cyclicality | Carried over from the Test Drive, Open!

[A pool has formed in the Spirit Wilds. Probably it used to be a fountain, but seems to have been taken over by something else, the center lopped off and away. The water is absolutely clear, but also absolutely deeper than it should be; one can no longer see the bottom of it. For anyone spiritually sensitive, the place is flush with spiritual energy.]

In the center of the pool stands a figure, body almost human, but not quite. Her body is gaunt, too long, wrapped in layer upon layer of vines and roots. Her arms and hands hang far longer than any human's, tipped with claws. And her head . . . a slim neck supports a head that is many-branched like the upended roots of a tree. Between and below each branch, there is a human face, exquisitely formed but blanched of all color.]

[No eyes are visible, hidden behind loops of vines and roots, but if anyone enters the clearing, they will find that immediately she is aware of their presence.]

((ooc: All other conversations that didn't happen on the Test Drive will take place after MoF meets with Aang.))

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She has truly been displaced in both space and time. That much is obvious. Although the Fire Lord is now a man, nearly full-moon on his time, the Avatar is not. If anything, he could be even younger; there is a possible lack of time in his face that her skills can read. Skin rarely lies.

. . . Anything to make life more difficult, apparently. When she finds who is responsible for her displacement, she will see to their punishment personally.

"Do you know me?" And there is irritation in her voice, because if she has to start this all over again . . . She does not like to repeat herself. "It has been indicated to me that time was awry in this place."

Edited 2014-12-07 03:39 (UTC)

The spirit definitely sounds assertive. He looks up humbly and shakes his head softly. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid that I've never seen a spirit like you before in my life. What you heard is right. I came here from... from a long time ago. If we met before, I'm sorry, but it might not have happened for me yet."

Not at all pleasing. The water thrashes again, almost like a cat's lashing tail. The corners of the Mother's faces are tight. She has been thrown through time and space against her will, almost as though she were a pawn for another's will, and not only is she forced to stay, but the odds are thrown against her -- even in things as simple as memory.

"I am the Mother of Faces." The words bear down in their weight. "I brought identity to the world. Separateness. I make the faces the beings of this world wear. To be stuck as though I were something less than this . . . Who has done this? They must be found. Immediately."

They must be informed. She is no one to be trifled with, and she will not forgive.

"What progress have you made on this matter?"

He glances down towards the water as it thrashes, a certain sign of a displeased spirit, or at the least impatience. He weakly mutters to himself, "I never knew faces had a mother..."

But he gives a light gulp as he looks up towards her again to address her, nerves striking as he tries to address her formally. "It's... it's an honor to meet you, your Faceiness. But I'm afraid that all I know is that... that this seems to have to do with all these spirit vines that have appeared in the city. I think that's what pulled most of us here. But beyond that, I haven't really... found out much about what's going on here."

"It is your self-professed duty to keep balance in this world." There is an edge now to the Mother's voice. "Yet you are unaware of the reason for the spirit vines and what force has utilized the power to adjust time itself? Do you not believe that this is something that merits investigation?"

This Avatar is not quite as confident as the one she remembers. Not quite as bold. So far he is just a boy . . . and a lost one at that.

"I- I do believe! Really! And... so does this era's Avatar, too. But we've tried, and we haven't been able to find any reasons so far." He pleads. He does almost feel like a lost boy right now, in a time that's not his own and separated from the two people who have been his anchor since the first time he woke up in another time.

"I'm so sorry, Mother of Faces... I promise I'm gonna try harder."

"I am not your keeper, Avatar." The edge does not shift away from her voice; if anything, it sharpens. "You are beholden to the duty you chose; I merely remind you of it. Apologize to the spirits and the humans held here while they wait for your answers."

She is silent a moment after that as her mind trails another thought, hard and overpowering. Her lips press together briefly. "I do not know if my own duties will be met while I am away. Do you see what imbalance this creates?"

He gives a quick bow of his head. "Then... thank you for your reminder, Mother of Faces. I'll work on those apologies instead..."

Aang scratches at his head. "I- I can only imagine the kind of imbalance that could create." It was bad enough remembering what had happened when the moon spirit 'died'. "Would it mess with... people's identities or something?"

Edited 2014-12-18 04:30 (UTC)

"I cannot say." The corners of the Mother's mouths are tight between words. "Such a thing has never occurred in all of Time. I can only guess what might transpire. Potentially all beings -- spirits, humans, animals -- born without faces. Eventually, memory might begin to slip away -- the things which allow spirits and humans to remember who and what they are. If beings such as spirits and Avatars no longer remember who they are, you could imagine the result."

"That... that really does sound bad." He frowns as he thinks it over. "But... We're really far in the future now, and I haven't seen any signs of any of that yet. So... We might still have time."

"In our time, it has only been hours. There is time yet for the world to fall apart."

She shook her head as though brushing the thought away. It's not something she can focus on too heavily, or she might fall apart herself -- unthinkable in front of this boy. She cannot give him that.

"Plainly I must assist in this situation. Though I cannot say where to begin. I know nothing of this city, or this time."

"Well, what better way to start then... then trying to get to know people? Maybe make some friends! You might be a spirit, but I don't think that's against the rules. ...All due respect!"

Wry, "Judging from my surroundings, Avatar, the humans left this place to the spirits some time ago. There is always this division between the two worlds, no matter how you pretend otherwise."

"Or can you tell me that in this time into which we both have been dragged, all things have changed?"

"Maybe not all things... but some things, at least! From what I've learned, the worlds are connected again. Humans and spirits are learning to get along better. Sure, this place is left mostly to the spirits, but that's to respect them! And there's still some people around this area who're trying to live among them. People are trying their best, and I wouldn't be surprised if spirits are, too."

Forgive her if she's a little skeptical of that, Aang. All of it. If her eyes were visible, he would have been met with an even stare.

"Fear is akin to respect, Avatar, but it is not the same. I will judge this for myself."

"I think seeing for yourself's the best way to do it. ...But are you gonna do it like that?" Sure there were a lot of spirits roaming around, but it's a little different when a gigantic one is lurking over the everyday hustle and bustle.

Carried over from the Test Drive, Open!

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