catch-all (partly open; partly closed)

[catasstrophy]

Who: Konoe and friends acquaintances (and enemies, and whatever)
When: May
Where: ~around~
What: All the things! So far: herb quest with Dylas; Mrs. Mitten quest with... you?
Warnings: The general stupidity of a catboy chasing a cat? 🙀 Will edit as things come up.
Feel free to use the format/tense you're most comfortable with! I will happily adapt.
If you want to wildcard me for whatever, go right ahead. You're likely to find Konoe around the city, following the magic classes the coven's giving, maybe attempting some very minor magic in a secluded spot, sitting on a rooftop looking out over the city and trying not to feel lonely, or... very much lost because he has no sense of direction.

[closed] HERBOLOGY HELP

It's not for the reward that Konoe does this; in fact, he's not sure what the reward even is. But he's been wanting to take a look at the forest, even if it's supposed to be dangerous, and this gives him the perfect excuse to finally do it. And, since he's not alone... he doesn't have to worry about getting lost either. (Shut up.)

It's strange how much the forest feels comfortable and familiar, yet something about it is still very much off. The smell of the trees and plants is not so different than that of the world he grew up in, but there's definitely something odd on top of that, very faint and sickly sweet, yet anything but sweet at the same time. That's new. The Void never smelled like anything... but then, that only made it more dangerous.

This still feels more like home than a city ever could. Konoe appreciates the comforts of a city, but it's hard to beat scents for nostalgia.

"Follow the river in the forest, it said..." And that's what they're doing. "Do you think it's much further?" He doesn't mind either way. He's just trying to make conversation, in his own way - and perhaps trying to calm down somewhat, with that eerie sickly sweet scent lightly prickling at his nose.


[open] MRS. MITTENS

In a city full of magic and monsters, there's a wide variety of things one should expect to see, and very little that should surprise you. Even so, the sight in front of you may raise a few eyebrows.

"Hey - wait!" There's a young man with a tail and cat ears, his hood long since fallen off his head and flapping behind him like the rest of his mantle. He's running at a pretty impressive speed, jumping obstacles... and perhaps knocking over a thing or two (hopefully not a person or two) in the process, oops.

That's not really the noteworthy thing here, though. The strangest thing to note is that he's chasing... a cat. The catboy is chasing a cat.

"I'll give you milk, so come here already!" He remembers that these Cats are supposed to like milk. He has still not accepted that they apparently - supposedly - can't talk, though... and even if he did, he expects them to at least understand what he's saying.

Clearly this particular Cat is just very rude.

Comments

mrs. mittens

[veilfires]

[Dressed as he is in sensible boots and his plain Coven-supplied robes, he could pass for any native Witch – until you notice his pointed ears. Solas is walking cross-district, between Undermael College and The Haven. Carrying three new library books in his arms, he’s striding with the crowd purposefully, his mind on reaching his destination promptly.

It’s a minor shock when a cat-eared man in a full sprint barrels past him, knocking into his side. It dislodges one of his books, clattering on the cobblestones.

He blinks after said cat-man, not unamused. He’s chasing a cat, evidently. Shouting at a cat you’re hoping to catch seems counterproductive – but perhaps he's the mistaken one. Cat-catching is something he knows little of, and he's not the one with a cat's tail, here.

Having grown accustomed to seeing Monsters, he almost doesn’t think twice about the tail – but something about it catches his eye like a lure. He is sure of it – he has seen that man a few times before, in passing. One of the other newcomers. His intention for the afternoon had been to make a start on the basic trigonometry of glyph-writing, but. It’s a chance encounter, however silly. It's an opportunity to aid a fellow newcomer - and wouldn’t it be interesting to make his acquaintance properly?

He pauses. Weighs his options.

Then he puts his other books down in a little stack, and starts off in chase of the cat as well. He's behind, but two heads are better than one. Perhaps if they work together they can find a way to cut the cat off -

(Solas has joined your party!)]

\o/

[catasstrophy]

Sorry!

[Konoe's manners aren't the best, but he can at least take responsibility for knocking something - what, he couldn't tell for sure - out of someone's hands. There's not much emotion behind the words, though, his entire focus on catching that stupid cat.

Except that, a little further down, he realizes that someone is chasing him - and that is definitely the person he bumped into. Dammit - he doesn't have time for this..!]

I said I was sorry!

[And that settles that! It's not like he minds if this person wants to fight about it - far be it from Konoe to back down from a challenge - but he's trying to get this job done, and it's already taken him long enough that it feels like the Cat is mocking him. Even if it's a Cat, Konoe isn't going to lose to it!]

[veilfires]

[- or perhaps he’ll only distract the man by appearing to chase him, enough that the cat ultimately flees.]

No need! Keep your eyes on the cat! I’ll help!

[He'd ordinarily think it funny, but now he has committed to the task, he's carrying it out with his usual mage’s focus. Quests to wrangle an animal are no simple matter, he has learned: concentration is required.

His only glimpse of the cat so far has been it tearing past in the corner of his eye, moments before the man made contact. But he has the advantage of a burst of speed from having just started to run. He scans around the crowd for some sort of advantageous route.]

[catasstrophy]

[Help? Well, if the guy wants to help, Konoe isn't going to say no. There's no reason why he should, anyway: it's a free city, or something like it.]

Fine. Keep up!

[... How very grateful.

Mrs. Mittens is a pretty fast Cat, her small size a definite advantage, even with her shorter legs. Konoe can't gain on her no matter how he tries, but he can hope for an opportunity to corner her - and that opportunity seems to come not long after literally running into the pointy-eared man, when Mrs. Mittens rushes into an alley that proves to be a dead end.

The upside (downside?) to chasing a Cat so small compared to himself is that this is much like chasing prey, Konoe's instincts kicking in. The downside is that, the closer he gets to success and the more focused he becomes, the more he has no attention to spare for anything outside of his target, his surroundings all but ignored. He pounces when Mrs. Mittens is forced to slow down, before she can even turn around - but it's like she was expecting it. Konoe barely misses as she jumps up - and onto his head, planning a quick escape as he slides face-first into a pile of garbage.]

[veilfires]

[A cat is not so fast as a halla, and not so stubborn as a druffalo. It is, however, small, darting and almost as clever. But not, in this instance, quite clever enough – the man succeeds in corralling it in an alley. Solas is behind him, expecting this to be the moment the chase ends.

He’s pulled up short in that confidence, though, when the man falls. The cat pauses to meow in victory, and leaps off his head to make a swift getaway.

He could swear he sees the cats eyes widen in surprise when it sees him. They take each other by mutual surprise, but they are both quick thinkers. He swoops in to scoop his arms around its body. The cat performs an admirable mid-air twist of feline acrobatic grace, dancing out of his grasp. He barely readjusts himself – and succeeds in grabbing it by its tail.

It, of course, lets out a horrible yowl of pain. He lets go at once, freezing, shocked by the noise and sorry to have hurt it.

The cat flexes in mid-air, clearly preparing to sprint off as soon as it lands. It’s not been stopped, but it has been delayed.]

[sullenstallion]

The air here is so much better than it was in the city. The smell of smog and overpopulation (well, overpopulation as least as far as he's concerned) aren't attractive scents to be picking up on every walk and exploration. There's too much of everything. Too much to smell, too many crowds, too much noise. Heading into the forest with Konoe feels like exactly the break he needed.

"It can't be too far. We would've been warned if they were really deep in the woods, right? I just hope we can recognize them. I've never heard of the damn things."

He's letting Konoe lead. Maybe that's a recipe for disaster. Dylas doesn't know anything about anyone having a bad sense of direction. His eyes are mostly on the river as he walks, scoping out the area for a good fishing spot to come back to later. Just in case.

"It's nice to get away from all that noise, isn't it?" He asks Konoe, curious as to whether or not his furry friend(?????) has the same feelings he does.

[catasstrophy]

"Me, neither..." This enterprise might have benefited from some research. Just maybe. But they randomly stumbled on this little quest, and Konoe was all too happy for the excuse to explore the forest a little. Anyway! "With a name like that, they should be easy to recognize, right? You don't call something Flaming Lips unless it stands out in some way." Like by being lip-like. Or flaming.

At least there's little getting lost to be done while following a river, so for now they're pretty safe. Konoe looks around, taking in the sights - and keeping an eye out for the herbs. Even if that distant sickly sweet scent is unsettling... Dylas is right: this is so much calmer than the city.

"Seriously. The city has its benefits, but there's always something happening everywhere you look, and people of all kinds are all around..." Sights, sounds, scents... They're all too much. It's not a bad thing as such, but getting away from it all really makes Konoe realize how incredibly overstimulated he's been. Maybe his senses aren't much better than the average human's, but he's used to being (mostly) alone, and the contrast is huge.

[sullenstallion]

"Yeah. Too many people." And Monsters. But he's with Konoe, so he doesn't say that part. "There are more people in this city than I've ever seen before. Hey, did you ever go down to the harbor? It's even worse there."

Dylas' trips there have always ended in disappointment. In addition to the people, there's the smell of industry there. Even with his human senses, the smell is so alien and overpowering to him that he can't stand to be there for long.

He continues to walk. He's getting closer and closer to the river with each step, and he's looking where he's going less and less. But he's continuing. "I wonder how valuable they are. Maybe we should take some spare herbs back for ourselves. It can't hurt, right?"

[catasstrophy]

Monsters are people, too!! Konoe really wishes there was a better way to describe the creatures than 'monsters'. It's such a negative thing in his world...

"The note did say we could keep some for ourselves..." The note didn't say whether they'd be paid for their trouble at all, so getting to keep their entire findings should be no more than reasonable... but Konoe is pretty focused on the job circumstances as they were given, without second-guessing them. "How much would something like that even sell for?"

Without knowing what the herbs even do, it's ridiculous to think about how much they might be worth, but there he goes all the same. He never claimed to be great at random conversation.

[sullenstallion]

"Herbs usually aren't worth much. It depends on how rare they are, but if someone really needs them and can't waste time, they'll pay more for the convenience."

He sounds like he knows what he's talking about for once, and he does. Herbs cost less than vegetables and fish, but fruit sells for a lot. Meat? He's not too sure about meat.

"If we can preserve them, that'll make it even easier for us. We could just keep them until someone needs them." Eventually, his footsteps cease behind Konoe as he squats down next to the river to peer into it. He keeps talking. "I wonder what the 'flaming' part is supposed to mean. They can't actually be on fire."

wildcard

[wylderrant]

Iramaat is a fan of climbing things or at least getting high up. It means you can see for a great ways, you can clear your head, and you have just yourself under the clear, blue sky (well, if it's not cloudy or raining, anyway). She's managed to find a way onto a roof, tread light as she picks her way forward. There's a breeze up hair and it ruffles at her clothes, tugs at her hair. She pauses to shield her eyes from the sun, looking out over the other roof-tops, quite enjoying her own little adventure.

At least until she notices she has company.

"Oh, hello there-!" She immediately says. This one looks like a "monster", not that she minds those sorts at all.

"Sorry, didn't see you! Fantastic view, isn't it?"

[catasstrophy]

Letting his thoughts drift to where they can't help but go - mostly to his own world and the friends he left behind - Konoe is slow to notice that he has company. Even with her footsteps light, even with the sounds bubbling up from the streets below, he should have taken note of having company sooner, but as it is, it's only just before she starts talking that he becomes aware of it, looking over his shoulder. He's not startled as such, but he's a little wary. Maybe that can't be helped, if you think you're safely alone, and suddenly you turn out not to be.

The horns really don't help. He knows that Monsters can have horns; he has yet to hear of a single demon in this world. But horns will always be associated with demons in his mind, and given how he was tortured by four of those creatures just before coming here, the association definitely isn't a good one.

... He knows that voice, though, doesn't he? He can't immediately place it, but he knows it's familiar.

"Yeah." It really is a nice view, even if that was only half the reason he came up here at best. "There's a lot to see down below, too."

[wylderrant]

She doesn't quite settle in next to him, but she does drop into a squat and follow his gaze out over the city with a smile. She thinks he remembers his voice, but she's not 100% sure. So she makes a little 'hmm' sound and scratches herself under the chin.

"So much activity. A veritable hive, like a bunch of busy bees. I tend to prefer the woods to cities, but there's a certain sense of beauty to it, no? So many people coming together to do... whatever it is they do."

She waves her hand in a vague manner.

"I didn't think anyone else would be up here, honestly. Here to look at the view or...?"

[catasstrophy]

"It's easier to enjoy from a distance."

Which is half a 'yes' to her question, perhaps. He still prefers the woods, himself, if only for nostalgia. He doesn't mind cities as such, but they're... kind of a lot. He's just glad he has spots like this to retreat to, for a little distance and quiet. Not that he minds the company (even if he still can't help but side-eye the horns a bit), but there's a huge difference between being with only one other person, and being stuck between hundreds or even thousands of them.

"... Did we talk, before? On the watches."

[wylderrant]

She starts, as if remembering something and then snaps her fingers, eyes lighting up.

"I think we did! You were the... cat? I think?"

She glances at him curiously, notes the ears and then taps her chin, brow furrowed.

"...not quite like Nox, then. Rather different, honestly."

Wildcard; After Class Practice

[holybeasts]

[These starter classes were quite eye opening. Maria had been privately taught as a child, being the daughter of a minor lord of the land. After her parent's deaths and her gaining of abilities however, her education had come from what books she could find and Annette's careful guidance. Annette couldn't teach magic though and Maria had had to rely on herself.

Now here she was, in a class! With so many others, learning magic! She's almost starry eyed over it. This is one of the universal classes with it's lower-level spells and when the class is done, she lingers a bit. She had told someone she would practice with them and though names weren't exchanged, she hoped they may linger about too.]

[catasstrophy]

[While he's spent much of his time up till now wearing his hood - as if that really hides his ears even a tiny bit! - even Konoe can't bring himself to wear a hood inside and during classes. Even with a hood, there would have been trouble: he looks like a monster, and monsters can't learn magic, so why should he attend? Konoe insists, though - a little rudely, admittedly, but he gets his way, if only because it can't hurt to let him sit in on classes, either.

He was pretty neutral on learning magic, before: nice if it works, but not much lost if he simply can't manage. Now, though, he insists on learning at least something, to prove these people calling him a monster wrong. (Not that there's anything wrong with being a monster in this world, but he's not overly fond of the term, and he knows he isn't one. He's a cat!)

He's not that great at writing, but as the class empties out, he lingers, slowly but very determinedly finishing some notes. He sees no point in rushing out with the crowd, everybody getting in his way and vice versa - and besides, he has plans to meet someone, if only vague ones.

The network offered names, but Konoe hadn't paid much attention to them, more focused on the conversations themselves, and not exactly checking the contact info afterwards. All he knew was that there was a girl who had offered him some good insight, and she'd sounded cute - which probably said absolutely nothing.

Then again, it might say something, because the girl who stays behind with him is definitely cute. But he doesn't know if it's her, does he? Tucking away his notes, he dares to ask:]

Are you... "magic is chaos"?

[That sounds like a terrible pen name in a personal ad, but okay.]

[holybeasts]

[Terrible as it may sound, it does work. The moment after the question is asked, Maria lights up.]

That's right! I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself earlier.

[She on the other hand hasn't even noticed the contact names. She's barely got the device down, to be quite honest.]

I'm Maria.

[catasstrophy]

I don't think I did, either.

[So there's no need to apologize.

Wow... She really is cute. He's still getting used to how many females are around, here - his own world had all but been without them - and she's so... soft? It's like seeing someone from a different planet. Which probably isn't far from the truth, for that matter...

Okay, he needs to focus, here.]

I'm Konoe.

[And, just like that, he loses any idea he might have had on what else to say. Maybe the class took a little out of him, after all... He's definitely not used to learning, let alone in a classroom.]

... Let's find somewhere to practice.

["Practice outside" is as much instruction as they got on that front, but he figures somewhere just outside the city is best. Even if they don't manage to do anything, that seems safest.]

[holybeasts]

Mm, alright.

[She's happy enough to walk alongside him, ticking off places in her mind where they might go practice.]

As long as we don't go too wild we could try one of the Coven's gardens? We can't really go outside the city walls by ourselves or at least too close to the wall to risk hurting it.

wildcard: magic lessons

[topslug]

The Coven may only hold formal classes once a week, but they’re meant to practice more than that. Yako had attended more out of actual curiosity than the actual expectation that she’d actually get anything out of it, but she’d felt the unmistakable tug of something trying to get loose in her first class, something latent responding to the stimulus provided.

Of course, just because she could feel the magic didn’t mean she was much good at calling it out except in fits and spurts. Which is what brings her to where she is now: sitting inelegantly on the ground in one of the city’s quiet, shady courtyards, still dressed in Coven-issued robe as she snacks on the food that she’d allegedly brought for her and Konoe while she watches the cat go through the motions they were taught.

“They make it look a lot easier than it is,” she says around a mouthful of food, before she chews and swallows.

[catasstrophy]

"If it was easy, everybody would be doing it, right?"

Even if all humans here apparently have the potential for magic, not everybody practices it. To ignore something so powerful at your fingertips, there must be some serious cost-benefit issues to studying, right? Not everybody wants to put in the effort when the rewards are, perhaps, minimal by comparison.

And there's also the chance that you magically explode at some point, but, you know. Details.

Konoe, meanwhile, isn't really getting anywhere - maybe tomorrow's category of magic will suit him better; or maybe he should go back to practicing yesterday's? - and he gives up with a frustrated sigh.

"Are you here to practice or eat?"

Ignore him, he's just annoyed that he's not managing much.

[topslug]

"It's hard to think about anything else when you're hungry," Yako protests without any real rancor. The obvious fact she's leaving out there is that she's hungry all the time. She'd managed to briefly hijack the Coven's kitchen to come up with a hearty vegetable and mushroom stir-fry packed into a lacquered box, the smell of spices fragrant even from a distance. She pops a bit of it into her mouth, chewing contemplatively and swallowing.

"Before I came here, I had a dream where I could use magic without even thinking about it." Crazy, huh? The real thing isn't nearly as much of a breeze. "I thought maybe if I could remember what that felt like, this would be easier. Magic's hard work, but it also seems like it's about ... feeling things."

[catasstrophy]

"... That could work."

Remembering the feeling is definitely important: it's how he'd sorta-kinda managed to learn how to Sing, back in his own world. There's no point in bringing that up when he can't seem to do it anymore, though. (He blames that on the lack of other cats, himself.)

Plopping down next to her with an annoyed sigh - he doesn't want to give up! but he does need a break - Konoe side-eyes the lacquered box. He may have complained about her eating, but the food smells really good. "Did you make that?"

[topslug]

Konoe's just lucky Yako ate beforehand, since she wanted to actually share food and not actually just pig out on it on her own ... at the question, she hums in affirmation, sliding the box towards him in offering and producing an extra fork out of seemingly nowhere to wiggle it at him to take.

"Mm-hm. The Coven let me use their kitchen." Never mind that the reason is directly because she needed a way to have extra food instead of just hoping for handouts! While Konoe figures out whether or not he wants to take up the offer, she'll just keep talking.

"They've got magic in the kitchen too. Things to keep multiple things stirring, or helping clean up messes..." She mulls that over, tapping her own fork lightly against her lips. "What sort of magic do you want to learn, Konoe?"