sixthiterationlogs | Cold Arrival

WHO: Malik Al-Sayf
WHERE: Fountain Square, Inn, around the village
WHEN: 12/29
OPEN TO: Fountain: Altaïr, Elsewhere: OTA
WARNINGS: mention of past character death, tbd

Fountain: Altaïr

As far as rude revivals went, regaining consciousness underwater was pretty high up there. That it was also freezing didn't help anything in the slightest. Malik isn't entirely sure how he makes it to the surface or the edge of the fountain where he clings and tries to catch his breath.

He knows he needs to get out of the water and in to somewhere at least sheltered if not warm. That or dip back under and call his merfolk form around him. There's something off though, besides the seeming lack of other Travelers in the water with him. He tries to reach for his magic, and that's when he figures out what's out of place.

He can't access any of his bag of tricks. No magic, no portals to Liminal, no shapeshifting either.

He swears under his breath, clinging tightly to the edge of the fountain.

“Hello?” He calls out, hoping there's someone within earshot even as he struggles up out of the water as best he can with one arm while shivering.

Inn: OTA

Malik had genuinely forgotten exactly how much the cold bothered him, being able to magically ignore it had spoiled him against the unique aches it brought to his left shoulder. Which, much to his dismay, has reproduced in his knees.

He's managed to settle himself at a table close to the fireplace, which he eyes on occasion like he's contemplating actually pressing himself against the bricks or just crawling inside of. Mostly though, he eats and attempts to eavesdrop on anyone coming in.

There's something he notices though, as he eats and its enough to actually give him pause to stare at the dish before him.

“That is new.” He admits aloud, frowning.

Wildcard

He hasn't been here long, but there are some rather important things that Malik needs to test out before all hell breaks loose as it usually does. So he finds a nostly out of the place to try things out.

While most of it seems to involve standing there looking increasingly annoyed, he does eventually take to throwing stones he dug out of the snow at a cleared bit of ground with remarkable precision while looking murderous.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I am not likely to play librarian again." Malik admits, "I was only doing it because there was little else to do at the time and I had been asked."

It had been a singular point of order in a mess of chaos that gave him purpose more rhan anything.

"I fight better than I build anyway."

"And I build better than I fight, now that I don't have magic at my disposal," Reeve smiled as he finally set aside his drawing.

Now, what was that greeting gesture Altair had done? It wasn't a handshake... Damn, he couldn't remember.

"My name is Reeve, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. And I may find myself picking your brain, so to speak, about some of this. Chocobos were the only animals my father kept save for a few small pigs. I understand most of the livestock here is not of the giant bird variety and I expect that they have needs I will not as easily anticipate. And you clearly have a sharp head on your shoulders."

"Mine is Malik, and I will help where I can if you are willing to take time to help Altair with his rice come the warm weather." Malik grinned, "I mostly know how to tend horses but I am sure someone here knows something."

“Ah horses. I have had those explained to me,” Reeve smiles.

Perhaps not as good as a chocobo but he will accept that they are what is had. You had to work with what you had access to. And this world didn’t seem to have much overlap wth his, except r had seen a dog.

“I will see what I can do but as this and the bridge are two other things he already asked me to consider, I may be a bit busy wth other tasks. From my understanding of how the Wutaians worked their wadis, I know I don’t know enough to be much help there. My geological skills are minimal, functional stuff only. Hard to figure out where he would best look for a suitable area to flood.”

"It is fine." Malik shrugged, "He can learn as well as the next man, and having something to do always makes staying somewhere easier."

He sighs a bit, "I expect I will end up helping you more than others. I am not the fastest when it comes to physical tasks."

For fairly obvious reasons. He can do most things perfectly well on his own, but they just take longer with only one arm.

Oh? Reeve looked at Malik and considered the lack of arm. That made him smile and shake his head.

"One of the most capable men I know lost his arm in the past. While he may have a prosthetic now, I can absolutely say that I've seen him keep up with other men quite easily when he had it off for modifications. Speed is learned by rote. And more than that, wisdom to come at a task from a more efficient angle could also be something that others may not have insight into like you do, my friend."

No, he thinks Malik can manage well if he wants to. Woudln't doubt it for a second.

"If you don't wish to help me with these tasks, there is no burden placed on you. But I welcome what help you would offer in the kind spirit it is given."

"I know exactly what I am and am not capable of, Reeve." Malik replied, and there's the barest hint of a glare despite the tired calm in his voice. "I doubt your friend could tie a knot, carry multiple items or any number of tasks as fast as someone with both arms when his spare was being maintained."

It's a simple matter of efficiency that can't be made up due to the very nature of things.

"As I said, I like to stay busy, though you are the second person to ever accuse me of being kind."

"Forgive me for presuming," Reeve said softly, bowing his head in shame. "I did not mean offense. I had... I was incorrectly operating under the assumption that this was a new experience for you. Some come here recently injured, and the waters heal them enough to function. Or so it seems."

He had not expected that. Perhaps he needed to take a step back. And yet, that other thing... not kind?

"You discussed plans for a barn with me, adding suggestions for improvements with no attempts to shame me for not determining them myself, or to gloat over superior knowledge. You gave without asking in return. That is kindness."

"Most assumptions about people tend to be inaccurate, asking questions tends to go better even if you still end up stepping wrongly. Forgiveness of curiosity is easier than forgiveness of ignorance." Malik replied, even as he gestures vaguely to the room around them to convey a general crowd.

"Most people I have encountered outside of my home seem think that being nice and being kind are the same thing, they also dislike when someone tells them inconvenient truths that clash with how they want the world around them to work."

"I admit I am ill equipped to split hairs over specific word choice and connotations," Reeve answered with a shrug. "But I do find you kind, Malik. How you see yourself or others see you I cannot control, but I can speak to how I see you. And that is kind."

At last, though, he moves to stand. "I should return to my work. You have given me a lot to consider."

"I tend to be... precise in my wording." Malik half smiled, even as he stands again.

"I will leave you to it then, I think I have thawed out enough to tolerate going back outside myself."

Cold Arrival

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this looks like a good warp point to me