Octeuril Catch all [Open!]

[rollfordiplomacy]

Who: Everett and anybody!
When: Throughout Octeuril
Where: Aefenglom
What: Gardening, Kittens, Quests- many OTA prompts inside!
Warnings: NSFW in some threads, will mark individually as needed.


[All prompts in header are OTA! Closed prompts will be below and marked accordingly. New and established CR both welcome, plotted or not! Will match format, if prose is preferred over brackets!]

Rainy Days, Here to Stay
A. Gardening for fun and competition

[Everett's cottage was a welcome sight, coming back from Dorchacht. He hasn't been a mirrorbound for long and yet, it felt enough like a home to him. His garden had been well taken care of in his absence, but after gaining so much more experience with his magic in Dorchacht, he was ready to really expand. He could let his neighbors have the more beautiful garden, after all!

He'll be happily recruiting any who wish to help him, offering them garden boxes of herbs and tea plants to take home with them in repayment. His tobacco plants he's protective of, but the lilies are off limits!

If gardening isn't in one's skill or knowledge set, that's just fine, Everett seems to be new to it himself, mostly relying on his magic to grow and maintain his garden. All the same, he didn't want to keep draining himself, so there is a stack of literature bought and borrowed on the subject. He's happy for others to take a look, or to write out instructions transcribed, for home care of gifted plants!

They just need to be mindful none of those books get wet. Everett enjoys working out in the rain, but it's difficult to not trek in the water and muck straight into his tidy cottage...]

B. Shelter from the downpour (aka The Kitten Giveaway)
[Throughout the month, Everett will be out and about his yard. He's landscaping the front portion with verdant rose bushes and hibiscus and ivy to crawl up the front porch of his cottage. Soon enough, it's overtaken with more green and blossoming flowers than it is wooden structure. HIs front gate is always left wide open and welcoming.

On this day, it's really pouring. He spies someone stuck out in it, waving to them from under his porch. There's a basket in his arm and he's stuffing it full of... kittens? Seems a family of strays was taking shelter and he felt a need to help. The neighbors keep feeding the local cats, but this was the first Everett saw of little ones. They should really be brought in.

As should the poor person out in the rain! Everett waves them in, warmly greeting even a perfect stranger. He's always happy to make friends.]

This way! My cottage is warm, do take shelter. It really is coming down today!

A Questing We Shall Go
A. Garden Troubles
[Everett loves him some fresh preserves! He's also just a very helpful man, aiding the old woman with her troubles would be on his to-do even without reward. He's happy to see someone else willing to indulge her. He's glad others are so kind!

He does not expect the issue to be puppies of all things. The same from the dream, even! Same kind of creature, at least. Everett was already very fond of the petal wolves, so he's careful not to harm any while shooing the majority away. One remains and it's a particularly pesky one, he's in need of the other helper to chase the pup into his arms. He catches the dog around the midsection and swings the creature up in his arms, looking it over appraisingly]

Caught you, little one! This is no place for you.... [it whimpers at him and. Oh. Huh.

He could understand just what it meant! How curious that is.]

B. Habitat for Refugees
[While he's more than happy to be out of Dorchacht, Everett is not content to leave the refugees without assistance. They're in real need of support and mentorship, autonomy is a frightening prospect! Everett does not want them slipping back into familiar habits or finding new, worse ones. Aefenglom may be a better place, but it's not perfect and these monsters could easily be taken advantage of if they're not well looked after. Everett is assisting on two, main fronts.

Firstly, thrifting! He's happy to gather some money up of his own and kind donation of other volunteers, using every coin of it wisely. With so many yard sales around the city, it's easy to get practical goods and furniture at a bargain. The housing for the refugees should be well stocked with living essentials in now time! Of course, assistance hunting down good deals and even just moving so much furniture would be very helpful to him.

Second, he's doing much the same as he did in Dorchacht, brightening up the neighborhood with plant life! His focus is on planting herbs, tea plants, and fruiting trees. Plants the refugees can easily tend to themselves and harvest for the local market or keep for themselves. Everett's eye is steadfastly on providing the practical!]

Comments

-For Viren

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Returning home safely calls for celebration, doesn't it? Everett thinks so, he needs to blow off some steam. He went to the harbor to have a couple drinks and a couple drinks turned swiftly into many drinks.

Funny, he used to have a good sense of his constitution. Not so much, now! He's had far, far more than he's used to and still doesn't feel all that drunk.

Drunk, for sure, but not as drunk as he should be. It helps his still twisted ankle feel better, though stumbling about on it might not be the best call. Stumbling that lands him right into-]

O, oh! That you, mi'lord? [he adjusts his glasses, squinting, one arm draping fully around Viren at the bar. They're friendly, this is just a nice, friendly greeting! He pats Viren's shoulder brusquely]

My apologies, my very sincere apologies, yes. Here, let me buy us a drink! [has he had enough? Yes. Could he handle more? That is to be discovered]

[bloodwit]

[ viren had been passing through, likely as quickly as he could, but being irritatingly blocked by the crowds of boisterous sailors, wandering sots, and now - a drunk, if at least recognizable, acquaintance. ]

[ goddang fauns, he swears. ]

Everett? What are you—

[ "busy being completely tanked," is the answer to that. honestly, if he had been on less peaceable terms with the person (or if they'd just been a stranger), he may have reacted a bit more aggressively; as it stands, viren's eyes have flown wide, startled. he just sort of. tries to squirm out from under the arm over his shoulder. ]

[ ah. ]

No, I don't think so. I'm not here to stay.

[rollfordiplomacy]

Oh? Oh? Can we drink where you're going, instead? [he gives the man a harmless, joking jab, laughing at his own joke, still hanging at Viren's side despite the man's shaking. The support was nice, he felt much more steady. Viren's like that. Sturdy. Firm!

Let's stop that train of thought.]

I have such, such interesting news for you. [he pops an extended finger to his own lips, bouncing it against a smirk]

S'very hush hush, m'lord.

-For Sokie [NSFW]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett had not yet had many... troubles caused by his transformation. Becoming a faun had, so far, been the amazing addition of magic into his skill set and... some mild scalp pain. That was about it!

Being back in Aefenglom, it feels like so much more is hitting him so much faster. Most dramatically, his feet had suddenly pointed down and shifted into a pair of hooves. He was... not keeping his balance very well on them. It made other changes all the more difficult to deal with. Certain desires are off the charts for him, so much so he's leaving his house less and less as the moon grows full, not wishing to embarrass himself in public. He can be embarrassed in private, thank you-

Well, maybe embarrassed with some company is better. Less frustrating, with luck, Sokie is getting a text through her watch a bit late into an evening, near to the moon being full. Everett didn't wish to bother her, but he's at his wits ends and he's sure she's aware to some degree]

I'm certain you already know, through our bond, what I am about to ask you. Would you be free to spend the night with me?

[weirdnecro]

[There were some changes that she thought would happen to all of her bonded. Weird feet stuff...some skin changes...in a way it was like being a teenager all over again. And some of it was a little too much like a teenager.

She was trying to keep it to herself mostly, but with the sensations she were getting from Everett, it was getting more and more difficult. She could still get around places but...she had to stop wearing pants for obvious reasons. Else, she'd call attention to herself.

Seeing the text, she had to sigh, and close her eyes, before texting him back.]

I can, and I would like to check on something.

Are you going to have other people helping you this week? I need to sleep sometime.

[rollfordiplomacy]

It's not that intense, is it? [asjfshefe it is, isn't it?

Oh no, he feels increasingly more guilty about being connected to Myr at this time. Though, maybe apart of this frustration is that man feeding these feelings to him.

Help, Sokie... help these helpless faun men!]

I can seek out others. If you wish it.

[he's really going to try and not be a bother, but this is a bother for him, too!! The moon hadn't effected him in Dorch and his first month wasn't the slightest bit difficult...]

PUPPIES

[kivatteru]

[ Though most of his strength his gone, Wataru could still count on his reflexes. Not like it helps him a lot when he's chasing down the petalwolf puppies, which are quick to slip out of his grasp and scurry out of sight the instant he blinks his eyes. He came to terms with the fact many elements from his previous dream are an actual reality in this world. Weird, but not something he'd ponder too much about unless necessary.

Wataru decides to take a risk and make a dive, catching the puppy off guard when he hits the ground and manages to grab the little thing and pull it close, resisting the inevitable squirming and whining. It nibbles on his scarf, but not enough to leave damage. He even doubts the pup developed its sharp teeth yet.

With a sigh, he sits up, trying to reach for his fallen hat while keeping the critter steady in his other arm. When he succeeds, his eyes wander up towards Everett. ]

This is much harder than I thought...

[rollfordiplomacy]

You got it, my lad! Good show. [Everett pulls the puppy he caught into his arms, cradling it close. The dog isn't entirely happy about it, but it settles in without much squirming, feeling safe in the faun's care.]

They are such cute creatures. On their own, too, mother already moved on. [the way of animals, though Everett hadn't known wolves to send their young off on their own so young. Or at all, usually expanding a pack rather than separating it. Not the case for these little ones...]

[kivatteru]

[ The hat lands back on his head with a puff, and he smiles a bit at the praise. ]

Thank you. It was a quite desperate attempt, though.

[ He can't ignore the whining and nibbling, it's so cute... but what Everett says next is sad, and his smile perishes quickly. ]

Did the mother really think they would be fine on their own? It's way too early if you ask me...

Rainy Day- B

[theunluckygirl]

[This is what she gets for exploring, isn't it? You'd think being from England would make her more cautious to take an umbrella with her everywhere, just in case, but... Nope.

She's caught in the downpour, because the Unlucky Princess title has to follow her here too, and she's just resigning herself to the fact that this is just going to be her life now when Everett calls out to her. The voice is a familiar one and she looks up before hurrying towards it to find shelter beneath the porch.

She hugs at herself, shivering, and blinks up at him, realizing now here she knows him from.]

Oh! You're-- I-I'm sorry for intruding like this... [She says, despite the fact he invited her.]

[rollfordiplomacy]

Worry not, please, escape the rain and the chill, here, here.... [Everett will usher her from the porch into the cottage. It's a tidy home and warm, the hearth having been roaring all day. He has a mat at the door to take her shoes off upon and leave by the door, where his are sitting.]

Welcome to my home, Jennifer. I hope you will find it comfortable. Spot of tea? And a towel, I should think... [he'll busy himself to be a gracious host, gesturing her towards the fire to warm up. His floors are a polished hardwood, he's not worried about water being trailed around.]

A Questing We Shall Go B

[firewalled]

[Thrifting is certainly fun, but it can be frustrating when it comes to getting all of your purchases home. Rich can recognize not only that Everett is the one standing outside of that furniture store, but also that he's wearing the expression of someone who's possibly bitten off more than he can chew.

He smirks as he comes a little closer, glad his stupid exercise regimen is good for this kind of physical labour, at least.]

Hey, you planning on blocking the door with those chairs all day? I can give you a hand.

[rollfordiplomacy]

Rich, my lad! Please, I could so use the extra hands. [Everett's more than a little relieved to be offered help. The sale was an everything must go and Everett had bulk purchased a lot of furniture, all of it to be donated.

Though he couldn't afford his own just yet, he had been allowed to borrow a couple mules and cart for the day, to do the transporting across town. It's parked just outside the sale, but was only half way to it's capacity.]

That carriage is going to be full to the brim with donations. Isn't that a fine thing?

wildcard!!!!

[freeing]

[x]

[ As requested, Daenerys feels almost compelled to explain her questions. It is not the first time people (even her fellow mirrorbound) has assumed she would jump ahead of herself. There's a sense of council she misses – of having guidance and perspectives given to her for her to act upon. Jorah provides damn good council, but here? He is but one man. One guarded man. If she is to get home – she needs more than that. There needs to be action of some kind.

She navigates easily to his cottage, the directions clear and simple when she asks around. This is not the first time she has sought out company alone away from her Queensguard – no, her friend. Dany does not wish to complicate things further and with that? A knock on Everett's cottage door awaits! :) ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett hears the knock from his backyard and goes around the side of his home in response. He waves to and beckons her to walk around to the side gate with him. His demeanor falling far more boisterous and vibrant than he was in Dorchacht]

Fine to see you, Lady Daenerys! Please, please, come around the back. I have tea set out in my garden proper. [as if... the front of his home is not a magnificent enough flower patch- that of roses and hibiscus, all fragrant and full bloom. He wishes to save them trudging through his home and wasting the niceness of the open air. It is an overcast day, rain drizzling on occasion, though not at the moment.

He did set tea out on his covered back porch, which he leads her around to. There are blankets upon the chairs should it get a bit too brisk. The cooler autumn air and the warm of the tea should be a cozy combination, he believes. Everett pulls a chair out for her, the table arranged with a full tea set and an assortment of fresh berries.

Everett looks so proud of himself]

Everything plucked fresh from this very garden, my lady.

Gardening - Full Moon times

[futhark]

[ There was a lot to work on the garden upon returning from Dorchacht. Given for at least two weeks the cottage was entirely abandoned, all residents taking a vacation somewhere far away. "Vacation." Please, no more vacations like this. Caster spends a few days lazily, in that he doesn't attend Coven lessons much and he doesn't pick any of his many part-time jobs. It was spent making the garden making more presentable. And later, making it more presentable than Everett's.

You know, it's war, a competition.

As the madness descent at night over the night and is curbed through it— Everett might find his garden to be a subject of far more mischievous competition. There are enchantments set on tomatoes that make them explode at the touch. Potatoes dig themselves out of the ground if approached and then run away on tiny legs. Herbs disappearing from their place, only to appear somewhere else. The culprit eventually shows himself, looking not a bit apologetic although slightly shifty.

Caster is hiding something behind his back, but the stranger is his form. Instead of the familiar Witch stands a creature resembling a Fae. Skin at many places marred with patterns resembling that of a tree bark or leaves— forms resembling leaves and small branches sticking out from his scalp and neck, although the thin, delicate antennae coming from his forehead are correctly insectoid like (there are bugs that mimicry leaves and foliage, he seems to have taken their characteristics). From wait up he's not wearing anything aside from a large and warm shawl draped over his shoulders. ]

Hey, Everett. I got something for you. Consider it an apology gift. [ Uh, huh. He seems to be planning something. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[The shenanigans about his garden have only one reasonable cause; sabotage! Everett was bemused at first, but that turned to scheming soon as a tomato exploded in his face. He'll get back at Caster somehow, he just needs to think of something clever.

Swarm of rats, maybe, that would be the appropriate response for a Vaughan like himself. That'll take a little time to get together, it only works if he has... a lot of rats.

Which, speaking of... the mist had some peculiar effects on him as well. He's the same at a glance, the same height and build, wearing his usual clothing, but turning to Caster shows he, himself, to be a rat.

An astonishingly dapper rat.]

Fair evening to you, Caster. [He eyes the gift. The ""gift""- press x to doubt. He adjusts the glasses on his now long nose, peering through them suspiciously]

Is that so? Well, I'm not one to turn my nose at a gift. Will you open it up for me? [no trust]

B. Shelter for Cats

[overworker]

[There's a figure streaking through the rain-- well, she's not terribly fast, considering her short legs. But she's doing her best to try and hurry to shelter when she hears a familiar voice call out. She makes a split second choice to change courses and dash towards his place.

Normally a little rain wouldn't bother her but-- she's not normally sporting feline features either. As soon as she's out of the rain, she shakes her tail and her ears to try and dry them off. Cats really do look pretty sad when they're wet.]

Ahaha... hey Everett. Sorry for dropping in so suddenly. [She looks into the basket just then and smiles at the sight of the protected kittens.] Oh! It looks like you've saved a lot of friends today.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Through the haze of so much pouring rain, it will probably take Towa a moment to realize Everett has his own... fair amount of changes. The mist had gone a head and turned him into an absurdly handsome rat.

Is it strange, then, that's he's saving kittens and welcoming another cat into his home? He's not so unkind as to leave any of them out in the cold, that's for certain. The irony isn't lost on him, though.]

They are in need of shelter as much as you are, it seems! Know you are welcome over anytime, my dear. [he opens the door to his cottage and ushers her inside. The cottage is a tidy, cozy place, neatly decorated with rustic furniture. When the door opens, another creature rushed up to them, jumping upon Everett's legs excitedly; a white and yellow petal puppy.]

Down, Daisy, be polite. [he chides the little pup, though it doesn't do much to stop the dogs excited rushing about. Everett looking to Towa with a little laughter at how many animals he has about, including their own mysterious changes]

I'm taking in many the stray, if you could not tell. [many, many, many stray, when you count all the city rats he's been befriending.

They're luckily not inside his house. Only Clementine, his pet rat from home, is curled up on the overhang of the hearth. All manner of creatures are welcome in the Vaughan home.]

-For Steak

[rollfordiplomacy]

[continued from here]

Not at all! I tend to have what my company might be having. It creates a shared experience between us.

[he raising his glass in a mock cheers, taking the same sort of sip Steak did]

I'm a diplomat by trade. Most of what I do is try to understand others.

smooches

[battlebound]

[ A diplomat.

Not exactly the kind of company Steak keeps, usually. But this place is all about the unusual, so perhaps he shouldn't be surprised that he's finding himself with unusual company. ]

You do that here?

[ Or has he found a new calling? Because Steak doesn't know much about this place, but he can imagine it would be useful to have someone with such experience around. ]

-For Fugo

[rollfordiplomacy]

[continued from over here]

I amend my offer, then. A bit of labor and time, in exchange for the jacket. If you see something more than strikes your fancy, add that to pile for yourself. [a good deal, Everett thinks. He gestures to some of the clothing he'd picked out, stacked onto the luggage, but not yet folded.]

Let me gather a couple more things! Then we can lift this out to the street. I shall be quick.

[no point in taking his time, when he has some extra hands on deck. A couple more jackets and a skirt is what he'll return with, happy to hand one off and fold the other two himself. They can take as much in the luggage case as they can fit, all it needs is to close and to not be so heavy as they can't carry it.]

[unholey]

It's a deal, then.

[Not a bad deal for either of them, really. Fugo moves over to the luggage to begin work folding the clothing that Everett has picked out to fill his suitcase. He's quick and neat about it; even though he's been pulled into the task midway, he's clearly dedicated to making sure the clothes Everett has picked out is as compact as possible in order to take advantage of every inch of space available to them.]

You said these were donations. Are you working with the refugees?

[He doesn't look directly at Everett when he poses this question; his question is casual enough, but he glances at Everett out of the corner of his eye to watch his reaction.]

rolls on up like hi i owe you a fleshbeast -- early morning after the full moon

[faithlikeaseed]

[Shortly before dawn on the day after the full moon, something creeps into Everett's garden on ungainly feet. The vaguely deer-shaped thing pauses to sniff at a rat here, a kitten there, as he picks his way among the rows of flowers and vegetables; he only stops when he's come to a tangle of foliage large enough he can hide himself in it.

Which is no mean feet: he's nearly five foot at the shoulder and still has that marvelous rack of antlers, now once again draped in bloody rags of velvet and studded incongruously with eyes. But somehow he finds a way to crawl into cover and curl up as small as he can, chin resting on the soil and all of those very many eyes closed in resignation beneath their folded plum blossoms.

The world wouldn't have him, not in this shape, but after spending the full moon outside the city's walls...he feels unsurprisingly heartsore and lonely. Abandoned, even, except he was the one doing the abandoning when every attempt to help Aefenglom's frightened citizens was met with more fear. Running away had seemed better at the time, but now...he needs to be close to someone familiar. In lieu of actually approaching his Bonded in this shape (they were supposed to cement that Bond today, weren't they? And here he is, like this, his scars and worse on display for all to see), hiding in his beloved's flowerbeds will have to do.

It's close enough-- no, it's not nearly close enough to ease the ache in his heart, but it's close enough to be better than nothing.]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[The morning was an odd one, Everett not certain if his rat-like changes would last, but not exactly fretting for it. What had him more concerned was the fear and distress felt through his bond, the previous night. He'd been worried sick about Myr, but hadn't been able to find him.

Much to his relief does he feel his beloved close by. Or, so it seems, the bond feeling odd and weak given they had yet to renew it. The potion was likely dulled and near fading away completely. To Everett, it's the utmost priority to seek his bonded before then and be sure he's safe. There's rushing out into his garden at the feeling of Myr being close, calling out as he strode without much caution, looking-]

Myr? My dear-? Are- [he's... really not expecting the creature he sees, rounding the corner of his flowerbeds. A skull headed monster, with long antlers-

Everett's voice spilled out on pure, thoughtless impulse and shock]

Ah.... A, Adelheid-?