Open - Monthly Catchall

[petcromancer]

Who: Hector, semi-open
When: The month of Maiuril
Where: Around the city
What: A Monthly Catch-All post for Hector.
Warnings: Potential for language, full-moon shenanigans, and descriptions of violence

Egg-Sitting, Early Maiuril

[Working so closely with another Mirrorbound for weeks is not ideal, but when the reward is an exciting new animal, Hector’s willing to endure it. Yes, there’s equal chance of it being an angry snake-creature, but that’s not a deal-breaker. He is going to love whatever comes out of the egg.]

So, if we divide our time equally, it shouldn’t be too much to handle. I can take the first shift.

Wilde Hunt, Maiuril 7th

[Well, Hector’s starting to look for a witch to bond with, but he’s still unbonded for the moment. He can almost feel the buzz of the energy from the full moons in his skull. So Hector joins the hunt, against all instinct.

He isn’t hunting, but his prey-animal paranoia is increasingly aware that he might be hunted. So he is running through the woods, panicked and regretting his decision to come out of here. He doesn’t mean to happen onto another person, but when he does, he comes to a halt. Sheep aren’t meant to be alone. They flock together and find safety in numbers.]

Wild Card, Any time

[Have an idea for another prompt? Let me know!]

Comments

For Saori

[petcromancer]

[Luckily for Saori, Hector’s moved recently. So when Saori gets the invite to come over, it is to a nice cottage rather than his old disaster apartment. There are still animals around—rats scurry around, cleaning up, and there are several dogs napping—but it’s not nearly as crowded as it was. Cezar follows Hector around as he answers the door.

Hector’s housemate is out for the evening, and Hector has the table set and the promised wine at the ready.]

Re: For Saori

[needsteaplz]

[When Hector opened the door, he's greeted by Saori carrying a rather large basket. With her legs now fully transformed into a fox's, she gave up shoes altogether. Instead of her hair tied up in a bun, she kept it down, as if to conceal something on her neck. She gives Hector a smile.]

Good evening, Hector. I hope I didn't keep you waiting.

[She crouches down to greet the pug, letting him sniff her hand before petting him.]

Aww, hello, Cezar. Don't worry, I made a few treats for you too.

[petcromancer]

[Hector's an unpracticed host, but he at least has enough common sense to offer to take the heavy basket from Saori.]

No, you're right on time. And even if you weren't, you made the food. Dinner starts when you say it does.

[That's just logic. The one who did all the work can do as she pleases.

Cezar wags his little curl of a tail and tries to sneak in some licks as he gets those pets. Even if there were no treats, he'd be delighted. Hector carries the basket to the table while Saori gets her dog-time in.]

[needsteaplz]

[She accepts Hector's offer and lets him carry the basket in. Right now it's quality pupper time, as she scoops up Cezar into her arms, letting him get a few licks in.]

Sorry it's a bit heavy. I normally would've made something that's easy to share but I ended up making separate meals for us. I still eat some greens but lately I've been having meat cravings. Could you pass me the bag at the top? That's for Cezar.

[The treats are round homemade crackers. There's a faint smell of cheese and bacon to it. Saori puts the little pug back down and holds one of the treats out of him.]

Well, Cezar, do you like it? If I had known Cezar wasn't your only pet, I would've made more.

[petcromancer]

[Hector should say something about, 'Oh, you didn't need to go through the effort,' but he's so relieved Saori made two meals. It doesn't bother him to see other people eating the types of food he once enjoyed, but the thought of trying to consume meat himself turns his stomach.

He cracks open the packed basket and fishes out the bag to toss to Saori.]

Cezar is the only one that came with me from home. These others are guests. I am applying to open a proper shelter in the city, but until then, they have a home here. They've all had their evening meal, so if they beg, ignore them.

[Easier said than done. Cezar, for his part, sniffs at the treat and sticks out his tongue to lick it. His tail is wagging a mile a minute, and he practically vibrates with excitement.]

[needsteaplz]

[Cezar's excitement is contagious and she gives him the treat. The pug will have more through out the night. She finally gets up to wash her hands and help get the rest of the dishes out.]

That's incredible, Hector. I hope your shelter gets approval soon. Oh right, there's one more thing that needs to be done before we can actually eat.

[The crunch of grilled slices of bread being torn by Saori's hands followed her praise. She tossed the pieces into the salad bowl, which was filled with grilled asparagus, herbs, sugar snap peas and cucumbers with a vinaigrette dressing.

When Saori opened the lid for the second dish, the aroma of roasted herbs and garlic filled the air. While a galette looked rustic in nature, she made sure to be generous with the spinach, chard, thinly sliced mushrooms and leeks that made the filling of the freeform pie.

For herself, she went for grilled spicy pork shoulder steaks that she thought would be good with the salad.]

Alright, we're ready. Could you help me bring these to the table?

[petcromancer]

[Hector eyes the dishes, stunned. Homemade treats for Cezar, and this feast made just for him? Hector's had to cook for himself when he lived alone, but it's always been simple fare. This is...way more elaborate than he expected.]

How long did this take you?

[He takes the vegetarian dishes to the table and sits them down. They smell delicious. When Saori died and became a minor deity, was it a goddess of the kitchen? He doesn't even care if this turns into a lecture on his terrible life choices, as long as he gets to eat the meal first.]

[needsteaplz]

[She had to stop and think exactly how long did it take her to finish all of this? She shrugged.]

I want to say a few hours? It was mostly the crust for your galette that took the longest to prepare. I don't mind at all though since I enjoy cooking for others. It gives me a chance to be creative. Now, please eat up. I have a feeling you have a million questions you want to ask me.

For Trevor, voice message

[petcromancer]

[Hector hates talking into his Watch, but after one of Everett’s world-mates arrived and attacked him in the middle of the night, he’s too shaken for typing. There’s an edge of desperation in his voice.]

Belmont, I…uh, I need you to show me how to use this axe. Soon, preferably.

[quickwhip]

[ That makes two of them to be honest. Who has time for these... weird watch things anyways?? But when he gets a voice message from Hector, he looks down to his own with a tilt of his head, sitting up in a tree. Yeah. ]

How soon is soon?

[petcromancer]

I don't know. Tonight? No, we're going to have to clean up the fire damage. Tomorrow night?

[A deep breath.]

There's a monster. Not like what we are. A real monster. We chased her off, but she'll be back.

[quickwhip]

The- what?

[ Ok, so... he's sitting up straight in his tree and no longer just lounging on the branch?? Yeah. He may be a vampire but he's still a Belmont. ]

What monster? Where did she go?

[petcromancer]

Bone centaur. Didn't know that was a thing.

[Tomorrow, when he's not still hyped up on adrenaline, he's going to be pissed that he never thought of forging one. It's was a terrifying fucking silhouette she made.]

Dunno where she went. She left through a mirror.

[And now there are no unbroken mirrors in his house, because Hector doesn't want that bitch coming back.]

[quickwhip]

Shit.

[ Muttered more to himself over this bone centaur, he rolls himself off the high branch and lands gracefully down to the ground with a soundless thump. Fun things with being a vampire. ]

The mirrors have been acting strange lately. Wouldn't be surprised if that's how she's getting around.

[petcromancer]

Yes, figured that one out. Don't worry, I've taken care of that.

[He's broken all of Everett's mirrors, and racked up more bad luck than he had before, if such a thing is possible.]

But I need to know how to stop her if she comes back.

[quickwhip]

Are you expecting her to come back tonight?

[ Because if so... he'll just kick her ass and call it a night?? That's what he does after all. Don't even need to pay him! Just, you know, maybe let him have a drink?? Good enough as far as he's concerned. ]

For Allura

[petcromancer]

[Hector doesn’t know what Allura saw in his mirror, or even that she was there. So when he sees her around town, he thinks she is just the mouse-loving woman he met at Tataru’s party. So he actually stops to greet her.]

Hi, Allura. Have you given any more thought about pets?

[Time for a completely normal and not awkward conversation.]

For Iramaat

[petcromancer]

[The day after the full moon, it’s rare to see a faun looking perky. Especially unbonded fauns. Misery loves company, though, so when Hector drags himself out of bed after this particularly bad moon, he texts the only person he knows is in the same boat.]

want to get a drink?

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat is half awake after the bender she went on last night and she squints at her watch, blinking blearily.

Oh. ]

I could certainly use one. My place or yours?

[petcromancer]

I can come to you. is your cabinet stocked, or should I bring us a bottle or two?

[He woke her up, but at least he's not forcing her to walk to his cottage.]

[wylderrant]

I have some wine, if that will do. If you want something stronger you'll probably have to bring it along.

[ There's a delay. ]

Might as well, honestly, two fauns can drink quite a bit.

[petcromancer]

will do.

[Hector isn't quick about arriving. He's feeling sluggish, and assumes Iramaat will be the same. There will be no rushing him this morning...early afternoon...whatever.

When he finally arrives at Iramaat's, he has a bottle of wine and a bottle of rum with him. He juggles the bottles in his arms to have a free hand to knock with. He looks disheveled, wool still extra-thick from the full moon and clothes rumpled from a restless night.]

[wylderrant]

[ It's a good thing he's a bit slow in arriving, because Iramaat has to drag herself out of bed and splash water on her face and clean up the giant, empty dining hall. There are empty bottles and stained glasses and she ends up shoving them into a cupboard and out of the way. By the time there's a knock on the door, she's semi-presentable. She's still wearing her bathrobe, but at least her hair is combed and not a rat's nest.

She opens the door with a stifled yawn. ]

Good-

[ She squints at the sun overhead. ]

-day. Come in, come in...

[ She waves casually and ushers him inside. ]

[petcromancer]

[Hector steps inside after Iramaat.]

I think the full moons are getting worse. It's a fucking pain.

[The night of the full moon had made him wilder than the past months, and the hangover today is even worse. Thus this brilliant plan, to push it off until later with booze.]

How'd you fare?

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat gestures him into the dining room and then pauses. Wow, this feels empty and kind of depressing. ]

As well as can be expected. Had myself a wild bender. Now I'm getting over it...

[ She mumbles and frowns. ]

...maybe the sitting room, it feels less bleak.