june catch-all; quests and more

[topslug]

Who: Yako Katsuragi + Others (TBD)
When: Throughout June Iuneril
Where: All over Aefenglom.
What: Your friendly neighborhood catch-all.
Warnings: TBD

[ I'll just be using this log for various individual top-levels and custom starters through the month and add them below as I go!. I write in prose because that's what I'm used to, but I can adjust to match. ]

1. Do it with Class

Although it's her second month here, Yako still hasn't made that much progress as far as spellcasting goes. The best progress she's made thus far is in enchantment, though for the most part, she's only practiced enchanting food and doesn't have much in the way of combat applications.

In Abjuration class, she looks a bit nervous when she's paired up with someone, giving them a sheepish look as she readies her focus.

"So, ah, do you want to practice blocking first, or should I?"

In Divination class, her fingers are covered with specks of pale yellow light, but when she shakes them off her fingers, they only drift down lazily onto the ground instead of pointing in any particular direction -- certainly not leading towards whatever hidden object they're supposed to be looking for. She sighs, shaking her head and glancing up at whoever's nearby.

"No good ... I can't get the spell to focus right. How about you? Any luck?"

It's in Transmutation class that she finds a surprising bit of luck: as she concentrates on the shattered teacup in front of her on the table, the pinpricks of light that seem to be her signature magic alighting on the ceramic, some of the pieces of shattered porcelain suddenly snap together in front of her, making her jump and lose concentration -- and it falls apart all over again. Still, she's elated.

"Did you see that?!"

Alternatively, you might catch her after classes end, holding a tray of various baked goods and a clipboard by a doorway. If you make the mistake of making eye contact or even coming too close, she'll perk up and step over.

"Excuse me, but would you mind trying one of these enchanted pastries and rating them? Um, the effects are temporary and nothing bad, I promise -- I just need to know how effective they are."

2. Lost in a Good Book

Early in the month, Yako can be easily found in Undermael College, sitting at one of the tables with a book open in front of her and some scattered notes scrawled all over in a girlishly rounded script. Some of it is information on basic spells and invocations taught in the Coven classes, but there's also a roughly doodled sketch of some kind of globe on one corner, and she seems to be intent on her work ... so much so that she's muttering under her breath.

Those close enough or possessed of keener hearing might catch something about 'leylines' or 'divination' or, more perplexingly perhaps, something about the ideal ratio of dry to wet ingredients ... but either way, as quiet as she may be trying to make it, it's a little bit disruptive.

3. Wiped Out

Closer towards the evenings, though, will see Yako straight up passed out on top of her work, pen beginning to leave a growing ink-stain on paper as she snores softly. Will you wake her up kindly and send her on her way, or be a bit more rude?

4. How Does Your Garden Grow?

In the Shopping District, Yako can be found intently browsing through a selection of ... plants? She hasn't picked up any from the shelves and planters yet, but she seems to be quite serious about looking through them -- so much so that she doesn't realize there's someone right beside her.

"Oh, sorry -- I didn't mean to get in your way. I'm having a hard time deciding what I should get for the garden."

???. Wildcard

[ None of these work for you? Want to write your own starter? Hit me up on the CR Meme, let's make something happen. ]

Comments

I. Transmutation Class

[hearthebell]

This is actually L's second class of the day in which he's noticed Yako; the first was Divination, which was enjoyable to him as the branch of magic he's excelling most in. It comes naturally to him the way mathematics did as a child, with every new lesson a challenge to see how much higher he can climb; the discipline is exciting, rather than discouraging. Transmutation is another story, especially when it comes to fixing broken things (or healing magic), it's... well, a bit of a disaster, really. Every attempt L has made so far in those arenas has had the precise opposite effect of what he was going for. Broken things break more; a papercut turns into a laceration that requires stitches. That's why he's perhaps a little more apprehensive about practicing these particular spells, chewing on his pen, eyes scanning over his classmates looking for anyone who seems to truly have the hang of mending.

He's rough on his body and his possessions. This branch of magic goes beyond useful, to him, and actually hangs over into pathetically necessary territory. It doesn't work to his advantage to either ignore it or keep failing as hard as he has been at it.

He approaches Yako when he notices that she seems to have had some success with a shattered teacup. He's more quiet than is really polite, and when he speaks, he's probably encroaching far more on Yako's personal space than most people naturally would assume is OK, but he seems earnest enough when he says "I don't suppose you'd mind doing that again..."

While he watches, is the fairly blatant implication. His eyes are already boring holes into the tabletop among the ceramic shards, with such laser-beam intensity that it might be enough to shatter a cup by itself.

[topslug]

Yako’s not always the most perceptive of her immediate surroundings or an alert person by nature, so someone appearing so suddenly at her elbow when she’s not expecting it takes her aback, the table shaking again as her knee bangs into it reflexively.

“Ow!” Wincing faintly, she cranes her head over to her a better look at who’s addressing her. She can recognize his face from earlier in the day, but she doesn’t recall a name to go with it. The intensity is a little intimidating, flustering her, but she’s quick to turn her attention back to the broken pieces of porcelain in front of her. Something had clicked, in a way that made a lot more sense than some of the magic she’s tried so far; the surprise came from how relatively effortless it was.

“I can certainly try,” she says, gamely. She didn’t it once — surely she can do it again, right? She studies the pieces in front of her again, holding the image of the teacup whole and unbroken in front of her, and her nose wrinkles as she concentrates on the mending spell again.

This time, the light takes its time to gather on the brittle edges. Some of the larger pieces wobble, magic struggling to bear them up, but when Yako reaches out to help prop it up with a finger, it locks into place. The end result isn’t quite a mended cup, but it is one that is whole, held together by magic that threads through the cracks like veins of gold.

[hearthebell]

Though L is not naturally an empathetic person, there's a definite ripple effect when Yako bangs her knee on the table at her startled lurch. He reels back himself, long-limbed, skittish and spidery as he regards her warily before, very slowly, his shoulders lower and relax. He moves closer to watch, of course, and now that Yako is aware of him fully, it goes much better.

"Thank you," he replies, neat and crisp and rote, when she agrees to give it a shot. The process is fascinating, and seeing the slower transitional phases is even more so, and it's far better than anything L's managed so far in terms of mending charms.

"Is... there a trick to it, do you think...?" he asks, his words slightly distorted by the finger in his mouth that he is speaking around. Yako might notice that his finger is actually a little battered-looking, with several bandaged lacerations. It's clear evidence that with his existing magical skill, he hasn't been able to heal them himself, hinting at his intense interest on mending spells in general.

[topslug]

It's still taking a good deal of Yako's conscious effort to hold the spell together, but she frowns thoughtfully at the question. Understanding the answer to that might be part of the answer to helping it stick, and she uses a finger to gingerly push in a piece that's threatening to slide out of alignment as she mulls it over.

"It look longer to do this, and it's holding itself better together," she offers as insight into her thought process. "I spent more time actually imagining what would need to happen for it to get fixed. Thinking about which pieces fit together, if I was using my hands instead of magic. So maybe it helps to visualize it clearly in your head."

An experienced witch could do it in less time, no doubt, but even this much is a victory in its own quiet, private way. Yako cradles the cup in her hands, still thinking -- only for it to fall apart again with a soft tinkle of porcelain when she loses her concentration, and she fumbles to keep from dropping the pieces and ending up with her fingers sliced open much like L's.

[hearthebell]

Conscious effort with success as a result is a great deal more satisfying than conscious effort without, even if L is only experiencing it vicariously, even if it is only a modest amount of success. It's an affirmation, ultimately, that it is possible to do the things that have been giving him so much trouble.

He nods, parsing the explanation, drawing what value and precision he can from it. It sounds more intuitive than methodical, which makes it easier to frame mentally... but in practice, no amount of visualizing or creating a plan or map has helped him.

"I see..."

As she cradles the cup, he's about to ask a follow-up question about whether or not she feels any sense of nurturing, any gentle or sentimental feelings, wondering if that could contribute to success in either mending an object or healing a body. But it splinters and comes apart rather suddenly, so much that he bolts back again in startlement.

He draws closer, gingerly, at the sight of blood.

"How are you coming along with the healing spells?" he inquires, hoping that she will not expect him to offer assistance. The professor might possibly come around to it, but is occupied on the other side of the rather large study hall.

[topslug]

There's a bit of blood, but it isn't much -- just as though she'd gotten a few nasty papercuts. Yako winces a little, but she doesn't drop the teacup pieces laughing wryly at herself as she prioritizes setting them down so as to not lose them again.

"Sorry about that ... I guess I can't repair them permanently like that yet." But she does have something for wounds. She checks her hands over briefly for splinters -- thankfully, none have lodged themselves under her skin -- and turns to rummage in her bag on the bench.

"I'm really not that good at healing magic yet, but..." Rather bizarrely, what she turns up is ... what looks like a muffin in a petaled paper baking cup, laced through with red sticky swirls of what a sniff will quickly reveal to be strawberries. Diplomatically, careful not to get any blood on the paper itself, she breaks the muffin and paper cup into two pieces, offering him one of the halves.

"... I've gotten pretty good at baking it into things. Would you like some?" she asks, already halfway through stuffing hers in her mouth, so that she has to talk in between mouthfuls. "It'll help with your hands."

[hearthebell]

L's not squeamish, not deeply affected by the sight of others suffering... but that's a strange thing for a human to feel unless they're a surgeon, or otherwise in a career where they've been exposed to a great deal of it. And that's true for L as a lawman, of course, but he doesn't want to draw attention to any of that here. No, his invented persona would absolutely not have a reason to be so numb to it all. He knits his brow, leaning forward, approximating true concern as best he can even when she tries to defuse the situation by laughing.

"It's still good..." he offers, feeling that at least some modest praise is in order for any level of success. He watches curiously as she rummages in her bag, surprised when she draws a strawberry cupcake out, of all things.

He is very partial to strawberry cupcakes, and would be even if they possessed no healing magic. He accepts it, not taking his eyes off the person who baked it, doing some quick and calculating thinking.

"It's a creative solution," he admits, "but... as someone who has been burned before by the food in this place, it won't make me say whatever's on my mind, or fall in love with the next person I meet as a side effect, will it? Nothing like that?"

It might be his attempt at a joke; it might be completely earnest. It's incredibly difficult to tell when he says everything in the same flat monotone.

[topslug]

"Food usually seems like the first choice for pranks here, doesn't it?" Yako sighs, with the put-uponness of someone who knows that, and knew that even when she shoved it into her face anyway. Why does it have to be so bad, but taste so good...?

"A spell would probably be faster, but this has been more reliable for me so far." They haven't been talking long, and the other Witch has only just taken the half offered to him, but incredibly, she's already almost finished with her piece of the cupcake, meaning she can set the paper aside and hold her slightly crumb-covered hands palm-up to him, showing him how under the bright dots of blood, the small lacerations are already knitting themselves back together. It's easier for her minor wounds; his might not be so quick to repair themselves.

"It isn't a trick. Oh, though you shouldn't eat it if you're feeling tired, or it might make you really sleepy." Her expression creases with a touch of sheepishness.

[hearthebell]

He nods, slowly at first and then picking up speed and intensity, because he does legitimately agree with her. He's been careful so far to memorize his lies, produce them as promptly as he would the actual truth, but it's always easiest when it happens to actually be the truth. Sometimes, it takes a moment to realize it, if only because everything is so complicated and tangled up. "Linden Tailor" is, after all, an amalgam of the kind of person he actually is, and the kind of person he believes he can sustainably pretend to be without raising any red flags or drawing any undesirable attention to himself.

Etiquette.

"Thank you..."

She's already bitten into the cupcake. It's probably safe for him to do the same, especially when he sees the effects on her hands. The evidence is sound, and therefore, he's taking a bite of his own, and not only is it magical, already starting to do exactly what it's supposed to for his injuries, but it's a very good cupcake by its own merits. And L would know; he's eaten a lot of cupcakes in his life. Of course, she warns him just a touch to late that it might make him sleepy, after he's already swallowed two bites.

"I see. As it happens, I drink a lot of coffee, so... perhaps it'll balance out, after all," he suggests. It's also in that ambiguous territory of maybe being a joke, but not only does L look like he drinks coffee to replace most meals and then some, he sounds gravely, somberly serious.

"Did one of the professors suggest this to you, or did you come up with it by yourself?" he inquires, going for a third bite and visibly savoring it.

[topslug]

If there's anything Yako likes, it's someone who also enjoys their food.

"A bit of both, actually," Yako responds, crossing her arms and resting them against the table edge. "I knew it was probably possible to put healing enchantments into food, so I asked to learn how. A pastry is pretty portable compared to other options, so it makes the most sense for something small like this, but if you were trying to repair some serious damage, planning a long term meal regimen would be more effective to reinforce natural healing."

She pokes a finger at shards of teacup, careful to push them around without injuring herself this time. "All it really does is take some of your own energy and convert it to heal injury -- but that's why using it when you don't have much of that to begin with isn't a good idea. It's pretty neat you can use food for something like that, though."

[hearthebell]

Of everything in the world that L can truly claim to genuinely enjoy, sweet things might near the top of that rather meager list. The extent to which he relishes it is actually increased by the relative amount of security he feels as a result of Yako's claim (and willingness to ingest it herself) that it won't do anything terrible to him. Not having to worry about poison or similar setbacks is refreshingly freeing in a way he hasn't been able to enjoy since Watari was vetting all of his sugary non-meals.

"I hadn't known it was possible," L confesses, after taking a particularly long time to chew a bite of the cake. He's grateful that it was possible, of course, even though he doesn't love to admit that he didn't consider a possibility, and fortunately his pride is removed enough from the persona he is embodying that it doesn't prevent him from giving credit where it's due. "It's innovative, to say the least. Have you tested whether the magic weakens as the pastry goes stale?"

He's eating slowly to make sure that it lasts as long as possible. He looks so hungry, pale and rangy, and he doesn't know when he'll be comfortable enough to enjoy his food this way again. His lacerations, by the moment, are looking much improved.

"If you bake very frequently, it might not matter, of course... but I'd still be interested to know the precise shelf life. Especially if you're taking orders."

[topslug]

"I haven't, actually, but that's a good idea," Yako says, perking up slightly and leaning forward in interest. Mostly, though she won't say as much out loud, that's because food never really lasts long enough around her to go stale. They're meant to be focused on transfiguration here, but cooking -- while it isn't one of her passions -- is an activity she's immensely better at than magic itself, so it's naturally a topic of conversation she's more enthused about.

"I never thought about taking orders, since I'm still learning ... I mostly eat what I make myself, unless one of the senior Witches, um, vets the quality first." She looks a little embarrassed to say so, but she's had some accidents before. She leans forward a little to inspect how his hands are coming along, relieved that it seems to be taking well, before it occurs to her that she hasn't actually introduced herself.

"I've seen you around the Coven, but we haven't met before, have we? I'm Yako Katsuragi."

[hearthebell]

He raises an eyebrow, or... would, if he had eyebrows; the result is just the narrowing of one of his round, dark eyes in a slightly curious and skeptical way that is the vague approximation of that expression's effect.

"We're all still learning," he offers by way of attempted reassurance. She seems embarrassed, and he's unsure if it's because she is poor at accepting compliments or because he dismissed his concern prematurely and unwisely. So far, all is going well; his hands are still bony and thin, but the wounds are mending, and even his bitten-down fingernails look stronger and healthier. At her introduction, he blinks as if snapping out of a trance, noticing that she's closer than she was before leaning forward and stiffening.

"Of course... we've really been talking too long without knowing each other's names," he answers, and it almost sounds like a rebuke, though not one aimed at Yako. "My name is Linden Tailor. It's nice to meet you."

And he sticks the landing. The awkward, stilted and strangely uncomfortable landing, because while everything he's saying is correct, there's something weirdly rote and deliberate about it. It would sound more natural if he was actively reading cue cards, in a way.

"So you're... settling in well, evidently. You'd have to be, if you're staying in a place where you have access to an oven and baking supplies."

Implying, of course, that L himself doesn't have access to either of those things even if he had any interest or skill in baking.

[topslug]

“Likewise, Mr. Tailor.” Yako commits the name to memory, along with the face that accompanied it, and gives him a smile, the embarrassment from before and any awkwardness fading in the face of the pleasure of making a new acquaintance. If she’s put off by the stiltedness, it doesn’t show at all.

“I moved into a house with a few other new arrivals last month,” she explains, wondering how long she can continue to call themselves that. There must be something else to use. “Before that, I was just borrowing the Coven’s kitchen. I still do, when I’m learning something new.”

She moves back a little, letting him have his space back, only to turn the question on him in turn. “What about you? How are you finding the city so far?” His general condition seems ... natural, to him. Haggard in a worrying way, physically, yet he’s curious enough to ask after her despite that, suggestive of someone who generally finds basic human needs an afterthought. She’s met a few people who are the same way.

[hearthebell]

She genuinely seems to like meeting new people, even if they're a little off or peculiar. L can't help but wonder where the threshold is for her affection and her tolerance alike, but... ah, no. He's not established well enough here, not protected well enough to press buttons just because he feels like it. His curiosity must remain, for the present at least, an itch untended.

He breathes a little more easily, seems a little less tense when she withdraws. In his experience, he's found that the easiest way to navigate conversations is to keep the focus on the person he's speaking with. People generally enjoy talking about themselves; it's generally not difficult, even for people with a limited range of social skills they can navigate with ease.

"I'm getting by," he says, and it's honest in a stark sort of way. "I found a place to stay in the barracks, and it's not opulent, but it suffices. I have a job at Runetchers for the present, and... I suppose I can say the same about that."

It's tremendously unsatisfying. His voice might sound a touch flatter, a touch more hollow to a very discerning ear.

"I spend the rest of my time here, for the most part. Mastering this subject matter sooner rather than later seems only beneficial."

[topslug]

“I have seen you around classes a lot,” Yako offers. “You’ve been working pretty hard, so I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it quick.”

She looks like she’d like to say a bit more, but by now, their instructor’s attention has finally turned back on them, giving them a stern injunction to refrain from distracting their fellow students with off topic discussion. Yako ducks her head with a sheepish grin, attention going back to the broken porcelain in front of her.

“Do you want to practice after class?” she proposes, in a whisper, once they’ve been left alone. “I can’t get the hang of that divination spell at all.”

[hearthebell]

L considers whether or not the words sound patronizing; from a certain type of person, they absolutely would, but... no, Yako really does read as just that sincere, just that genuine. He starts to nod, guardedly, before his shoulders shoot toward his ears. Even though he doesn't tend to seem overly concerned with authority figures, nearly to the point of obliviousness, he seems surprised and a little disconcerted when he is called out for being disruptive in a classroom environment.

Even though it's happened before. A few times.

He nods, though, at Yako's whispered question. Because camaraderie is harder for some to find than others, and he's lucky that Yako truly seems this kind and friendly. If there is an ulterior motive, he'll find out sooner rather than later, he's sure, but... somehow, he doesn't actually think it's the case.

"It's not so difficult," he replies. "Intuitive, more than anything, but... I'd be happy to show you."

The teacher shoots them a glare again, because unlike Yako, he's not really putting forth enough effort to lower his voice.

[topslug]

“Then it’s a deal.” Yako gives him a bright, quick smile before she turns her attention back to the exercises. By the end of class, she’s managed to firm up the spell enough to hold the teacup together without having to actively concentrate on it, and she shakes the tingle of magic out of her fingers before she gathers up her notes and things into her bag.

“Is there anywhere you want to practice in particular?” she asks. “We could stay at the Coven, or go somewhere else.”

[hearthebell]

During the class, Yako manages to keep her teacup together. L, conversely, has a tortoiseshell comb that is now in more pieces than it was when he started, and his fingertips fiddle with the fragments as class dismisses and they're actually allowed to converse freely again.

He has no bag, merely stuffing smaller items into his pockets and preparing to stack and carry paper and books cradled in his thin arms.

"It might be best to stay at the Coven," he replies after a moment of thought. "We already ate, thanks to the muffin you shared with me... you'd probably find my home distracting and uncomfortable, and I'm not going to presume that you'll invite me to yours."

By process of elimination, the choice is clear.

[topslug]

Yako nods, not finding anything to disagree with there -- not that she wouldn't invite him to her house if it was just her, since she doesn't get the impression he'd do her harm, but she does have the privacy of her housemates to think of, too. Besides, there's also other Witches to ask for help in case they mess up horribly...

Which, well, it's Divination. How bad can it really get?

"There's a spot I usually practice," she offers. "It's a little less in the middle of everything." Better for concentration, better for practice. She turns to lead him over in that direction, assuming he'll follow; while the move over there, it probably can't hurt to chat about what they'll be doing along the way, though, so she'll fill in for conversation as she goes.

"The spell we learned today -- to find specific objects -- seemed like it could be really useful, but I couldn't get it to work. I wonder if I need more of a focus..." she muses.

[hearthebell]

At worst, Divination at their current level can get close and uncomfortable, a little overly personal. In which case, being in a public place is probably still for the best. It allows either of them the space to leave if it becomes necessary.

He nods, liking the idea of someplace rather removed from the typical hustle and bustle of Witches coming and going. He shuffles along slightly behind her, leaning forward to better hear what she's saying.

"It's very useful... granted, it's only for smaller and more mundane things, for now, but I try to think of everything in our classes in terms of potential for what they could eventually become. The foundations are important to master even if they're only good for locating misplaced keys, for now." L pauses, considering whether or not he really wants to broach this, before deciding that it probably couldn't hurt much.

"The real trick is tuning out everything else that could help you find the object, without magic. That's what I struggled the most with, initially... it's contradictory, but I found that when I used contextual clues to try to figure out where the object might have been hidden, that's when the divining result was the most wrong."

[topslug]

“Is that so?” Yako’s surprised that that’s the conclusion L has come to, but she’s already talking, musing over the implications without prompting. “That makes sense. In effect, you’re interfering with the magic by imposing your own intuition on it, rather than allowing yours to be guided by it.”

She ponders over that a little more, even as she makes a turn down a corridor. They’ve already moved away from the bulk of the Coven’s activity, though there are still other witches strolling about reminding them of where they are.

“You’re right, though... everything we’re learning right now is a foundation for something else. We won’t always have the benefit of knowing exactly where we’re searching for, for example.”

Another step, and Yako finally stops, at the entrance to a small courtyard garden. Nobody else is in it right now, though there are a few benches meant to accommodate anyone admiring the plant life.

[hearthebell]

If L is surprised by the location that Yako has chosen, only a brief moment hints at it, a blink, the consideration that ultimately yields to acceptance. He likes this; it's quiet, remote, and best of all...

"There isn't any shortage of things to break sans consequence," he points out. "Or things to hide, or places to hide them."

Twigs, flowers, bushes, stones... the variety offers near limitless possibilities, and it's better for their purposes than some closed, sterile system. Divination could be applied to something as linear as a rat in a maze, but it's such a waste when there's a whole world full of questions to discover and explore.

"This is ideal. I didn't actually know this was here."

It's likely because he avoids the sun, more than anything else.

[topslug]

"I like eating in different places around the Coven when I can, so I found this a couple of weeks in," Yako explains, looking around with a curious, considering air. After a moment, she decides she'll set her bag on one of the seats so its out of the way, then roll up her sleeves, looking determined.

"I'd like to start with practicing divination again, if you don't mind." Besides, given the state he ended the last class in, maybe he could actually use the break to refocus and raise morale by practicing something she's actually good at.

"Are you going to hide something for me to find, or did you have another idea?"

[hearthebell]

L follows suit, setting down his armful of studying materials next to her bag.

"I don't mind in the least." He suspects that maybe she's trying to build him up a bit by letting him shine at what he's excelling at, and even if that is the motive entirely, he knows that it's needed enough not to protest. He's just not used to sucking at things, and doing something well will go a long way toward balancing and recalibrating him. "We could either use divination to find hidden things, or we could focus on some of the other aspects of it that are a little more difficult. Reading minds, for example," he suggests, though maybe he feels some trepidation. On the off-chance that Yako does well at it, after all, she could find out something about him that he isn't keen for anyone to know about him, yet if ever.

"It might be best to start with the more basic elements, if you're struggling with the field in general." He lowers to a squatting position, gathering an acorn, some pebbles, and a seashell that perhaps some past practitioner left here after a session.