middaeg | Catchall for May

Entry tags:

Catchall for May

Who: Allura and others! Open prompt available to all! (4th wall included!)
When: All of May
Where: Mostly Aefenglom, but some are elsewhere
What: Quests and some other stuff for May
Warnings: None

[Sparring is something she's been working on for some time. After coming through the mirror and finding herself with only a fraction of the physical strength that she had from back home, it was important to her to keep up with her training. (Ancients forbid the humans outpace her more than they have already)

Having a Galra soldier randomly come out of her mirror only made her work twice as hard. This one was a friend (she trusted Lance's word) but the next one might not be.

Having found an empty patch of grass, Allura has a staff in hand and is going through the motions of an imaginary fight. Her style is refined, bearing the hallmarks of someone formally trained without a large amount of practical use. But she's working hard, working up a light sweat when she notices someone nearby. Maybe they're openly watching or just sneaking a peak, but she'll call them out all the same,]

Is there something I can help you with?

[((ooc: This is the open prompt! Closed quest logs in the comments below. More will probably be added throughout the month. Always up for wildcards or you can shoot me a message to plot something else! I'm moving this month so I might be a little on the slow side.))]

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[The theater isn't really something Allura was very experienced with. Finding out that theater was being deregulated (and endlessly perplexed that it had been outlawed in the first place) had caught her attention enough to visit one of the sets being built. She had some degree of expertise when it came to technology, so she thought she might be able to help there.

What she wasn't expecting is a script thrust into her hand, a piece of fabric tied hastily around her hips to emulate a fancy gown (?) and she's peering at the words, putting on her most affected voice]

Oh no! It is the dread pirate, Ralse, [Ah, the stage directions say to swoon. She lifts a hand to her forehead. She's not the best at this, but she's at least putting some effort into it.]

Whatever shall I dooo?

[When Momo asks her to help him with his lines, who is she to say no?]

[Despite appearances, Allura has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves and get a little bit dirty. It's definitely out of her wheelhouse though, and as she wades in knee high water at the edge of the river, she gives a shout as her foot catches in the thick mud. There's a comical pinwheeling of arms, and she very nearly catches herself but overcorrects and lands backwards, butt-first into the water with an impressive splash.

Wiping the water out of her eyes, she shoots a sheepish look at her partner,] Well, I was planning on swimming later.

[With perfect comedic timing, a piece of debris floats by.]

I was just hoping it would be after we removed all of the garbage.

[When Allura had heard there was a rash of robberies in the area, she had jumped at the chance to help out. It's been quiet and she's enjoyed the conversations she's had with the villagers, walking them to and from their errands. She's seen a few of the other mirrorbound doing the same throughout the day and it looks like they have a pretty good eye over the district.

It's late in the evening when the streets had largely cleared and she's by her lonesome when she has the overwhelming feeling of being watched. Call it second sense, but her hair is standing up on the back of her neck and she's gripping her staff just a little bit tighter.

Turning a corner, a shout catches in her throat when she bodily runs into someone else. She wheels back, staff gripped in both hands and-]

A-yao! [She gasps, lowering the weapon immediately,] You scared me, I thought you were one of the burglars.

[Having devoted much of her first few months to studying her magic, Allura wanted to make a better effort to get out of the coven, to get to know the world around them. To learn more beyond just hearsay and to observe and experience the world for herself. There was much more to be had here than just the magic lessons could provide. It was time for her to experience new things!

Finding herself in some kind of co-parenting situation with Steak was not one of those new experiences that she was expecting.]

Steak, please don't stand so close to the fire with the baby. [Uh.] The egg.

Just hand it to me, please. I can hold it for a few dobashes while you cook.

[She's surprised he's getting as into this as he is, but why does she have to be teamed up with the most stubborn food soul?]

Oh! [He accidentally drops the couple small packages he had cradled in the one arm in that collision -- in part because they're not held so closely. Fortunately nothing's fragile, but this might be the first moment it's apparent that one arm ends rather abruptly just before the wrist, sleeve hanging loosely over it.]

I'm terribly sorry for startling you. [He apologizes, bowing hastily before bending to pick up what was dropped, one package at a time because look, having one hand is terrible.] No, I was simply returning home for the night.

I'd heard there were some troubles in the area lately, though. Pickpocketing and the like. They've gone so far as to burglarize homes now?

Edited 2020-05-05 01:11 (UTC)

[Normal dread pirate is actually slightly out of Momo's experience range...but he's done bounty hunter space pirate before, which is close enough and probably adding a bit of extra fine ham to his performance. Initially, when Allura gets dragged over to help him out, he just looks kind of like he's trying not to laugh at the suddenness with which she got recruited, but by the time the dialogue comes back to him, he's let the amusement out with a little huff of breath as he closes his eyes.

When he reopens them again, his posture shifts subtly - drawn up, regal, asking for a fight that he knows he's going to win. It's the casual arrogance one would expect from someone with a reputation like "dread pirate", and the following stage direction is asking him to approach "as if claiming his prize". So he sweeps behind her in one swift motion, nails resting at her waist in a possessive hold (that's also trying not to dip too low at the moment just for the sake of not making this weird for her), other hand circling her wrist, head on the other side next to her ear, long canines bared in a sadistic smile as he recites his lines from memory already.]

What can you do? [In contrast to Momo's normal cutesy tone, his voice is low, cold, but touched with amusement.] Your dear captain is already dead. What a fool, to think his crew could overcome mine once I caught up to him...

[Stage direction says to sweep her off her feet, and that's exactly what he does, shifting his grip to bring her into his arms in ye olde theatrical princess kidnapping carry that's only ever remotely practical on stage and nowhere else.] So, what fate does his maiden choose? To live as my trophy, or die a "hero" with the rest of them?

[For someone who's usually so nice to everyone, Momo really manages to nail the "looking down at someone like they're dirt not even worthy to touch his boots" look that follows that line up.]

[Enkidu is wading through the water as well. Of course, they pick up what needs to be picked up but most of all they're spending their time curling their toes into the mud. It is such a pleasant and familiar feeling and, really, they can stay like this forever.

At least, until they hear her scream and the huge splash that follows afterwards.]

Ah. [They pick up the piece of debris and wade closer.] Allow me. [And right after those words they dip down into the water as well.] Now we are both wet.

[But there's still a lot to do.]

I fear we wouldn't be able to clean all of this in one day. So it is better we both are wet now.

No; I was merely passing by...

[ Saber hesitates a moment, her (relatively) new wings flattened against her back. She would prefer they not be there, but there's little she can really do about that at the moment. ]

I'm simply interested in your fighting style; I am trained with the use of a lance and sword myself.

Oh, [She smiles, hefting the staff,] All Alteans are trained from a young age in a variety of weapons. I prefer this one though.

[Fast and agile, in the hands of a skilled user it can pack a punch but lacks a blade to make it deadly. It fits her.

And Allura definitely notices the new additions! Although she opts not to point them out and instead starts with,]

How are you doing, Saber?

[Enkidu can have mud enough for both of them.]

Oh! [Allura interjects when Enkidu suddenly dips down into the water, in apparent solidarity. Slowly, she starts to pick herself back up. There’s not much reason to ring out her clothes now, but still she picks some of the clinging bits off of her skin.] You didn’t need to do that for me.

Although, I get the feeling you are enjoying yourself doing so.

[Not that Allura isn’t having a good time. She just needs some time to get used to the task at hand.]

[She’s not surprised by the laugh, but the change in Momo’s eyes has her attention. It’s like a different person entered his body – his posture and expression befitting the dread pirate rather than the silly Momo that she’s come to know. There’s even a chill that goes down her spine when he smiles, down to the small of her back where his hand has settled when he sweeps her straight off of her feet, surprising her with his strength as she’s suddenly weightless.

So transfixed by his apparent transformation, there’s two beats of silence as Allura remembers that she, too, has lines to read.]

Right! [That’s not one of them. Why is her heart beating so fast. She turns her head towards the script held in her hand, darting to find her spot,]

Ah- I’d never… choose you! [She declares in a staggered tone. She squints at the next lines,] Surely someone out there can rescue me!

[Excuse her while she makes a face at that line.]

No, no. It is my fault for being so easily spooked, and-

[She’s already bending to help him collect the items he’d dropped by the time she notices the increasingly obvious fact that he’s only collecting them one handed, struggling with some of the bigger packages that are a little more awkward to collect one-handedly. She gasps, mid sentence.]

Your hand! [Has it always been like that? She’s searching her memory, suddenly worrying that she’s been ignorant of it this whole time,] What happened?

Well enough.

[ The dreams had been strange; her encounters with others stranger still. The truth is she's managing, though. Learning how to process, how to continue on without a driving cause to serve (well, beyond the protection of the city). It's a strange time of flux for her. ]

Although this place continues to want to inflict changes on me. I'm not sure how to handle all of them, sometimes. I've also been... trying to do more with my time besides work and training. Yourself?

[Her mouth pulls into a wry smile, because she's guessing that Saber is putting "getting a massage" in the same category as "growing wings" as far as inflicting changes, but she feels for her struggle. Any change, physical or otherwise, is difficult for Allura to deal with too.]

Well, I've been training a lot. [Said with a laugh,] But very much the same. I'm trying to... take it easy, so to speak.

[She's used to pouring herself into problem solving. Which in this case just fell into taking jobs and keeping herself sharp between them. Having down time it's exactly novel (space takes a long time to travel across sometimes) but it's a different kind of waiting here.]

Being able to relax is... a novelty, I must admit.

[ Saber frowns. True, there's the threat of the Cwyld and everything else, but it's not really her duty to think about it all times or to worry or to organize their efforts. She can.... forget about it at times. Just have leisure time.

It feels strange. ]

Although it is likely for the best. What have you been doing with your free time?

[Momo's mouth quirks very slightly with amusement at that facial expression, but he mostly manages to not corpse. He's used to ad-libs, but less used to people just being unimpressed with the content of what they're performing. Not that he can blame her, considering the cliches, but some corny theatre is probably exactly what this place needs to get out from under the shadow of Wizard Jenkins.

He turns dramatically, what would be a switch from one side of the stage to the other in the actual performance, almost seeming more pleased that the swooning maiden is giving him the chance to shed more blood.] So be it. I should kill you here and now...but that would be far too clean after the trouble your beloved has caused.

[He leans closer, speaking in a stage whisper now to give that impression of uncomfortable intimacy while still making it possible for the audience to follow.]

Best hope your rescuer moves faster than the sharks. [And just in case that was almost too serious for a second, Momo follows the next stage direction with great gusto...which means it's time for an incredibly hammy few seconds of maniacal laughter as he "exits stage left". Which in this case mostly just means striding dramatically to the left a bit because they don't have a stage left right now. Life is hard.]

[She just has some personal beefs with the 'helpless princess' cliche, but she manages to keep from ruining the rehersal. It's easy, when Momo's acting is convincing enough to make up for her failures. The splay of his hand over her back, the way he leans in making a chill go up her spine and the mix of Allura's own naturally serious expression mixing with the fluster of being held like this makes a far more convincing act than if she was giving it her all, genuinely.

Speaking of, it's her line as he sweeps her off of the stage and she gives it in a dramatic wail,]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[And then they're off "stage". End of scene.]

How... how was that?

It's only an old injury, from an attack some time before I arrived. [less than an hour before that, really, but who's counting. He looks sheepish, even as he can still curse Lan Wangji in his mind. Or... maybe he should be cautious about doing even that, considering his bond with Lan Xichen. Sheepish and slightly pained expression, then, because the whole thing is frankly a mess and he still hates the look of it. They're talking about thievery and, in his own insecurity, the injury seems like something that could be seen as a past punishment.] Please don't concern yourself too much with it.

[Petra doesn't shy away in the least bit as she's spotted, even offering the woman a smile.]

Oh, no. I was not meaning to disturb you. [She offers a shallow bow with her apology.] I was only wanting to watch your technique.

When I first was seeing you, I was having hope that you were practicing fighting. Please, do not let me interrupt your routine. It is calming to watch.

[She's definitely mistaken Allura's practicing for a solo routine, like a dance of sorts, something ceremonial instead of practical.]

[As soon as the scene ends, Momo bends down to set Allura back on her feet, a grin sliding back onto his face almost immediately like someone flipped a switch.] It was fun! You put a lot of drama into it, so that made it easier to play off. Sometimes you get people new to acting who just act really wooden, and that's hard to deal with.

[He'll take hammy but questionable acting over something overly stiff and cautious about getting things "right" any day of the week. In any case, once Allura is upright again, he straightens up and stretches before clapping his hands against his cheeks.]

I must be getting rusty already, though! I almost laughed at that face you made about that rescue line, and it usually takes more than that for me to break character.

[Being him, he's unquestionably framing it as completely his own fault for being unprofessional.]

Well, getting wet is kind of unavoidable in a situation like this. And not swimming would make this work tedious and monotone.

[Enkidu moves to stand again, not bothered by how their shirt clings to their skin and how their hair sticks to everything.]

I am. You should do. [They extend an arm towards her.] I can lift you up and throw you in the water in a most playful way. [Enkidu has seen this a couple of times, this is going to be easy.]

[Allura almost feels her hopes jump when she sees Petra – the facial marking under her eye is nearly enough to make her long for home, but there’s no twin on the other side, and her ears are woefully rounded. Of course Allura knows that the chance of meeting any Altean, either here or elsewhere, is incredibly slim, but still. She could hope.

Her disappointment is almost immediately dissolved when the woman dismisses her practice. A routine. Allura frowns.]

I am practicing my combat technique.

[Said just a touch defensively. But she doesn’t know how long the woman has been watching? Maybe combat looks different on her planet. She clears her throat and smiles politely,]

You’re welcome to stay, if you’d like.

I’m sorry.

[Even moreso that she didn’t notice it until now. She takes the initiative to help him pick up the rest of his dropped goods – likely going above and beyond in her attempts to behelpful.] You know, there are prosthetics that could assist – though I’m unsure what there is on this planet. Perhaps something magical?

[It’s about some time in her chattering that she realizes there’s some noises in the streets near them. The crunch of boots in the gravel and the sound of metal as a knife is unsheathed nearby.

”Drop the goods, you two.”

A trio of men with bandanas over their faces, quickly making a circle around them.]

[Allura nods, sympathetic. she had down time on the castle ship, but it was often while travelling from one place to the other, or while the others were on missions. She would get restless, but there was always something being done, whether she was involved or not.

Here though, her leisure time is really that. She helped where she could, but still it felt wrong not knowing what was happening in her world all along.]

Training, and working at my job at the DiplomaTea. [Very leisurely.] I've started to keep a garden back at my home. I never have had one outside before.

I've never tried gardening.

[ Saber admits this with a bit of a curious look on her face. ]

I've never had time before and it seemed rather frivolous for me to put time into such a thing when we could rely on others for our food. [ She pauses and frowns. ]

Although my thinking may have been guided by what I thought was best for everyone else and not... myself. [ Coming to grips with that is still weird. ]

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Catchall for May

Momo > Catch these stage hands (I'm so sorry)

Enkidu > River Clean Up

Jin > Refugee Request

Steak > Eggsitting

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i am also sorry

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Sparring!

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let me know if this doesn't work for you :Db

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