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

ritsu pls don't go to the grave while yako's talking to you

[topslug]

"That's the one," Yako confirms, only to huff as Ritsu ever-so-casually uses her as a chinrest. Still, it's more in aggravation at the attention it draws to their heigh difference than anything else, and she doesn't pull away. She set the tone for that anyay, with how she'd reached out to him during their first meeting, and it's not as though his hands are sliding anywhere inappropriate, so she'll deal with it, taking advantage of the closeness he's enforced to elbow him good-naturedly in the side.

"It's open to anyone, you know, so you can just walk in if you want to," she tells him, though she follows it up with a smile. "I wouldn't mind the company, though. It'll be my first time, so it should be easier with someone I already know."

So be gentle, Ritsu, okay?

i really hate to say this but this is just how akira writes and i am merely staying faithful-

[nemuru]

"Yako-chan, that huuurt, you're so mean..." A little over-dramatic with the whining, because it didn't really hurt that badly - he still stumbles back a bit, clutching side, looking absolutely betrayed.

It doesn't last, given her next words and the mischievous glint that shines in his eyes. "But aaa-aahh, I'm gonna be Yako-chan's first, huh...~? You'll be my first too," and the way he says it makes it sound a little less innocent than it is, voice low and sweet, "so let's figure it out together, okay?"

[topslug]

Yako can be a bit thick with innuendo, sometimes, but even that's laid on too heavily for her to miss and she sputters, wrinkling her nose at Ritsu like a child (though he's acting like a child himself, with his histrionics and everything).

"You know I didn't mean it like that," she protests, and more mild bickering and teasing might follow as they make their way into the Coven's basement, where they're given the brief orientation on what exactly they'll be doing here and reassurance that everything's perfectly safe. Yako listens attentively, then it's time to line up for a dose of the potions, which goes faster for them since they're already paired and don't have to mingle to try to find a willing partner.

Holding her vial, Yako gives it a ginger sniff, but can't find anything offensive about it -- and it's not like the Witches would play a trick on them now of all times, right?

"Well," she says, raising it to him in a mock-toast. "At least we don't have a chance of being set on fire this time, right?" So arguably, Ritsu's already done more questionable things with her. How quickly she downs it betrays the slight nervousness she has as readily as the connection between them will, though it's also mixed with an avid curiosity.

[nemuru]

He chuckles good-naturedly at her protest, but becomes a little more subdued as they hit the basement; while he doesn't seem like he's paying much attention to the explanation, he has, and -

if he's honest, he isn't sure how he feels about the whole business, what having a Bond entails. He said he'd do it with Yako though, and he raises his own vial in a similar toast. "At least there's that," he agrees, a little soft, and imbibes his silvery mixture at the same time.

It's an odd sensation, feeling her nervousness - her curiosity - but knowing it isn't his own; it sort of bounces against his own hesitation he has about Bonding, even temporary. An odd mix, but he realizes quickly enough that if he can feel her, she can feel him - and he exhales, reminding himself it doesn't last forever. It's fine.

The worry slips away like sand between his fingers, and he waves his vial idly.

"Feel any different, Yako-chan?"

[topslug]

The answer is yes, of course — as surely as Ritsu must be feeling different, too — but feeling things is one thing and being able to describe it is another. It’s the second that Yako is at a loss for, even as the emotions of another person nestle side by side to her own in her chest. It’s not as intense as she feared it would be, and she feels herself relax in turn, shedding the anxiety she’d felt so only a faint sense of awe and inquisitiveness remains.

“Not as different as I thought I would,” she answers honestly. As for Ritsu, as the temporary Bond settles, he’ll begin growing dimly aware of a low-level desire for food, whether or not he had an appetite before.

[nemuru]

He didn't, not quite, so the feeling of it beginning to emerge makes a crooked smile draw across his face - it's weird to be hungry when he wasn't before, isn't sure that he is now... It half reminds him of when he'd like a little fresh blood, but she already rejected him on that - a Bond, temporary or not, wouldn't change it.

Probably.

"Did being nervous make you hungry, Yako-chan, or..." A little fufun. "Well, seein' as you tore right through all those food stalls last month, are you just a foodie...? I have a junior just like that."

A junior he's fond of, evident through the faint warmth in their Bond as he speaks about him.

"Mmm, whatever... Doesn't matter to me. Let's hit the town, grab some food, and see what this Bond thing's all like. Lasts all day, right? They can't just keep us here the whole time."

[topslug]

Wait ... he can feel that? Yako doesn’t have much time to be surprised before she snaps to attention and nods at his suggestion.

“R-right! I think they said it lasts about twenty-four hours...” If he’s willing to leave the subject of her appetite behind, so is she. The best way to test a Bond would be to actually go out and see what it feels like when it’s actually in situations she can’t control, unlike the relative sterility of the Coven.

“Let’s go, then.” It’s easy enough to notify the supervising Witch they’re heading out, though Yako does have a question once they’re back on ground level.

“Did you want to ride the bike again, or walk down?”

[nemuru]

"Bike," is the near automatic response. It's faster, he has to do less work, and he can cuddle up to her. Very comfy. "You'd have to walk it around anyway, right? We might as well just ride it around while you've got it..."

...There's that reasoning too, which he assumes will go over better than 'I don't like walking, coddle and spoil me, please' in the long run.

[topslug]

Pretty predictable answer, which Yako should have expected. She doesn't see any reason to disagree with that, though -- her assent coming through the Bond already before she affirms it with a nod -- and it's a short trip over to where she's left the bike, moving to resume their previous positions.

Still, they probably should have practiced making physical contact that wasn't as full beforehand, because Ritsu's arm wrapping around her to secure himself draws Yako up short, jolting up in her seat and knocking his arm askew. The action is reflexive, more out of surprise than pain, because it felt ... well, it felt surprisingly good, to touch, and that's startling in itself.

"Did that ... feel different to you too?" she asks, tentative.

[nemuru]

Ritsu is startled in three parts: the suddenness of the movement, the surprise flashing across their bond, and ... it did feel good. He's no stranger to physical contact, liking it on his own terms, but it doesn't usually send such a wave of- ah, it feels lewd to call it pleasure, but he can't think of anything else to call it. Ritsu rubs his arm, blinking slowly, and - with more purpose, this time - slides his arm around Yako to secure himself.

It feels more than good, and he makes no effort in resisting the urge to deadweight against her, laughing softly.

"Yeah, definitely...~" And he's having a good time with it, even if he's not sure- why? It feels like this- oh, well, wait, what's different with them right now- "Mmm... Bond?"

...The Bond's fault, he means, he's just too lazy to say more than that.