Oasis

@wastelandabundance

"Hi there." Why yes Roxy had chosen to drop by for a visit complete with snacks. "Y'busy?"

She was still keeping an eye on her brother, but with him feeling better, it took less effort on her part. Roxy caught her checking out Aventurine's kitchen while the cake cats swarmed around her.

"Oh, hey. Not unless Kakavasha needs something. What's up?"

@wastelandabundance

"I heard from him, Sibyl."

"Wait, what?" She'd been reading something when Roxy came back in. "How?"

So her hunch had been correct. The moment Sibyl had froze staring at the screen Roxy knew immediately she recognized him. And that made it all the more important that she locate some trace of the man, alive or dead.

"I think it's important t'laugh at the little things." She paused and then suddenly grinned. "No pun intended. Anyway, y'laugh and y'recall the happy things rather than remembering the terrible and being trapped in that pit of despair."

Another deep breath.

"I know. But, even if I was looking for him, considering how I ended up after leaving Sigonia, I didn't have much hope." She held the phone back out to Roxy.

"Keep me updated, okay? I'm not as connected as you, but if you do get a lead and plan on going somewhere, I want to go with you."

Pulling up the pictures March had sent her on her phone, she passed the device over to Sibyl. "A friend of mine took these very recently so they're accurate in terms of Aventurine's current look."

She took the phone, but even when she looked at the first picture, it took her a moment to actually sink in. And then she froze for several moments.

"...that's him. I'd recognize those eyes anywhere." She breathed in slowly.

"...he's still tiny," she said with a laugh as she went through the pictures. "I shouldn't laugh at that. But he was small as a kid, too."

@wastelandabundance

"Sibyl, y'got a second? I got a few pics t'share if you'd like t'see."

Considering how unique Aventurine's eye color was Roxy was certain that if he was Sibyl's brother she'd be able to recognize him immediately even with the years between them.

"Oh?" She nodded, going over to sit next to Roxy. "Go ahead. I might recognize him, anyway." Even if the person was from a different tribe on Sigonia, she still might know him.

@wastelandabundance

"I've got a professional lookin' into all the info I've gathered. Just thought I'd give y'an update."

"I shouldn't be surprised you got someone that quickly." She hadn't known Roxy long, but she knew the woman was determined when she wanted something.

"As I said, even if it turns out he's not my brother, I want to help someone else who survived all that. It was... to be honest, I can't think of a way to describe how awful all of that was..."

"We all do what's necessary to survive, even if it does require y'to abandon who y'once were. At least on the outside. It's been several years. People change, especially living through what you both had to."

She shook her head. "He's never really talked about his past t'me or really anyone as far as I know. All I know he's from Sigonia, he's a survivor like yourself, and he's almost unnaturally lucky." She gave a grim little smile. "Which is why I think that he might still be alive despite everythin' obvious pointin' t'his death."

The word 'lucky' sent a twinge of something right in Sibyl's stomach. But still, she would rather not get her hopes up if she didn't have to.

"Well... even if it's not my brother, if someone else survived, I'd like to help," she finally said. "If it's not him, it might lead to him eventually." That was honestly the most she could hope for at that point.

"So I guess Penacony will have to wait."

She tugged on a curl as she considered the possibilities. She knew enough about the IPC to know that the name she knew Aventurine by wasn't one he had had from birth. Not that she had asked him any further since it wasn't likely he'd tell her. Especially considering she knew of at least three backstories he handed out, none of them which were likely true.

But what were the odds that the one she was searching for was the same as Sibyl? "I...do know one survivor beyond you." She finally explained. "He goes by the name Aventurine. In fact, he's the one I'm searchin' for."

She shook her head. "I'm... I mean, I've heard that name before, but I doubt it's him. The stories I've heard have been nothing like what my little brother is like. Or was, I suppose." Sibyl considered that. "His name was Kakavasha. It's possible he doesn't go by that anymore but... it was so important to our family, it seems a shame he'd just toss it away..."

At that Roxy paused, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. How many people could there be left from that sad little corner of the universe? Finally she answered. "Got a friend that went MIA recently in Penacony. I'm tryin' t'find verification on if he's alive or dead since there's no proof either way. "

A pause before she continued carefully. "Y'lookin' for anybody specific from Signoia, or just in general?"

"Someone went missing?" She had heard that there was a lot going on in Penacony lately, which was why she needed a breather before trying to go there. She knew it wouldn't be easy.

At the question, she replied with, "My brother. I don't really have any reason to believe anyone else survived. But, I've been sort of hoping with his luck, he's made it this long..."

"Um...sort of?" Roxy ran her hand through her curls before inviting the woman inside. "But I got some time. What's up?"

"I was just taking a break before I try getting into Penacony. Someone said there was someone from Sigonia there." A pause. "Do you need help with something?"

@mischievousfires

"...well, I thought I was going to stop by to visit but... are you going somewhere?"

divinetwilight

" blonde hair and purple and blue eyes..? hm.. " she crosses her arms, bringing her hand to her chin as she takes a moment to think, closing her eyes as she tries to recall all the ICP workers she had seen around lately. " i'm sorry, i don't recall seeing anyone with that description. perhaps one of my fellow guards might have, but i certainly haven't. "

"Ah, it's alright. It was kind of a shot in the dark." She tilted her head. "But that means I came here for... basically nothing." It wasn't as if she had other things to be doing right now, considering how long she had been wandering, but what could she do? She doubted approaching the IPC members directly would yield anything.

Well, it might yield her being arrested.

#sncwlight

divinetwilight

Natalee was just on a casual patrol for the day, walking the streets and keeping an eye out for nuisances. everything was kind of boring until she pauses in her path as she hears a voice calling out and she turns to face the other. " of course. what can i do for you? "

gildedsplendors-deactivated2024

"There's been a lot of IPC workers around here lately, right?" She'd heard about what happened during that tournament. Or the basics, at least. She had a feeling there was more to it. "Have you seen one with blonde hair and purple and blue eyes?" That was really the only description she could give of her brother. She hadn't actually seen him in too long.

#sncwlight

@sncwlight

"Excuse me." Sibyl waved when she saw the young woman wearing a Silvermane Guard uniform. She had been on Jarilo-VI long enough to realize they were the local authority. "Could I ask you something?"

#sncwlight

☄. *. ⋆ He blinks in surprise. Burned their house? What exactly had happened to Sibyl for her to end up like this? He tilts his head, touching her hand with his. "S-Stop...." It's a watery laugh, very reminiscent of a little brother. "I can't believe this is real. I'm not dreaming?"