tushanshu | (video) one.

[ it's a residence-- and one belonging to either a botanist or someone who's just really terrible at taking care of their plants. visible in the background, off to the side, is a series of clay pots all in a row, each filled with exactly one sad plant. there's a wide variety of species in the collection, yet one thing between them remains constant: the black rot that's been consuming flora everywhere on the turtle. apparently someone's been doing his homework.

the speaker shifts in his seat just a tad, just enough to block out the sight behind him with the huge thing (hat??) on his head. he's an unfamiliar face on the network (who could forget an appearance like that?) but judging from the set-up he's got, he's been here quite some time. his is a pleasant, if sharp-featured face-- one made for smiles like the one plastered on right now. ]

All this work and nothing to show for it but a few sorry-looking shoots more withered than I am. [ a little sigh. ] Well! I suppose that's what I get for attempting to cure a symptom rather than its cause.

[ he leans back so he can gesture vaguely behind him, at the experiments set up. ]

I can claim a great deal of experience with plants, doctoring, and the doctoring of plants-- but I'm afraid that this illness eludes me. Surely there're a few more green-thumbed or scientifically-minded individuals among us: perhaps if we combine our efforts, we can get to the... [ and there really is no preventing the self-indulgent little smile here-- ] ...Root of the problem.

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[ Jack hesitates, not sure if he wants to question the past tense. ]

It just reminded me of the way Pitch moved through shadows, that's all.

I take it that's not a reminder of anything good.

[ of course it isn't, not with a name nor an ability like that. qilby purses his lips a moment, but when he speaks it's with the air of someone recalling some fond memory. ] After the birth of our universe, I was able to witness our people discover this ability they had-- this ability to effortlessly move, to dance through the space our Goddess created for us. For me it's about freedom and the joy of exploration, and nothing more than that.

[ a pause, and then a wry smile. ]

But, aah-- for all that, the portals mostly come in handy when there's an overabundance of stairs about.

[ now that's one modern design "innovation" he just can't wrap his head around. ]

Edited (sometimes i forget important words) 2013-04-23 02:21 (UTC)

[ Jack's quick to look chastised, even though nothing in Qilby's words or tone could have been taken as admonition. ]

Sorry, I'm sure it's not the same at all; I shouldn't have brought it up.

[ He does laugh at the remark about stairs. ]

I hear that! That's why most of the time I just use the window in my room, it seems silly to walk down two flights just to take off from the ground.

If it wasn't meaningful to you, I'm sure you wouldn't have mentioned it. [ it's a quiet, throwaway remark. there's a story there somewhere, in the boy, but in time it'll reveal itself on its own.

and then, more conversationally: ] Are you the only Spirit of Winter, or are there others like you? You know-- others who exit their houses by swooping out their windows.

[ Jack latches onto the second part of Qilby's question gladly. ]

Well, I'm the only Spirit of Winter but there are spirits for the other three seasons. None of them are here though. Can't really speak on their housing habits though.

One of the few of your kind, then. I'm afraid to say I know what that can be like.

[ at least it stands to reason there're only supposed to be four spirits for four seasons. he doesn't quite have that excuse. ]

Weeell, there's lot of spirits, but--

[ Only a few in certain jobs like this one. But Jack's expression changes when Qilby says he knows what it's like. ]

You...?

Edited 2013-05-07 12:55 (UTC)

[ a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]

I'd rather the first story I gift you be a more pleasant one than that.

So then there exist spirits for other domains as well?

[ THAT is definitely something Jack can understand, so he nods. ]

Yeah, no problem.

For pretty much everything! Even I don't know them all, but I can tell you about some of them if you want.

[ he holds up a hand. ] I most certainly am, and you'll have to tell me-- but not just yet. We must have something to talk about when you're helping me in the field, after all.

[ and a kindly nod! ] I'll let you know.

[ sheepishly: ] Oh, right. Sorry, I got off topic.

When we go-- [ he clarifies. ] I'll let you know when we go, because I'm still rather interested in testing out that hypothesis of yours.

But for now, you'll have to forgive me for ending our conversation so abruptly. I've still got a few tests to conduct today... [ and when he smiles, it's genuine-- or at the very least, indistinguishable from the real thing. ] It's been a pleasure, Jack. As always.

[ It's real enough that it fools Jack just fine /sob ]

Thanks Qilby. I'll talk to you soon.

(video) one.

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back from hiatus, so sorry for the delay!

no prob!

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