"You'll still call me Gurashi right?"

<-- after a couple months of silly nonsense and dealing with noisy, angry Khep

You have emoted: Gurashi watches Esei go for the second time, then looks at Tridemon again. "I have a couch."

You give a package containing a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters.

Voice bright and clear, you ask Tridemon, "...see?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Hmm. Want me to try setting it up for you?"

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly points at the poppy tucked behind his ear, smiling lightly. "Matches."

Wooden wind chimes can be heard clunking gently together as a breeze moves through.

Using the existing couch to push himself to his feet, you say to Tridemon, "Uh, if you think it would work..."

Tridemon peers about himself unscrupulously.
Tridemon sets a package containing a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies on the ground and unties the knot at the top. The sides of the package fall away, revealing a pile of raw materials within. Suddenly, the furniture components spring to life, assembling themselves together to form a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks around, then begins to push furniture around to make room.

Voice bright and clear, you exclaim, "Oh - hey!"

Tridemon blinks.

A cozy living room above the kitchen.                  (#HAH_5)
Eleven steps, all different dimensions and carved from dark ravenwood lead to a comfortable little living area. Dark floors contrast the gentle green shade painted on the walls, and bright, flickering wall sconces. A curved ceiling looks as if it has been scooped directly out of a tree, and thick support joists criss-cross the expanse. Delicate muslin curtains cover either window and barely touch the floor. On both window sills sit half a dozen tiny planters with newly sprouting flowers and herbs inside. Three plain oak doors typically stand closed, but whiffs of lavender and petrichor can be detected when they open, briefly displacing the delicious smells of the kitchen below. The diminutive size, low lighting, and soothing colors of this room invoke a sense of ease and respite. A heavy canvas couch has been shoved into a corner of the room, a plethora of purple and red poppies brightening the room. A tapestry depicting the creation of the lyrebird is proudly hanging here. A lush beige carpet is spread out on the ground. There are 2 elegantly carved ravenwood armchairs here. A beautiful couch here glitters with autumn gemstone leaves. A small dark brown tea table stands here. A painting of Gurashi and the Racist Dartboard is proudly exhibited on a nearby wall. A shimmering blue circle floats in the room here. Completely motionless, a slender leothin intently surveys its surroundings. Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters lingers nearby, the air about him singing with the rush of the ocean. He wields a dazzling white staff crowned by a platinum pearl in his left hand.
You see exits leading east (closed door), southeast (closed door), southwest (open door), and down (open door).
"tableA2450"                  a small dark brown tea table
"couchA2452"                  an autumn gemstone couch
"chairA2461"                  an elegantly carved ravenwood armchair
"chairA2466"                  an elegantly carved ravenwood armchair
"carpetA2478"                 a lush beige carpet
"tapestryA2480"               a wyrden lyrebird tapestry
"couchA3405"                  a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies
"painting231976"              a painting of Gurashi and the Racist Dartboard
"circle227300"                a floating blue circle
"bizirik47312"                Bizirik, the leothin
Number of objects: 10

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I've never actually opened a packaged piece of furniture before."

Rushing over to investigate, you say to Tridemon, "It is magic!"

Voice bright and clear, you ask Tridemon, "You always build furnitures for people...?"

You have emoted: Gurashi stands beside Tridemon before the couch, looking up at the lucidian.

Tridemon throws himself onto a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies, sprawling out and making himself at home.

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi now looks down at the lucidian.

Tridemon pats the much softer couch.

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches over to touch the back of the couch, eyes wide. "Wowee, it is so beautiful! And -soft-." He boggles.

Suddenly, you say to Tridemon, "Scoot over I want to sit on it."

Pointing, you say to Tridemon, "Like four whole inches that way."

You think to yourself: / ....*a sense of being watched* .. /.

Tridemon scoots himself over slightly, becoming a touch more upright.

You throw yourself onto a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies, sprawling out and making yourself at home.

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up at the ceiling, then at the arm he leans against, a slow grin spreading across his mouth. He then looks down at the opposite end of the couch, grinning stupidly at Tridemon.

From his awkward half-lounging position, you exclaim to Tridemon, "...this is soft!"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Now. Would you like to tell me what went wrong with your meditations, or is that going to continue to be a secret?"

You wince in pain.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up, scratching at the side of his head before awkwardly looking back down at Tridemon, expression straightening.

You have emoted: Gurashi bunches his shoulders... then slowly pulls in his legs, occupying exactly half of the couch, back pressed against the arm.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "I don't know."

You think to yourself: / .......... *a chirr, followed up by a pang of guilt* /.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Uhm."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Ah. Did Khep try to help?"

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up, scratching his head. "Mixter Esei asked if I wanted to go to their manse and meditate, and, they asked me a -while- ago, and I told them YOU Were really good at it, and that Mister Meleris and you showed me meditations before so..."

You think to yourself: / ... /.

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up to push his bangs out his face, looking frustrated. "I don't know. It started out as clearing my head, but, then they wanted me to talk about what was troubling me? But like, there are many things, and I am not ready for some of those things? And I don't know, uh."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Then Miss Khep... started commenting on how they were meditating, and being very rude!" He puffs his cheeks, glaring at the gap on the couch. "You were rude! But..."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Only in my head."

You shake your head.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "...anyway it just - Miss Khep thought the way Esei was meditating was -bad-, and then Esei said some stuff I guess she didn't like? She wanted to -leave- but I wanted to -stay-, and all of a sudden Esei knew everything I was thinking and feeling and."

You give a horrified gasp.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "-Bizi-."

You have emoted: Gurashi whips around on the couch to look at the leothin, who has since claimed the other couch for itself.

Bizirik, the leothin flops down on an autumn gemstone couch.

You have emoted: Gurashi covers his face.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "I'm sure she forgives you."

You have emoted: Gurashi sighs miserably, dropping his hands into his lap as he tucks himself into the corner between the arm and the back of the couch. "Uhm, so, uh. Where was I?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Esei knew what you were thinking and feeling. ... And there was an argument because Khep has STRONG OPINIONS."

With a sigh, you say, "I don't know? It kept being about how was feeling, and I think talking about things was making Miss Khep sad, and Miss Khep did not want to talk about Friend Aschwar, and it just kept getting loud? Loud, like earlier, but like, a -lot- loud, and there was like this ringing that wasn't there before."

You think to yourself: / *sharply* They don't get to act like they know his secrets /.

You have emoted: Gurashi rubs his temple.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Feedback loop?"

You have emoted: Gurashi shrugs, reaching up to touch his nose. "I don't know .THen I started leaking out my nose - blood! Like me blood."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "It wasn't a lot but it was still the first time I've... well, second it happened to me once before too as me-me."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "But it was weird because I didn't even feel it."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "But then Mixter Esei told Miss Khep she wasn't welcome, and so Miss Khep started yelling at Mixter Esei over the aethers and they started going back and forth and back and forth."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "So then I finally went home, and they were still arguing, and that is why Miss Khep I think kept considering Esei an enemy."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Or, at least not an ally."

You think to yourself: / They aren't /.

You have emoted: Gurashi breathes deeply at the latest breeze. "That was basically it. Then the rest of it, which you knew, which Mixter Esei kept trying to see me, and I kept hurting them and... that... whole..."

Tridemon ponders the situation.

You have emoted: Gurashi awkwardly wobbles side to side in his spot.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Alright."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I want you to envision your own mindscape for a while. It is surrounded by thorns and ice- the barriers and filters you built for yourself- but what is within?"

You stare at Tridemon, eyes wide.

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks down at the gap again, relaxing his legs. "Uhm... I ... don't know - what should be there?"

You think to yourself: / *a soft, frustrated, guilty chirr* /.

It is now the 9th of Kiani, 555 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 2 days until the New Moon

Tridemon ponders the situation.

You stare at Tridemon, eyes wide.

You think to yourself: .....

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It should be whatever you want it to be. ... Perhaps for you... a number of trees. The first trees that you think of. How many and what they look like. Your first instinct. What are they? How are they positioned?"

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up thoughtfully, scanning the ceiling, watching patterns formed by the dappled light cast by the moon through the trees.

Still looking up, you ask, "Can be persons?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's your mind. It can be whatever you like."

You have emoted: Gurashi finally looks down, blinking and answering earnestly: "My friends."

Voice bright and clear, you ask, "It can be people, right?"

Perking up, you say, "It will be you, and Ishra, and Xenthos Miss Lief and all of my other favorite peoples which is most everyone."

You look at Tridemon hopefully.

A warm, gentle wind brings forth the scents and sounds of fresh moving water.

You think to yourself: .... I want ...

You think to yourself: *a flurry of swimming red fish*.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... are you going to include miss Khep in that?"

You blink.

You think to yourself: / *the din falls silent* /.

You think to yourself: / *bitterly* Why should he /.

You blink.

You give a horrified gasp.

Taken aback, you exclaim, "Oh! No! I will include you!"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Might be a touch difficult, I suppose. Without a clear image to go along with the name."

You have emoted: Gurashi turns on the couch, speaking to the living room as if addressing a person. He kicks out his legs a bit as he rolls, bumping against your own. "You may join my circle it is O-K don't be sad!"

You think to yourself: / ... *quiet, less bitter* I know wh.. you are trying to do, Keeper /.

You have emoted: Gurashi slumps, letting half of his torso and arm dangle off the couch in defeat as he listens.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Yes, you do. But that makes it no less true."

You think to yourself: / *softly* Showing him won't mean anything /.

You think to yourself: / Showing -you- w... ..an even less /.

You have emoted: Gurashi tilts his head, staring under the couch from his angle.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "You will simply have to use your own conception of her, then. Build it up with everyone else."

Upside down, you say, "Hmm..."

You have emoted: Gurashi plants his hands firmly on the floor, trying to push himself back onto the couch.

You think to yourself: What does Miss Khep look like... in my own conception...

You think to yourself: / *a miserable, buzzing sigh* /.

You think to yourself: / If this b...omes another 'Exalted Dave' situation, I will be most -definitely- unhappy /.

Tridemon sits back to wait and watch. "Perhaps there will be something buried in deep memories. Perhaps you'll find no inspiration. Perhaps you'll just know. All things are possible."

You have emoted: Gurashi grunts, twisting his torso, grabbing the arm of the couch with his left arm, the right still flat on the floor. He blinks, giving Tridemon a 'really' look as he slowly, but surely, worms his way back up onto his half of the couch. He slumps afterwards, exhausted. "O-K O-K O-K," He murmurs.

You think to yourself: ... *a swirl of colors - red, no, no red. Purple? Purple is always nice. Blue? Maybe. Cool shades... but a face? Hands? Antennae? Blank features*.

You think to yourself: / ....... /.

Eyes squeezed shut, you say, "This is hard."

You think to yourself: *another burst of colors - greens...greens?*.

You have emoted: Gurashi opens one eye, then shuts it again.

Your eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across your face.

You have emoted: Gurashi opens one eye, then shuts it tight.

You think to yourself: / ....*a dab of gold* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi opens his eyes again, staring exhaustedly at his ceiling. "You are green? And gold?"

You think to yourself: *a flash of violet?*.

You think to yourself: / *a sense of affirmation* /.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Ohh... and purple..."

You think to yourself: / *a slow bleed of colors, looking like an oil slick* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks pleased, beaming from ear to ear as he settles back down. "Those are very pretty colors, Miss Khep!"

You think to yourself: *his mind's eye, just a vaguely kepheran shape, but a swirling disaster of colors*.
Voice bright and clear, you say, "O-K. Now, you can come into my circle."

Tridemon winces.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Gurashi."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Refine it more."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Oh."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Uhm."

You have emoted: Gurashi blushes. "Sorry!"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "The colors have to make sense."

You think to yourself: / .... /.

You have emoted: Gurashi scratches his head. "No.. Uhm."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "They won't just be SWIRLS wherever."

You have emoted: Gurashi folds his arms across his chest. "You are right, O-K."

You think to yourself: / *a creeping sensation, like a presence directly over your shoulder* /.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "She will be taller than your own normal shape. Compound eyes. A PRINCESS."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "She will have her own dignity."

You think to yourself: ... *the inviting smells of the manse begin to seem musty, damp, cool*.

You have emoted: Gurashi nods sheepishly. "Right."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Taller than me-me..."

Voice bright and clear, you whisper, "Wonder if would be taller than Xenthos..."

You think to yourself: *a crunching of footsteps on dirty stone ground*.

You ponder the situation.

You think to yourself: / *the sounds of walking and the smells of cave life continue* I want something too /.

You blink.

Tridemon tilts his head curiously.

You think to yourself: / *earnestly* I want to say your name /.

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly crosses his arms over his chest to form an X, hands stiff. "No way."

You think to yourself: / Then your -nickname-!? /.

Still forming an X, completely serious, you say, "Denied."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... why not?"

You think to yourself: / *a whistle of frustration* -Please- /.

You have emoted: Gurashi sits up suddenly. "I am Gurashi!"

You think to yourself: / It's a fair trade! I will accept the -nickname- even, O-K? I show you ... ..ce and I don't have to call you -that- /.

You flail about helplessly.

You slump down dejectedly.

You think to yourself: / I'm -sorry- it's just ... *another frustrated series of insectoid sounds* /.

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "I think your name really does bother her deeply."

Confused, you say, "But -why-."

Voice bright and clear, you ask, "I don't know who gave it to me - I think -I- gave it to me?"

You think to yourself: / *a distant keening* .... /.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Probably. ... Does it mean anything in particular?"

Voice bright and clear, you ask Tridemon, "...I don't... know?"

You have emoted: Gurashi blushes, looking at the floor.

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

You think to yourself: *a confusing swell of emotions*.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "You are yourself and you belong to yourself."

You twiddle your thumbs.

You have emoted: Gurashi brings his hand to his face, fretfully covering his mouth.

You think to yourself: / *The footsteps stop. The sound of dripping water, the smell of cool, damp stone* ... /.

You think to yourself: / I am not going to offer again /.

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks at Tridemon, clearly conflicted.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I am curious. ... but I won't ask you to do it, or make you do it. Perhaps it's a bit like Aschwar's name?"

You think to yourself: / It's not too far off, really /.

You think to yourself: / Remarkably similar, even /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks confused.

You think to yourself: / *a gentle, albeit frustrated tick* The situation /.

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... perhaps if she only uses it when no one else can hear? I'll leave if you want."

You think to yourself: ....*the cloying scent of roses, and the familiar sickly sweet voice of the Lady of Roses* Are you a brave bee, child...

Voice bright and clear, you say, "O-K."

You have emoted: Gurashi sits up, folding his legs and setting his hands in his lap. "I will do the thing." He looks up suddenly. "But also please don't go."

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

You think to yourself: / .......... *the sense of relief is immense* /.

You twiddle your thumbs.

You think to yourself: / To show I -am- trust worthy... /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks increasingly nervous.

You think to yourself: *oh boy. oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy*.

You think to yourself: / *The sound of dripping water continues, accompanied by a hesitant buzzing. Where once were splashes of color, now... a dark surface of water, still, reflective despite the shadows* /.

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

Tridemon settles down to sit in silence- even the breaths he takes are so slow and steady that they are almost lost.

You think to yourself: / *Suddenly - a face! Kepheran, yes, inky black like the shadows behind it, save for a pair of bright gold antennae, and strikingly blue compound eyes. A fierce pair of mandibles click in annoyance as the figure considers its reflection, then sneers and steps back, the visual ending, left only with the sound of water, and the return of the footsteps* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi brings his hand to his mouth again, knuckles white.

You think to yourself: ...this is you, Miss Khep?

You think to yourself: / *silence, save for the footsteps* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi scans the pattern on the back of the couch, then nods. "...that is clear enough for my circle, maybe... oh, but, do you have four arms too?" He asks suddenly. "I have four, but every other Wyrden kephera have met has only had two..."

Tridemon takes an opulent, leather-bound brown sketchpad from the Godly Belt of Fabulous Space.

You think to yourself: / *soft, distant* Truebred kephera all have four arms /.

You hands fly to your mouth as you give a short gasp of elation.

Tridemon starts going through his sketchpad, to look through it.

You think to yourself: Someone to double arm wrestle with....

You think to yourself: / what? /.

You think to yourself: What?

You cough softly.

You think to yourself: / *there is a sudden manic chittering* I was good for my half of the deal /.
You have emoted: Gurashi's excitement quickly wilts, and he looks nervous all over again.

You think to yourself: / *frustrated* I do not think knowing is going to kill you /.

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

Suddenly, you ask Tridemon, "You'll still call me Gurashi right?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Always."

You have emoted: Gurashi smiles weakly.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Frankly, I even have trouble calling the Liar anything else."

You nod your head emphatically.

Fireflies light up the darkness outside as they dance in slow, chaotic patterns.

You think to yourself: / *suddenly, loud and clear, and filled with emotion* I -missed- you, Tiso-- /.

You think to yourself: *there is a sensation like icy water creeping across every bit of exposed skin*.

You blink.

Loud to the point of seeming reverberation, cicadas play out buzzing dissonances.

Tridemon doesn't seem to be bothered by the icy sensation, though a wave of slightly darker violet washes over him.

You think to yourself: / *the walking ceases, and the smells of the cave fade, replaced with the sounds and smells of the manse* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares off into space blankly, listening for more feedback, but there is nothing.

Bizirik, the leothin snorts, having been a lazy leothin this entire encounter. Its tail slaps the couch once.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I think that was very important to her. ... Are you alright, Gurashi?"

You have emoted: Gurashi quietly folds his hands together, staring off into space. "...yeah."

Tridemon ponders the situation.

Tridemon hugs you compassionately.

You have emoted: Gurashi lets out a quiet little "mmf", then drops his head against Tridemon's shoulder, sighing.

Muffled, you say, "Many thank yous."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "You're welcome. ... Right. The mindscape thing. ... Got pretty sidetracked."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "It's pretty late, though."

You nod your head emphatically.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It can wait until later."

Tridemon nods his head sagely.

You have emoted: Gurashi leans back, sniffing and watching the Mantle of Starlight. "Yeah."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Go off to sleep for a while. Sleep helps the mind settle, usually."

Tridemon gets up off a soft couch decorated with needlepoint poppies.

Quietly, you say to Tridemon, "O-K."

You have emoted: Gurashi stretches out his legs as you get up, staring at the ceiling.

Voice bright and clear, you say to Tridemon, "Goodnight - er... day - month? Tridemon."

Bizirik, the leothin snorts.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I'll go ahead and make a painting that Khep will probably dislike intensely."

You think to yourself: ...

The corners of Tridemon's mouth turn up as he grins mischeviously.

You have emoted: Gurashi smiles weakly.

You think to yourself: .... Tiso .....

You shudder violently as a chill ripples down your spine.

You wave goodbye at Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Remember. Despite everything. You are Gurashi. As you have chosen to be."

Tridemon touches his fingertips to his hand, illuminating the temporal tattoo upon it. The air beside him warps, as a clock-like portal manifests.

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Tridemon waves goodbye at you.

The clock face shimmers as Tridemon steps through.