abraxaslogs | [ CLOSED ] the dawn is opening

Thank the gods for that then. I was starting to fear for my life if I didn't actually have enough of everything in this basket.

[ Breezily enough even though really, not thirty seconds before he'd been flirting with that very disaster - and not the fun kind of flirting. As the children pick up on the fact that this is definitely another basket for them and it's Jayden's turn to be surrounded, there's a second where he has to swallow back a laugh before shaking his head in mock sternness none of the kids who knows him will actually fall for. ]

You heard the man! Last one inside gets to choose what they want last!

[ That's probably something he should've thought before saying for the potential outcomes, but it does get the rest of the children inside. They're spared any outrage when there's a multiway tie at the door of who walks in last in the excitement, and when adults who are not Claude already have the kids sort of lined up with a table for them to stand by with the baskets. Claude's about to head that way but he's stopped by a tug on his sleeve, looking down to see a little girl there who asks if they're still going to work on their next play. As promised, she reminds him with great gravity, at which he presses a hand to his chest in equal sincerity. ]

I never forget a promise. After this is done, I bet Jayden would be happy to help with some of the costumes, too. What do you think?

[ This earns Jayden a very scrutinizing look as only small children can do as she takes her time in deciding but eventually nods before running off to get in line, and he flashes Jayden another grin. ]

[The kids remind Jayden a little of his elementary school days as there's a brief battle not to be last through the door, and Jayden himself waits until all the kids are inside before following after them. Finding most of them in line at the table is an endearing contrast to the brief chaos just before, but if there's one thing that can get children to behave, it's the promise of presents.

But he does notice the little girl who grabs Claude's attention, and that's adorable. Jayden has of course already gotten the impression Claude visits here regularly, but it must be quite often based both on the girl's behavior and the discussion of some sort of play. Which Jayden is immediately volunteered for, and he can't help but offer a weak smile and no argument until the girl has joined the line. After that, Claude's grin gets a flat look in return.]

I think these kids deserve a little better than me helpin' with costumes.

[That is not even slightly an area he has talent in. However--]

But uh, if there happens to be a piano or somethin' similar, maybe I can help with music. How elaborate are these plays anyway?

[Even at this age he knows plays can be serious business.]

Truthfully, they deserve better than you and me both.

[ The flat look only makes him grin wider and unrepentantly, though - Claude's at least telling the truth about whether he should be in charge of any costumes (because he definitely shouldn't be, considering the lack of talent is something they have in common there). That's a problem for future them, he's decided, even if that 'future' is something more like 'ten minutes from now' and not an actual future at all.

Still: there is the valid worry of making it through passing out the trinkets first, even if the kids are being rather obedient for the moment while waiting for them to set up. Claude finally steps forward to those tables to set his basket down. ]

Nothing too elaborate since most of it relies on imagination for... just about all of it, unless we can get some more regular donations coming in. Not that the donors don't try, but. [ A shrug of his shoulder for an unsaid sentiment as neither of them can change that, but they're here to help today. That's all that can be asked for without a more coordinated effort, and the gifts will matter to the kids. ] Now that you've mentioned it, I think there is an old piano or a clavichord stored in one of the empty rooms. We'll have to look for it after this.

[ In a bit, because the line of children's reached where they are and Claude holds out the items to let the little boy choose. The flute's his choice and a second later when he plays it, the rest of the children see the effects - and the noise - and then many little eager faces look their way, he adds under his breath to Jayden, ] Something tells me it's about to be a lot noisier around here.

[Jayden is suddenly feeling very glad he'd filled his basket with both flutes and candies, but more the former than the latter; with any luck they'll have enough of them, because the only thing worse than the amount of noise there's about to be--which he's not looking forward to--would be if any of the kids were left out of the fun. He's pretty sure making orphans cry is more guilt than he'd be able to handle.

As expected, the little girl that's first in line for Jayden's basket--one of the teachers has quickly organized the line into two branches--takes a flute as well, delightedly running back to join her friends who are a little further back.]

Yeah, somehow I'm thinkin' music might be covered after all.

[There has to be at least one kid who's got some talent for the flute, and if they can provide music for the play then all the better.]

Pretty neat enchantment though. Never thought about what sorta' magic you could do to instruments.

I hadn't either, but the floating's a nice touch. [ With a wave towards one child levitating slightly while playing as another one opts for a bag of candy out of his basket, ] we didn't have anything like that where I grew up even though magic existed, so I would've been thrilled to be able to 'fly' before actually learning to fly later. Well, on wyvern, anyway.

[ Clarification might not be needed there given they've spoken of that before, but Claude offers it anyway while the little girl next in his line - a smart idea by the teachers to have made the process slightly faster with all the excitement. After it's discovered the candy changes tongues different colors by the kids who grabbed those instead of the flutes, there's a change in who wants what next as several more bags of candy leave his basket in quick succession as he peers into what he's stocked and then to Jayden's. ]

I'm thinking it's a good thing neither of us packed too many bath potions, huh? Maybe we can save those for all the adults around to relax with after we've created some minor chaos here.

[If there are any flutes left over after this, Jayden will definitely be pocketing one for himself. He's never tried playing a flute before, and has no doubt he'll be terrible at it, but the enchantments will be well worth it.

Belatedly, as the kids continue choosing prizes, Jayden realizes it would've been even faster if he and Claude had quickly split up the flutes and candies and each taken one set of items, but ultimately it doesn't matter. The kids are well behaved and most are decisive, though a few of them do take a minute of contemplation and 'advice' from their friends to choose.]

Yeah, that'd be a good use of 'em. I can't imagine how stressful their jobs are.

[It's a totally different kind of stress than Jayden's used to, and he's both impressed by and doesn't envy the staff here. But speaking of spending time taking care of the kids--]

Do you help out here often? The kids seem real familiar with you.

I do, yes. I try to come by at least once a week though it usually ends up being more like a couple of times a week.

[ A pause as a particularly shy looking boy comes up and grabs a bag of candy before immediately fleeing despite the teacher's reminder to say thank you as he goes. It's something like Bernadetta might've done - which, granted, they were teenagers at that point - and it brings a grin to Claude's face as he hands out a flute upon request to the next child. ]

I started coming after what happened with Libertas last year. After all the rebuilding I realized there were other ways to keep helping out like there were back home during the war, though said war took most of my time.

[ There had been plenty of children who'd come to Garreg Mach even before it fell, and more who'd arrived after, too. This felt like making a difference in between everything else though there's still more he wishes he could do. Maybe eventually. ]

Needless to say I never stopped when the portal never closed. Normally the kids are off doing their own things so it's not this overwhelming all at once if you're thinking about coming by again.

That's really nice of you.

[It's the generic thing to say, but he means it; it's a really nice thing to do, and surely good for the kids to see someone familiar but who they also aren't around every single day. Something fun to look forward to, and a positive outside influence.]

I'm not in Libertas very often, but maybe I'll stop by sometime when I am. If I can figure out somethin' to offer, anyway.

[He hands out another flute to a delighted child, who is apparently the last of her friend group to get her prize, as she runs off to join a group of others who all immediately begin playing an extremely uncoordinated musical number. And by 'musical number' it's just random notes, but whatever.]

Though maybe I'm overthinkin' it. They don't seem too picky.

[He says it lightly, joking, not judgemental. It's actually really cute how enthusiastic they are.]

If we find that piano a little later you might find yourself in high esteem after all of this.

[ Kidding, partially - but not about finding the piano since he's not forgotten that even as another kid grabs the candy he's holding out and runs away shouting thank you and Claude has to take a second to laugh at that. ]

Really, I think they'll be thrilled if you stop by more than anything else. And there's always a chance to win some points by helping out with the aforementioned play, even though last time I was assigned the all important rule of tree number three. I'd like to think I did rather well.

[ Paired with a flourishing handwave for good measure, though this one is also possibly to help gift the last pouch of candy in his basket. Peering into said basket reveals they've made good progress in handing them out, especially with the line of kids narrowing down to just a few left. ]

Though - it was suggested to me that trees maybe shouldn't talk so much. We'll have to see what this play will be about, though I heard something about monsters on my way in. Maybe from the rifts recently?

Kids aren't usually big fans of piano, in my experience.

[He's also kidding, and it's not meant as an insult at all; it's completely understandable that children wouldn't be super drawn to piano, especially not when there are far more fun and loud instruments to play or listen to.

He grins a little at the shouted 'thank you' from the most recent kid in Claude's line, holding out options for the child in his own line to choose from, as he was too shy to get close enough to actually look in the basket. He does finally select candy, and gives a tiny wave before running off as well.]

Hey, tree number three sounds like a real important part. I'm sure they couldn't have done the play without you, even if you made a few additions to the script.

[Though, also, he would not have been surprised to hear that trees talking is normal here, despite not having run into any himself.

The new play being potentially about monsters is not a surprise either, but although it also sounds like it might be a fun topic for a kids' play, Jayden can't help but feel slightly concerned as well. Not because it's something the children shouldn't be doing, but because if it is related to the rifts, it might've been chosen because it's something on their minds. It's easy to forget that even those who didn't have direct contact with the monsters had to deal with the stress of the situation overall, and that includes children.

He's quiet for a moment, lost in thought, but then catches himself and remembers to respond.]

Bet they'd love to tell us all about it. I wonder which of the monsters woulda' caught their--

[And he stops, because he's distracted by a flash of white across the room, as in a well-timed moment one of the children is carrying what is clearly a paper-mache swan, but with ominously sharp fangs and angry eyebrows.

Of course, he should've known.]

[ It does take a certain skill to play a tree. That's what Claude's going to offer up as support (or maybe defense) of what he'd done in that last practice, even if said support is really just a way to continue teasing. Before he can do that or agree the kids would be interested in filling them in on all the other happenings, Jayden stops abruptly and he glances over to see why.

There's no obvious clues before he turns his gaze out to the room. It takes all but a second for Claude to locate what'd caused Jayden to not finish that sentence, and as his gaze falls upon the swan he pauses with a flute still in his hand. Fortunately the child it was meant for merely grabs it out of his grasp and keeps going, because he's lost in staring at the swan for a second longer before he immediately bursts into laughter too quick to be anything but the real thing. ]

Wait, that's- that's not what I pictured when I heard about monsters. [ It takes him another second to compose himself considering the next child in line is peering up at him with Concern, and Claude clears his throat to stifle any other chuckles. Mostly. ] That's fitting, though, given what absolute menaces those swans were. I hope to all the gods this doesn't mean they figured out how to use the portals elsewhere.

[ Not a serious hope, given that he still sounds completely entertained as he pauses to direct the last few kids to Jayden's basket now that his is empty, and besides that there was probably a rift here in Libertas responsible for it. Another child walks in carrying a pair of what he's guessing are meant to be wings, what with how the paper-mache edges look a little like feathers, and now Claude puts on a mildly melodramatic expression before leaning over to stage whisper this next thought. ]

Maybe we should be more concerned that we'll be recruited to be the swans this time. We might never make it out of here without having to do swan battle first.

[Jayden can't help but grin when Claude starts laughing, and honestly, it really is funny. He wonders if swans exist in Claude's world or if his first encounter with them was here, and then naturally wonders if he would know what Canadian Geese are, and then whether or not he could actually consider Canadian Geese worse than swans. Maybe. Jayden certainly had more experience with Canadian Geese, anyway; he didn't exactly run into a lot of swans back home.

He finishes handing out the last of his own trinkets as well, just as the other children are bringing in the rest of the swan, and honestly it looks pretty well made. He's impressed by the craftsmanship, though not exactly Claude's suggestion.]

Don't give 'em any ideas. I think I'd rather have another round with the hellhounds than fight you dressed as a swan.

[Either of them dressed as a swan, really. And is this a compliment toward what he's sure Claude is probably capable of, or just an overwhelming desire not to have anything to do with swan costumes? Who knows, not even Jayden. Probably both.

But whatever the case, now he has opportunity to circle back and ask--]

Do you have swans in your world, or did you see them the first time here?

It's true, I probably would make a rather competitive swan. Might as well get into it and really channel them properly, right?

[ There's a vague attempt to make this sound serious though it doesn't last long what with how he starts chuckling again just a couple of words into his supposed praise of non-existent swan abilities. He's not too keen on putting on that particular costume either - and hopefully it's meant for one of the children or if it has to be for an adult, then one of the teachers around.

With the baskets now empty he takes a step back from the table to worry about the baskets in a bit since those can wait until they have to return them, and glances to Jayden with a grin. ]

They're in my world too and just as pleasant as the ones that came to visit. Actually, the ones here might've been a bit more agitated and though I hate to defend them, I can't help but think that's sorta how I felt upon arriving. Maybe the secret to adjusting was to run around and cause chaos like they did.

[ Probably not, but it's an entertaining thought. The wings brought in get attached to the swan body and - to probably both of their respective relief - that makes it a little clearer this costume is child sized. With a nod of his head in the direction of the kids Claude starts to head that way. ]

Going over here might be signing ourselves up for being these particular swans' targets of being chased, but I'm curious enough to risk it. Swans are something familiar to you too, I'm guessing?

It's so weird what kind of animals are in multiple worlds and what kinds aren't.

[It's one of those many little things about the whole idea of different worlds that Jayden wonders about on occasion. Strange how Claude's world could have something as different from Jayden's as magic, while also still having swans.

He follows after Claude, letting him take the lead again when it comes to navigating the place, both because he's more familiar with the location and the kids as well as that Jayden is just very out of his element in general. But he distracts himself from that with responding to the question, wrinkling his nose a little in a show of faint disgust.]

Swans aren't exactly common where I'm from, but yeah, they exist in my world too. You're more likely to run into geese, though; if you don't have those, there's lots of kinds, but they're kinda' like smaller swans with shorter necks and some of them are real jerks.

[A brief pause, and then adds a very important piece of information--]

They also hiss when they're mad, like a snake. Or an alligator.

Isn't it? I had the same thought when most Summoned I talked to heard of wyverns and dragons but then followed that up by saying they're only in books in their worlds. Meanwhile, all of us get the same aggravating birds, apparently.

[ With a chuckle since that seems like more than a fair way to describe swans at the least - if not many more birds beyond that - and it seems like Jayden agrees if that universal sign of disgust is anything to go by. Geese also are familiar, but it's the hissing as a (very important) addendum which makes Claude laugh again. ]

Geese occasionally end up on a table as part of a meal, though pheasants are more common. I'm assuming it's because no one wants to deal with geese.

[ But not around Cadens from what he's noticed, given that Sylvain had to (literally) hunt something close enough to it a couple months ago. Claude's train of thought ends there because his hope they could supervise what's going on ends there when two older children see their approach and rush up to them with items in hand.

Their roles here becomes apparent when they're handed some fabric meant to be draped in an approximation of an outfit. A couple hats appear next with the announcement they're going to be merchants who get chased by the swans. It happened at the market next door, they're told - along with quite a few giggles which make Claude doubt if that's true or if this was invented just for them, but he's already reaching for one costume set. ]

Hey, I think I just got upgraded from being a tree. Not bad for your theatrical debut, huh?

I don't think I've ever had goose, but we eat it in my world too. Not the hissing kind though, I don't think; I'm pretty sure they're federally protected.

[And should he know this as a federal agent? No. That isn't his division. He refuses to retain goose-related law trivia.

Jayden is a little apprehensive when a bundle of cloth is foisted at him, but as he realizes they're just merchants, that's... It could've been a whole lot worse. This might not actually be too embarrassing after all, and really, he can't complain. At least neither of them is a swan.]

Yeah, I feel kinda' honored with bein' trusted with such an important role.

[He's joking, but also 'merchant' really is a step up from 'tree', and Jayden hadn't even done his tree time yet. He's taking this as a compliment even though it's obviously just because he and Claude are adults and obvious picks for merchants. And as an aside to the giggling children--]

Besides, I'm actually an expert at runnin' from geese.

[ Protected gets an eyebrow raise, though a brief one, and - well, it probably goes without saying that he's curious about that. But the play certainly has its own demands since now that they have the costumes, there's a clamor from the kids to get ready as more components start to appear. ]

With acting like this, we might find ourselves on the stage at the Old Public Hall before too long. We'll have to be careful word about this doesn't get out.

[ There's no such danger, of course, except being asked back here for more participation as he works to drape the fabric around himself while talking. A little haphazardly, Claude realizes upon glancing down, so he takes it off to try again but not without peering at Jayden curiously with that last statement. ]

An expert as in... here with the ones that appeared, or...?

[ Please tell him there's a story behind that. ]

[Jayden doesn't have the first idea what he's supposed to do with the costume, and is also a little worried he'll accidentally rip the seams or something and make a child cry, so he's very hesitant about it until one of the kids decides to take pity on him with a dramatic sigh. She takes the costume back and begins assisting, and before Jayden knows it he's in costume--apparently a vest and a sash or something?--and the child has run off to help with some of the rest of the setup.

The swan is taking shape.

He looks appropriately unenthused about the idea of anyone finding out about this, and in particular ever being dragged into future productions, even if he's mostly just playing along as well. But as for the geese--]

Uh, both? Mostly at home, though; runnin' into large angry birds is pretty common, and it doesn't take that much to set 'em off. Sometimes you have to outrun a goose or two on the way to work.

[One of many reasons he tends to drive even if he doesn't live that far from where he works.]

I'm guessin' you have fewer goose encounters?

[ Claude's listening as he loops his own costume around him - theoretically, since he needs to stop and start again. Third time's the charm; this time he does pay closer attention to what he's doing when he hadn't counted on this being so elaborate, as if he also has any idea of what might go into sewing something instead beyond watching Hilda work absolute magic, as far as he's concerned. That can't be said for him unevenly putting on this outfit, but maybe that's something he can solve later.

For now, the mental image of Jayden having to outrun a rogue goose while going about his everyday life is certainly enough to get him to grin widely yet again. ]

Huh. Suddenly I'm grateful I was kept up in my office for hours upon hours with hours upon hours of documents to review. I'll take that over being chased around by angry fowl any day of the week.

[ Do geese count as fowl? Another question to ponder, but his geese facts are also few and far between as he shrugs and reaches for his own sash to wrap around and keep everything in place before a group of kids starts to call their names when another monster appears, or so the shouts:

Something green, vaguely pointy but also with a few suspiciously pointy looking things at the top, but not entirely unfamiliar - ]

Uh. Did I miss when the cacti out in the desert turned into our enemies?

[It's interesting that Claude says that, whether or not he's completely serious about it, because--]

I'd rather deal with geese than paperwork. I might even prefer gettin' shot at to doing paperwork.

[In fact he's pretty sure he would, with the 'might' only depending on how much paperwork it is. If it's hours then there's no question he'd rather be out in the field doing something dangerous instead, making for an interesting contrast in Jayden and Claude's so far often similar opinions.

The comment about the cactus earns and automatically dry response.]

What, cacti aren't always our enemies?

[And then he sees what Claude's looking at and... Huh. Yes, he must have missed that, or else he just can't tell what it is. Could be either.]

I wonder if they've been choosin' monsters based on how scary they are, or just how easy the costumes are to make.

[He's starting to think it's the latter.]

[ Look, Jayden has a point about cacti always being enemies. There's even a quip on the tip of Claude's tongue about how he specifically has this coming considering he's used many a cactus as target practice out in the desert. Why wouldn't the cacti have something to say about that? Assuming they can talk, and assuming this one can, too.

But: that's also a good point about the costume as he finishes up getting his into place and then peers closely at what's being brought in. ]

Huh. You might be onto something there, since one of those arms definitely looks like it's made of some containers I've seen around stores that hold random goods.

[ Which is impressive, buried under layers of green paint as they are now, and also perfectly sized to be slipped over a child's arms as one boy picks them up to put on and begin his cactus transformation one green ring at a time. ]

Those containers are pretty sturdy so I have to say, our odds of being chased are growing ever larger. [ Claude's partially kidding just for the humor, but: between a swan and a cactus, the kids have picked some good opponents for them. Any talk of 'strategy' here is pure playfulness since he thinks this might just turn into chaos. ] What do you think our chances are of turning the swan against the cactus?

Probably not good. I feel like swans might be a little too smart for that, and cacti a little too... Not.

[Do monster cacti have brains? Are they like fungi in that they have some sort of weird awareness but no consciousness? Or are they completely unaware while still being animate?

Important questions that probably have no relevance at all to the current situation, considering it's just a play, and actually--]

Think the kids would appreciate some improv attempts, or are they sticklers for the original vision?

You have a point. Plus, I feel like the swans have the advantage considering they can peck. Probably doesn't go over so well with cacti. Well - actual cacti, not ones in suits of armor like this one.

[ Is he taking his own joke too seriously? Probably, but it's entertaining (to Claude). As is Jayden's follow up question since that's also right in line with everything else, and he adjusts his sash as it looks like the kids are wrapping up their own preparations and start to line up with a flurry of shouts to get ready. ]

Based on my tree performance being received at a, let's say, mediocre level of enjoyment, I'm gonna say that day had more specific terms than this one. But since we're in a chase scene?

[ The look of mischief he sends Jayden's way is all the indication the other man gets about his plan. Of which there is no real plan except that when one kid says go and it's time to run, Claude immediately takes off on a lap around the room with some appropriately panicked yelling to boot. The unsaid answer to his question is that yes, he's going to play this up for all they can. It's absolutely to be as ridiculous as possible. ]

[Following silly trains of thought is something Jayden occasionally enjoys himself, so he's neither going to judge nor cares to stop Claude from doing so. He even considers commenting on whether the cacti's spines would slow down swans or, if the cacti are large enough and the spines are sparse enough, if swans wouldn't be bothered, but it seems it's time for the actual play. Oh no. He's somehow not at all ready for this despite all the clues leading up to that it's going to happen.

But although he takes off running with Claude, that's as much of a lead as he's going to follow; he's not going to be doing any yelling, but thankfully it seems Claude's acting is appreciated enough by the children that Jayden is getting away with being a bit more lackluster. He does do his best to keep a straight face, at least, figuring laughing wouldn't be appreciated in such a serious scene.

Things, of course, mostly devolve into chaos from this point, with the cacti and swan kids giving chase and other children screaming and scattering, apparently pretending to also be in the monsters' paths, although a few soon return with toy weapons and begin to bravely battle the threats.]

[ It might be serious, at least to the kids, but there's a sort of joyfulness to being chased by a paper swan that Claude can't entirely discount even if it might upend the play. Just a little bit. Or a lot when it seems that's all that's needed to really get things going.

Jayden takes off running with him, and that's enough to get some laughter out of him in between going right back to being Panicked with a capital P for the full effect up until their brave rescuers arrive with their weapons clutched in hand. One cacti falls first, and then another - though the second one might be because the costume prevented the child inside from seeing she was walking right into a table but with no harm done if the muffled giggles from inside the cactus suit are anything to go by - and the swan's vanquished next.

All that's left is playing up gratitude over their rescue, something which Claude also does with great enthusiasm as it takes a while for the room to restore to any kind of order while they put things back to where they came from post a round of applause from the adults who watched the play go on, and when there's a tug on his hand and a little boy requests they come back for their play tomorrow too it's time for one more grin to Jayden. They can't really say no to that, can they? ]

[ CLOSED ] the dawn is opening

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it's a wrap!