smokeandglasses | turboheaven: Marcoh

[Well Ali just happens to be reading Marcoh's profile while in the general vicinity of Marcoh, so he has to ask:]

What's a shud?

[ Hey man. You seem. Like. Kind of weirdly normal actually.

Which is to say, he's checking in post-trial to see how he's hanging. ]

[ He's passing through the Oz Meadows. ]

I am getting the sense that they really like flowers here.

[ There is really just so much of it. ]

[ Another week another nightmare wrapped up... for better or worse.

How's Ali doing? Did you ever figure out your perfume thing, bud. ]

[Should Marcoh find himself in the maze of mirrors, he will eventually come across Ali staring into one of the mirrors, watching a memory play out.]

Partway up a mountain trail and into a cave, dragged along by his dear older sister. Though they have never had the best relationship, when Ali had gotten that call he knew he had to answer. Family is still family, and Ria had sounded like she was in trouble.

One look at the mess in the cave is all Ali needs to see, and it makes him instantly turn to his sister. She looks like a carbon copy of him, though female instead of male, with her inky black hair extending past her shoulders. Unlike her usual elegant style, she's wearing clothes that are easier to travel in and would help her go unnoticed in a mountainside town.

"Eggs," Ali says, gesturing to the six dragon eggs sitting in a hastily-constructed nest, "You laid eggs? This close to a town?!"

"Hush," Ria says in a dismissive tone, "I did what I could with the time I had. I still need to eat, and being able to sneak away in another form is easier."

"Well if you have a whole plan, then why did you call me up here?"

"...I need help."

This actually startles Ali into silence. Sure, Ria and his other sisters had been demanding his help for all of their lives, but it was rare for any of them to directly admit to needing help. The situation must be serious.

Ria continued on, saying, "Their father is dead. Hunted in the lowlands last week. And I know Mother did all of this on her own, but I can't. I need help keeping them safe until they hatch." She looks down at the eggs with a gaze that can only be called motherly. "Someone has to be here with them at all times. So if there's two of us, that makes it easier. And if we take turns going out for food and such, it will look less suspicious."

"It's going to look really suspicious when six hatchlings spring loose," Ali says. He says it out of worry, though he can tell that Ria already knows. Baby dragons are much harder to move than eggs, and if they're going to get caught at all that's going to be the time.

He thinks back to Concord, still back in the capitol city and completely unaware. If he could send word to Concord for help...but no, any letter he sends would risk being read by someone else and drawing too much attention. Ria risked a lot already trying to get him out here. They really will have to do this on their own.

"...alright. I'll help."

[The memory does not end here, but Ali moves on to the next mirror, watching the first part play out without acknowledging what comes next.]

[Whenever Marcoh is free and on their main little island there, Ali is going to call out to him.]

Did you see? It looks like there was an addition to the bar.

[ Hey man... checking in subtly after his return at some point. Marcoh is rather reserved after this weekend but his willingness to go keep an eye out on Ali wins. ]

Week 0, Monday

w1 saturday

w2 monday

w2 sunday

Week 3, Monday

Week 4, Tuesday

w7 monday