Mikaere
Mikaere doing the haka, because of course he does.
Much of Mikaere's understanding and experience of the supernatural is framed in Māori, so he tends to describe things using that language. For my reference, a list!
- ārai: Literally 'veil'
- ihomatua: the use of glimmer
- mākutu: The supernatural
- whakatīaho: places where the veil between worlds is more easily accessible. (Literally: translucent.)
- wā kāinga: Not actually related to the supernatural, but the name of Mikaere's boat. It means 'home', but the sub-text is deeper than that: the place where you truly belong.
- te pohewa: The mindscape (literally: the vision)
- hinengaro: Mental powers
- tinana: Physical powers
- ngākau: Spirit powers (literally: soul)
- apa: Spiritual beings, generally assumed to be ancestral
The Māori Dictionary is a great resource to learn how to pronounce these words.
Ma. Tohunga, mother of three, academic; she's impressive, and also a massive pain in my arse.
Dad. More English than the English; it's hard to see how he and Ma ever hit it off.
Or why they stayed together.
Nearly fifteen years gone, now.
Older sister.
She's married with three kids, and used to teach kindergarten until they came along. She and her husband live in South Auckland, in Pukekohe, and she desperately wants Ma to retire, sell the house, and move closer... probably for babysitting.
(Ma'll never retire. They'll wheel her out in a box.)
Older brother. His birth certificate says 'Nikau' but no one's allowed to call him that.
He joined the water police, like dad, and is married with one kid.
- Kiwi-as bro: Mikaere is from New Zealand. He sounds it, too.
- Māori: In fact, he's (half-blooded) Māori, and speaks the language to go with it.
- Internet famous... sort of: There was a viral cell phone video a few years ago of a New Zealand politician quitting mid-debate... that was Mikaere.
- Storyteller: Since then, he's had a following as a creator of videos talking about sailing, Māori culture, and myth. It even funded his 'sail around the world' trip. Not that he's always 100% accurate... people say he's just charming anyway.
- And now he's here...: Washed up (almost literally) in Gray Harbor in March 2022. That 'sail around the world' trip may be on hold, and what does that mean for his sponsorship?
- Don't call me Mik: He'll spell it out if he needs to: me (as in 'me'), kai (as in 'kayak'), reh (roll the 'r' a little).
Square-jawed and bow-lipped, with artistic dark stubble, Mikaere could probably be described as classically handsome: he's just got that look about him. His nose is larger and broader than might be considered traditionally perfect, though, but perhaps that only goes to exaggerate his ruggedness: appearances may be deceiving, but physically, he's every inch a man's man, with over six feet of height to prove it.
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2022-07-11 - Friends and Family
Impromptu barbecue at Oak Number 5.
Una, Jules, Della, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - Neighbour Of The Beast
Movies and books always tell you what it's like, facing down with the big bad and winning in the end. They never go into much depth with the //little// bads.
Aidan, Itzhak, Everett, Joseph, Ravn, Turner, Perdita, Monroe, Una, Jules, Della, Ariadne, Ava, Mikaere, Robin, Nicasia, Charity
2022-04-24 - Into the Woods
Jules gets ready for her solo adventure in the woods, and her crew's there to see her off.
Ravn, Una, Jules, Della, Mikaere
2022-04-17 - The Second Rule Is Bring Your Own Butter
The lobster fighting season begins! Bring your own combat crustacean to a shady warehouse on the docks. Or wander past with a beer to shake your head. Look, those two guys over there are police officers and even //they// think this is too silly to make a fuss about. Also, Officer Penn owns last year's champion, Mac the Claw.
Itzhak, Rhys, Ravn, Una, Jules, Della, Ariadne, Gabby, Mikaere, Bayin
2022-07-07 - The New Neighbours
Mrs Howitt of Elm Street thinks her new neighbours are drug-dealing Satanists. Ravn and Mikaere drop by in the name of the HOPE Community Centre. The canary has a bad day.
Ravn, Mikaere
2022-07-05 - Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Escaping Gray Harbor just means talking about some of the things that need talking about. Also, fuck, indigenous history is complicated.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-07-03 - Doors Needed
Mikaere and Jules update Ravn on their encounter with Haggleford. Plans are made.
Ravn, Jules, Mikaere
2022-06-26 - The Naked Truth
Be careful what you wish for.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-06-23 - Missing Articles of Clothing
Lost masquerade masks, that is. What were *you* thinking?
Perdita, Jules, Mikaere, Nate
2022-06-14 - Matariki
What's more awkward than a Door that opens into someone else's house? %r%rThat 'someone else' being the mother of the person you're, uh, sleeping with, half a world away.
Jules, Della, Mikaere
2022-06-13 - Follow-Up Commentary
After the wine and cheese night, Mikaere and Jules have a few more things to talk about.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-06-13 - Wine and Cheese Night
The spoils of Paris are enjoyed.
Ravn, Jules, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-06-11 - Is It Pa-Piracy If the Scrolls Accidentally Come Home With You?
Ariadne wanted a new book to read. Mikaere wanted to check his email. But the Veil can never keep its fingers out of any *normal* errand.%r%rAlexandria, Egypt, 200 B.C. %r%rWalk like an Egyptian? How about run like one?
Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-06-06 - Espionage Aboard The Orient Express
Espionage dramas are boring. %r%rWhiskey is not.
Ravn, Mikaere
2022-05-29 - Hiking, Unfiltered
The day after the ball, Mikaere and Jules go hiking. Filters don't matter, right?
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-23 - Sunsets
Out on the bay, Jules and Mikaere talk.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-21 - I'm On A Boat!
If one boat owner thinks taking his girl (boat) out with his girl (girl) for a picnic near Damon Point, why would another boat owner not get the same idea about his girl (boat) and his girl (girl)?
Ravn, Jules, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-05-17 - Stories
Stories are awesome.
Ravn, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - The Color of Power
Hey come check out my ritual object, Jules said. Let's figure out what it does, Jules said.%r%rThey find out.
Ravn, Jules, Della, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - Netflix and Chill
Jules is back from her adventure and everyone's mad and she just wants some damn cuddles without questions. %r%rQuestions inevitably arise, just not ones about being Lost.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - ??!!!
Those left behind do what they need to do.
Jules, Della, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - Splash Splash Oops
Splash landing.
Ravn, Jules, Della, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-05-10 - Bedside Manner
Mikaere lets Jules know what's up.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-10 - Fucking Haggleford
Lucky Ava is in Mikaere's phone as an emergency contact. %r%rLucky Mikaere gets some extra-special medication attention.
Ava, Mikaere
2022-05-08 - First Salmon Ceremony
It's salmon day on the Quinault Reservation!
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-05 - I Can Work With This
We begin our day with mutual bonding in potential parent panic and proceed to how one Haggleford may or may not have connections to a gang in Spokane.
Ravn, Mikaere
2022-05-02 - Cabbage Patch Kid?
What happens during Beltane doesn't stay during Beltane.
Aidan, Ravn, Ava, Mikaere
2022-04-30 - The Morning After
When postponing the inevitable... why not postpone it a little more too?
Jules, Mikaere
2022-04-29 - Postponing The Inevitable
Why go home to your over-protective housemate when you can drink beer with your ???? friend instead!
Jules, Mikaere
2022-04-23 - Big Clam Dicks
No one eats a dick.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-04-22 - Coffee and a Headache
Nicasia plays another round of 20 questions with the (really not at all very) locals. The answers just get worse and worse.
Ravn, Perdita, Mikaere, Nicasia
2022-04-20 - The Fault in their...Blood?
It's time to see what kind of blood it was near the gateway in Humptulips.
Vyv, Ravn, Ava, Mikaere
2022-04-17 - Googling for Creepers
Side-conversation at the lobster fighting warehouse. Della and Jules are caught in the act of googling Mikaere, who is even more interesting in person than his online presence.
Jules, Della, Mikaere
2022-04-10 - Marina Meditations
In which three people make plans for some quite unusual fund raising techniques while a dog gets all the scritches.
Ravn, Perdita, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-04-01 - Rites of Spring
There are two ways of tackling April 1. The other is to retreat to the marina with a sixpack to bask in the rays of the spring sun while everyone else is busy pranking each other back in town.
Ravn, Ava, Mikaere, Kayden
2022-03-24 - No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
A normal day in the coffee shop: uncomfortableness, flirting, meeting strangers. %r%rThe usual weirdness.
Seth, Ravn, Perdita, Ariadne, Jayde, Mikaere
2022-03-21 - Connecting Threads
In which yet another healer gets to weigh in, and a bit of Gray Harbor's more gruesome history may or may not play a role in determining what exactly went down with that explosion in Dr Brennon's office.
Finch, Ravn, Ariadne, Ava, Mikaere
2022-03-20 - False Assumptions
Mikaere's new in town, and evidently thinks karaoke bars are where you go to fill time. Luckily, he runs into Ravn, Kailey and Ariadne, and only briefly puts his foot in it. %r%rAlso mermaids. And coffee. And karaoke.
Kailey, Ravn, Ariadne, Mikaere
2022-06-26 - Escape From The Island
Stafford Creek Corrections Center; a prison complex just a little ways out the 105 from Gray Harbor. Not an easy place to escape from. So how did those convicts get out of there, and where are they going? Who's helping them, and why?%r%rThere's no such thing as a free lunch in the Veil.
Joseph, Ravn, Jules, Ava, Mikaere
2022-06-15 - The Hellhole of the Pacific
By 1900, Gray Harbor had become home to many saloons, whorehouses, and gambling establishments. It was nicknamed "The Hellhole of the Pacific . . .
Ravn, Fern, Ariadne, Mikaere, Eden
2022-05-26 - False Flags
Does 'pro-Indian independence Ghadar Party' ring any bells? No? You may wonder where this boat is headed, then.
Zara, Ravn, Jules, Ava, Mikaere, Myles
2022-05-29 - Self-Restraint and the Lack Thereof
The only way Jules can control her severe lack of filter is via texting.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-18 - Invitations
Mikaere and Jules make plans.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-11 - WTF Did You Do?!
Jules updates Mikaere on carving experimentations.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-05-10 - Who Are We To Argue?
A pattern is emerging. And two gents are realising that no matter what their actual colour, they're a couple of white damn knights.
Ravn, Mikaere
2022-04-19 - Magic Green Cards (And Other Things)
The Veil wants Mikaere to stay.
Jules, Mikaere
2022-03-24 - Non-Performative
Mikaere passes on information to Ava. %r%rIdle texting turns wide-ranging. %r%rThe murder motel is avoided.
Ava, Mikaere
2022-05-28 - Our Secret Selves
Who doesn't love a masked ball? The Grand Olympic Casino kicks off the last weekend before Pride Month with a Venetian masked ball on the theme: Our Secret Selves!%r%rThe doors are open. The ticket fee is modest; a substantial part of it will go towards a Seattle-based organisation for supporting LGBQTIA+ youth. (Any rumours of money laundering originate from jealous competitors).%r%rTime to let your inner peacock out. Be careful with the fruit pastries.
Ruiz, Itzhak, Rhys, Joseph, Ravn, Perdita, Monroe, Una, Jules, Della, Ariadne, Ava, Mikaere, Deacon
2022-05-03 - The Purple People Eaters
Walking home alone in the dark in a quiet town like Gray Harbor, how bad can it be? As it happens, very bad. For reasons that the Gray Harbor Gazette speculates about on a regular basis (and never get quite right), this town has a two centuries' long history of mysterious disappearances. Once known as the 'Port of Missing Men', Gray Harbor is still a good place to get lost.%r%rOr in Mikaere's case, beaten to a pulp.
Ravn, Gabby, Mikaere, Robin, Nicasia, Myles
2022-04-05 - Gateway
After Conner and Ava discovered that a Nightshade Bear was responsible for the devouring of a few people, an investigation into where the bear was hiding and how to get it safely back into the Veil was necessary. A small team was assembled to do exactly that. What they found was not a bear.
Garrett, Ravn, Ava, Mikaere, Deacon, Leila
2022-04-05 - Dead Fish Tell No Tales
The tourist season is about to begin! Climb aboard with Captain Chris Long as he takes you on a journey down the scenic coastline of Gray Harbor and the Bay. Whether you're looking for a day of fishing or just want to relax on the water, Captain Chris will give you a great trip and a memory that will last a lifetime!%r%rOr so the flyer says.
Itzhak, Finch, Ravn, Ariadne, Gabby, Mikaere
2022-03-21 - Copenhagen at Seven-Eleven
While stopping off at the city's local convenience store for a late-night fill-up of fuel and snacks, the participants accidentally stumble into a scene already in progress.
Everett, Ravn, Ava, Mikaere
