immolation fox in the house

[ninefox]

[Video]

[It's Jedao, but it's not Cho Jedao. Jedao Shkan Garach, Clan Coldwater, is broader in the shoulder, and older in the face, older than he was when he left the barge. Four years ago, by barge time, and more like ten for him. He has a faint scar across his neck that disappeared from Jedao Two after the latter's second deal, shorter hair, scruff, and the beginnings of laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. He's seen more years than his face has; there's an ancient edge to him, and a powerful burning liveliness pushing past it. He isn't trying to hide the inhuman shadow, his nine-tailed fox signifier, with nine gleaming yellow eyes, as it lurks on the wall behind him, wavering and craning for a look.

He's also wearing plaid and a cowboy hat.]

How's the old boat doing, then? Any inmates hit five years lately?

The kid's left me a nice set of cards, so holler if you want your fortune told.


[Private to Aubarycy]

Jed'ika's doing his best by you, I'm sure. But if it's worth anything to you, I've got a graduate's perspective. Happy to put it at your service.


[Spam, throughout]

For his first order of business, Jedao Garach, née Shuos Jedao, makes his way to the Wardrobe, currently wearing nothing but a gauzy silk dressing gown, belted in a low enough V, and translucent enough, to show off his many gnarly scars, the general placement of his nearly-as-many dramatic tattoos, and the polka-dot gist of his googly eye patterned novelty boxers.

Once he's acquired dark jeans with sufficient belt loops to hang Jedao Two's sword hilt from, some comfortable plaid, and a good hat, he makes a thorough sweep of the entire barge, checking off the very few familiar doors, and confirming the areas that remain the same.

For those who can sense such things, unlike Cho Jedao, he's completely human - except for the fox-shaped shadow that moves on its own. He does his best to check on the Engine Room for the kid, and he explores the new Warden Conference Room with considerable interest. He can't help a wistful minute on the Deck, taking in the old view. Eventually he turns up in the Kitchens in time for lunch shift.

"Heard y'all could use an extra set of hands."

Comments

[howtheyshine]

Excuse him while he just gapes at his communicator, and then appears wherever Jedao happens to be right now.

[ninefox]

He's human. Almost completely human, at least physiologically, although he has a number of strong magical protections laid on him, and his soul tied into a few knots, for the Ninefox Crowned with Eyes in his shadow, its silhouette scampering curiously against the floor to examine Edwin, and the Immolation Fox somewhere within, snoring and smouldering, a little curled-up creature of embers.

He goes quite still for the tiniest moment, then puts Jedao's communicator in his pocket, smiling wryly.

"Good afternoon to you, too."

wardrobe

[apracticaltake]

Between Mikodez and Istradez's cabins, Taya could find more than enough outfits for however long she's going to be here, without even having to worry about ending up in faction colors. However, she is not going to wear her younger siblings' clothes when there is anything else available, and the wardrobe is good enough.

She glances over at the stranger, and then gives him a second, less impressed look. It makes her look more like her younger brother, which is perhaps appropriate considering it's directed at him (not that he's there to see it).

There are people who look like Shuos Jedao (though if it's for any reason other than entertainment there are questions), but it's just like Mikodez to land her on a ship with the actual man. Who she only really recognizes because of her brother, at that.

"Hello," she says, politely. She supposes Shuos Jedao is responsible for various things that some people care about, but not ones that annoy her.

Re: wardrobe

[ninefox]

"Ma'am." He gives her a little bow, then tries on another hat.

Video

[queenofechoes]

Depends on how you count.

[ Madelyne doesn't look any older than the last time they spoke, not physically; the differences come in how she holds herself, how she looks at him. ]

Re: Video

[ninefox]

Ah.

I wouldn't have wished that legacy on you, but it's good to see you.

video

[punched_hitler]

It probably depends on how you count, but I don't think so.

You tell fortunes now?

Actually, I'm not surprised.

Re: video

[ninefox]

Steve, you stubborn skullfucker! If it's been ten years on this side too and you're still here, I'm going hunt you for sport.

And I could always tell fortunes, but I don't do very much it in places where I'm going to be sticking around. It gets awkward when they all come true.

Private

[talesuntold]

Mine is just shy of five on board. Three years with me. So of course I worry all the time, but then, worrying about my people is a default state.

I would take a fortune. I'm Maggie, by the way.

Re: Private

[ninefox]

Ah, good luck to both of you, then. I was four and a half, and four different permanent wardens before I made it. It's a pain in the ass not having any way to track it, but - deep roots growing under the surface, you know?

I don't think the admiral would have kept you together that long if things weren't happening.

I'm also Jedao. Would you like a simple fortune or a complicated one?

[neverwaitslong]

What's your name, and how are you related to Jedao?

[ninefox]

My name is also Jedao, and I'm his second-worst father. But I think even he would agree that there's a big gap between me and the grand champion.

[planetdialup]

I...don't think so, for inmates. I think. I know Fitz and Sebastian came before me but...still.

I'm sorry...you look like Jedao, a friend of mine.

[ninefox]

That's because he's my son.

And I'm delighted to meet one of his friends.

Private

[fuckingphoenix]

Oh I'm fine.

I will graduate when it's time. Apparently on my fucking own.

Re: Private

[ninefox]

That does happen on occasion.

How many permanent wardens have you lost?

[greatoldjohn]

[ He wants to go meet this Jedao. But more than that, he's... cautious. They've never talked about what if this happens. He knows Jedao has certain feelings about him dealing with others from his world.

He decides to venture at least- ]

Hello. I'm John. Has he mentioned me?

[ninefox]

Hello, John.

You do feature rather prominently in his notes.

[knowmyplace]

Fortunately, he heard the announcement early enough so he isn't worried about a repeat of the flood that had him desperate in the Wardrobe, but Iago has heard enough hexarchate lore now to want to see more from him. Hear more. To meet him.

He isn't difficult to spot on deck.

"Is the offer still open to read cards?"

He isn't sure what his Jedao has left about him, and he isn't quite vain enough to think there's much. But he smiles all the same, casual and curious and dressed in red and gold.

[ninefox]

"Of course."

He doffs his hat in a theatrical bow; his bright grin suggests that the point is less to impress than simply for the joy of moving in his own body, an expression of an expansive irrepressible energy.

He folds with spry neatness into sitting with his legs crossed, pulling the cards from his pockets, shuffling and toss-dropping the cards from hand to hand in similarly showy rills; this time it looks like that's just pure habit, keeping in practice with his dexterity. The Ninefox shadow, in defiance of the direction of the light, inspects Iago's own shadow.

"Has he shown you a proper Shuos spread, yet?"

[dogwizard]

Can I read your fortune in return?

[ninefox]

It seems only fair.

What sort of fortunes do you tell?

Wardrobe

[lestercraft]

Well it's not like Arthur's trying to stare, but the sudden appearance of Jedao in something tailor-made to spite the Hayes Code is sufficiently distracting that he doesn't look away for a few moments.

"Something happen to your usual clothes, Jedao?" It's not like he's never seen Jedao around the wardrobe, but usually he's much more dressed than that.

Re: Wardrobe

[ninefox]

Jedao laughs. It's different from the Jedao on the barge - a little deeper, a little older, from a man with wider shoulders and a hint of laugh lines, and a sort of gutsy, ravenous gusto. Cho Jedao laughs like he's surprised, every time. Jedao Garach laughs like he's about to smash a horn of ale on the table and vow to slay an ice giant, just because he's bored.

"Guess again, sweetheart."

Just because he is a Jedao doesn't mean the man is right about what's happening.

engine room

[cigsandbeer]

No, Gojyo still doesn't enjoy having an official job he has to reliably show up to, but Jedao trusting him with the position means something, and especially now when they're all switching between different people, he tries to make sure he shows up when he can to do the stupid maintenance.

When Jedao enters the Engine Room, Gojyo turns towards him from where he was playing one of the arcane games.

"Hey. You and Hakkai both still yourselves--"

Ahh. He cuts himself off. That's not Jedao.

Re: engine room

[ninefox]

"Not quite."

He gives a little bow, with a silly flourish.

"Jedao Garach-Coldwater."

Gliss prowls up quite silently behind him; Jedao turns, crouches on his haunches and holds his fist out for her to sniff. "Don't poison me, please, I'll whisper his password," Jedao tells the little cat dragon.

TEXT

[madaboutit]

Coming up on five in February.

If you count it as 'on the boat' and not the year of freedom in the middle.

Re: TEXT

[ninefox]

Shit, I'm sorry.

It was four and a half for me. I was chewing the walls.

Video

[anashthetic]

I'd ask if you were related to Cho Jedao, but I think the rest of the responses here have clarified that point for me already, so instead I'll just opt for a fortune if you're feeling up to offering another one.

Re: Video

[ninefox]

All lies. Actually, I prayed for a hundred years and then I found him in a lotus blossom. He was this tiny!

[He holds up his fingers to indicate a baby the size of a peach pit.]

Do you have a question or a situation that's on your mind?

Audio

[musicdied]

Is that the record to beat?

[She doubts it. It seems too short, somehow.]

Re: Audio

[ninefox]

Definitely not, Lark and Bill the Triangle took way longer. I was an easy case by comparison.

[withintenfeet]

The Deck isn't quite empty.

Zerxus is - catching his breath, in an existential sort of way. Every time he shifts back, he feels less anchored to himself, to his oath, to everything that's ever mattered.

The safest, simplest way to start finding his grip again is staring up at the stars with Tempus at his side. When his head whips around, his gaze widens with both anxiety and relief.

"Jed - ?" No. No, even as he says it he realises his mistake.

[ninefox]

Jedao takes in that whole reaction, then bursts into a bright smile.

"Oh! You're the one who performed the wedding!"

Jedao bows.

"Jedao Garach, at your service." He comes to lean against the railing next to Zerxus, close enough to speak relatively privately, but not aggressively in Zerxus's space; his tone drops from bright to sympathetic, a combination of barge veteran and reflexive paternal gentleness. It suits him - his heavier, slightly softer build, his garrulous energy, his laugh lines. He doesn't look old, but especially in comparison with Cho Jedao, he's very obviously older.

"Rough flood?"