middaeg | Octeuril Catch all [Open!]

Entry tags:

Octeuril Catch all [Open!]

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!]

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[ yeah, that made it extra extra fun ]

[ accepting of the hold, viren's quiet a moment as he processes that cordial invitation. ]

I see. ... It is appreciated.

[ sincere, that response. well, he guesses he would see if that invitation holds up when the man's not intoxicated. but that's a bitter thought, and he very much recognizes, by this point, that everett's kind and generous with his company. ]

[ once they're freer of potentially eavesdropping ears, viren peers at the man, the curiosity returned to his tone. ]

And... the news, would be--?

[it doesn't take them long nor far to get away from the raucous harbor and into the quiet of the neighborhoods, scarce for people at this hour save a few carriages trotting by]

Aah... news, news, yes. [he sounds less than enthused, but goes on. He should tell Viren.]

In Dorchich- [he can't really pronounce that right now] -chiant. The Coven, there. Had a clinic, behind that locked door, same as the dream. Suspicious, that? Why do good work, like healing, in such secret? [he pokes a hand to Viren's chest]

It was bad work. [he punctuates that with two firm pokes] That's what. Just awful! Took my bonded back there, sayin' they'd treat him and they took his memory of it.

[ viren listens, basically hanging on every slurred word, every emphasized prod to his chest. three pokes in total. he can't say he's... particularly sympathetic, thus far; he supposes memory wiping usually does spell bad shit for people. ]

I'm sorry to hear that, about your bonded.

[ so, pressing on, ]

And, did you find out what the bad work was, exactly...?

Yes! To some degree. I went in. Myself..! Hahaa- that's why I have this bit of a limp. Twisted my ankle to make a convincing enough injury. [that's much more why he's stumbling than the booze. Actually, ever since getting back to Aef, his ankles have both ached the twisted side worse. Of course, there's jokes to be made about his age, joints getting older and all. Really, it's apart of his transformation starting, legs on their way to shifting permanently into hooves]

My other bonded, a witch, she looked around while I played up the dramatics. Had runes hidden upon us both, to protect from the memories fading... [something he is obviously very good at, so it's no wonder she got away with looking around]

[ oh my goD the suspense ]

I hadn't realized you were injured.

[ he really did think this was all just drunken stumbling; should he be going more slowly...? viren glances downward towards everett's feet - his ankle, more specifically. honestly, he's impressed with the dedication to that plot. he can't chastise that method too much; it'd been for a good cause, and a creative idea - he thinks he would've done the same. ]

[ his eyebrows knit together. ]

And... then what happened...?

Edited (i swear i proofread ) 2019-10-05 02:29 (UTC)

[Sorry, Viren, if you wanted someone to be concise, drunk-ass Everett is not your man. This is a decently tight story, given how hazy his thoughts are. Take what you can get...]

Might have overdone it! Toss myself off a second story climb. Really rolled it on the land... [maybe too dedicated, his bonded certainly weren't happy. Not quite pain sharing, but the empathy shock of falling off a building isn't a pleasant one]

Don't worry, Lux chastised me well enough. Sweet girl, glad I'm not bonded with her anymore. [he laughs, in a whoa boy sorta yikes way]

She does not need to know what I get up to. I had to be so well behaved... [never again]

[ —oh lord, he's glad the man recalled that little detail. and jesus, he's also pretty sure that a one-story building would've done just as fine. with a solid nod of agreement, casually, ]

I'm sure that must've been quite difficult for you...

[ re: behaving. ]

[ assuming everett to have an arm still slung over his shoulder, and thus him to have an arm tucked around the man's waist, he may be able to feel the taptap of the drumming of fingers against his abdomen. ]

Everett. The bad work...?

Not too difficult. I wasn't, was not too smitten with the people of Dor... that place, hmm. [yeah, he's got better taste than that. His fellow diplomats weren't exactly in the mood for such things and neither was he. Now that they're back, in the relative safety and comfort, it's good to have it broken.

The moon is also a factor, but that'll get more obvious soon.]

Bad work? [Oh, that strumming feels rather nice-?]

.... Right! Right. I played dramatic and Sokie... dear Sokie looked about. Stole a few things, documents, a book... but she also found a, a hidden room. Took a few picture, even... what was in there. Awful work. That room...

Edited (meanwhile, I can't html) 2019-10-05 02:50 (UTC)

[ as the first name he registers, viren doesn't yet make the connection to her being -- the witch, and now the bonded, that had chastised him back in dorchacht. but it sounded like they looted a few items of importance; he will have to return to that point in a moment. ]

[ the drumming of his fingers stop, his eyebrows raising. he definitely expects the faun to continue speaking, so when he trails off, viren's teeth click together. ]

And...? What was in the room...?

Ah, a moment. Here, here... [Everett stops the man, gesturing to his cottage in the row of them. The front yard is dense with rose bushes and hibiscus, a lovely, fragrant aroma filling the air around it. His gate is wide open, Everett not a man who thinks to lock up.]

I'll show you... but first, let's get inside, my lord. Properly private... I need off my feet. And a cigarette. [he'll take his arm off the man and get to his door, which is locked, so that takes a moment to fumble for his key. Stray cats meander about the yard, as do some rats, Everett cooing gently at both sorts of creature as he gets the door open. Magitech means it's just a flip to illuminate the space, very handy, much better than meticulously lighting all manner of lanterns, as he was used to doing back home.

Entering, Everett's home is tidy within. Very well organized, furniture rustic and practical and cozy. He staggers to the well cushioned lounge he has in front of a tea table and his hearth. Flopping right down, he calls back to Viren.]

Make yourself at home, m'lord! [Siiigh, the comfort of being back home! There's another seat that Viren is welcome to take, Everett is going to just... lay down for a moment, taking up the couch space]

[ THE SUSPENSEEEEEE ]

[ oh, viren likes the scent of the flowers very much, even if he can't properly appreciate their appearance with the lack of sunlight. but so he enters, as bid, shutting the door behind him and then eyeing the space he's welcomed into. it's homely, in an inviting way - that he will acknowledge. ]

[ ... then he eyes everett as he absolutely sprawls. he swears, if this man falls asleep before the end of the story... ]

[ well, he'd just go about trying to wake him up, but still. ]

[ posture kept formal, he takes a seat. ]

Your home is rather nice. It's not a style I'm used to seeing, but it's pleasant, all the same.

[ because it's no castle, but hey, nor is his current dwelling. ]

Edited 2019-10-05 03:29 (UTC)

It is nice, isn't it? I sh, shall need to show you about... when the sun is out! The garden. My garden! It's spectacular. And I am making it better each day- [Viren is luck that Everett's the sort to get a third and forth wind. After just the moment of rest, he pulls himself up onto the arm of the lounge, resting more upright and leaned in closer to Viren's chair so they can keep talking.

And he did quite lose all focus. He reaches to his jacket again, pulling out his cigarette case, matches, and watch. After that, he takes the whole of the coat off and tosses it casually over the back of the couch to be more comfortable. Kicking his shoes off, he is flipping through the watch... password protected, he has a picture to share with the man.

He's kicking his boots off, in the meanwhile, it's all very casual in this state of intoxication]

Take off your shoes, m'lord! Live as us mere aristocrats do. [he jokes, because it's not like he's some peasant, either, but compared to someone in line for a throne, well... he's never been that important. He also appears to be waiting for the man to oblige in this display of settling in, not offering his watch just yet]

[ ah, another invite. he does look forward to it, admittedly.

but is he being bribed into making himself more comfortable... is this what this is

after eyeing the watch with poorly-hidden eagerness, then hearing the words, he sighs. he obliges by carefully pulling off his boots, sets them neatly aside a leg of the chair. boom, done. and looking back up towards the man, gesturing with a hand towards this feat, ]

There. Satisfied?

[Everett grins at the display, having no issue using such bribery. The expression doesn't last, falling solemn to look back at the watch, which he hands over. Finally. HGe's not aware of just how much he's ramped up the tension of what he has to show, whoops.

It's a bit unclear as a still image; darkness, forms laying down in rows, and a blue glow.]

Tap the image, it's a- oh. What is it called? A moving picture! [he's still amazing that such things exist, but the watches were capable. When the video is moving, it makes much more sense. Glowing magical runes, etched into sleeping figured, lacking for monster traits. Witches. Being contained somehow... and Everett knows why,]

That. Lord Viren. Those people... are the source of Dorch's control enchantment.

[ viren had leaned forward with keenness, transfixed as the image springs to apparent life. not the first time he's seen a 'video' here, no, but the subject matter is, as has been HYPED, entirely worth the attention.

there's a little intake of breath as he sees the runes; it takes him a second -- just to appreciate that, drawing on what he knows of magic at home and here, coupled with everett's statement. ]

The Witches, the magic is drawn directly from their bodies? ... Trapped to essentially power the City, then.

[ just saying, they don't exactly look like volunteers-- ]

Edited 2019-10-06 20:45 (UTC)

They seem to be immobilized, yes. Comatose, perhaps. There is good evidence to suggest they are Aefin, arm, Aefenglom Coven witches. W, which left alongside Morgana. When she founded that dreadful place.

[but it's likely further than that, Everett elaborates, remarkably focused now that they're finally Thoroughly On Topic.]

Scrubbed from memory in history books there, but mentioned in those in our records... scrubbed from public mind, even.

[ viren's left to gaze at his companion, owlishly, at that announcement. that's certainly something to add to their collective notes; perhaps he would careful with the addition of all of that information, but for now he's left to breathe: ]

That's... incredible.

[ lord, he would to give it to her. morgana drummond is a f*cking genuis. ]

[ truthful as it is, perhaps in even an objective capacity, viren recognizes the political climate for what it is, practiced as he is with dealing with it to a lesser extent back home. he amends, quickly, a bit awkwardly as he stretches the syllable: ]

... llly awful.

[ back on pace, here. he looks up at everett, expression pained. ]

To also enslave Witches against their will -- drawing upon their lifeforce like that, to generate it into pure magical energy... [ there's a sharp frown that tugs at his mouth, a grimace that flashes his fangs. ] I'm guessing that information was from the stolen documents? Were you able to get pictures, or evidence, of anything else?

Impressive, to say the least! [Listen, Everett might be mad, but there's credit due for how stone cold mercenary that situation is. Morgana is not to be underestimated in the slightest, that is for certain.]

Put together from a variety of sources, but still... merely an educated guess. This was presented to Lady Nessie, but she urged us caution. Morgana could easily peer into her mind and implicate all of Aefenglom towards a war. I urged this information to be given instead to the Resistance. [he's producing two cigarettes from his case, giving Viren one first. He strikes a match to light for is guest then himself, even drunk, he'll be a decent host!]

That is all I know, of yet. Words has been scarce, since we left...

I see...

[ viren accepts the cigarette with a nod, popping it between his lips to take a drag (at this rate, he may develop a slight addiction to these things). he leans heavily back in his seat, weary from the excitement now, exhaling smoke. ]

No one happened to sketch any of the runes involved, then, for study? —Barring that, would you send me the [.. what's it called. ] .. video?

No time for such a thing, in the moment. The room was a hidden one, Sokie only had time enough to capture the video and pictures you see there... while I howled over my eh, ever so injured ankle... [he really played it up, they told him if he was really in so much pain they might as well cut the damn thing off- an effective ruse, ultimately, highly distracting.]

If you could make out any of the runes by this pictures. I'm sure that would be useful knowledge to hold onto. Caster might wish to do similar... [he'll take his watch back and send the video over, marking it something silly and mundane to try and avoid any surveillance of their communication.

It's marked "Hair Dye Recipe"- is he trying to say something? Or just being funny. Difficult as ever to tell, with Everett]

[ ... hair dye recipe... viren wonders if he is trying to say something, indeed -- does he not dig his salt and pepper hair, cmon. ]

I can do so, yes.

[ he may not have as much of a practiced application as a witch, but, in addition to hopelessly attending classes, he's done his fair amount of rune sketches. but, hm. with a nod, and even if it may have been a bit of a struggle to get this point, ]

I appreciate your insight on this.

[.... he does like it, but that's beside the point. Right now.

What's important right now is he got himself some praise. Yes, hell yes, Everett loves being praised.

Simple man.]

I was given an opportunity, so hopefully I made the best of it.

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Octeuril Catch all [Open!]

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