april catch all

[beautifullies]

Who: Claire Fraser and OTA
What: Open + Closed prompts
Where: Around Solvunn, the Horizon
When: April
Warnings/notes: None, will update as needed.

Comments

SOLVUNN | GARDENING

[beautifullies]

[ With all that happened last month, the gardening has been neglected. And so, she's spending days digging and planting things that will grow throughout the season: sweet peas, kale, arugula, scallions, and carrots to name a few. She's spent a few days on her project, with others helping off and on. On a row of peas, Claire plants and then rests with a hand still on the ground as she reaches for her watering can. By the time she turns back and pours the water, there's a small shoot poking out, two leaves budding right in front of her.

Blinking, she slowly goes through the motions of planting a seed again, and yet again, with her hand on the ground and water absorbed, a sprout appears, proud. ]

...What?

[ She needs to have someone else confirm for her that this is actually happening. Is this a new ability or wishful thinking? Looking at the closest person, she calls out. ]

Would you mind coming to look at something for a moment?

[carmesi]

[wanda happens to be the closest person, and she's more than happy to bring herself close to claire be it for a quiet chat or to just be in the older woman's presence. there is an intrinsic sense of comfort from that.

and so, wanda approaches, expression momentarily confused, a slight wrinkle of concern on her knit brows.]

Sure.

[and forward to claire's garden patch.]

Is something the matter?

[beautifullies]

I don't know. I don't think so, but I—well, watch.

[ Claire once again does exactly as she did before, and yet again, the result is the same. Letting out a soft noise of disbelief, she looks back up at Wanda. ]

I couldn't do this before. I'd remember, though I haven't gardened in a while.

[ How long has she been able to do this? ]

[vecna]

[Every day, his strength returns to him. He feels more like himself, the legions that had blighted his skin now leaving only, perhaps, the faintest of scars in their wake. And even those have dimmed substantially, just faint lines of white amid his already pale complexion, as time trudges on.

And so, where does that leave them all? To return to their daily routines in the Settlement, falling back in step with the usual cycle? Mundanity to veil them all over again? It would seem so. Henry spent time gardening, of all things, when he first arrived in this world -- and now here he is, hands pressed into the loam of the earth to tend to the things that grow this season, with the enthusiasm of a man who is obligated more than he is entranced by the task itself.

Work to be done in exchange for his privilege to live on these lands. That's all it really is. More roteness for all.

His head turns when someone speaks to him. He stands, walking over with a somewhat placid expression, trying his best to not wipe his hands on his pant legs.]

What is it?

[Pretend at curiosity, or concern. This is fine.]

[beautifullies]

[ Claire doesn’t recognize this young man. But no mind, if he’s living here, then he’s someone she should get to know anyway. ]

I think—well, watch.

[ Claire repeats her actions from before and indeed, a sprout pushes instantly up through the soil. She looks satisfied and then turns her gaze to her company. As long as he saw it too, then she knows there isn’t anything playing tricks with her mind. ]

This is the first magic I’ve ever done. That is what this would be, isn’t it?

[ It isn’t like any other magic she’s seen so far, and so feels the need to check. ]

SOLVUNN | BEES!BEES!BEES!

[beautifullies]

[ It's the perfect time of year to begin a beehive. It's something she'd planned to do at Lallybroch, something she could do with Jenny and her grandchildren, but as of now, it isn't meant to be. And according to John, it never will be.

First, she has to build the hive. It will have to be all wood, and so over a period of two days, she chops, saws, and welcomes any questions. Once the varying pieces are assembled a day later, there's still enough light left that evening for what she's doing: using sandpaper to smooth down the wood.

There's plenty of sandpaper (babysitting in trade) and plenty of wood, so anyone who stops by might earn a favored spot in Claire's heart if they offer to help. ]

i'm very sorry

[nomnoms]

[ The sound of work has attracted a strange, large figure. Nanaue looks at the state of her project with curiosity. ]

House. [ pointing at a completed one ] So tiny.

[ ???

Who will live in these houses? Are there tiny people around? He looks down at his massive feet in the grass, lifting one to inspect the bottom for any squished small people. ]

omf claire is asking the lord if she's lost it

[beautifullies]

[ There was the surprise of Louis being a vampire, then the shock of Wanda being an actual witch. And then, when Michael mentioned being from heaven, she figured she'd covered her bases on 'phenomena she thought was fake.'

And yet.

She hears the voice before she looks up, and whatever words of explanation she had die on her lips. Because there's a shark. A shark, asking about the beehives. ]

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ.

[ She'll never know why her first thought was 'but there's no water;' it's odd, the way the human brain reacts to things it can't quite understand. She tries again, blinking and shaking her head. ]

They—they're houses. For the bees. They're homes for bees.

[ An awful recovery. But she finds the checking of feet somewhat...endearing. ]

SOLVUNN | MARKETPLACE

[beautifullies]

[ With a basket on her arm, Claire roams the market place. Her main goal is to trade for fresh fish if she's lucky. If not, she'll still have collected things she needs to add to her shelves.

List in hand, she isn't paying attention to the ground as she mentally checks things off, and stumbles on a part of uneven ground. Grabbing onto the closest person so that she doesn't fall and break a hip, she manages not to land on her ass. ]

Christ, I'm sorry.

[ Her heart is slamming in her chest and she presses a hand against it once she's steady on her feet. ]

[lightkeeping]

[Aloy doesn't come to the commune much, if she can help it, and she's spent the immediate aftermath of the rescue off on her own, licking her wounds. Eventually, however, she needs to make her way into town to trade for some supplies, which has her wandering and haggling in the marketplace.

She's dressed like a huntress, fur-trimmed leather armor and bow and quiver slung across her back. It might explain her reflexes, when Claire stumbles into her and Aloy keeps her balance, feet shifting under her a little to accommodate the sudden weight.]

Easy there--

[Despite taking it like a champ, she grunts a little as she helps right Claire, her hand lingering for a moment just to make sure everyone's balanced again.]

Are you okay?

[beautifullies]

Aside from wounding my pride?

[ Only when she's set to rights is she able to properly see the person she nearly bowled over. Huffing, she tries to will her curls into something that doesn't look chaotic, because they always manage to at the slightest ruffle. ]

I'm alright. I'm sorry, I should be asking you the same, but based on appearance I'm not sure anyone could run you down. Did you even sway?

[ Claire is impressed. ]

HORIZON

[beautifullies]

[ Before they'd known exactly how dire things were last month, Claire'd promised to be available in the Horizon for anyone who wanted to learn (or continue learning) the ins and outs of medical care. Whether it be human anatomy and learning how to treat minor wounds, herbal medicines, or honing surgical skills.

Lallybroch is open to everyone, as it was always meant to be. On the days people have specifically asked for lessons, she makes herself available. Other days, she sits outside drinking tea and reading, welcoming visitors. Everyone receives a friendly smile and her full attention, standing to greet them. ]

[godshattering]

[ It doesn't take long after being home for the desire to roam to kick in. Normally it'd be the sort of restlessness he'd take for a stroll through Cadens or out into the deserts surrounding it, though given recent events: Claude's not all that eager to risk it. Not yet.

The Horizon, however, is a convenient way to solve some of that feeling. On this day in particular he's not inclined to stay within his own domain, and sets out on a familiar enough path he's wandered before with eyes roaming over familiar sights from those he knows. It's how he also spots a new structure he doesn't recognize, which is all his curiosity needs to approach. It resembles something from Fodlan though also not quite, but there's enough similarities to it tugging around the edges of his mind as he goes right ahead and invites himself onto the grounds by walking through the archway. Claude's still studying the building as he goes.

This is also how he misses that he's not alone until he glances to one side and sees a woman there who must be the owner of the space, or so he assumes. ]

Ah - [ He has the grace to look sheepish there for a second before waving a hand to encompass the building with a smile. ] I didn't recognize this as something I've seen before, and intrigue won me over. Hopefully you don't mind that I waltzed right on in here, though I'm taking the lack of anything to chase unwanted visitors back out as a good sign.

[ He's kidding. Hopefully. Just in case there are wards meant to prevent this. ]

[beautifullies]

[ Claire has made the space nice for outdoor sitting; an outdoor hearth keeps water going for tea, with comfortable lounge seating. Old-fashioned and a bit of new. ]

Please, Lallybroch is always open to anyone who needs it. Whether it’s for medical advice or tea. Both, if you like.

[ And she wouldn’t mind company either, as evidenced by her slight nod to come in further if he wants. ]

I'm Claire. In my world, this is home.

[ No need to focus on the fact that she never got there. Nor does she need to remember John’s words just now, that she’s living in the New World. She doesn’t know that version of herself yet, and she wants to be in the home she was meant to share with family. ]

[restingstitchface]

[There is something that draws him into the Horizon. Every morning, every night, every time he can get away with it. The allure of visiting what people create is enough to keep him busy for days, weeks, months. Imagination and innovation are important to a man like himself - and he finds himself wandering between one world and the next, between one representation of the psyche to another.

The old English castle looms before him. Rustic, pleasant and foreboding all at the same time. He can both imagine a banker or businessman living there as well as a wealthy aristocrat from the old days. He keeps his distance from the woman he sees, reluctant to get close and engage until she stands and offers her full attention. The friendly smile doesn't hurt, either.

His eyes turn down to her tea and he tilts his head.]

Loose leaf or bag?

[beautifullies]

As a born Brit, I must say that question hurts my soul. Loose leaf. The answer is always and only loose leaf.

[ Claire's laughing, though, all in good humor. ]

I did need to adjust when I lived in America. This is a black tea blend I've made myself.

[ Being able to get all she needs in the Horizon, it's easy. Lifting the jar she holds it out for him to take and smell if he'd like. ]

Pea flower, elderberry, hibiscus, blood orange, clove, and nutmeg. Could I make a cup for you? I have other blends as well if this doesn't interest you.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Even if Hilda hadn't had a reluctant, but blossoming, interest in trying to learn more about medicines, she still would have wandered from Garreg Mach over to Lallybroch. Besides it being quite literally a stone's throw away from her shared domain, she hadn't seen Claire since the proverbial calm before the storm in Nocwich. There had been so much chaos surrounding the return of the Summoned that she'd barely had a moment to check in with the woman before she had rushed off to ensure that her friends were being properly cared for.

There's no denying that the whole ordeal has been enough to kickstart an otherwise dormant necessity (as if war hadn't been enough of a reason?), but that doesn't mean she's any less anxious about starting on this endeavour. What if she's awful at it? Sure she knows how to tell a foot from a hand but that doesn't mean she knows the first thing about squishy, internal organs that make her queasy if she thinks too hard about them.

None of that shows however when she breezes into the courtyard that day rushing to give Claire a big hug. A Horizon hug, she's quickly learning, is the next best thing to being able to actually hug someone. ]

Claire! Lallybroch is really shaping up.

[beautifullies]

Oh, Hilda!

[ Claire is so glad to see her and reaches out to wrap her up in the hug. Then, she pulls back, hands gently on Hilda’s shoulders. ]

Are you alright? Were you injured?

[ She can’t help herself and steps back, eyeing Hilda, looking for any visual damage. ]

sorry about the femblem descent on lallybroch >.>

[philancer]

[ Since being in the Pit had made connecting to the Horizon so unstable, it's been a while since Sylvain's been able to spend any reliable time here. Even if several of his bandages have shown up with him, no matter how much he tries to imagine them gone. Which is a little annoying, but he's dealing with it.

He'd actually been leading Nova out into the pasture behind the stables when he realized he could see the towers of another stone structure that was definitely not part of the Monastery or Claude's domain, either.

Curious, he decides to investigate, and Nova needed the exercise anyway (probably? he doesn't want to think too hard about what a possibly imaginary horse actually needs and just stuck to old routines instead) so he ends up wandering over in that direction, leading the curious gelding who is still trying to poke his nose into everything on the way.

He's not expecting to find someone outside the large structure enjoying the morning with a book and some tea, and it has him coming to an uncertain stop, looking a little sheepish. ]

Oops. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you, I didn't realize anyone was here. [ ...Which actually sounded worse, once he says it out loud, causing him to wince. ]

SHHHH I love it

[beautifullies]

[ He gets the same smile as everyone else, and she puts aside her book, rising. ]

No, by all means come in. I can show you to the stalls, if you’d like yours to make a friend?

[ Claire’s wedding gift from Jamie, a pure white mare to match his night black stallion. At least if she’s here on this star, she can do things to make herself feel at home. Even if her horse was lost long ago. ]

[familysucks]

[Claire is expecting him, but Michael's appearances in the Horizon are as sudden as they are outside of it. There's his signature sound of heavy feathers beating the air and within the space of a blink, Michael is standing in the grass a few feet away, eyes on the worn stone walls with something like curiosity. The architecture's not exactly unfamiliar, but this style of building is a little antiquated from his point in time.

He turns to look at Claire.]

Is this where you're from, or somewhere you imagined?

[Some Summoned recreate places from home, and others put together entirely original creations. Michael himself lacks the creativity to do the latter, but he does like to know where those he's met fall.]

[beautifullies]

[ Claire knows now, what that sound is, and she knows he's arrived. What they're getting up to is around the back of the house instead of in Plainview so as not to scandalize the neighbors. ]

This is my husband's home, his father built it. We'd planned to live here together, once.

[ Her smile is small and a little sad, but she doesn't dwell on her emotions. ]

It makes me feel closer to him. Since you and I last spoke, someone from home has arrived, though not a person I'm very well acquainted with yet.

[ She's certainly not as intimately familiar, in any case. ]

➙ John Grey

[beautifullies]

Claire has done her best to explain to John the mechanics of meditating enough to enter the Horizon, and now all she can do is hope she did a well enough job.

Instead of being tucked away into the courtyard of Lallybroch, Claire is just outside of it, planting a few forget-me-nots at the entrance and keeping an eye out for him. If she's done it right, he'll show up right here just outside the entrance.

[iustise]

Lord John has listened to her explanation, somewhat skeptically, but then again she has proven herself to be right about everything else thus far. And of everyone here in this strange place with him, Lord John knows he can trust Claire the most.

So he had paid attention to what she had told him about the meditation, done as she had explained and...

Suddenly finds himself here. In the front entrance of a Scottish country home. He glances around before taking a tentative step forward and clearing his throat, not wishing to startle her.

"Ehm."

[beautifullies]

She'd done her best to explain meditation and breathing exercises, but one never knows if they've done a good job until things are in practice. Luckily, Claire is a bit better than she thought, and she turns her head at the clearing of his throat. When she stands, she brushes her hands free of dirt, offering a warm smile.

She's dressed comfortably and steps forward, her nerves spiking oddly in the pit of her stomach. There are conversations to be had, and she never knows when a piece of her life in the next ten years will be revealed. Still, Claire finds herself happy to see him, a familiar face she can discuss home with.

"You managed, I see. If it isn't medical, who knows how well I explain," she laughs softly in good humor. "It's good to see you, John. Welcome to Lallybroch, or at least my memory of it."