Summer's First Snowfall
Juril comes in as hot as Iuneril did - muggy, humid, tense. The city buzzes softly with rumors of accidents and incidents, the faint pink skies lasting far too long and starting far too early only bolstering these. I burnt my buns last month, it goes. I never burn my buns.
The flowers haven't been growing as well as usual, it goes. It must be because we had red skies during Litha.
Such superstitions might be laughable - but in a world of magic, maybe they hold a little more truth than one might want to acknowledge. Still, for as many rumors as there are, there are just as many people who refuse to let the omen get them down. They might be a little more cautious, but they're hardly stopping what they're doing: sailors in the harbors carry good luck charms as they work, households hang sprigs of chamomile above their doors, Witches pound out extras of finding, luck, and safety magics in enchantment and potion form... Aefenglom is a superstitious city, but it's also a hardy one.
It's the superstitious nature that leads some intrepid young Witches to think everyone needs a little distraction from thinking about the color of the sky, however, and as the sun crests over the bay, white flakes begin to fall. The air grows colder, and throughout the day, the snowfall grows heavier and heavier until it blankets the city - or a few key parts of it. The snow shows no sign of stopping either; while it lightens up periodically, it still flurries on.
That might not be entirely intended - and the snowstorm that hits near the end of the month definitely isn't. Enjoy a peaceful snocation while you can, Aefenglom.
As noted on the calendar, this phenomenon will last all of the month! Feel free to set your threads and logs at any point during the month of July; all activities listed in the prompts below will also be going on throughout it. |
I. THE COVEN
For the first week of snow, the Cove calls off classes. It's not exactly a secret that the Head of the Coven proper has a fondness for the cold, so it doesn't come as a surprise to the students she'd put a temporary hold on instruction-based learning so she they could all enjoy it properly. There are just as many Witches deciding to study on their own as there are enjoying the respite from their professors, however - every opportunity to practice is a good opportunity.
For the rest of the month, it's back to business - but students still find time to have a little fun with the cold weather both during and after their classes, and their professors don't discourage it too much.
a. Winter's Touch It should come as no surprise at all that when Witches get involved with snowball fights, they use their talents to their advantage to send multiple chilly missiles at one another. They float, they fly, and some of them even latch onto the closest heat signature they can find - whether or not that was the intended target. Keep your wits about you, return fire, or cajole others into joining in! There's no such thing as "allies" when it comes to the Coven's brand of snowfights.
b. Enchant Snowcreature Snowmen aren't the only things that get created during the winter; animals of all shapes and sizes do too, and it's not uncommon to see the snow version of animals both of the regular variety (birds, deer, squirrels, cats, foxes, and so on) and rare (the fairytale depiction of dragons, unicorns, sphinxes, and pixies, to name just a few) roaming around along with a Frosty or two. There's even a sled ride hosted by a pair of snow pegasi for those interested in getting off the ground.
c. Ice Spires Instead of building forts and castles like regular people, Witches at the Coven use a mixture of transfiguration and conjuration magics to simply draw them from the surrounding snow and ice themselves, Elsa-style. Their creations range from the beautiful and intricate, to the hardy and hard-to-navigate - for safety reasons, naturally - and some even draw up elaborate staircases to the skies to expand on their creations. Make your own or simply explore the creations with a friend - but be careful, as at least one Witch has the had the inspiration to magic up some sprigs of mistletoe to hang in their snow fort.
d. Winter's Respite Not everyone is happy with the snow, however; in particular, those tending the gardens of the Coven are quite frustrated - plants, even magical ones, are quite delicate and sensitive to the cold!! As a result, there are warmer spots even around the Coven's courtyard; the snow is melted, and the Witches there are doing their best to save the chilled plants. This is also where one can take a break from all the cold and get some hot coffee that'll keep you warm for hours after finishing it and clothes enchanted to adjust their temperature depending on the temperature - for those who don't want to ruin their sporty short-sleeves style for heavy winter clothes. These enchantments only last a few hours, however.
For the interested: yes, the Witches are more than willing to teach those who'd like to learn how to do this - though their version of teaching seems to be more "watch and learn" than actual instruction. |
II. THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Encompassing the Residential District proper on both sides of the River Temese, the Aristocratic District, and the Haven, the housing districts are similarly covered in snow - the Aristocratic District has gotten the worst of it in particular, being in the perfect place to center the massive weather spell the Witches responsible have set off. While the streets are quickly being cleared to make foot and hoof traffic a little easier, there's still a lot of snow and ice to take part in, and just as many people willing to have a good time in it. Children in particular are having the time of their lives in all the districts, and the sudden cold weather seems to draw people together -
perhaps a little too literally, with long scarves grabbing the nearest person to make a pair, mittens that won't let you stop holding hands until you've gotten somewhere warm, and wooly hats that suggest in quiet whispers to you that you should definitely go give that person you just locked eyes with a hug, they look so lonely... Whether they actually do or not.
Someone might've had a little fun with their sewing.
a. EASTERN RESIDENTIAL In addition to the usual snow fun (with a significantly less magical spin on it than the Coven - magic is still present, but not to the same wild extent), there are hearty soups, hot chocolate, and fires to warm oneself around. Take a seat and relax a little; almost everything is free, though those wishing to purchase some (secretly enchanted) clothes to stay warm in a more permanent fashion than what's offered at the Coven.
b. WESTERN RESIDENTIAL Compared to the other housing districts, the snow in on the western side of the Residential District is much less - and that's due to the presence of heated stones. Alone or grouped together, those more cold-blooded in nature gather to rest and keep themselves awake while the chilly weather marches on. Nagas, Chimeras, and even the exceptionally rare Dragon or Fae can be seen here, with Vampires lurking around in similar spots with umbrellas and tarps up to shade them further from the darkened snowy sky. Spicy foods are popularly handed out around these areas, while in general everyone seems in favor of cuddling up a little.
c. ARISTOCRATIC DISTRICT While there are still rumors of pickpockets and petty thievery about (and the suspicious looks that come with such words from locals in the area), it hasn't dampened the spirit of those who really, really enjoy snow one bit. There's less activity than in either Residential District (and a lot more complaining about the weather), but what activity there is makes up for it: igloo-making, ice skating on makeshift rinks in the middle of intersections, sledding on the massive piles of snow, and taking a jingle bell-filled ride in a horse-drawn sleigh through the stunning Aristocratic District. The latter is especially good for those traveling to and from The Haven and don't want to get their feet too cold (or who can't handle the cold temperatures at all).
d. THE HAVEN While most of The Haven has been relatively untouched, minus anything anyone living within it might have done - that's you, mirrorbounds - the barracks have been extra dressed up with lanterns and blankets to help keep out the cold a little better, and keep the warmth in. Some kinder Witches have also conjured up a few extra water fixtures, but not for skating on: hot springs populate the larger areas that aren't already taken up by houses, and for those not willing or unable to get in the water, there are sauna options as well in the same areas. Don't get too steamy, though - people getting a little too heated in these areas will automatically have cool water poured on them by some magical means in an effort to get them cooled off. It's a spell designed to keep people from overheating, but it isn't very picky with what it considers "too hot".
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III. THE HARBOR DISTRICT
Like the southern half of the city, the Harbor District is relatively untouched - relatively. It's an area much more based around industry and work than anything else, and interrupting it isn't looked on very favorable. With that said, though, the harbor is fairly large, and Witches finding a place to practice their own ice magic (inspired, evidently, by the going-ons at the Coven) have managed to bring of the winter cheer to the otherwise dreary district.
The orphans, a mix of humans and Monsters, are more than delighted by this turn of events, and they're a common sight playing in the snow summoned around their orphanages when they're not working in the many factories of the Harbor District. What's notable about them is that they don't use any magic at all when dealing with the snow - they've never had any learning in actually utilizing it for themselves, only in feeding it through the magitech used in their workplaces. Any and all shows of the stuff for purely fun reasons, therefore, bring forth grins and awe, regardless of the kind shown. Provided it isn't used to hurt anyone, of course.
a. ICE FISHING The areas of the bay that are iced over - either gotten by permission or by careful people watching to see how much use the area actually gets - are home to a surprisingly popular activity: ice fishing. Fishing rods, spears, ice chisels, and boots made for stepping on the ice are easy to obtain from those who've set up shop in the area, and many people have already taken to the frozen ground to try their luck at catching something further out than the piers. There are places to cook and eat what's freshly caught as well, but mind your step; the places where holes were are less thick, even as Witches routinely make certain to refreeze them every hour or so to encourage fresh activity in the area.
b. ICE SKATING The other not-as-surprising popular activity for such large swaths of frozen water is, of course, ice skating - and of course, unlike other areas which assume you already have the gear to do so, people have specifically (and quite quickly) set up stalls to sell their skates and sleds for prime ice fun. A little early for their winter line-up, but they're making do. Decorated with small bouncing lights hung on strings, not to mention the tents set up with blankets and pillows, the Harbor District's ice skating area is meant for those who'd like to take to the ice during both the day and night - and the latter is particularly enchanting in its beauty, the soft lighting allowing the frost to glitter in multi-color glory.
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eren jaeger 💥 attack on titan (fire dragon)
Ａ； ＡＳ Ａ ＷＩＳＥ ＭＡＮ ＯＮＣＥ ＳＡＩＤ
[ anywhere from the coven to the haven, eren can be found wandering around with a frown that makes him look a mighty twenty years older, probably. he side steps sheets of snow, he hisses when he steps in puddles, and all around— the part-dragon just seems incredibly sluggish as he dawns one too many enchanted clothes and accessories to keep him heated— the only way to fool his lizard brain out of pseudo-brumation. if you’re the only one nearby, he might . . . actually be honoring over to your heat source. let him live, he’s cold.
perhaps the scrunch in his features is just way too tempting to pass up throwing a snowball at. maybe you’re daring. eren actively avoids snowball fights, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drag him into one. there might be one now, in fact where a group of witches launch their attack right behind a passerby (it’s you). It hits eren and catastrophe happens, trying to swerve around to catch the source with a dangerous mood That turns his muddy scales a festering red— he’s looking right at you? he’s looking right at you. the witches responsible have already taken advantage of their scapegoat and made a break for it centuries ago, if you happen to look behind you. plain yourself!!!
If you’re lucky, you might see an elusive jaeger try and clear up the entrances to one of of his many scattered dens around cottage yards, perhaps with a few blades and broken glass in tow, and a shovel that he thinks he could use to keep from touching any of the bullshit snow. take that, you fucking snow. ]
Ｂ； ＣＨＵＣＫＬＥＳ Ｉ’Ｍ ＩＮ ＤＡＮＧＥＲ (ＳＩＫＥ)
[ even if you can’t find him in his holes, you’ll most definitely find him in the western residential district, where a lizard type thrives in the company of a wild, one true dream: heat rocks. you might see him briskly making his way over, you might already see him there, but one thing is certain: it is everything a lizard brain could ever ask for. a sun, a rock, and heat, heat, heat. the spice in the food is a favorite (although he won’t find himself too hungry), and he might go for a few heavier drinks without even batting a lash (good luck getting him even 5% tipsy this man is a tank), and—
you might see him trying to lift a heated stone slab and carry it all. the way. out of the district. be prepared if you want to stop him somehow. he has answers. ]
ＷＩＬＣＡＲＤ
i’m down for quests and shit like no tomorrow.plotting post link, hmu @ owlie#3609 or
@mikleo (ft. elliot soon)
what could rouse the morning is the sound of eren moving the floorboards our from under the bed in a lethargic drag, an awkward bump of his horns when they don’t quite fit between until he makes the squeeze to, then sliding through the eren-sized crack into the cavern he’s created for a solid month underneath the cottage. a lot of digging. a lot of instinctual architecture and a rather long way down, but. it was safe. it was warm. he could just sleep there until winter has passed.
bye. ]
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Mmm, what.
[But as he sets his feet to the too-cold floor, he notices... something out of place. All his grogginess vanishes instantly when he spots the Eren-shaped open cavern in his goddamn room. What the hell? And Eren's nowhere to be found-- could he be the one who did this? Mikleo's spent enough time out of the cottage to have missed this development entirely, and he's equal parts disturbed and... no, okay, he's disturbed.]
Eren? Eren!
[A labyrinth of holes. That's what this is. He's seen the other ones around the house and he just-- dealt with that, but one under the bed? There are boundaries! What if they get mice?
... And why is it so damn cold? He's fighting to keep away a shiver, water mage or not.]
Are you down there?!
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but you probably don’t want to know about that either.
from the hole under the bed, mikleo might only earn the sound of deep scraping. he hears you, a too-soft creak from a throat too groggy replies back to him. it’s wordless, though. it takes too much energy to speak, and he’s already using what he has to drag himself deeper.
he just knows he needs to stow himself away and sleep. no eating. maybe he’ll come back up to drink from time to time.
(you need to coax him out) ]
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You'd better not go to sleep or I'll drag you out myself. I'll start a fire to warm this place up.
[Not his favorite thing, but that's okay. Thanks to an abundance of caution he always has firewood on hand, and it's a simple matter to stack it up along with some kindling. He can't find matches, though... He could've sworn he had some. Maybe he can use some magic?
He breathes in. Very carefully, he extends two fingers and snaps. There's a bit more than a simple spark however-- enough that he yelps and pulls his hand back.]
Hah... Damn, I still need to practice that one.
[Once he has the fire going, Mikleo wastes no time crawling into the hole, cursing how uncomfortable this is when he's barefoot and wearing only a shirt and underwear. He'll yell at Eren later.]
Eren! I started the fireplace. Now get up here before I flood you out. If you're not going to help me figure out why it's winter suddenly, the least you can do is keep me warm.
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the tiny little particles from smoke fuming from wood is a confirmation, so, time to ascend. mikleo won’t have to call him twice, he’s coming. he’s just really slow to get there.
eren’s only wearing . . . shorts, you will see, by the time he crawls out lazily from his den with the most stale expression in existence. his scales are dull, the points to his ears are coming in rather nicely, and his fingers— some of them are bleeding and filthy with dirt. his nails are starting to fall off to make way for the new ones. he blinks, as listless as the rest of him so tempted to curl up and lay there. why did the fire have to be so far away? ]
It’s not, [ he’s almost there! almost. oh god he’s freezing. ] supposed to snow . . .
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@alexandra
he smells fur-laced hair and the faint smell of dog, and by the time he follows the direction a quest companion was standing in, he could practically taste the color he knows he’s find: a vibrant red head full of locks, he knows it’s hers. senses don’t deceive him when eren catches lex simply . . . there, watching the icy flakes flutter from a sky that seems way too clear to be natural for snow.
(snow in summer was unnatural anyway)
with a muffler wrapped around his neck and covering most of his mouth (which brings back one too many memories of him as a child), eren’s boots crunch down against a sheet she’s stationed on, and he asks with some mild concern: ]
What’s wrong?
[ ngl, he has to look up with her to double check if there was anything wrong— but that just gets a powdery drop or two to fall on his face. ]
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Lex is not dressed for the weather; she is wearing her usual clothing, the assortment of wasteland armor and boots and Geargadas sensible fashion. None of it is winter wear, and despite the fur growing in with her hair, there is absolutely no way she can be out in these conditions for long - and she should know that. She should, she does, but Lex can't look away.
(Dogmeat, for his part, is close to her legs and looks rather put out.)
There is a faint shiver noticeable when Eren approaches, but maybe it's excitement, not the cold. It's hard to tell. ]
I've never seen snow before, [ she tells him, voice quiet, filled with wonder. ]
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a bit of understanding sympathy seems into his blue eyes and makes them look as warm as summer is supposed to be, even though his lips don’t strain or change much in his expression. eren’s all about the eyes.
a look up and down tells him one more thing, though, and looking at himself? he’s overdressed, be it for good reason or a mild fear of falling asleep at a critical moment (brumation is a drag). at least they’re all enchanted; he won’t miss one jacket too much.
he’s not all that sophisticated (he never was when it came to clothing others), but his outer jacket, a dark brown long coat made of skins and lined with furs inside, is dropped onto the hook of her shoulders. ]
It’s cold.
[ . . . she must’ve known that already, but it’s said lightly. good humor, even if his voice is even. ]
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Oh- thank you. You didn't have to do that.
[ Of course, now that he has, she shrugs her arms inside. It is much warmer with the jacket on - and Eren doesn't seem to be judging her, at least. That doesn't stop the faint flush of embarrassment, but that's really just because he's caught her vulnerable, her moments unplanned.
Now that she's no longer looking at the snow, it really is cold; she shivers again, shaking her head to try and rid her hair of some of the snowflakes. ]
This isn't normal for this time of year, right?
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but those are the better moments, the unexpected ones. after a moment’s pause, eren scuffles a little closer to her, nearly shoulder to shoulder but giving them enough space to move about. she was warmer than he was, probably— that, or it was just his lizard brain telling him she was an extra heat source. he was fond of her as well, so . . . it was natural. it makes his scaled cheeks feel warmer. ]
Not until Deceuer. [ he did his homework! and if she would still accompany him to the place he was going to, well! body language says he’d wait for her to see his turning heel before actually walking. ] . . . Back home, we’d have harsh winters. Longer snowfall seasons than rainy ones.
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B
She still kept both eyes mostly open, though, and stirred whenever she noticed movement nearby. This time, the source of the movement was Eren. Kaede lifted her head up, tailtip twitching into an amicable curl--
--and he was. Just. Picking up the whole rock she was sitting on. Okay. The chimera lurched backwards with the stone, claws scrabbling for and finding purchase on the stone while her neutral expression hardened to a scowl.]
Eren.
[The "what the fuck" goes unsaid but strongly implied.]
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she just had to be on this one, though. low-key yikes. the scowl that eren sees arising from the stone’s tip is enough to get him to lower the grip he was attempting to get under the structure’s edge, straightening but . . . his scales fail to dim, they’re still brighter than sunsets. ]
Hey— Kaede. [ he can fucking explain his shit; the rock falls from his fingers finally, an earth-trembling thunk with it. ] I thought you were on the other one, [ he points, but to his dismay— that’s a different chimera. ]
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Her tail swished from side to side for balance, and she rolled onto her belly to get all four limbs under her, bracing herself when the rock dropped to the ground.]
Where are you going to put the rock?
[Didn't he have a thing for knives? She'd thought Dragons only fixated on one type of Thing. Rocks were not knives or sharp, barring certain circumstances. This one certainly wasn't.]
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The yard, where I’m staying. [ but now he’s looking around for another rock that isn’t in use. thing is, they’re all being used. damn. guess he should sit while he waits, taking a seat at the boulder’s edge. ] One of the witches setting them up said I could take one for the cold . . .
[ “good luck with finding one free” was probably the challenge. oh—
oh, this is warm all over again. his back stretches against it, and soon he’s already laying on the surface and breathing out. ]
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Okay--then.
[The interruption came when Eren plopped over onto the boulder, and then flopped bonelessly back onto its surface. Kaede rolled onto her side so she could get a better look without leaving the heating rock, which confirmed her suspicions.
The Dragon seems to have melted.]
Are you that cold?
[...she should leave him alone. But. She was feeling a little spiteful for the attempted resting place theft, and...it just seemed like a funny thing to do.
Kaede flicked her tail's fan of feathers over his face. Once, and again, like a capricious cat.]
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@cain
luckily, the cooler temperatures don’t stretch out into the wilde— eren can discard his enchanted clothes to keep his (little more cold-blooded) body stable, dawning the usual summer wear of simple t-shirts and brown slacks rolled up to his scaled shins. bonus: no shoes, they’ve come to be . . . a little restraining, lately. eren’s been able to stump a llwch gwin enough after a horrible back and fourth for them to take plenty of feathers, although it took him a moment to put in riddle format: i’m fickle, but absolute. i’m fear, knowledge and ignorance. i’m nothing, but i’m everything. i’m freedom, but i’m imprisonment. what am i?
it answers wrong every time and moans with irritation as they leave for freshwater ponds that stream nearby. they could get their bones when they hunt something to eat, that isn’t a problem. now they have to find this . . . “lusca”, and touch it for some ink, apparently. ]
Did you figure it out?
[ the riddle, he means! with a few flicks of his tongue and shuffling some feathers into a bag (and a very sharp rock he found on the path over, that goes in his pocket), he leads them toward the taste of freshness and humidity. ]
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Oh... oh my god, no, I still can't figure it out! It's gotta be something weird, like, a concept, like... Time, or thought. Right?
Am I even close?
[ He reached into his pocket to pull out a violently blue flower he'd collected on the way from his pocket, and popped it into his mouth, chewing while he thought. ]
Free and imprisonment. A mirror?
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[ he’s getting there! although eren might not be too fast to spoil him. alright, one more clue. ]
It depends on perspective.
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Ugh! C'mon, I really am as dumb as I look, and that's all the help you give me?
Is it...Water?
Or... a window?
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and now, for the earth shattering answer: ]
The truth.
[ he went deep, bro. ]
B
This encounter is by pure chance, however. Elliot was walking home from giving a resident a private piano lesson. He was heading towards the direction of the barracks when he just happens to see Eren hauling a big rock]
Eren? Um...what're you doing?
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he notices him! he notices him but tends to keep his focus tied to strength that came with his hope and excitement, hauling the stone slab a few more paces. he’s carrying this thing over his shoulders? he needs concentration! the greetings here are implied! ]
It’s a self heating rock for the yard.
[ he could lay on it all winter ]
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[Wait, that looks like the rocks that are being used in the western residential district.]
I...didn't know they were for sale.
[There is slight concern he stole the rock ok.]
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Hey, [ a breath, ] Elliot.
[ at least they have a rock to rest on. ]
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