[hider=Coco Bean+Ponders Rocky Mordent XXVII]
Ponders was so busy watching the rest of the room that he didn’t notice possibly one of the most interesting new developments in a long time. He was caught completely by surprise when a being-not-of-flesh suddenly grasped at him. His first reaction was to pull away from this sudden contact, reforming into his humanoid form as he did so. He focused all his attention on this new thing, this being-not-of-flesh, seeking to identify it. It looked like a tree, covered in leaves of a colour not like those that grew nearby, yet it was shaped like a person. It seemed to have a face, but no features, just bare bark. He’d never seen anything like it before. He hadn’t even read of it.

A quiet subsonic rumble rolled off of his form as he thought about this new thing. Finding such a strange new thing to learn of was quite the treat. The question to ask now was obvious. [b]“What are you, little plant?”[/b] he rumbled in the audible range of sound.

[i]’Wow!’[/i] Coco thought quickly as the bunch of floating rocks rearranged itself to show a rather huge rock thing. It was tall and bulky and solid, and it sounded really strange. It let out a nearly imperceptible rumble which pushed Coco into a curious silence until it asked a question in a rather strange voice. With a rather deep tone of voice it spoke via methods unknown to her, leading her to close the distance between them both to a mere three feet to catch more of the rock’s noises.

[b]“Uh…”[/b] She began, at a loss of words for a moment before recovering herself.

[b] “I’m Coco Bean, you can call me Coco, I’m a Foreas. I smell like chocolate, but that doesn’t mean you can eat me. I can shock things, pretty much like an electric eel. What are you? I mean, you’re a rock, but how can a rock speak? Can you see me? How do I look? I heard a strange sound, it was like some sort of humming, can you make more sounds like those?”[/b] she asked in a rapid succession, inclining her head up at what she thought was the rock’s head.

So many questions! Ponders was overwhelmed by the torrent of queries, unprepared for such a response. He tried to start at the beginning of her questions, hoping she wouldn’t get excited and interrupt him midway. [b]“You need not worry. I am incapable of eating. Or smelling. I am one of the Awakened Harmony. My name is Ponders Mordent and I am the Twenty-Seventh.”[/b] He didn’t really understand how he spoke or generated sound, so he left that question unanswered and moved on to the next one. [b]“I can see you. You look like a human shaped tree… Quite fascinating. I am surprised you can hear. Fleshlings do not hear all of the song. They don’t understand. I am able to make many sounds. From the highest of high-”[/b] He demonstrated, softly, so as not to break any of the glass nearby. [b]“To the lowest, the sound the mountains make.”[/b] He demonstrated again, still keeping his voice soft to avoid damaging things with the subsonic sound.

[b]“I have never heard of a Foreas before.”[/b] He was starting to form new questions based on her own descriptions already, but first he asked those he’d thought of earlier. [b]“How can you speak? You have no tongue nor mouth, and you are not of the Harmony.”[/b]

This rock, or Awakened Harmony number Twenty-Seventh Ponders Mordent as it had recently identified itself, was fascinating. In fact, it was more than fascinating, Coco had never heard anything like it! And even though she was eager to ask more questions, she chose to keep silent and listen to the rock’s sounds and words, humming lightly in surprise and interest as it demonstrated its wide vocal range.

[b]“Well,”[/b] She began, poking one of Ponders’ arms a few times out of curiosity about the texture once more, before pointing at her necklace, which held her Artifact along with her new rune, [b]“I’ve got something we Foreas call Speech Artifact. We build them after our first year of life, when we visit the Great Tree for the first time. Lately they’ve been malfunctioning, so I came here and got Val, the nice Rune Master, to help me fix it.” [/b]

[b]“Wait, fleshlings? That name’s so much better than the one I had for them! And less offensive, too. I’ll adopt that expression, thank you. Anyway, I’ve got another question…”[/b] She said, now trying to catch any strange scent about Ponders. 

[b]“Awakened Harmony? Why that name? I mean, I can guess that Harmony is there because you seem quite calm. But Awakened? Were you asleep before? Twenty-Seventh, as well? Are you the twenty seventh to wake up? Are there others like you around? Do they sound and smell just like you?”[/b]

[b]“Also, can I call you Rocky?” [/b]

Ponders was still having trouble keeping up with the exuberant and energetic nature of Coco's questioning, and this time thought to ask his own question before answering any and taking his mind off it. [b]“Do your kind often possess what fleshlings call Mageblood?”[/b]

The question asked, he moved on to answer hers again to the best of his knowledge. [b]“Some beings have said 'quickened' would be a better word to describe us, and that is, to some extent, true. My thoughts move far faster than those of my creators, the better to learn of this world and of or from the fleshlings. When my time is complete, I will rejoin my creators and tell them of what I learned, but slowly, that they might understand. The name Harmony was given to us because of the sounds my creators make when they speak to each other, sounds I can make at a much faster rate. I am the twenty-seventh to rise in this cycle. Tweety-six of my brothers preceded me, and fifty-four followed. Now we are scattered across this land, learning what we may. They appear similar to me, though every one of my brothers is different in his own way. I know not how they smell. Neither I nor they nor my creators can smell. We sound however we will, but we all possess the same ability to make sound.”[/b]

He did not know what to think of the last question. He had two names, both seemed simple and useful enough to him. Why would he need to be called something else? He decided to ask about it by way of answering.[b] “Why do I need a new name? Is Ponders not a good descriptor?”[/b]

Though at first Coco was very excited to listen to Ponders, she soon ended up confused. So many questions were the ones that popped up in her head that she couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She still listened carefully to Ponders, of course, but made it a priority to just ask less things, lest she suffer unnecessary anxiety or extra excitement. 

Of all the things Ponders mentioned, Coco couldn’t understand a third of them. So instead of just shooting all her questions at him, she chose to answer his questions, and even throw in a bit about herself. 

[b]“Well… I’ve no idea about Mageblood. I had never heard about it, I had never been through a memory of it either. It leads me to believe that it’s not very often. Though I could look into it when I travel back to the Great Tree, which prompts me into telling you,”[/b] She said, [b]“I’m supposing your creators are huge rocks like you, and if you share what you know with them… Maybe our creator, The Great Tree, is your creators’ friend? I mean, we put our memories into the Tree, and you put yours into your rocks!”[/b] 

[b]“You don’t need a new name, anyway. I just thought it fit you. Because it sounds simple, just like your rock’s textures.”[/b] She explained, referring to his query on the nickname she wanted to give him.

Why did this rock, Ponders, have to be so painfully interesting?

Ponders stood and processed the new information, Coco seemed to be, thankfully, slowing down. He hadn’t thought about the idea that a name could be as simple as describing his appearance. It was fitting enough, though he still preferred Ponders. [b]“Alright. If you think this name describes me well, you can call me by it.”[/b] He said to Coco. The idea of the Harmony being in some way linked to Coco’s Great Tree was an interesting one, one he’d have to think about later at length. For now, he was content merely to entertain the possibility and explain to Coco the nature of the Harmony. [b]“My knowledge will be absorbed by the Harmony when this cycle ends… I and my brothers are the tools by which the harmony learns of the world around it, but we are far lesser than them. Alas, I cannot speak to them to ask if they know of your Great Tree. Their minds are too immense to notice my voice.”[/b]

Ponders had noticed that the Foreas kept referring to smell instead of sight. He thought that perhaps this being, who did not have her senses cluttered by sight, would be the best one to answer one of his long held questions. [b]“Coco, what is it like to smell?”[/b]

Coco was glad that Ponders had agreed to being called Rocky. It was a good name, after all! Who wouldn’t like to be called Rocky? She mentally laughed at such thoughts, once more listening intently to Ponders as he explained about his cycle and the Harmony, his huge rock creators. It was a very interesting topic to her, given her own experiences with The Great Tree. 

Then Ponders asked her what it was like to smell. [i]’How am I supposed to answer that?’[/i] She thought immediately, shrugging at his question.

[b]“... What’s it like to see, Rocky?”[/b]

Ponders looked at Coco, slightly disappointed that she couldn’t answer him. He’d just have to go on wondering. [b]“You make a good point Coco. How can one describe something one knows intrinsically? Something someone else cannot even begin to know?”[/b] He wondered what else he could ask the Foreas, but in the heat of the moment he was finding it difficult to formulate new questions. Later, when he’d had a chance to think, he’d no doubt have a barrage of questions matching her own to deliver. For now though, he just asked [b]“Are you enjoying the event?”[/b]

Coco merely stood besides him, listening out for the whole bunch of activities and people around, and eventually, her shoulders deflated slightly and a sound resembling a sigh was heard coming from herself. She rubbed her neck for a moment before speaking, [b]“I don’t know. I mean, there’s so many new scents, sounds and things to learn, but… I don’t feel good with it.” [/b]

[b]“You would think that so much excitement would make me happy, but each second I spend away from the great forests or even indoors, here, makes me feel… Weak. Maybe I just need some sun or water. I just want spring to come so I can go visit other Foreas.”[/b] She said, leaves laying completely against her skin. 

Ponders couldn’t quite relate to what the Foreas was saying now. They seemed to be even more different being than before at this moment. He just turned and gazed out at the crowds again. He didn’t know what to say. Other peoples feelings were not one of his strong points.

Coco crossed her arms over her chest, hunching over slightly as if in cold, waiting for some kind of reply from Ponders Rocky for a few moments, before turning her head towards him and excusing herself. [b]“I’m sorry, Rocky, but I really have to go. I’ll catch you around, but for now I’m not feeling very good.” [/b]

And with that, she walked at a brisk pace towards the exit.[/hider]

[b][I]Coco Bean[/b][/i]

Coco felt [i]bad[/i]. She felt weak on her feet and fleeting on her thoughts. For a while she wondered around the Dining Hall, trying to find out what was making her feel so bad, but once she found no trace of anything poisonous to her, she decided to just leave the room. The huge variety of scents and sounds was surely messing with her, or so she thought. 

In her mind, she went through a large list of possible causes, some plausible, while others were outright silly. But it wasn't until she had walked far enough from the Feast that she had to lean on the Hallway's wall and rest a bit. 

[b]"I don't get it... Am I sick?"[/b] She asked herself, crossing her arms over her chest and shivering lightly. 

[b]"Let's see... Today I by travelling through those thick trees, then I fought the Syphis, then I was spoken to by Xiah... I came here and..."[/b] She listed quietly, stopping and rubbing her face gently as she groaned. [b]"And I didn't get any sun." [/b]

Immediately she let herself slide down to the floor.