Tell Me A Tale (OPEN)

[crystaltower]

Who: Crystal Exarch, and whoever!
What: Sharing his journal and information gathering! Post may also be used for catch-all top levels.
Where: Mostly in the Merlaut Apartments, but also a little bit of outdoor writing.
When: After the most recent set of imprints
Content Warnings: None really!

1. A Request

[A notice has been left in the Merlaut lobby, hung over the front of the desk with one of the apartment succulents as a weight to hold it in place. It's not elegant, but the Exarch hopes that it will at least catch some attention.]

For the purposes of documentation and record-keeping, I would like to discuss people's home realms with them. I am particularly interested in learning and documenting which pieces of home have been reflected here, but must confess I am fascinated by the idea of other worlds and should like to know more.

If you are able to make time for me, please visit me in Apartment 301. I shall make myself available at any time the forest is in its withered phase.

Crystal Exarch



2. Music

[Lately, the Exarch has preferred to remain on the woodland side of the mountain, for the simple reason it bears so much resemblance to Lakeland. There is nothing stopping him from venturing out further, and he does so frequently, yet these purple woods are the closest thing he has to 'home' here. It's a comfort, in a way.

On this occasion, he can be found perched upon some convenient rocks, facing the mountain with his back to the lake. With only a light breeze to contend with, he has kept his cowl up, but anyone passing by does not need to see his face or the flattening of his ears to pick up on his current frustration - the tension in his body is enough.

In his hand is one of the blank books from the apartments, cover curled around the back so that he can hold it in one hand and still write in it. However...]

More music?

This wasn't here when I started...

[Is this because he left his journal unattended? Surely nobody got their hands on it, but the Exarch has noticed music cropping up in unexpected places lately.

He turns a page in search of some more blank space to write in, but then flicks back again and examines the notes. With a quick glance around, as if to ensure nobody is listening, he looks over the notes and softly attempts to sing a little of the music written here, just to hear it out loud. One of his better-kept secrets as Exarch, after all, is that he is quite a talented singer...]

Comments

2.

[bachagain]

[ speak of a curse and the curser shall appear...

the exarch may have carefully combed the area, but comedic rp timing dictates that leo tsukinaga is simultaneously missed and present where he is least wanted. the sound reaches his ears, and it's familiar. unsurprising, considering the origins of the piece.

he hasn't cracked open any of the books in this place, hilariously enough. not that he's really questioning where the exarch got that, really. he's more interested on hearing what's coming out of his mouth now, and... well, it isn't unpleasant. the music's good, of course, he wrote it, but-- ]

Wahaha! It feels like it's been a while since I've heard someone else sing what I wrote. You've got a pretty voice!

[ --but also that. this sure is leo, approaching to take a seat in front of the rocks his unexpected company has taken to sitting on.

sorry for your secret, exarch. ]

Wanna keep going? I already feel like switching some things around for you!

[crystaltower]

[Wait what who is this he could have sworn there was nobody -

Ahem.

Though the Exarch stiffens he takes a good moment to compose himself before he answers. There is still a tightness to his voice, a little embarrassed at being overheard.]

I hadn't realised there was anyone nearby! Apologies, I don't much like for others to hear...

[Wait.]

...you mean to say this is your doing?

[He turns the book to show the stranger the musical scrawlings covering the page.]

[bachagain]

[ oh! ahaha, he's shy. there's not much to be shy about, leo thinks? not that he gets a chance to dwell on that much when the exarch showcases the book.

and leo, in his infinite normalcy and one-track mind, moves onto his next focus. he reaches into his pocket to uncap a marker. he stretches a little, hand outstretched in an attempt to make those adjustments he said he wanted to do when he heard that nice, unexpected voice...

leo at least speaks as he does so. ]

Yep, that's my work! Didja like it enough to copy this down from the ground out in the void? [ he thinks the exarch means the piece in general, rather than the copy directly in his book ] Aaand move it down a little, okay? I'm trying to get to the top notes!

[ please humor him ]

[crystaltower]

[Ah, Leo, no! That's his journal! He pulls it back defensively, reluctant to let the overenthusiastic boy draw in there even when it's clear he means to edit the music.

...so he wrote it... this foreign-sounding music. It doesn't sound as though he is the one who drew it in this book, however.]

I didn't copy it, no. I don't know how it ended up in here... I was using it as a journal.

[bachagain]

[ wow, LAME. there is a flash of disappointment when the exarch draws back, but it's more reflexive and doesn't quite stay there long. leo's... leo's polite (??? no) enough not to push drawing on other people's things if they don't want it, so he'll lower his marker-donning hand when all is done.

with his minute pouting out of the way, he looks pensive at the mention of not knowing where the music came from. ]

Huh? So you didn't copy it, and I sure as heck didn't... [ a tiny hum ] I guess it could've been Kyo? I wrote it for 'em, and now it's showing up out of nowhere...

[ they must've liked it? he's referring to the god he is so sure exists in the void. but like, he just randomly gave it a name. and he's also not explaining anything about this. that little conclusion seems to be more for himself than anything, and leo seems almost tickled by it.

what the heckie. at least when he continues on this trainwreck path, he actually seems to be referring properly to the exarch this time. ]

Didn't think there'd be someone out there with less restraint than me, but I guess it makes sense that a God wouldn't care about boundaries like "this belongs to someone else"...! I'll apologize for 'em drawing in your book. Sorry about that!

[ can he apologize for a god that questionably exists? too bad, he sure is. ]

1

[gardenerofavalon]

Merlin isn't exactly one to talk much about himself--not about anything meaningful anyway--as some people have no doubt already begun to realize. Still, the posted notice, while it didn't overtly say as much, offered a possibility for a proper exchange and comparison of information, which could prove quite valuable indeed.

So, one day(?) at the appropriate time, he climbs the stairs of the apartment building and heads to the specified door.

"So you're the one who wrote that note?"

[crystaltower]

Even though he is in what he supposes is now his own home, the Exarch has still pulled his hood up to hide his face while he hopes for visitors. That cowl is very much part of his identity as Exarch, no matter who has or hasn’t seen his face. He greets Merlin with a smile, and steps aside to let him through.

“I am. And I am glad it has been seen, for I worried it might be missed... or perhaps somehow misplaced.”

[gardenerofavalon]

"Well, if you noticed it's gone, you could always post another."

Merlin steps inside, not in the least bothered by the fact that the fellow's wearing a hood. He's been known to do so himself, even if probably more because he thinks it looks cool and mysterious than anything.

"The bigger question is, how many people will bother to share what information they can?"

[crystaltower]

"There might need to be a little encouragement, but I'll not begrudge those who prefer to say nothing," the Exarch says, his easy smile not leaving his face. "I have my fair share of secrets, and so I am hardly one to judge."

He directs his visitor to the neatly made bed that - given there is no need to sleep - has been scrubbed clean and repurposed into seating. Sitting on the bed is one of the books that had been holding up the window.

"This is what I have been working on," the Exarch says, indicating the journal. "'tis only a personal journal discussing what we find here, yet I hope to use what I learn to write more of our present surroundings. I feel we ought to keep suitable records of our story here."

2

[bridge_princess]

What music? I don't hear any music...

[She paused and looked at the funny looking nekomata, or what she assumed to be one after the first time that they'd met, head cocked as she raised an eyebrow. Well, he was the one who talked about music. So that had to be something, right?]

[crystaltower]

The written music.

[He turns his book around and holds it out to show what he means.]

It seems to have appeared in here, through means unknown. I have seen this in several places now.

[bridge_princess]

[She squinted and looked at some of the writing. It was almost like conversation that could have happened around here, but at the same time set to music. Her lips turned into a frown and she tapped them.]

Weird. It's not gibberish anymore. But it's not really a book either.

[crystaltower]

Indeed. And the further you proceed through the music, the more it becomes nonsense, as though whoever wrote it was fighting sleep.

[He flicks through several pages where the music slowly deteriorates until he finally finds blank pages again.]

This is a nuisance... I had wanted to use this book as a journal.

1

[abeautifulgame]

[of all the things someone could ask Damien about, Chicago is the one he's least adverse to sharing information on. he might forget to mention certain things about it (like the part where he almost destroyed the city, and fairly recently. oops?), but otherwise, yeah, sure, he's game. maybe he can milk the Exarch for information, too, casually, as part of the natural flow of the conversation. he's not sure what he'd do with information regarding his world, but it can't hurt]

[that in mind, knock, knock, Exarch]

[crystaltower]

A moment, please!

[A moment to make himself a little more presentable and pull his hood up, before he opens the door to greet his guest with a polite, neutral smile.

...ah, the man he met en route to these apartments when they first appeared.]

Good evening... well, possibly evening. Am I to assume you saw my notice?

[abeautifulgame]

Let's go with evening.

[it stands to reason, just as much as anything else does, the forest going in cycles and all. either way, he shrugs mostly for his own benefit, and then nods] But yes. I thought we could talk about Chicago. [home. among other things]

[crystaltower]

Chicago...

[Spoken as if the word is completely foreign to him, but he gives a small nod.]

A city?

1!

[rotomphone]

[ though he may not know much about the Exarch personally, if there's one thing that Raihan likes to do, it's talk about himself. you tend to overshare things when you're social media famous, and without posts to make to his adoring followers while he's here, he's itching to give updates to anyone who's willing to lend an ear. when he passes by the notice on his way back into his flat, he figures that it's as good of an opportunity as any. he wants not only to make his own mark, but that of the Trainers and the world they come from, seeing as it seems to be so unique from everyone else's.

it takes a quick check in the forest to make sure it's withered, but once he's sure, he returns back to the apartments to give a shave-and-a-haircut knock to the Exarch's door. ]

Hey! [ he raises a hand in greeting when it's opened, as does Duraludon behind him. ] We're here about the ad. Have you got time?

[crystaltower]

Of course!

[Though his hood hides his eyes, he still offers He offers his two guests a smile, and opens the door wide to allow them through.]

'tis good to see you, Raihan. And Duraludon as well... it might feel a little cramped, but come in.

[rotomphone]

[ hooray, entry granted! he makes sure that they enter one at a time to avoid any squishing, and Duraludon does his best to position himself in a way that isn't too cumbersome for Raihan and the Exarch. he's used to this, clearly. ]

Same here! [ he bats a hand, unbothered. ] Don't worry! Worse comes to worst, I can just sit on Duraludon's back. He's actually pretty comfy.

[ he gives the side of Duraludon's body an affectionate pat and sits on his tail as if to exemplify it. with the way the Pokémon's tail slopes at a flat angle, it actually doesn't make a bad seat. ]

So you want to learn more about our worlds, right? I'm an open book, so ask away!

[crystaltower]

I do indeed!

[It's nice to have someone cheerful to chat to! Even if he knows the poor boy is probably still worried about the ruins on the other side of the mountain... speaking of which.]

...perhaps, then, you might tell me more of Hammerlocke. The city you know, rather than the ruined imitation, of course.

1

[koopacrusher]

Bowser had been spending much of his time trying to learn about the various other dimensions, in hopes of finding a common thread, a hint at an answer as to why they were here, and an answer on how to leave. So during the forest's "night" phase when he sees the notice, he collects the case he Regained from his apartment, then heads to room 301.

Once the Koopa King is there, he knocks on the door. If and when the Exarch arrives, he's leaning against the wall opposite to the door, holding the case. "I saw the message in the lobby. I'm here to trade information."

[crystaltower]

A... beastman? That admittedly surprises the Exarch, simply because so many here are hyur, but he greets the stranger with his customary smile all the same. Though his eyes are hidden by his hood, they do fall to the case in the beastman's claws, and he can't help but wonder just what he has brought.

"Excellent. If it would be more comfortable, you're welcome to come in."

[koopacrusher]

Bowser silently accepts the offer to enter the room. Once inside, he asks, "So you're the Exarch guy? The one who's looking for information on people's home dimensions?"

[crystaltower]

This beastman is enormous. He completely towers over the Exarch, who is already short for a miqo'te and used to having to look up at everyone - it's a little intimidating in this tiny, cramped room. Though his face doesn't betray his anxiety, beneath his robe the Exarch's tail flicks back and forth, with enough force to actually move the heavy cloth.

"I am indeed. For the most part, I'm looking to learn what you have found familiar in this realm, but more general information is also welcome. I quite like to imagine worlds so far removed from my own..."