khuioduan | backdated to early January; storm aftermath; text

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backdated to early January; storm aftermath; text

If anyone out there, Dreamfolk or no, is missing anything -- or anyone -- thanks to the storm, make a note of it here. If enough of us know, we can help each other find as much of it as we can.

I'll go first. Has anyone seen Ilda? She's a bright and cheerful young woman, pale skin and blonde hair. I haven't been able to find her and I'm worried she's hurt.

X

[It still feels strange, putting his name on something public like this. But if that would make it easier for Ilda to reach him, then the choice is easy to make.]

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[This does not feel like a subject that should be broached via text. The Fool places a voice call to X, and waits for him to answer before he begins gently,]

I have not seen Ilda in quite some time either, X. Since well before the storm.

[The Fool's gentle tone doesn't lessen the pang X feels when his worst suspicions are confirmed.]

Neither have I.

[He sounds resigned. Disappointed.]

I heard the Dreaming can do that, but... I never got the chance to say goodbye.

[Some pains cannot be gentled. The Fool does not try to dull the sharp bite, only take away the ache of its delivery.]

When I lost Fitz--

[he stops himself. No, this is not a conversation that should be had across the network.] Shall I come keep you company? [he offers softly.]

[The worst part is that X doesn't know what Ilda went home to. He never had the chance to ask her about what her twin brother said. She might well be dead, and there's nothing X can do about it.]

Fitz?

[It's an absent query, and the Fool's proposal quickly takes precedence.]

Yes, please. I'm at home. ... The new one, outside the Bridge.

I shall be there as soon as I can.

[It is not easy to get around Aifaran in the aftermath of the storm, but the Fool does his best. Still, it is almost an hour later when he arrives outside the Dreaming Bridge, marvelling curiously at the changes to the structure that had once been his home, too.

He texts X.]

I am here. Where can I find you?

I see you.

[It's not an instant reply, because X wasn't waiting outside. Now that he's out here, though, it's hard not to notice the Fool, all flowing golden locks among people more suited to harder conditions.

X waves with the yimo, then tucks it away and comes over. His smile might have been genuine if one didn't look too closely at his eyes.]

I didn't know you were friends with her.

[But he's not surprised.]

[He looks up at those words and searches the interior of the place, stopping only when his eyes find his friend. His own smile, in response, is gentled by the sobriety of their encounter. Ilda--little twin. She's gone.

He comes to his feet and crosses over to X, but stops short of embracing him, instead touching his arm, his shoulder.]

She often came to the cafe to keep me company as I worked. She has an indomitably bright spirit.

[X smiles sadly. That sounds like her, keeping people company in her own cheerfully buoyant way.]

I was trying to work out... I was trying to decide how to ask her about something important. I'm not sure she would have even known the answer, but I had to try. I suppose I don't need to try anymore.

[He takes a deep breath, and resists the temptation to go in for a hug. In all the time he's known the Fool, X hasn't once seen him go past the single gentle touch.]

She reminded me of my daughter.

[A statement weighted with feeling--the Fool needs time to wade through those emotions. His lips twist into a wan smile.]

She may yet return, [he offers gently, though he knows the danger of introducing such a hope to his friend. The Dreaming may not be a capricious entity, but its will is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees. Still--]

Perhaps it would help you, to work through your question even now. I will help, if I can.

[For the moment, he leaves X's statement about his daughter alone, though he will certainly not forget it.]

That's true.

[It's happened before, X has heard, that people vanish and return. He knows better than to expect or plan for that, but the minor hope, for him, is a balm.

He takes a long breath.] Do you remember when the temporary Dreamfolk arrived with the malevolent shadows last year? When Devin's -- when Bobby was here. Ilda's twin brother arrived as well, and he told me something about their situation back in their world that... I'm worried Ilda was killed.

[X doesn't say more, but he watches the Fool's face; if the news was difficult for X to hear...]

Could you describe her perhaps? Maybe you have a photograph?

[A photograph -- of course. Why didn't X think of that? He has several.]

Yes! Hold on one moment.

[What follows is a link to pretty much every account Ilda had on the network, all of which are chalk full of her selfies.]

I have more as well, but as you can see, she was very prolific. There haven't been any new posts from her in a while.

[She recognizes the young woman's face - and frowns. Ilda had been quite nice to her, something Alice had rather appreciated.]

I'm terribly sorry. I do recognize her, but I haven't seen her in some time.

Would you like help looking? I've been out and about in the city rather frequently and I'm sure an extra pair of eyes couldn't hurt.

[It's fortunate that a lack of conviction doesn't translate over text.]

Yes please. If she hasn't gone home, then nothing I'm trying is working.

Thank you.

Of course. It's the very least I can do.

Do you know what places she liked to go? Frequent haunts of any sort at all? I know it's a big city, but if you haven't tried those places we could split them between us and have a look.

[This reply is several hours belated, both for practical reasons and emotional ones.]

No, I'm afraid I don't. She lived in the Bridge, and I heard today that she liked to spend time at Die Rosa Tulpe. I knew some of her friends, but

I didn't know as much as I wanted to.

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backdated to early January; storm aftermath; text

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