( closed ) july catch-all

[schwarzen]

Who: Siegfried & Others
When: July & August
Where: Various
What: July & August catch-all for event, quests, & overflow
Warnings: N/A so far


[ hmu at baklava or discord @ nano#0666 to set anything up! starters will be below. ]

Comments

blink and miss 'em (mikasa)

[schwarzen]

[ The request posted at Pile's Petagorium seemed like an easy enough task, and with Siegfried having a need for currency, he was fairly quick in signing up to help. It certainly doesn't hurt that he has a soft spot for animals, and isn't unfamiliar with species that have magical abilities.

The room he and Mikasa had been assigned to caretake is quite full of life. He and his partner had exchanged names, but little else, but her demeanor was enough to tell him that she was likely a serious and goal-oriented young woman. They should be able to keep the felines well-fed and taken care of easily.

He didn't anticipate just how rambunctious kittens capable of teleportation can be. ]

Hold still, please. Just for a moment. Your chart tells me you haven't eaten enough today.

[ The tiny kitten Siegfried is holding in his hand is undernourished, and thus, still requires feeding by syringe. He's trying his best, and he has a great amount of patience, but the kitten wants nothing more than to squirm around and go back to playing.

POOF. The next second, said kitten is gone, deciding instead make his new residence the top of Mikasa's head, uncaring of the fact that Mikasa is clearly busy doing something else at the moment. ]

[stopfen]

[She wasn't busy with something that was ultra-important, though she did have her hands full. Someone had asked her to move some bags of feed. A few kittens had vanished a few times and had only been found by the meowing out of the sacks. They could teleport back out, but it was decided it for the best that the food was moved so they could be rescued.

The fae stilled at the sudden presence on her head. It wasn't heavy and the small mewl gave it's identity away. Then it started purring. Mikasa didn't even think about it, dumb fae brain kicking in for just a moment. Small thing! Cute thing! Protect! And in that moment her antenna gave a little flick to learn the small cat's smell-

Only for the kitten's paw to bat at it. The action gets a hiss from Mikasa. Then more breathy hisses, as the kitten balanced on her head, stretching to reach the tips of the delicate sensors.]

runaways (zack)

[schwarzen]

[ Responding to this request for aid required no hesitation on Siegfried's part. He's becoming more familiar with the various species of "Monsters" that inhabit this world, and along with that, the prejudices that follow some species more than others. It's heartbreaking to know that even children are not immune to such blind hatred, but he doesn't delude himself. Not only are adults cruel, but children are impressionable to their influence, as well.

They departed early in the morning into the Wilde, hoping that since it's been a few hours, their search targets can't have wandered too far off. Then again, if they possess the abilities of fast-moving creatures, it could be a while...

His partner, Zack, seems to be fairly competent in the wilderness, though Siegfried isn't surprised given their previous brief introduction. He's confident that any hostile monsters they encounter should be easily taken care of between the two of them, even if Siegfried continues feeling handicapped by the loss of his magic abilities.

After some time of searching, they come upon a slightly muddy zone, clear tracks imprinted in the soil. The ends are webbed, the toes long and slim. A promising sight. He turns to the other man. ]

One of the children was described as part komodo dragon, weren't they? The tracks are fairly fresh.

[exsoldier]

[ Given that this job requires going into the Wilde, Zack doesn't take any issue with the family's insistence that he go with a partner. They'll be able to cover more ground and keep each other safe while searching for the children who've run off. It would hardly be the first time that Zack's been paired up with someone he doesn't really know on a mission, so his initial introduction to Siegfried is friendly enough.

It's not as easy to keep up a cheerful demeanor given the nature of this job, though. The faces of the chimera parents who'd hired them, worn with stress, still sit in the back of Zack's mind. The fact that these kids had been bullied so extensively that they'd decided to run away from home sort of speaks for itself, doesn't it?

Already, Zack has picked up on the fact that chimeras are treated worse than a lot of the other monster species. He doesn't quite understand the why of it, and it seems cruel to ask the victims themselves, but he'll need to figure it out at some point. This is just a taste of what his future will hold as his physical changes become more obvious, but he can brace for it.

The sight of tracks in the mud is promising, and Zack halts as soon as Siegfried points them out. It's true that he's fairly comfortable in the Wilde thanks to growing up in such a forested area surrounding Gongaga. That doesn't mean he's going to let his guard down when he knows there are Shades lurking out there, though.

With a nod, Zack kneels down to take a closer look at the tracks. The prints definitely look small enough to belong to a child. ]

Yeah, looks like we might be onto something here. Let's follow the trail. Keep your guard up.

[ He just hopes they can get these kids back safely. Straightening to his full height again, he presses forward, taking care not to step directly into the mud and confuse the trail left for them. ]

wonderous things (howl)

[schwarzen]

[ Traveling for this particular job posting had not been trivial, but Siegfried has nothing but time on his hands lately, and it was as good a reason as any to explore more of this strange world. The job itself is fairly straightforward, but after being briefed, it's easy to see why it's difficult to find hands to cultivate this crop.

His partner is a familiar face, a newcomer like himself, so he figures Howl would also appreciate making money quickly. ]

We should take back as much as we can carry. [ So, it's time to put that strong back of his to work, apparently. Nice foresight, Howl! ] It shouldn't be too difficult to strip down at least most of this area.

[ It's very ambitious, but he sets to work right away, using the supplied shears to begin cutting off a branch. Immediately upon being disturbed, it shakes to life. ]

"Oh no, please don't eat me! Say, let me tell you about this guy. Did you know he often eats random mushrooms he finds without knowing if they're toxic or not?! The food poisoning... it's not pretty, eesh!"

[galdorleod]

[ "Nice foresight" is right. It's a good day to have beefcake for a friend. Howl is taking the job seriously - he even dressed appropriately to work outside! - but he's the one who begins to pluck tufts of downy fibers from the clipped branch Siegfried holds out to him. It's a tedious task, but not one requiring much physical strength or endurance. ]

Mushroom illness, you say? [ Howl drops tufts into a woven basket with a vaguely bemused look on his face, as if he were listening to a child gabbing about what they learned at school. ] Well, that's how it goes sometimes when you're on your own in the wilderness, collecting your own food. Isn't that right? [ He glances at Siegfiend, still smiling. ]

jean (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

[ Yeah, context is definitely important. Siegfried doesn't speak for a long moment, even after Jean's addressed the background for the uncomfortable truth. Not because he's judging Jean, there's just no good solution to the scenario he's presented. ]

The death of your friend... I doubt anyone would fault you for responding with such emotions, as impulsive as they may be. And it takes a great deal of compassion to admit that your reaction was wrong, child or not.

[ He finds it very difficult to ever fault a child, because they are simply impressionable and the fate of being a child soldier is only ever the fault of the adults in a society.

He finishes packing the bag he's started. ]

Were you also a child soldier? [ It's an uncomfortable question, but, well, they're here already. Thanks honesty plants. ]

[trost]

[ Though he hadn't shared what had happened in hopes of justifying his actions (there was no justifying them), it is nice to hear that his response - though the wrong thing to do - was a reasonable one for the situation he was in. It's not something he wants to talk about anymore, so he's happy to let the topic pass with the wind. The next question is one he has much less trouble with answering, because enlisting young was just such a normalised thing where he's from. ]

I was 12 when I joined the military. [ Does that make him a child soldier? Thinking back, that is pretty young. It just didn't feel that way at the time because he was nothing but a tiny ball of pessimism, fears and self-preserving instinct. ]

But I didn't make that choice to protect humanity ... All I wanted back then was to escape into the interior and save my own behind.

rosetta (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

[ The blush is back, and may actually stay for the duration of their talk. Siegfried is finding out just how flirtatious Rosetta actually is, but more importantly, he's finding out how ill-equipped he is to handle such casual banter. Or whether any of it is genuine. He hasn't seen enough of her interactions with the rest of the crew to know. The fact that she's a primal makes her even more of a mystery. It's been ingrained in his mind that primals do not have wills or emotions, they simply act for whatever purpose they were created.

She, as well as others in the crew, have certainly begun to call that into question. He diverts his gaze. ]

Thank you. I won't lie and say the thought isn't embarrassing, but I appreciate that you're so willing to help me.

[ That was a fairly safe answer, wasn't it?

Her next words make him smile, albeit bitterly. ]

I understand better than you might think. I feel nothing of my old abilities, and they may as well have taken off a limb.

From what I've learned, it is possible for you to regain some semblance of your powers here. I'm happy to help however I can. Perhaps we should take a trip to the library and see if any texts give us answers.

[ Both to what his symptoms correlate with and what types of magic Rosetta can begin learning. ]

[byanyother]

[ It hurts more than she expects, to see him shadowed by bitterness. They're friendly aquaintences and comrades-in-arms, and while she certainly wouldn't fail to lend him a hand if he ever needed it, they aren't exactly bosom buddies. She knows so little about him compared to Io and Katalina and Rackam. His wants, his dreams....though if she had to take a guess, surely none of them involved being trapped in a foreign land with only the ghost of his former talents left to him.

Carefully, she nudges Truffle off her lap in order to push herself back onto her feet and cross the distance between them. Behind her, Pablo lets out a loud doggy snore. ]

I hope you know that the same also applies to you. I don't have much of it left, but I'll do everything in my power to help you find the answers you're looking for.

[ wao, wry so serious


Good thing it only lasts for a few seconds before she's back to her usual self, smiling carelessly as she winks at him. ]

But I look forward to our date nonetheless, though I think we might have to leave all these newfound children behind.

[ A date to the library......yes, how absolutely exciting, this is truly the stuff every little girl's dreams are made of. Not that she would know, having never been a little girl or having her own personal dreams until recently. ]

howl (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

The more gifted sex? That's mighty chivalrous of you. Even I'm impressed.

[ Siegfried doesn't hold anyone on a pedestal after the death of his former king, but Howl's sentiment is nice. He withdraws his hand. ]

But I get the message. Wizard it is.

[ Howl's question makes him smile, because he thought it was pretty obvious from his bitching that he doesn't feel his magic anymore. ]

Ah, was it not clear from how I was lamenting the loss of our abilities? I'm a swordsman, but the bulk of my attacks are imbued with elemental magic. I specialize in earth, fire, and wind. [ None of which can be called upon now. Not even simple defense buffs, and it leaves him feeling too vulnerable. ]

It feels as though a limb has been cut off. I can only imagine how it must feel for you.

[ At least he still has his sword. Speaking of— ]

I offer my protection, should you need it. At least until you're able to get the hang of how magic works here.

[galdorleod]

[ Howl merely blinks at Siegfried's comment on his "chivalry" - not because he doesn't employ flattery on women constantly and know it, but because there wasn't anything chivalrous or flattering intended by what he said. It's common knowledge, at least in Ingary, that women tend to be better at magic than men... Hmm. It's going to be hard to shake off those basic, everyday assumptions from his home world. ]

Ah, that's right - you did mention magic when speaking about the abilities you'd lost. I apologize. Knights and soldiers aren't trained in magic where I'm from.

[ Howl taps his chin, caught again in an assumption. Perhaps that means he's going to turn into a monster, then... but, maybe not. It seems nobody here is picking up on the presence of magic except for him, and they can't all be monsters. Maybe he just isn't sensitive enough. ]

Thank you for the offer of protection. I'd be a fool not to accept it. Don't give up on the possibility that you'll be able to use magic again, though.

kaine (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( continued from here )

I don't know, I've never gotten the chance to try it.

[ It exists back home, but it's a delicacy there too, and Siegfried isn't much of a gourmet. Here, however, his curiosity has been piqued. ]

But if I had the money, I certainly would. I've been through things far worse than poison.

[imprecates]

If that's what you want to eat then...

[ She isn't sure she would - it takes balls to eat something that might kill you and while Kainé is brave, she doesn't have much of a real death wish. ]

Maybe you'll be lucky and they will have it here at some point or produce that is close to it.

shu (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

[ It takes Siegfried a small moment to realize why Shu not only pauses, but then grasps the air ineffectively at first. When it clicks, the knowledge makes his eyes widen. ]

Forgive my rudeness! I hadn't realized you were blind. [ Still, he gives his hand a firm shake before letting go. He'd like to blame how frazzled he is from being brought here, but perhaps he's less perceptive than he thought regardless.

He frowns at the other's answer. It's all too familiar with what he's gone through before, the curse of having Fafnir's blood run through his veins. ]

I see. And they don't even do you the favor of telling you what "monster" you've been turned into. It's a sick game, keeping everyone in the dark like this.

[ His frown deepens. ]

I've heard a bit about these bonds. Are there any drawbacks to entering into one for purely practical reasons?

[ That is to say, why does he have to trust the other person? He doesn't trust easily, unfortunately. ]

[blind_benevolence]

[ Shu takes it in stride with a light laugh. ]

There's no need to apologize.

[ If he's going to be completely honest, his experience with bonds is fairly new and recent; it took him some time to take on one himself and it's mostly for practical reasons. He trusts his new bondmate, of course, more than anyone else here. They needed each other. ]

No, but...It's hard to describe what it's like to be bonded. You can feel their presence within you and tell when they're nearby. You can feel their general mood and sometimes their stronger emotions if your bond is strong enough. It's a very intimate matter, but there are plenty who take them on for practical purposes.

[ He considers for a moment how to best word the rest of it. ]

Your bonded is also one that can help soothe you on the full moons. Their touch and presence is comforting and can help you deal with your instincts. That's why you should find someone you can trust, at least that much.

ranulf (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( continued from here )

[ Nah it doesn't seem like the great dane is looking to gobble Ranulf up. After a few more seconds of its stupid circles, he lies down in front of him, belly up and tail wagging incessantly. ]

Frugal sounds right. I consider myself to be pretty frugal as well. [ And also prideful, so it's hard to accept the offer, but this dog is a mess and desperately needs a leash. ]

But if you don't mind, I'd be grateful to take you up on the offer to get Pablo leash. If you give me your contact information, I'll repay you the money as soon as I earn it back through odd jobs here.

[ The smile Siegfried gives the other man is an attempt at reassurance. ]

It's alright. That is actually very helpful. It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one with hazy memories of the moment I was brought there.

And it tells me that there are ways to get back home, which is extremely reassuring. Thanks.

[ranyaulf]

( oh. what a pleasant smile... it's a good reminder for ranulf that not all humans/beorc are bad. in fact, it's almost crazy how that none of them have lambasted him for being some kind of disgusting sub-human with blue ears and heterochromia and heterophobia! normally those things made him stick out, but with siegfried, he feels like he could be quick friends with him. maybe it's his general presence. his aura. ranulf's desire to donate freshly squeezed cat juice.

it could be anything. )

I think you just need to say my name into it. It's Ranulf. ( hopefully soren will recompensate him. ) And what's yours?

orchid (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

[ Siegfried pauses what she's doing, because a crewmate deserves his full attention. Besides, with his help, the stall has already made way more than they have in previous days. ]

I think that's a wonderful idea. What are you interested in doing?

[ Though he doesn't like the idea of her being relatively defenseless, a fact which she's reminded him of. ]

Don't be too hard on yourself. We're all just trying to get our bearings right now. I wish I could say I'm helping this stall out of the goodness of my heart, but they agreed to pay me a percentage of the sales.

[puppetgirl]

[ As for how she wants to help exactly, she's unsure. Back to square one, much like the days she wandered alone in the palace while the Queen and Adam were figuring out how to restore their kingdom. She felt useless without a purpose.

There has to be something, even if it's a minor task. She doesn't need Lloyd or Akasha's power to feel useful. ]

...I want to help you, if that's alright. Is there anything I can do?

[ She peers around Siegfried, eyes scanning his work area. ]

I can't cook... but I know how to bake, a little. Lyria and Io showed me how.

nico (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

Ah, I'm sorry. I misunderstood entirely.

[ He laughs a bit, but he's actually pretty embarrassed, and his cheeks darken for a brief moment. Siegfried can only be grateful that Nico's a good sport about it. ]

How lucky of me to have run into an actual weapons master. And here I thought spending the day at a festival was foolish and frivolous. I'll certainly be contacting you sometime soon.

[ He is fairly proficient at the basic maintenance of his swords, but when it came to real damage? There's no beating a pro.

He nods. ]

I'll help you. To the best of my ability, anyway.

[trulygifted]

( Is that ... a blush? Nico's smile becomes a playful smirk as Siegfried begins to recover himself after his mistake, because if nothing else? It'll be a funny story to tell Nero later on. )

Don't worry about it!

( She says airily, waving it off ease. )

That's real kind of you—maybe we could even make a trade out of it or something. You give me a hand with the magic, I'll take a look at your weapons an' see if there's anythin' I can do with them.

( The prospect of which seems to be genuinely pleasing to her. There are few things she enjoys more than getting her hands on other people's weaponry: even if they decide not to go for any of her upgrades, she can always find inspiration for her own pieces among those intricate details. )

And hey, there's nothin' wrong with a spontaneous night off every now and then. The best things always happen when you least expect it.

( Which is a little tongue-in-cheek, granted, but Nico's nothing if not a little mischievous. )

wataru (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

You have lots of innovative ideas. Perhaps you should have been hired as well.

[ He puts a finger to his chin in thought. He has the ingredients to try out a few of the things Wataru has suggested, this could be interesting.

Wow, google tells me this is actually a thing ]

Do you have a moment? I would appreciate a taste tester if you don't mind waiting.

[kivatteru]

[ He smiles softly at the man, unaware of what he's just wrought. ]

I'm pretty much free. While I didn't think of taking up this task, I would still like to help even a little.

seox (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

Really? I think it's safe to say this one likes you a lot.

[ Siegfried may be a bit out of line here, but he can't help but find this interaction quite... cute. Between Pablo's desperate clammoring for his new friend's attention and Seox's awkward patting, it's as if it's simply a rare non-eventful day on the Grandcypher.

But he'll free Seox from this, or at least attempt to. ]

Unfortunately, it looks as though these guys won't stop following me anytime soon. [ He motions to the small army of dogs around them. ]

But I can purchase a leash for the big one, at least. Will you join me for a walk?

[heavenshattered]

[ The clumsy petting continues. At least pets do not expect much beyond some gesture of affection... ]

I suppose I could. It's better to learn our surroundings and not look obvious doing it.

[ The smallest one of Siegfried's dog army lags behind as they move, which leads to Seox picking up the small pup in his arms. It reminds him of Phoebe with its little barks and long curly fur. ]

...I still don't see them.

[ Where are you creeeew. Captain in particular but shhh. Any and all except maybe Seofon are welcome. ]

husui (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

There's no need to be rude. I'm merely offering what I can.

[ Siegfried doesn't sound angry, just matter-of-fact. He's used to dealing with people like Percival, so it takes a lot to get him actually riled up.

Pablo's settled down for the moment, at least. ]

It depends. Some I had to merely call over, some were beckoned with treats. Two of them were taken from a pet shop nearby.

[ Taken. Not bought.

Siegfried is usually an upstanding man with high morals, and stealing certainly isn't his M.O. But even he isn't impervious to the strange impulsivity of the eclipse. ]

allura (intro overflow)

[schwarzen]

( from here )

Your people sound like an extremely compassionate bunch. In fact, this world sounds like some sort of Utopia.

[ The mere concept sounds impossible, given how selfish people tend to be. It's quite remarkable, that it's possible for them to make their own energy source.

Therefore, with a perspective like that, he wonders— ]

How are you finding Aefenglom? How long have you been stuck here?

[quintessent]

We try to be.

[There's a note of melancholy, but she doesn't dive into the depressing fact that her people had been long wiped out. Sought for the very power that they used to achieve their prosperity.

Instead she clears her throat, adjusting to sit up more straight.]

It has been... an adjustment. [The tone of her voice suggests that it's not all bad, though.] As far as when I arrived, it has been...

[She stops, putting a hand to her cheek,] Five phoebes. Rather... you might know them as months. I can't believe it's been so long already.

July event (frost elementals, the northern outpost)

[schwarzen]

[ It was far from Siegfried's best interest to try and solve the root of the problem of the deadly blizzards that were razing through the Northern Outpost. But rarely was he someone that would mind his recklessness. His body temperature has already been much lower than it should be, and he struggles to regulate it within the warm weather of Aefenglom.

Here? It's a miracle he's still moving. But if there's a mission, he's determined to see it through, and what are a few snow elementals? Surely, it would be trivial for him and Rosetta to at least weaken a few of them.

Of course, not only is he especially susceptible to the cold, but he doesn't have his magic here, either. Nevertheless, he gets ready to draw his sword as they finally come upon a group of 4. They haven't been spotted yet. With teeth chattering, he turns to his partner. ]

Let's go. This should be over quickly.

:1eye:

[byanyother]

[ That's an awful lot of confidence there, Siegfried.

But better confidence than anxiety over this situation, which certainly isn't the brightest looking. They've faced worse with the rest of the Grandcypher, to be sure, but they'd had their original powers and skillsets back then. And though she's devoted numerous hours to her studies here, her control is nothing compared to what it should be to take on a gang of snow elementals with ease.

Her smile is wan, her usual easy confidence subdued somewhat. It's been a trying few weeks, between Siegfried's gradual physical changes and her own acclimatization to her much more mortal (and much more annoying) body.

Better if they do get this over with quick, so they can find a place to shelter and rest. ]

Ladies first then, I presume?

[ She doesn't wait for him to answer, stepping around with one hand outstretched to send a small fireball hurtling straight towards the chest of the nearest foe. ]

the chikEnS

[trost]

[ Hanging out with his 32-year old man friend Siegfried Siegfriedson.

There's no particular reason they're together right now. Despite Jean's serious demeanor, he's actually quite the extrovert, so he's perfectly content spending time with a friend and not having any real purpose for it. They met up along the way to the market, and together they've been ever since, chatting about whatever idle thing that comes up. With how the reeds had so brusquely revealed those private facts about their pasts they would not have shared otherwise, it's easy to feel like he has more of a bond with Siegfried than he does with the others he's met in Aefenglom.

Siegfried's find hanging around as Jean practices his magic. Since he's not too good at it yet, he tells the other man to keep his distance. ]

I think it went like this, last time ... [ When he was able to generate an electric charge while practicing with Nami. Jean says the incantation, focusing on calling the lightning to his fingertips. Slowly, the tip of his fingers sizzle, and a small ball of electricity can be seen.

Then, that ball zaps a bush near by, frying it completely. The dying squawk of a bird is heard immediately, and then, the smell of fried chicken ... ] Shit. I think something was in there.

cw animal death?

[schwarzen]

[ There aren't any pressing matters at the moment, so Siegfried doesn't mind spending a few moments to catch up with Jean. He's also interested in seeing the magic of Aefenglom at work, because although he's seen a few spells, every Witch seems to have their own take on what specialties their pursue or how they cast their spells. ]

Take care not to let too much energy build up before you release it. [ Again, he doesn't know exactly how lightning magic works here, but it's good general advice for any type of violent elemental force like light or lightning.

When the lightning hits a bush, he nods. ]

Good precision. But try not to hit anything organic next time-- if this bush were any drier, we'd have a fire on our hands.

[ Instead, since it's covered in fresh rain, there's just a lot of smoke. He walks over to it.

There's also a lot of smoke because Jean's obliterated a hen, apparently, which Siegfried picks up by the legs and holds up. It's a mess of charred feathers and blood. ]

This is unfortunate. Let's hope this hen didn't belong to anyone.

howl (post-basement... things.)

[schwarzen]

[ Of all the wild and wondrous things that were in that basement, it might be odd that a simple vase of flowers had caught Siegfried's attention. But it isn't merely what they are that made him pause and pick up the vase, observing it curiously, but how they flourished in a room with no light and no provided water. Magic, obviously, but it's small things like this that intrigue him. Perhaps more flowers would bloom with time?

Besides, Rosetta loves flowers, so taking these home to decorate a windowsill seemed obvious.

The vase sits on the windowsill of the kitchen, and Siegfried prepares some of the ingredients he's gathered that afternoon on the counter. Various types of colorful flowers, some luminescent, fungi, and the thorns of a carnivorous plant. Those had been particularly fun to harvest.

Remembering that Howl had an interest in magic and alchemy, and having no magical capacity to make use of any of these reagents himself, he quickly sends him a message. ]

Good afternoon, Howl. I recall that you're learning to make alchemy one of your specialties.

I've gathered some interesting flora from the Wilde if you'd like to have some samples. I have no use for them myself, so you're free to have as much as you like.

Let me know if you'd like me to send you directions. I'll be here for a while.

[galdorleod]

[ It's been several weeks since Howl and Siegfried involuntarily became quite close. They have exchanged a few greetings and brief conversation through their watches since then, but Siegfried's invitation prompts their first face to face reunion since Dorchacht.

Howl fetches a yard of clean cheesecloth and his wicker shopping basket while he taps a response with one hand. ]

Good day to you, and many thanks for thinking of me. Please send directions. I will arrive after a short delay. - H.

[ Later, there's a sharp knock at Siegfried's door, it's preceded momentarily by the scent of hyacinths. One might think Howl must be wearing an ungodly amount of perfume for it to be permeating through the door, but when he enters, the scent is no stronger. It's simply a part of the aura of beauty he casts on himself every day, with either his own limited abilities or spells he purchases elsewhere. Today, his hair is golden blond, styled with curtain bangs parted to the side. ]

Good afternoon to you, Siegfried! I hope I didn't cause you to wait for too long.