on Aug 9, 2021 12:44:57 GMT -8
Thank goodness for Eis' wit and determination. The Fairest removed witnesses from the situation, and however the operation will progress from now on, their trail will be obscured. She watches the mother and her girl leave, but knows that it bought them fifteen minutes, maybe half an hour at best to clear out of the place. And with Isla's mood prone to swings, they need to tread carefully as well.
Just like disarming an IED. No sweat. No sweat at all.
The Torrent smiles, her expression warm like the fireplace on a cold Winter evening.
"Of course we got your letter! You're a smart girl, Isla." She says, and more importantly, she means it. The girl looked like she wanted some attention and recognition - although maybe if she wasn't so smart the hobs would never have picked her "Do you think we could talk to the ones that asked for your help for a bit? Our friend is pretty shy and we want to tell him it's alright to come out. You wrote that you walked for a long time, I think everyone would want a happy ending soon, right?" The urgency was impossible to convey without spooking the girl, but she still looks to her two companions for a moment before returning her gaze to Isla.
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Post by Krakenbox on Aug 9, 2021 13:04:23 GMT -8
Isla chewed only the chocolate part of the granola bar, leaving the top. With the request to talk to the one who sent her, she just shook her head.
"They're not here."
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Post by Blaze on Aug 18, 2021 0:05:42 GMT -8
That was unexpected. Blaze assumed the ones holding the leash would be close by - but unless they create an illusion of distance by stepping into the Hedge that seems not to be the case? She looks briefly to her companions, waiting if they have something to add or a reaction, but seeing none, the Sprite inquired further, keeping the genuinely friendly tone:
"Well, where are they, then?"
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Post by Krakenbox on Aug 19, 2021 10:04:33 GMT -8
Isla blinked, looking around and away as she gave Blaze a quiet smile. "Umm, I can call them but it needs to be for emergencies. I don't think this is an emergency," she explained.
Clearly worried they would leave, the child tried to offer a compromise, "But! I can pass on messages. You haven't told me if he's here. Is he? If not, I can wait. But I can do whatever you need me to do to make him know it's okay and he can trust me."
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Post by Wayland on Aug 24, 2021 14:39:23 GMT -8
Isla’s waiting here? Has she been waiting here the whole time? Where has she been sleeping? How has she been feeding herself? Wayland pauses a moment as she pulls up her mental map of the area, asking herself how she’d be managing around here if she were a child on the streets.
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Post by Blaze on Sept 2, 2021 5:25:34 GMT -8
At eight years old Isla is really more perceptive than she has any right to be. Blaze doesn't remember being this smart when she was her age.
"But we won't be able to persuade the unicorn to come out unless he knows it's safe, and he won't know it's safe unless we meet these guys and make sure." She says with the kind of unassailable logic that will make Isla comply out of confused agreement if nothing else. It doesn't count as manipulation if the alternative is worse, right? "Please. He didn't come here with us, you know how flighty unicorns can be. I think he just needs a little encouragement from you."
The Sprite tries to keep a warm disposition, without seeming pushy or desperate.
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