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

[braidmage]

[ When Bailey says they've been drawn to plants more, Reynir gives a soft gasp that is almost comical in its transparent shock. He brings a hand to his mouth, eyes widening. ]

I - I told Onni I wanted to start a garden. At our cottage. I've already been planning what to plant where...

[ He hadn't thought anything about it at the time. It just seemed like the right thing to do. And it was a practical thing, too. Where Reynir comes from, people mostly grow their own food. The idea that a household should at least grow enough food to survive on no matter what had seeped pretty deeply into the culture, after the famines that had immediately followed the fall of the old world.

But when Bailey mentions liking plants more, Reynir sees that decision in an entirely different light. ]

You don't like fire now?

[ That one isn't something Reynir himself has noticed... but then, he hasn't really been around fire much, has he? So he would have no way of knowing one way or another.

Reynir looks up as the server brings him tea, mustering a grateful, if slightly wan smile, and holding it between his hands, though he doesn't take a sip. He tries taking a deep breath again, like Bailey had said. Maybe a little humor will help to make it all seem less out of control. ]

I'm not going to start randomly chewing on anything that's near enough to my face, am I?

[ He's spent his entire life looking after sheep, and Reynir knows how much they love to chomp down on pretty much whatever. It's half a joke, half completely serious. ]

[polterguide]

[Conveniently for Bailey, we can say this is before they hit on Onni so there's no recognizing the name and none of the mortification that comes from remembering they flirted with him. Hooray!]

Yeah, I even transplanted a lot of things when me and my roommates moved houses and that was kind of a pain... But I didn't want them to not be taken care of.

[They tilt their head, wondering how to phrase things. They feel like, honestly, they've gotten off better than a few of the Monsters they know. Sylvia has become more rash and vengeful, Saori has to deal with everything being a chimera means, and Jongdae...

Well. Jongdae's dead, so he's not doing too hot either.]

It's like... Seeing a fire, getting a compulsion to put it out. I'm hoping there's some sort of heating you can't see once winter rolls around...

[Because, like, not being able to use your fireplace? Not ideal.]

And... No. Can't say I've started chewing on things more, but... [Their cheeks go slightly pink.] I have noticed that sometimes I'll follow people when I get distracted, and that I like being around people more...

[Aha... Ha... There is definitely something being left unsaid.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir nods, absently; it makes sense to him, on a deep and instinctual level, that Bailey would go to that trouble. They couldn't just leave the plants there, to wither up. Plants were living things and needed tending. Tending things is important. It can't just be abandoned or neglected...

He makes a mental note, to tell Onni about the fire thing, so they could start preparing now. Not that it's necessary for now. This place is so much warmer than anywhere Reynir has ever been before in his life. ]

So... don't go to any blacksmiths. Got it. What about just heat? We were thinking about building a sauna in our yard.

[ Of course, Onni could still build it to enjoy by himself, but it's supposed to be a communal thing. It would suck if Reynir couldn't join him. Although maybe that would be best in the long run; Onni won't have to see whatever it is that becomes of his body. ]

Wait. F-following people?

[ The note of acute distress in Reynir's voice makes it clear he definitely has not accurately caught Bailey's drift. In this case, his fears are getting in the way of his logical thinking. He isn't really considering what behaviors might come along with being a sheep, or goat, or other prey animal. Instead he is just... terrified of anything remotely troll-like.

And so it makes sense, in his mind at least, to jump from following to remembering all the times in the Silent World when they were being followed by a different kind of monster. For very different reasons. ]

Like... you were hunting them? Seeking them out, to hurt them, or- eat them?

[polterguide]

Heat hasn't been much of a problem, that I've noticed?

[They also have a feeling that fur in a sauna might be a little uncomfortable? They're actually not quite sure what being in a sauna is like, but they're, like, humid, right? And that sounds like a bad idea with fur.

...But maybe it would be relaxing? Hm. They have no idea. Sounds nice, though.]

What?

[They blink at the distress, not quite sure where it's coming from. The source doesn't matter, of course, so much as reassuring him that nothing like that is going to happen.]

No, no, it was more like... More like wanting to be in a herd, or something? Feeling better in a crowd. Safer. Not like hunting at all...

[braidmage]

[ Reynir can see he's missed the mark right away from the startled expression on their face. Which is embarrassing, but he's too overwhelmed with relief to feel it right away. ]

Ah, gods, okay. Good. That's - I'm glad.

[ He sets down that tea cup, running his hands down his face and letting out a shuddering breath. Breathing. Just gotta keep breathing. ]

Sorry. I'm just. I-

[ It's all such a tangle and he doesn't have the words to explain part of it without unraveling a lot more about his life than he really wants to. But he tries to spin out his reasoning, at least a tiny bit. ]

I. Am just afraid these new instincts everybody tells me I won't be able to resist are going to be... dangerous. People are scared of monsters, and. I don't want to hurt anybody.

[ He gives himself a little shake, forces himself to take a sip of that tea. Time to gloss over this by asking something else, fast. ]

I always liked being around other people and belonging and stuff so I don't think that will be all that different anyway. What about, um. Other stuff like the horns? How much of me's going to change?

[polterguide]

[They get the feeling there's more to it than just a fear of being dangerous - but they'll let Reynir keep his secrets to himself. One thing they learned, a long, long time ago, was there was nothing to be gained from forcing an issue. Sometimes you should guide people to open up to the truth if they were ready for it, but...

Other times you have to let people decide when to tell you what they're thinking and feeling, even if that means you'll never know.]

It's okay... I think the more you accept your new instincts, the less risk you run of losing control, if that makes sense? Fighting against it will just mean things... Build and build and then you go, well.

[Feral.

They pick up their tea, taking a sip. It's... Gone pretty cool by now, which is unpleasant, but they're paying for it so they're drinking it.]

But... Physical things... There's been a lot of changes. My legs, for one.

[They gesture to underneath the table. Their legs are undeniably faun-like and covered in black fur, with white patches on their knees.]

And I have a tail... Plus fur elsewhere on my body, like my shoulders and down my back. Weirdly, my eyelashes grew longer, too...

[braidmage]

[ Letting go of a little control, in order to prevent ever completely losing control. Reynir understands it, in theory, gives a brief, silent nod to show this. But it sounds a lot easier to talk about it, than actually do it.

Still, the instincts that Bailey's mentioned so far aren't so bad. An enthusiasm for gardening, wanting to stay in groups, not liking fire. Nothing all that awful. Not like what he was dreading. ]

A- a tail, really?!

[ This is why Reynir had decided to ask them for help; there are some things that he is just never going to be able to glimpse on a stranger walking down the street. After the initial surprise, though, Reynir takes a sip of his tea and says, half-bargaining with himself. ]

Well, um. A tail's not so bad. And hair's just hair.

[ He glances up at Bailey, rubbing the back of his neck and admitting in a lowered voice: ]

I feel a bit relieved, honestly. I - I know it probably makes me a terrible person to say but but I'm glad that it's not - tentacles or a snake's tail or bat wings or something like that.

[ It's not anything he would ever say to Monsters who did have those traits, and he knows it's sort of awful, thinking that way. But the gratitude and relief is there, nonetheless.

He glances up, squinting at Bailey's eyelashes, and then saying: ]

Oh, yeah, wow, they are super long, huh?

[polterguide]

[They believe in you, Reynir! They have only just met him for real, but they think he'll be okay.

Maybe they're just optimistic, though. Who knows!]

Yeah... It's not very long? But I guess sheep don't really have long tails, so...

[A beat, as they take a sip of their tea. An amused smile crosses their face for just a moment.]

And I imagine you're pretty used to having a lot of hair.

[That braid is very long. And at his admission, they nod.]

I'm not here to cast judgement - and I think a lot of people would be concerned over what could happen to their bodies and have things they really, really don't want to happen. It's...

[They gesture, vaguely, not quite wanting to ramble at him about things like self-perception and comfort and dysphoria because he didn't really ask for that and it's not the place.

So, instead, they just go a little pink at the scrutiny - what did they think would happen? - and let out an awkward laugh.]

Makes me glad I don't have to wear glasses, honestly.

[braidmage]

Ah, no, many of them don't - it sorta depends on the breed, but the ones with long tails have them docked when they're lambs, for their health.

[ He rattles it off without really thinking, and then adds, ruffling his hair with a small, self-conscious laugh. ]

Ah, I grew up on a sheep farm. I don't know much about being a faun, but I do know a lot about sheep!

[ Reynir smiles at the irony of that and takes another sip of his tea. The awful panic he'd felt since waking up and finding those horns is receding, and he has Bailey to thank for that. ]

I mean yeah, on my head, but the rest of me's never really been that-

[ He cuts himself off abruptly, whole face flushing. Yeah, that's way more than Bailey needs to know about his body hair situation. Gods, he's making an idiot of himself. Reynir, mortified, tries to recover some dignity by drinking the rest of his tea. ]

Anyway! Um! I'll adjust and it's- it doesn't sound all that bad. Do you have any, like. Full moon tips for - dealing with things?

[polterguide]

Really? I didn't know that was a thing.

[Huh. Shows how much they know about sheep. Granted, they did grow up in a big city on the coast, so it's not like there were a lot of sheep farms around for them to investigate if they ever got the itch.]

Being in a city must be pretty new, then...

[They tilt their head, considering.

..Aaaand then Reynir goes and makes things awkward. Now Bailey knows too much and they are trying very hard not to think about Reynir's body hair. Just. How do they recover from this situation?]

I didn't have much either!

[...Not like that, probably. They put their face in their hands, resisting the urge to groan, before pulling back and shaking their head.]

Right. The full moon. Um. Yeah. Right! I... Really, the thing that was hardest for me was that I just felt like I had to be doing stuff... Just being really excited and probably kind of annoying and just wanting to be out there doing things and talking to people and just.

[They wave their hands.]

It's not so bad, really, it just leaves me really tired the next day because it's just... Constantly going, you know?

[braidmage]

Yep. So, um, if you ever need, I don't know, hoof-tending tips, I'm your guy.

[ When Bailey says the city must be an adjustment, Reynir nods, eyes going round. ]

No kidding! The village I grew up in had about a hundred people, so all this is very... it's taking some getting used to.

[ He can tell that he's mortified them, with what he'd said, and they are just trying to make him feel better. And he appreciates that immensely, even if it is quite awkward. A lot of people would have just mocked him, not tried to reassure him and make him feel more normal. Bailey is a good one, that's for sure.

Now if he can just avoid sticking his foot in his mouth again, that would be great. ]

Oh, I know how that is. Honestly, I'm too excited and annoying to people most of the time anyway, so that might be a reeeeeal issue for me on the full moon.

[ Reynir gives a little shrug, eyes sliding away. It's self-deprecating, but it's just the truth. Reynir knows his attitude and engery-level can be wearisome to people. He would have to be a complete idiot not to know it. ]

Maybe I should just - lock myself up with a bunch of puzzles or knitting or whatever and just. Spare everyone.

[polterguide]

I think I'd appreciate that...

[And they would! They don't know the first thing about taking care of their new body, and they want to, you know. Not fuck theirself up someone and do something stupid and preventable.]

I was from a pretty big city before I came here... The magic was the biggest change, for me.

[Which is a much better subject than the mortifying, unintentional oversharing, so that's. Good. Probably?

They frown at the self-deprecation, chewing on their bottom lip for a moment. Reynir seems energetic, for sure, but someone being energetic doesn't mean someone's being unbearable. Plus... They're worried. Trying to hide from others, if he gets the feeling to be around others like he knows happens to Sylvia, could make things... Worse, instead of better.]

You could, but... I don't know. I don't think you should... You're not a burden put on other people, you shouldn't think of it as sparing them when you could just be making yourself miserable.

[They fidget, looking down at the table.]

What if... You and I spent the full moon together? You won't be alone, and I doubt I'll get annoyed of you.

[braidmage]

[ When Bailey says they would appreciate some tips on maintaining their hooves, Reynir smiles. It's nice, to be able to offer something in return, after how easily they had reassured him. ]

And are you getting used to it? The magic and everything?

[ It's so strange, the way that Reynir can hear Bailey's advice and reassurances, and understand on some level, in his mind, that they are fair and accurate. They are probably what he would say, if confronted with someone who had said what he said. But somehow, the truth of it won't seem to sink in. He raises his eyebrows, a skeptical, slightly sad smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. ]

I'm definitely a burden, sometimes. But - I am trying to learn ways not to be.

[ Still, it's not like he wants to be miserable, either, so when Bailey suggests he might spend the full moon with them, Reynir's eyes go wide. ]

Wait, really?! I would love that - are you sure though? I mean, if you already had plans I don't want to- but if you seriously don't mind...?

[polterguide]

[Are they getting used to it? They've been here for a few months now, and they feel like they should be getting used to it. It's just... The magic here is so strange, nothing at all like what their family did, and there's such an important part of theirself that's missing...

It's strange, and odd, and they're not sure they'll ever adjust.]

Ah, sort of... It seems like there's something new or strange happening every day.

[The purse their lips, looking at Reynir. They're not surprised he's insisting he's a burden, but... It's sad.]

I'm sure you're already more capable than you think.

[But, yes. The full moon! Bailey nods, a small smile on their face.]

If I minded, I wouldn't have offered... I don't really plan them out, either, but you're definitely welcome to come over, or we can meet up, or... Whatever.

[braidmage]

[ Reynir widens his eyes and gives a nod that seems to say yeah, no kidding when the mention new and strange things happen every day here. That's true, even to Reynir, who had come from a world with its own magic. He can only imagine that the shock is much larger for Bailey.

His expression softens when Bailey says he's probably more capable than he thinks. Reynir feels his cheeks reddening, and he rubs at the back of his neck, surprised into momentary and uncharacteristic silence. This is somewhat of a culture shock of his own - people in this world have been so nice, so willing to believe that he is capable and competent. It's taking some getting used to. Back in his own world, it was really only Onni who ever thought he had the potential to do just about anything... ]

Thanks.

[ When they reassure Reynir that they don't have any plans he would be disrupting, and aren't offering just as a formality without wanting him to say yes, Reynir's mood shifts. For the first time, he has something to actually look forward to about the looming full moon, something he's started to dread. He can spend it with this new friend! ]

Okay! Let's do it.