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Chatterbox: Down to Earth
Let's play house.
Let's play house.
There are AE balls and AE chat threads, but Nymph and Sea Glass never like to go out, not where there are people (as do I). So this is a thread about what they do all day, maybe a sort of diary or log of their introverted/antisocial activities.
There might be RPing. They might talk. They might ramble on for entire posts directed at no one about whatever it is they're thinking. I don't know, but feel free to join.
Try to stay away from shipping and drama; this is about your AEs as beings with complex characters doing stuff in their spare time. Or what they do in the time that isn't spare. That might include social interactions, or it might not. Post the name of the AE of focus at the beginning of each comment, and develop.
submitted by Viola?, age Secret, Secret
(February 5, 2018 - 10:37 am)
(February 5, 2018 - 10:37 am)
Yeah. It’s your actions.
Sea Glass
It is a cloudy morning. They are more common now, with the advance of winter. Water vapor is drawn to the cold, I think, which may explain why the summer always seems to be sunnier, if it is true.
I am sitting over waffles and blueberries at the kitchen table when Nymph thumps down the stairs with more noise than necessary. The extra legs nearly make it a thunder. She rolls up and slaps an envelope down across from me. Lets go, turns away. Paces furiously.
“She’s still trying. I found that in my room. She asked me if I wanted to plant moonflowers with her. She has a forest, too. Is she copying me? ‘Cause she’s also a shapeshifter, and I don’t remember her saying anything about a forest when she was introduced. Not that it’s my business what she does. It just makes me feel like I’m being watched.”
I look back at the letter. I don’t know what to say. Nymph flops down and huffs.
“I have pity for her.”
Nymph looks surprised. I am surprised, too, if more by my speech than my sentiment.
“Pity? Why?”
I pause to think about it. Nymph waits with an incredulous, searching expression.
“I think it is because you so continually reject her, and because I do not believe you are wrong in doing so. She wants very badly to become your friend, yet, I cannot envison that wish as a reality. Neither with my second sight, nor my first. And this seems bound to bring her sorrow.”
Nymph sits quietly for a moment, pondering.
“Yeah. I guess... It isn’t going to happen any time soon, for sure.”
She rises in a steady swoop. Her ears grow slightly shorter, her hair heavier and finer. I think she has feathers or scales now. Her extra eyes close one by one.
“Are you going to write back?”
She glances at me, then lets her gaze fall to the letter.
“Nah. I can just tell her. It would take a while to send it anyway.”
With that, she transforms into a barn owl and leaves in a flush of new feathers. I return to my waffles.
~Thanks for offering the options of not getting the letter and declining. Nymph is... still a prickly one. Perhaps it’s something to do with the fact that Cap is looking for something, trying to make friends. It feels less natural, maybe even less sincere. Or maybe Nymph is so independent that she can’t even concieve of being attached to someone. Maybe both? Or neither. I don’t know. I’m hungry now, though. Waffles sound really good...~
Nymph
After my conversation with Sea Glass, I fly off to find Captain X. It’s a little misty in addition to being overcast, so I shift to a peregrine and keep fairly low. If anyone’s birdwatching right now, they must be confused.
It’s harder than I thought. I realize pretty soon that I have no idea where I’m going, and I can’t exactly get a better view. I consider my options and circle back to the house to ask Viola?.
She’s awake, in her room. She looks up when I appear at her window, and jumps to open it when she sees me prepare to break it.
“Nymph! You could’ve just knocked! Like The Raven!”
“I’m a peregrine,” I say, turning into something that’s not a peregrine but does have a mouth. “Do you know where Captain Xanara is?”
“Captain?” she asks, quirking an eyebrow. “No, not really. Why?”
“She sent me a letter.”
“Huh. Okay. Um... she might be in one of her... places? You know, the islands.”
“She has a forest now.”
“What, really? I must’ve missed that. But if it’s new, she might still be there... Let me see.”
She goes over to her desk and stands on her toes, consulting the map hung above it.
“It might be somewhere around here,” she says, pointing to a spot by the coast.
“Okay.” I spread my wings. Then, as an afterthought, I add, “Thanks.”
”You’re welcome,” she smiles, turning back to look at me. Her face says more than her words do. I jump out the window.
It’s there. I wing down to a promising tree, settle in a perch and call out.
“Xanara?”
~I was surprised and happy that Nymph thanked me, just so you know. No, I don’t actually have a map of the CB. But if I did, I imagine it would look like every CBer’s town/city/village, past towns/cities/villages, ideal places and selected imaginary worlds all smashed together, some parts intersecting or merging, some much more separate. I would have drawn it myself with help from Nymph, and would update it constantly as I find out about new places being added, and perhaps old ones crumbling away. Wouldn’t it be weird to wake up one morning and find that a place had faded out of reality? But it might happen here, as old CBers leave and people forget. Or maybe their places stay there forever, crystallized, metaphorically or literally trapped in amber until the people they belong to come back. Perhaps they’re simply abandoned, the buildings emptied out, knocked down or collapsing on their own, the nature going on unheeded. Perhaps when they’re far enough gone, new CBers come in to build anew on their forgotten ruins and explore the fresh wilderness. What a weird thought. I think I like my amber idea better.
(January 8, 2019 - 12:21 pm)
Just a quick note Cap is a Creator variation Valyan, not a shapeshifter, and the forest is temporary. Like my personality, it has many sides/facets and shifts to match the one I like best at the moment. Plus, Cap is independant, just lonely. I mean she has literally zero actual friends. Nobody she can cofide in or be confided in by.
Cap~
"Xanara?" Nymph's voice calls out. I didn't actually expect her to show up. I shrug and walk towards the voice.
"Hey, Nymph. Good to see you." I smile slightly when I see her, sitting as a perigrine falcon on a branch. "I assume you got my letter?"
"Yes, I did. I have a few questions for you, Xanara." She jumps down to the ground, shifting quickly into a tall woman with three eyes, four wings, and a crown of seven golden horns.
"You can call me Cap."
"Okay, Cap. First question: Are you copying me?"
"Elaborate, if you will." Nymph sighs, but complies.
"You're a shapeshifter with a forest." I put a finger up.
"Nope. Creator variation Valyan with an ever-changing home." Nymph cocks an eyebrow, but luckily for me the surrounding area begins fading. The ground underneath our feet becomes rock and tall grass, and the air gets a cold bite to it. A coat forms on my shoulders, and Nymph becomes some sort of polar bear anthro. Snow falls gently. Behind Nymph, a huge log cabin appears, warm air and yellow light streaming from the windows. "See? Ever-changing home." My voice echos in between mountain peaks.
"Okay but how are shapeshifters and... Whatever you are different?" A dictionary suddenly floats in between us. Flipping quickly to the 'S' section, I find 'shapeshifter'.
"According to this dictionary, which is-" I check the cover "-An Oxford dictionary, shapeshifters are 'a person or being with the ability to change their physical form at will'. That's you. I'm different. Not only can I change my appearence, but I can change other things as well." Nymph's face screws up with contempt.
"But that's so OP! I hate OP. Everyone hates OP. Rogue should change you."
"Rogue doesn't have to." Nymph both relaxes and becomes really deeply confused. "I've put limits on myself. I won't do things that people don't want me to do. For instance, I wouldn't change you into a naked mole rat just because I could." Nymph relaxes completely.
"Good, because if you did I'd never forgive you." She says, smiling a bit.
"Do you have any other questions?"
"Why'd you choose me, of all the AEs?" She doesn't seem like she's surprised, like she thinks I was just being needy and choosing the most confident person around. She's wrong.
"Because you're like me, or vice versa. We're both independant and confident, but sometimes somebody to talk to would be nice."
"So why didn't Rogue just make another AE for you to talk to?"
"That, I don't know. Sometimes I talk with Nihil, but she hates literally everybody except Rogue, and she kind of ingores me. I asked Rogue when another AE might be made, kind of passively, I know, but Rogue just said 'I probably won't make another one, sorry', and that was the end of it." Nymph seems to be contemplating something.
"Hm. Weird."
~~
Did that clear things up at all? :P
(January 8, 2019 - 3:08 pm)
Agh, hang on. OOC talk. We’re running into the same problem again.
Yes, that information was helpful, thank you. However, I have a lot to say about some of the other stuff here.
I don’t know how else to put it: That is not how Nymph would act. And I happen to be a person who has a lot of trouble letting that go. Sorry.
For context, I should probably tell you how I approach new RPs. When I’m RPing with someone new (that is, someone I haven’t RPed with before), I just type a couple of lines about my character—or, in this case, AE—and wait to see their response, then repeat that until I’m familiar with their character’s personality. And I expect them to do the same. See, I don’t trust myself to get how their character would react, and I don’t trust them to get how mine would react, but I do trust them to share in my distrust. Does that make sense?
Right now, the way I see it, we are new to this, new to RPing with Cap and Nymph together, so I did what I normally do and posted two lines to start the interaction, discounting all previous because they focused entirely on myself and my AEs. I was then blindsided by your response.
I feel really dense for not remembering that you usually do this. I should’ve asked about formatting or whatever. Being as it is, I... can’t roll with this. Mostly because it was really controlling. You dictated what Nymph said and did for a very long time (17 paragraphs, 51 lines, to be precise), and you did it in a way that I feel is not true to her. That isn’t what she would have done. As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, this being the third time it’s happened, I take that very seriously. Maybe it comes from how I see fans interact with story canon elsewhere? Anyway.
If we’re going to do this, can we start over from just after Cap’s first response and use the method I described earlier? I’d be a lot more comfortable with that.
I was going to do a breakdown of everything that you wrote, but I’m not sure it would be helpful. If you want, of course, I still can.
Sorry if this was frustrating to hear, I know I’m weird and fussy about a lot of things.
(January 9, 2019 - 8:43 am)
Sure, we can do it over again. Sorry I made you uncomfortable. I only did it this way because you kind of angered me when you said in your part that you, through Nymph, thought that I, through Cap, was copying you. That hurt, but I didn't want to say it outright.
Anyway, yes, you're right, I don't know Nymph very well, but that's because I've literally NEVER seen a straight-answer sheet for her personality. Could you write one out for me so that I can RP Nymph better? :)
(January 9, 2019 - 12:42 pm)
Oh, gosh, sorry. I don’t actually think that; I just noticed the similarities, exaggerated it and made it snarkier because, you know, it’s Nymph. She isn’t quite me and doesn’t often say or do what I would. Still, I’m really sorry it was hurtful. I can’t promise that it won’t happen again, but I can and will promise that I think a lot better of you than she does and it is never my intention to be mean.
Hah, I don’t know, I don’t even have a straight answer about her for myself! I think she’s a lot like my past self, but overblown, better with words, and maybe some other stuff... She’s like a voice in my head that I don’t usually listen to. She’s contrary, willful and has a narrow scope, petty, vengeful, immature, but also compassionate towards certain kinds of people? She rarely questions her basic assumptions, so when she gets into a fight, the only thing she focuses on is fighting and winning, one-upping the other person, proving herself more powerful. And when it’s not a fight, she’s different. Maybe she’s defensive. I had some issues way back when. But then if she does get what she wants, which is whatever’s the best, whatever’s on top, whatever is coveted or admired, then... she doesn’t really care. She wants it for the sake of having it. She doesn’t plan for anything. If she wins a pie war she’ll just go back to her forests afterward. It doesn’t mean anything to her. So if she realizes this, she just doesn’t try. Wait. Sorry, this isn’t what you’re asking for. I got carried away...
So yeah, I don’t know. But I can just do it for you. You don’t have to worry about it.
(January 9, 2019 - 4:04 pm)
You're all good! Thanks for understanding. :)
Whoa, that's a lot. Yeah, if you could RP Nymph with Cap that'd be great; it'd let me see her side of things more. I don't really care what you do with Cap, but here's some things that anybody should know about Cap if they're new to RPing her.
She's calm, collected, and impossible to intimidate. If you offend her she'll get kind of defensive and will close up some, but if you insult, offend, or generally hurt somebody she cares for she will hunt you down and most likely hate you forever until you make it right. She's smart, clever, good with words, and the bad side of that is that she's cunning and can manipulate you into thinking it was your idea. She gets lost in thought a ton and you may have to call her name a few times to get her to 'come back to the real world'. Yeah that's it for now. :)
Again, thanks for understanding, Viola? .
(January 9, 2019 - 5:32 pm)
I’m bored lately. No one’s posted on the ball thread in forever, and it seems to be dying slowly. Not that I care that much, it was starting to get kind of slow anyway. But it was something to do, at least.
Today is sunny and windy and kind of warm. It doesn’t really seem like January at all. It’s never this warm in January. I almost like it. It makes me want to go outside and do something, but I don’t know what. Wren and Far are somewhere, probably by the big creek, so I’m alone.
It gets lonely sometimes. I usually don’t want to be around people all that much, but one friend or maybe two would be nice. Me and Wren and Far don’t get out much these days, except for balls here and there, and so none of us are around the other Æs a lot. But Wren has Storm, and Far has Mariel. I don’t want to be in a ship, not now at least. I have other things to worry about. But it does get lonely.
I guess there’s always Nymph. But we haven’t talked in what feels like ages, and I don’t know if we’re still friends or what we are anymore. I’ve thought about saying something to her, maybe showing up in one of her forests. But I don’t know if that’s trespassing or something, and it kind of seems like she doesn’t want any friends anyway.
I guess it’s best if I keep my distance. The last thing I want to do is bug her.
I wonder if she ever thinks about me.
(January 8, 2019 - 3:26 pm)
All right, thanks!
Nymph
Captain walks out from wherever and smiles at me.
“Hey, Nymph. Good to see you. I assume you got my letter?”
“Yeah,” I say. “And the answer is no. I don’t want to do anything with you. I’ll let you know if that ever changes, but don’t get your hopes up.” I flap my wings once, ready to fly away.
~Again, sorry if this is frustrating. Especially after we posted all that about what they would do! I mean, really. Me and my antisocial AEs... *shakes head at herself*
(January 13, 2019 - 8:52 pm)
Cap~
I shrug, completely unglazed by Nymph's outright rejection. At least she said that her mid might change, but, like she said, I have no intention of getting my hopes up. Plus she's shown her disinterest in good people.
"Your loss, then." Nymph states at me, so used to being the powerful one that always dominates. Maybe she was expecting something a bit more petty. I turn to go to the cabin. By the time I reach the door, Numph hasn't flown of or anything yet. I glance over my shoulder. Her face is unreadable. "Would you like to come in?" I ask politely. "I doubt so, but you can stay for a but if you would like. Maybe wait until the weather changes again." I look up at the dark, swirling clouds, and the sky too turbulent for anything to fly. Nymph's face hardens.
"Tempting, Cap. But I said no." Huge wings sprout from her back. This can't go well. With the wind speeds that high, and the oxygen level in the atmosphere so low, she won't make it; nothing can. No matter how strong or determined it is. Not even a jet could make it. Nymph lifts her wings for takeoff just as a mammoth burst of wind rips through the mountains. I have to cling to the door handle to stay upright, and Nymph grows ten more feet that peg her against the howling gale.
"Well, the best of luck, Nymph!" She looks at me incredulously.
~~
Did I play her right, Viola? ? If I got her wrong again I'm so sorry.
(January 16, 2019 - 12:27 pm)
Not quite, sorry. She would’ve just flown off without a word. She’s not out to get Cap, not trying to actively hurt or insult her. If anything, she’s out to avoid her. I do like the idea of the weather turning bad, though.
Nymph
Cap shrugs, unmoved. Satisfaction seeps under my feathers. I launch myself upward, into the darkening sky and a sudden blast of wind. I focus on keeping my balance and let it carry me back to another branch, which I promptly sieze, and reconsider the clouds. It looks like a storm is brewing. Almost finished, too.
Cap notices from below, standing at the door of a tiny house.
“Would you like to come in?” she asks. “I doubt so, but you can stay for a bit if you like. Maybe wait until the weather changes.”
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
The wind howls at me again in a challenge. A wolfish grin spreads across my face as I grow to meet it.
“Well, the best of luck, Nymph!” Cap shouts over the rising gale. I turn my smile briefly towards her in disdainful but excited acknowledgement and take off.
~Is that okay? Nymph’s plan is to essentially play with the storm, just kind of rough-and-tumble, letting it push her around a bit but also pushing back. Her goal of getting back to our house has been shunted to the side; she wouldn’t mind achieving it, but it’s not her main focus anymore. When it’s over she’ll cruise on the last wind and land wherever it takes her, which could be back in Cap’s forest if you so choose. And don’t worry about her getting struck by lightning. I’m not sure if there’s any atmospheric prelude to it, but the first time she spots that or the lightning itself, she’ll remember to shift so she can handle it. Maybe even use its energy herself?
(January 17, 2019 - 8:15 am)
Raven~~
I watch the brook lazily gurgle along, over the smooth pepples that made up the river bed. Sections of the brook our icy, making intricate patterns. It’s beautiful, really, the tall bare trees towering overhead, and the boulders dotting the white landscape. Despite the snow, it wasn’t extremely cold, so all that was necessary too wear was quite light. I wore a knitted sweater, blue with little white snowflakes, a white scarf, and a winter hat, striped with many different shades of blue, A white Pom rested on the top of my hat.
It felt rather peaceful, listening too the chuckling of the brook and the distant calls of a lone bird, my legs pulled up too my chest, the feeling of worn denim, a mixture of rough and soft, against my chin. My arms wrapped around my legs.
Snow was piled a foot or so deep everywhere I could see, and I had felt rather guilty making my way down here. The snow had been so pristine, and untouched, and, my feet had left footprints. It just...didn’t feel right too disturb the icy world.
Hmmm...I think I’ll walk in my footprints on the way back, as too not disturb the winter wonderland more.
(January 16, 2019 - 12:53 pm)
Riley~
The sky is pink and blue. The clouds are egg-shell white. Eden's candles from across hallway smell like blueberry pancakes and vinilla. This beautiful scene gets me in the feels.Inspriation hits me hard and I go to my desk and start to sketch some friends, Koi, then Eden, then Cap. I'm not proud of any of them besides Cap's. I haven't seen her in a while, I miss her.
(January 18, 2019 - 7:49 am)
top top top!!! don’t let this sink please, it’s my pride and joy :’((( -Arti
(January 27, 2019 - 10:36 am)
I got my February Cricket today! And I got in the Favorite First Sentences! But my name is spelled with an exclamation point instead of a question mark! Probably a typo on my part. This is so wonderful and annoying and ridiculous it made me laugh.
(January 28, 2019 - 8:15 pm)
I know this might seem kind of... strange, but... I don't really know how to do AEs. I just created mine, named it and what kinda of animal she is, and..l let her be. But I don't really know how to play her, or what I'm supposed to do.
(January 31, 2019 - 11:04 am)