[open] 🔶 it's a sad, sad situation

[noblegarnet]

Who: Ferran & YOU
When: Iuneril
Where: Aefenglom (the river somewhere, the haven, aristocratic district)
What: Teleportation mishaps, accidental traps, and disguised run-ins (with bonus bad decisions) + any closed threads. Possibly more! Only time will tell.
Warnings: n/a

A. 2nd

[Although Ferran had felt an inclination towards building shapes for some time, it wasn't too out of the ordinary... being a hopeful architect and all. What was odd, initially, was the inclination towards one specific shape, which admittedly took some time to realize the reasoning behind, but the request from the company of native fairies the other month only solidified the idea, and although teleportation certainly sounds amazing, there are so many things that could go wrong:

What if he doesn't go to the right place? How does it transport him? Can something else happen to someone aside from being misplaced? What if his particles don't get put back together correctly??? And so, he decided he needed to fully comprehend the technique before giving it any serious attempts.

It's taken some time, but now he feels confident enough to transport an actual person, rather than the simple, replacable objects he'd been using for his tests—himself, that is. He's had a few mishaps, losing a few pencils and blocks in the process, but he's ready to make the jump. He thinks.

The first couple of tries go well enough, being only a short distance from each other. But the third?

He ends up in the river.

Of course, it's a much better outcome than landing himself in the Wilde, especially given that he's always been a decent swimmer, moth wings or no. It is, however, an unpleasant surprise, and he ends up taking in a bit of water, possibly making his emergence on the surface a little alarming with the way he coughs to clear his lungs.]

Jesus— [hack] Christ, [he gasps, paddling just enough to stay on the surface.

If he doesn't catch someone's attention immediately, he'll definitely end up resorting to calling out to whoever's nearby—not necessarily because he needs rescue, but in the hopes of making his exit from the water much less messy.]

Hey!

B. 3rd-7th

[It's fine this time, though. He's got it sorted out, a circle set up just inside his yard's shrubs and the other halfway across town. He's made a successful trip from here and back. It's working, and as long as he concentrates and keeps them up, he's confident they'll continue for however long he holds them together. He's making progress!

Brushing his hands (and a bit of accidental fae dust) over the construct, he looks up and happens to spot a passerby, who he greets with a smile.]

Hello there.

[He's in a good mood, apparently.]

Where are you headed? I might be able to get you there faster.

[What he doesn't realize is that he might end up getting them absolutely nowhere and stuck for some time. Fae magic isn't known for its reliability, and it's nearly as fickle as its users without enough experience.]

C. 4th-9th

[A tall, dark-haired man makes his first appearances in the aristocratic district this month, claiming to be from Dorchacht and gathering what information he can about the local politicians (aka nobility) and their tendencies. He's polite and subdued, frequently with a mild smile on his face, winning over at least a few locals with his looks, deep voice and pleasant demeanor.

When the man stops speaking with someone, however, the smile fades fairly quickly, and he seems to be in a hurry to retreat when he turns and knocks into someone with much less force than his size would imply.]

Ah, excuse me.

[In reailty, the man is in fact a young Fae who's completely concealed himself under the glamor of his guardian and the source of most of his troubles. Is this healthy? Probably not. Does he care? ... well, yes, but that doesn't mean he's not going to do it. Rion's persona is perfect for gathering information: he's charismatic in a number of ways, and Ferran knows his face, mannerisms and voice incredibly well, making him easy to imitate and remain constant. Plus, if he ends up saying or doing the wrong thing, it's less likely to paint a target on his own fluffy back, and he won't feel bad for ruining any reputations.

(Wouldn't that be fun, if the man showed up only to have everyone already hate him? It would almost make such a development bearable.)

In his hurry, he doesn't notice that he drops a golden quill, which looks valuable even outside of its enchantment and sentimental value. Hopefully whoever he's run into will be kind enough to try to return it to him...]

Wildcard.

[OOC: Feel free to play with these prompts as you please; jump in halfway, interrupt him, whatever! You can see Ferran's info and current goings-on over here and hit me up over pm or at lumieresdedragon to plot something else out! Or just toss me a starter out of the blue! I love surprises!]

Comments

C. let's make their first meeting awkward for him!

[indolentaxe]

[Hilda lacks the connections and means to do much in the aristocratic district, but she has the background and pedigree to blend in well enough to catch wind of gossip and goings on there. And really, it's the gossip she's after--it's a familiar way to learn more about the city, since it seems she's going to be here awhile.

Plus, gossip is just fun. She has no idea who this Lady Cecilia Thorne person is, but she now knows all about her steamy affair with Alistair Greenwood. All it took was some wide-eyed disbelief and a few follow up questions, and the details just started flowing. That knowledge isn't going to help her at all, but Hilda has no regrets in digging for it.

Hilda accidentally bumps shoulders with a tall, dark, and handsome man as she moves between social groups. He excuses himself, and she's quick to do the same.]

No, pardon me.

[That would have been it, but something on the ground catches her eye soon after. He must have dropped it. She scoops it up and quickly catches back up to him.]

Excuse me, but would this happen to belong to you?

HELL yes

[noblegarnet]

[The man is just on the verge of turning a corner into what he hopes is much less busy part of town when Hilda catches up with him, but he manages to keep the impatience out of his expression when he turns at her call, though it's not entirely out of his posture. His gaze drops to what she's holding, and—

Oh. His amber eyes soften for a moment before he assumes a grateful smile, genuine even if it seems tired.]

I should be more careful, shouldn't I?

[He holds out his hand for her to return it, eager to put it back in what should be a safe pocket inside his jacket.]

Thank you, my dear. This means a great deal to me.

[indolentaxe]

[So polite, too! Hilda's not going to complain about this turn of events.]

Oh, think nothing of it. We all drop or misplace things from time to time.

[She recalls a certain Professor handing her various lost objects during her time in the Officers Academy. It feels like a lifetime ago, with all that's happened in the five years since. Strange, how memories like that just spring up sometimes.]

I'm just glad I caught up to you. You're moving at quite the pace--headed anywhere specific?

[noblegarnet]

[He allows himself a slow breath before answering, patting the pocket to make sure his quill isn't going anywhere this time and allowing some of his true exhaustion to show through the glamor. Not nearly as much as he feels, though—only enough to elicit a bit of sympathy.]

Only my lodgings, though I did have some other plans for the day.

[Still, even if he is in a bit of a hurry to make sure his cover doesn't falter, he can't just leave her at that. It would be impolite, frankly, and the man he thought he knew would never stand for that...]

I suppose you don't have a destination in mind yourself, Miss...?

[This whole affair has certainly been a challenge for his improvisation skills as well as his magical endurance. But he needs to push himself, he thinks. If he can't do much, he has to be the absolute best at what he can do. He can stand a few more minutes.]

[indolentaxe]

Hilda. And you are?

[The tiredness is noted, but it doesn't exactly dissuade Hilda from chatting him up a bit further. He has dismissed her, after all, and maybe a bit of her charming personality will help him feel a bit better. Or so she tells herself, anyway.]

No destination, exactly. I'm Mirrorbound and just arrived, so I'm just gathering my bearings and trying to get to know the city. It's a lot to take in, so I'm trying to take it in chunks. Today, it's the Aristocratic District.

[noblegarnet]

Call me Rion, Miss Hilda.

[He assumes a thoughtful frown when she explains her situation, rather than the look of understanding that crosses his true face. The people of Dorchacht are well aware of the Mirrorbound, though their experience with them is much more limited. He has to play the part, and pauses a moment as if to consider his words.]

It must be quite the adjustment for you... [to say the least.] How have you been faring?

A.

[exsoldier]

[ While strolls throughout Aefenglom can be hit or miss depending on what part of town he's in and how obvious people want to be about their distaste for chimeras, sometimes Zack is able to shove that all aside and simply enjoy the fresh air and the activity around him. The energy of everyone going about their days, whisking up and down cobblestone streets, tends to invigorate him.

It's also helpful to remember what this is all for, to see Aefenglom's bright spots rather than just focusing in on the flaws.

So he's having a nice enough day and is busy considering what to have for lunch when he hears some excitable splashing in the river off to his right. Zack glances over, expecting to see a merrow or two playing around in the water, but instead he spots someone with fragile-looking wings paddling and sputtering.

Hey!

As soon as the person calls out to him, it sinks in that he's in need of aid, and while it doesn't seem like he's drowning or anything, the panic is palpable from here. Zack speeds over to the edge of the river, skidding to a stop right at the water's edge. ]

Don't worry, I've got you!

[ And even though he's in full clothing, Zack wades in, wings and tail and all, to swim out to the stranger. Once he's close enough, he starts treading water, relieved that the current isn't too powerful today. ]

Grab onto my arm, okay? I'll get us out of here!

[ Zack's a strong swimmer, if only because he's a strong everything. His enhancements tend to come in handy pretty much every day, for one reason or another. He'll give them that. ]

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran is a decent swimmer himself, though the fact that he hadn't been prepared to take a dip in the river has made things more difficult. Now that he's managing to catch his breath and there's a helper approaching, he's mostly just annoyed that his magic didn't work as intended.

As Zack approaches, he reaches for the offered arm with his left, moving his wet hair out of his eyes with the other hand. He's glad someone was willing to help him get out of this mess faster.]

Not my— [cough] —best entrance.

[exsoldier]

[ Entrance? Entrance from where? And to where? All valid questions, Zack thinks, but he'll wait until they're back on dry land before peppering the stranger with any of them.

Once the guy's got a hold of him, getting back out to the shore isn't too difficult. It does require some maneuvering to turn them around, but once Zack starts kicking in the water, he gets them moving pretty fast. His wings slow him down, feathers dragging in the water, but his wings tend to get in the way no matter where he goes.

Once they're both out of the river and standing on solid ground once more, Zack gives his whole body a good shake, spraying droplets off of his wings, clothes, and hair. His tail will take longer to dry, and sags sadly behind him for the moment.

Not that he looks too perturbed by any of this. He's more focused on the man he rescued. ]

You all right?

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran doesn't have the kind of clothing or parts that allow for easy drying; even though he tries to flutter his wings to help the process, they're still heavy and useless. Having a particular image he likes to portray, he doesn't want to try shaking himself off like a dog, and instead resorts to wringing out his bangs first, then what he can of his sleeves while keeping his shirt on.]

I'm fine... just way more damp than I was anticipating.

[He lets out a huff, at least grateful that it's not winter—he'd be freezing.]

Thanks for the help.

[exsoldier]

[ Zack also starts to wring out his shirt and his hair, taking care not to squeeze too hard and harm the feathers that are now woven in with the rest of his mane. The weather is warm enough that he imagines both of them will be dry before long, at least. No harm done.

Even if the guy he saved does seem kind of put out about the whole thing. ]

Guess you didn't mean to fall in, then? [ Obviously. ] What happened?

[ Come to think of it, it's odd that Zack didn't hear an initial splash. But it's not like he'd been paying that much attention. ]

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran shrugs, disappointed in the outcome of his testing. He blames the Fae. And leylines. And the moons. Talam, just in general.]

I was trying to be careful, but apparently Fae portals are even less reliable than I thought.

[He flicks off more water from his hands, trying to identify where exactly in Aefenglom he is by the landmarks and nearby buildings. It may take him a while without a map...]

Hey, are you any good with those wings?

B

[futhark]

[ Caster is just walking aimlessly, a straw he bits on sticking out of his mouth— so one a call comes out of one of the yards it takes a second to realize it's aimed at him. He stops and eyes the fae curiously ]

Oh, that's an interesting thing you're working on there— [ And to answer the question given, he follows with a half-hearted reply ] I'm just trying to find a place where I could find some good time.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran lets out a chuckle at the response, putting his hands on his hips. It's a vague answer, but he imagines that's why the guy is wandering around the Haven, rather than already out somewhere.]

Well, I don't know what kind of good time you're looking for, but I can take you out into town.

[futhark]

[ A smirk creeps on Caster's lips— oh he's starting to get intrigued. After all, he wanted to find a distraction and what is better than a company and... experiments, potentially dangerous ]

The entertainment district is quite far from here— think you can reach over there?

[noblegarnet]

[His current portal is most of the way there—surely he can handle a little further. He steps inside the ring, holding up a hand to indicate:]

Give me five minutes.

[With a flash, he's gone. It's a bit of a rush to pick the pieces of the other end up and fly them over to the requested location, but he's glad to do it. It's good practice for the future, whether he might need to set one up in an emergency or just to get a better handle on his magic.

Determined to be on time, he returns within the five minutes through that same ring, a just a little out of breath. He steps just outside the ring again, putting his hands on his hips.]

Looks like that'll do. Ready to go?

A.

[gynvael]

[ Not unusual, most of the time, to find Geralt near the rivers. He's near enough to the edges of the Wilde that the weather hasn't turn to autumn yet, though it's far cooler than within the city proper. His preference these days.

He sits by the riverbank, intending to go for a dip later on. The sun's high in the sky; he's found time to himself for once, putting aside the chaos that's been circling home. Not that it's been too tumultuous, lately. Yennefer's returned. They've reached...an understanding.

For now.

Of course, peace and quiet never does last, does it? He's only just leaned back to rest when a body splashes into the water, spraying the shore. He blinks. The fuck --

He gets up, wading into the water to extend a hand, helping to haul the man inside out. ]

Wrong turn?

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran makes sure he has a good hold of Geralt's hand and that his lungs are mostly clear of water before he speaks, if just to keep himself from stumbling or coughing all over the guy.]

That's a good way of putting it.

[He definitely seems more exasperated than alarmed as he reaches solid if slippery land, although there's clear confusion in his eyes when he pushes his watery bangs out of his face and realizes he's surrounded by trees rather than buildings. He grumbles to himself:]

Outside the city? Figures.

[He's clearly not dressed for exploring the Wilde, not even his usual wing-covering cloak present. And here he thought he was being careful—but at least it's just him alone, and he hasn't dragged someone else into this mess.]

[gynvael]

[ There's a tilt to his head as he looks at the Fae he's fished out of the river. Something about him --

He shakes it off quickly. Geralt gestures towards south. In the far distance, the wall can be seen stretching into the sky. ]

City's that way. [ Though he knows the Fae aren't suited to be wandering in the Wilde. Even with some of the Shades pruned back, there's still plenty out there. Geralt's learned to avoid them where he can. ] Can you get yourself back?

[noblegarnet]

[The hint of recognition is mutual, although his expression remains neutral until he breaks out of his stare to look back towards the indicated wall. He lets out a sigh, putting his hands on his hips.]

Normally I'd say yes, but—

[He manages an ineffective flutter of his wings, which does nothing but spray the grass with more water. They're completely soaked, like the rest of him. He can handle flying in short bursts in the rain, but attempting it after a full dive in the river just seems like a bad idea. He folds them back once more to keep them out of the way.]

I don't trust these right now. Or anything Fae in general...

[gynvael]

[ Of course not.

Geralt sidesteps the spray of water and goes to where he's tethered his horse to a nearby tree. He digs a blanket out of Roach's saddle before returning, draping it unceremoniously over the Fae's shoulders. ]

Dry off, then. If you want a ride before sundown, stay here. Otherwise, the walk back's about two hours.

[ He eyes the Fae up and down for a second. Mm. Maybe three hours for him. ]

a.

[weatherscience]

Whoa!

[ meanwhile, nami has been enjoying the time fishing near the river, now that fishing at sea isn't quite safe anymore — but when a person suddenly drops in the river from, oh, out of nowhere, she startles enough to draw back her fishing rod.

and then, blinking, ]

... Ferran?

[ and then she springs to action, wading into the water without a care. but then, she's a pirate — a river isn't a match for her. ]

Hold on, I'll come and get you!

[noblegarnet]

[If he'd had the capacity to notice she'd withdrawn her rod, he'd appreciate the fact that he didn't get hooked, since he's having an unpleasant enough time as it is. Ferran does, at least, manage to recognize the voice, his hair still mostly too much in his eyes to see her properly. After a few more coughs as he treads water, he calls out, more exasperated than panicked:]

Hey... thanks.

[He's not used to swimming with a current, but he is at least able to stay in relatively the same spot, even if that means he's not reaching land on his own within the next few minutes.]

[weatherscience]

[ as she wades deep enough that she actually needs to swim, she grabs her clima-tact — and as she's swum close enough, she lets it extend, becoming something for him to grab. ]

Can you reach that? Just hold on, and I'll make it shorter, that'll drag you closer to the shore!

[ because even though she's a good swimmer, it's still easier this way than to try and swim the both of them against the current. ]

[noblegarnet]

[After a brief first attempt that slips, Ferran manages to grab the end of the staff with both hands, wishing he'd thought to wear gloves. Not that he expected to end up far outside the Haven, much less in the water...]

Okay—I've got it.

[His wings might not be designed for swimming, but flapping them in time with the kicking of his legs should at least help a little.]