Howl (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
galdorleod) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middaeg2020-10-22 06:22 pm
galdorleod) wrote in middaeg2020-10-22 06:22 pm
we're moving castle
Who: Howl & you! [open]
When: From Octeuril 16 until Samuin
Where: Aefenglom (Various)
What: Howl is back and he's in a Mood. You may not have realized he was gone at all; what happened and why is he "back"? Perhaps that has something to do with the Mood. At any rate, the Wizard is up to something and conspicuously restless. [Open prompts under the cut!]
Warnings: n/a
1. move on (10/17)
[ Howl spent his first night back in Aefenglom at "home" - the residence he shared with Mikasa, where he'd lived since the other first night he arrived here. But when he laid down to sleep, he could not ignore an overwhelming feeling that he could not stay here any longer, and when he abruptly woke up the next morning, his mind was immediately returned to the same thought.
One hour later, just as the morning sunlight has breached the rooftops, there's a carriage outside on the street. Howl comes in and out with armfuls of boxes, books and wooden chests, slowly filling the back of the carriage. Despite the physical work, he's well-dressed and made-up in his finest cosmetic spells, with hair recolored blond.
Should he see someone he recognizes on the street, he might pause to entertain some small talk. Otherwise, any curious strangers will be called out once he notices them staring. ]
Pardon me! [ after emptying his arms, he beckons. ] I could use a hand - I'll pay you for your trouble.
2. prestidigitation (10/17)
[ As the day reaches noon, the eateries along the border between the shopping district and the entertainment district start to come alive. Howl's moving carriage stops at one particularly busy corner so he can wolf down some street food, but it ends up staying there throughout the lunch hour - attracting a sizeable crowd around it during most of that time. The vendors hardly seem to mind, as the traffic can only boost their sales, but it's surely an annoyance for those simply trying to pass through on their way somewhere!
The slowdown is over what is, essentially, a cheap street performance. The wizard, in an effort to flirt, performed a simple feat for a young woman, and against his expectations, she tossed a coin to him instead of accepting it as a romantic gesture. Instead of being insulted, he started doing magic tricks for anyone willing to watch. Sure, nobody is that impressed - the citizens of Aefenglom are as accustomed to magic in daily life as Howl is - but his showmanship is enough to keep people entertained. Not to mention... some of these "magic" tricks aren't involving magic at all.
Is it demeaning to be performing on the street, accepting pocket change for tricks? Yes. Does Howl care? Nope. ]
3. a voyager, a settler (10/17)
[ By the end of the day, Howl's carriage reaches a small, empty two-story building in the entertainment district, sandwiched tightly between two newer, larger buildings. The bottom floor was once a small store of some kind, although it's unclear whatever used to be sold there. Above it is a one room apartment, intended for use by the shopkeeper. He spends the next several hours unloading his belongings and carrying them into ground floor of the small building. When the final item - a basket of folded tunics - is set down in his new home, the sun has set and the street lights are on.
The rented carriage wheels away. The street outside of the old store is moderately busy, with people wandering here and there to various destinations in the entertainment district. After a few minutes, Howl reappears outside the front door. He takes a seat in the low light of the street lamps and produces a bottle of dark alcohol, the neck decorated with a black ribbon and dried flowers. ]
You - Mirrorbound, yes? [ Howl suddenly says, picking his head up as someone passes by the stoop. He holds up a clean, empty shot glass. ] Care for a drink to help me celebrate? I just moved in.
4. focusing (week of 10/18)
[ One fortnight has lapsed and there have been few outward developments at the old store Howl has taken up residence in. Other than the erection of a cheap wooden sign painted Pendragon, and the installation of blackout curtains in all of the ground floor windows, no other changes have been made to the exterior of the building. Howl has invited nobody inside, and nothing has been hung outside to announce when this "business" has is open for customers or closed for the day.
But, the building has not been entirely quiet. Starting on the night of the 18th, and every night after that, strange noises can be heard coming from the ground floor from people standing on the sidewalk outside. Despite the blackout curtains, periodic flashes of light and glimmering sparkles peek out along the edges of the windows. The chimney emits a continuous stream of smoke that changes in color from black to light blue to purple and back to black.
What exactly is going on in there? Maybe you'd like to knock and ask if he's alright. Maybe you'd like to try to peek inside, or even sneak in through the open window on the second floor. If you know Howl, maybe you'd like to send a message to his watch to check on him. Or maybe you're just a very unlucky sap who happens to be walking by when Howl bursts out of the front door, dashes onto the side walk and suddenly asks if you'll help him with something incredibly important. ]
When: From Octeuril 16 until Samuin
Where: Aefenglom (Various)
What: Howl is back and he's in a Mood. You may not have realized he was gone at all; what happened and why is he "back"? Perhaps that has something to do with the Mood. At any rate, the Wizard is up to something and conspicuously restless. [Open prompts under the cut!]
Warnings: n/a
1. move on (10/17)
[ Howl spent his first night back in Aefenglom at "home" - the residence he shared with Mikasa, where he'd lived since the other first night he arrived here. But when he laid down to sleep, he could not ignore an overwhelming feeling that he could not stay here any longer, and when he abruptly woke up the next morning, his mind was immediately returned to the same thought.
One hour later, just as the morning sunlight has breached the rooftops, there's a carriage outside on the street. Howl comes in and out with armfuls of boxes, books and wooden chests, slowly filling the back of the carriage. Despite the physical work, he's well-dressed and made-up in his finest cosmetic spells, with hair recolored blond.
Should he see someone he recognizes on the street, he might pause to entertain some small talk. Otherwise, any curious strangers will be called out once he notices them staring. ]
Pardon me! [ after emptying his arms, he beckons. ] I could use a hand - I'll pay you for your trouble.
2. prestidigitation (10/17)
[ As the day reaches noon, the eateries along the border between the shopping district and the entertainment district start to come alive. Howl's moving carriage stops at one particularly busy corner so he can wolf down some street food, but it ends up staying there throughout the lunch hour - attracting a sizeable crowd around it during most of that time. The vendors hardly seem to mind, as the traffic can only boost their sales, but it's surely an annoyance for those simply trying to pass through on their way somewhere!
The slowdown is over what is, essentially, a cheap street performance. The wizard, in an effort to flirt, performed a simple feat for a young woman, and against his expectations, she tossed a coin to him instead of accepting it as a romantic gesture. Instead of being insulted, he started doing magic tricks for anyone willing to watch. Sure, nobody is that impressed - the citizens of Aefenglom are as accustomed to magic in daily life as Howl is - but his showmanship is enough to keep people entertained. Not to mention... some of these "magic" tricks aren't involving magic at all.
Is it demeaning to be performing on the street, accepting pocket change for tricks? Yes. Does Howl care? Nope. ]
3. a voyager, a settler (10/17)
[ By the end of the day, Howl's carriage reaches a small, empty two-story building in the entertainment district, sandwiched tightly between two newer, larger buildings. The bottom floor was once a small store of some kind, although it's unclear whatever used to be sold there. Above it is a one room apartment, intended for use by the shopkeeper. He spends the next several hours unloading his belongings and carrying them into ground floor of the small building. When the final item - a basket of folded tunics - is set down in his new home, the sun has set and the street lights are on.
The rented carriage wheels away. The street outside of the old store is moderately busy, with people wandering here and there to various destinations in the entertainment district. After a few minutes, Howl reappears outside the front door. He takes a seat in the low light of the street lamps and produces a bottle of dark alcohol, the neck decorated with a black ribbon and dried flowers. ]
You - Mirrorbound, yes? [ Howl suddenly says, picking his head up as someone passes by the stoop. He holds up a clean, empty shot glass. ] Care for a drink to help me celebrate? I just moved in.
4. focusing (week of 10/18)
[ One fortnight has lapsed and there have been few outward developments at the old store Howl has taken up residence in. Other than the erection of a cheap wooden sign painted Pendragon, and the installation of blackout curtains in all of the ground floor windows, no other changes have been made to the exterior of the building. Howl has invited nobody inside, and nothing has been hung outside to announce when this "business" has is open for customers or closed for the day.
But, the building has not been entirely quiet. Starting on the night of the 18th, and every night after that, strange noises can be heard coming from the ground floor from people standing on the sidewalk outside. Despite the blackout curtains, periodic flashes of light and glimmering sparkles peek out along the edges of the windows. The chimney emits a continuous stream of smoke that changes in color from black to light blue to purple and back to black.
What exactly is going on in there? Maybe you'd like to knock and ask if he's alright. Maybe you'd like to try to peek inside, or even sneak in through the open window on the second floor. If you know Howl, maybe you'd like to send a message to his watch to check on him. Or maybe you're just a very unlucky sap who happens to be walking by when Howl bursts out of the front door, dashes onto the side walk and suddenly asks if you'll help him with something incredibly important. ]
so late it's not even fashionable anymore (2!)
it's not like he was getting anywhere like this, anyway. might as well see what all the fuss is about. and as people start to move on, it becomes apparent that it's... just some guy doing lame magic tricks.
in a city where half the population is a fucking wizard.
maybe that's why he's a bit huffy and annoyed when he finally comes into view. ]
A bit like selling shit to a pig, don't you think?
[ he wasn't blessed with the gift of eloquence, either. ]
no subject
And you, piglet, have finally made it to the front of the line! Well done!
[ The heckler himself might not find that very funny, but the joke draws laughs from everyone else and quells the awkward tension. He sweeps his arm dramatically, after which, the inside of his coat has changed colors - despite no use of magic words or a focus by Howl - which prompts more applause and coins. ]
Is it so wrong if people are enjoying themselves, sir?
no subject
he pays no mind to the remaining audience, despite the looks some of them are giving him. unlike this guy, he's never been much of a people-pleaser, anyway. ]
Of course not. Makes it a little hard to get by for everyone else, though. We'd all have been pretty fucked if one of those tricks accidentally started a fire.
[ watch out. the fun police are here. ]
no subject
[ Howl bows deeply, deeper than any actual bow would ever need to be, but when he stands again, the inside of his coat has not changed colors again, but burst into fire. The crowd murmurs and applauds, and a handful of coins land at his feet. To the trained eye, it's clearly an illusion - but it's conscientious, complete with soft crackling noises and radiant heat.
Howl swipes his arms to his sides and closes his coat, seemingly extinguishing the flames. He smiles calmly at Levi before kneeling to collect the tips thrown to him. ]
Nobody is forcing you to watch.
no subject
[ the worst part of all is that it was actually kinda impressive. maybe half this city can do magic, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can make it entertaining to watch. he can technically use magic himself, but you won't be catching anyone tossing him coins on the street.
so, credit where credit's due, and all that—after a brief moment of consideration, he reaches into his jacket pocket and tosses in a coin of his own. ]
For not actually setting anything on fire.
[ truly heartwarming. ]
no subject
Howl nods to him graciously. He appreciates the show of respect. ]
Thank you very much, good sir. [ While he was collecting the coins, most of the people who had stopped to watch started dispersing, assuming that the show was over. Howl glances around, a slight smile on his face. ] Looks like you can get through now, if you're in a hurry.
no subject
[ he spares the way through a glance, but then he's right back to staring at Howl. scrutinizing? it's kinda hard to tell. he has one of those faces that just looks irritated all the time.
fortunately (unfortunately?), he makes up the difference by not mincing words. ]
How did you do that?
[ you know. the thing with the fire. ]
no subject
He adjusts the collar of his coat, considering. ] ...Magic, like I said.
no subject
yeah... some people. he scowls a little. ]
No shit. It can't be that simple.
[ he knows this because he sucks at it. ]