backdated to early January; storm aftermath; text

[psituational]

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.]

Comments

private -> action

[psituational]

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.]

[afoolsgold]

[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.

[psituational]

[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.

[afoolsgold]

[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.]

[psituational]

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...]