[ It's impossible to escape the buzz surrounding the city at the exchange that's slated to take place soon. A heart for a skull. Mikazuki has no interest in the act of goodwill and diplomacy, so his attention fast moved to the news of nearby Khalo openings its doors instead. He lives on Wyver's outskirts, closer to Namarak than to Khalo. Still, in the jungles, he often sees paths overgrown in their disuse leading that direction.

It's just that now there's an actual destination at the end. Granted, it's shrouded in literal smoke that an eager native Khali had to so kindly help him with, and the trek through the fungi is a little — vivid. And weird.

Not weirder than Mikazuki though, who's made a pit stop to, what, eat? He looks pretty relaxed for someone sitting so close to the giant man-eating mushroom. In fact, he has a piece of it in his hand and he's munching away on it. Luckily there aren't any fleshy bits on it, mostly because he dislikes meat in general.

Whoever passes by, he knows what it looks like, BUT TO BE FAIR: ]

It tried to eat me first.

[ Even Khalo's ground level is something to behold. It's lively and everything smells slightly sweet and earthy, like the thick vegetation surrounding his home. And the villagers are in no shortage of hospitality and high spirits. Mikazuki is hungrier than usual and they're quick on the uptake, which is how he's managed to get sandwiched between a bunch of rambunctious Khali kids enjoying an outdoor picnic while a storyteller goes on in the background. Maybe he's not the only one?

Whatever the case, his attention is only torn away from wolfing down food when a heavy rumble and thud shakes the ground they sit on. A few natives break away and go fluttering and laughing into the woods. Overhead, a giant appears from the canopy, benevolent footsteps booming through the village. Its limbs are woven with vines, moss, and bark, full of light. Khali and various birds flit alongside it, hitching a ride.

Mikazuki is starstruck for a long moment. ]

Amazing... [ 3, 2, 1, aaand ] Do you think we can catch up with it?

[ At some point, he finds himself in the library. Because following the incandescent jellyfish creature seemed like a sound thing to do when he encountered it. But it doesn't lead him astray — he's actually pretty taken with the vision of the library, ghost quills and all. Writing, real ink and real paper, is still something of a novelty to him, having gone without all his life. It's only when he finds one of the ancient texts that he approaches another refugee, blunt fingertips trailing down the title: Dragonfire. ]

Can you read this?

[ He doesn't know if he's a fair enough reader to get through it on his own. ]

[ All things lead to the water, it seems like. Truthfully, Mikazuki just likes the name of communal pond crowning the village because he's simple like that, but the sight is another thing entirely. Blue, crystalline waters full of flowers and reflective of the starry canopy above, just like another sky.

You know, despite the fact that it's also covered in naked Khali. And Mikazuki's gonna join them, stripping down with no reservation, because he's not a coward. ]

What? [ Don't give him that look. ] They said this is how you do it.

[ #culture ]

[ His own home is cozy, but pared down to essentials when it comes to comfort. So being treated to one of the lounges is a whole different level of excess for him, when he's used to so little in the first place. Everything is soft, for one. The carpets beneath his bare feet, the clothes that pool at his harsh angles, the draped fabrics catching and holding the light in the room. His metabolism works at high speeds, but the cure for the enduring sleepiness in the air had been to burn it away with the fyrra.

Though now it just feels like he's burning when he sits among things that are almost too soft for someone like him, arms squishing around one of the large decorative pillows. Strips of muscle highlight on him, slightly strained. ]

This feels really... [ how to put it... ] Rich.

[ Strangely enough, he's most comfortable out here. Mikazuki does this kind of thing every day now in the Fields of the Exalted, more or less. Granted, the creatures are pretty different this time: a whole field of lumbering beasts coated in moss and flowers, sunning themselves happily. Giving a low hum, Mikazuki rubs his fingers over a dragon scale pendant looped around his neck, his other hand perched on his hip. ]

Well, this works on the dragons. We should be fine. Probably.

[ want to do something else or get a personalized starter? grab me here or at rivalry! ]