middaeg | haven't you noticed

Who: Steven, Peridot, Lex, and potentially YOU!
When: Second half of May.
Where: The Haven, the Outskirts, the Outer City.
What: Steven plays music for the poor saps outside of the Bright Wall, explores the city, and also does some other things. Faerie traits begin to manifest. Sleep is disrupted. Includes some closed top levels, but also open stuff!
Warnings: Pop music.

★BUSKING PRO BONO (MAY 20+)

Power or no powers, if there's one thing Steven can bring to the table, it's the magic of music. Specifically, he's volunteered to lend his skills to the Outer City in the form of entertainment, playing his ukulele and singing his heart out while other people do tasks that could be considered more critical.

Not in his opinion, though. These people need food, and healing, and protection, but they clearly also need something to brighten their spirits. Unfortunately, his brand of otherworldly music may not be all their familiar to their ears.

Not quite comfortable enough to break out some of his newer creations, Steven has been running through a long list of Earth-based musical covers. Currently, he is performing a spirited rendition of Haven't you Noticed (I'm a Star), which seems to be drawing an equal mixture of interest and bafflement from the locals. He may have to fine-tune his set list in the future.

"Haven't you noticed that I'm a star?
I'm coming into view as the world is turning
Haven't you noticed I've made it this far?
Now everyone can see me burning~"

He finishes with a dramatic flourish, only now really turning his attention to the uncertain audience. Hm. Tough crowd. Maybe it doesn't help that after the recent full moon, he'll have developed the beginnings of glittery scales around his neck and shoulders, as well as to pink dots on his forehead that are clearly destined to be antenna.

★JUST STRAIGHT UP BUSKING (MAY 20+)

Beyond charity work, Steven can also be found around Aefenglom proper, playing music for pocket change. He can be found in a large variety of places, still playing mostly modern Earth music as well as a couple he's written himself. He's also using this as an opportunity to explore the city, now that he's feeling a bit better than when he arrived.

Also, his big pink lion is with him, playing chaperone and also giving Steven a ride. While Steven plays, Lion will happily nap nearby - though maybe that's not the best way to attract donars.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Steven spent the first portion of the month feeling lethargic and out of sorts, but the closer it's gotten to the full moon, the more that feeling has started to lift. He started exploring the residential areas in the afternoon, and now that it's evening and the moons are revealing themselves, he could even go as far as saying he feels 'chipper.' It's closer to normal than he's felt in a few weeks, even if it's not quite right, either.

He hops off of Lion's back as he nears Lex, actually feeling like walking for once. His skin has felt a bit weird and powdery for a while now, and he finds himself needing to scratch the itchy portions of his neck and shoulder once again. He's been trying to imagine it's some kind of rash, but... well...

"Hi Lex!" he says, grinning. "I feel... better! Kind of weirdly better, actually. It's so bright out tonight, with the moons like that..."

That is, both present and incredibly luminous. Lex may notice that his eyes seem to glow in the moonlight, though maybe it's an optical illusion. Steven trots up to her with Lion following along patiently.

"How are you doing?" he asks.

They're changing. The glow reminds her of ghouls, for a moment - but Steven doesn't look like he's falling apart. Not exactly.

"I'm..." What is she? Alive, still, despite it all. Trapped in a strange place that she doesn't understand, gently picking up and hoarding pieces of information that seem trivial to some, holding them tight to her chest. Still a Wastelander, still not able to shake those habits and beliefs.

She shrugs, then laughs.

"I don't know. I'm here. Looking for a spot to curl up for the night, then get back to exploring tomorrow - kind of the same as usual, but with fewer ruins."

He's a little confused about her 'curling up' somewhere. Isn't the point that they have a whole housing district now?

"...Don't you have a house or something, now?" he asks, tilting his head a little. "We're allowed to live anywhere we want, in the Haven."

"No."

The answer is simple, quick. She shakes her head, crouching down to rub Dogmeat behind the ears.

"It's too..." It's a lot of things, is what it is. Lex sighs. "I grew up in a sealed off vault. It may as well have been the entire world. Same people every day. Same faces. No privacy. And when I had to leave, it was out into the wastes. You got a room if you were lucky, or you found somewhere comfortable and hoped nothing killed you in your sleep. When I did get a house, it was me and Dogmeat and a robot, but... didn't stay there much. Stashed things and went back out into the wastes, looking for the next ruin or settlement or place that needed help."

Steven thinks about that, and tries to understand. Personally, he loved his house, and love to share it with the other gems. It almost feels lonely, having it just be him and Peridot, after cycling through beds in the Coven for the last couple weeks.

Everyone's got their own ways of doing things, but maybe she could use the chance to try something different?

"Well..." he starts, cautious but eager, "If you wanna stash your things somewhere... you could do that at me and Peridot's house?"

It isn't a bad thought, really. Steven is sweet enough that Lex doesn't think he'll steal anything, and while she hasn't met Peridot, the name reminds her of what Steven has told her about his world - of gems from outer space. She absently rubs the pad of her thumb over the strap of her backpack, the well-worn fabric familiar under her fingers.

"That might be okay," she starts, glancing down at Dogmeat - who is wagging his tail. "As long as I can get in and out, you know?"

Escape routes, not a cage. Not another vault.

"Yeah! That'd be great!" Steven says, obviously bubbling with energy at her potential willingness to go along with it. "We could even leave the windows open, so you could get out whenever you wanted!"

She probably doesn't mean she needs to get out that suddenly and immediately, but he's obviously prepared to do whatever it takes to be accommodating.

"Lion is really good at protecting things when he needs to, so we should totally be safe!"

Well- she doesn't not mean that. Lex smiles, not able to keep Steven's energy from infecting her. "Might be a little cold when it rains, but if all else fails, I can pick locks."

She's not sure why she would be locked inside, but that's not the point.

"Dogmeat is, too. And I guess... I mean, sleeping inside isn't the worst."

Besides, Steven looks like he'll come check up on her in dangerous areas, and she doesn't want him in dangerous areas.

It never hurts to be prepared!

"Oh!" Steven says, clasping his hands together. "Maybe Lion and Dogmeat can be friends! What do you think, Lion?"

He turns to look at Lion, who has been lurking nearby. Obligingly, Lion paces forward, sniffing the air at Dogmeat like he isn't sure if he likes the scent or not.

Dogmeat, in turn, wags his tail. He remembers seeing Lion from the infirmary, so he's not very cautious - protective, in that he moves forward and places himself between the great cat and Lex, but not much.

Friendly, though; he sniffs back and wags his tail again. Lex snorts.

"I think it'd be good for them. Someone to run around with. Or laze around with, depending on the mood."

haven't you noticed

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