Stronger With Those Daddy Issues

[missrecalled_mods]

Waking to bird song isn't exactly shocking in Auradon, but it seems... louder than usual on the first morning of the event. And there is a reason for that. Auradon has been visited by a rather large flock of Golden pheasants. An odd flock as experienced birders might notice there are only the brightly coloured males in evidence. But there isn't much time to think about that because with them comes... a complication.

Now this is Auradon, of course, so the only mess the birds are dropping are bright colourful feathers. But the feathers, like the flowers last month randomly trigger a memory. Once again the memory shows in 3D, looking the most solid to the one who touched the feather - and unwittingly contributed the memory. No one can interact with it, and no matter how solid it looks, the figures and places and things in the memory can be walked through with ease. Well, physical ease, anyway. The memory, once again, will not be from the perspective of the one it belongs to; they and their companion or companions will be observing from a third party perspective, thus allowing a person to see their own face in the memories without the aid of a mirror.

The memories this time are memories of fathers and paternal figures. Generally good memories. After all, this is Auradon.

If one interacts closely with the birds or their feathers they might also have strong vivid dreams of their paternal figure. Again, genrally happy dreams given this is Auradon. While the birds will fly away after two weeks, and the feathers will lose their power to share memories at the same time, for every day spent handling the birds or feathers during the event, the character might have up to that many day of intense dreams after.

Comments

[souls_of_roles]

She nodded a bit. "Until.... When I was younger, I never knew anything about acting either, but now I love it," she said with a quiet but strong passion. For once a wondrous emotion was pouring out of her, but she wasn't bouncing or hyper as she put her hands over her heart. "It is like... I get to create a new me very time I have a new role, and a little bit of the emptiness fills right up. Like I'm learning... how to be Kyoko Mogami..." she said with a small warm smile that unintentionally hid the happiness and fulfillment brimming out from her.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki's smile ended up more comfortable in return. It was strange to see her both happy and so calm, and it made him take what she said all the more seriously. "Ie... I can see why it's so important to you then. For me... I feel most like myself around animals."

As he spoke he brushed something off his shoulder, despite his efforts a feather had landed there and he about swore (not that it would have come out right anyway) as the scene around them shifted, and he flinched back.

Young Enki was not much older in this moment than the previous and sat on a wall in the yard. There were other children his age in the yard, but not near him. It wasn't clear if he was being excluded or if he just wanted quiet.

The same man as the previous memory approached, expression unreadable. He raised an eyebrow at Enki. "If I did not know better I would believe you were anticipating my seeking you out."

Enki looked over, almost startled. "But you know better."

Skisan shook his head. "You were meditating then?"

"Ie, or... trying. It's hard with all the noise."

Skisan nodded, but didn't comment. That would come next lesson. "Come with me.

Enki hopped off the wall and followed, worry making it into his expression, the boy chewing at his lower lip.

He could not see Skisan's face, but it was visible to adult Enki. There was the smallest smile in anticipation of what was to come. But for a V'Tosh? That was A Lot. He paused at the door to Enki's room, and his face went passive again before he turned to the boy. "I believe it would be in your best interest to check in your room.

Enki blinked, expression shifting from worry to utter confusion. He opened the door and then paused, staring.

The animal in the room was Large and looked like something between an illustration of a saber-tooth tiger... and a bear. The animal turned, approaching and sniffing at the boy.

Enki moved slowly, not rushing at him, but he grinned, and when he started scratching the animal's fur he looked up at Skisan. "A Sehlat? For me?"

Skisan nodded, happiness at Enki's reaction far more obvious than before, though the boy still missed it. "His name is Pasol, and I was given him when I was your age. Now he is yours... On one condition."

Enki winced. "Umm, no more going out to meet other animals?"

"No, nothing so severe. If an animal needs aid, you may take it to the appropriate facility and assist as they allow, but you are not permitted to bring animals here, injured or otherwise.

The boy sighed in relief and then nodded, smiling again and leaning against Pasol as the Sehlat got more accustomed to him. "I can meet that condition... thank you T'kahr Skisan. I will take good care of him."

Enki shook his head fondly as the memory faded. "Ie, as I said, I feel most myself around animals." Given that he'd relayed Skisan giving him Pasol before to others, he was much less shaken by sharing that particular memory.

[souls_of_roles]

She gave a warm smile, but was bouncing and hyper again. "That one HAS to b a fairy! Right?!"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki shook his head, some measure of amusement making it into his smile. "Dhat. A Sehlat is from the same place Skisan was from. Young ones were often given to V'Tosh children as pets. Pasol was pretty old, but I think I learned a great deal taking care of him.

[souls_of_roles]

"Oh..." she said, deflating with disappointment again.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

"Just because they aren't fairies doesn't mean they aren't amazing. For instance Pasol was very smart and patient enough with me that as small as I was when I first met him, I could actually ride him sometimes. I couldn't control where he went, and when he was done he'd knock me off, but..." Enki shrugged.

[souls_of_roles]

"I... don't really know much about animals," she admitted with a small shrug, looking down. Was that a failing? What if she needed to for a role on day? Then what?

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Enki smiled softly and shrugged. "I mean umm, that makes sense. Your focus seems to be more people." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "I just... have an easier time with animals."

[souls_of_roles]

"Oh... Why?" she asked, curiously.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

He chewed his lip and then shrugged. "Not sure. It's just how I am, I guess?"

[souls_of_roles]

"O...oh." She wasn't sure what to say to that. Except to wonder if he was really sure he wasn't a fairy?