We built this city on Rock-

[toph_luck]

Who: Toph Beifong, Najaran, Iroh, and You!
Which: Log | Open prompts
Where: Exploring, Visiting Iroh and Najaran
What: Meeting Najaran's 'friends', or friends. And Hanging out with Iroh to talk about the world they're in. Exploring the world and meeting strangers!
Warnings: None yet



For everyone - The Open Prompt!

[ It doesn't really matter what brings you here, but something does, either way. Be it a trip between regions, the urge to explore, caught off guard by a wild spider monkey and chased down. Either way, along your travel you spot a peculiar sight. What appears to be... a tent? And several perfectly shaped circle slab seats around. Even more peculiar, there seems to be a young girl just... laying back against a stone arch like it's a hammock, sipping from a thin metal cup. Her eyes are closed, and her head doesn't turn as you approach. (Or perhaps you don't approach, either way, she calls out) ]

Hey! Are you lost?

[ So helpful. ]

For Najaran

[ Huh, another person way out here? It's not what she's expecting. A familiar figure is close by, and by the feel of it, not doing too hot. Toph's comfortable in her campsite, but she reaches out and slams an arm down, shooting small stone markers up to help guide Najaran towards her from a (surprising) distance. Slightly smug smile on her lips. ]

For Iroh

[ The noise comes expected, perhaps. There's a short shadow by the door and a quiet. Knock, knock, knock.]

Wildcard

[ You know the drill! Poke me on hantale or Hantale on discord, or DM here if you want to plan something. Otherwise, this is the catch-all for silly scenarios, memes, or whatever else you might want to throw at her.

For the sake of planning, assume she's travelling around a lot and sorting out her own food, often camping somewhere or relaxing in a calm area. Maybe helping locals repair structures. ]

Comments

[najaran]

Najaran jumped a mile when the first stone thing appeared. And... started walking around it, examining it. And perhaps if Najaran were the type to get embarrassed, she might be embarrassed to get caught trying to take a bite out of it.

"Ow. So... it is stone then? Not food?" she poked it. "Then how did it just pop up....?"

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh stepped to the door. "I have everything set up outside, it is too beautiful a day to be cooped up indoors where we cannot feel the breeze." And besides, if Zuko cam back he wouldn't want his nephew to feel uncomfortable in his own home.

[toph_luck]

...

That's also a first. Huh.

Somewhere in the distance there's a laughing little girl. And then the stone does something it definitely shouldn't. It moves. Just a few feet away, like a really obvious breadcrumb, taunting her to follow it.

[toph_luck]

"The weather's good enough. Wind is nice. Sure why not." She returns, bowing briefly before entering and following him through. Iroh is one of the few people Toph gives polite gestures to... Mostly because she thinks it's funny.

[najaran]

Najaran blinked then stumbled back. "Are you alive? Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" she bowed quickly. "I didn't mean to try and bite you. Will you come back? I'm sorry!" she was so alarmed that she might have upset a potential new friend.

[uncle_iroh]

Out behind their home was a lovely spread of snacks and a tripod heating up tea. His makeshift Pai Sho set had ben moved outside as well - sewn together broad leaves with the lines inked on them and tiles made of small stones and bark.

"Please, have a seat," he said warmly.

[holdshisown]

[Lacking anything better to do with himself Maedhros has decided to familiarize himself with his new surroundings a bit more. At the moment he has no particular goal in mind, simply wandering around memorizing landmarks that might be useful to know at some point.

Stumbling across the girl was... unexpected, especially in such an out of place environement.]

No, simply exploring my new surroundings. And you, child? Are you lost or in need of aid?

[toph_luck]

... Seriously?

This is amazing. Toph's even come closer herself just to listen from a distance. The rock moves left then right, wiggling in a way rocks really shouldn't. What could it mean? Who knows.

[najaran]

She clapped her hands happily. "You want to dance?" she asked the stones. "Okay! We can dance! Do you want to dance with just me or my friends too?"

[toph_luck]

Fancy! Not that she can really see the set. But she recognizes a few of the shapes.

"Thanks-" She settles near the snacks, of course, sniffing quietly before leaning over the food. Hmmmh. "What have you got today?"

[uncle_iroh]

"A fragrant green tea blend I hav discovered here, and some rather delightful cookies and mini cakes in a flavor called matcha that goes well with it. One thing this place does not lack for is good food and tea."

He poured her a cup and offered it.

[toph_luck]

[ While her head doesn't turn to look at him, there's a brief dip of that smile before it returns. Child. Well, kindof still accurate. Still disliked. ]

Not that much. The town should be that way, but I can find my way back later. [ Her arm points to the direction she last remembers before draping over herself again. ] Found anything cool?

[holdshisown]

[He can't help the fact that he is litteraly older than the sun and as such tend to see everyone as children.]

That is good then, that neither of us is lost. [The fact that she does not look at him is a little odd, but he's used to odd children so he won't comment on it.] Not really, but it always a good idea to have some knowledge of your surroundings. One never knows when you might need such knowledge.

[toph_luck]

The stone can't speak. Najaran. How will it convey that...

Toph's getting closer by the second, to the point where she's leaning against one of the trees, twisting and tapping her foot every so often to keep the stone moving. How long until Najaran spots her?

The stone jumps, landing with a thud before moving once more, side to side, in little circles.

[toph_luck]

Toph happily accepts, leaning back and setting her tea aside to cool slightly. In the meantime? One cookie, one mini cake acquired, and she's munching into them without a second thought. Her face twists at first, confused. Slowly brightening as she gulps and then beaming.

"Woah.. that's an interesting flavour! It reminds me of the powdered blends that were popular around the "fancy" family events. They usually served it as a tea though."

[toph_luck]

[ In fairness, he's a pretty odd man, too. Her head bobs once, taking another sip from her cup. ]

Yeah? I just wanted to go for a walk. It's pretty nice out here. Quiet, no one to bother you unless they stumble past.

[ Call it a chance, she's kind of in a curious mood. ]

Have you been here long?

[holdshisown]

[She'd get no argument from him on that point, he's absolutely not exempt from his families oddities.]

I want to get a feel of the land I've found myself in. [And perhaps find some isolated spot to retreat to, either permanently or simply when things get too much. He hasn't really decided that yet.] Are you trying to tell me I'm intruding, child?

[An amused smile tugs at his lips.]

No. I've recently arrived here. [Not sure how he feels about that either.] How about you?

[toph_luck]

Depends how interesting you are. For now, there's some spare seats if you want. I'm not going anywhere soon.

[ Which is to say, she's found a nice spot with less wind and a lot of fine dirt. Forests nearby to cut out sound, and a source of water a little further in. Good stuff.

If he approaches he might quickly pick up that the seats are very distinctly made of stone. And so is the tent? What a convenient thing. ]

That makes two of us then. It's a pretty weird place, right?

[holdshisown]

I'm not sure I'm objective enough to really speak of how interesting a person I am. [But he'll not decline sitting down and speaking to her for a time. It's not like he's in a hurry anywhere.] This is a fine spot you've found yourself, child, I'm almost a bit envious.

[The stone structures fascinate him. It makes him wish his mother was here to see them, she'd have a field day examining them and questioning the girl about them.]

Most certainly, it's even stranger than Lórien and has a bit of the same feel to it. But that is to be expected, I suppose, that a land of dreams would feel much like the place the Vala of dreams and visions makes his home.

[toph_luck]

Do you call everyone by their age... Adult? My name is Toph, if you want to use it.

[ Just a little huff, but her tone suggests it's mostly playful. ]

The name doesn't ring a bell... What's uh, 'Loa-rien' like? You'll need to get used to people not understanding the names of things where you're from here.

[holdshisown]

I usualy just call everyone child or some such. Honestly I have a hard time figuring out human ages most of the time. [You all age so fast he can't keep up.] But if you wish me to use your name, young Toph, I will do my utmost to honor your request. And you may call me Maedhros, if you wish.

[His own tone might hint towards a hint of humor as well.]

I suppose it wouldn't, it is a region of my own world. I'm pretty sure most people who didn't grow up in Valinor wouldn't understand either, even if they were from my own world.

[toph_luck]

[ It takes her a moment to remember there's more than just humans around here. ]

Right. If you're not a human, what are you? You don't seem any different to me, Maedhros.

[ She's testing the name out, seeing if she likes it. If not he may get a nickname. ]

Want to explain more? Sounds like a kind of hidden land or something.

[holdshisown]

One of the Quendi, or an elf as the humans of my world would call us. One of the Noldor, if one want's to be more precise. Physicaly our differnces might appear rather minor at first, it is more a matter of a spiritual differnce.

[It is not the worst prenounciation of his name he's heard and he's more tollerant of nicknames when they come from children than he might be if an adult tried to give him a new name.]

In a lot of ways one might call it that. The Undying Lands is not accessible to just anyone, especially nowadays. It is the land of the Valar, powerful spirits in my world. The ones that helped sing it into being, in fact.

Exploring

[abyssbound]

[ It's on one of Asura's hunting forays into the wildlands that he encounters the girl's camp site. Not altogether unusual on its own, and from the looks of the camp, she knows what she's doing. Asura's about to leave her to it and move on when she calls out to him. ]

No. [ He answers with a quirked eyebrow. ] Just hunting for dinner.

[toph_luck]

[ Somehow she knew that explanation wouldn't mean much to her. ]

I don't really get it, but I have a feeling explaining would take too long. So you're like... a special human of some kind? Good enough for me.

[ She pauses to puff air past her face, blowing bangs slightly out the way, turning to sit up properly. ]

Have you made any friends here?