hadthehighground | Ryslig Inbox

[The small, studio apartment is more or less the same as the last time Obi-wan visited. The only noticeable differences being the that heavy blackout curtains drawn over the single window and the fact that the Murphy bed has been pulled down. Kokichi is fast asleep on said bed, curled up under some blankets. The curtains are clearly only there to prevent sunlight from entering the apartment, as the ceiling fixture provides more than enough light for the room.]

[Once Obi-Wan is inside, the door closes behind him, once again seemingly of its own accord.]

I'm doing well...much better now that everyone who was kidnapped has been released. [He was definitely very worried for a while there.] And yourself?

[Seeing Kokichi fast asleep in the bed Obi-Wan is sure to keep his voice down as well, though he’s not normally very loud to begin with. He then watches as the door closes on its own. Which is not really something unusual exactly among Jedi, but that’s the first he has seen such here.]

Far better than I was, though I’m still getting my legs back so to speak.

[While Obi-Wan’s legs are there, Shuichi might notice he is walking carefully and not as steady as he probably should be.]

Also, adjusting to plant life is already proving to be interesting.

[It's a little hard to tell, since he doesn't have pupils or irises, but the shade does glance down briefly at Obi-Wan's legs. Did they harvest his legs while they had him captured? Shuichi really wouldn't put it past them...Just seeing what they did to Kokichi made it clear that the poachers held little to no bars against against their monster captives this time.]

[Though he decides not to ask this...somehow it strikes him as bad form, dredging up traumatic memories that are still so fresh.]

I can imagine... [He gestures towards the couch, silently urging Obi-Wan to have a seat.] Turning into any sort of monster is always an experience but going from an animal to a plant...that seems like it'll have some...very unique circumstances to adjust to.

[Taking the invitation, Obi-Wan sat himself on the couch. It was comfortable enough and he soon reclined, taking the time to relax.]

Not only that, but also going from being undead to living again. Here I had thought dying was dramatic.

[It has definitely been an experience and continued to be see. For instance he would love to be able to take his cloak off and breathe more freely, but he left it on fir modesty’s sake. There was no need to flash the poor boy.]

Aha, y-yeah, the reverse is...a little disorienting, isn't it?

[All too well does he remember the feeling that had accompanied him when he first arrived in Ryslig. The feeling of rocks and debris on all sides, the knowledge that each breath could easily be the last...and then the abruptly that darkness becoming less crushing. Softer, but colder. Of being able to draw breath properly again as he had to dig himself out of the snow...]

[A shrill whistle from the kitchen snaps him out of his reverie. Excusing himself, he disappears into the little kitchen, returning after a few moments with a mug of steaming hot water and a few small tins floating along at his side. He sets all of these things down on the little coffee table in front of Obi-Wan.]

We only have tea bags, I hope that's okay. [And, sure enough, each of the tins bears a little label confirming that each contains a different flavor of tea bags, all of them black teas. Once that's done, the shade takes a seat on the couch (in as much as his intangible body CAN take a seat, anyway) next to Obi-Wan.]

That’s one way of putting it, yes.

[He had practically gone into a panic before he remembered himself and realized what was happening.

When the whistle came from the kitchen, the nymph looked up and watched as Shuichi went and came back with the mug and the tea. An appreciative smile coming to his face as they were placed before him.]

That is just fine, my friend. Thank you.

[Selecting a tea bag, he dipped it a few times in his mug before it became saturated enough to sink. Draping the string over the edge he then regarded the shade beside him.]

You know, I had powers not unlike yours once. Though it makes me realize how essential it must be for you in this form.

Ah, you did? [The shade perks up somewhat, looking mildly interested, even though he already had something of an inkling of this fact. He may not know much about Star Wars, but he does know that the Force had some telekinetic-like aspects.]

[That and Jedi Mind tricks.]

It's a very useful ability to have, it's a shame the Fog God took it away from you... But you're right. For shades it really isn't just useful, but essential. The only other way I can interact with things is to become solid and that's...not always an option, unfortunately.

[Otherwise you can bet he sure wouldn't be a ghost half-clipping through the couch right now.]

It was useful, though there was more to it than just moving objects around.

[He sighed softly to himself. While Obi-Wan had been adapting fairly well, he still didn't feel whole without the Force.]

What do you mean it's not always an option? How can you become solid?

By focusing. Nearly all of a shade's powers stem from strength of concentration. [Which was good news for Shuichi, as that's one of the things he's best at.] If I picture my body in my mind, I'm able to condense my shadows to the point where I become solid again.

[He gives a vague sort of demonstration with his hands as he speaks, miming "condensing" something between the large, ghostly claws.]

That body doesn't quite...function the way a normal, living human body does, but it is at least corporeal. I look like myself again, and I don't have to rely on telekinesis in order to interact with the world around me. Buuttt...I can only do it in the dark, which is why it's not always an option.

[And why he's not doing it right now. Because then poor Obi-Wan would be sitting in pitch darkness thanks to the blackout curtains. And that would just be poor hospitality.]

Really. ... Would you mind showing me?

[It's not poor hospitality if someone asks, right? He's genuinely curious how this works for Shuichi.]

[The shade's eyes widen a little bit, one of them quirking downward as though there were a confused brow atop it.]

N-No, I wouldn't mind, but...there's not really going to be a whole lot for you to see. [A beat.] Unless nymphs are another species that have good low-light vision?

Not exactly. Actually, I've found that my eyesight is terrible in the dark. But, there's another reason, you will see.

[A little smile came to Obi-Wan's face. As much as changing into a nymph had been dramatic, he found he much preferred it to being a Waldgeist. And there were things he was starting to discover about his new form.]

[The "brow" quirks further, giving Shuichi's eyes an even more curious expression.]

Alright, then.

[And with that, the light switch abruptly clicks off, plunging the room into total darkness. So...what's the surprise?]

[Just as Shuichi turns off the light, Obi-Wan shrubs out of the sleeves of his cloak. The fabric pooling around his waist.

As the darkness settled, a soft glow then began to appear. The origin coming from the Jedi himself. A few leaves on the stubby “antlers” that had started to grow back. Swirling golden markings across his arms, chest, shoulders, and back. A smattering of tiny spots, like freckles, across other portions of his skin. As well as the brilliant green eyes that turned in the direction where Shuichi had been “sitting”. All of that was aglow!]

[The shades eyes (which glow even more brightly now that the lights are off) widen significantly.]

Oh, wow...! [A soft giggle.] You're kind of like a night light now, huh? That's really neat, Ben-san...

[And pretty? It's very pretty.]

[The shade's eyes resume their normal size and shape, and then "close" until they're just two very thin, upside-down crescents. even by the light of his bioluminescence, Obi-Wan will probably have a hard time making out exactly what's going on next to him. Though the darkness there does seem to become more dense for a few moments...darker and deeper. But after those few moments, a shape emerges, something solid that the nymph's light can actually reflect off of, thereby revealing its presence.]

[And that something is Shuichi's body, looking more or less the same way it did in both the dream and upon their first meeting. Completely greyscale, with straight, dark hair that has no shine to it. He's dressed in a plain white dress shirt and black pants. When he opens his eyes, they're no longer cartoonish-looking circles, but rather a normal, slightly slanted shape, framed by thick, long lashes...though still completely white and blank. That particular quality just won't go away, no matter what form he takes. His aura is still there too, though most of it is essentially invisible in the darkness. It's really only visible when it's partially obscuring the boy himself.]

See?

[Its true, Obi-Wan can’t make Shuichi out aside from those glowing eyes of his. His vision in the dark is very poor, unlike when he was a Waldgeist and he couldn’t stand out to be in the sun. It’s been quite the stark contrast. So it’s merciful that he can at least see some with his own glow, such as the table they were sitting at.]

Yes, I suppose I am.

[And you know what? He is okay with that. Being a light in the darkness. It felt like it suited him.

The Jedi then went quiet and watched as the young Shade concentrated and then began to take on a different form. Able to see a defined shape with that white shirt when he becomes solid. And solid he must be as he can see his own light on the boy.

His eyes seemed to light up a bit more in delight. Then carefully, he reached out to place a hand on Shuichi’s shoulder if he would let him. To test and see if he was actually able to touch him this time, unlike when they had been in the dreamscape.]

[He can, in fact, touch him! Though there's something kind of odd about the fabric of the shirt. The texture is right, it definitely feels like a normal cotton dress shirt...but the give of it is all wrong. Something about it just seems unnatural, as though the fabric were somehow a part of Shuichi's skin, rather than clothes being worn by him. The fabric also doesn't seem to have taken on any body heat, bur rather feels more or less the same as the air around them. Room temperature, as though the flesh that is both beneath and part of it isn't actually generating any heat of its own.]

[But aside from those two things, the contact is completely normal. The young shade glances down at his shoulder for a second, then looks back up and offers Obi-Wan a very small smile. A real smile, since now he actually has a face with which to make the expression properly.]

[Well how about that. It does feel strange, and not entirely normal, but you know what? It really doesn’t matter. There’s a bit of emotion in the Jedi’s eyes as he’s able to actually touch his young friend. A friend who had expressed such pain, loneliness and fear. For whom he had been able to do little in the way of comfort aside from using his own words. Until this moment that is.]

This is a bit late but...

[Should Shuichi allow it, Obi-Wan will pull him into an embrace. To properly give the boy a hug this time.]

[Shuichi will allow it, but the gesture clearly wasn't what he was expecting. As the Jedi wraps his arms around him, the shade's body goes completely still and stiff. But after a moment, he recovers. His body relaxes as much as something lacking muscles can relax and he slowly, hesitantly, brings his own arms up to wrap them around Obi-Wan in return.]

[For a moment Obi-Wan wonders if he had misstepped and that maybe the gesture wasn’t appreciated. But soon he realizes he may have just surprised him as Shuichi relaxes and tentatively returns the hug.

Their talk in the dreamscape seemed almost distant now, but he remembered it entirely. Did he? Regardless, the Jedi holds onto him for a few moments longer before pulling back far enough to look at Shuichi’s face with his hands on both of his shoulders.]

You are a good boy, Shuichi, and you deserve far better than what this place has given you. But please, don’t ever forget that you are not alone. That there are those who care for you.

[There was Kokichi over there who was sleeping of course, but there was also Obi-Wan. He did care for the boy turned Shade, and he wanted to make sure he knew that.]

[Shuichi looks up into the nymph's eyes once he's pulled away, but he's unable to maintain that eye contact for long. As Obi-Wan speaks, the shade sort of shies away a little, lowering his head as a very small, slightly bittersweet smile tugs the corners of his mouth.]

[Eye contact his hard. Even after all these months, sometimes it's still really hard for him to maintain. And this is one of those moments...though at least it's because he's really touched rather than because he feels inferior or ashamed. So that's...something, at least.]

[Touched, and also reminded forcibly of friends from back home...friends who also reminded him that he's not alone. That he doesn't have to try and shoulder everything by himself.]

[The shade nods.]

I don't know about deserving better, but...I won't forget that. [A slight giggle as he then corrects himself:] I can't forget that. Thank you, Ben-san. For both the reminder and...again, for helping me out of that dream I was stuck in.

[Yup, he remembers too!]

[The breaking of the eye contact didn’t bother Obi-Wan, particularly as he saw the smile on the Shade’s ghostly features. He might not know what’s going on in the boy’s mind, but he could tell enough that it wasn’t particularly bad. All Obi-Wan had wanted to do was give Shuichi some comfort. Back in the dreamscape he had been limited in his ability to do so, and now he could make up for it.

Shuichi seemed to realize that sentiment and a smile spread across the Jedi’s face as well. A gentle squeeze was given to the Shade’s shoulders before he pulled back completely.]

Of course, my young friend, you are always welcome.

[And he meant that with his utmost sincerity.]

Now, how about that tea before it gets cold?

A-Ah! Right...sorry. I didn't mean to distract you from that...

[The shade turns his head back in the direction of the light switch, which flicks itself back on. In that instant where darkness becomes light, Shuichi's body dissipates. Like a puff of smoke, he's suddenly nothing but shadows hovering in a seated position over the couch again.]

[Obi-Wan just has to laugh at Shuichi's apology. A clearly amused expression on his face as the lights came back on.]

Shuichi there is no need to apologize, but I didn't want your tea to go to waste either.

[Picking it up, he takes a sip and finds that its still plenty warm.]

It's good too. The teas here are a bit different where I'm from, and I haven't tried many of them yet.

Oh, um... [The shade gives a nervous little laugh, raising an overly large, shadowy claw to rub at the back of his neck.] Well you didn't need to worry about that. I can't drink or eat any more, after all.

[Which explains why he only brought one mug out with him.]

But it's the same for me...there are plenty of teas here that are similar to ones in my world, but there are just as many that seem to be completely absent here. But it was nice to try all the different varieties here, when I still could!

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v3 spoilers

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