#edtheterifying

HEIGHT COMPARISON

"I think it's cool."

"Huh? You... you do?"

You clutch the sketchbook to her chest automatically; you're used to people being a bit more judgemental than that when it comes to drawings like these. You doesn't really know what to think of Zooble, aside for that huge stink they raised when they first arrived. And while it's not like anyone, aside from Jax, is really rude about your drawings, but she feels like no one really cares. Ragatha is always so nice, it's hard to tell if she really means it. Kaufo isn't mean, but he's been a bit more distant than usual lately. And Kinger is, well, Kinger.

"Sure. That's One Piece, right?" says Zooble. "I've watched a bit of it. I guess I kinda forgot that stuff like that still exists, out there."

You stare for a moment, eyes wide, before the shock of similar interests passes through. "Oh! Uh, y-yeah! One Piece is one of my favorites, I was all caught up before I got here. Um, it didn't end or anything, did it? Sorry, I don't know if you know."

"I... I think it's still going," says Zooble, tapping at their... chin? Close enough. "Sorry, I don't really watch that one. But I like what I've seen."

"Well, I mean... Do you like anime and manga, then?" you say, letting the sketchbook fall from your chest. "I don't really have anyone else to talk about it with. I think Jax and Ribbit watched stuff, but they're not really... How do I put it?"

"They're #@?$s," says Zooble. When the bleep plays over their words, they roll their eyes and grumble. "This is &!%?ing dumb. I can't even just say words!"

"They are kinda jerks sometimes," you say, giving a small laugh. "But I think it's just how they cope. I'm kinda... used to it."

You don't like it. It makes you feel like ?$%&, but there's nothing you can do about it. At least they mostly just talk to each other and leave you alone, and you can spend time with Ragatha or Kaufmo if you want some kinder company.

"That's not a good thing, you know," says Zooble.

You nod. "Yeah, I... I know."

You're just used to it. Everyone is. That's how it works. But you're not going to tell Zooble that; they'll figure it out on their own before long.

With a sigh, they sit down beside you. "Mind if I take a look? Beats sulking, I guess."

There's a chance that Zooble could actually be mean to you. That this could be a trick to get you to lower your guard a bit before they tear up all your drawings. Perhaps that hesitation shows on your face, because they lean away a little.

"You don't have to. I get it, art can be kinda personal sometimes. If you're not comfortable-"

"No, that's not... that's not it. Um, here, you can see," you say, handing them the sketchbook. "Just, um, just so you know, some of that stuff is kinda old! I-I mean, I've been practicing a lot, so I've been getting a lot better."

"At least you're doing something productive, unlike some people," they say, flipping through the book.

Every so often, Zooble offers some comment or asks a question. They seem genuine, and bit by bit, you let your guard down. You haven't really had a chance to talk about your drawings with people in a long time.

"I wanted to be a professional artist, back before I came to the Circus. Like, I wanted to publish stuff online. It just... never worked out," you sigh. "Real life got in the way, you know?"

"I get it," says Zooble, their eyes lingering on your drawing of Chopper. "And look at us now. Getting back to real life doesn't seem so bad, even if it &!%?ing sucks sometimes."

They hand the sketchbook back to you, and their expression seems softer. At least, from what you can tell. "Your art's pretty good. I used to draw a bit, back on the outside. Maybe we could draw together sometime."

"You're... just saying that," you say, holding onto the book. Still, you can't help your smile.

"Guess you don't know me well enough yet. I don't just say stuff."

With a huffing laugh, Zooble gets back to their feet. "Listen, I get that I didn't make the best first impression. But I... I don't wanna..."

"N-no, we all understand," you say, also standing. "This place, it... everyone freaks out at first. No one blames you. Or at least, I don't."

You wish you could tell what they're thinking a bit easier. There's just the subtle movement of their eyes, and it doesn't tell you as much as you'd like. But you hope they believe you.

"...Thanks, Gangle. I really... thanks."

"It's fine. Here, if you want, we could go find some of the others? I'm sure they'd like to get to know you a bit better too." You tuck your sketchbook under your arm and nod towards the common area. You should be able to find Kinger and Ragatha there, and maybe even Kaufmo.

"Oh, uh, I should warn you in advance about Kaufmo," you say, voice dropping.

Zooble raises a brow. "Is he also a #@?$?"

"No, he's just... his jokes kinda suck."

"I probably wouldn't be a good audience even if they were good. But thanks."

Lorene had been wandering the Cotes Ward for a few days, so he'd become accustomed to meeting Spirits. The Pixies weren't everywhere, per se, but they were common enough that he was thanking every god he knew that he had long ago learned the proper decorum in speaking to and interacting with Spirits. You bowed to them, you didn't make eye contact, you didn't thank them or say any words that could open up a debt, and you spoke quietly and politely. Period. That covered most types of Spirits, too, regardless of their home cultures or the pantheon they associated themselves with.

But, naturally, having grown up in Mongol--a nation whose ancestry, while entirely Elven, originated from all over the Eastern half of the Eurasian continent--the first thing he learned were the ghost stories. Every child does. Every child is taught to be afraid of the dark, and why. The dark is hungry. The dark is unmerciful to unwary children.

So, when Lorene was just minding his own business, meandering through the Cotes Ward looking for something to nibble on for lunch, of course he recognized a jiangshi immediately.

The noise that came out of him as his ears pinned back against his head in fright was somewhere between a yelp and a screech; he hopped back a good five feet in one leap.

"OH my gods--!"

It took about a second for Lorene to remember his manners, his heart hammering in fear. He dropped into an excessively low bow, hands pinned to his sides.

"My apologies! I didn't see you there! Please excuse my bad manners!" Lorene wasn't aware of the universal translation magic present in Spirale, so the words came out in his native Canto Elvish (what natives of Earth called Cantonese Chinese).

Welcome back to chilly Isola Radiale, Ed!

You’ll be staying in TOWNHOUSE 209!

You’ll retain everything you had in your previous stay.

Enjoy your return!

          there was a bubble of cold caught in danny's throat, and it was really starting to annoy him. it was the same feeling he got when he had the flu, that scratchy pressure you couldn't get out no matter how much you coughed. it was irritating, to say the least. and the worst part was that he didn't know why. it was like his ghost sense was confused, or couldn't make up its mind. because that was, of course, just danny's luck. so he'd taken it upon himself to fix this.

     which was exactly how he'd found himself gone ghost and standing in front of a total stranger, hands on his hips and face scrunched up. the guy looked kinda... normal. short, yeah, and maybe kind of pallid-looking, but normal-ish. the pointed ears could be explained away, especially in this place. which left only one option, really.

Yuki looks up at the cliff face with determination, her nose wrinkled as she watches multiple persons-- sometimes in groups, sometimes solo-- try to pick the sparkling flowers off. There's apparently some prize for it, but Yuki doesn't care about that, she wants to get flowers for her friends. She wants to get one for Juliyah, and Chara, and ENA, and Wes-tin, and Ei-ten, and--. Well. A lot. Maybe more than she can take.

That's a problem for future-Yuki.

The little girl spots another short creature, and thinking it another child, she grins and runs up to him.

"Hi I'm Yuki! Wanna get the flowers together?"