daybreakacademy | Buy a car never park it

Entry tags:

Buy a car never park it

Who: Allura and Open!
When: Through October
What: Miscellaneous prompts around campus and town. Figuring out what halloween is, growing some flowers in the greenhouse, and playing with a weird rock that Keith gave her.

In town:
[Allura knew that there would be some degree of adjustment when it came to school starting. She’d never attended a proper school before (even among Alteans, her upbringing was quite a bit different from the average young adult) much less a human one. And although she’s made strides in fitting in a little better among her peers, humans had… a lot of idiosyncrasies to contend with.

What she wasn’t expecting was the proclivity of gourds that started decorating the campus. Gourds, and fake spider webs, and purple and orange decorations that only seemed to increase as the weather continued to get colder. It doesn’t take long to figure out that there’s a holiday coming up. Halloween. And rumor has it that Halloween involves some dressing up, and Allura finds herself in one of the small seasonal stores that have popped up, browsing the wares with a small frown. Why the frown?]

This seems unrealistic for an officer of the law to wear. How does she run with such a short dress?

[Help a princess pick out a costume?]

Greenhouse:
[After her conversation about flowers with Toki in the art studio, Allura decides that keeping a small plot in the greenhouse would be a nice hobby. She’d always loved spending time in the fields of juniberries with her father, and even if she doesn’t really know the first thing about growing any of her own, there’s no harm in learning.

As it turns out, she has a knack for growing things, for giving life, and by now there’s a thriving patch of purple and pink flowers – cosmos, picked for their name and color – healthy and maybe even creeping into other plots nearby, dotting the greenhouse with small pink buds.

And if anyone is nearby, they might be treated to an interesting show of magic- Allura bends near a wilted flower and, closing her eyes, she touches the stem, causing the plant to heal, returning back to its vibrant color (and, inadvertently causing the plants around it to grow just a little bit larger, infused with life.)]

In the library:
[Fun and games aside, Allura continues her studies- both academically, and her own personal interest in the disappearance of the Alteans. Currently she’s seated at a table in the library, but there are no books by her. Instead she’s staring intently at what looks like a rock on the table in front of her.

An Altean keystone. She’s certain of it, and Keith claimed he found it inside of the Red Lion, so what else could it be? The trouble is, she isn’t positive about how to activate it – it probably needs some kind of magic, or a special location – but also she’s afraid of what the message might entail. Could it be confirmation that her people are gone for good? A clue as to where they went? She’s stalling.

She hums discontentedly, turning the rock around, and flipping it over for what must be the hundredth time,]

Wildcard!
[Feel free to toss something else at me or shoot me a message on this account if you want to hash something out. Last month was weird for me so I’m literally up for anything! Allura is mostly going to be around campus, and I’m super down for any Halloween related shenanigans.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Your rock isn't turned on.

*Maya please stop that. Yes, you're in a library, which means don't make extraneous noise, but you make no noise at all! How is anyone suppose to know you're standing behind them? Of course, the rock was curious to Maya, being magic. She can tell there's... commonality, between Allura and her new rock. But she can't be sure of what the rock is while it's inert. Other than its magic.*

Maybe it'll be easier to study it if you find some books on it? Or- the magic of reading objects? Psychometry. That's it.

*Maya has a few books on firearms training, safety, and design. Just to show she is here for more than just the quiet.*

[Allura starts at the sudden voice, turning her head and smiling just a little bit when she sees who it is. Maya really does have a spooky talent for being quiet.]

Yes, I'm trying to learn how to turn it on.

[She's just taking her time about it. She tilts her head, curiously,]

Psychometry? I haven't heard of that term.

[The magic of reading objects. Hm. That sounds related to what she wants.]

...Sorry.

*Maya puts her stack of books down, it doesn't even make a thud. Okay, Maya extended her power around the books as she did that, so it wasn't accidental silence.*

It's a psychic power, reading the past off of inanimate objects. I was looking into it because my powers are sorta like that, except not.

*Listen to Maya fail to explain things.*

So... what is it, other than a magic rock that's sorta connected to you?

No need to apologize.

[When someone is naturally that quiet, she's certain that the warning would be just as jarring as appearing out of nowhere in the first place.

Allura's attention turns back to the rock,]

It is an Altean keystone. At least I think it is. Rumor has it that ancient Alteans left them behind as messages, or some were believed to contain maps to hidden places.

[A contemplative hum,] To clarify, I am an Altean.

[Since not all humans are familiar with the term.]

*Don't mind Maya she'll just lean in closer and put her focus on the rock for right now. She is listening to Alura but she's also trying to pick apart the details of this new thing.*

If you were concerned it wasn't Altean, it is. I can hear some similar rhythms between you and it. It's not the same, what you do and what it does are different, but... same place? Trying to turn what I hear into something useful isn't very easy.

*The fun of having a sense that nobody else has.*

Going to guess by your staring at it there's nobody you can ask about it. I can say it the spells sound undamaged, nothing's missing or warped in it. If that helps.

Oh.

[She’s not sure what to make of that information at first, but it sounds like a good thing, that their sounds are the same. Having confirmation that it is Altean after all is a relief. Just one less thing to wonder about. And it’s functional.]

Unfortunately I am the only Altean left- [A beat,] That I know of, anyway.

[She’s still hopeful that there are others somewhere out there.]

Sorry... if I hear anyone with a sound like yours I'll let you know?

*Not that Maya held hope that she'd just stumble into any other Alteans, but if she did well that's what she could do. She's definitely showing a reaction to what Allura said, but not really any emotion. Maya's usual numb snuffing such reactions out.*

I'm not much good at figuring out more complicated stuff. I've been winging most of my own training when it comes to deciphering sounds. I could try if you wanted though.

*Maybe narrow down what the unlock mechanism is on this, even if she couldn't unlock it.*

I would appreciate that.

[Allura smiles. She's not sure exactly how Maya's powers work, in regards to sounds, but she'll trust that Maya knows what she's talking about.

She sighs, leaning back in her chair.]

To be honest, I am open to anything that could possibility help.

[Allura's a bit at an impasse herself,] My other thought was that I needed to bring it to a certain place. Perhaps that would make it work.

*Maya knows what she's doing, no clue what she's talking about. She figures its the one thing she has in common with seers, trying to explain how their powers work.*

Possibly... the difference between wanting a place, an item, or an incantation is subtle. They're all kinda like the magic is 'missing' something? Without actually missing anything.

*Minus Maya's eyes being closed, it seems like she's staring intently at the stone while she considers how to phrase it.*

If it wants to be somewhere, the sound is missing a harmony. If it wants an incantation then its more like a call and response. And an object is like the sound is missing an instrument- or instruments if its more than one piece.

[As Maya explains, Allura closes her eyes too, trying to imagine - to visualize (or the audio version of it). But, for her, the stone is silent, all she hears is the hushed noises of other students in the library nearby.

But for Maya, if she can hear it, the stone is clearly missing a location, something distant and far away, a song with no harmony, that sounds almost in tandem with Allura's own natural music.

Allura opens her eyes, sighing,]

I don't hear anything.

I was mostly talking to buy time. I didn't really expect you to hear what I hear. I need to listen a bit longer though.

*It'd be easier if others could hear the way she did, but when was life ever easy. Maya's quiet for a little bit as she listens a bit longer, to be sure.*

It wants to go somewhere. Good news, an incantation would be a lot of options, but if it wants to be somewhere... that can't be too many places right?

[Still, Allura strains her hearing, closing her eyes and hoping that she might unlock at least a little bit of the secrets of the keystone. But there is no music, although when Maya next speaks up, Allura's expression brightens, eyes bright as she looks at the girl,]

A place! [That's a start! She can deal with that. All she's had up until now are dead ends. Here she places a hand on her chin, thinking quickly,] Perhaps the castle? Or maybe inside one of the lions?

[Where else could there be. Allura is already starting to stand up, as if she can't wait to get started,] Thank you Maya!

[Sometime in mid-October, Toki arrives at Allura's dorm room with a present. It's a very large painting, turned away from the door for the surprise as it was too cumbersome to gift wrap. He knocks on the door, hoping she's there. He forgot to text first.]

[She is home! At the knock there's a muffled "Just a tick!" from behind the door, and then a few moments later the handle turns, the door opening, She smiles,]

Toki? [There's just the smallest waver when she sees the big canvas. She's thinking of the night she overheard him giving Ana the paintings about his visions.] Is everything okay?

[He's unaware she heard that conversation, and is a little confused at the reception; her immediately thinking something might be wrong.]

Yeah, everything's fine! I have something for you!

[With a smile, he turns the canvas around. It's a bright field of ~~juni~~tokiberries, stretching across the entirety of the space. Near the center of the field is tiny Allura, for scale.]

[The expression doesn't last long at all, especially when he turns the canvas around. Her eyes go wide, and her breath catches,]

Toki, that's beautiful!

[She walks forward to look at it closer. They're tokiberries to be certain, but it was so reminiscent of her memories, of being with her father in the pink juniberry fields. And without warning her eyes are burning just a little bit, her throat tight.]

It's beautiful, [She says again, then looks back up at Toki, trying really hard not to get misty-eyed about it.] You did not have to do this for me.

[Oh no. She looks like she's going to cry, and he almost sputters an apology, but he recognizes it's not sadness. His smile does turn a little bittersweet, however, because the painting may be of something she loved, but it's also a reminder of what she lost. He thinks she should have it, though. Even if it may hurt to look at sometimes.]

I wanted to. You sounded so... wistful when we talked about it. I wanted you to have something to remind you of the beautiful place you described to me. So it wouldn't be forgotten.

[There’s a moment that her lip trembles and it could be waterworks, but she blinks hard and remains stoic. It hurt a little bit to look at- the memories of a life that was rapidly slipping farther and farther away from the one she knew now, but also stood for something new. The tokiberries reminded her of that day in the studio, and she couldn’t help but smile at the made-up flower.

She wipes the palm of her hand over her eyes, smiling,]

It is one of the kindest things someone has done for me. Thank you, Toki.

[She’s not sure where Toki stands on hugs, (and maybe she should ask first) but she’s certainly pulling him into one.]

[Something is either wrong or about to be wrong if Keith's hanging out in the library, but for now that's neither here nor there. As he passes through the shelves of books relating to the history of necromancy, Keith spots a pretty unmistakable head of floofy white hair apparently buried in a pile of books of her own.

Though admittedly he's been feeling pretty reluctant to appraoch people since the hunt at the Lunar Harvest, he breathes out and decides to say hello before Allura spots him and accuses him of being unfriendly or whatever the case may be. Still, he's just a pinch guarded as he moves towards her.

Mercifully, it looks like he doesn't have to bother fishing for pleasantries past "hi" because he spots the keystone and frowns.]

Still trying to figure that one out, huh?

[...Keith you could have probably started with 'hi."]

[She lifts her head from where it’d been bowed over the stone, eyes a little bit strained from staring at is as if that would unlock its mysteries.]

Keith.

[They’re both great at pleasantries, but she scoots over a little bit, a silent invitation to take the seat next to her. She nods,]

I just… feel as if it is trying to tell me something. [A long sigh, and her shoulders sag,] Or it would be, if I could figure out how to get it to talk.

[As magical and mystical as the Alteans come off, they didn’t make a habit of communicating through rocks. Until now she’d thought that stories of messages left by ancient Alteans were nothing more than fairytales. She eyes him,]

Doing some studying of your own, now that school is back in session?

[She sounds dubious.]

[He registers that incredulity in her voice, but considering it's not exactly misplaced he simply chooses to ignore the question and takes a seat next to Allura.]

Have you tried literally talking to it?

[As dumb as the suggestion sounds... you just never know?? Regardless he's prepared to be defensive about Allura's judgment in 3..2..1]

[It's fair, and maybe she's better off not knowing what it is he's studying. Although she's certain if it's important it will come out sooner or later anyway, so she doesn't push it when he ignores the question, instead shifting her attention back to the keystone.]

You mean that I should just try... speaking at it?

[That's what he said,] That's absurd. What is talking to a rock supposed to do? It has no ears.

Edited 2019-10-13 17:38 (UTC)

[Aaaand there it is. Keith doesn't really blame her for it, but all the same he feigns mild nonchalance by shruggign and then folding his arms across his chest.]

Well have your better ideas been working?

[There's a beat as he shifts his focus onto the keystone.]

Try saying "open sesame."

[Luckily it doesn't last long, because she sags her shoulders, looking just a little bit chagrined,]

No, it hasn't.

[And she could argue that open sesame is a collection of words that make no logical sense when put together but that's not the point here.

Carefully she picks up the keystone, holding it closer to her face, and she smiles,]

Hello there, Keystone. May I call you Keystone? Because if you have another name I would love to hear it.

[Nobody look at the crazy lady talking to a rock over here.]

[Meanwhile Keith's just watching this diplomatic venture with an entirely deadpan expression like there is absolutely no monkey business going on here.

His brow furrows ever so slightly when they are met with stony silence.]

Maybe you should try threatening it.

[It's silent and she frowns.]

Keystone, Keith has suggested that I threaten you, but I don't think that is necessary.

...I will be very disappointed if you do not answer though.

[How about a little bit of a guilt trip?]

[The keystone remains as unyielding as ever, and this time when the silence drags on, some of the absurdity of the situation starts catching up to Keith. He still doesn't think this was a bad idea, though he does finally sigh.]

Alright, well that's not working.

[A beat, then slightly mumbled.]

Probably because you're not saying open sesame.

Why the ancients do you think that 'Open Sesame' would do anything?

[It's a nonsense phrase, Keith! She huffs but, after giving the keystone a sidelong glance, she frowns then...]

Open sesame?

[Out of nowhere, the keystone starts to glow, unveiling all of it's secrets! Only it doesn't, and Allura's shoulders droop.]

This is pointless.

[ James has been taking Halloween very seriously. He feels like that's basically his duty now that the Student Council has been tasked with organizing the Academy's Halloween party. Thus, James spends a lot of time surveying the Halloween booths in town. He can be blessedly 'incognito' since neither uniform regulations nor rose petals apply outside of Campus.

Seeing Allura, he immediately moves to greet her - until he sees what costume she is holding and pulls a face. Mankind always making only the best impressions on foreign princesses.... ]

Your impression is correct, princess. It's not actually a replica of a real uniform.

[But she likes the rose petals.

Her face lights up when she sees James, but there’s still the issue of the perplexing costume in her hands. She makes a self-satisfied huff when he confirms her suspicions.]

I should hope not. [Other than the obvious problem with having realistic police regalia for purchase, the whole getup just seemed. Ridiculous. And small. ~~And why are the handcuffs fuzzy?~~]

Are you here to pick out as costume as well? It appears a lot of the costumes here are still missing pieces. Such as… pants.

You know how you told me you knew mankind before the discovery of pants? It's a kind of Halloween convention for women to go back to those times.

[ James sighs heavily. Halloween is definitely exciting to him right now because full event planning mode is a nice distraction from all of the Everything, but this is certainly not one of the funnest aspects.

And also he's realizing that maybe he should be more precise when talking to an ancient princess. ]

Basically, a lot of adult Halloween costumes are just kind of awful and designed primarily for sex appeal. You might have to look for a while to find something decent, sadly.

I... see.

[His honesty is appreciated here, although the context brings into new light all of the costumes she's seen up until now. No wonder all of the women's costumes featured either impossibly short skirts or fabric so thin she was certain there had to be additional pieces to be worn under or over the costume.

She sets the police woman's costume back on the rack gingerly, making a face as she sets back to look at the display,]

...This Fairy Tale Princess' dress seems reasonable. Although at that point I may as well wear one of my own.

Not exactly in the spirit of Halloween to come as something you already are. We do have some leeway on the 'spooky' theme here at Daybreak where typical Halloween monsters are commonplace, but... at least switching it up a little is fun.

[ His eyes go over the rack of women's costumes again and very quickly he decides that this store is an embarrassment to town and doing a very poor job at making human culture feel inclusive to anyone, including... actual humans. ]

There ought to be something better in a different place. Don't give up yet, princess.

[James you should think more highly of your species.

But yes this store is pretty bad.

Allura abandons the shimmery, glittery princess costume on the rack with the rest of the costumes and starts walking towards the door with James. Just at a casual pace, her hands resting behind her back,]

Do you have a costume for yourself yet?

Not physically, but I know what it's going to be. The student council decided on doing themed costumes together, since we're also organizing the party.

[ Do the costumes and the party correlate? Not really. It's only that party planning was the context in which group costumes even came up in the first place. ]

The President assigned me Doctor Frankenstein - an evil scientist. We're all going to be classic horror story characters.

( let it go without saying that enough time has passed since a pidgeon has come to the academy that she's made a home for herself in the greenhouse; it's always been just a little bit odd, her connection with all things green ( … aha ) when she prefers the science of all things above most else, but there's something. cathartic? at the very least about being surrounded by things she can converse with without actual words.

it honestly shouldn't come as any real surprise that she runs into allura during one of her more recent trips, sitting cross-legged as she is next to one of the more, ah … gossipy? bits of greenery, chuckling a bit to herself when she hears someone else enter.

that gossipy bit of greenery ends up getting a bit larger for the sake of peripheral proximity, and she looks to allura with wide, awed eyes. ) Whoa. ( hi! hey! hi! she hasn't gotten that far in her bonding with green things yet! ) You can make them grow? I … ( she rubs the back of her neck. )

They only talk to me. ( that's still pretty neat, though, right. )

[Allura had been so caught up in her own green-thumbery that she doesn't notice Pidge until she speaks up, and her face flushes a bit when she looks up, as if she'd been caught doing something besides helping flowers grow.

But there's no reason to hide her powers here, at a veritable school for the powerful, and after a second she nods, allowing the energy to flow once again, making the pink petals curl out like a long exposure video played back at high speed,]

It's a new skill- At least I think it's new. I suppose I've never tried before...

[But wait- Allura trails off, catching up to what Pidge had said,]

Wait, did you say that they speak to you? Like, in words?

( it's so … cool, to see something like that, because she'd been thinking that maybe she was the only one here that had any connection to plants — but she isn't, and it goes without saying that that thought kind of delights her, regardless of whether she'll say anything about it out loud or not.

she watches until allura breaks off again, asks her a question and she perks up, posture straightening just a little bit, like she's been caught doing something she isn't supposed to. ) Words, yeah, but like … in my head? ( she taps her temple for emphasis just in case it wasn't clear. )

I guess it's some kind of telepathy, I dunno. I've never asked. ( a beat. ) Maybe I should.

[Allura tilts her head. It doesn't sound too far off from how the mice talk to her, but with plants - somehow, even at a school full of people with powers, it sounded bizarre.]

Can you ask them right now?

[A beat, and Allura's gaze flicks down towards the bed of flowers at her feet, that she'd been nurturing for some time now,]

Wait, are they talking about me?

[If there's one thing the mice like, it's gossiping.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Buy a car never park it

Library

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Wildcard!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

library

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i'm crying laughing over that tag

no subject

no subject

no subject

Town;

I'm glad you're always here for my culture shock shenanigans

i love them so

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

greenhouse!

no subject

no subject

no subject