· OPEN ·

[carmesi]

Who: anyone in solvunn!
When: june, after new arrivals and prior to event
Where: primary settlement and the black eye lakes
What: mingle meet and greet, for old and new summoned!
Warnings: TBA

( A | THE PRIMARY SETTLEMENT )

The Primary Settlement is, in many ways, the same as always. The people in it have chores to do and errands to run, goats to chase and feed, produce to clean and cheese to make. Though some things remain much the same, some things have changed.

For one, with Declan and Tiril's wedding having been the talk of the settlement for the past week or so, the newly wed couple has finally settled into their roles within the commune. While Declan and his sister, Maeve, focus on the farm, Tiril resumes singing at the local tavern, The Drunken Lamb, where many are welcome to sit and have a meal or have a couple cups of locally brewed ale and good conversation; the tavern boasts some of the best mead and meat pies in the Primary Settlement. An old ewe hangs out by the front door, either outside or inside depending on the weather. Her name is Myrtle and if she spits on you it's considered good luck. And, if you are feeling particularly daring, they are currently hosting a meat pie food challenge: a pie in a casserole with two large lamb shoulders and pastry layers, mashed potatoes, and an assortment of veggies (and yes, it does include a pint of ale). The winner gets a loud round of applause and a sheep's wool coat. Anyone that throws up or is unable to finish the challenge gets a pail of ice cold water dunked on them.

All fun and games at The Drunken Lamb.

But perhaps something that is a lot more novel as of late, is the inclusion of something quite on the realm of brand new in Solvunn: a transport system via goat carriage and portals, a motion suggested by the Summoned. It is the new thing everyone in the settlement is excitedly talking about, finding the idea of being able to travel between settlements a wondrous idea, not to mention the possibility of easier transport for produce and wares that are more specific to each individual settlement. Those who have family spread about are even more enthused by the prospect of reaching out to family members with more ease.

Being a very new thing that has been established, there are still certain things that could be improved on. The carriages are simple wagons, big enough to carry up to six people with some items. Finding people to work on this is not easy, as everyone already has their jobs within the commune, but Lasse, a young man from the Secondary Settlement, seems all too eager to work the carriages. He is rather quiet, but he will be more than happy to help anyone traverse from the Primary Settlement and into the Secondary Settlement and beyond.

However, at a special request, there is an extra stop that he is willing to make...

( B | THE BLACK EYE LAKES )

With everything that took place the past few months, with Josselyn, is it any surprise that some of the Summoned are making an attempt to push out of a limiting and otherwise vulnerable position within Solvunn? The commune has been kind to them and all, but it is probably for the best if they can, strategically, have somewhere of 'their own'. Whatever that means.

As is, Himeka, Nero, and Wanda don't want to crowd Gardsburk farm and the newly wed couple, and, thus, have moved a little ways away out of the settlement and near the Black Eye Lakes. One day, it will be a multi-story treehouse with spare rooms for other Summoned to crash, but for now, the building process has recently begun. Technically, Wanda could just use her magic to put it all in place, but where is the joy in that? Solvunnites from the Primary Settlement are helping them, anyway, and she wouldn't want to deny them that. Pick a hammer or an axe, and get to helping, if you like. The area around them needs cleaning, trees cut down and bushes pulled, to make way for what will eventually become a garden. Or maybe a shovel and rake to make a path down towards one of the lakes. Chores are always a plenty in Solvunn, in or out of a settlement. Try and not be startled by curious creatures that jump out of the trees at anyone that comes close to where they are.

The most important room has been built, at least, a kitchen space and dining room. Sit there and make merry on one of the benches, getting a meal from either Wanda or Himeka, or just catching your breath. They are most appreciative for anyone that has come around to help or just to visit. What they want most is to make sure that every other Summoned feels comfortable and familiar enough with the place to do so. It is also very hard to miss the brochures lying around all over the place; those who have been around longer will recognize it as one of Nero's brochures giving an explanation of what the deal with Solvunn is. Newcomers may very well wonder if this is a child's project. Either way, you do have to say that it is informative.

A familiar goat, Eli, has followed the trio here, and seems adamant about giving up on bullying Nero now that he's moved out of the farm. So, now, they will have a forest goat to keep them company, and to try and ram into anyone it considers a suitably weak target.

As the days go by, more rooms are added to the tree house. Sets of ladders lead from one space to another, though it is all mostly empty and needing decorating. All in all, it is taking shape, even if some areas are still heavily under construction. For one, be careful to not fall into the holes in the ground, as Nero attempts to build an underground sauna from scratch. Or maybe you will notice that you are being stalked by a feline, a small companion Wanda's created with her magic, to combat the vermin digging into the garden she is trying to grow. You may very well receive a gift in the shape of a mouse (or whatever this is) if you put out your hand to the cat. Or, you may find Himeka by the water, making friends with creatures of the lake. Just don't feel embarrassed if you jump into the lake and you hear some giggling from within the flora.

Comments

(frozen comment) nero's very important brochure:

[carmesi]

nanaue | the fool | open!

[nomnoms]

@ the primary settlement

[ Inside the Drunken Lamb tavern, you might spot a seven foot tall manshark seated on a very, very sturdy bench that someone has dragged inside. On his head is a crown of bones and flowers, and he happily gnaws on a large leg bone of some animal.

Ask around and folks will tell you out of earshot that he's been gently disqualified from the meat pie challenge (after swallowing the plate whole), but to avoid disruption they've given him a hastily made crown and the bone to chew on as a 'prize' - the wool coat wouldn't have fit him anyway. He guffaws loudly and cheers people on as they do their best.

Otherwise, you might find Nanaue at the edges of the settlement, outside a small barn that's recently been repainted a bright red. Someone has painted the outside of the barn with the english alphabet, as well as little drawings. There's a small pond near the barn where dragonflies dart and skim the water. Nanaue himself might be lying in the tall grass and flowers, staring up at the sky. ]

@ the black eye lakes

It me! [ he exclaims, shoving nero's brochure in the face of whoever is nearest. He seems to be pointing specifically to the shark drawing, mistaking it for a depiction of himself.

Correct him or don't, for the moment he seems delighted.

He can also be found helping with construction work: cutting down trees in a single swing of an axe and hauling them away over one shoulder. Someone might need to stop him from filling in the holes that are being dug, though.

After his hard work, he'll be found by the lakeside. Wanda has conjured him a nice new pair of swimming shorts. Maybe you spot a shark fin from a distance before he bursts out of the water in a surprisingly graceful leap - upsetting the nearby fairies when he dives back in and creates a large wave. ]

black eye lakes — ;

[respiting]

Yeah.

[ Please. The way Nanaue looks so tickled goddamned pink, Rocket doesn't have the heart to tell him it's a pretty ugly looking drawing of a shark.

And that it may or may not be his new buddy here. ]

Yeah, that's you. I mean, they definitely got those teeth right.

lakes

[aquaveiled]

[ It's great to see Nanaue enjoying himself so much. He's part of the team now, after all! He strikes her as a very earnest sort and while this is no where near where a shark ought to be, he's certainly making the most of it.

Just look at him helping Nero-- ]

--erm.

[ --or not? He's filling in the holes.

To be fair Nero is kind of digging way more holes than he needs to, but Himeka recognizes a stress outlet when she sees it. They will only become a problem when someone falls in and they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. ]

What are you doing, Nanaue?

drunken lamb.

[hairington]

[ so truthfully, steve's here because he knows he's been acting a bit ridiculous. he'd heard about the shark walking around solvunn, and he'd seen him and eddie talk back at the festival and wedding, and he had wanted to go up and say hi there. but honestly? he kind of chickened out.

steve's worked really hard, and is usually very good at, rolling with the punches. weird stuff happens all the time, and it's gotten to a point that steve should expect it since he's arrived in solvunn. but for whatever reason, a shark man has been a little difficult to wrap his head around. so much that steve wonders if he's actually...afraid of him? no, no, that's definitely not right. why would he be afraid of someone (even if he's a shark)? why would he be afraid of a shark that half the kids steve also helps take care of really like?

so, when he made it inside the inn to get some food of his own and saw said shark sitting at a bench with a flower crown of his own (with some bones? he thinks?), steve decides okay, enough's enough.

which is why, with two meat pies in hand, he walks on over to his fellow summoned with his best friendly smile. ] Hey. You uh- still hungry? [ he says offering one of said meat pies towards the other.

best way to make friends, right? offering food?

god help him. ]

black lakes

[carmesi]

[she still finds it amusing that a shark needs swim shorts, but she is not one to ask too many questions. instead, she's keeping track of the time. nanaue is wonderful—quite special, really—but there is a simple logic to how he works. or, rather, when he gets hungry.

wanda stands by the shore, waiting for him to take a break from being masterful in the water (did anyone expect anything less?) and taking her chance to talk to him when he seems like he might be paying attention.]

Hey, Nanaue. You hungry?

[they need to talk about the special pigs, too, now that she's not in the settlement anymore...]

aloy | open!

[lightkeeping]

i. primary settlement boot camp

[Given the events of the last few months, Aloy is a little more amenable to coming to the settlement, at least more often than usual. It seems she’s not optimistic that Solvunn will be able to remain neutral for long, and finds them woefully unprepared for any kind of physical conflict. That includes any potential new arrivals

Sure, maybe the council has something up their sleeves, but given the fact that she doesn’t trust them, well. She’s more than used to taking matters into her own hands.

They’re not very keen on handing out weapons, but there’s plenty of improvisation to be done with farming tools. Despite the fact that she is not terribly good with people, she’s set up a training area complete a straw dummy (it is extremely ugly) and makeshift spears. At other times of day she might be imparting survivalist wisdom, showing a villager basic skills like starting a fire without a flint, tying knots, or fletching an arrow.]

You want to give it a try?

[She promises only to judge a little.]

ii. at the lake

[It’s difficult for Aloy not to lend a hand when someone needs it, though she does tend to work on her own, chopping wood and hauling debris. She won’t reject help, but she doesn’t ask for it either, and more often than not only grunts in acknowledgement if someone chooses to assist.

Later in the day, however, she settles down by the water to do some fishing—not necessarily a hobby she partakes in often, so it must be more for resources than anything else. Still, if you join her she’s not necessarily opposed, offering a nod of greeting at any potential company.]

iii. out in the woods

[Did you read the brochure? Did you read about how you should not go out in the woods? Did you not listen?

Those that know Aloy know that she has not actually taken up residence in the commune, and she knows full well that the location of her fort isn't a secret--she just hopes that most people will have the sense not to bother her. If you’re not familiar, following her to the outskirts of the farmlands at the end of the day will reveal that she’s off-the-grid homesteading. It’s not pretty, but Aloy doesn’t appear to care about that very much. She has a small cabin (an upgrade from a previous lean-to), and a campfire, and various projects percolating in the general area—the skin of an animal, stretched and drying, tied-up bundles of plant material, and homemade weaponry (likely a necessity, given the fauna).

If you thought you could explore her camp unscathed, she’s quick to appear the instant you try to touch something.]

Don’t mess with that.

iv. wildcard

[anything you want. hit me up on plurk at whitticus.]

iii

[nomnoms]

[ Well.

Aloy will catch the very tall predator in a leather kilt touching one of her makeshift spears, holding it in one massive hand. As soon as she speaks up he turns, dropping it to the ground, for it to land right at his feet. ]

I no mess.

[ He sounds very sincere, despite clearly lying. Maybe he believes he's not making a mess. In any case, with his hands unoccupied he starts playing with his mouth, wiggling a loose tooth at the front of his wide, gaping jaw.

There's nearly dried blood all around his mouth, patches splattered across his chest, signs that he has probably wandered this way after hunting. ]

out in the woods — ;

[respiting]

[ Rocket did, in fact, read the brochure.

Well. Skimmed it.

Well. He looked at the pictures.

Listen, listen. It was that little picture of the chicken house that piqued his interest, and when he saw the 'don't ask' bit, it called to him. He just had to know how a house could walk around with legs. And he had to ask its owner why a chicken? Of all the legs that exist in the cosmos, it was a definite Choice. How could he not want to follow the trail of its whereabouts?

Of course then he'd wound up here, sniffing around on all fours before he spotted the random assortment of weapons just ... hanging out in the frontyard. Almost like they were being given away for free or something ... ]

What? [ He draws a claw back from the nearest sharp, pointy thing. ] It looked interesting.

[ No, he's not gonna apologize. He's just sorry he happened to get caught, honestly. ]

ii

[aquaveiled]

[ There are many reasons to want to be close to the lake, but fishing is definitely one of them. Himeka does enjoy getting to truly fish off the coast in the Tertiary Settlement when she can, it is nice to have an reliable source closer by.

Fishing is a supply of food, of course, but it's also one of her favorite hobbies. A great way to relax and just vibe for a while. With the chaos that sometimes rains down upon them, it's a welcome reprieve from cults and kidnappings and politics.

So she's pleased when she sees a familiar head of red hair by the water's edge. Himeka smiles and returns the nod as she settles down a congenial distance away. ]

I was wondering if you'd already gone home. Decided to see what lurks beneath these depths?

vash the stampede | death | open!

[boltaction]

01. the drunken lamb.

[ everyone holds their breath as vash's throat bobs, swallowing the last of the ale that'd come with the massive ceramic dish where a meat pie used to be. all that's left is a pair of shoulder bones that have been picked clean. he sets the tankard down with finality, licks foam off his upper lip, and then belches into his fist. he has enough manners to look very embarrassed about that last part. ]

Um, sorry about that.

[ the gathered townsfolk go wild. several clamor to shake his hand, telling him that, honestly, when he'd asked to participate, they'd already had a bucket of chilled water ready and waiting for him. he laughs with them at his own expense, seemingly delighted rather than bothered, reaching up to rub at the choppy, short hair at the back of his head. he apologizes, saying that he'd been really hungry. a woman pushes past them to drape his prize across the length of his shoulders; a downy, wool coat. he beams from cheek to cheek and gives his thanks.

when a waiter comes by to collect his plate, vash taps a finger on the edge of the stein before they can take it with them. ]

Can I actually get a refill, please?

02. garden prep.

[ when he reaches up to his forehead to wipe away a bead of sweat that threatens to drip into one of his eyebrows, vash leaves behind a smear of dirt in its place. not that he notices. since his arrival by carriage, much like how he'd been when he'd showed up for the wedding preparations, he'd immediately went looking for someone or somewhere that could use his help.

he's been tasked with clearing out the underbrush where a multitude of trees have already been felled. after being told it was going to become a garden of sorts, he'd been immediately enamored with the idea. it isn't as though he hasn't already helped work the farms at the primary settlement, but those were fields that had long since been established. to take part right from the start in the creation of a new space for growing food, herbs, and whatever else its gardener had plans for planting filled him with a special kind of gratification. it was something he could help shape with his own hands, could watch flourish and grow.

maybe he could even ask for a little shaded spot to plant the glow-flower he'd picked up from nocwich here. it's been doing well in its pot since he brought it back to his meager apartment, but he knows that crowding the roots in such a small container could lead to rot.

it's tough work, though, since he's down an arm; he's been avoiding using his ball-jointed prosthetic to help with mucking about in the grit and grime. he's worried about damaging it, for one, and for two, getting dirt out of the joints would probably end up being a nightmare and a half. he's not even sure it's safe to get it wet.

after wrestling with a particularly stubborn bush, its roots still half-stuck in the earth even after he'd twisted most of it out, he tries to capture the attention of someone nearby. ]

Hi, sorry, could you pass me that?

[ he indicates by pointing at an open-top toolbox with garden tools inside; it's sitting at least a meter out of his reach. he looks as though he's been at it for a while, his wheat gold hair stuck to his skin in places by sweat. ]

03. by the water.

[ the sun has just passed the halfway point in the sky when vash finally allows himself a break. he walks barefoot to the edge of the lake, his mud-covered boots held together in one hand.

he finds a rock that straddles the division between land and water, and hops atop it with a natural grace that seems a bit alien for how lanky his whole... situation is. he sets his boots beside him, and folds his legs under him, criss-crossed at the ankles. he busies himself with rolling up the sleeve of his left arm, the prosthetic, a little higher until the place where skin meets wood is revealed. the pink of his tongue sticks out of a corner of his mouth as his other hand feels around the connection, eyes squinting aimlessly, until his expression illuminates with triumph. with a press and a twist, the runes engraved into the wood light up and then flicker out, the joints going limp as he disconnects it. he leans a little bit at the loss of its extra weight, but he's quick to right himself, and he seems pleased as he lays it (carefully) beside his shoes.

rolling out his shoulder, flesh fingers digging into the muscle beneath his shirt on the left side, he unfolds his legs and scoots closer to the edge of the rock to dip his feet in the water. sigh. god that feels good. ]

03

[nomnoms]

[ From beneath the black waters a form emerges some meters away. It's surprisingly stealthy, the waters gently parting to reveal the top of a smooth, gray head and large, flat black eyes. He watches the new friend do something to his funny wooden arm, removing it before getting closer to the water. ]

Arm. [ having now (still very quietly) raised himself shoulder-height from the water, he points to the discarded arm and shoes with a massive hand. ]

01

[aquaveiled]

That one'll be on me.

[ Himeka pipes up from the dispersing crowd. She doesn't wait to be invited, instead plopping herself down nearby. She doesn't right her skirts and just offers up her own drinking horn to the waiter as well. The waiter gives a nod and takes the two to be filled to the brim with some of the best mead in all of the Commune.

That's what the sign says, after all.

For her part, Himeka offers Vash a smile as she rests her hands on the table. If she didn't know any better, she would say that this had already become routine for one of the settlement's greenest Summoned. Life in Solvunn can be pretty jarring from what some people are used to, but Vash seems to be fitting right in. ]

That was an impressive show you put on. Many a man have fallen to the Pie of the Gods challenge!

02

[respiting]

Huh? Oh — yeah, sure. Which one do y'want?

[ Ah, gardening.

It's just something Rocket's never really tried for himself, unless you can count the time he'd potted Groot into soil and kept him freshly watered and comfortable at all hours of the day (and night) in those early, early days of his growth.

This, though.

This is different.

He doesn't exactly look impressed, but he is looking. He crosses the path to get to the toolbox as directed and shuffles through the selection with his claws. Most of these things are only mildly familiar, but give him a few minutes and he'll understand how the majority of these tools work. His affinity for things like this is quite literally programmed into his DNA. ]

Yeesh, these things look like they've seen better days. [ And mumbling more to himself, he adds: ] And probably have distant memories of a decent paint job too.

garden 🪴

[carmesi]

[no, wanda will not pass him the open-top toolbox with garden tools inside. in fact, she will ignore his request entirely, standing there and looking down at him with the intensity of someone who has no reproach in maintaining eye contact for a really— long— time—

when this tall, lanky guy arrived, wanda immediately felt something strange about him. it's not dangerous (she doesn't think so, anyway), but there is something to be said about people who are more than what they appear. and, right now, she is picking up on things here and there that are giving her enough reason to pause and inquire. a mixture of layered emotions, all far too familiar, and something else; something complex, something abnormal.

and yet no ounce of magic in his bones, as far as she can tell. not from a first, second, or third glance.

an enigma, one would say.]

No.

[wanda approaches him and crouches down beside him, by his left arm. she can tell that it's been unhelpful to him to have this prosthetic, like he's used to something more flexible and movable, so with little warning, she places a hand over it. it's very primitive, very basic. there is intensity in her eyes as she gazes up at him.

the question that follows is unusual, straying from what she really wants to ask.]

Do you find that it's heavy?

Himeka Sui | The Fool | Open!

[aquaveiled]

a. soup's on!

[ If there's one thing you can count on Himeka for, it's food. Whether it be on the road or in town, the woman always has something on her to share with others, big or small. As such having the kitchen ready was a high priority for her when it came to building their new place. Finally, a kitchen of her very own...her true domain here in Abraxas.

As such, since they are getting so many helpful volunteers, they absolutely need to be fed. Sure she would do it anyway, but an excuse as a thanks for labor is even better. So a large pot is left simmering all day, really letting that stock combine to make something both hearty and refreshing for the warmer moons.

Whether you stop by the kitchen or are found by Himeka outside, she's eager to offer a roll of hollowed out bread and pour a few big ladles full of her new Patented Summer Soup mix. Protests? No, she promises that it's well worth it and she would love the feedback. ]

And there's more where that came from!

[ But if someone asks if the meat is goat, she will look pointedly at Eli. ]

Not yet.

b. just a little hocus pocus

[ As comfortable as she'd become on the farm, it is nice to have the extra unobserved spaces around them. Not that her magicks are something to hide, mind you, but practice and instruction are always a bit easier when you're not worried about getting innocent bystanders in the way. Namely excitable children who just wanna see you make another big WOOSH of wind to send their toys flying across the road.

She will still do that, of course, because it's impossible not to want to make the children happy. But true practice is better when you can really let loose.

In a little outcropping in the forest not far from the new treehouse, Himeka has designated a lonely stump as her target. She can be see practicing dangerous but beautiful spells as well as refreshing and restorative magicks. Any guests or friends who come into the area may be hit by the latter and feel a boost of energy, or mayhaps any soreness or wounds acquired throughout the day appear to miraculously heal.

Himeka has also been known to offer to teach the style of magick of her world to others. So those who are here for lessons can meet her in the clearing as well. Rather than cast them herself, she places one hand on the ground and holds the other in the air. ]

Both the earth and the air feel different under your own fingers, don't they? Their aether is like that too. That's what you'll need to tap into...not just your own energy, but the energy of life around us. We're all kind of...one big circle! Nature gives us life and we can use that to help others.

[CLOSED] to wanda

[ It's been busy with moving and trying to help out the newly Summoned in Solvunn, an exciting and sometimes sad time. As much as she enjoys seeing new faces and meeting new people, the knowledge that they were ripped from their homes and away from their loved ones isn't something she can ignore. It's just up to them to try and make the best of it.

The true boon is that they missed the...well, the mess that the last few moons had been. There was no one left unscathed by what Josselyn and her cult had wrought, whether they were captured or left behind. The scars are healing and Himeka knows that no one will be quite the same after it, no matter how hard they work to move forward.

Nero is struggling, that much is evident. He's easy to read.

Wanda, on the other hand, prefers to keep things close to her chest. Understandably so, Himeka knows the guilt that the other woman still carries despite the good deeds she's done here in Solvunn. So when the hour grows late and many of their guests have either left or settled down, Himeka seeks out her found-sister in their unfinished home.

She has a cup of tea in each hand when she finally spots Wanda. ]

You look like you could use something to drink.

xx. wildcard

[ ooc; Open to anything else! ]

a.

[respiting]

[ Even he has to admit that he'd absolutely followed his nose on this one. The pot of stew simmering for hours, wafting its smells of meat and veggies, it's kind of hard to resist.

And twist his rubber arm if he's gonna absolutely refuse Himeka's insistence that he try some. ]

Yeah, all right, I guess I could eat.

[ Rocket isn't even sure he remembers the last time he's had a decent meal, certainly nothing that smells this good.

As he's being handed a bowl: ]

You made this yourself?

🦎 🪄

[carmesi]

[there is comfort in knowing that with the foundations of any one floor done, she can use her magic to decorate and make fixtures, without having to wait for days and days. construction is still underway, so she doesn't exaggerate with what she can do; rather, she just adds a comfortable and cushioned L-shaped couch just by the one window of what will one day be the living room space. it's dark out—incredibly dark out—and anxiety grips at her, thinking that she misses the faint lights of torches and oil lamps in the settlement, the familiarity of the bleating farm animals. this is a whole new world, unknown.

with half a mind to eventually sleep here, she's got blankets draped over her as she leans onto the arm of the couch, looking out into the darkness, lost in thought. she thinks she wants her room facing east, to have a window in that direction, so she knows exactly where the cities are — her thoughts usually straying towards matt. he's asleep right now, so there's no chance she'll force him awake, given how little he tends to do so to begin with. her new cat purrs by her feet, curled up, and their travel-sized lizards are making the walls their home.

but, just as her anxieties are about to string her up, hands closing into fists on the couch, himeka steps into the room. it dispels all those second thoughts she was having, and she turns away from the pitch dark outside to the warmth of her friend.]

I'd never say no to tea.

[shuffling, she moves so that she can accept the cup of tea and set her hands around it, then over her lap. her eyes stray to the side, towards the window, for a moment, and she speaks before himeka can ask,]

—I was just thinking how quiet it is here.

B

[beautifullies]

[ Learning magic feels, in so many ways, like a rebellious act. If Geillis Duncan could see her now, could see what true magic really is—strike that. She would have fallen in with the human sacrifice crowd, and that's all any of them need. It's been a long time since Claire's been a student of anything, and as always, she finds it fascinating. ]

That's not so unlike the indigenous people of the country where I've been living. The earth is a sacred thing, every resource, everything taken is done with respect. I have to admit, that makes all of this much less intimidating.

[ She's always felt the most at peace when she's doing her version of praying: surrounding herself with flowers and plants and tending them so that they thrive. Nature, she understands. ]

wanda maximoff · open

[carmesi]

( PRIMARY SETTLEMENT ) cw: lizard pictures are linked in this prompt!

[moving out of the settlement is a little bittersweet, but things have sort of progressed to this point. though the summoned don't hold any official power in the commune to make decisions, wanda would like to think that they can work towards having their own power. that power means, sometimes, just having a space to call their own. where they can recenter their focus, feel safe in, or be able to regroup after something or another has taken place.

though she doesn't have much of her own things to pack, one of the things that she definitely has to do is to use her magic to make the four lizards she created into a more travel friendly size. the four of them fit in both her hands, and given the spell that brought them into the world was her own, they are awfully well behaved.

walking down the path towards the last goat-carriage en route to the black lakes, wanda holds two bags of belongings (mostly clothes) in her hands, while the lizards perch themselves on her shoulders.

( A ) she drops one of the bags by accident, frowning and muttering something as she looks down at her hand. the culprit is a cheeky wee lizard, having bit her finger. sure, they are well behaved, but they still got a mischievous personality of their own... as she kneels down to get her bag back in order, the lizards have scrambled all over the place.]

—hey.

[and off they go, to hide in nearby rocks or leaves. one decided to hide in her hair, but it's probably because it's feeling sleepy. hide-and-go seek with some baby lizards, anyone? wanda sighs, bringing her bit finger to her mouth, getting up and starting to realize why nero complained so much about them digging holes under his room back in the farm.]

( THE BLACK LAKES )

[the work taking place in the treehouse is going to take several days, and given that she really isn't one to grab a hammer and go at it with the building process, she leaves that to the professionals. on her end, she is more focused on ( B ) overlooking the progress of the garden. sitting with her on the bench, she watches as her new feline companion pounces on the mole-like creature that pokes out of one of the soil. the cat grapples with it for a little less than a minute before it scurries back underground.

the cat lies on its tummy against the ground, waiting for it to show up again. inevitably, it gets distracted with the boots of whoever else has decided to walk nearby.]

You're distracting him from his hunting.

[when it starts getting dark, those from the primary settlement that have come to help out start making their way back. ( C ) the kitchen is set, as is one of the planned floors of the treehouse. food is readily available, thanks to himeka's efforts, and wanda has made the room cozy, using her magic to add couches and cushions and a bunk bed--she'll think of organizing it proper later. she will be found on the rooftop however, having made it a cozy area with a small furnace and lights. you may catch the tail-end of her magic as she adds all the bits and pieces, or you may show up a little after that, with wanda offering you a plate.]

Cherry pie? It's nice with some tea.

black lakes;

[yoke]

[ it's not the kind of work nicholas is used to—the honest, labor intensive kind that involve elbow grease more than a gun. but he's not complaining, if only because it feels almost nice in a way, contributing to the construction of something rather than its demise. he's never been afraid of getting his hands dirty, and nicholas takes to the building process surprisingly quicker than most would expect out of someone like him.

and maybe it helps, doing something he knows, that is a little more familiar to him than trying to process the rest of it. he's still working through that—solvunn and all its greenery, the living creatures that the locals take for granted but he's only ever seen them in books at the orphanage a lifetime ago.

but it's what makes him pause, looking down at the cat that has taken an interest in his boot, sniffing at it before rising up on its hind legs to press its front paws against nick's calf. ]

Am I? [ he doesn't sound ashamed, though, lowering himself to a crouch to offer the cat some well-earned scratches behind its ears and beneath its chin. same areas where he'd pet a thomas chick. ] Looks to me like he deserves a break.

black lakes —;

[respiting]

[ Rocket looks thoroughly unimpressed at the cat doing whatever it is cats are supposed to be doing in a place like this.

He watches for a moment, pausing where he stands while the cat takes the opportunity to approach the tread of his boots. Baring his own too-feral teeth, he doesn't quite hiss at the creature ... buuuut he makes it obvious enough that this cat won't be getting his attentions today.

Or any other day, really.

And then he shrugs, coming over to properly join Wanda where she's sitting. ]

Eh, he wasn't doing a great job to begin with anyway. You know, you should think about firing him.

[ Is he serious? Is it a joke? Who knows. ]

nicholas d. wolfwood / strength / open

[yoke]

i. primary settlement

[ anyone can say what they want about solvunn and its weird vibes and creepy cabin in the woods theme (which, like, wolfwood isn't completely disregarding, mind you), but no one can deny that the food is good. really, really good. and if you were wandering the desert for the better part of eighteen-ish years living off worm meat, you'll take any chance at free food you can get. which is why he takes on the meat pie challenge at the drunken lamb and claims his sheep's wool coat. he may or may not be making his way through a second one.

later on, wolfwood can be found hanging out with myrtle outside whittling a piece of wood, the side of his head suspiciously wet and a little slimy. someone got spat on, but it's good luck (apparently) so he'll take it. he can also be found playing hide and seek with some of the local children, giving piggyback rides and just horsing around in general. he is suffering without his cigarettes and has to keep himself occupied somehow. ]

ii. black eye lakes

[ some of the solvunnites have caught on to the fact that wolfwood is much stronger than he looks, and thus have been putting him to work with the heavy lifting, hauling trees away once they've been cut down and clearing out the underbrush. he doesn't appear to look very tired throughout the day, but he does slip away later to take a break at lakeside, trousers rolled up to his knees as he dips his feet into the water.

it's something of a luxury to be able to do this; he's never seen a body of water before in his life that wasn't in a bathtub. a part of him is tempted to hop in just for shits and giggles, but he at least has the self-awareness to know that he can't swim. at any rate, he'll be chilling with some of the creatures, maybe trying to skip some rocks over the water's surface. ]

iii. wildcard

[ i'm so bad at toplevels but please feel free to hit me with anything else if nothing strikes your fancy!! ]

i. outside the drunken lamb.

[boltaction]

[ a shadow looms over him as someone comes to stand in front of him, blocking him from the orange stare of the setting sun. ]

What are you making?

[ vash has both hands tucked in his trouser pockets, bending at the waist to get a better look at the chunk of wood wolfwood is carving into shape. the outline of his gold hair is set ablaze, like molten ore, backlit by the sunset.

without the orange shades to hide them, his eyes are near luminous in the low-light-- no wonder he wore those silly things. but what could he do now? go hiding before dusk every day? ]

nero | open to all

[vengeanceinside]

i. primary settlement. eyes bigger than the stomach.

[He may as well go out on a bang, right? And there's not a chance in hell he's not winning this thing. Besides, he's never thrown up in his life. (Anything that wasn't blood.) And with all of Himeka's cooking, he's basically been practicing. And while Myrtle didn't spit on him, she did almost bite his nipple when he tried petting the back of her neck, so that's gotta be worth, like, double the luck.

Not that he needs it.

But once the pot full of foot is slammed in front of him, Nero's nose wrinkles once he peers into the pint of ale.] Look, I know we're not carrying Sprite back there, but that stuff smells like shit. Can't I just get a water?

It comes with the meal, is the grumbled answer. Take it or leave it.

Oh. Man. Dry run. It's fine. He can do this. He just picks up a whole-ass leg of lamb and starts chowing down.]

ii. black eye lakes. holes. holes everywhere.

[If anyone asks Nero -- and they shouldn't -- there's nothing weird about the hole thing. There's a lot of thought he's putting into this sauna, all right? It's gotta not already be too wet around the area. The soil has to be compacted, but not so much it's like digging through stone. Not too much stone mixed in. This one's not got a good view once he's a few feet deep. This one he strikes a tree root -- apparently this thing's reaching like a goddamn mile underground. Right.

The yell of surprise he makes with one of his latest holes echoes through the area.

It's the wrong location. Once Nero's dug a hole big enough for his body to fall completely into and several yards across, he hits the shovel down again, foot on the edge, and looks into the dirt wall next to him

to stare into two beady little eyes, attached to a plant-covered creature. It's not the one that startles him.

It's that Nero goes,] Oh. Hey, little guy -- [And then looks around as dirt falls around him. It's not one head looking at him. It's ten. Twenty.

A squeak. A cacophony of squeaks.

The ferrets start pouring into his hole, climbing over him with incessant squeaks and flicking of their moss-covered tail, bouncing off the walls to bop his head and then jump back off.] Hey! Quit! You're ruining my fucking hole, assholes!

iii. black eye lakes, nearby forest. man vs. nature.

[Nero, a very reasonable man who has normal ways of coping -- even though he's got absolutely nothing to cope with -- has made himself the designated woodsman slash carpenter, if only 'cause it's something to do after being bitten by a bunch of rabid ferrets.

He didn't want to kill the damn things, just. He needed a break from digging.

So instead he's made a nice pile of fallen trees, the roots seemingly ripped off where they've been -- pushed over? But upon closer inspection, every tree's trunk has places where the wood's been pulverized, the bark completely missing. Indentations, like a cannonball's smashed into it.

The brutal sound of skin on wood echoes through the forest, and the cracking of trees and branches as another one falls to the ground. And there, on the edge of the forest, is Nero punching trees right out of the earth, his knuckles full of splinters, seemingly bloodied, though he doesn't have any wounds on his hands.

He stops at the sound of familiar chittering. When he turns, there's a moss-covered ferret sticking halfway out of the picnic basket he'd brought.] Get away from that! That's my sandwich!

[And thus one may come upon a grown man chasing a ferret, holding an entire cheese sandwich. It was good cheese, alright?

So far, nature is winning.]

ii.

[respiting]

[ At the moment, Rocket has been casing the area ... familiarizing himself with the place that was going to be his next home for the unseeable future. If he was going to set himself up anywhere, Solvunn seems ... kind of nice. And the people he's met so far (or re-met in Wanda's case) aren't so bad either, but you'll never hear that said aloud.

He's come across a series of holes now, and as something of a natural burrower himself, he decides to investigate. It's the holes themselves at first, and then the shouts and squeaks of protest that follow after.

As it is, Nero might hear the gruff laughter of a raccoonoid from somewhere above, arms crossed over his chest, peering (safely) at the edge and just all around having a great time witnessing the chaos. ]

You kinda deserved that for messing with their homes.