She works hard for the money [Open]

[showsnopiety]

Who: Caren and you!
When: Throughout the month
Where: Knit's Wit, Daisy Chain, throughout the city streets, various brothels
What: Quest time good time
Warnings:



I: Knit Wit

[Thanks to Justine, she's been able to find work, and a new set of clothing, at the Knit Wit. Which means that Caren can be found in the shop fairly often, quick and nimble with her fingers as she works on whatever project it may be-whether it is doing up a hem or adding embroideries to sleeves or other bits of clothing. It could be easy to hover and watch her for awhile.

Or she could take notice of someone crossing the doorway, and have to stop her work, and ensure her needle was stuck in the fabric so it wouldn't unravel.]

May I help you?

[Let's hope her customer service isn't terrible.]

II: Gardening with Class

A: Flowers and the City

So if this also has a magical property...

[She's excited, and leaning forward as she types down notes. For those who have seen her before, in any location...Caren is far more animated. She's absorbing everything, or as much as she can, even as she writes it all down in her Watch.

But she also has to wonder...]

Does this mean we could make a profit off of our plants? Sell the surplus to witches?

[If that means she can sell excess basil when she's sick of it...that's not a terrible idea.]

B: Arrangements and you

[She'd rather that the plants stayed in the dirt, but well-that was the price of doing flower arrangements that were pleasing to the eye. But...there were a few things that caught her eye. While some had given certain flowers, there were her favorites in anothers hands. So she had to go around, with other flowers in her hands.]

Excuse me. Do you mind if I exchanged my flowers for your hydrangeas?

[She looks actually girlish and hopeful for once.]

III: Festival Preparations

A: Harbor Cleaning

[It was good to do some cleaning. True, she was doing that in her new home quite a bit-there was who knew how much dust there-but she enjoyed making the Harbor presentable as well. Cleaning was something she knew how to do, and do well.

Though she never helped with a city wide clean up before. But the latest project-that she had to get to one of the windows and clean it off-was somewhat difficult.

It was a little out of reach.

She went up onto her toes. No dice. She tried to hop up and get it in bits, but it didn't help either. Seeing someone come by, she called out:]

A little help?

B: Blooming Pastries

[She wasn't always assigned to the harbor. Most of the time, she showed up on a day she wasn't working at the Knit Wit, since she needed to save up. After hearing what had happened to Connor-and how he just suddenly had a tail-she wanted to be certain that she had ever had that happen, or that Somnus had it happen to him-that there would be a nest egg ready.

Having 2000 cunes a day weren't anything to sneeze at. So she was working whenever possible.

Maybe it wasn't surprising that in the midst of making Apple Rose tarts, that her knees buckle. She might knock against you against as she starts falling to her knees.]

Sorry...

IV: Gardens with Class

A: Language of Flowers

[So they're supposed to...learn how to flirt and ply other people with drink was it? Well, this should go well. She could do this. And it was time for an exercise! They were paired off randomly, just so they could see if they could do it without the tips that were offered, more or less.

Shouldn't take more then a minute or two they said. She could do this. Easily!

Caren took in a deep breath, and leaned over, so she was pressed arm against arm with her companion. This might look intense, or it might just look slightly ridiculous, depending on the height difference.]

Good evening. Have you been enjoying your time here? I have, no that you're here.

[And she smiles. She's doing great, right?]

B: Flowering in the City

[All right. She doesn't understand this class at all. She huffs a little, and folds her arms under her chest, before murmuring to one of her class mates.]

Isn't it just a matter of flashing a little skin and making some false promises to charm someone into giving you money? That's how I thought it worked.

[Caren why are you saying such horrible things so casually.]

C: A perfect Arrangement

[Caren sighed. She didn't have anyone to bring with her, not really. She didn't know who she would ask to come with to this class. So it was a random pair up for the dancing, and she was standing there, shy and uncertain.]

I've never...danced before. So I don't mind if you take the lead.

[She paused, and continued:]

I'll try not to step on your feet.

Wildcard:

This can be for exploring the city, settling in Haven, all sorts of shenanigans! Or for making something completely different. If you have questions, you can contact me on plurk at nammah

Comments

harbor cleaning

[catasstrophy]

[With the slight mugginess of the weather these days, Konoe has finally given up on wearing his hood to cover his ears... and, surprisingly, the world hasn't fallen apart. People don't look at him any funnier than before (mostly because the outline of his ears was obvious anyway, not to mention how his tail stuck out from underneath his mantle), and somehow that makes him feel a little less out of place.

Not that he needs people to accept him, or anything. But it's nice to not feel like an outcast for being the only cat... even if he still is.

Unsure what to expect when he's suddenly addressed in the streets, his ears turn sideways. A little help, she said?]

The window..?

[showsnopiety]

[It wasn't the most comfortable weather, that was for certain. But, there had to be some work in order for the festival, and she wasn't adverse the work.

It was just...it was hard when you're small, the window is high, and there's no crates in sight.

Even if the person who stopped had cat ears and a tail-it didn't really matter. So long as he could help.]

Yes, the window.

[She wrinkled her nose, annoyed with the window. Why so high. It's rude.]

Do you know where I can find a step ladder...? Or could you help me reach it?

[Though he's also a little on the short side too, wasn't he? Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.]

[catasstrophy]

[WOW he's not that short? And he totally wears platforms heels, so that's a few more inches for him.

His tail swishes as he considers the questions, still a little uncertain for no reason in particular, but willing to help.]

... Maybe if you sit on my shoulders?

[That seems safe enough, and gains her a fair amount of extra height. A step ladder would no doubt be better, but he has no idea where to find one, unless they want to ask around businesses and see if anyone will lend them one.]

[showsnopiety]

[Maybe she'll get some platforms of her own...when she has more money that is.]

That...might work out, yes.

[She looks him over, and makes a quiet noise, before she straightens.]

All right. Did you want to kneel, or crouch, or should I...climb on your shoulders...?

[catasstrophy]

[It's at about this point that he wonders why he agreed so readily in the first place, but... it's not like he's rushing anywhere in particular, so he had no good reason to refuse. Besides, he knows what it's like, being in a city and having everyone flat-out ignore you when you ask for help. Doing the same thing just feels wrong.]

I'll crouch.

[And so he does. He is honestly not the strongest cat, clearly built more for agility and speed than brute force, but he's strong enough when times get rough and desperate, and he can definitely manage to carry her.

For a little while, at least.]

[showsnopiety]

[No regrets Konoe, only cleaning. And she's not going to kick, promise! Instead, she nods, and moves to carefully climb onto his shoulders, cleaning supplies under her armpits.

She's a light woman thankfully, so it shouldn't be too difficult-especially if she hurries.]

All right. I'm ready.

[She's positioned! And she's holding on with her legs, and ready to reach for that window.]

[catasstrophy]

Okay.

[He feels the urge to say that for no logical reason whatsoever - trying to get the last word in purely to regain some sense of control, perhaps. With a deep breath and no further delays, he straightens himself.

Even if she's light, it takes some effort. Once he's all but stretched his legs, it's easier, but the first part of the way ends up kind of wobbly. He's not losing his balance or anything, though.]

[showsnopiety]

[Which is kind of funny, because he could toss her off at anytime and she wouldn't have much of a way to protest.

She leans forward a little, her hands on her thighs. It's a little unstable but...

Well she still leans forward and up so she can start wiping down the window. The quicker she does this, the better.]

[catasstrophy]

[He takes a deep breath once he's finally standing again, feeling more comfortable about maintaining his balance - until she leans forward, and he has to take a quick step to keep her where she is.]

Hey! Don't move so much!

[It probably wasn't "much", really, but it startled him, so his reaction is a little exaggerated.]

[showsnopiety]

Eh?

[She goes still. Her hand wobbles a bit-but thankfully she doesn't drop her cloth.]

I could finally reach it-was it too much...?

[She has no idea. But she doesn't know she's also riding on top of an easily spooked cat.]

[catasstrophy]

[Wow, excuse you, he's not easily spooked?! He just doesn't want to drop her! What if she gets hurt?! ... For that matter: what if he gets hurt?!]

Not really. [He forced the standard reply out through clenched teeth. Nope, not at all, thanks for asking!? It's never too much. He can handle anything at all, for sure.] Just don't move so suddenly.

[That said, he does his best to get a little closer to the window in question. That way she doesn't have to break her neck - or his - right?]

[showsnopiety]

[Well, depends on how he drops her...they might both get hurt. Win win?

She glanced down. She couldn't tell if she was too heavy or if he was just distracted.]

I'll let you know when I move then?

[She made a soft noise, and started to move her hand against the window, cloth and all. Gingerly, just in case that counted as sudden movement.]

How is this?

[catasstrophy]

Fine...

[She wasn't heavy as such - not for a person - but she was still a person, and Konoe was no bodybuilder. Between that and the fact that he felt a stupid pressure not to fail, just for having felt obligated to Do This Thing, things weren't going as smoothly as they might have.

Not that he would admit to that in a million years.]

It's fine. Just get it over with.

[Nevermind him, he's just embarrassed that he's not a six foot powerhouse.]

[showsnopiety]

[She has a grumpy cat on her hands. It's kind of funny-she thought she'd be the grumpy one of the two of them. But hey, she's doing the cleaning thing, and she glanced down at him briefly.

She did feel comfortable, even if he wasn't the size of a body builder.]

Very well.

[And she's wiping and trying to clean in earnest. Don't worry Konoe, she'd ride on you again if she needed a lift! You're finnnnne.]

[catasstrophy]

[He does honestly manage to carry her pretty well, and steadily - apart from that one hiccup, anyway. But he is indeed a grumpy cat at heart, and nothing will ever fix that, even if time tends to smooth it over.]

Next?

[He... is pretty sure he can stagger over to the size a bit, so she can reach the other part of the window.]

[showsnopiety]

[It's fine. She'd rather deal with grumpy-it feels far more honest. And it's far more fun to tease him in the long run.]

Yes.

[And she'll try to stay centered until he's done moving.]

I'm going to lean up now, if that's all right.

[catasstrophy]

Yeah...

[It's fine; everything's fine. For some reason, he feels the need to strain up with her, so he does. Which is absolutely a smart thing to do when you're already pushing your physical boundaries.

But hey, he's not falling or anything!]

[showsnopiety]

[Good. She hummed, and went up-and a little higher then she expected. She made a surprised sound, and peered down at him and-

And she accidentally dropped her cloth.

Oops.]

[catasstrophy]

...

[Well, that is just great. What is he supposed to do now - just put her down? He has no other choice, does he? It's not like he can just bend down with her.]

... It was clean enough, anyway.

[He's just going to state that on the way down. He's not sure he can manage to lift her again - and he's even less sure that he wants to.

Grumpy cat.]

[showsnopiety]

[At least she didn't drop it on his face? Because it was a close one.

Whoops. But she sighed, and moved with him as he bent down, sliding off of his back.]

I think that's all they can expect of someone of my stature, even with help. Especially with help.

Thank you for your assistance.

[See? She has manners. Grumpy cat.]

[catasstrophy]

[Ahhh, that's better. Even if she's not that heavy, it's definitely a load off. He shakes out his tail as he straightens himself, like that will finally make everything align properly again.]

There are probably some tall monsters or something that can do better, right? They shouldn't have asked you to do it in the first place.

[Nor him (if indirectly) either, which is honestly his main point. He glances up, becoming more thoughtful than, well, grumpy.]

Or someone with levitation magic, maybe?

[showsnopiety]

[His burden has been eased! And she finally notices that while he has ears, he does have a tail. A functional one!

Huh. She wonders if it hurts if it's pulled.]

You'd think so, but they chose me for the clean up. Maybe they thought I was a witch, capable of air or gravity or any of that magic.

[Which she doesn't. She's kind of vague on the topic.]

But I'm not. I'm a monster.

[catasstrophy]

[OMG don't just narrate about tail-pulling, it's rude!?]

Oh, are you?

[He studies her to check for monster traits, but he honestly doesn't know any but things like tails and ears and horns - and none of those are conclusive, going by himself and some other mirror people he's met.]

[showsnopiety]

[She makes an amused sound at him, and spreads her arms.]

I haven't gone through the Full Moon yet.

These are just my natural looks. I assume you're a witch?

[He hadn't been fussing over his ears and tail so...]

[catasstrophy]

... Yeah...

[The lack of fussing is a good sign, yes, but in spite of the logic behind her reasoning, he feels... kind of flattered.]

Everyone always assumes I'm a monster. Because of my ears and tail.

[And it's not like he minds monsters, but he's not one, and having that incorrect label applied to him honestly makes him angry. Nobody gets to decide what he is or isn't.]