middaeg | [ Open ] Iuneril Catch-All

Who: Yona and OPEN!
When: Early to mid Iuneril
Where: Aefenglom, the Wilde
What: Catch-all for the month + Quests + Litha
Warnings: TBA as neccesary

A. Making Magic

[ Practicing her magic has become a daily habit for Yona. Outside of her classes - which she's been attending faithfully - she's dedicated many hours of late to extra practice hours and honing her understanding of these strange new abilities. Magic such as this was never something she'd encountered in her lands and she feels like she has to work twice as hard as some of the others to keep up.

Fortunately, she's made several friends among the other witches - as well as some far more accomplished than she - who have been willing to help her out, showing her what to do and offering helpful advice as she learns. Today, she's settled down in a park - or is it a magical garden? she's not sure - not far away from the Coven. Settled beneath the spreading branches of a large tree, she's alternately immersed in reading from an old text in her lap and occasionally attempting to cast one of the spells she's currently studying.

Assisting her is a fat little squirrel who is perched on the grass in front of her, surrounded by a mound of nuts she'd gathered from beneath the tree. The squirrel seems quite content to entertain herself with her treasure trove, although she does occasionally dart around the tree in pursuit of some fun, but always returns when Yona seems to need her presence again.

Which would be right now, as she focuses with great determination, points a finger at the squirrel before her and attempts to cast her spell. ]

Sleep!

[ ... The squirrel just cocks her head at Yona in confusion a moment before chirping at her and popping a too-large nut in her mouth, making her cheeks puff out. Yona just sighs, her shoulders slumping at the spell failure. ]

B. Home is where the Heart is

[ She's been here several weeks now and the temporary rooms she'd been staying in the barracks had been... alright, but ultimately hadn't been someplace she felt comfortable relaxing and calling home. So, after speaking with some of the other witches in her Coven about what to do, she ended up selecting one of the available cottages elsewhere in the Haven. It still feels a little large to take up with just her, but for now it would do - it was much more familiar to her than the tall buildings holding "apartments", even though some looked down on these as being a little more worn and rustic. She liked that, though. It felt familiar. Comfortable. Homey.

It was going to take a lot of work to make it into an actual home, however. For several long days - upwards of a week, almost - she can be found busily at work around the place. Cleaning, dusting, sweeping, scrubbing. She paints the outside with a fresh coat of paint, makes the shutters and frames around the windows a bright, cheerful green. The gardens around the little cottage will be an endeavor in themselves, but for now she does her best to clear out the overgrown weeds and shrubs so there's a clear path around the little home once more - uncovering cute little paving stones in the process that match the winding stone wall wrapped around the cottage.

Anyone frequenting by this area over the span of a few days will start to see an actual home finally beginning to take shape - although Yona does get herself into trouble a few times by trying to tackle some projects a little too much for her level of skill - despite her determination. Getting to the roof does not happen, resulting in her landing in a bush instead and very much not where she'd intended to end up. Trying to right the sagging front gate might need a more skilled hand than hers as well, because she can't for the life of her figure out how to unhinge the thing - and if it's broken or merely wobbly.

But she's doing her best - for someone who's never had to put a house of her own to rights before, she's not doing too badly for herself, or so she thinks. But she certainly won't turn down a helping hand. Or maybe even just a friendly visit, as she flops down on the grass of the front lawn one afternoon, a little dirty and rumpled and a smudge of dust across her nose and cheek. ]

C. Candle Crafting

[ Yona can't say she's ever crafted candles before. She knew, in theory, how they were made, but when she spots an advert inviting those in the city come and help prepare them for the Litha celebrations, she decides it sounds like it might be a fun outing - and a way to pitch in and help. A simple way, maybe, but that's not a downside to her.

She listens to the instructions of the shop workers and artisans on what to do, but when she comes to her own candle-making station, she can't help but steal glances to the person working next to her, mimicking some of their actions as she starts on her own candles. ]

[ Some of her candles come out better than others - a few come out a little... hmm, misshapen is putting it kindly. But she's taking that as a challenge! Maybe she can find something interesting to carve these ones into instead!

Turning to someone nearby, she holds the strangely-shaped candle up with a hopeful smile for their opinion. ]

D. Berry Picking

[ She'd somehow missed the warnings for any side-effects to this berry-picking adventure. Oh, she'd heard that it was safe enough and there were likely no predators to be worried about, and the double pay was a very tempting enticement. Besides, it felt nice to get out of the city for a bit and do something relaxing and fun like this. Something that reminded her of home.

So here she is with a large basket at her feet as she works her way through the plants, picking iunerberries and enjoying the sunshine. And the pretty scent these bushes give off. She's not sure if its the berries or the bush itself, but she finds herself growing more relaxed and cheerful as she proceeds. Until she almost feels downright giddy. How strange...

Giggling a little to herself, she reaches a little too far for her next handful of berries, overbalances, and goes tumbling down among the grass and leaves. Blinking in surprise a moment, she can only burst into laughter at herself, since that strikes her as the funniest thing that's happened all day! ]

E. The Silent Tree

[ Yona had not yet arrived in the city the last time anyone ventured out to this location, but when she'd heard of another venture here to heal more of the forest, she'd been eager to join them - and to see this progress for herself. Anytime people ventured into the Wilde was a risk, she knew, but it sounded very much like a worthy cause and she wanted to assist, if she could.

Her own venture to infuse some of the leylines had been carefully guarded, although she might be considering another try at it. Or, failing that, she keeps an ear out for others heading out to inspect or donate some of their magic, offering to join them as additional protection.

Or perhaps you find her not far away, not too deeply into the more dangerous areas. She's crouched beside a cluster of bright yellow flowers, leaning down to tend them with diligent care. She doesn't know who these might have sprouted from - she's not even sure what kind of flower this is, actually - but that doesn't seem to bother her right now. She carefully clears the snow away from their roots, giving them room to grow. Should someone approach, she'll glance up with a smile. ]

F. Wildcard

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chaneystarr with additional ideas or questions! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Berry picking later, it's hug time now.]

Mmm, it does help. At least being around with you makes it warm and less lonely.

[Another sigh as he nuzzles against Yona. Soundwave turns the affection up a bit, gradually becoming aggressive with the nuzzling, and pushing the avatar's full weight on her. It's probably likely they'll both fall back on the ground... It's a good thing Soundwave's current form is soft. But whether they'll fall or not, he doesn't let up with the affections.]

I like to stay like this, Yona.

[ Yona just laughs and doesn't even struggle, because the grass had been soft and the sun warm, and even down here there were more leaves nestled in the greenery and... well, it's not likely she's gonna get less intoxicated anytime soon. ]

I don't want you to be lonely. [ She gives him a squeeze. ] I don't have to be anywhere! Do you?

No, I don't either.

[Even if he does have to be somewhere, he decides it isn't as important as this right now, snuggling his favorite human. Mercifully, he does stop nuzzling Yona so much and pulls his face away to meet her eyes at least. His fingers trail through Yona's hair behind her ear.]

Hmm. Yona... I'm not at all good determining this with humans, but... I think you look beautiful. Your red hair is... ah, eye-catching.

[Oh he flirting now.]

[ One day, Yona will figure out what flirting is. It typically goes right over her head.

...Now doesn't seem to be an exception, either.

She just laughs and pulls a lock of it around where she can stare at it - it's finally long enough once more than she can do that. ]

Yes. It was unique, even in my lands. People always admired it.

[ Although that's more than a hint that she didn't always agree... ]

[Honestly, that works for Soundwave in the future, that the flirting goes right over her. He'd die from embarrassment. But now, he doesn't seem bothered by her not catching onto that.

Listening to Yona, his smile falters a bit while his hand still lavishing the smooth red hair.]

Yona, you don't sound too happy about it...

[Although the mood was light, even in this drunk state, he could tell there's something more to it.]

[ She gives a soft laugh at that, letting the stray curl drop back in with the rest. ]

I used to hate it. Hated that it made me stand out always. Set me apart as different.

[He could understand that, hating a part of themselves for setting them apart from others. Unlike Yona, his wasn't something people admired.

Soundwave rolls over to the side, laying his back on the soft grass with Yona. His hand seeks for hers to lace fingers with.]

Used to? You don't hate it anymore?

Mmm, I guess... it means something more now...

[ She hedges that answer a little bit, a slight frown on her lips. ]

Although there were times I still wished it away. It hasn't been safe to stand out in my lands for a long while now.

... Is it because you're a target?

[He still remembers the memory from Yona's mirror. He didn't get around to asking the context, considering how sensitive it seems.]

At least you don't have to worry about that, here. You're safe. [His other hand reaches to play with her bangs.]

[ Her eyes widen a moment as she glances up at him. ]

How did you know that?

[ Had she mentioned something? Even though she's not sure she would have remembered that if tipsy anyway. ]

... It was a guess?

[Was that a good enough answer? Though it's not like he has any other answer to give her aside from that. It truly was a guess.]

Remember when I saw your memory in the mirror? I do not know the full story but... You seem to be in danger in it, and I assumed you might be targeted.

[ She'd forgotten all about that, and for a moment her expression drops at the memory ]

Ahh, you're right. I'd forgotten you'd witnessed that. Well... you're not wrong.

I never asked you about the memory back then since I didn't want to upset you, but... What was that about?

[Is this a good topic when they're both tipsy? Eh, probably...]

[ Alcohol can somewhat dull the sharp pain, although not entirely.

She stares up at the sky again, focusing on somewhere distant, her mind traveling back to her lands. To a familiar face, one that holds an expression she no longer recognizes. ]

I... My father was betrayed, by someone close to him. Someone he loved. Someone we both... [ Because she'd loved him, too. So much, so greatly, that she'd been there to beg her father again to allow her to marry him. Had her father suspected all along? Was that why he'd denied her this? ] He was slain for power and ambition.

[ And whatever other mysterious motives Soo-Won had hidden from them all this time. ]

[When she starts talking, Soundwave follows and joins to looks up at the sky together, listening while staring at the blue sky. The hand he's holding gets a gentle squeeze after Yona trails off.]

So it was for power... [They were betrayed by someone close to them, huh... It was familiar. People slain and betrayed for power and ambition. Such greed is something he's seen several times during his lifetime. Were she and her father important figures where they are from?] I'm sorry, Yona.

As am I.

[ Her voice is soft, sad. Wistful, almost. ]

I'm not sure I would trade what I've learned and experienced since then, to change it. Pass up the dear friends and bonds I've made along the way. But that doesn't mean I don't still wish, sometimes...

[ Open ] Iuneril Catch-All

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