A falling sky (open/Amelie)

[Dime Price]

Dime in a run had an arm full of groceries but pulled her gear from her messenger bag which mainly included a cloak she pulled over her body and a few other pieces of her armor which may or may not be use full currently. It’s about her third experience with portals opening and finding either friend or foe to know. When she adorned her cloak she aged by about fifty years and her skin turned from its youthful smooth texture to more of cracking darkened leather her height shrank to a near unassuming 5 foot and her figure fell from its toned king legged model physique to a hunched over crone. She approached and investigated the current opening.

She saw it was a woman and slowly approached. She smiled kindly but walked cautiously. “Hello there.” Dime would wait for the next choices the new arrival made.

[Amelie Bellegarde]

Amelie hit the ground with a thud, groaning in pain as she wearily looked around. This definitely was not the Capital.... What the hell even happened anyway? The black mist came out of nowhere and tore apart the city, something she'd have time to think about later. As she stumbled up to her feet, her gaze fell upon the old lady standing in front of her. Amelie held her arm as she cautiously examined the seemingly old lady, determining whether or not she was a threat. Taking a step back instinctively, she reached for her focus but grasped nothing but air.

"Ah... Fuck. Who are you...? Where am I?" She asked these questions hesitantly, but if it was just an old lady... Shouldn't be much to be afraid of right?

[Dime Price]

Dime sat in the sand of the beach the waves not far from where they were crashed against the shore. This part of the realm was not far from what is called the Arc a dome which was once an event center laid in absolute ruins. Metal beams and debris still littered quite a bit of the beach and beyond that was the wreckage of a great portion of the city still recovering from the Arc’s rather invasive landing.

“Are you injured?” Dime reached in her plastic sacks of groceries and offered an orange or an apple there wasn’t any reason for there being two different fruits but if Amelie preferred one over the other the. It was Dime offering a choice. “I don’t have first aid here but I know where to get some.”

If Amelie rejected her offer of food or not Dime would answer her questions. “I’m going to assume you are from a different dimension like me. This is one of possibly endless realities. I’ve come from another other than this one… you can call me Dime. Unlike my world this one is starved of a strong flowing energy source called Qi which powers us to do extraordinary things compared to the native owners of this realm. You keeping up? Who are you and What was your home like?”

Her voice was raspy but gentle as she did her best to explain herself. The concepts would be hard to grasp for someone who didn’t understand them. Dime would prefer to let Amelie talk about herself to try and put pieces together.

[Amelie Bellegarde]

Amelie lowered her guard just for a moment when offered the fruit but shook her head, "Sorry... The fruits where I come from are often dangerous."  She examined herself after Dime asked if she was injured. Surprisingly only a few cuts, but her entire body felt like it had been thrown around violently. Shaking her head, she turned to look behind her for a brief moment, "Nothing I can't walk off, I assume." Her hand trailed up to her face and fiddled with some of the piercings that adorned her lip, a look of confusion on her face. Certainly she didn't have those before, did her appearance change as a whole?

"Endless realities? D-Do you mean like the multiverse? Were my theories correct?" Amelie crossed her arms for a moment, deep in thought, "Then it all must converge here..." She stayed in this state of thought for a moment before she snapped herself out of it.

"Oh, my apologies. I believe I know what you're talking about. As far as Qi is concerned, I believe the equivalent in my world would be called The Weave. Threads of  magic that we'd use to bring our spells to fruition." She relaxed a little and sighed, "My name is Amelie. My world was brought to its knees by a corrupt nation, and we had just barely succeeded in defeating them mere months ago."

Her eyes focused, "I don't know much about multiversal travel, only theories and things that I've read on scrolls... But perhaps this place could be my next calling."

[Dime Price]

She tucked back the fruit. She didn’t know if offering vegetables was a good peace offering either so she just left the food alone. “Ah… then we might not be too far off. I’m half mage… we had a place called Ayatlan which was a proper and secluded land of Qi studies of a special kind than the rest of the world. My mother was from there before she married and moved to my beloved home. It was known as Blood Territory and raised from slain enemies of the Blood Dragon himself. One of the many who sacrificed their lives to save ours when we were ripped from our reality to this one. Which this one seems to be a world as if it lacked the Wars that tore and scarred our lands with tainted Qi.” She explained to her new acquaintance.

Her leathered hands fanned her face. “Hm I didn’t think about the heat.” She reached for her clasp on her moldy and stained looking robe before undoing it as her real appearance filled the loose old skin into a woman nearing her thirties with warm skin and dark brown hair. “Forgive my disception… it’s an enchanted item which I use to appear harmless. As far as I know we are the first world to collide with this one… but it’s been a regular thing lately that things are coming through of various nature if I appear weak I’m often overlooked as a threat.”

[Amelie Bellegarde]

Amelie nodded as she listened to the story of where she came from, "I see... I'm relieved to meet someone similar to me, half-mage or not. Actually... We share a rather similar story." She bent down with a grunt and took a seat in the sand, giving a sigh of relief, "Sorry, I'm pretty worn out. I have draconic heritage as well, though I imagine our dragons are quite different." She stretched her arms behind her back, leaning on the hot sand, "Quite a story though, sounds like you've been through the hells and back."

"Ah yes, it is quite hot out here." Amelie pulled off her hood as Dime took off their cloak, she wasn't too fazed by the transformation and actually gave her a smile, "No worries, I understand. I actually had something similar when I was sneaking around, didn't turn me into an old lady though." She gives a soft laugh, looking up at the woman, "Excuse my asking but- Do you have somewhere more comfortable to continue this?"

Was she really tall or was it just because she was sitting down?

[Dime Price]

“Hm yes our dragons were exceptional men and women who have controlled Qi in unfathomable ranges to the rest of us. Their bodies were forged in fire and war. The power was enough to drive some mad and fewer to lead nations and organizations to greatness.” Dime gushed. “I could say Angels looked out for us literally and we were saved from the black chains with great sacrifices made.”

She grew a saddened expression there after what she said. “I could imagine you’ve experienced an equal struggle. So, Yes… more comfortable I have a shelter I’ve established I have begun to officially manage a kitchen and a clothing donation center just down the road.”she stood and motioned with slender fingers to follow.

“It’s across the way from the apartments that a select group built for us refugees. As you can see the devastation of our arrival was not the greatest way to say we come in peace. For us few to survive, countless belonging to this world had perished upon our impact. You might not be welcomed by many out there… especially since the border of the city is fenced off to contain us as well. With in the eight years prior to our arrival our first wave settled and were all children and some familiarized our Qi to the point of sapping it until we are powerless.”

She raised a finger in remembrance. “How old might you be? If you seek schooling the Deity you can track down is Xepham and his school. He saved our children from the fate they were to be met with at a great cost of being orphaned and scattered all through this world he is doing his best to hunt them all down and give them a home. We arrived eight years after they did even though it all happened in the same day.

[Amelie Bellegarde]

"Mm, seems our dragons are similar in every way but the form they take. Ours are giant winged creatures with equally frightening power. Only the strong can handle it, but I was lucky enough to be born with that blood in my veins." Amelie stood up from the sand slowly, brushing the sand from her thighs and hands. She looked up at Dime and nodded, following after her, "Oh! I'd be more than willing to help out if you need it, I have experience helping people get readjusted." Strolling slightly behind her, Amelie listened to the story of the others that arrived here. A look of frustration washed over her, "That's unfortunate, I wish people would come together more." She kicked a rock as they walked, watching as it skipped across the earth.

"We'll just have to show them that we're not all bad, hopefully." She sighed, her brow furrowing, "Though it never is that easy, huh?" Amelie shoved her hands in her pockets as they walked, looking around at their surroundings in an attempt to understand half the things she was seeing. Scratching the back of her head as Dime asked her about her age, she shrugged, "Assuming our years work the same, I'm 20 years old. As far as this schooling goes... I'd like to take a crack at learning about this world myself first, though I won't deny it could be useful."

[Dime Price]

“It matters little if they know if we are all bad or good, we have simply taken too much without meaning to. They have a right to be angry.” She smiled. “If you want to learn you might be too old for the academy but the libraries and museums are public safe spaces. The colleges are better for your age however will be costly or so I’ve heard… But I like that you want to right wrongs and educate yourself. We can focus on you first then we’ll see what grows after.”

Dime gave pause to the rows of statues the Metas raised to commemorate their fallen leaders and loved ones. In the center would be tall and fearsome faces and Dime peacefully stared at one in particular adorning his armor. The blood dragon she mentioned before. She breathed deep and made her hands into a prayer.

“That’s one of our Dragon’s. He still has his blood coursing through my veins and his son’s through our shared power but he is otherwise gone. There is a man who shares his face in this world and it’s possible to meet our mirrored selves. It might not quite be what you expect if you happen to find them they might not even be the same gender as you as we come to find out.” She intertwined her fingers and dropped them before continuing their walk down what turned into broken concrete and asphalt of a street. The houses were becoming more whole as time passed by.

“Tell me more about your dragons. Your power must be incredible if you were one, yes?” She smiled wide with pristine white teeth and full lips. Her stride hardly had a bounce as her back and chin stood tall she glided like a lady with a stack of books balanced on her head. Her hands held each other in front of her. But her clothes other than the tattered cloak slung over her forearm were pretty well worn. A cropped peach colored tank and her bottoms were ripped acid washed jeans and her shoes were strapped wedges. She didn’t wear much jewelry or make up from the looks of it. But walking like a proper lady while wearing second hand clothes might seem a bit contradictory to a keen eye.

[Amelie Bellegarde]

Amelie was pleased to hear that there were still libraries in this world, and the mere mention of them ignited a spark in her dark grey eyes. A smile formed and she nodded in affirmation, "Thank the gods there are places to get plentiful information, I'm not so sure about enrolling in another college though. The colleges where I'm from are rather... Boring." She pulled her right hand out of the pocket it rested in and tugged at the choker on her neck, staring up at the statues that they now approached. Watching silently as Dime offered a prayer to one of the fiercer looking Dragons, she couldn't deny the feeling that this place gave her. One of warmth? It wasn't very certain.

"My Dragons... Well, the form they take is that of a giant winged creature adorned with scales that no ordinary arrow could pierce. Their colors were bright and represented the element that they had control of." Amelie looked down at her shiny black shoes, and the chains that dangled from her similarly black jeans, "There were good and bad, but they didn't seek out the friendship of mortals and kept to themselves. The greed of men time and time again would prove to be their downfall, so I don't blame them." She scratched the back of her neck as they walked, "I was one of the rare cases in which a dragon fell in love, and took the form of a man to be with my mother."

The distraught girl sighed, "I was powerful, but it seems the journey here has taken my power with it. I can still feel the dragons blood in my veins but... Somethings missing." Amelie examined the buildings that surrounded them, walking with caution but trying her best to stand tall as she stood next to this stranger. Her clothes weren't really much on her mind, but the demeanor of Dime struck her as proud and trustworthy. She had been deceived many times, but Amelie actually felt kind of safe here. "That's not the only thing that's changed either, my appearance seems to be much different than it was back home. This neck thing is rather uncomfortable."

[Dime Price]

“What costed our rulers their lives was a siphoning power that absorbed the weakest amongst us before our strongest offered their strength to feed this terrible vacuum devouring all Qi from the land and life… maybe you didn’t escape unscathed from this if not a similar situation.” She got to a rather cracked building and unlocked the door it had sections of tables with four chairs each and was the size of any restaurant. The kitchen could be seen from beyond the counter. Separated by a curtain could be seen circular racks of clothes and beyond that two rather beaten washers and dryers.

“When I requested a pass to study in Ayatlan to become a great mage I was requested to submit a thesis I believe that our bodies are a vase still being molded and we must hold what is being filled so we add clay and shape it to match. It takes work and careful hands to contain our powers. You might have lost all but the amount of power that has forced you to take shape now. I’m not sure if it’s entirely correct but I hadn’t gotten a chance to test it. All I do know is we have unlimited potential and the freedom to mold it to fit our needs.”

She hoped it made sense. Her mother didn’t practice her magic while married and Dime’s father and brother were both Qi-less. Dime only had her tutoring to go off of and the strength she herself was still gaining.

“Feel free to search for clothes that might suit you more comfortably than your choker and such, on the house… are you hungry? I can warm up something left over from the breakfast rush.”

[Amelie Bellegarde]

"That could be true actually, while the main aggressor only drained the power from one man... The mist that took me could potentially have sucked the life force from many others to grow stronger." A groan of frustration left her lips as she thought about the people she unwillingly left behind, "I only hope they can defeat whatever it was that attacked us." Amelie looked up at the worn building and entered after Dime, "Woah... What is all this stuff?" Her eyes locked onto the kitchen and soon after the washer and dryer, both of which were foreign concepts to her.

"Actually your theory is similar to many others from my world, humanities potential is limitless. We only need the know how and willpower to make it so." Amelie walked around the building and examined many of the things she was unfamiliar with, "Some food would be nice, I appreciate it. Do you happen to have a mirror about? I'm curious as to what I look like now." She walked over to the washing machine and took a long look at it, deciding against pressing any of the buttons or turning the knob.

[Dime Price]

“Wonderful, then that will mean all you need to to is unlock your power by expanding your strength, it’s hard work lost but you might discover something new and not predetermined. As I mentioned before this place is not very Qi heavy so using our power causes us to get breathless and tired far before our limit is reached but I believe it’s starting to get easier the more we use it. I know I don’t get a screaming headache when I use my telepathic power like I did when I arrived but it’s still difficult to connect.”

She dared not to mention the likelihood that there was nothing left of the little Dragons world. But she mentioned some similar concepts. While not exactly the same the differences were minor to what had possibly happened to Dime’s world. From the shared knowledge of the people who survived there was a man and it could very well be the same man or more frightfully so a different version of him.

She watched Amelie with her washer and smiled. It would start to fill with water and otherwise start off peacefully doing just that. Which Dime would walk close to start throwing clothes into from a basket beside it.

“It washes clothes but A mirror is over there!” She said loud enough to be heard over the machine.

[Amelie Bellegarde]

"Ah so there are denser areas of Qi than here? I wonder if I'd be able to feel it like I could The Weave." Amelie stared at the washer as it began to fill with water, her eyes unmoving, "I do not look forward to the negative effects of using it however." She turned from the washer to face Dime, nodding in understanding, "So it washes the clothes for you? Interesting." Washing machine aside, she strolled over to the mirror and took a nice long look at herself. Her face scrunched up in confusion as she took in the new appearance she was given, "Ugh, are you serious? What is this huge marking on my face?"

Her hand reached up to feel her face, tenderly brushing along the tattoo like numbers and ink. She felt along her piercings again after, pursing her lips in an attempt to get a different view. It was weird, she felt like she belonged like this but at the same time it was nothing like her, "You know, honestly maybe this isn't so bad? A new start for a new place, I guess." Amelies' head turned away from the mirror to look at Dime again, her grey eyes taking in her outfit as if to compare herself.

"Hey Dime... Are people rather diverse here as well? As in, everyone is unique?" She didn't need to stand out, especially before she got her bearings but... If there were different styles in this world, maybe she wouldn't.

[Dime Price]

Dime tossed in some powdery detergent and closed the lid looking at Amelie up and down. “I’d say you don’t have any strangeness to you. Even to the normies you’ll look like nothing more than a rebellious kid. Some might scoff but otherwise it is normal. I have theories that with you coming here the path between realities might have substituted some of your… dragon extras and translated it as best as it could to fit this world.” Hence the leather and the metal. “Or someone sent you here and thought kind enough to gift you clothes… I’d say who ever that is might be a savior and someone thought of you worth sparing the fate you faced. That takes untold amounts of power.”

Dime walked over and searched Amelie again. “Forgive me if this is personal but I’m curious; Who was your dragon half? Mother or father?”