Where Two Worlds Come To Meet

[missrecalled_mods]

For those on the Boat

"Alright," Mal said, nodding. She and Ben had listened to what everyone had to say, and had pulled aside for a quick discussion. "This is the plan. Listen up, though it is subject to change based on what Professor Yen Sid has to say. But as it stands here is what we're going to do. Once we open an entry point in the barrier I will craft us a single use bridge. Everyone who is carrying stuff to the Isle will please carry it across carefully and quickly. Anyone who wants to stay on the boat, can. But once everyone is across the King and I will bring up the rear and close the barrier behind us."

She took a breath and continued. "Anything you need to summon to be prepared, do so before I open the barrier. You won't be able to on the Isle. Magic will not work there. Most tech will not work there. We're planning to stay about an hour. In that time if anyone sees anyone they know, please come and let the King, myself, and Professor Yen Sid know. Your words will carry weight as to if they stay or come back with us, but the final decision is ours. I want everyone to stay close to the shore either way. If we have to leave in a hurry we may not have a chance to wait for stragglers, and the phones won't work here."

"What about..."

Mal blinked then nodded. "We can talk to Professor Yen Sid about that," she agreed. "But I don't know if it is feasible for this trip. We also have to see if we have anyone who is as good with computers and tech as Carlos is...."

Ben nodded. "Alright."

Mal looked at everyone again. "We know that there are at least three confirmed villains on the Isle, or there were. Doctor Facilier, Lady Tremaine, and Mother Gothel. They've been without their powers for over twenty years and it hasn't sweetened their temperaments any. Don't underestimate them just because there is no magic. Be careful. And stay close. If you think someone you know is on the Isle but you don't see them, speak to Professor Yen Sid." Another breath. "Alright, that's about it. Sylvando's going to be staying with the boat, so if anyone doesn't feel comfortable going onto the Isle, you won't be alone if you stay back. Here we go..."

She turned to face the barrier and opened her spell book to the page she had been scribbling on during the boat ride. A deep breath and she cast two spells in rapid succession.

"Reprogram for now
and one time post
This remote to allow
For today and today only
this spot to be its target's host."

Her eyes glowed green as she spoke and a green trail followed her finger as she gestured at the remote. It flared green for a moment then the glow faded. "Done, for today the remote will open the barrier here, not at the bridge. And now..."

Ben nodded. As he clicked the remote, she began casting the second spell, eyes green once more. green finger trail in the air again as she gestured towards the barrier as a small entrance opened.

"Bridge of fate
Bridge of trust
Form quick
Be first rate
Formed of stone that does not rust
grow from this ship to the shore
to remain until the barrier closes once again
A bridge to aid all who are helping King Ben!"


The Queen intoned, her green eyes bright and glowing as a white brick bridge grew while she spoke. And when Mal had finished her spell, the bridge was fully formed connecting the boat and the beach. Well, perhaps 'bridge' was too strong a word; though it seemed to be made of the same sort of material as the magical bridge that sometimes connected the Isle to the mainland, it wasn't nearly as wide. Even if they'd had one, no one could drive a car over this. However, it was still wide enough for three people to comfortably walk abreast and the weight of it once the opposite end reached solid ground served to help steady the boat, making it quite serviceable as an extra-long gangplank.

The white seemed to almost shine against the dark of sea and the darker of the storm covered Isle.

Even from the beach the poor quality of life on the Isle could be seen. A rusting partial building that was some sort of bait shop was the only real structure that wasn't obscured by the thorns, but the damage to it seems to be older than the thorns might imply.

There were remains of what were probably a few small bonfires and broken bits of tools and scraps of trash laying around.

"Be careful on the bridge," Mal said as she led the people who were starting across, spell book at the ready. "On this side there are crocs, gators, and sharks." Then raising her voice to be heard by those on the beach. "IF ANYONE TRIES TO RUSH THIS OPENING TO ESCAPE YOU WILL REGRET IT!" Her eyes flashed green with the threat.

But perhaps it was the tall man with the beard, standing on the beach holding a beeping box with a light on it, perhaps it was his small but firm nod that made clear that she could back up that threat.

Isle Side

Eventually the raised voices on the other side of the barrier died down, and all was quiet. Those standing on the beach waited with varying levels of tension, wariness, and excitement to see what would happen next. It probably wasn't too long of a time, though it likely seemed much longer to many of them. The distorted shapes of people could be seen moving about on the boat's deck, though whether on purpose or simply due to the rough sea it was difficult to tell.

Then, just as some were likely beginning to question whether anything was going to happen... something did. The box that professor Yen Sid held began beeping loudly, the light on it glowing brightly as the barrier parted. Soon there was an opening large enough to drive a car through forming, allowing both those on the Isle and on the boat to see each other clearly for the first time. Then a familiar voice - to both those from Auradon and to some on the Isle - rang out.

"Bridge of fate
Bridge of trust
Form quick
Be first rate
Formed of stone that does not rust
grow from this ship to the shore
to remain until the barrier closes once again
A bridge to aid all who are helping King Ben!"

The Queen intoned, her green eyes bright and glowing as a white brick bridge grew while she spoke. And when Mal had finished her spell, the bridge was fully formed connecting the boat and the beach. Well, perhaps 'bridge' was too strong a word; though it seemed to be made of the same sort of material as the magical bridge that sometimes connected the Isle to the mainland, it wasn't nearly as wide. Even if they'd had one, no one could drive a car over this. However, it was still wide enough for three people to comfortably walk abreast and the weight of it once the opposite end reached solid ground served to help steady the boat, making it quite serviceable as an extra-long gangplank.

The people preparing to leave the boat were well dressed well fed, but tired looking people. They probably looked a little worse for the storms out at sea tossing their hair and soaking their clothes. But even with that... their clothes were clothes. Not scraps. Not stitched together leathers. Okay, so the Queen was in stitched together leathers, but clearly that was aesthetic choice rather than desperation. They were carrying cloth bags, boxes, and in two cases, flower pots in leather slings.


Everything about what little of the boat could seen from the Isle spoke to quality, to luxury. It was clearly well made, well kept, and expensive. It was also very... pastel.

"Be careful on the bridge," Mal said to the people behind her, as she led them across, spell book at the ready. "On this side there are crocs, gators, and sharks." Then raising her voice to be heard by those on the beach. "IF ANYONE TRIES TO RUSH THIS OPENING TO ESCAPE YOU WILL REGRET IT!" Her eyes flashed green with the threat.

But perhaps it was Professor Yen Sid, perhaps it was his small but firm nod that made clear that she could back up that threat.

Where Two Worlds Come To Meet - Both Missrecalled and Misery-called

With boat and beach thus connected, those on the boat began to disembark, most of them carrying some bit of cargo. Stitched leather bags, sturdy cardboard boxes - both of which seemed full of supplies, and two people carried flower pots in leather stitched slings.

Sylvando - the man in the jester costume - who stayed on the boat guarded the top of the gangplank until the last of the people and supplies were moved across. Once the last of everything was on the shore, the king slid his hand into his pocket and the barrier closed, the bridge vanishing as it did.

For those with magic, it felt weaker here, and as the barrier closed rapidly, the sensation increased until it closed and all the magic was gone. The beeping box stopped making sound, its light fading.

For those with fire associated magic the lack would hit extra hard, though with everyone reeling, that might not be obvious.

Mal tucked her spellbook down the front of her jacket. Her eyes scanned everything and everyone, and she didn't seem to miss anything. She looked almost natural here despite being clean and clearly not starving. The king beside her tried to give everyone a warm smile, which almost immediately made him seem out of place.

"Alright," Mal said. "Here is what is going to happen. We are here to drop off supplies. Some of you may be coming back to Auradon with us. We will be talking to the professors, and to some of you. If you agree to come to Auradon, and if you are accepted, you have to be willing and able to follow the rules of Auradon. We want to help those of you who were never meant to be here, but we can't put the people we promised to protect in Auradon in danger either. Don't like that? I'm the one to step to," she said, pushing some wet hair back off her shoulder. "For those that are staying... this isn't the only time we will be coming and not now doesn't mean never. Until then however..."

"We found supplies," Ben said. "And what we have that we can share, we are sharing. We brought food, potato plants, bottled water and juices, and some other supplies. Everything we brought can be eaten as is or cooked over a simple fire."

Mal nodded. "And for those of you who are dark hearts, who are true evil as... Well let's just say that the deal offered to the adults before this all started stands, and extends to all of you who it applies to. Even if you have been evil in your past, even if you are evil now, but are willing to change to live in Auradon, we will consider you. You will have to earn your place in Auradon. Earn your chance to come over. It won't be easy, but one thing I've learned? Good isn't. Easy. But if you can prove yourself good, even here, we will consider that and you may be welcomed in the future under probation."

Ben took over, then. "However, just because you are here does not mean you are evil," he said. He put a hand on Mal's damp but now hair free shoulder. "If you think you should be in Auradon, not here, come and talk to us. Tell us your story."

"We're planning to stick around about an hour," Mal added, her hand over Ben's her fingerless gloves a dark purple leather with a livid green dragon on the back of each. "That should give enough time to talk to everyone. And for you to ask any questions about the supplies that you may have. And one more thing, yes I see you lurking there in the shadows, Shadow man. And you as well," she said, her eyes flicking to the other side of the rusted bait shop from where the Headmaster was watching them all. "Alright. One hour, people. Let's get this going."

"And... we are truly sorry, for those of you not of this world who are trapped here. We promise, we are trying to work on how to get everyone home."

"Yes, yes, happily ever after's all around. That one hour? Starts now," Mal said. Then she rolled her shoulders back and turned to talk to Professor Yen Sid.

(OOC: Please see this post ASAP to let the mods know your plans so we can write the finale! Thank you all so much!))

Comments

[under_the_raptors_wings]

After reaching the Isle and dropping off what he'd carried over, Æn'kae didn't exactly have much to keep busy doing. If he had more to do he would have been a good deal happier. Rather than... standing around awkwardly to wait. He did notice first Mallia, and then later Skisan go and talk to a stranger, and while he did glance their way curiously a couple of times, he didn't approach. Maybe in another time or place he might have, but with just how many people were around, the idea of trying to socialize was a bit overwhelming.

[elvendryad]

It didn't take too terribly long at all before Æn'kae was given something to do. Surely, the prospect of figuring out how -- or if he wanted to -- get involved socially with so many new people would be a bit daunting, especially in such a setting as this, where half of them were clearly the worse for wear from having stayed in this awful place. Tensions and moods were surely all over the place....

But maybe that meant that what he was presented with wasn't too unwelcome? Even not being able to sense things the way he was used to, there was plenty he could tell about this new strange figure. Their footsteps were quiet on the sandy ground, someone to treading lightly rather than announcing their presence... but announce it he did. Softly, the note of a smile in his tone, and in that old language Mallia had been teaching him her people's greetings, "Well met, brother."

He was rather decently tall, and very clearly armored, but there was nothing threatening in his stance. Far from it, the hint of what seemed to be pleased recognition of some sort was plain in his expression as he regarded the younger figure. This... was most definitely who he'd seen Mallia and Skisan speak to a little bit ago. And now he'd taken an interest in Æn'kae as well.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Confusion entered Æn'kae's expression at the greeting, but he let it slide for the moment. Look, it could well be cleared up as the conversation went on. It could even just be a greeting. Instead he cupped his hands and nodded over them. "Jolan'tru."

Given that the longer, and for that matter, more involved conversation of the stranger's had been with Mallia, he opted to take a guess, or ask a question maybe was more accurate. "Do uh, do you know Mallia from somewhere?" He asked this in a quiet tone, offering a somewhat uncertain smile as he did.

[elvendryad]

It wasn't the response he was expecting, but he hadn't been contradicted... had he? What did Jolan'tru mean?

But he wasn't left to silently question it for long. And he could answer the question easily enough! He nodded once. "The wine fairy? I understand that she knew me, when we were much younger...." He didn't remember much of any of it, but that didn't quite matter. And he was trying to be in at least a bit better a mood than not.... "It is good to find kin, even in this place. My name is Chell...." The and yours is? was left unasked.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae had gone over a lot with Mallia on greetings and the like, and maybe in another setting he would have recalled some of it. At least a minute amount. As it was he just looked more confused the more Chell spoke, an eyebrow arching up.

Wait. Had that been an opening for his name? "Oh. Oh uh, I'm Æn'kae." He rubbed at the back of his neck. Should he explain that he wasn't actually kin? Would it change anything? "Skisan's my mentor." He nodded to the Vulcan. That wasn't wholly accurate either. But that was an explanation and a half and not one he felt like tackling.

[elvendryad]

"I see." That faint smile grew just a little more. "He and I met briefly before this... it was within some sort of dream-place. Or... perhaps within two?" Where theirs had met, when Chell had wandered into Skisan's area, anyway. But it didn't matter, did it? "He had helped me there. ...I do not recall how we were separated, however."

Locked to Emporio and Lea - Nobody's Introductions

[nobodys_puppet]

Seeing the headmaster slipping further into the shadows, she hesitated then pulled Axel in that direction, clinging to his sleeve.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea had noticed the man slipping off too, and needed little encouragement to follow Xion over to meet her friend. "Hey there," he said. "Emporio, right? I'm Lea. Though you've probly heard Xion call me Axel."

[seacub]

Hopefully for the Doc's sake, Lea did not also see Emporio giving him a big ol' hug. Gotta save that reputation.

The boy turns though, blinking. "Oh- Uh...Yeah, I have," he starts, a little wrongfooted on the conversation already. Being called by name was surprising enough, but the immediate 'by the way, my name is actually X' is just a bit disorienting.

He adjusts quickly though, nodding to them both. "It's nice to meet you...uh...I guess I should be calling you Lea then?" There's a look from Xion to Lea, as he waits for the answer. He'll go with whatever Lea prefers after all.

[nobodys_puppet]

Sorry, Emporio. Now that Axel was here, Xion was going to let him do most of the speaking. She cas just clinging to his sleeve now as she slid behind her friend to watch their interaction.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea nodded. "Yeah, Lea for now," he said. "Though I'll answer to either in a pinch."

He noticed the way Xion was trying to hide behind him and fought the urge to sigh. Barely back together 15 minutes and it was back to business as usual apparently. Well while he didn't mind her silence or her clinging, he wasn't going to let her hide behind him. He deliberately shifted so that he was no longer blocking her before he continued.

"I understand you and Xion have been hanging out together a lot. I wanted to thank you for keeping her company, and for being her friend. She's... not the most outgoing person in the world, to put it mildly, so I'm glad she had someone here." He gave Xion a look of affectionate exasperation as he mentioned her shyness.

[seacub]

Alright. Lea. He's got it memorized (heh).

"Uh-" Needless to say though he wasn't expecting thanks. Emporio just nods, and looks toward Xion herself. "It was just natural, honestly...she reminds me a little of someone I know at home, but also, we have a lot in common it feels like."

Right down to the crying. So much crying.

[nobodys_puppet]

She squirmed a bit, being pulled forward, still clinging to his sleeve. She looked between them, listening, but having nothing else to add just then...

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Yeah?", Lea said. "I'm... honestly not sure whether or not I should be happy you have a lot in common; after all, neither Xion nor I exactly has the happiest backstory, to put it mildly. But I'm glad it worked out for you at least."

"Anyway, much as I don't want to reinforce some of Xion's mistaken ideas about how making friends works, any friend of hers is a friend of mine. So if you need anything, or if you just wanna hang out sometime, let me know; I've got your back. Got it memorized?"

[mist_the_point]

Foulques huffed in annoyance. "Far preferable to Primals, I imagine," he said. "Or Garleans. They seem to be the cause of most of Eorzea's oddities, or at least tangentially involved in them."

[mist_the_point]

"Tis what I intend," he said. "I would see something of the true character of Auradon and its young king before venturing there. And I would have it be beyond doubt that I had earned my place, should I go. The one who opposes your presence is a child; I suspect that if anyone were to object to mine, it would be someone with far more influence, and I'll not provide them with any stones to hurl at me. Though I'm certain they'd find their own regardless."

[mist_the_point]

"Hmph," he said, a noise of dry amusement that couldn't truly be called a laugh. "Would that the treants of the Twelveswood were so generous." Did treants even produce fruit? He'd heard from time to time about certain types bearing acorn-like nuts, but not fruit, and nothing suitable to be eaten even if one dared to try and pluck them.

"And perhaps that is for the best. I can't imagine the soil here would provide much to allow it to do so easily. Should we manage to find some usable seeds, we'll likely have to plant small fish next to them if we hope to have them grow well, or perhaps at all"

[elvendryad]

That earned him a very confused look indeed. "Plant... fish? ...In the ground?" Behold, a tree-creature that knew next to nothing of gardening or farming practices... but perhaps to be fair, few animal-based people knew much about their own inner workings, past what they needed to know, to get by in day to day life. "What do fish have to do with growing seeds?"

[mist_the_point]

"Tis a method to make poor soil more fertile," he explained. "To grow, plants must draw certain nutrients from the soil; if those nutrients have been used up by previous plantings- or if they were never present at all- anything planted in the soil would struggle, if it didn't fail entirely. Planting a fish near a seed however, can remedy this, as the fish returns those nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. Spreading animal dung on the soil's surface can have a similar effect."

[elvendryad]

"Would it need to be all of the fish? Or would the parts others don't eat suffice?" The gears were turning now... a way to make use of the refuse would surely be welcome!

[mist_the_point]

"Aye so I discerned from what I've been told, and from the bills I've seen posted about," he said, though oddly he didn't sound especially enthusiastic about it. "Tis quite the task you've set for yourselves, and I wonder if you quite understand the enormity of it, and how difficult it is like to truly be."

"Do not mistake me; I doubt not your intentions, nor do I disagree with what you propose. Quite the opposite in fact. But though you are King and Queen, you are both young, and largely untested. You've set yourselves to a trial by fire and I question whether your resolve is sufficient to stay the course to the end."

"But as you've been kind enough to offer me a warning of who to be cautions of, I shall respond in kind. Should anyone arrive here from a nation called Ishgard, you must say nothing to them of the fact that Queen Mal carries dragon blood in her veins, nor should you allow anyone else to speak of it. Ishgard has been fighting the Dragonsong War for nigh on a thousand years; in their eyes it is a holy war, and even were it not, it is fueled by centuries of fire an blood. Like as not, they would see it as their duty to kill you where you stand. Both of you." He turned his gaze to Mal. "You, for carrying the blood of their ancient enemy-", and then to Ben, "-and you, for lying down with a dragon, the gravest and most deadly of sins in their eyes."

[mist_the_point]

Foulques considered for a moment. "Whole fish are generally used," he said. "Usually those that were too small, sickly-looking, or otherwise undesirable to be sold at market. They're then simply either taken whole or roughly chopped up to be planted alongside the seeds they're meant to fertilize. But that's largely a matter of simple convenience for the farmers, and a way for Fishers to make some small profit on otherwise unwanted stock before it spoils; there's no need for it to be whole fish, so far as I'm aware."

[elvendryad]

Chell nodded. "So... organs, for bait. And the fins and scales and bones and heads, to bury?" It sounded simple enough, to him.

[professorsong]

"Eorzea, huh? Sounds like a fun vacation. Maybe next time I break out of jail," she said with a smile. "I'll have to meet these Garleans and Primals, they sound like my kind of a fun time."

[nadenagi]

"I'm not staying here just because you want to be a martyr. I'm not!" Utau snapped.

"No you're staying because they're too smart to let you come!" Nadeshiko snapped.