Completed Well, isn't that Something? (Kouri)

[Lyrri Snowsong]

10th of Summer, 513 AV

The inner city streets of Syliras bustled under the mid-day sun. The summer was fresh and young; people were near panting as they rushed about, everyone with somewhere to go, everyone bothered by their surroundings. The ground was dirty; the air was permeated by the loud clamoring of oh-so-many knights and peasants, their loud, obnoxious voices and even louder feet.

The bard loved it. Heat soaked Lyrri's bones and made her small, wooden flute warm to the touch. She had situated herself on a wooden crate (why were there always so many of those lying about?), flute in hand and smile wandering over the panorama of humanity. This isn't such a bad day, is it? She thought cheerfully, mindful of the summer sun which so differed from her frozen home of Avanthal. Rather perfect for a new adventure!

With an elated flash of blue-violet in her ever-changing eyes, Lyrri put the instrument to her lips and began a jaunty tune to accompany the energetic faces of Syliras. I think this will be a fun day!

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "So, Big Sis, what are we going to do today?" Rena cutely asked as she floated right beside her ghostly older sister. Both of the sister ghost girls were floating together, hand in hand, through the sun-less Fortress City. "Hmmm? Nothing in particular, Rena. We're just going for a walk~" Kouri answered her little sister's question. Rena's cheerfulness and innocence were just too much for the older sibling. With Rena by her side, Kouri couldn't care less about the people who scorned her just because of her race. The ghostly sisters' expression were filled with content and happiness unlike the various sweaty, anxious, and tired expressions of the crowd walking through the streets around them. Unlike them, the sisters did not feel the burden of gravity and collision; they just phased through people and objects as if they were air and thus, they could enjoy a simple walk in the confined spaces of the Fortress City. "You know, Sis... uhm... I wonder why some people looked at us... like we're monsters or something..." Rena clung closer to her older sister, staring at the occasional stares they got from the random humans around them. "Don't care about it, Rena~ what do they know anyway?" Kouri leaned in close and whispered in her sister's ears. "Just think of them as monkeys~ You know, the animal who's got interested even by the simplest things~" "Ehehehe... hahahaha~!' Rena could not contain her giggles, her sister was right. The dumb look those people gave them made them looked like those tree-climbing animals. After five chimes of floating, the sisters heard something interesting. "Is someone... playing music?" Rena looked all around, her violet eyes searching for the sound of the beautiful tune she heard. "Yeah, Rena... it sounds like a flute. Oh look! There!" Kouri pointed to a petite young woman with long black hair tinted orange and those... vibrant-hued bright yellow that graced her eyes. "Is she..." Kouri immediately recognized the trademark eye colorization of the woman. This woman was a Vantha, like herself and she played musical instruments! She must be a Snowsong! "Let's go, Rena, let's go!" Kouri gently pulled Rena's hand and dashed to the flute-playing woman. "E-eh?! S-sis! What is it? What is it?" Rena curiously asked her sister. Something must have greatly caught her adoptive sibling's interest. Kouri usually acted mature around her. Kouri was extremely excited at the prospect of meeting another Snowsong in this foreign city. Oh how she missed Avanthal, but there's nothing there for her anymore. What's important to her right now was Rena, Madame Azcadelia, Madame Hadyn, Akilia and various other people she cared about. Stopping just a few feet from the woman, the sisters watched her closely; enjoying her tune. Kouri wanted to talk to the woman, but she deemed it was impolite to interrupt her. She would wait until she's finished playing her flute.

[Lyrri Snowsong]

Lyrri found it difficult not to smile.

Two girls stood there, watching the bard play. A friendly flash of green lit her eyes as she looked up at them, then was caught by a flying burst of lavender surprise; two girls with nearly white hair, two girls whose feet didn't quite meet the stone floor of the citadel. That's curious, Lyrri thought as she continued her melody. And it seems a bit sad. The eldest looked oddly familiar, too; she was about the age that Lyrri had been when she began playing. There was something about her... Something faint, something distant. Perhaps it would help to have a conversation. Besides, with these two girls, how could there not be a tale to tell?

The song slowed and eventually faded under the overwhelming noise of Syliras, and the bard looked up from her seat at the ethereal children. Pools of welcoming yellow-green; specks of blue-violet excitement. "Lyrri Snowsong, at your service. Did you enjoy the tune?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Yes! ehehehe~" The sisters answered together in unison, their voice echoing with a haunting tone to it. "Sis... sis! Her eye color can change!" Rena flew up to her sister's right ear and whispered, rather loudly. Rena wasn't really familiar with the Vantha, being a human girl born in Zeltiva and far away from Avanthal. Seeing the famous beautiful aurora eyes of the Vanthas right before her eyes excited her greatly. "Yes! Us Vanthas are awesome! Uhm... I might not look like it now, but... my eye color used to be able to change..." Kouri directed the statement to both Lyrri and Rena, she was rather ashamed that her ghostly state changed her appearance by a great deal. The only things that were the same was perhaps her height, body structure, hair length, and face. Her eye color, hair color, skin-tone... all changed and it wasn't for the better in Kouri's mind. Even she wondered on why did it was so... "Oh yeah, Rena. We must introduce ourselves", remembering to be polite and courteous, especially to another Vantha. Kouri floated forward, lifted the hem of her dress, and bowed slightly. Curtsying to Lyrri "Madame Lyrri, my name is Fub-... Kouri Snowsong~ It's an honor to meet you...". Kouri thought it would be better to use her family's hold name rather than the last name her father was so fond of. "Eh?" Rena tilted her head in curiosity and confusion. The last time she heard, her elder sister told Rena her name was 'Fubuki Kouri'. Why did she suddenly changed it to Snowsong? It was a question she definitely had to ask. After Kouri had finished her introduction, Rena took her position beside Kouri and did the same thing. She curtsied to Lyrri as she introduced herself. "It's nice to meet you, Madame Lyrri! I'm Rena! Big Sis' little sister!" Kouri pat Rena's hair, she was proud of her little sister's politeness and etiquette; that meant the Rena listened to the etiquette lessons Kouri taught her. She returned her attention back to Lyrri and beamed her a smile. "Hehehe~ It's good to see another Vantha here, Madame Lyrri. If I may ask, what are you doing here in this... uuh.. sun-less city?" Kouri gestured to the stone ceilings of the Fortress City as she asked her question. She wanted to get a conversation starting to know this woman more.

[Lyrri Snowsong]

Lyrri watched cheerfully as the youngest one flew to her sister's side. Rather energetic, isn't she? Of course, that wouldn't bother the musician; the energetic ones were the friendliest!

"Yes! Us Vanthas are awesome! Uhm... I might not look like it now, but... my eye color used to be able to change..."

The elder sister fidgeted awkwardly, certainly no longer looking the part of a Vantha. The bard smiled sadly, a faint tint of blue filling her eyes. She couldn't think of losing such an important part of her identity; the reflection of Morwen's Lights in her appearance was all that remained to remind the girl of home. I wonder if she could ever get that back...

Lyrri soon forgot her musings as the eldest introduced herself. Kouri Snowsong! This girl was from her hold!

Without pause the Vantha jumped to her feet, electric green excitement flashing about her irises. "No need to be so formal," she exclaimed, bouncing with enthusiasm. "My hold is my family!" The performer's smile couldn't have been wider. Perhaps she was overselling it, but she hadn't seen a Vantha since she'd moved here! What excuse could she possibly have to not be welcoming? Lyrri went to hug the girl, before realizing she would most likely just go right through her.

The Snowsong sighed quietly. She had been a bit insensitive, hadn't she? "... I'm sorry for what has happened to you, Kouri. I know that doesn't make it better, but I'm sorry all the same." The lyrical language of the Vantha slipped from her lips with only the slightest hesitation; she hadn't spoken Vani in quite a while, but surely this ethereal girl hadn't heard it in far longer.

"It's nice to meet you, Madame Lyrri! I'm Rena! Big Sis' little sister!"

The friendly violet dashes filled 'Madame Lyrri's' eyes once again. "And what a polite young lady you are, Rena! I'd say your sister has taught you well." The little one was awfully cute, Lyrri had to admit. And her ghostly appearance was rather similar to her sister's... But it wasn't a blood relation, was it?

"Hehehe~ It's good to see another Vantha here, Madame Lyrri. If I may ask, what are you doing here in this... uuh.. sun-less city?"

"Ah, I'm searching for a bit of adventure," the Vantha replied, continuing to speak Common for the younger girl's benefit. "And this is rumored to be the new capital of Mizahar, after all! Oh, and please, call me Lyrri."

"I think I know you, Kouri," she began. "Didn't your father retain the 'Fubuki' family name? You were very small, last I saw you."

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri When Lyrri motioned her body to hug Kouri, she knew what she had to do; Kouri materialized herself and gave Lyrri a quick hug. She wanted to relish in the woman's body warmth, but she didn't want to chill her with her frost touch either. Still, it was good to finally able to meet another Snowsong. Rena was humming happily, singing the tune the woman played before. "Ahaha, that's quite alright, Madame Lyrri. It's all... in the past..." Kouri replied in Vani as well, she usually had come to terms with her history but speaking about it to another Snowsong made it harder than usual. Rena was rather confused on what was going on though, she didn't understand Vani and merely tilted her head in curiosity. "Ehehehe~ Yes, Madame! Sis is awesome!" Rena finally broke her growing awkwardness, Lyrri finally spoke in Common again. Rena didn't mind Kouri and Lyrri speaking in their native language, but she would really appreciate it if they speak in common instead and not let her just stand there like a simpleton. "Ahaha~" Kouri rubbed her hands to Rena's cheeks, cooing at her little sister's cuteness and she secretly loved the praises she got. "Oh, adventure, I see ehehe~" Kouri didn't want to question Lyrri's reason to be in this... racist city, her reason was her own after all. "Sure, uhm... L-...Lyrri..." She stuttered, Kouri was raised in a strict household and wasn't used to calling an older person without a title; but she adhered to Lyrri's wish nonetheless. "I think I know you, Kouri" Huh? Kouri was a bit surprised at the statement, Lyrri knew her? Kouri had no memory of her somehow. Oh no... was her ghostly state brought some kind of memory loss? Kouri began to feel awkward, it would not bode well for her to just forget another Snowsong. "Didn't your father retain the 'Fubuki' family name? You were very small, last I saw you" "Ah... that's..." So that's why Kouri couldn't remember her, she was too young perhaps. The fact that Lyrri knew her family and Taka's eccentric behaviour meant that Lyrri knew her family deeper than just acquaintances, this woman... knew her parents. Rena noticed her older sister went serious, she decided to keep quiet; it seemed Lyrri and her sister had some connections. It was to be expected though, they were both Snowsongs. "So... you know my family, L-lyrri? Then... you must know how I looked when you saw me as... a Vantha, right?" The flowing black hair, the vibrant sapphire blue eyes, and the healthy skin-tone. Oh how Kouri missed it all...

[Lyrri Snowsong]

Lyrri's hesitation turned to shock as the ghost hugged her, materializing with sudden and abrupt force. She's so cold... I wonder why she pulled back so quickly?

Kouri responded in Vani; all the bard could do was nod with the slightest semblance of empathy. She wished, as she had many times before, that she knew how to comfort people; she was still so new to this strange city, didn't understand these lone and untrusting characters. How could she know what to say when the wounded remained so distant? The Snowsong Hold was close-knit; they had to be, if they wanted to outlast the brutal cold with some semblance of humanity. And yet every shred of Lyrri's desire to comfort the girl could be expressed only in a single nod.

"Ehehehe~ Yes, Madame! Sis is awesome!"

The Snowsong snapped out of her reverie with a spastic shake of the head. She grinned at the youngest of the pair; a jovial chuckle escaped her as Kouri cooed over the little one. Quite the cutie, she had to admit!

"So... you know my family, L-lyrri? Then... you must know how I looked when you saw me as... a Vantha, right?

The musician straightened, looked into the girl's reborn crimson eyes. A sad smile. "Vaguely," she replied with pools of cobalt melancholia. "In truth, my parents knew the Fubuki family far better than I did. It's been years... But I remember your face. Perhaps I had even played for you once or twice... Before..."

Lyrri paused, leaving the sentence to float over her head. It didn't need to be finished. "I'm sorry for your change," she sighed, once again tripping over the lyrical language of her home- not to be rude to the little one, but some things were better said from the heart. "I know it must be hard. However, it doesn't make you any less of a Snowsong."

A more cheerful smile. Pale violet optimism. "Besides, you look rather lovely, don't you think? Both of you. I've never seen such a thing!"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Oh... really? W-well, if you had... then thank you, ehehe~" Lyrri had played for her before and their parents knew each other? Great! Kouri very much wanted to meet with Lyrri's parents, though... she didn't know if they would want to meet a remnant of their kin's daughter. She decided to postpone the request for now, besides both of them were far away from Avanthal. "Doesn't make me less... hmmm, you may be right, I can still sing after all~" Kouri replied to Lyrri in relief, hearing that from another Snowsong truly helped her conviction. Rena by now understood that her sister and Lyrri was speaking in their native tongue, it must something private and they most likely had a history together so she decided to just go with the flow. "Ahahaha~ Really?" Kouri was surprised that not only Lyrri didn't mind her appearance, he also liked it. Rena also smiled in gratitude, though... unlike Kouri, Rena's physical appearance didn't change. "Ehehe~ I can show lots of other things you know, but eeeh..." Kouri approached closer to Lyrri and whispered to her "...most people here doesn't like my powers..." Those powers includes her ghastly ethereal black tendrils, chilling cold touch, and possession.

[Lyrri Snowsong]

"Oh? A singer," Lyrri grinned. "You should perform with me someday at the Herald's Arms! I love my flute, but it can get rather boring on its own, with someone of my skill level." As she transitioned back to common- she hoped she wasn't keeping the little one in the dark too much- she nodded graciously in flickers of green.

"Ehehe~ I can show lots of other things you know, but eeeh..."

The ethereal lady came close and whispered in her ear. A cold, foreboding wind flew across the musician's cheek; the gentle, deathly caress sent a small shiver through her body. "...most people here doesn't like my powers..."

"Powers, little Snowsong," Lyrri smiled. "You're far more than you let on, aren't you?" These girls couldn't be more interesting to the bard; such strength, such defiance... Such sadness behind it all. Even in her childlike appearance and tendencies, the ghost had the manner of one who had experienced far too much.

She looked again into the eldest sister's eyes and chuckled playfully. Another dash of violet; a hint of cadmium red. "I'd like to see your powers, if you ever have the time."

Now that she thought about it, Lyrri had never really spoken to a ghost. They weren't all that unexpected in the north; dark tales to tell on cold Talderan nights; Jared, the so-called "ghost hunter" of the Snowsong Hold; but a conversation with one... This girl didn't seem so fearsome as the stories might suggest. In fact, she seemed misunderstood. Why should this version of Kouri be judged more than the little Vantha girl who was so loved by her hold, her family? The bard smiled. Perhaps it didn't matter. Still, she couldn't help but feel for the child.

A small sigh accompanied a wave of light blue. It was beside the point. "Well then, what might you two girls be doing amidst such a crowd on such a busy summer day?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCSorry it took so long , I was on vacation and had been busy with my ST duties "Ehehe~" Kouri just smiled and put her hands behind her back, complete with slowly swaying her body from side to side, her long hair following her movements. "I'm not, Ma-... Lyrri. I'm just a Snowsong... at least I was" She was about to say 'Madame' again out of habit but thankfully she corrected herself. "I could show you my powers... in the Woods, where no people will judge" She spoke this sentence in Vani and a whisper, not wanting for anybody to hear. She loved talking with another Snowsong who didn't mind her current state, it was almost like heaven. She should be going there already... but she had a lot of things to do, she couldn't leave now, not when that tiger was still alive. "Hmmm? What are we doing? Well~ we're just taking a walk, right Rena?" Kouri faced her little sister which promptly nodded excitedly at her. "What are you doing here, Lyrri? Sharing your beautiful music perhaps? Ehehe~" Kouri was curious now, where did Lyrri stay in Syliras? She wanted to visit her someday "Where do you stay, Lyrri? Maybe we could visit you sometime~"