[Open] August Catch-All

[long_live_the_queen]

Who: Kaede, others, you!
When: August in general
Where: Within the city, Smugha Cave, others to be added
What: Thread holder for the month. Feel free to hit up my plotting post here or my plurk at blueraven if you'd like to hash something out!
Warnings: Potential violence, others to be added as needed


I. Any District

[When Kaede crossed the city, it was usually in direct ways—or more aimless meanderings. But the city was busy and crowded and there was only so much the promise of free clothing could do to smooth over the prospect of dealing with that many people for so long. So, the former it was.

This also meant casually trespassing in people's yards. Empty yards—or at least ones that seemed empty on first glance, she wasn't stupid. Where possible, the Chimera walked along courtyard walls instead of actually straying in them, but sometimes that wasn't exactly feasible. She didn't take anything while she was pacing with purpose between rows of flowers, a garden, or otherwise—but the antlered Chimera was highly visible, her hair dark pink and her arms covered in bright scarlet feathers.

...well, okay. She did linger sometimes. Those flowers were pretty.

Or perhaps she's hovering near a patch of trailing honeysuckle, or perched conspicuously atop a wall with her head tilted—did she hear a dog barking?]

II. Caught in the rain

[Of course it'd be raining on the day Kaede had to return these books. Of course it'd do so while she was mid-transit. And of course she'd find that this newly purchased cloak leaked.

The worst of it seemed to be on her head, where the hood had been rather hastily modified to fit around her antlers. It looked nice in the store, and in cooler (not rainy) weather. But it let water in through those gaps, and the left shoulder seam had started to leak, too.

So Kaede slouched, under an awning outside a shop, a home, anywhere with a roof, the books tucked into the one dry spot still under the cloak.

Let this storm pass soon. Let this storm pass soon...]

Comments

Closed - Ursula

[long_live_the_queen]

[Another hour, another stranger's wedding, and another time Kaede just wanted to sink into this chair until she could vanish through the floor.

That, of course, didn't happen no matter how much wishful thinking Kaede did. Her emotions often bubbled up in little fits and starts that she never really allowed to break the surface, but right now they were drowned out by equal measures of dread and annoyance. And fatigue, but that wasn't quite an emotion so much as a greyish fog lingering over the others.

Oh. Everyone was getting up, could she leave...? Slip away in the mass migration?

—No. It was for a dance.

The Chimera slumped even further in her chair, grumbling.]

Closed - Maria

[long_live_the_queen]

[The caves were quieter than she thought. A little water dripped and echoed, distant voices became incomprehensible and only occasional whispers. The spell being woven within the cave was something more felt than heard, a buzzing tingle on Kaede's skin like an intermittent static charge.

There should at least have been animals down here—bats maybe, lizards, crickets, something. Their absence made Kaede's feathers prickle restlessly.

The only consistent sound was the echo of their own footsteps as they ventured further into the caverns, with the Chimera sometimes needing twice as many steps to catch up with the tall woman's stride.]

You've been here before, haven't you? What's this place like?

[Besides cold and vaguely unsettling, Kaede got that part.]

[beariot]

You look like you could use a rescue.

[ Kaede's anxieties rang out like a siren for Ursula, pulling her away from whatever else she'd been doing to come find the poor girl. She slipped into the empty chair beside her bonded, reaching to gently take her hand in her own, giving it a small squeeze. ]

It's okay. I'm here. [ She spoke softly, just barely above a whisper so Kaede could hear it over the revelry. She hadn't realized, of course, by taking Kaede's hand... they were now expected to dance. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede felt the Witch's presence before she touched her hand, but the contact still made the Chimera start a little, back stiffening up. Her gaze sharpened to alertness, and just as quickly settled back again.]

Wh—oh.

[Soothing calm flowed through the touch like cool water, gently nudging the stressed thoughts of hers back like a gardener pruning a tangle of vines before they grew into gnarled coils. She'd felt both surrounded and isolated here, but with a familiar face nearby none of that mattered so much.

Feathers smoothing back to her head, Kaede sighed quietly in relief, hand closing carefully around Ursula's much softer one.]

...I don't know how to dance, though.

[The crowd in front of them had thinned enough that hiding was now difficult. Some of the guests had even started moving the chairs aside to make more room for dancing.]

[beariot]

[ So that was it, huh? Well... she supposed she could handle that. But maybe not quite so center stage. She looked about for a less crowded space, somewhere just off from the main revelry, with a few others who seemed to not be much for big groups. She gave Kaede's hand a squeeze, as well, tugging it as she stood back up. ]

Well... I do. It's been awhile, though, so be patient with me, okay?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede mumbled an affirmative, feathers still pinned back and sulky as her thoughts. She reluctantly stood, the energy transferred from the Witch's touch doing a little to encourage a sullen animal out of its cage, but not much.]

Better than I can do.

[She was still speculatively wondering if she could make it over the wall. That was an option, this was an outdoor wedding. But that would mean leaving Ursula behind, unless the Witch could scale sheer fifteen foot walls with no handgrips.]

[beariot]

It's not a competition. [ Ursula hummed, pulling Kaede along gently until they were at that mostly secluded spot she'd scoped out, settling in front of her. ]

Now... Place your other hand on my shoulder, okay? I'm going to put my other arm around your waist.

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera's thoughts were still on the sullen and anxious side, but she didn't need any dragging. Ursula seemed to have a plan, and that was good enough for Kaede. They were going where the crowd wasn't--mostly. There were still witnesses around and Kaede didn't like that part, from how her tail kept lashing. Just...just focus on Ursula. The Chimera dragged in a steadying breath, turning her back to the other dancers.

The forewarning that further touch was coming was appreciated, and this time Kaede didn't start or twitch. She curled her free hand on the other woman's shoulder, the soft fabric catching on her callused palm.]

Like this?

[beariot]

[ Ursula let her settle it there for a moment before she gingerly wrapped her arm about Kaede's waist, pulling her in just a bit closer, but not so close she'd have trouble moving her feet. Once more, she let her pause there a moment, to get used to the position. ]

In dancing like this, the person in my position usually leads. So I'll be stepping first, and you just keep your feet with me, okay?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede's feathers prickled a little when Ursula drew them closer together, instinctively wanting to pull back and put more space between them again. The feeling passed, but they were close enough that the Witch could hear the little 'er' noise she made. Her tail had finished growing (...she thought) but that spot on her back Ursula's arm was curled around was still sensitive. It felt oddly ticklish, and comforting, and weird and that surely spilled over the Bond too.

The Chimera sighed through her nose before taking another breath. The dance instructions were simple and she'd already almost forgotten them.]

Okay.

[Just...one step at a time. Climbing over the wall could come later.]

[beariot]

[ The bond made this easier by bounds. She didn't need Kaede to struggle with the words to convey her feelings in that moment, didn't need to force her to conceptualize what was happening to her. All Ursula needed to do was feel it, and respond in kind, sending her own optimism and confidence through, an unspoken promise to take care of Kaede, to treat her fragility with the utmost delicate hand and treasure any little bit of comfort they found.

She had told her she would. Swore it in a vow. And even something as simple as a dance to others was a meaningful step for them. They found the rhythm of the music, and Ursula began to move, guiding Kaede with her, with the same care her own mother had taken in teaching her. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

Cold. Dank. Full of spiders and salamanders. I'm not sure what all they did afterward - they would not take the volunteer of my services to actually set up the base within this cave last month. [Because she's Unbonded. And that sort of rankles. She is just fine, without being Bonded, it's not like she's at a risk for losing her mind and going feral.]

I'm sure the spiders and the salamanders are gone. There are hot springs that were cooled, but I believe they removed the spells keeping them that way. Further down, you can find evidence that this place was once inhabited - by some Wilders expedition that was... lost but never properly documented, as I understand. [Plip. Plop. Plip. Plop. Splish. Splash. Splish. Splash. The dripping water is an incessant noise in the background, and Maria wonders if it's the lower caves thawing out.]

ii

[foursakes]

[ rain . . . ‘tis the season, she’s heard. the witches at the tailor shop she’s stationed in have designed dry-spells, the clothes wouldn’t ruin under the rain or even soak while under displays. four fits a hood on one of the mannequins, looking twice toward the horned girl in a rather ugly cloak. one that doesn’t do her the honors of being dry at all.

it’s a good way to sell, and a good way to boost her name to aefenglom’s people. deeds were what she and her sisters started out with, until they were known, until they were respected. until they were venerated. four would simply have to start from scratch, alone. she bets none of her sisters would be competent enough to do it. sometimes she even doubts one, but only because it made her feel larger.

another beast-thing. what does she call her? lady-thing? it makes her wrinkle her nose, alas . . . considerate. be considerate. ]

Girl, [ a little awkwardly, as if she didn’t know if that was the right term to go by, ] your seams are . . . Horrendous. [ she gives the holes and the hood a more inquiring gaze. ] Who made those for you–?

II

[omnicrafter]

[Irhya is just coming out of a shop, covertly scouting the wares more than anything, when she feels the weight in the air hit her in the face before she even hears the rain. It's not a big deal, really, but getting soaked is such a pain in the arse... she's better off waiting it out than trying to power through it, loath as she is to wait.

She's pacing idly when Kaede ducks under the awning, and she can't help but look her over, horns and feathers aside. Right away, she can tell some of the modifications were a rush job, with incomplete seams and threads hanging loose, and the sight of a raw edge fraying at the shoulder is pretty glaring, too. Not to mention the waterlogged way she's moving...

At first, she hesitates, but ends up making a wry remark anyway.]

Bad day, I take it?

[long_live_the_queen]

Charming.

[Great place for a picnic. The dripping water and gloomy stone passageways with no natural lighting totally fit that aesthetic.

This corridor started to widen out into a larger cavern, and the Chimera craned her head up to look. The fissures there led to black nothing even she couldn't see through, and several tunnels led away from this one. It seemed warmer in this room, too.]

[whomthebelltolls]

Mm. [That's her way of agreeing, as they continue down the winding paths and through the cave. As they arrived at the "room", Maria took a look around.]

It seems they have done a good job of cleaning out the pests that took up residence here, though. Before, you could hear the spiders skittering in the distance, and see the webs everywhere. They did some housekeeping.

aaaa I'm sorry for your inbox

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede was a lot of in-betweens. Not a child, not an adult, not a human and not a beast. And now not quite a number of disparate things thrown into the same skin.

The Chimera turned her head slightly when a voice spoke to her, red eyes gleaming out from under the hood.]

Tailor on East Market Street. [Some shop in the...Shopping District that was giving out free garments, like so many others had been during Lunasa. Now that it wasn't, though, there wasn't that much in the way of ready-made garments and she needed a cloak Right Now. The employees there were also rather harried and wanted the irritable Chimera gone as quickly as possible.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera had been about to shake water off herself when she heard the voice nearby. With a grumble, Kaede stilled her shoulders. She was being polite and considerate.

She turned her cowled head towards the voice, shifting her grip on the stack of books, though she didn't look back completely.]

Just a little.

[long_live_the_queen]

[It helped, a little. Kaede had stumbled over her own vows a few times, and the feeling of something that wasn't her in her head was still jarring.

But it wasn't the Voice. It offered comfort, but didn't have suggestions and insistences and expectations bundled with that comfort. It offered encouragement, but it didn't speak. Ursula didn't need to.

Some of Kaede's trepidation and a bit of fretting nervousness still wavered through the Bond as she took another step, focusing in on the Witch's movements and where her own body was in space. Whatever else was going on in this secluded dancing spot blurred into unimportance. Was that step right? It seemed to be right. And that one?]

[beariot]

[ Ursula was never not fascinated by how much the bond could leave unspoken between those tied to it. She could feel Kaede's questioning and uncertainty without her having to say a single word, and in turn offered her guidance and assurance without a peep from her own lips. Kaede was doing fine, if a little stiff. She knew she'd get to the point where she wouldn't need to think about it nearly as much. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede didn't have much of an opinion on spiders before--they were usually little scurrying things that drew her attention simply by moving, but weren't much of a problem unless they had gotten onto drying laundry.

From the sounds of it, these ones wouldn't have been so easily swept away. But there were no webs stretching from the walls now, no sharp little feet in the distance.

Just the endless sound of water.

The Chimera paced towards the large shadow in the center of the room; it reflected the light oddly, and a few steps in she could see why.]

Did any creatures fly up through this?

[Kaede could see the water far down below, and didn't kick anything into the sinkhole. She stood at its edge, tail speculatively curling back and forth.

Besides that maybe-entrance, there were three other tunnels to mind--one led to where the Wilders were casting their spells, one led back the way they came, and a third led somewhere Kaede wasn't sure of. And there were plenty of gaps and fissures that weren't person-sized riddling the walls.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[So far, so good. Kaede expected some kind of chiding, but that was nowhere to be heard or felt. Not after that step either. Maybe she was doing this right after all.

It happened eventually, though--the shorter girl stepped a hair too quickly, and trod on Ursula's foot instead of the ground. Kaede was wearing light sandals, but she was still mortified and stiffened up like she was about to freeze and apologize on the spot.]

[beariot]

Shh, shh... it's okay. Just keep going. [ Kaede wasn't exactly a heavy girl, even with her monstrous nature, and Ursula's boots were fairly sturdy. She could handle a pinched toe or two. The last thing she wanted was for Kaede to get hung up on guilt or shame in her mistakes. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Ha. Ha. About that guilt problem.]

[The Chimera mumbled, a not-entirely-human but identifiably fussy sound. Her tailtip curled and flicked out of time with their steps--and they did keep going, no pauses. The Bond held only patience and reassurance.]

Are you sure?

[Kaede's voice was a hoarse whisper, and she had to lean in to be heard under the music. She didn't want anyone else to hear.]

[beariot]

[ Ursula nodded, smiling brightly. ]

I promise. [ And it really was fine. She projected that confidence as much as she could over the bond, let it settle over Kaede like a warm blanket, keeping her safe and cozy, and free from any judgement. ]