more walks with cali

---> wake up

You incline your head politely to those around you.

---> cali nyooms by! so I find her lol

You begin to follow Calioliahali

You nod your head sagely.
Grabbing onto the trill's sleeve, you say, "Hi hello, can I follow you arounds today?"
You smile brightly at Calioliahali, your frills puffing with joy.

---> lost the emote :( but she says yes!

You have emoted: Cheliyi beams.

---> nyoom to icewynd

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Nyooooom."

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, how have you been?"

Cheerfully, you say, "Alright! Did some chores yesterday. Doing pretty good nows, I think."
You give Calioliahali a friendly squeeze.

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, that is, ah... I am pleased that you are well."

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, and then smiles brilliantly at Calioliahali, her expression lighting up like the morning sun. "Thanks, Miss Cali."

---> She asks if I got my invitation for the gala, logger, please OTL

You pat a majestic invitation of murk and mire in a friendly manner.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Mhm! I uh... need to make a dress, stills."
You blush furiously.
You hum softly, your frills vibrating with song.

Calioliahali nods gently, making a soft noise with her mouth. "We are, ah... Still in the process of obtaining something to wear, as well." The rubescent hues in her cheeks deepen as she adds, suddenly, "I am excited."

You have emoted: Cheliyi hums in agreement, pondering Calioliahali up and down. She pauses as the trill adds to her statement, her expression softening. "Yeah. I'm... really excited toos, yes." Then, the mugwump grins. "You look pretty goods in anything, am sure. Is not hard to find clothes for tall, dark, and fancies people."
You giggle happily.
The smile falling somewhat, you say, "At least, is easier than finding clothes for short and stout."
You chuckle softly, your frilled tail flicking idly with amusement.

---> logger please i want these emotes: cali says she's excited, and that she thinks chel will look fine

You blink.
You have emoted: Cheliyi glances at Calioliahali, surprised by the compliment, though she brightens to her cheery self in moments nonetheless.

The corners of her lips twitching, Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, do you intend to, ah... Attend alongside Velcora?"

You blink.
You blush furiously.
You grin mischievously at Calioliahali.
Warmly, you say, "Mhm! If they're wakings."

Calioliahali nods gently, her black lips pursing for a moment. When they part, her voice is soft but clear. "Ah, I am, ah... Pleased that they ah... provide happiness for you? You deserve happiness." The corners of her lips then tug downwards. "But I wished to express, that ah... I will be displeased if they mistreat you. I have already experienced, ah... Inconsiderate partners of those whom I ah, love, and it is, ah... It is not something by which I wish to abide."

You blink.
You stare blankly at Calioliahali.

You have emoted: Cheliyi at first looks utterly confused, though her stare softens into a smile. "Thanks. And yes. I adore them more than I can describes, honestly. If I think on it, I think I would be more likely to hurt them. Which, I never want to do."
You curl your nose up and grimace awfully.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Who was mean to a loved one? Just want to know. For reasons."
You glance askance at a hefty shovel.

Calioliahali listens to you speak in silence, the corners of her lips again twitching. "I ah... I believe that you are kind, but ah... firm, and wise, in my experience? I do not believe you would harm someone, ah... Without good reason." Her face impossibly flushes deeper at your question, and for a long moment all her lips can do is tremble. Finally, they part, her smoky blue gaze belatedly drifting along with her words toward you. "Ah, I am, ah... I am certain that it is a situation with which you are well familiar. I, ah... Perhaps I should not, ah.. Be saying this." Her frown deepens, and then she inhales through her nose before finally releasing a single word. A name. "Tridemon."

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks slowly, her frills falling somewhat.

You think to yourself: **the reality of the situation hitting you, ah, yes, you'd almost forgotten... dread, curling around your heart.**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi remains quiet and pensive for a very long time, staring out across the skyline of the mountains.
Finally, you say, "Yes. Guess, know that nows."
Fidgeting with her prayer beads, you say, "But... hope do understand... Mister Dad really does love dad. It isn't a -lack- of love that made him so..."

Softly, you say, "Distant."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "It was not good, or excusable. But hope, do know it was not cruelty."

You think to yourself: **your throat is closing...**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi rubs absently at her throat, looking away.

After walking in silence for some time, gaze invariably returning to you time and time again, Calioliahali exhales softly. "I am unable to know for certain what has caused the behavior, but I will trust your judgment in that." The corners of her lips again tug downwards. "But the negligence, the dismissals, the pain he caused them. It is, ah..." Her eyebrows knit together. "It is the first time since I was a child that I truly, ah... Remember experiencing... Anger? It was unpleasant, and I ah... I do not enjoy bearing enmity against anyone. But to harm someone, ah... so pure, so loving, and inspirational, and beautiful, and patient, and warm, and kind, and incredibly intelligent, and wise, and unfathomably... good." Her gaze lowers to the snow as she finally comes to a halt. "There are no justifications for that."

You follow Calioliahali Skydrifter to a glittering matrix of ice.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares at Calioliahali, the night sky obscuring her expression as she looks up at the trill. She shivers faintly, grimaces, and passes a hand over herself, wreathing herself in warming mists. Eventually, she says, "No. There are not."

Quietly, you say, "In all of my short times of existence, I have never broken a promise. I..."
Quietly, you say, "I promised, to always stay by my Dad. No matter what. To be there for them. And with that wordly promise, there was a promise in my heart to protect them and love them with as much as I could."
Quieter, you say, "I think, I keep failing, on that sides. In my hearts. Because, cannot help if other people hurt them. Can only deal with the aftermanths."
You have emoted: Cheliyi inhales softly, waving her hand. "Nevermind. Am rambling."

Calioliahali again listens in silence as she transports both herself and you to a shelter from the cold weather. After a time, she shakes her head swiftly, roseate headfeathers swaying. "I do not, ah... I do not believe that you have failed. You are still here. You are still available to them, and you provide them with so much happiness, contentment, fulfillment, I think, and certainly relief from all the ah... difficulties that they face." She draws closer to you, slowly slipping her arm around your back. "I am familiar with this feeling, though, of ah... an inability to truly always be there, and to prevent these things from happening. But it is, ah... I do not believe that it is helpful to linger upon what you cannot do." She inhales deeply through her nose. "For I believe that what you can, what you *do*, is already more than enough. You are, ah..." She clears her throat, her arm tightening its hold upon you. "You are a wonderful daughter, Cheliyi. It is natural, I think, to possess doubts, but please know that ah... You are appreciated. By many, certainly. But most of all by them." She pauses, then adds softly, "And by me."

You have emoted: Cheliyi follows behind Calioliahali in silence, staring more at the ground ahead than any particular thing of note. Her head lifts as she's addressed, only to lower again as she's pulled into a hug. The mugwump seems almost entirely stiff with tension, though it lessens slowly as the moment stretches on. Softly, her head comes to rest on Calioliahali's side, the mugwump staring off into the distance.
Softly, her gloves curling into fists, you whisper, "Do know what it is like, realizing the people you adore might be terrible? Or bad? To feel the weight settle on your shoulders, the feeling of suddenly plummeting to the grounds? That time and time again, you thought you chose someone who would do right, but you were -wrongs-? It passes right under my nose. -I- am supposed to protect thems," she declares wearily, patting her sternum. " And I never see it comings."

Visibly holding back tears, you say, "Mister Dad said he would be kind to Dad. That he would love them with all his chest. But he lied, even when not meaning to do so. I should be just as mad at him as you are. But I -can't- be mad, because he is my Mister Dad!"
You have emoted: Cheliyi inhales shakily, screwing up her face in an effort not the cry. The tears begin to freeze on her face, slowly disappointing into the surrounding mists.
Tightly, you say, "I am failing on both ends, Miss Cali. So, is a roundabout way of saying-."
You have emoted: Cheliyi takes both of Calioliahali's hands into her own, looking up at the trill. "Please do better than mes. Am asking you to, with all of my chest."

A rush of summer warmth passes through you as you smell grass and flowers and glimpse the limitless blue of a perfectly blue, sunlit sky.

Calioliahali's smoky blue gaze trains upon your face and quietly roams it as you speak, her own eyes beginning to shimmer as her hands are collected by you. After another long moment of silence, she blinks a few times, causing the welling moisture to spill over and freely stream down her cheeks. "I... I believe that I am indeed familiar, with ah..." Her teary eyes lift from your face just long enough to glance around at her surroundings, almost pointedly, before resettling. "The disappointment, in learning that those you revere, those that are ah, meant to guide and nurture you are, ah... perhaps too far gone, overtaken by... something which you cannot control, or lessen, no matter how much you, ah... wish that you could."

Tenderly prying her hands free of your own, Calioliahali then once more moves to embrace you, this time with both arms, squeezing you tightly. "I ah... It is... Gurashi means everything to me, as I imagine they mean everything to you, as well. It is my greatest, and perhaps only true ambition, to ensure that they are happy, ah... no matter what." She presses her cheek to the mugwump's, tears transferring and crawling their way down your face as well. "I swear with my entire being that I will do all that is within my power, but ah... I do not believe that ah..." She chokes and sputters for a few seconds, gasping for breath before continuing. "I do not b-believe that you nor I can, ah... accomplish this alone. If we wish for Gurashi to be happy, to be safe, and to be ah... taken care of, truly..." She finally draws her face away from your own to gaze directly into your eyes. "We must endeavor to do so together."

You have emoted: Cheliyi hiccups sharply, once restrained tears flowing freely down her face. Returning Calioliahali's embrace fiercely, her sobs are muffled by the trill's clothing. As Calioliahali struggles to continue, the mugwump lets out a mournful creak, though her cries slowly halt. Wordless, she gives the the trill a tight, comforting squeeze, pulling away enough to look the other in her eyes. Slowly, she blinks, frozen tear tracks fading into fog, swallowing away more tears.

Warbling, you murmur, "Okay Miss Cali. Will do our bestly, together. And... thank you."
You have emoted: Cheliyi squeezes her eyes shut, inhaling softly as if to steel herself from a wave of emotion.
Weakly, you say, "For as much as my judgements is worths, you -are- a goodly persons. I trust you to do betters. We will do betters."

Calioliahali brings her forehead down to rest against your own and tightens her hold around you, remaining silent for some time, content to simply hold you in the interim. Eventually, her black lips part to echo softly, "Together." She then slowly, finally relaxes her grip upon you, drawing away to again rest one pale, calloused hand upon your shoulder. "I ah... I love you, Cheliyi. Thank you for ah... All that you have provided them, and continue to provide. Thank you for, ah... being you."

You have emoted: Cheliyi visibly relaxes as she's held, leaning against Calioliahali with closed eyes. As the trill pulls away, she blinks blearily. "I love you too, Miss Cali," she murmurs, one hand moving up to grasp at the Calioliahali's sleeve. "You're... really good for them. Thank you for being -you-. And, um. Are really good to me. So... thank you. I don't know what name to call you yets, but... are family. Okay?"

Calioliahali's eyebrows lift substantially, her black lips again trembling for some time as she gazes down at you. She then nods, chin quivering, and repeats softly, singularly, "Family." She then turns toward one of the exits of the strange room that she'd been lingering within, her voice coming again as she begins to walk. "Ah, let us finish our business here."

You nod your head emphatically.

---> zoom back to the Matrix

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, I was mistaken, it seems, but ah... No matter. What would you, ah... What would you like to do now?"

You ponder the situation.
You have emoted: Cheliyi wipes at her eyes, grimacing. "Food. Or tea," she murmurs, a bit hoarse.

A look of understanding crossing her features, Calioliahali nods her head slowly.

You follow Calioliahali Skydrifter to the Portals of Celest.
You follow Calioliahali Skydrifter out to on the upper deck of the Pool of Stars.
You follow Calioliahali Skydrifter down to the Pool of Stars.
You follow Calioliahali Skydrifter west to The Humblebee Patisserie.

Calioliahali quietly leads you through the city and into the shop, her black lips naturally curving into a fond smile as she crosses the threshold. "This is, ah.. I believe the finest establishment of which I am aware that might satisfy either of your requests."

You sense the sweeping gaze of Esei looking upon you.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks slowly, and lets out a quiet laugh. "Yeps."
You give Calioliahali a friendly squeeze.

Starry shadows herald Dusan, the coruscant as he deposits the corpse of a giant dismembered tongue into your hands before dissolving into mist again.

The Humblebee Patisserie.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. The pastel-hued gravel of Nautilus Pompilus street gives way to colorful flagstone as one approaches the open front of this timber-framed, single-story building. Exterior wooden supports have been lovingly carved to resemble the gnarled exterior of trees and winding branches for a supporting lattice that sits above a quaint patio. Boughs of verdant ivy and purple clematis cling to the supports and hang down from the lattice, offering a distraction for insects that might otherwise be interested in the sweets. The storefront itself is brightly colored to match its surroundings, double glass doors propped open on sunny days to let the fresh smells of baked goods drift out into the streets. A sweet-sounding bell hangs poised atop the door's frame to announce the arrival of customers on poor weather days. The shop's cozy interior allows standing room for only a few visitors at a time to comfortably gather. A poppy-shaped lantern hangs from the low rounded ceiling, bathing the room in warm golden light. Dark wood floors offset the rose-gold interior walls where short shelves hold an assortment of curiosities and tiny sprouting planters all lovingly tended to. A simple counter and glass-front display houses the day's specials, and a chalkboard mounted overhead lists the specials of the month and how much they cost. A sign here suggests you READ SIGN! Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie perches here with a mischievous glint in his eye. Calioliahali Skydrifter looms here, lingering with an unsettling aura of strict severity. She wields a severe steel arming sword in her left hand and a severe steel shortsword in her right hand. You see a sign here instructing you that WARES is the command to see what is for sale.
You see exits leading east (open door) and down (closed door).

You stare blankly at the corpse of a giant dismembered tongue.

(OOC): Calioliahali says, "You cannot just slip your relatives tongue, Esei."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "... to be clear, I did not asks for this."

(OOC): Esei says, "..."
(OOC): Mmellialleh (from the Astral Plane) says, "Wow."
(OOC): You say, "CALI NO."
(OOC): Esei says, ":)"
(OOC): Azazilliy (from the Astral Plane) says, "Omg."
(OOC): You say, "CALI GLOM =/= ALABAMA."
(OOC): Alarin (from the Astral Plane) says, "...what?!"
(OOC): Calioliahali says, "Lmfao."
(OOC): Alarin (from the Astral Plane) says, "They did what now?"
(OOC): You say, "They are SIBLINGS."

(ooc): Esei says, "But nocht has said "f'ai alabama" cheliyi."

(ooc): Calioliahali says, "Lmao."
(ooc): Alarin (from the Astral Plane) says, "F'ai Texas."
(ooc): You say, "Esei i will stab you with this tongue."
(ooc): Alarin (from the Astral Plane) says, "<.<."
(ooc): Esei says, "Kekeke."
(ooc): You say, "I don't know how, but I will."

You giggle happily.
You have emoted: Cheliyi ponders the kegs.

Calioliahali glances aside to the delivery made to you, then shakes her head, black lips parting as soft, birdlike laughter flutters past them. "I am familiar with their, ah... Gifts."

You pay 200 gold to refill a bottle from an empyreal keg with dreamy liquid starlight tea.
You smile wryly at Calioliahali.

You crush the cluster of gems into a fine powder and fashion a set of 5 fine glasses.

You pour dreamy liquid starlight tea from a bottle into a shot glass.
You give a shot glass to Calioliahali Skydrifter.
You pour dreamy liquid starlight tea from a bottle into a shot glass.
You begin to wield a shot glass in your left hand.

You take a drink of white tea from a shot glass.
As you sip the white tea, your thoughts become clearer.
Casting a gentle radiance reminiscent of liquid starlight, this
ambrosial tea invigorates the senses as you take a sip. Yet warm from
its brewing, the flavours of apricot, orange blossom, and vanilla
enlivens your being, with the faintest note of peach lingering in its
aftertaste.

You have emoted: Cheliyi hums quietly, closing her eyes as she savors the tea.

Calioliahali gently receives the glass from you, the smile on her lips brightening further still. "Ah, thank you." She then lifts the tea to her lips, sipping it quietly.

You smile softly at Calioliahali.

Settling down in a nearby chair, you say, "So... what do you dos in your free times, usually? Besides hunting beastlies in Icewynd?"
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Ah, do remember the cookies as well..."
You tilt your head curiously at Calioliahali.

Lips pursing for a moment before responding, Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah... Hunting, performing my duties, that, ah... Comprises the majority of my time, when it is not... ah..." Her cheeks, which had finally regained their pallor at some point, fill with color again. "Otherwise occupied."

You have emoted: Cheliyi grins up at Calioliahali, her dull gaze sparkling with mischief behind her spectacles. "Occupieds, huh? Would not have anything to do with a certain persons we both knows?"

Calioliahali begins to riotously clear her throat as the rubescent hues in her cheeks quickly spill across the rest of her face once again. After a time, she nods once. "It, ah. Yes."

You giggle happily.
Warmly, you say, "Am glad."
You have emoted: Cheliyi sighs softly, finishing her cup before drawing her knees to her chest.

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, they had been, ah... Endeavoring to impart upon me more, ah... Hobbies? Although primarily this exploration has involved, ah... They have not thus far been individual activities."

A wry smile spreads across your face.

Clears her throat and then quickly adds, Calioliahali Skydrifter says, "Ah, er... Games. Ghodak."

Time begins to fragment and quake, reality stopping and starting. There is a feel of water across skin as a sea breeze rises, the salt smell stuttering in and out of existence as an Immaculate Timequake comes into being.

Calioliahali suddenly looks up and releases the deepest sigh of relief.

You blink.
You give a trillingly melodic laugh, your frills resonating with joy.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Let's goes."

Calioliahali nods her head affirmatively.