who is sídhe?

  “W-Wait, somebody put an entire branch down? Were you able to tell how big it was? I mean, if it could cause someone to trip over it, it’d have to either be big and heavy enough that someone can trip over it– and by extension the person who put it there having to be strong enough to carry something of that size– or if it was smaller it would’ve had to be bound to the ground one way or another.”

     “Someone did, yes. It was... Pretty large. I didn’t think much of it, ‘cause strength doesn’t mean much to me usually, but you’re probably onto something here, Uendo.” She tapped at the bench nervously, scanning the crowd, and lowered her voice to talk to the rakugoka alone.

(If it’s the same big branch we found, you’re right. But something doesn’t fit here - I picked up the same scent at the edge of the shrine, on Rosa - the clean one. Doesn’t that seem strange?)

She thought another moment, and then slapped her hand down on her thigh in frustration. “Uendo, there was no scent of sweat! Even if they’re strong, dragging a branch and a body through the woods is going to take effort.”

    “I did witness that, yes, but...” Autumn paused. She couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with Ianua. “I don’t think I saw your hairstyle, for example.” Puffing out a heavy sigh, she looked between the fairy and the salamander. Annnd back to the fairy.

     Sticking to the back of the imposing building, it became evident just how many people were swept away into this “game”. She tried to count, to tab up the rows and uneven columns of people as they crowded into the courthouse - Upwards of fifty, maybe double that.

Autumn stopped trying to count when the ambient noise rose, and the questions started to fly. She had a lot of information on the case worth sharing, but was finding it hard to bring herself past her aversion to crowds to even look up, let alone find new friends to sit with.

“I probably look pretty suspicious,” she thought to herself, and forced her eyes up. Rows of seats, two strange stands, all of it facing a raised pulpit with emblems the likes of which she hadn’t seen before carved into them.

It took a few minutes for her to raise her voice past the chatter, and even then, she still couldn’t look anyone - except Yukari - in the eye. She bowed as she spoke again.

“You know, given the timeline you guys have been talking about, I did see something notable...”

“I didn’t think it was my business, but now that you mention ‘tall’ for a suspect... When I was hunting yesterday, I did see some tall stranger far off going into the woods with a branch like that. They were wearing baggy clothes, but they looked pretty slim to me.” Autumn wiped at her mouth, straining to bring back the hazy thought. As she did, she laid out the notes she took from the Fairy in the cafeteria.

“They came back maybe an hour later, with a black bag a’ some sort. I’m sure of it --- They moved really precisely, like, methodically.”

     “She might very well ask for more than you think reasonable, but think of it from her perspective. She values them more than you do, so does it really hurt to share a few more trinkets?” Autumn smiled gently, going to her knees to invite Peaches over.

{ You have a truly beautiful coat, Peaches! I hope you’re in good health here. }

     She looked up to Bella and Uendo again, nodding to both of them. “If you are to give her coins or the like, only offer gold or silver; Tarnished metal and especially iron or steel aren’t much liked by fairies. If you like, I could try talking to her primarily; I have some history with her kind.”

    It almost got too comfortable to kneel with the familiar Pokemon, but Autumn hopped up to her feet with some deliberation. “Although, if she’s a nature fairy, honoring nature when you speak to her will do more good. I could offer her this,” She said quietly, pulling a small pouch from her bag - full of tiny, flavorful berries! “If she’s interested, we won’t be getting them back... Would you like to try some before then?”

     “There are fairies here!?” Isolating herself off in the woods, Autumn had only come across the... Less friendly beings that lived there. She practically jumped in excitement at the idea of meeting one of the fair folk!

     “I would love to come! Those would be okay as offerings, but I know a lot about the yōsei that might help you, too. Do you know what kind in particular she is? That will help a lot in getting on her good side...” She puffed out her chest, glad to finally be of some use.

     “If we can, offering... Proportionally more is always a good idea. I can search down trinkets if she’s a home fairy, but if she’s from nature, it’s better to try and match her ‘aspects’. And to be a suck-up. Never hurts, with outsiders.”

“GO FOR THE HEAD!!”