un: songbird ; forward-dated to later in October

[windsongs]

hi everyone!

I know that unlife has literally been A LOT for just about everyone here, and if you're still trying to recover then I completely understand! but for anybody who has the brainpower, I have a very big and very important ask, one I can't anybody else! It's gotta be you!!

[ Attached to this post are some photos ]

this big boy needs a name and I am beyond bad at this kind of thing!! winner gets naming rights and something special from me~ ✨🎁

he's also got a bunch of much smaller siblings that are looking for furever homes! they're all really cute but they need more space to hop around than what I've got. if you're interested I can take some pics!

Comments

[heavenstorn]

[ Thank you, Hibiki, for educating him. ]

Right. I understood enough of that to get the idea...

[ Does he know any 'himbos'? ...is he a himbo?

...

WAIT. ]

Hildibrand. Hildi for short.

oh my god

[windsongs]

[ It was then that he received a new title: Cedrik Reede, the Himbo of Light. ]

that's one I haven't heard before. what does it mean?
Hildi's kinda cute

[heavenstorn]

[ He will wear it with pride! ]

I could not tell you the exact meaning, but if I were to chose one? 'Agent of inquiry'. If nothing else, Hildi would be a sweet name for a rabbit.

[ Ignore the saxophone music playing in the distance. ]

[windsongs]

[ Okay but that song is so good though ]

nope. sounds too smart for him
can't go with that

[ THE SHADE THROWN AT YOUR BUN SON, HIBIKI ]

[heavenstorn]

[ That rabbit had a family!! ]

You would be surprised...ah well.

[ Cedrik considers explaining? But he honestly thinks it might summon the Manderville Man to discuss him too much. Stygia would not survive. ]

[windsongs]

sorry! I can't see this boy having anything remotely smart-sounding for a name
but I guess I could give you a clue on what the prize would be
since you're no longer in the running

[heavenstorn]

[ He doesn't want Hildibrand to end up down here any more than he does his less...interesting friends. But he'll have to remember that 'remotely smart-sounding' comment all the same, if he ever does meet him again. ]

Now that you've brought it up I'm even more curious. What can you tell me?

[windsongs]

I'm not TELLING you a thing~ 😉

[ Instead, Cedrik will receive a picture a few moments later. ]

1/2

[heavenstorn]

[ What a strange looking kitchen--NO NOT THE BUNNIES!! ]

2/2

[heavenstorn]

[ Wait--she wouldn't do that... ]

I have a few guesses, now. [ That do not involve rabbit stew, he swears. ] You're a culinarian?

[windsongs]

[ CEDRIK NO! She doesn't even like rabbit! Probably!! ]

nothing that fancy
but I did pick up some baking back when I was in high school and found I enjoyed it
I figured I'd make the winner something simple!

[heavenstorn]

[ 'High' school...oh, so like, a higher education? Yeah that makes sense... ]

More's the pity I fell out of the running so soon! But if you need someone to, say, taste test the prize...

[windsongs]

[ He's a lick the batter off the spoon type of person, isn't he? Cute. ]

I guess it would be good to have someone try out the prototype 😊

[heavenstorn]

I would gladly volunteer. Of course if you need an aid in the kitchen I can do that, too.

[ He'll earn his keep! He's a good bun! ]

[windsongs]

oh yeah? you cook?

unfortunately I'll have to pass on that offer
this kitchen's for private use only~

[ Existing behind her Door and all that. ]

[heavenstorn]

It's a skill I picked up out of necessity at first, but in more recent years have been able to freely enjoy the craft.

[ Being behind her Door explains why it's so nice looking, though Cedrik wasn't going to pry...everything he's been able to find out in Stygia is well-worn at best and broken down at worst, especially around the harbor. ]

That's a shame. It's certainly the cleanest kitchen I've seen in this place, so I understand why you'd want to keep it hidden.

[windsongs]

I totally get that! baking's pretty cathartic to me so I can relate

and I appreciate it. sorry about that!!
I'll make sure to bring you something good though~

[heavenstorn]

No apology needed, truly! If there's ever anything else you need that isn't culinary in nature, seek me out. My name is Cedrik Reede.

[ He will, in fact, take payment in cookies. ]

[windsongs]

it's nice to meet you, I'm Hibiki!
so what do you mean by "anything else"?? you've got me curious!

[heavenstorn]

Honestly? Monster slaying most often, but we adventurers are known for taking on any sort of job. If it's something you cannot do alone, that is what I am here for.

[windsongs]

oh hey a fellow workaholic! 🍺
also what kind of adventuring are we talking here? I wanna hear all about it!!

[heavenstorn]

[ 'Workaholic'...Hibiki is expanding his vocabulary so much! ]

Far too many to cover here! But let me see...

It began with things like uncovering a pirate den, clearing hostile giants out of a mine, stopping a cultist ritual hidden within a catacomb, that sort of thing. After that it was defeating the summoned primal Ifrit whose followers had been kidnapping local smallfolk...

Mostly primals, actually, for a good length of time. Sprinkled in with ending wars and liberating city-states.

[windsongs]

[ Hey hook her up with some of that How to Deal with Cults 101 knowledge, she might need that in the near future! ]

whoa seriously?! I didn't realize you were a badass!!
but I guess I should ask what a primal is

but wow it sounds like you're a real hero!
I didn't think people like that actually existed!

[heavenstorn]

The credit is far from mine alone! That is the trouble with these brief missives, it's difficult to tell the whole story.

[ Especially since Cedrik is incapable of shorthand. ]

But since you asked...a primal is a summoned being of pure aether that gains strength through worship. Because they require so much aether simply to exist, if left alone they will gradually drain the land of life. Worse, they are capable of enthralling the minds of mortals, gaining new followers who will continue to give them worship and summon them again and again. It's a cycle we've only recently been able to break...

[windsongs]

[ Don't worry, Cedrik, she'll have you texting like a pro in no time flat! ]

yikes! so like a false idol situation, if they also hurt the planet as well as their followers
how'd you pull that off? since I imagine just fighting it and taking it down once won't keep one of their followers from repeating the cycle