open!

[polterguide]

Who: Bailey Morello & You!
When: Juril
Where: Various
What: Quests and circus visits and hopefully not embarrassing anyone too badly.
Warnings: There shouldn’t be any need!

the cheeriest;
[Making bread isn’t exactly new to Bailey - their mother insisted they learn how to cook, though the breads she made and these buns aren’t really all that similar. Which, okay, not so surprising considering Aefenglom is nothing like their home.

Well. Turnskins are kind of similar to some creatures they’ve met at home, and so are vampires, but two things don’t exactly make a place feel familiar. Still, homesickness is no reason to be mopey, and they especially can’t be mopey when they’ve got a job to do.]

You’re doing great.

[Their voice is soft on a good day, so someone couldn’t be blamed for being confused over whether they’re addressing the loaf they’re kneading or another volunteer. And, honestly, Bailey isn’t quite sure who they’re addressing either. All they need to do is compliment, right…?]

You’re really gonna rise to the occasion…!

[And make puns, apparently.]

circus, festivities flavor
[A circus! Not something Bailey would usually get excited about, but they can’t deny that they’re curious to see everything going on here. The food is a welcome change from what they usually eat, and they’ll gladly share food with anyone who doesn’t have enough money to buy something. (Or someone who’s very convincing that they don’t have any money, anyways.)

Something they’re less glad about is the games. They’re standing at the stall, frowning deeply.]

This seems more rigged than carnival games usually are…

[Hmm! They turn towards the person nearest them, thoughtfully holding a ring for the ring toss.]

Right? Not everyone would be doing this terribly…

[Enchanting a game to always lose just seems too unfair…!]

circus, no inhibitions flavor;
[The performance is amazing, and they don’t notice the spell that’s taken hold of everyone. They just feel delighted! It was beautiful and wondrous and they’re feeling good, and they hope everyone else is feeling good, too.

Everyone else is certainly looking good, which is not a thought Bailey lets themself think very often. They’re a shy, awkward sort and they’ve known that about themself for years, long before they became Bailey. Still, maybe it’s just a burst of confidence from all of the awe, because they can’t stop themself from stepping up to the person who managed to catch their eye.]

Ah, sorry! I just wanted to say you’re really beautiful.

[Or maybe they say handsome, or cute. The point of the matter is there’s a very tall faun with curling horns smiling sheepishly, with their hands pressed together in front of them.]

wildcard;
[Feel free to throw something at me, or hit me up at daintily or in the disco!]

Comments

no inhibitions

[stardustish]

Bailey!

[ she's approached by them while she's in line for food. now, this wouldn't be out of the ordinary, but they call her cute. cute!! sylvia lets out a laugh at that -- it's not a mocking one, just one of disbelief. it's not every day that they're so generous with their compliments, and she can't recall them ever calling her that, so... ]

Awwww, you! C'mere!

[ and then she reaches up, as high as she can, to ruffle their hair. take that, you menace! ]

[polterguide]

[They laugh, leaning down so Sylvia can ruffle their hair because while watching her stretch is funny, they have some pity for her.]

Especially with those ears!

[A soft little bunny rabbit.]

[stardustish]

Heh, they really up my cuteness factor, don't they!

[ sylvia please. she ruffles their hair for a little while longer, and then she pulls her hand back and opts to put it on her hip instead. ]

You're pretty affectionate today! What's gotten into you?

[polterguide]

It's a better look than these horns.

[They straighten up, shrugging their shoulders.]

I dunno, it just... I don't say these things often enough, I think.

[stardustish]

You think so? I think the horns are charming.

[ shrugs! ]

You don't, but I don't think that's a bad thing. It means that when you do say them, it means a lot!

[polterguide]

Eh... They're okay, I guess.

[Kind of heavy, tbh.]

Well... I'm glad the things I say mean a lot to you! I really am...

festivities

[needsteaplz]

[Saori stood next to Bailey, watching a random local sulking after they failed.]

You're right. The rigging shouldn't done this blatantly. It's not good business if you don't attempt to make the game look winnable.

[Says the depowered goddess of business and luck. A shame she didn't have those powers to push luck towards their favor. ]

[polterguide]

Right?

[They cross their arms, shaking their head.]

They're just going to piss people off and start a fight... And then what're we gonna do?

[needsteaplz]

Chances are, we'd be in charge of damage control. Last thing we need here is a riot. And all for what, a few cunes over a game? Something tells me they need a little...convincing to tilt the odds in our favor.

[Saori walks over, getting the stall vendor's attention. When she flashes some cunes, with a little extra hidden, she puts on a flirty air. She's not sure if it'll work but at least she can help figure out how to beat this game.]

Excuse me, I'd like to play a round too, please.

[polterguide]

Are you suggesting bribery?

[They sound amused, trailing after Saori as she heads to the stall.

They stand back, watching curiously to see what the vendor is going to do. They seem surprised by the extra cunes, but who knows what they're going to do just yet.]

No inhibitions

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ On his world, Kai has an effect on people. Most humans feel pretty strongly that if the elfin are generally beautiful they're also pointy-eared bastards responsible for the deaths of large amounts of humans in the war that had happened when their worlds first collided. Elfin, well. Kai prefers not to interact much with other elfin.

But if this person isn't human, they're also definitely not elfin, so Kai responds to the compliment with a gentle smile. He's got plenty of inhibitions usually, but the lack of them isn't likely to affect this encounter - he's almost always easy. ]

Yeah? You're looking pretty good yourself today.

sorry this took so long!! wheezes,

[polterguide]

[Oh, they weren't expecting that. They blink a bit, before fidgeting with the longer strands of their hair. Giving compliments is one thing, receiving them...?

Well, the lowered inhibitions means they have some grace, at least.]

Hah, thanks... Though, really! Not that special compared to you.

[But only some.]

No worries!

[halfbloodhatchling]

Special's not always great.

[ Kai's got lowered inhibitions enough to say that, at least. But then he is going to go back to flirting. ]

You don't get complimented often?

[polterguide]

[They consider that for a moment, tilting their head.]

...I don't know. I feel like you're right, but there's something great about being yourself, even if that specialness gets you bad attention.

[But, anyways! Not the time for that.]

Hah, no, not... For my looks, anyways.

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ Kai snorts, an undignified noise coming out of a man who otherwise is a bit too delicate to pass for human. He runs a hand over his right ear, thumb rubbing against the scar just below the tip. ]

But that's a shame.

[ Kai takes a step closer, assessing how this person reacts to the intrusion of their space. ]

There's plenty to like about what I see.

wildcard (🐏)

[braidmage]

[ At first, when he noticed the slight itching on his scalp, Reynir thought there must be something in the hair products from this world that was disagreeing with him. He'd been here a few weeks now and so he'd run out of the last of what he'd had on him, for the expedition in Finland.

It didn't occur to him to wonder why the feeling was so localized to two particular areas just on either side of his skull. He did his best to leave it alone, not to scratch at it and draw attention. And the headaches were just a coincidence, surely...

But he couldn't ignore it when he was braiding his hair and actually felt the beginnings of horns poking out of his skull. They must have grown quite a bit overnight, as there was a good half-inch or so there. Not enough to show through his hair, but they would in another day or so.

He'd known it was going to happen. That he was a Monster, and that it was inevitable and everyone's advice was not to fight it. But that doesn't make it easy...

Later that day, he spots Bailey, sitting at a little outdoor table in front of a cafe. He remembers interacting with them, but had forgotten that they were a monster.

A monster with horns.

Reynir is someone who goes with his intuition. He abandons the shopping trip he'd been on, coming into the patio area and taking the seat opposite to Bailey. ]

Hey! I don't know if you remember me? Reynir Árnason. You're Bailey, aren't you?

[polterguide]

[Bailey feels like they've adjusted to life in Aefenglom well enough. Sure, they keep mostly to theirself, but they did that back in New Lodgins anyways. They've always been more comfortable in the presence of the dead then the living, but their connection to the dead is well and truly gone.

Plus, you know, people are confusing and difficult and they never really learned how to read social cues because it was unnecessary for them. And all of this becoming a Monster and needing to get a Bond or you'd become feral and dangerous and just...

Better to keep to theirself! Easier, that way. Still, they like getting out of the house and spending time away from their roommates, and stopping to get tea has become something of a routine for them. They're not expecting to be approached, though, and they blink at Reynir in surprise for a few moments. They do recognize him, from when they both first arrived though that seems like ages ago.]

I do... And yeah, I'm Bailey - Bailey Morello.

[And, because while Bailey might be needing to practice reading people better, they do get the feeling that there's a reason Reynir is approaching them out of the blue.]

...Everything alright?

[braidmage]

Yes.

[ He says it right away, when Bailey asks if everything is alright - clearly an automatic response that has no bearing on how he actually feels. Reynir's eyes are rounder than they should be, and he keeps fidgeting, gloved hands twisting together in his lap as he tries to figure out the right thing to say. ]

Or, um. Actually no, it's not. I mean, it is, but-

[ He's making a mess of this already, and breaks off, biting his lower lip. An awkward silence stretches as he tries to think of a polite, tactful, suave way to approach the topic, but his mind is empty. All that leaves him with is the truth, and he blurts it out in a rush: ]

You've got horns, so that means you're - you're a faun, right?

[ There is so much that Reynir doesn't know about Monsters, but he had at least picked up some vague sense of which traits went with which types, generally. ]

It's a whole complicated story but I was home in my own world for a while and I only just came back through the mirrors, only this time I'm a Monster and- and this morning I was doing my hair and...

[ Maybe it's better to just show them, rather than try to explain. Reynir reaches up, pushes some of that fluffy halo of bright-red hair to the side, showing off the beginning of a horn poking out. ]

[polterguide]

[Nobody answers that quickly if they're telling the truth, so Bailey waits patiently for the truth to come out. They're very, very good at being patient with other people, with offering them an ear to vent to.

They sometimes struggle with what to say when things are outside of the familiar, but. Still, sometimes listening is all people really need.]

Yes... If I had to guess, probably one that's a bit more sheep-like.

[They know deer, at least, don't have horns that curl the way their's do. They're less familiar with goats, but... Also not really this curly, they think?]

Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and then release it.

[Their voice is gentle, and they motion for Reynir to sit down across for them.]

Do you like tea? It can be soothing... And you could probably do with some of that. I know that the start of changes can be... Frightening. And painful...

[They trail off, looking at Reynir expectantly.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir nods, distracted, when Bailey guesses that their own faun traits are sheep-like. Their curly horns might not be quite like those that Reynir is so accustomed to seeing, but they certainly look more like a sheep's than a deer or goat or even a cow.

That distraction comes from his realization - though it's more of a reminder - that even within each type of Monster, there is variation. All fauns aren't cut from the same cloth. So even though some of the awful uncertainty has been lifted from his mind, it turns out there was a new, different uncertainty hiding right behind it! Good!

He opens his mouth to question why Bailey is telling him to breathe, but then he shuts it again without saying anything, and does what he's told. He inhales deeply, holds his breath diligently for a few seconds, and then sighs. He sits down. ]

Yeah. I... could do with some of that.

[ Whether he means tea specifically, or comfort in general, he doesn't specify. But he feels just a tiny bit better, already. ]

I'm really sorry to bother you. I just - I didn't know who else to ask.

[ Not that he has actually asked any questions, yet. He'd just come up and declared what was happening to him, let his predicament speak for itself. Reynir tries to smile at Bailey, but it's a small, strained thing. ]

It doesn't really hurt. Um, yet, I guess. I'm just not... really sure what to do. Or what to expect.

no inhibitions;

[scowlish]

[Onni has noticed that people are behaving a little strangely - it's easy enough to tell even when he barely knows anyone here. It's just that they certainly hadn't seemed to have a culture of swiping whatever they happen to want or touching others inappropriately or bluntly speaking their minds to each other without any sort of filter (though that last one seems more appealing to him than the rest). He can feel it himself, because everything he sees that he suspects might be sweet, every little tart with fruit on top, every bit of cake, every fried dough powdered with sugar, he simply takes and stuffs in his mouth before he even has a chance to try to stop himself.

When someone comes up to him and calls him beautiful, it catches him completely off guard, because he's sure he has powdered sugar on his lower lip and he knows his hair is sticking up in every direction and he hasn't actually given a single thought to how he looks for as long as he can remember.]

That's a strange thing to say.

[polterguide]

Are you saying that because you don't believe it?

[The faun smiles down at Onni, though there's a curious look in their eye. They're actually kind of serious about that question, for all that they're feeling like they can and should do whatever they want and act on impulse.

There are some things about Bailey that will just never change, it seems.]

[scowlish]

[This person is ridiculously tall, and Onni tilts his head back to look at them. The question is valid enough, he supposes, but it takes a few moments before he can respond because he hadn't expected to be asked that kind of question. Or any question at all really.]

I don't suppose I ever gave it much thought.

[That's the best answer he can really give - Onni generally doesn't give much consideration to what he looks like at all, and only cares about his body enough to make sure it's functioning.]

[polterguide]

[Maybe you're just short, Onni!! Maybe that's just what's happening!!

They tilt their head, giving Onni a once over.]

Well, why not?

[The million dollar question, truly.]

[scowlish]

[Another strange question, and Onni blinks a bit, looking up at the faun. His expression is a picture of surprise and confusion.]

There's no point to it. Nobody needs to be beautiful. It just didn't matter.

[He had so many more important things to think about. Honestly, he can't even remember if he'd cared about what he looked like back before everything had gone wrong. Why would he care now?]