the veil is thin . . .

[thespaceopera]

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Comments

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris would go for the 'sack of potatoes' method, so it's not like he's any better. Fenris lets out a long sigh, but manages to keep this tone even. ]

Because I am an elf. Elves have pointed ears. Downstairs, you said?

[Let's head down that way, Justice. FUN ADVENTURES. ]

[whatisright]

"Downstairs, probably. Or her room. Or the sky." [The child laughs, pulling at the crystal's chain.]

The last suggestion was a lie. You shouldn't lie. [And Justice is here to state the obvious and sprinkle in a little moral scolding because that's his job. But he follows Fenris downstairs, still trying to figure out how he's supposed to hold a small child.]

"Are all elves grumpy?" [The child asks with a giggle.]

[wolfuncaged]

He is a child, he thinks he's being funny. It's what they do.

[How does Justice not see that? Another mark against him in Fenris horrible theory that...this guy may be what he dreads. He exhales, heading down and starting to look through the rooms. ]

No. Some are obnoxiously happy.

[whatisright]

How is... [He's about to ask how lying is supposed to be funny, but considering his track record understanding mortal humor, he shakes his head and just gives up.

The child reaches out and tugs Justice's ear gently.] Stop that. [Justice tries to pull away, but unless he holds the boy straight out from him, he keeps reaching for the ear with a giggle. Justice gives up on that one too, settling down to tolerate tiny grabby hands until he can hand the boy off to his parents. Are all mortal children like this?

The girl, definitely older than the boy, has migrated from under the sink to the kitchen table, hugging her stuffed toy as she watches them with wide eyes.]

[wolfuncaged]

Try not to drop him.

[That is the stellar advice Fenris is offering. Lucky Justice.

He heads off towards the kitchen, crouching down near the table. He attempts a smile- it's not great, but he tries. ]

Come on. We have your brother. We are going to take you to safety.

[whatisright]

[Justice is seriously questioning this mortal's experience with children, if that's the best advice he can manage. He's just going to have to put up with being grabbed and tugged to keep the boy calm, he thinks. So the child keeps grabbing his ear, and Justice tolerates it with the look of a soldier suffering through battle.

The girl still looks a little unsettled, but she tries to give Fenris a weak smile in return.] "Okay." [She hesitates, then reaches for Fenris's hand to hold, keeping a tight grip on her toy.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris hesitates. Maker, he hates touching people. He hates it so much. Still, it will probably be the better solution here. So, he takes the girls hand, raising again to bring her out from under the table.]

There we are. Now let us leave this place.

[Don't judge, Justice, he got her out from under the table didn't he? Seeeeeeeesh. ]

[whatisright]

[Justice is always judging. It's basically his job.

The girl holds Fenris's hand tightly, her eyes darting between him and Justice nervously. As they walk, she says quietly,] "You're holding him wrong."

[Justice is still holding the child like a bomb. He looks down at the boy, still trying to grab his face.] How should I hold him?

[The girl demonstrates with one arm and her stuffed toy.] "Like this."

[Justice hesitantly tries that, and the boy immediately grabs onto both of his ears. The girl scowls.] "Stop that, Baby. That's not nice." [Immediately, the boy stops, chagrined, and goes back to pulling at his baby blanket.

Justice takes a moment to stare in surprise at his new freedom from grabs, then looks at Fenris, shaking his head.] If I did not know better, I would say the girl was a mage. [It's meant seriously, but it comes out so deadpan that the girl giggles.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris pulls a face as the continues to walk. He'd been enjoying the little exchange, until Justice went and ruined it and used the M word. Fenris likes to think he's got a lot better at handling his magic issues since leaving Thedas. But they're still there- albeit a little quieter. ]

I would rather she weren't. I am sure one can teach their siblings good manners without magic.

[whatisright]

I doubt she is. For all their talk of magic, I have not seen a sign of any mages among this planet's people. [They're like dwarves. Orange, human-sized dwarves. That said, after his limited experience with toddlers, he doesn't know how getting them to behave without magic is possible.

So it seems that the little girl is the most expert regarding this of any of them, so he looks down at her for answers.] How did you do that without magic?

[She giggles again, and Justice really doesn't know what he's saying to make her giggle, but it's relaxing her so he won't question it.] "You don't need magic to make him listen. You just need to tell him to stop."

[Justice frowns in confusion.] I did.

"You need to tell him he's not being nice. When he does something bad, tell him that's not very nice and make an angry face." [She gestures to Fenris, now looking up at his face instead.] "Like you. You make good angry faces."

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris has only been half listening to this exchange when attention is brought back to him. He'd been busy trying to find a good path to get the kids safe (and out of their hands). He frowns at the unwanted attention. ]

I am not angry. I am concerned- currently.

[He says. Looking angry. ]

[whatisright]

[The girl looks at him skeptically.] "You need a better concerned face."

[Justice would probably find this amusing if he had a sense of humor, but as it stands, he's just confused. Instead, he focuses on following the trail of their parents, gesturing occasionally for Fenris to follow as his feet lead them closer to the ships.] How does a person have a better face for anything?

"If you have a good angry face, then people know you're mad without being scared. And if you have a good concerned face, people know you're concerned... without being scared." [Maybe they've been too nice to this girl, because now she's tilting up her chin and looking at Fenris as if to dare him to say he's not scary.]

[wolfuncaged]

I think mine will do its job just fine, thank you.

[Fenris is not rising to you, little girl. He'll continue staring ahead with his angry cat face forever and ever. He's fine. This is concern. Honest.

...A really spiteful, angry concern, but hey. ]

We should be on our way to the shuttles to get you safe.

[whatisright]

We should hurry. I believe their parents are attempting to get away from the shuttles to find their children.

[Justice picks up the pace, his feet naturally taking him towards the rest of their family. The boy doesn't seem to be paying attention, leaning on Justice's shoulder and playing with his blanket and crystal, but the girl frowns in concern, her grip tightening on Fenris's hand.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris quickens his pace, headsing towards the shuttles, pointing at the child as they arrive. ]

Um. Is this anyone's????

[Because returning a lost child is like returning a lost puppy, right? Right? ]

[whatisright]

[Justice does not have much context to judge by, but he continues to question this mortal's experience with children. Some people look to see what Fenris is pointing at, but none of them light up in recognition. Justice doesn't stop moving, instead making a quick gesture for Fenris to follow as he ducks through the crowd.

Off in the distance, a man and a woman are screaming at a cop keeping them in line. The little girl perks up immediately and waves her arm.] "Mom! Dad!"

[wolfuncaged]

[OH, thank the Maker. He did not want to be stuck with kids for the rest of his days. He turns in the direction Justice is leading them, raising a hand to the parents, to let them know their children have been found. ]

Good. We'll get to your parents and then we can go.

[whatisright]

[The parents see the raised hand, hear the cries of the girl, see their kids--and then they're running like a shot, practically shoving people out of the way. One sweeps the little girl up in their arms, the other takes the boy from Justice's arms (thank goodness). The parents shower kisses on their children, and then the mother, tears in her eyes and saying 'thank you' over and over like a prayer, hugs Justice tightly.

Justice goes rigid, his arms at his sides and his eyes wide with confusion, but she lets go before he has a chance to process what's happened. She's moving to hug Fenris too.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris stays to one side, as the parents gush over their children (and Justice- sorry, pal, you didn't move quickly enough). He's glad they're safe- that at least one story here will have a good ending- good, if not especially happy, given everything.

As the mother heads towards Fenris, he raises his arms slowly, taking a step backwards. ]

No. There is no need. I am just glad your children are safe.

End after this?

[whatisright]

[The woman and the man are both crying, and Justice doesn't know what to do with this. They're still choking out thank yous as they take their children away (the mother thankfully taking the hint and not trying to force the hug).

Justice stares after them for a moment, still confused but with the familiar wonderful feeling of having done good welling inside. The world is more comfortable when he feels he's helped others.

He turns to look at the elf, since this victory is just as much the elf's as it is his own.]

I am going back for others. Will you join me or do you wish to assist with the efforts here?

Yee!

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris takes it pretty well, already focusing on the next task. Time to move on.

Plus. Justice is kind of creeping him out. He thinks it best they part ways, for now. ]

I will assist here. Good luck.