I've been workin' like a dog [Open catchall for September!]

[showsnopiety]

Who: Caren and anyone!
When: All around Septeril
Where: Knit Wit, the Aefenglom streets, various Quest locations, Haven
What: Over all Septeril catchall! Including full moon complications.
Warnings: Possible clawing, biting, and lingerie mentions



GENERAL

I: She pounce

[She wasn't sure when it all started. She had just been...well, she had been going to work, or to the market, or to a number of other places that she might go to town in. But seeing someone with their back turned...and not seeing her...

Something pricked internally, and she started creeping forward. Before she knew it, she was right up on them-and if she was so lucky, she only stopped at running into a back-or being caught before it happened. Because otherwise, she might use her claws by accident.

Oops.]

II: Stumble mumble

[It didn't always happen. Sometimes she also had troubles while she was trying to be perfectly normal and then...

she'd stumble.

Sometimes it was little more then that, a rubbed knee, and an annoyance. But other times, she spilled spectacularly onto the ground, and had to pause with a low key growl under her breath. This was just...annoying and she had things!!! She could be doing!!!]

III: Mend and create

[Sometimes she'd be so lucky that she'd make it to work with her work and with her assignments of customization and mending various clothing orders, if not outright making them. Or she'd be so lucky to have some free time and be working on a very special order of an animal ear hoodie, for one person or another.

The bell would go off though, and she'd look up with a slow owlish blink, before realizing the others were in the back or on break. Ah well.]

Welcome to Knit Wit. How may we be of service today?


EVENT

Market explorations

[So this was what the goblin market was all about. She had heard about it, had been interested in seeing it in action and...well...it made her think of how this was what a gray or black market was supposed to be. She might have been more interested if she heard about the magic shot that made sure she wouldn't need a bond but-no. She was happy with Ignis as her bondmate, even if sometimes she didn't understand why he liked her.

She eventually made a quiet noise, and wrinkled her nose.]

I thought it would be more of a big deal.

[She's disappointed.]

Scrub a scrub

[It seemed that someone realized that this was a home of a Coven bonded person. Because...well, they had clearly left their mark on her house.

COVEN TRASH, was written in big letters, and inside...

Looking inside, it was trashed. Things were thrown into disarray-food was wasted, clothing had been ripped up, and ink was splattered over the floor.

But thankfully her garden was safe, small and humble as it was.

So she could be seen working on her compost pile, or going out and trying to wash the words off of her mansion. It was...well. She really didn't get where this came from.]

They could have at least written something a little more creative....

[Or why not with the glitter mail? She would have been fine with glitter mail!]

QUESTS

Victorious Secret

[She came in, bemused at the sight of everything that was going on. She was waiting for her turn but...her eye caught on what one of the other people was doing. Or what they were squirming in. Caren couldn't help it; she made a quiet amused noise.]

Do you need a hand or two?

Tomes Aplenty

[It was quiet. Something that she could settle into and enjoy purely because it was with books and...while it wasn't gardening (she had also been trying to get ready to winterize her garden) it was peaceful.

Still, there was a problem, and its name was her height. She couldn't find the ladder. She briefly spread her wings...and decided against it. And then she hopped, trying to put it back in its proper place.

Little help?]

Salon And Goodbye

[So they were planning on doing something with her hair and it was...Fine. But while they had a good seat (one that allowed for her wings and still had back support! But Caren was...nervous. The barber was talking about how her hair was such a beautiful pure white and maybe they should try to make to ombre! Maybe they could make it rainbow! Or glittery!]

Are those...actual hair colors...?

Flowers for Charlotte

[It was a simple harvest, and it meant that she could go out of the city for awhile. There was nothing wrong with the city itself but-it was nice to just be outside of it. It felt like she could breathe.

But she heard something, and she stopped, frowning, her tail lashing back and forth as she listened. That...it was faint but...]

Is that...laughter...?


Out of the City (Medical)

[Caren had been in the midst of work with the infected camp, and working with various medicines. She was practical, and she had a lot of practical medication. But...with a soft sound, she realized she was out of a few things.]

Excuse me,

[She hailed your character down.]

Could you please gather more bandages...?

Out of the City (Fighting)

[She didn't have a sword of her own, but it seems they were able to give her one. It was bemusing, and she twirled the blade slowly.]

I didn't realize that it was a carrier and not completely infectious...I suppose the dream of the destroyed city threw me completely off.

[For various reasons.]

FULL MOON

During:

[It wasn't the same as when they first grew in, but her wings, her tail...they were causing so much pain. She needed to get to the Coven, or to Ignis.

Really, she should have called him. That would have been smart but...she wasn't thinking clearly. It was difficult to, when her head was full of pain, and moving made it worse. But she kept on trying to move along.

Sometimes, that meant she would smack into someone and fall right over.]

You should...really...watch where you're going.

[Caren you might be the one at fault here.]

After:

[She was moving throughout the town, mostly just trying to pick up some things for projects or for market...and she found herself having problems. It could have been with her now large wings (which she had been wrapping around herself, like a cloak from time to time), but it was mostly due to her tail nearly being as long as she was tall.

Which meant a lot of smacking people by accident, getting it stepped on, and a lot of having it closed on in doors. And there was a lot of yipping, jumping, and outright loud gasping and irritation.

In short: ow.]

WILDCARD

Everything else goes here! If you're not sure or have questions, drop me a line on discord at nammah#9659 !

Comments

flowers for charlotte

[beariot]

[ Ursula had been spending so much time holed up with her bonded after the events of the dream that she hadn't even realized how grateful she'd be for Caren's offer to join her on this job. It was a moderately dangerous task, to be sure, but she got to be out of the apartment and out in the world, getting away from her trauma for a bit to just do some life things for awhile before she had to ship out for that terrible city...

It certainly helped that the nature of their job tugged at her heart. Which Caren knew was pretty easy to do at this point. ]

Your hearing is better than mine, but... I think I can hear it, too. [ She whispered. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Caren knew how that could be. But-well-they needed to get out of the city, especially if Ursula, for one reason or another, was planning to leave for some glorified butt kissing. It was better to be outside, and to just do...a mundane task, one way or another.

Even if it was sentimental. Idly, she wondered if she should pick some for Ignis, after they dealt with the problem ahead of them.]

Then it's close.

[Her voice was a murmur, and she held up a hand, trying to listen a little more. She couldn't pinpoint where they were, because whatever it was, it was moving. And with a sigh, Caren offered her hand.]

Hold my hand. Just in case.

[beariot]

[ Ursula only briefly hesitated to take the offered hand before grasping. Her other hand remained close to her hip, ready to draw her wand on a moment's notice if they really needed it. This didn't feel exceptionally dangerous, but she couldn't help but be nervous now that they were so near... ]

Try to keep my mouth in your sight too, just in case it mimics my voice. [ Or Caren's, she thought, as Ursula endeavored to do the same. ]

[showsnopiety]

[It's likely going to be very dangerous. But at least it doesn't have some sort of magic that can be used to charm her or she'd be screwed.]

I'll do my best. In the meantime...we should keep going for the flowers.

[The mimic is likely close to the field, if the rumors are right.]

[beariot]

[ Ursula put her trust in Caren to keep her senses pealed for the mimic. To her end, she kept her own trained for the flower, remembering its shape as the contractor described it. They'd have to find someplace the moonlight was particularly visible to be absolutely sure... ]

Out there. Do you see that light? Do you think it could be them?

[showsnopiety]

I think it could be the flowers, yes. Hold on a moment, and don't let go.

[She paused, and her eyes widened, then narrowed. It seemed she had excellent night vision, surprisingly-but then, few people knew about the eyes. It was the ears she called attention to.

She straightened up after a few moments, and nodded.]

That's them. But I don't think we'll have time to pick them, with our luck.

[beariot]

H-hey now. [ Ursula tried to manage a smile of encouragement, but she was still pretty anxious herself. ] No talking like that, now. We've got to give it our all, you know? Someone's love is on the line.

she pounce

[selfishwish]

[It would be hard to say that Momiji doesn't make for tempting prey.

He's at rest and completely unawares, back turned out beside a street-vendor selling coffee, tarts, and meat-pies to the Shopping District's midday crowd. He's distracted with his lunch as Caren makes her approach, and the idle twitch of his long ears overhead might as well broadcast how unguarded he is, right there out in the open. Easy pickings, really.

Which is to say that he doesn't react before Caren makes her approach--or even before her claws make themselves known at his sides.

Though, as soon as that happens, he reacts a lot. There's an immediate shriek, and instantly the puca is flailing, half-trying to reach back to shove her off, palms thrust out flat and hard towards Caren's face, and half-trying to wrench himself free.]

Owwwwwww! Let go, let go, leggo--somebody help!

[It's even odds, probably turning on how ready Caren is to dig those claws in, whether the puca pitches back and threatens to tip them over into a tangle in the street or manages to pull himself away. In the latter case, though, he'll bolt off like a shot before either of them has a moment to process what's happened, fleeing like his life depends on it.

Prey instincts kind of suck.]

[showsnopiety]

[Normally, if she was feeling like herself, she would have just slid up and made conversation. Normally, it would have been a causal conversation.

Her with her need to pounce on the unsuspecting made things a little more...exciting. She realized what she had done with his shriek, and then the flailing and....she made a mistake.

It's a very big mistake, but still.

But she didn't let go, because if he bolted, she would have to chase him and if she chased him...she would bite him. It would be absolutely mortifying. Her claws pricked, and she made to pull him against her front. There were some pluses in having strength: it meant that she could hold Momiji without having him slip away easily.

Even if she was getting fingers against her face. His fingers smelt like food.]

Quiet. Quiet.

[Her voice was firm and angry-not at him. Mostly at herself for slipping up this much. She could feel them start to lose their balance.]

If you just calm down, I-

[And. Down they went, and her claws were digging in and posied against his skin. NOT TIME TO LET GO.]

[selfishwish]

I said let me go...!

[The rational part of his brain would very much like to calm down. At the least, the figure who's seized him isn't truly hurting him yet, beyond the prick of her claws through his shirt. If she meant to do worse, she could've already.

But the entire rest of him is overwhelmed with the thwarted need to run. And so he's still flailing as they pitch over and he balls in to land rough on his shoulder. Then he goes very still, instinctively trying to shield his bare neck from fangs or claws. This would be a good time to be able to shapechange far enough to shrink out of his captor's grasp, but he's still not sure how that really works yet, and so he's stuck there shivering.

It takes real effort to think straight enough to muster words, when it sinks in that he's 1) not going anywhere without some unfortunate scratches and 2) not getting eaten.]

Can you g-get off, now? ...please?

[showsnopiety]

[She didn't want to bite because that was uncivilized. And it was embarrassing that they had gotten this far. Really, she hadn't thought that she would pounce on him, of all things and...

She might get punished for this later.

Which is why she keeps herself from using her teeth or her claws when they fall over. She's going to be in enough trouble already and...it hurt if only because she half landed on a wing. Ow.]

I can. But you have to promise me not to run. Because if you run, I will chase you. And neither of us wants that to happen. All right?

[She's trying to be fair, trying to be nice. Trying.]

[selfishwish]

[That warning is super not-reassuring. Especially when his heart's still pounding on overdrive inside his chest, and the urge to make a break for it isn't quite gone. But that initial, uncontrolled impulse is, and so he takes a deep breath and scrunches himself tighter and nods.]

...'kay, I think I can. I'll try. ["Promise" is a strong word.] Can you just...let go kinda slow? And move your claws...

[This is dumb. Normally he doesn't have any qualms about causing a scene, but this is just embarrassing. Especially now that it's dawning that the winged girl must be having the inverse problem, given her instructions. It's too awkward to be properly mad about even.]

I can countdown from three, if that helps?

[showsnopiety]

[Yeah, it's pretty awful. She'll admit to that. But she's trying to take deep breaths and not move her claws in to dig in any further. She does try to keep them trim, and she gloves them too but...

Him in a ball like that makes her think that he really is prey. And if she bit him, she would be mortified.]

I can do that. The slow and listening to the count down. How about-when you say 'three' I'll start to withdraw with my claws.

III. Mend and Create

[hearthebell]

[L's already had a tumultuous month. He and his Bonded have an interesting relationship, to say the least; not only is the SQUIP a witch, like him, making their Bond inherently volatile, but there are unique conflicts and bizarre dynamics at play. The power dynamics alone can be astonishing, as well as their violent and extreme shifts, and for the time being, the SQUIP is the one they've both agreed needs to take the wheel.

Back in L's world, he was a master detective whose daily needs were managed by a handler. In the SQUIP's world, its entire purpose was helping one particular individual achieve his goals. The last time L came into this store, he required a fair amount of guidance, and the reason he's returned is because Caren provided that guidance, with what passes for consideration and compassion to L. But this time, he's got some clearer objectives in mind, and he faces the manticore with straighter posture, clearer eyes, hair that's still messy but artfully styled that way, as opposed to literal bedhead.]

Hello, Caren, how are you? It's been a little while.

[Maybe there's something just a little rote about it, as though he's reading a script, but for the most part it seems earnest. He's trying.]

I need three shirts and two pairs of pants... a double-breasted wool jacket, preferably in a charcoal grey color, and an assortment of ties in a color palette that is complementary to a true winter season. I need a heavier overcoat that matches what you predict the trends might be for Geardagas in the coming months, and a pair of professional black shoes with silver accents. Silver cufflinks, as well... and a sharp and assertive hat.

[showsnopiety]

[At first, she thought he was merely giving a greeting a try; she didn't think too much of it as she kept her pal e with her sewing project by poking the needle through the fabric.

But as he continued on, with his very specific plans with fashions...Her eyes grew wide in silent surprise.

Add that with his hair being the way it was, and not so painfully stooped...]

I'd just need to ensure your measurements haven't changed. We may not have everything, but we can order it if not go to other shops.

Who gave you your shopping list?

[This was a big change from when they first met, a few months ago. Too big.]

[hearthebell]

[He nods, his eye contact with the *chimera surprisingly consistent and focused.]

Actually, I think they have changed, so... it might be good to check.

[They haven't; though the SQUIP's attempts to make him eat better are being followed to a T, such changes don't happen so quickly. He's hopeful, nonetheless; it would be a nice tangible sign of progress to bring home.]

My Bonded. It knows what it's talking about, in regards to these matters, and it's trying to help me get a better job. It suggested some other shops, too, but... I feel comfortable here.

[Since Caren didn't make him feel like shit last time, and all.]

Oh...

[He rummages briefly in his pockets before handing over a curved bit of metal, crudely twisted into the general shape of an ear cuff that curves from lobe to tip. There are runes inscribed on the outer edge.]

It took longer than I thought. Some things came up...

[An understatement.]

It dampens sound while you're wearing it. I'm not a jeweler, but if you feel like the adjustment to sound is about right, I can put these runes on any earring with enough space to write them. The effect should be basically the same.

[showsnopiety]

I'll get the measuring tape.

[She's not sure if he's gained weight or not but-they'd have to see. It's difficult to know since his clothes are still loose, and not form fitting. But they're not supposed to be, so. At least she can say a nice thing or two about him doing well with what he had?

Caren, if nothing else, is kind to him, in her own way.

She was about to go to get the tape when L brought out the bit of metal. She was puzzled at first but then he explained...and her expression changed.

From business expression, to surprise, to confusion.]

Oh.

[It's a single breath, and a hand goes up, before it drops.]

It...honestly Tailor, I merely assumed that it was forgotten, or...you had better things to do. Give me a moment to take out an ear plug?

[hearthebell]

[People like L notice kindness, even in sparse and spare presentations. It's just that rare, especially when it's genuine.]

No, that... isn't it, at all. The truth is...

[Well, complicated.]

I've had things to do, but not better things. Mostly, it's just been difficult to get the calibration to the level where I could give it to you in good conscience. The first time I tested it on my own ear, I thought I'd deafened myself permanently. That's not the case anymore.

[He's very quick to reassure her.]

In any case... the most difficult part is finished. From this point forward, it would just be tweaks.

[showsnopiety]

[Caren didn't have any reason not to be kind. She put effort into the clothing, and really wanted him to feel better about himself.

She grimaced, and rolled her shoulders once.]

My apologies-I didn't mean that you wouldn't do it. I was just...surprised. The last time I received a gift was from my bonded-and that's different.

[She's not sure how it's different. It just is. She carefully takes out the earplug, and winces as she's exposed to the sound of the outside world. Slowly, she offers her hand.]

If you would be so kind?

Victorious Secret

[thirdbeauty]

[If Caren's looking for people squirming, she's likely to spot a particular blue-haired girl well on her way to becoming fully Fae. She's still tall for one, standing close to the same height as Caren... but the pointed ears, and large eyes that seem awfully lost and uncertain, give away what she's gradually shifting towards.

Try as she might to maintain her composure in the flimsy little number the potion had given her, she's finding it hard not to shift nervously and avoid eye contact. Once she'd taken the potion, she was stuck this way for a while; so it had either been stay here and act as a living display, or go out in public and be even more on display. She'd have been fine getting home if she just had her illusion magic yet, like in that dream...!

The little sound nearby made her almost jump, and those doe-like eyes fix on Caren for a momentary stare. Her cheeks flush immediately when she realizes what she said.]

N-No, I'm fine! Everything's fine...

[She says this with a very nervous chuckle, one that is doing nothing to convince anyone that she's fine.]

[showsnopiety]

Everything?

[Yup. She may be a fae, or on her way there but...she was not as shameless as one. The ears are a big indicator of what she'll become, especially since they're not furred.

In any case, Caren hadn't taken her potion yet, but she was having fun going around and touring around. And this one...yeah, she wasn't okay.]

You seem rather self conscious. Is it because you're feeling chilly? I'd say you'd be better if you moved around a bit but...

[Her voice trailed off, and she glanced around, before looking back, raising her eyebrows.]

[thirdbeauty]

It's not that! I mean... it's kinda strange to just suddenly be wearing something like this.

[Her utter failure to convince Caren she's not self-conscious is just making her blush harder. Oddly, though, there's a swelling of determination in her chest? She remembers Justine's tips when she'd been roped into modeling last month; yes, she'd been wearing more modest clothes then, but the principles should still be the same here! Keep her chin up, stand with confidence and poise...

It's not exactly a night-and-day difference, but she manages to seem much less awkward - perhaps even approaching comfortable! But there's still the telltale sign of nerves here and there - like how she fidgets with her hands.]

I don't know... if moving around too much is a good idea, anyway.

[She's not lacking in the chest department, and this hardly offers much support. Comfortable enough for lounging around in or posing as a living display, sure, but that's all she's willing to risk right now.]

[showsnopiety]

Yes, but I'm sure it has some good applications. If not for lingerie, then perhaps for armor? Or for clothing one can wear in survival situations?

But in lesser clothes such as these, these are a viable experiment.

[But goodness, poor girl all blush and wanting to act like everything is normal. She can see all the nerves there, and she can't help but poke and have a little fun with it.

Then again, Caren would be pretty nonchalant even if she were put in the same outfit.]

But...You don't feel like you can move? It seems you lack faith in the clothings creator...they'll be crushed when they discover this. It'll be bad for business.

[thirdbeauty]

I didn't mean it like that!

[She'd momentarily steeled herself in preparation for a lot of little jabs that might fluster or embarrass her. But Caren found and poked a weak spot anyway. Somehow.]

I can move fine, see?

[She turns, posing with a hand on her hip like she had in the mirror earlier. Then does a couple more turns and simple poses, just for good measure. Her body isn't any more or less on display than it already was, she figures. Now if she could just tell herself to stop feeling awkward...]

[showsnopiety]

Oh?

[She raises her eyebrows, and watches her pose...and takes out her Watch.

And at the last pose, she takes a picture with it. Thank you very much, she'll keep this (not really) but she's being mean.]