01 . action

[calmbeforethe]

[ Her last memories of Luceti had been of snow. Looking around the forest and sensing the patterns of weather upon waking, however, told her it was now early autumn. Either she'd been gone several months or at least a year this time, she figured. Ororo wondered idly if there was a reason that she came and went like this. Something to ask the veterans of Luceti, she thought. ]

[ When she felt well enough, Storm took to the skies of Luceti: she knew her abiliities were dampened here in the enclosure, but she needed some time to reacquaint herself with Luceti's nature before looking for the village. She needed to calm herself, too; less powers also meant less control, and it would probably be better if she kept her emotions from starting an off-season monsoon. The random flashes of thunder and lightning from her annoyance at finding herself back in Luceti might attract unwanted attention, and how embarrassing would it be if someone noticed... ]

[ As soon as she centered herself, she changed course and headed for where she knew the village was. She remembered where the little house she'd stayed in previously was located as well, and checking the journal's callbox had let her know just who was still around and who from her world had arrived while she was "back at home." She figured there would be no harm in dropping by the house unannounced. Hopefully there was someone in House 16 to greet her! ]

[ Storm's first order of business after moving back into her old room at House 16 was to visit the stores for some essentials: the clothes shop being her first stop. As soon as she'd changed into and picked up some familiar clothes, she stepped back outside - and when it was safe, Ororo called down a bolt of lightning from the sky to strike the damned New Feather dress into ash. Subtle? Not in the least, but she had to vent somehow, right? Right. ]

[ Her next stops include the Item Store, and the grocery (to re-stock the house's food supply with some vaguely nutritious food), but her final stop of the day, despite the groceries and other items in her arms, would be Cloud Nine. Some of her clearer memories of Luceti were of the quaint little club, and Ororo rather hoped it would jog a few more of her memories... ]

[ Anyone in town is free to recognize or even bump into her as she makes her way around the village! Storm will be all over the place in general, seeking to re-familiarize herself with the town again. ]

Comments

[windandrain]

[Saori quirks her head to one side. Humans did label beings with power odd, but that wasn't what pinged her interest. The label Mutant. And with a code name? Was this woman a super-hero? She certainly sounded like someone from one of Yuuna's comics]

Oh, I understand that. You're some sort of super-hero then? I've read about mutants in comic books.

[She beams, all trace of aggression lost. It wouldn't be very nice to hold that against her. She was a mutant, and Saori could feel no lie in her.]

I did not mean to sound harsh. You must understand my confusion. Nobody in any world has ever challenged me for my domain. If you have questions, I believe it is your turn to ask.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo remains wary, if only because she doesn't like this very abrupt change in mood. If anything, it puts her on the edge even more.]

I am no hero, either. [That she can answer, at least!] Merely a woman seeking to use her powers in a way that can benefit all, mutants and humans alike. But that does not make me a super-anything. [She shrugs. Also: not answering that query on comic books because: really? Really?]

In any case, I suppose I should apologize as well. I have been to Luceti before, but it has been a long time since then and I'd forgotten that the sky is not under my sole control in this place. [A pause, while she considers this woman-goddess before her.] And you, what world do you hail from? What can you do?

[windandrain]

[Saori accepts her answers and strokes her chin, as if she's considering just how to answer the question. Its not every day she even takes pause to consider just how to react to a question. Something about this woman was both off-putting and at the same time intriguing. Her answers were modest, but she possessed an attitude of...entitlement.]

I'm from Earth. Nowhere special. [The goddess shrugs]

As for what I can do? That's quite the question. I am a kami of the sky. A god, in your tongue. I bring lifegiving rain to my land, and take it away with my storms. I wear shapes, and work the very fabric of reality with my magic.

In short, I do what one might expect a god to do. I persist, observe, protect, and undo.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo nods, though not entirely comprehending everything. She knows enough to be able to recognize Saori as Japanese, now, but she knew woefully little about her culture. Briefly she wonders if she really is a god; after all, Ororo had believed that she was one for many years, and had the support of her people to go with it. Aside from the physical aging, she practically was one, for all intents and purposes.]

[Of course, this wasn't the time for that kind of thinking. Perhaps later.]

I am from Earth as well. I most recently came to live in the States, but before that I was thought of as a goddess in my home country, Tanzania. I too brought them rain to sustain their crops, rode the winds over their deserts.

I have no icon for this. So...bear with me haha

[windandrain]

[Saori can sense that Storm may not comprehend all of it, her centuries of life making it fairly simple to read even the most subtle of hints that the other woman wasn't completely convinced. Storm's words implied that she placed herself on a similar level and arrogant as it may be, this bothered her. Not enough to make her angry. Not even enough to annoy her. It just made her wish to educate.]

Storm. I think maybe you cannot truly understand what I'm saying until you see me as I am. I wear this form for mortal eyes, and I wish to banish any doubt from you. Allow me to part the veil and show you a god's true nature.

[Without waiting for a response, she reached upwards and tugged at some invisible strand, changing into something totally different. A towering humanoid shape, nearly reaching ten feet in height looks down at the other god. The figure is clothed in clouds, with oddly elongated arms and legs giving it a truly alien appearance. Eyes made of blue-white lightning peer out of a noseless face, staring down into Storm's own.

Saori gives the woman a long moment to take it in before...shrinking back into her human shape. Hopefully, that answered any lingering doubt]

[calmbeforethe]

[Predictably, Ororo is suitably shocked at the sight of the slight young woman growing to such proportions in so short a time. She catches her breath in silent awe.]

[When Saori shrinks back down to size, Ororo is quiet for a moment. Her first reaction had been to make a comparison to Apocalypse - immensely powerful and immortal himself - but she wasn't getting an antagonistic vibe from her at all. She settles for a curious gaze, somewhere between respect and caution.]

[Finally, she'll bow her head a little in quiet recognition.]

My apologies. It was not my intention to offend.

[windandrain]

[The quiet caution is exactly what Saori had hoped to instill in Ororo. She didn't want to frighten anyone, and so wore a human shape for all save Moro. She bows her own head, recognizing that any doubt had been expelled. That mattered to her, a lot. Disbelief hurt, not physically, but it left her feeling ill at ease.]

You hadn't offended me. Its a normal reaction to have, until your eyes see the truth. But now you know. I mean you no harm, and in point of fact am glad to have met you. I like mortals, and making new friends.

[calmbeforethe]

[Friends, she says. Ororo manages a nod and small smile in return, even if part of her is still wary - that was quite a display to witness, after all.]

And I, you. Extraordinary abilities are becoming increasingly common in my own world, but it is extremely rare for me to meet another with powers similar to my own. It... is an honor to meet you.

[windandrain]

It is likewise good to meet you, Ororo. I can only imagine what it must be like, being mortal and gifted with such power. And then to meet me?

[She returns your smile, the storm clouds around them fading nearly instantly]

Shall we walk into town? I suspect it would do much to clear our heads, now that we've calmed.

[calmbeforethe]

[Walk? But Ororo rarely walked over long distances anymore.] I find that riding the winds can be just as calming, if not more.

But I suppose a walk would do just as well. [Smiling a little easier now, and those clouds definitely fall back to make way for some sunshine.]

[windandrain]

I do as well, but from above one cannot admire the beauty of the forest. It's not far.

[She descends, a pleased look on her face. She was alright with you now.]

[calmbeforethe]

[Well, okay. Ororo descends on winds of her own making as well, keeping up with Saori quite easily.]

Point taken. For all its shortcomings, and there are indeed many, one thing I can appreciate about Luceti is the beauty of its forests.

[windandrain]

Yes. There are many, many problems here. Few we can do anything about, save for waiting for the Malnosso to trip up.

[She starts off towards town]

I take it you've been here before?

[calmbeforethe]

[Nods.]

Twice before, now. This is my third time, though my last memories of this place are a hazy at best. I'm sure things will clear as time passes, however.

[windandrain]

I'm not sure whether to welcome you back, or apologize to you for your poor fortune. So, for now, just a welcome.

[She smiles lightly]

Do you have friends from your world waiting here?

[calmbeforethe]

I do. Or I did, the two previous times I had been here. We had a house as well, if I recall. I intended to make my way towards it, once I had... centered my emotions.

[windandrain]

Are your emotions out of sorts? Is...that what was causing the weather fluctuations? I admit, the energy I felt drew me here. I was worried some sorcerer had a spell go awry.

[calmbeforethe]

My powers... essentially, they have a direct relationship with my emotions. It took me many years to learn control over them. Here in Luceti, however... [She trails off, and bows her head with some humility.]

[windandrain]

Ahhhh [A knowing, understanding smile]

Yes, I understand that. Ororo, perhaps I could help you in that regard.

[calmbeforethe]

[It's not often that Ororo is so genuinely surprised as she is now.]

Ah... could you, really? [No one's really helped her in that regard. She was mostly self-taught, other than some basic meditation techniques from her youth. And she was in full control by the time she met Charles. But this...]

[windandrain]

[Saori closes her eyes and suppresses the weather around Ororo, maintaining a tight control for the moment]

In the short term, that will have to suffice. In the long term, I can teach you. Meditation and self-control were things I had to master centuries ago, and I'm willing to teach.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo blinks, more than a little startled. Weather, of course, cannot be truly suppressed at all. She could still feel the weather, hear its whisper... But somehow she felt the control of it slipping from her very being.

It was jarring, not to have sole grasp over the elements. She felt a little lost.]

... Ah. That's very kind of you, to offer.

[windandrain]

[Saori regards Ororo mildly, sensing her discomfort. It was better though, to not have random lightning bolts striking willy-nilly though.]

Its the least I can do. Teaching is one role my kind fills, and I am sure you'll pick up on it quickly enough.

[calmbeforethe]

I hope so.

... It's odd. Normally I am the one in the role of the teacher.

[windandrain]

Well, you seem wise, I could easily see you in the role of a teacher. What do you teach, Ororo?