( semi-open! )

[interlucere]

Who: Lux and others!
When: Throughout October
Where: Various places around town
What: Quests and other goings on during the month. Featuring Rux & Rudy, Turnt Turnips, Garden Troubles, and Lights Between the Trees. Girl does not know what it means to chill.
Warnings: None current, will update if this changes.


[ If we haven't planned anything and you would like a custom starter, feel free to hit me up here, or in Plurk or Discord! ]

Comments

[rollfordiplomacy]

[The front portion of his garden is a magnificent overgrowth of rose bushes and hibiscus plants, all blossoming to create a rather intense perfume. He needed to cut back on that, a bit, it was nearly overwhelming to be out front. Given the density and height of the plants, it's no wonder she ended up walkeing straight passed him without noticing he was in the front garden, tending them.

Ah, too good an opportunity to miss, this.]

Yes, my dear? [he sneaks up while she's futzing with her phone, giving her a teasing pinch to the side. He can't resist startling her for a laugh. This is how you get a laser Ulti, right to face Everett.]

[interlucere]

[ She's normally much more observant than this. Maybe it's a side effect of her severed Bond, her thoughts focused on something else that she's unaware of. Or maybe it's because she is really focused on what she's doing. Regardless, Everett is rewarded for his moment of mischief, as she jumps with a quiet "eep!" when he pinches her. She turns toward him quickly toward him. ]

Everett!

[ Why is he like this! She didn't do anything to deserve such a punishment. Quickly pushing down the urge to huff a sigh, she puts on a smile instead. ]

Where did you come from? I didn't hear you coming.

[ Thief, Lux. Of course you didn't. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Excuse you, he would be a Rogue. Much more refined than a mere thief. What do you take him for? A peasant??

He chuckles and pats her head. He's... significantly taller than he has been before, towers an additional four inches over his even six foot height. His legs had made a shift into faun's feet, his mid calf down lengthened into goat hooves. He's even started to get use to me, it only took him ramming his head into a few floors and doors and walls to get the hang of them]

You walked right by me! I was just on the other side of the roses, my dear. Are your thoughts preoccupied?

[interlucere]

[ A peasant? Goodness, no. But "gentleman rogue" doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily.

Ducking her head slightly as he pats it, Lux looks up with a fluttered blink, the gesture putting a stop to any attempts at sidestepping his question. Comments about his change of appearance, simple deflections or seemingly logical explanations of why she night have missed him—all gone.

Looking down, she hesitates briefly, trying to turn a tale in her head. What to say... ]

Ah. [ It's pretty obvious, isn't it? ] I wouldn't necessarily say that, but...

[ But he's hit the nail on the head, and she doesn't want to admit it. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Ah, Everett can tell right away she's dodging. His people did so with ease and experiences, so he has a keen eye for that. She's much easier to read than his trained eye was used to.

Lux will get that pat to her hair shifted to her shoulder, a little caring rub there instead. He'll open the front door, gesturing her to go inside]

If anything is troubling you, consider my ears open. [he's gentle to offer,] I won't pry, I do so promise.

[up to her, he's not going to insist. Nobody wants to share their bothers under requirement to do so]

[interlucere]

[ Lux looks up at Everett in quiet surprise as he places a hand on her shoulder. It's a warmth she doesn't quite expect from him, and that coupled with his kind offer draws her gaze away.

Slowly walking inside like a lost puppy, she waits for him to follow, falling into step behind him. Sorry, Everett. She isn't very good at being on the receiving end of comfort. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett knows how difficult it can be to open up, so he'll give her the time she needs. He looks out to the backyard, gesturing her follow through the house and out the back. He has a cozy space set up, well cushioned seats with heavy blankets slung over the back, situated beneath a back porch so the rain wouldn't drench them if it started up]

Let's sit in my garden, out back. I'll put on some fresh tea and bring out biscuits. I got some lovely preserved not long ago. [for clearing out some petal puppies from a yard! Which, speaking of- a white and yellow pup is sitting at the back door. It's tail thumps back and forth, shedding silky pieces about in it's excitement. Everett kneels down to pet her, before picking her up to hand to Lux. A poor mood is often helped by a cute animal]

Have you met Daisy, as of yet? She's a sweet thing! Let her sit with you... [he'll hand off the puppy before pulling a seat out for Lux to settle down in. The day is peaceful and a little chilly, but that's what the blankets are for!]

[interlucere]

[ It all feels impossibly nice, like the sort of place that couldn't exist outside of a picture book. Even with the autumn chill, the cottage is impossibly warm, and as Lux follows wordlessly behind Everett, it seeps into her, down to her soul.

Everything happens so quickly. She is led into the backyard, and almost immediately a petal pup is shoved into her arms. Stunned, Lux takes her without hesitation, a faint smile beginning to tug at the corner of her lips in spite of herself. ]

She seems like—oh, thank you.

[ She reflexively sits, the pup still in her arms as she looks up at him. ]

Is there anything I can help with.

[ Never mind that she's a guest. ]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[a whirlwind of support and comfort, Everett's specialty. He's got it all handled and always enjoys doting on people, but Lux is an even more special case. He had more the appreciation after their temporary bond, sharing emotions so closely will do that.]

Daisy might need some old petals plucked? Give her a good ruffle and the excess will shake right away. [but don't you dare get up, Lux, sit right there and relax, preen the puppy if you must. Everett is returning with a hot pot of tea and cups for the garden table, pouring hers before his own, only then sitting down. As he does, the sky cracks again and rain begins to pour across the garden. The porch protects them from getting wet, but it's something to admire the sight and sound and smell of while they sit for tea]

Dull of me to go on about the weather, but I do so adore the rains. Nothing we ever got in the Below Lands.

[interlucere]

[ Being doted on like this is new for her, but Everett gives Lux no room to protest. Smart man. Watching as he retreats back into the house to get tea, she sighs in resignation, tilting her head to look down at the puppy in her arms. ]

You two are conspiring against me, aren't you?

[ Her (admittedly flimsy) attempt at a pout is undone when Daisy barks triumphantly, and Lux cracks a smile. His accomplice is terrible at keeping a secret. ]

Ah, so you confess! Don't think that that means I'll go easy on you!

[ When Everett returns, he'll find her ruffling the petalpup's foliage fur. Turning her attention back to him, Lux gives him a curious look. ]

The Below Lands?

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett laughs when overhearing Lux's accusation and his puppy "confessing". What a precious scene, really. He' happy to sit to enjoy it himself, lifting his tea to his lips to breath in the smell and warmth]

Yes, that's where my people live, entirely beneath ground. Our cities are along a massive river channel, that runs warm throughout the year. We took our name from it, the Springtide. Even if the caves were vast, they did not have enough height to collect clouds for rain. I only ever saw it when conjured by Druids, and even then, only in small amounts. [ah, though he should mention]

When I left to travel the Above World, it was much more common. I'm very fond of the rains, as a result!

[interlucere]

[ Clearly they're partners in crime! They both have a naturally disarming presence, so obviously they were made for one another.

Lux's eyes widen in amazement at his explanation, as she tries to wrap her head around it. Entire cities existing underground, and a people who may never see the sky. It sounds like something out of a fairy tale. ]

What drew them to the caves? [ She could make a few educated guesses, but she doesn't want to be rude.

Turning her attention out toward the garden, a quiet smile plays across her lips. ]

It rains quite a bit where I'm from, around this time of year. That's how you know that autumn is here; the days grow shorter and the rain sets in. I couldn't imagine living in a place without it.

[rollfordiplomacy]

Oh, we were banished there, my dear. [Everett says this very nonchalant. It's just a fact of their history, nothing he'd ever think to hide. Everybody in the whole of Myddvai knew the tales. There was no escaping it for him... not until arriving here, really.]

That was long, long ago. My goal as a Diplomat was to lift that from my people's heads. We are not banished as... individuals, but the Above World is not exactly kind to our presence. Few ever travel beyond our caves, if born there. I think that's a shame.