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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No bother at all, on either front. [the rainy season means this... just kind of keeps happening, to his guests. He's well prepared!]

Do you want to retreat to that spare room there, [he gestures to the second bedroom, which he had made into a study, having no roommate to take it up] to get out of that soaked outfit? I have a clean robe hanging in there. You are welcome to wear that until your clothing has dried out.

[She hesitates a moment before she nods, moving to the next room. She feels a bit awkward, but it's less about getting undressed and more about just worrying about bothering him. It doesn't matter that he seems to be more than willing to be a gracious host, Jennifer's long since learned to never expect someone's nature to remain the same.

But she changes into the robe (tries not to think how scandalous it is to be wandering around a strange man's home in a robe), and returns with her wet clothes in her arms, not sure what to do with them]

Should I... Um. Do you want help with anything?

[Considerately, it's a very modest and comfortable robe. The thick fabric made it easy to warm back up under after getting drenched in the rain. It's nearly floor length on her, given her height relative to Everett's where the bottom hem was closer to his ankles.

Everett motions her towards a coat hanger just to the side of the hearth]

Hang your clothing there, my dear. It shall dry swiftly if it's close by the fire. [he's weighing a pair of boxes in his hand as if indecisive. Each was full of tea, he's smelling between them, unable to make up his mind]

Would you prefer a green tea or a hibiscus herbal blend? Both are fresh from the garden, sure to be delicious.

[She does as she's told and then stands around, anxiously wringing her hands. She's a guest, she knows, but it still feels incredibly strange to have anyone... doting on her? Taking care of her?

She jumps when addresses, standing up straight with wide eyes.] Oh, um... The herbal blend? I'm not sure I've ever had green tea before... [Maybe not properly made, anyhow, but she can be reasonably sure she'll enjoy the herbal blend at least.

At length her shoulders slump a little.] I'm sorry. [She's not even entirely sure what she's apologizing for, except maybe just. in general?] Is there anything I can do to help you here...?

What ever are you apologizing for, my dear? [Everett inquires with a gentle chuckle, but looking over to her, he can see she's feeling restless with the situation. Hmm. He looks to the basket he carried in and set down on the couch, slight movement rustling the blanket bundle]

Do you like cats? That basket has a litter of kittens that I gathered from my bushes. The mother seems to have run off in the rain... They might need some drying off? Poor things... [he was very diligent in gathering them all, triple checking and having Clementine look through for any stragglers. His rat companion is also in the basket and pokes her head up, squeaking and sniffling at the air towards Jennifer]

Ah! How rude of me! My rat companion there is Clementine. [the little rat outstretches a hand towards Jennifer. Everett taught her to shake, she is also very polite]

I don't-- [She doesn't know! She's sorry for being sorry!! But before she can get into some sort of neverending apology loop, he's drawing her attention to the kittens. Instantly she goes from feeling anxious to feeling Determined.

These kittens need a Mom and god damn it is she going to Mom them. She moves to the couch almost immediately, having a much easier time with animals than with people, but she pauses in surprise at the rat.

Her last couple experiences with rats weren't good ones at all, but this one doesn't seem all too bad. She hesitates for only a moment before reaching out to touch her fingertip to Clementine's paw.]

...Pleased to meet you, Clementine. My name is Jennifer. [It feels a little strange to introduce herself to a rat and all, but... This whole place was strange, what did it matter. Slowly she sits next to the basket, peeking under the blanket with a soft expression.]

How dear... Truthfully, I'm more fond of dogs, but I don't really mind any sort of animal.

[The little rat shakes her hand as best she can with her tiny arms. After that, she crawls along the edge of basket, helping pull aside the blanket so Jen can see all the kittens. They're so small their eyes have yet to open, cooing with scarcely audible cries. Everett hums, able to hear they're hungry.]

Let me bring some milk along with the tea. A few drops might tide over the little ones, until their mother can return... [he hopes she does, hand feeding all those kittens would be a real task. Easier with company to help, but still, the mother would be best.

He has been arranging his second-hand tea set out on a platter to carry from the kitchen, adding on a vessel with milk. Carrying it over, it'll be set on the table between the couch and hearth, Everett carefully pouring a cup for Jen and then himself. The blend smells lovely and inviting; a Springtide recipe of hibiscus, cinnamon, ginger, and chocolate.]

[It's terrible bad form to just ignore the tea, but there are tiny defenseless kittens here, so her attention has been completely stolen by them.

She runs her fingers over their damp fur, carefully removing one from the pile to cradle in her arms.] I hope they won't become orphans... It can be a dreadful thing. [Speaking from experience.] But they're so small and cute, I'm sure people would take them in.

[She scratches her finger gently against the kittens ears and chin, giggling a little when it tries to nibble at her fingertip. Eventually she takes notice of the tea and looks to it, sniffing the air delicately and looking pleasantly surprised and curious as she sets the kitten back down to taste it.]

It's good! [She announces it less out of surprise and more just to confirm that she likes it.] I've never tasted a blend like this before...

[Everett was also an orphan, though somehow still a privileged one. Springtide may lack for blood heritage in their families, but some children were simply deemed more important by virtue of their birth. He won't get into all that, a comment like that is best left to slide....

He rarely lets a compliment slide, however!]

It's a Springtide traditional blend, my dear. Bitter, sweet, and even a little spicy from the ginger. I've always been quite fond of it. [and it gives him pride to share it and have it be well appreciated!]

Is tea a tradition, where you are from? Among my people it is a daily ritual.

[Jennifer nods, taking another sip.] It is, yes. I dare say my country is best known for its obsession with tea. [She laughs a little under her breath] But I don't often get a chance to drink high quality ones anymore.

[She realizes that she doesn't actually know where he's from, though 'Springtide' doesn't sound at all familiar. But he hasn't seemed to recognize her accent either, and while Jennifer doesn't want to assume things, it's probably safe to assume that the lack of recognition for the distinctive accent means he's probably not from the same world as her.]

Is Springtide the name of where you're from?

I grew the hibiscus myself, so I do hope my humble tea is up to your standards. [he jokes, certain she's enjoying the blend from how pleased she seemed with it]

Springtide is my clan, yes. My people live in the Below Lands of my world, beneath the land's surface. We're names for the river that cuts through the caves. It runs warm throughout the year, which allows us to survive.

[She looks suitably impressed and awed that he grew it himself!]

I see. [Is what she says at the end of his explanation, but her tone suggests she only sort of actually gets it. It sounds a little beyond anything she knows of, but she doesn't doubt him or anything either.

She wonders why they live in this Below Lands place, especially since it doesn't sound like the easiest place to live, but that might be a little too personal to ask about? Somehow??]

What was it like? Do you miss it? [Maybe it was the loveliest place ever and she's being judgey, what does she know!!]

[Everett does love his home and it's people, for all their flaws, there are far more aspects of the Springtide he's fond of than he's critical towards. He smiles around his tea, sipping it with a wistful bit of a hum, before answering with enthusiasm]

It is a beautiful place. I could speak to the majesty of the Below Lands for untold hours. The caves were a dim and cozy place. Our cities were very much like Aefenglom, in their architecture and layout. I've felt quite at home, since arriving here! [a gentle chuckle to consider the differences]

Though, this place lacks for quite so many flowers as my people keep. Our gardens are a matter of utmost pride! [clearly, from how Everett was keeping his cottage]

[Jennifer listens, letting one of the kittens crawl its way into her arms as she sets the tea cup down again.]

Is that why you have so many flowers right now? They're quite beautiful. [She smiles down at the kitten, scritching behind its little ears.] I adore flowers, particularly roses.

[Her smile turns a bit ironic at that, like she's said something rather funny, and she shakes her head.] I've only rented a small place though, the smallest I could find... I can't have a garden, but perhaps a few plants would be nice...

I could prepare you a boxed rose bush of your own, if it would please you. It would need some space to thrive, but you could keep it pruned to a manageable size, I do believe. [it's Everett, ever the man looking to do something kind and thoughtful. And ever casual to offer, too. Nothing he even bats an eye at, such acts of simple generosity]

I've mostly grown in red roses. Though, I could practice some white or pink, if those struck your fancy more.

[Jennifer looks up at him, eyes wide in surprise.] Oh, I-- I prefer red roses too. They're... the proper kind... [Much like loving roses to begin with, specifying red roses produces another feeling of wry amusement.

But she shakes that off to address the rest of it] I couldn't accept such a thing, however. I...I've done nothing to earn such a thing, and I don't know how I could pay you back...

You need not earn a gift! It would not be payment or a symbol of merit, merely a kind gesture for you to enjoy at your home. I insist on making you a rose box of your own to take! Give me a day or so. [Everett enjoys such acts of generosity, it was just in his nature. He didn't mind exchanges, but this isn't that. She likes roses and he has more than enough to spare, it would be his pleasure to make her one to keep.]

Though, if you are in need of a job, soon? I may yet have something to offer you for that, as well. I am thinking of opening a shop to sell my flowers and teas. I merely need to make a proper request of the Coven for some space. A pretty, young woman like yourself would do well to balance the handsome, young man I already wrangled in to assist me.

[Jennifer opens and closes her mouth a couple times, but he seems to earnest about it that she can't really find a way to argue. Eventually she just nods in something like defeat, looking exasperatedly amused.

And then a job offer on top of it all??] A pretty-- [She looks baffled and a bit confused, one hand going up to touch her face as if to task 'pretty? This face?'] I...No one's ever called me that before... [like literally never?? She doesn't seem to know what to do with herself.]

I, um... But I wouldn't mind a job. A job at a flower shop sounds lovely.

What reserved people you have known! To not comment upon your beauty is a true shame. I shall need to make up for their folly in good time. [oh no, Jenn, you've just encouraged him to give more compliments whenever he sees you! What a cruel fate, to be doted on in such a way.]

I will hire you as a flower arranger, if that would please you. I've applied for a space in the Haven, to house a florist and small cafe. Should it be approved by the Coven, consider yourself on board.

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Octeuril Catch all [Open!]

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