(no subject)

[thequestgiver]

Today is the... erm.. uh...

Well, to be frank, since Old Man Sign Changer quit his job, noone's quite sure what day it is any longer. Some people think that's a good thing. A lot of good pesky things like numbered days do in a place like the Kingdom. It's not right, trying to number something as natural as the sun and the moon, after all! And besides, if noone know what day it is, noone can get angry that someone else forgot their birthday.

Or at least that's what Old Man Sign Changer said as he quit his post and went off to the bar. Been there ever since. Misses Sign Changer doesn't seem to mind either, which has set up all sorts of gossipy whispers.

So instead of the date, there's just a sign reading "time is a cloud, we're all birds and nothing matters." When asked, Ole Man Sign Changer just repeats it, gestures vaguely and repeats "Birds, I tell you. Birds."

The weather report has also given up and just says "Sun. It's always sunny, even when it's not, stop asking me!"

There's quite a lot of space on the board for other postings, signs and rude doodles. Someone should put something there before Ole Biddy starts posting her weird art up there again...


[[New arrivals, please check the "Welcome to the Kingdom!" post for your introduction illusion and Pamphlet!]]

Comments

[chalicejoker]

[Attached to this note is a crude drawing of a mantis and a lot of exclamation points.]

[finalizes]

[Attached to this note is another note.

It contains just a question mark in Saffron's writing, and then, in a different hand, a drawing.

The drawing is fairly abstract but still surprisingly clear, and shows a big and a small wolf who seem to be moving, and then an arrow towards a person and a mantis.]

[chalicejoker]

[There are two notes attached to this one. One of them just has a bunch of exclamation points and more crude drawings of a mantis and a vaguely human-shaped blob with a heart on its face because Ryo is not the best artist.

The other's a note in Hajime's handwriting. "Ryo and I are here."]

[finalizes]

[There is a response to the words.

The response is, in large, careful crinkly writing: "Were?" Saffron might be better at writing than Laughs, but that's a very low bar.]

[chalicejoker]

[The response says "Hero House, usually around the kitchens.

Or out trying to fight things in woods."]

[finalizes]

[A while later, Hajime's only warning will be a cheerful] FIGHTY DADDYYYYYYYYY [before a widely grinning little girl launches herself at him.

Laughs hangs back a bit, letting the cub get her tacklehug attacks out of the way before he trots over, and looking around for other familiar faces.]

[chalicejoker]

[At least Hajime's Undead reflexes, even if they're more wired towards combat, are good at catching things launching themselves at him. He'll crouch down to meet her in time.]

Hey, kiddo.

[Ryo's on Hajime's armored shoulder calling, "Hi! Hi! Hi!" excitedly at everyone.]

[finalizes]

Hello fighty daddy! And Ryo!

[Yay, pack/family is here!] Have you found alpha daddy and uncle Gale and uncle Tick-Tock and soft daddy and Pearl and everyone else yet?

[chalicejoker]

["Found Uncle and Auntie and Second Daddy!" Ryo says helpfully. At least, Kenzaki is his second daddy.]

What he said. We haven't found too many of the others yet.

[He shakes his head.]

Not much in the way of pack.

[finalizes]

Uncle and auntie?

[Which uncle? Maybe it's someone relevant...

And then her face falls.]

Alpha daddy isn't here? [Because if he was here, she doubts that Hajime would put it like that.]

[chalicejoker]

Tachibana and Sayoko.

[Hajime makes his explanation as gently as he can.]

Ryo gets attached to people easily.

[And there's a grimace.]

If he's here, I haven't been able to find him or sense him.

[finalizes]

[At that, Laughs finally chimes in.]

We can't, either.

[So that probably means that he isn't there. Laughs does sound very decidedly not happy about that.

But also not as upset as he could be. He has Saffron here, and now Hajime is there, too.]

That makes you the alpha.

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime's really not happy about the lack of Lyall either, but it is what it is. They will have to persevere, and--]

Wait, what?

[Alpha? Him? "Is good at bossing people around," Ryo says, as he seems to agree with this assessment.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

At some point, there is a small crayon-drawn addition to Ryo's drawing; two red diamonds (one bigger, one smaller) and a puzzle piece in pink.

[finalizes]

[To each of those, a question mark gets added after a little while longer. The pink puzzle piece gets two, even.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

After considerable pouting, Garren spends an hour carefully drawing a picture of him, his Slammer (in his usual sage green and black get up) and Sayoko, each with the corresponding symbol drawn under them.

[finalizes]

[When Garren shows up at the message board next, Laughs and Saffron are camping out there. Actually kind of camping - or at least having a picnic.

Laughs isn't eating, but Saffron is methodically going through a bowl of sweets.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

There is a very pleased "heee!!" sound as Garren spots the two and starts running towards them, waving his small arms.

[finalizes]

[Saffron grins, puts the sweets aside, jumps to her feet and runs to meet Garren.]

Hey!

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren's waving grows more enthusiastic and happy, and he bounces a few times as he runs before he reaches her. Yeay familiar people! And ones who remember what they should! In his excitement, he reaches for her hands to bounce them. (Because also yeay, someone who's only twice as tall as he is instead of suuuper tall!)

[finalizes]

She lets him bounce her hands for a moment and then changes into her dragon form, which only takes a few moments and just is so much better for communicating with Garren. Size and telempathic abilities and everything.

She nudges Garren with her snout and sends happy colours and images. Yay, friends who remember!

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren swiftly follows her lead, jumping up into the air and somersaulting to transform to hummer form, letting out a happy trill and accompanying gold and warm red sparkles that are practically heart shaped.

Not too far away, Tachibana's form can be spotted approaching. He's been lucky enough to be able to ditch the ridiculous robes he had arrived in, and was wearing an outfit similar to his standard, if a bit more in keeping with the rustic aesthetic.

[finalizes]

While Saffron continues the happy greeting with images and hummer cuddles and trying to get Garren to fly around with her, Laughs trots towards Tachibana.

"So you're here, too."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren is all too happy to oblige, happy as anything to be playing with a friend.

Tachibana gave Laughs a nod. "Yeah. Hajime and I arrived at about the same time. Sayoko not long after." Something that had been a giant relief, truth be told, and the only reason he wasn't pitching a giant fit.

[finalizes]

"Stone is here but doesn't remember us," Laughs adds. It's... less than ideal. It made Saffron sad, and it really bothers him, too. Stone means a lot to Laughs, being one of the very few other true non-humans. One of the very few who really think differently.