[OPEN] little bread-and-butterflies kiss the tulips

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora + YOU
When: The month of January/ Ieneuer
Where: Aefenglom, The Wildes
What: An open catch all log for the month of January
Warnings: tba

[a: new moons: aefenglom streets]

[During the new moons Sora is usually not terribly affected by the changes in the moons. He feels a little antsier than usual or more physical or like he needs to run around and play. Not usually more than his usual energy levels but he has had his bouts.

This month it seems like the witches in the city are dealing with a surge in magical energy. And that is something Sora is actually noticing more than any of his heightened puca tendencies. Because Sora was once bonded to four witches in the past he has quite the sensitivity to magic. The surge of magic in the area has Sora practically sneezing at every turn. Long rabbit ears twitch and he bristles when any witches nearby cast any spells or shoot off any unwanted discharge. It’s actually kind of annoying!

Zzzaaap!! A sudden crackle of lightning magic snaps in the air! So close to Sora’s head that he has to duck down out of the way! Stray spells from witches who suddenly can’t control their magic or witches who suddenly have more than they can handle- Is that you or are you witnessing the snaps of magic too?]

Ack! Whoa- watch out! Ahh--- Achoo!!

[And Sora promptly sneezes... It’s like having too much pollen in the air. Goodness.]

[b: quest #2 - wet 'n' wilde: aefenglom / northern outpost]

1. [With several outposts suffering damage from the storms and mudslides out in the wilde, there is a need for workers and volunteers to help fix and repair the damage before it gets worse. Sora is out in the wilde doing his part to help keep the mud from making things worse and doing repairs where he can to several of the outposts.

He happens to be heading towards one of the outposts with several packages of supplies and tools. But the path towards the cliffside outpost has gotten perilous with mud and rain. Sora is trying to make his way up the path but is dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. He’ll keep going but one wrong step and Sora could slip and fall off the edge of the path and down the muddy side of the cliff.

He might need a hand before it’s too late. Make sure to watch your step! The mud and rain are cold and slippery.]

2. [Not only do the outposts need repairs but it seems that several outposts are being threatened with cwyld-infected wolves. For someone like Sora (a rabbit-shaped monster through and through) that does not bode very well. Sora finds himself running through the muddy landscape and through the trees as several of these cwyld-sick and very feral wolves chase after him.]

I’m not your afternoon snack, leave me the heck alone!

[Luckily Sora’s monster legs make him fast. He leaps through the forest at a sprint but fails to miss the sharp tree branch he knicks his arm on. Blood splatters but he keeps running!]

[c. quest #3: are you good with kids?]

[Sora is a normal worker and volunteer at the new orphanage. He can be found here several times a week helping with the kids. Or bringing food, clothing, toys and stories. So naturally here he is working with the kids once again to help them have a craft day. And today is face painting.

He can be found with a gaggle of monster children and several pots of colorful paint. But it seems that some of the paint is glowing or sparkling under the sun. It might just be magical face paint. And if he happens to find someone coming along he’ll wave a friendly wave.]

Hey! Wanna get your face painted? We’re charging the great price of just a smile today!

[Come let a little orphaned monster child paint your face! Or ask Sora to do it, it won't be much better in terms of artistic talent.]

[d. chambers cottage]

[Sora has recently moved into a new cottage. In the deep of winter in the city, he’s come to figure out that he likes growing indoor plants. Growing them leaves the house looking lively and the smell of fresh herbs and flowers is great. As a puca Sora has a tendency to want to snack on anything green so it’s also beneficial for him to grow things in little pots in and around the cottage.

He’ll be busy in the kitchen tending the little herb gardens (and stuffing a piece of basil or two into his cheeks when no one is looking) or out in the front of the cottage fixing up some old planters and pots so they’ll be ready for Spring.]

I wonder how hard it is to grow sunflowers?

[He’ll totally eat so many sunflowers...]

[e. wildcard]

[have something else you’d like to do? feel free to post it here. or contact me at michrure for some plotting!]

Comments

c: Quest 3-Did someone say there's impressionable young minds which need guidan--- I mean a teacher?

[notbert]

[Whether Elidibus is someone you want near your kids is really up for debate. But he wears a very unassuming form and he's certainly not showing any signs of malice. And since he's here to apply for a position rather than simply passing by, the axe he'd usually be seen with has definitely been left at home. His gear is all leather and furs, but a lot of it is hidden by the hooded cloak he's found most effective against the winter's chill.

He wouldn't miss the sight of the Puca surrounded by younger children and a lot of sparkly, glowing paints. Since he's heading right for this danger, changing directions would be very obvious and not at all the reaction of someone wanting to help children. So he collects himself, pulling down the hood and offering a grin. Sure, that's a smile.]

Well! I came here in hopes of speaking to someone regarding a job in teaching. But this seems interesting. What does this face painting entail?

[This isn't going to be literally a full painting of the face in sparkly glo-paint, is it? It might impede a favorable impression during the interview.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora is usually a pretty good judge in character, he's met his fair share of interesting people over his young life. First impression has Sora smiling in return when he's met with a newcomer and a potential patron to their little craft project today. His long rabbit ears wiggle as he greets the man in return,]

You wanna be a teacher with the orphanage, huh? Well, I guess you can call this a stage one interview then if you want!

[Because what better to interview someone than with the monster kids themselves? And a whole bunch of glowing sparkly paint.]

We're letting the kids stretch their artistic wings! [One of the kids even has wings-] But we're running out of faces to paint, so would you be up for letting them use yours? You'll look awesome, promise!

[notbert]

[Oh no. There's no escape. Inwardly, Elidibus sighs. Well, he may as well test the limits of his patience, in these circumstances. After all, he wouldn't BE here at this time and place, if he didn't find some merit in doing so. He might be a bit doubtful that this is a genuine part of the interview process, but he won't question it. Except in a joking way.]

Stage One? Is that a form of Act in a play? [The 'warrior' laughs good-naturedly.] Well, who am I to question it?

[Elidibus looks over the gaggle of children momentarily. Then he returns his attention back to the Puca. Taking off his cloak and revealing the gear underneath. While he may have left the axe at home, there was absolutely no reason he saw to do away with the warm layers of fur and leather. Someone really needs to teach remind him that mortals tend to buy multiple sets of clothes suitable for various climate AND occasion. But hey, maybe the kids will find it looks really awesome. Should there be an obvious place for the victim client to sit, Elidibus will make his way over. If not, he will simply crouch down to 'child level' height within reach of the paints.]

Shall we begin?

[As for a particular design, far be it for him to take creative choice out of the orphan's hands. It will be a good way to assess their potential for restraint. Or lack thereof. One can also say it would be a good chance to judge Sora's capacity to guide the children.]

E

[spirialink]

[Like clockwork, Kor shows up at Sora's house, looking for him. Sora may have recently moved houses, but it didn't seem to deter Kor in the slightest, only in fact strengthening his reasons to come over.

Standing out in the yard, he cups his hands around his mouth and yells for his friend.]

Hey, Sora! Come here, you lazy bones! I need you!

[Was Sora still in bed? Eating breakfast? Out in the garden? It didn't really matter to Kor, he sounded pretty urgent.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora hears Kor's telltale yelling and he unlatches a window to yell right back at his bondmate.]

Kor!! No way, you come here! It's cold outside! Get in here!!

[He's already vanishing back into the house so he can unlatch the front door and wave Kor inside.]

What's up?!

[spirialink]

Huh? [Oh right, it is cold outside. It hadn't been too bad on Kor's trip over (and being able to generate a magic heat aura helps too), but as he waits for Sora to come down, a sharp cold gust cuts through the yard, chilling Kor to the bone. He lets out a shiver as Sora is opening the door, quickly scrambling inside with haste. He was reasonably dressed for the winter, even wearing the jacket Sora got him as a present, but he was not built for the cold.

Once inside, he stands there for a moment, shaking out his arms as if to shake out the cold itself.]

Brrr... Hey! I was hoping you could help me out with something today. Are you in?

b. 1

[exsoldier]

[ As a new rash of jobs come around for the month, Zack makes his way to the boards to pick up on any leads. While he could do something like work as a server at some tropical-themed bar (Costa del Sol vibes, anyone?), he gravitates toward the jobs that have more inherent danger in them.

Part of that is his own restlessness, he knows, but it's also that he's aware he's got the training and experience needed for it. Better that he takes on a task like this, rather than someone who wants to help but might just be in over their head.

It's on his way to one of the outposts that he spots one such person. From a distance all he can make out is that it's a kid who's carrying a pretty sizable number of packages, and everything about his ascent up a muddy hill looks precarious. Like a disaster waiting to happen, basically.

While Zack doesn't recognize the kid from a distance, as he picks up his pace to catch up with him and offer some assistance, he realizes that particular arrangement of spiky hair could only belong to one person. ]

Sora? [ They'd only interacted briefly during the chaos at Dorchacht, but it had been enough to leave an impression about the kid's good intentions. Zack realizes the package at the top of the pile is about to go toppling off, and lunges forward to catch it before it falls in the mud. ] Whoa—!

[oathkeeper]

Ack-!

[And Zack comes to Sora's rescue just in time! The mud is perilous on the pathway and Sora barely manages to not slip and tumble over right as Zack swipes the package back up and that helps Sora keep his balance. He huffs!]

Geeze- This It's like walking on a slip and slide-! [He peeks over his packages and grins.] Zack! Thanks, you're a lifesaver. You're working out here too?

[They're cut from the same cloth! Sora is always much more into the harder jobs that others might not think to take. Taking down cwyld-infected? Building outposts? Rescue efforts? He's in!]

[exsoldier]

[ Sora recognizes him instantly, which probably means that Zack had made just as much of an impression himself. They had been dealing with a pretty chaotic situation, so it makes sense.

This is all a bit closer to home in comparison. While Sora's managed to keep his balance, Zack wonders how long that will remain the case. ]

Yeah, heard they needed some help out here.

[ He nods then, looking further up the incline. They must not be too far from the outpost at this point. He hadn't been saddled with supplies to bring along with him, though, so he sends another glance at Sora's pile. ]

I can take some of those off your hands, if you want.

closed to roxas

[oathkeeper]

[Sora has been without a third bond for a few months now. Honestly, he’d been hoping that Riku or Kairi would come back and had been hanging onto that hope for some time. He misses them dearly but a part of his heart knows that he should try to move on for now. That someday he’ll see them again.

And that’s why he has an important question to ask Roxas. Something he feels like they should have talked about a long while ago. So he goes to the house he used to stay and peeks his head in the front door.]

Roxas? Are you home? It’s Sora!

[twilightskey]

[The house is so much emptier now, now that so many people have gone home. Roxas has considered whether or not he should stay in such a big place or find a place on his own, but he hadn't really found anywhere else to go just yet. Plus, he's a sentimental one, and the house has fond memories.]

[His ears perk up when he hears someone at the front door, and his tail wags when he realizes who it is.]

Sora? What are you doing here?

[oathkeeper]

[Sora has fond memories of this place too. But it felt too weird to stay here without Riku and Kairi. Being closer to his bondmate was ultimately better for Sora so he had gone to stay with Vanitas. But who knows? Maybe Sora's question today will lead to the same sort of thing. He hopes.]

I came to see you, dummy! Hi!

[Sora comes right in like he might still live here, though.]

I've got something I've wanted to ask you for a while now! Are you busy?

a!

[al_bhed]

[Rikku isn't the cause of the errant bolt, but she is nearby enough to react to it. Shrieking, she makes a dive for it near where Sora is standing. Once on the ground, she covers her head and completely misses Sora's sneezing in the wake of all the extra magic in the air.]

I-is that it? Is it over?

Why does it have to be lightning and thunder....

[oathkeeper]

Whoa!?

[Poor Rikku-! He jumps a bit when the girl dives behind him and quickly turns to her with a concerned expression.

While sniffling up his runny nose, sorry. It's kinda gross.]

Yeah- I think that witch over there is just having a hard time. Are you okay?

[al_bhed]

[She'll forgive the sniffles and snot if you forgive her hiding behind you from a bolt that's already over.]

Y-yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?

[Great lie, Rikku.]

I just don't really like lightning that much is all...

b2

[grandspark]

This way!

[The deep, projected shout came from the big black dragon standing in the forest. He had heard the chase before it got near him and paused to look for the perpetrators. Seeing a Monster running away from a pack of cwyld-sick wolves, Rude reacted instantly. He had his hands up as if ready for a fight even as he called out to the boy.

He waited. Hopefully the kid heard him and would head his way. Despite all the worry about a dragon being weak against the cwyld, he never seemed to care about putting himself in danger when he was out here. This was about fending off dangerous creatures from hurting innocent people. He could take the risk.

Besides, honestly he liked the thrill of a good fight. This was just the kind of excitement he looked for out in the wilde.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora is running for his life right now. While in human form he might have just turned around and fought off the sick creatures on his own as a puca it isn't so much the case anymore. He has nerves that are jumpy that make him want to run and take flight over a fight now. So he dodges under a tree branch and holds a hand over his scratched arm.

That's when he hears a shout and Sora's ears twitch that way before he starts to leap over some dead tree trunks towards the dragon. A dragon... A dragon won't eat him. Right? Maybe???]

Hey-!! Be careful, those dogs are hungry!

[He comes to the man anyway. Skidding to a slow as he looks over his shoulder. The pack of snarling wolves are dashing right for them. Red angry eyes and fangs dripping with sick black saliva...]

B-2

[gale_arc]

[ Cats don't like getting wet. Neither does Hisui. And now that Hisui is technically a cat, he really doesn't like getting wet. But he wants to do his part anyway and help out, so here he is, stuck out in the mud and the rain. And it's then when he hears a voice not too far away, paired with the snarling of wolves.

It doesn't take him long to figure out what's happening - he may not like turning into a monster again, but he's thankful for the keen senses - and he moves quickly enough to spot someone fleeing from the local predators. Unfortunately for those predators, Hisui came armed today.

Hisui's accuracy with a bow may not be perfect, nor is hitting a moving target easy, but he manages to snipe one of the wolves with the first arrow he plucks. He hits it in the leg rather than the chest, but even that's enough to slow it down. ]

Hey, kid! Over here!

[ There are fewer trees over here and that means a cleaner shot on those wolves. He'd make much shorter work with them using his Soma, but without magic, he'll have to do things the old-fashioned way. ]

[oathkeeper]

[The hit wolf slows down and goes down a second later with a weak yelp! But that doesn't stop the rest of the wolves from even blinking an eye. They have their sights set on Sora and keep chasing him with angry red eyes and black saliva dripping from their mouths.]

Huh-?!

[Sora glances over his shoulder to just manage to see the felled wolf and Sora's eyes go wide with some hope. Maybe he won't be eaten today! It's a miracle! He runs towards the sound of the calling person, dodging under some branches and leaping over some rocks. Until he gets close enough to hopefully give the shooter another clear shot.]

Hurry, they wanna take a bite out of my butt!!

c.......... 🤡

[sparkstrikes]

[Once in a while, Lightning wanders over to the orphanage with a box of goodies in tow—a wide variety of cakes and pastries she purchased at the Patisserie—for the kids (and Sora). Her stays aren't usually long, and she typically prefers to drop off the box at the front and keep herself anonymous, not wanting or fond of the attention or praise it could garner for her if anyone found out it was her.

Cupcake Lady or something of that sentiment is not a nickname she needs or wants.

But today is different. As she enters the orphanage, she's immediately greeted by a familiar voice, and she halts, shoulders tensing. Damn it, she's been caught.

And of course it's Sora who's waving at her.]

Er... [She shifts on her feet, feeling awkward under the eager stares of the monster children.] What's it for?

[oathkeeper]

[Ever since the day that Sora collected a huge order of treats from the Patisserie and let the kids have them the treats have become a sort of legend in on themselves. How they mysteriously appear from time to time in the front room for the kids to have. Leaving the kids happy and like they're special. Sora thought to maybe tell them that they came from a magical cupcake fairy that only brings treats if they're good little monsters... but he's not too sure what Lightning's reaction would be if she ever found out he gave her that nickname.

Besides! It seems like today is the day that the magical cupcake fairy arrives so he's glad he hasn't set that nickname in stone yet!

The kids seem to giggle and wave at her and one little shy monster hides behind Sora's legs too.]

We thought we'd let the kids have an art day since it's been too cold outside. We've gotta let them stretch their creative wings, you know? Plus, I think it's just for fun. Come on, what do you say?

cottage

[inlikethebrume]

Have you considered looking into any literature involving growing then?

[Spoken from right behind him as Mira is putting away some tools herself. Interesting how working the earth seems to be soothing...maybe that's why her father enjoyed botany as much.]

I'm sure there's a book inside that will give you the answer.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora looks over his shoulder at Mira and gives her a warm smile.

Read a book...?? But that's so much work...!]

Out of all those books you and Vanitas collect, do you think you've got one or two on gardening and growing flowers too?

A

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran is heading home from studying at the Coven when things happen in quick succession: he sees a familiar pair of brown ears, and starts to raise a hand in greeting—but with the sudden lightning spell crackling through the air, he jolts back in alarm with a startled noise, and then winces with some distaste at the Puca's sneeze. What a weird reaction?]

Into the elbow or something, please...

[Ferran puts his gloved hands on his hips with a frown, just barely making the ends of his wings visible beneath his cloak as he turns his head towards the Witch that had apparently lost control of either their aim or their mind. They seem at least vaguely apologetic to the people nearby, so there's that.]

What the hell was that about?

[oathkeeper]

[One long sniffle later-]

Huh? Oh- Ferran! Hey!

[He greets the fae with a quick wave before he indeed tries to clean himself up and look a little more presentable. For a moment resembling a preening rabbit that is putting its fur back in perfect quality.]

Uh, I really don't know! There's all sorts of weird random spells going off lately. It's like all the witches around here are suddenly really new to magic or something.

[And it's making poor Sora's nose so sensitive to it all.]

There's too much magic in the air...!