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middaeg2020-08-10 11:46 am
AGURIL CATCH-ALL β’ OPEN!
When: Throughout Aguril
Where: All over Aefenglom
What: TBA
Warnings: Cussing, child labour, a very brief allusion to potential child injury, more TBA!
1st - 2nd august β’ poppin' parties.
( It isn't until after she and Siegfried have parted ways following the wedding fashion show that Nico begins feeling a little strange. You'd think that with a best friend as loved-up as Nero she'd be used to talk of vows, romance, and ever-lasting commitment, but the truth of it is that Nico has spent years fortifying herself against that sort of thing. She ducks out of those conversations, leaves Nero and Kyrie to do their thing when they start looking like they're about to start singing to each other, and throws herself into her work to avoid having to think about how all that exacerbates her own insecurities.
Bonding. Marriage. Depending on someone else and having someone else depend on you β even if it's just to make sure your magic doesn't go crazy and destroy someone's flowers again. Nico's understanding of relationships is that it's better to make sure you can survive alone, for all the best years of her life were spent under the wing of her adoptive grandmother. Justifying her self-imposed isolation leaves a bitter taste in the back of her throat, and the best way to deal with that?
Oh yeah. It's alcohol.
Fortunately for Nico, these celebrations are well-stocked with all sorts of silly, fancy drinks. She doesn't bother gathering up the skirts of her dress as she heads to one of the outdoor bars β shit, it isn't like she's going to wear the thing again anyway β and she sweeps a few strands of flyaway hair back from her face where it's loosened from the messy bun. )
Hey! My good-for-nothin' fiancΓ© just left me at the altar, anyone here gonna buy me a drink to commiserate?
( Her makeup is sparse but her lips have been painted a rich wine-red, and they curve into a confident smile as she brandishes her bouquet. )
Don't be shy, now.
9th - 15th august β’ forging ahead.
( It's taken Nico a while to gather up the things she'll need for her first real test-run at the Forge, but now that they're getting in to Aguril? She thinks it's about time to give it a shot.
She's had to un-learn a lot of what she already knew in order to make sense of the relationship between alchemy and magitech: it's not like back home, and alchemy doesn't work the way it did in her rotten father's notes, but a lot of the core fundamentals of magitech are reasonably mirrored in home-world physics. The kitchen table has been a half-decent workbench so far, but it's time to dream bigger.
Nico is going to need a lot of heat β and a fair bit of magic, too.
With Nero's man-flu all but cleared up she feels less guilty about leaving him home alone, and has gathered up the spare parts she's been collecting into a threadbare sack she found left-over from the cottage's previous residents. The malfunctioning devil breaker is going to be her experiment today: if she can get it to work again at even half the capacity it used to, it'll be a win, and she's hopeful that what she's learned (plus the materials she's gathered) will get her to her goal.
She's half-way to the Forge when the sack, already groaning under the weight of her tools, gives in to the strain of its burden. There's an almighty clatter as scrap metal and spare cogs scatter across the cobbled floor, the din only added to with an exasperated female: )
Fuck!
( Someone give her a hand? )
16th - 22nd august β’ hazard at the harbour.
( Now, Nico doesn't really like to talk about it all that much, but she's a sucker when it comes to helping out lost-looking kids. It's why she never means it when she complains about being roped into Nero and Kyrie's activity days, and it's why her muffins are practically famous among the children they look after. Nero knows all he'd have to do is call if they needed her to come over and do some minding.
The harbour kids hit that same chord deep within Nico's chest. Child labour? Strike one, because that should have gone out of fashion decades ago. Poor factory conditions? Strike two. If you're going to make orphaned children work, at least have the decency to make sure they're not going to get sick or injured on the job β especially if you've got them working with any kind of machinery.
... And speaking of. )
Now, have you all been listenin' to what I've said here?
( Nico is standing on a crate before an audience of kids with one hand on her hip, while the other gestures towards the machine's mechanism with the head of a screwdriver. )
It should work way better now, and you won't need to jam your fingers in there to unstick the wheels anymore.
( She suppresses a shudder at what might've happened had one of the children been too late in yanking their hand back out again. Nope, not gonna think about that. Moving on. )
If I catch any of you geniuses messin' with my work, don't think I won't come down here an' find you. My best friend? He's a dragon. Andβ ( She says pointedly, reaching down to procure the basket she'd stashed behind the crate. ) I won't bring you any more of my world famous muffins. Got it?
wildcard + ooc notes!
Or hit me with something else! Prompt dates are just the dates between which I'd prefer these interactions to happen! I'm not fussy about getting specific, it's just so that I can keep an eye on where she is and what she's doing. Feel free to message me any time if you'd like to plot something out, otherwise have at her.
( ooc: This is open to all! Feel free to message me any time if you'd like to plot something out, I can be found on Plurkscry or Discord @ pearls#4530. Thanks! )
Poppin'!
He's managed to at least make enough coin to buy soap at this point, and is wearing the brig reds of his leathers from the mountain so he cannot easily be missed in a sea of white. His red doublet is mostly unbuttoned
(the medieval equivalent of sexy cleavage), his lute strapped to his back. Of course, even if he wasn't exactly invited to perform, he suspects not many would complain outright --He spies possibly one of the most beautiful women he's ever seen. Jaskier abruptly ducks around several men to find her again, not especially turned off by the white wedding gear she's clothed in (which does not leave much of her form to the imagination. Has he mentioned he adores the fashion here?)
She may have been saying that to someone else, but Jaskier, hoo boy. He knows invitations when he sees them.
And he has never been shy a day in his life. He snakes in beside her at the bar, adjusting his lute to possibly block any interference from behind him.]
My lady! Curses upon the sort of man so foolish as to leave a vision like you behind! [He's already dropping a few cunes on the bar. He's a sucker for a damsel, and also he could use a drink himself. This is 100% win/win.] What would you like? If you must drown your sorrows, you're welcome to whatever your heart desires!
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( Now, never a day in her life has Nico been referred to as my lady, which has her eyebrows bumping up towards her hairline as the guy gets comfortable next to her. Honestly? While it's definitely funny, it's also kind of flattering, especially when he turns it up a notch and decides to call her a vision along with it. That is certainly appreciated: one of the stylists at the fashion show had suggested covering her tattoos so that they didn't "spoil the fantasy", which had prompted Nico to put voice to her protests in β yeah, pretty strong terms.
... Anyway. This guys is putting in the work, which is precisely what she needs to distract herself from how weird she's been feeling in this stupid dress. )
Well, shit, you're just about a perfect gentleman, ain't you?
( Her smile becomes a grin as she looks him up and down. He's full of dashing charm, there's no denying that, and is that ... some kind of guitar on his back? What with the unbuttoned doublet he's got going on it definitely lends itself to the "old-timey fuckboy" look, which has Nico's grin widening just a little as she leans back against the bar. If nothing else? At least he'll be able to play her a song. )
Since you're buyin', how about we get a pitcher of beer to split? I could use the company.
( She gives his elbow a friendly smack with her bouquet: )
You got a name, handsome?
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Oh, and a glance at his lute, too. Perhaps a little later. In a quieter sort of place.]
A pitcher it is. I'd be delighted to share.
[He only glances away to call for the bartender, pulling his lute off from around his shoulders to prop it up by his legs. Ah, just in time to get hit with flowers. The small bump releases a pleasant smell. He takes that as a rather good omen for the night.] My lady, you may call me Jaskier. Absolutely at your service. [He can't so much bow as he often does, but he does dip his head.] And you? I must say, you have one of the most fascinating accents I've ever heard. I take it you are not from here, either?
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( Absolutely at her service? That sounds good to Nico, whose smile grows that bit wider as Jaskier moves to settle in for at least one round. This could end up being a pretty interesting evening, huh? )
Nicoletta Goldstein β but you can just call me Nico.
( She says with a wink, setting an elbow on the bar as their jug is placed between them. Taking it upon herself to do the honours of filling their cups, Nico nudges a full tankard over to Jaskier before taking a deep pull from her own. )
And you got me there: Mirrorbound, just like you.
( A vague gesture is made towards his ensemble as she slants a grin over the rim of her drink. )
You seem to be fittin' in just fine though. Witch or Monster?
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He breathes. Fuck. This place has, at least, very promising alcohol.]
Just like me indeed. [He laughs. He gets her meaning: quite obvious, isn't it? Well, he certainly doesn't dress like plenty of other people in Aefenglom. He does like to keep his taste from home.] Oh, is that not a rude question here? I always assumed it was. Not, of course, that I'm insinuating you're rude, Nico. [Mostly because he didn't want to ask the wrong person.] I'm a witch. [The word feels completely strange applied to himself.] And you? I notice you have neither horns nor scales as well.
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( Nico just shrugs. )
Maybe? I dunno, just seems more like a practical question to me. Helps to know who you're dealin' with, y'know?
( For example: she's heard there are vampires around, and while the thought is equally as amazing as it is unsettling? She'd be accommodating towards people with needs that different to hers. Swirling her beer, Nico enjoys another sip before letting a broad smile settle on her lips: )
But you're a witch, huh? Me too β no horns or scales for me, which is more than I can say for my housemate.
( Nero is sporting scales, after all, and she's keeping half an eye on his forehead just in case he starts developing cute little nubs. )
Let's toast, then: to learnin' magic!
( She lifts her cup, then pauses for a moment as something occurs to her. )
... Unless you already knew that kinda stuff from back home?
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[Well, not the issue, but the... relatively large creature in the room, with every new meeting. At least he had, so far, not managed to insult anyone too terribly over it. He imagines some must be sensitive about the changes. Like Geralt, even if the fool would never, ever admit it.
Understandable, at least in his case.
He doesn't dwell on the thought. With tankard already in hand, he clinks it against hers. To learning!] Absolutely not a chance! [He takes a deep draw, then does that soft ahh after swallowing. If anything was good here, it certainly was the alcohol.] I'm a simple bard. I've never met a single one with a drop of magic in them. The real magic sort are too busy fighting in wars and, I don't know, brewing potions in rotting cabins in the middle of a bog.
[He could definitely picture Yennefer doing the latter.]
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( A bard, is he? Well, that certainly explains the instrument at his feet, and Nico laughs easily as she tosses the little bouquet of flowers onto the bar. )
Well whaddya know, you're my first bard. I mean, I knew a few guys back home who were doin' the whole "I'm in a band" thing, but ...
( Aefenglom is different, and she's pretty sure that Jaskier is different too. She can't help but snort at his dismissive comment on what he imagines "real" magic-users get up to in their free time. She has no problems with the potions part β not even back home, although she would have called her work "science" as opposed to "magic" β but the bog? )
I guess we're gonna be bucking the trend then, huh? You don't look like the bog type.
( She gives him a pointed once-over: his doublet is loosened in a roguish manner, yes, but his outfit is still clearly a well-tailored ensemble. Jaskier has a distinctly more people-friendly vibe than the common or garden bog witch. )
How're you findin' it anyway? The magic, I mean. Set anythin' on fire yet?
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He takes another swig. Ah. Good company, good drink. This is quite a night.]
I would not be caught dead in a bog, trust me. [Well. Except when he was following Geralt into one. Which was decidedly unsexy to talk about right now, especially with a woman in wedding attire. You know, he was beginning to wonder if there was, actually, a runaway groom involved here.]
He doesn't miss the look. And if his doublet only opens a bit more, then it's probably not an accident, displaying curly tufts of hair across his chest.] I'm only admitting it because we are becoming close confidants, but, er. Yes. I did set a bit of forest on fire. I really don't recommend jumping head-first into that sort of spell. [So he switched to something less... decidedly lethal.] And you? I don't see any soot marks anywhere.
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( Nico laughs at his confession, although it turns into a little snort as she tries to stifle it with the back of her hand. )
Yeah, no soot marks today, but I had a similar kinda mishap. I uhβ
( She wrinkles her nose just a touch. )
Kinda set a friend's gardening project on fire? I think he's forgiven me though β I made him some apology muffins.
( And you know, who could stay cross with someone after receiving a batch of home-baked goods? Not even Sephiroth, apparently, although Nico's pretty sure he wasn't actually that bothered in the first place. He's an odd one, that man, but then she supposes the same can be said of most of Aefenglom's Mirrorbound β including herself. )
It's actually kinda funny, really, since we're all still learnin'. A few weeks back a guy was tryin' to help me out of a tricky spot with some bats, and he thew this bomb β but instead of goin' off proper? It just puffed a load of smoke in his face!
( Is she talking about Geralt? Yes. As for who made the "bomb" ... Nico just grins, oblivious to the fact that it's Jaskier's work at which she's poking fun. )
It was hard not to laugh. He seemed really ... serious.