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

[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.

[topslug]

It's an instinct that comes to her as easily as breathing, with no calculation; what can she do to create a stronger connection between her and the person who's in front of her, right now? How can she learn more about them, and help them with whatever it is they hope to achieve? Adapt and evolve and make something better of yourself ... and find a way to be stronger, together.

She listens attentively, and with careful consideration, and nods at his assessment.

"I think starting with the basics is fine ... I'm not looking to become a Divination master." Though if Divination is also the field of dreamwalking and dream interpretation ... later, much later, she'll come to reconsider that. "I think reading minds is a little beyond that."

She watches what he's doing, curiously -- with no further instruction given for the moment, that's about all she can do.

[hearthebell]

Admittedly, L is a colossally difficult book to read in that regard. His motives can be difficult to discern, as well as his true thoughts, and much of what he says is a bald-faced lie. Regardless, this is a simple enough situation. He wants to get better at a particular branch of magic, and share what he knows about an area of higher aptitude in exchange. There's no point for hidden daggers or ulterior motives, and the setting sun is still warm, and it's kind of nice to not have to worry about being killed at the hands of a mass-murderer who kills through a supernatural notebook.

He's still getting used to that.

"Don't you think that you should approach any study with the intent to become a master?" he asks, sounding as though he genuinely believes it's the case. "That's not to say that you will, but... mediocrity should never be a goal. If you fall short of mastery, you're competent, but if you fall short of mediocre, you're... poor."

He lines up the items on the ground, nodding briskly. "Please, choose one. It's best if it has a special meaning to you, but... just pick your favorite, in this case."

To challenge himself, secretly, he tries to guess which one she will choose. Acorn, pebble, seashell?

[topslug]

"That's probably true, but I've never been a good student," Yako answers with more cheer than that statement probably merits. "I know that approaching things in a half-hearted way, but to be honest, I find it much more interesting for me to see other people learning magic than to necessarily learn it myself. Most of what I've learned in enchantment's been motivated by my appetite..."

But then there's a choice being presented before her, and it only takes her a moment or two before she's decisively pointing towards the acorn.

"I choose that."

[hearthebell]

L nods, secretly satisfied that he predicted higher odds for the acorn. He doesn't buy into the idea that it necessarily means anything, but then again, it might. Perhaps it means that she is more nurturing, more attuned to the small things in the world that hold potential but need care before they can flourish. That might be reading too much into the choice alone, but based on what he's observed of Yako so far, it does happen to track.

"It surprises me to hear that you're not a good student," he admits. "You're obviously intelligent, but... being smart and being a good student correlate, more than they're an example of one thing leading to another."

L has a lot of experience looking at the different types of intelligence that can exist in the world, and he knows that test scores aren't everything. He happens to get really good ones most of the time, but it's more to do with the fact that he views them as games, and to this particular man? Games really are everything. The attitude is as intense as it is childish.

He closes his palm around the acorn, whispering an incantation against his closed fingers, and when he opens his hand, it seems to have vanished.

"I've hidden it somewhere in this garden. You can use divination to find it by thinking of the reasons you chose the acorn, the things you associate with it, the concepts and feelings it evokes," he offers, by way of a hint.