• OPEN •

[carmesi]

Who: wanda maximoff + others
When: september/october
Where: solvunn, horizon, nocwich
What: catch-all for the month! including quest, and general top-levels for solvunn. horizon threads based on request! additionally, she'll be in nocwich teaching high magic basics.
Warnings: blood??

Comments

—SOLVUNN • OTA • SEPTEMBER

[carmesi]

[the rifts have closed and the beasts that once terrorized the commune—abraxas at large—are no more, but for a few that have been allowed to roam and remain. as if they had never been there before, things in solvunn start returning to normal. things ease, the land seems to heal, and, as always, there are shrines that need up keeping.

she can do so much with her magic, it feels selfish to do nothing.]

( A ) AN OFFERING IN BLOOD.

[wanda would be found, then, by the forest groves near and around the settlement, sitting on her knees, hands on the ground and fingers splayed out across ground and roots as she chants in whispers. the trees nearby rustle despite the lack of breeze, seeming to groan as they take in the benefit of her magic feeding into their vitality, small white and lavender flowers sprouting throughout the grass. the least she can do, in the absence of having offerings to give, is keep the homes of these shrines wealthy in health and beauty; a practice she has done often before, sometimes with someone nearby trying to learn how to do the same. she remembers carl fondly... and sends a quiet sigh into the world along with another pulse of magic, hoping that he is well, wherever he is.

after a moment, wanda has to sit back, tipping her head up. lines of blood draws down from her nose to her lips, and it's hard to breathe. there's a pattern here that she's noticed, unfortunately, and it's whenever she's used her magic—ever since the monsters disappeared.

it's frustrating, and so she puts her hands back down on the earth, grass blades between her fingers, and continues. drops of blood join her hands, and she refuses to stop despite herself, despite the contrarian pain she feels that comes from using her magic.

less than a minute goes by, before she's tipping to the side—and falling limp on the ground, white and lavender flowers around her.]

( B ) TREEHOUSE ROUTE.

I'm alright. Really.

[as if it weren't embarrassing enough, she gets offered to be brought back to the treehouse. thankfully it's close enough to the primary settlement, so it's just a matter of lasse bringing the goats and cart over for the trip. she waves off any lingering concern, though finds herself unable to reject the basket with fruits and food given to her.

it's all she can do to usher the kind locals away, and it isn't until their backs are turned and they've turned a corner that she lets a heavy exhale, dropping the basket down to her feet and plonking down on a nearby bench. her head still spins from the overuse, earlier, of her magic and whatever this symptom is that is causing her to bleed whenever she does.

wanda picks up her head at the sound of approaching feet.]

—tell me they didn't ask you to keep an eye on me.

[whoever it is, the intention is written clearly on their minds. the locals are eager to help the summoned, but they know that it is best when they deal with one another.]

I'm just waiting for Lasse and the goat carriage.

( C ) PRAYERS FOR A SHRINE.

[it seems that wanda doesn't know the words 'stay put', 'rest', or 'tell someone if you're going anywhere'. at the treehouse, she's pulled out her horse from the small stable area to get him all dressed up and suited in leather for a short trip.

sometimes, in the treehouse, she and the others have guests that they're not aware of. sometimes, if someone wants to sleep away from the settlement, or got caught out late at night around the area, they are free to stay—or come around for one of the meals. their doors are always open. this is very much the case, right now.

wanda tightens the bridle on her horse, then moves back inside towards the kitchen, to get her bag with some supplies—food and water, that is, not quite acknowledging whoever else might already be there, eating fruit loops with milk, or whatever other assortment for breakfast.]

A - YOUR MOTHER IS WORRIED

[beautifullies]

[ Since the rifts, Claire's found herself gravitating back toward the shrines more often than has been typical for her. Normally, she only makes courtesy appearances to keep the native residents placated, but she's realized the truly sick and/or wounded tend to go where they think prayers will be answered. As a result, every shrine is on her mental list of places to go when she's checking in. It's sheer coincidence that she comes across Wanda. As soon as she sees her hair, Claire's rushing, kneeling down beside her.

Before moving her, two fingers check for a pulse, and when she finds one, makes a safe assumption that there's no spinal or neck injuries, bringing her onto her back. ]

Wanda? Dear, it's Claire. Can you open your eyes for me?

[ Thanks to the various magical lessons others have been helping her through, Claire's sensitivity to magic is more than what it once was. Even without it, it's obvious by the flowers that this is a magical malady, not an attack. ]

[carmesi]

[wanda comes back to slowly, but there's a warmth that keeps her anchored—a voice that pulls her out from the depths of her unconscious mind. for a very, very brief moment, she thinks back to herself waking up from a feverish sleep to her mother reassuring her that she'd get better.

her eyes open slowly, and she finds herself looking up at a familiar face.]

Claire. [she swallows, her throat feeling dry, and trying to push herself up to sit; she's a little disoriented, her eyes not quite focusing, the blood that's dripped from her nose a mess on her skin. in a mumble, wanda offers,] —the sky's spinning.

C

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka likes to cook with the intent that some unexpected guests may stop by--it all gets eaten either way, Rocket and Nero alone can put away more than the average person. But Wanda is very much an expected face to see about the treehouse. She may not have Wanda's telepathy at her disposal, but she's grown accustomed enough to the other woman's presence and aura that her head perks up when she hears the door open.

Looking over her shoulder from the stove, she smiles and absolutely ruins Wanda's attempts to slip by stealthily. ]

You're just in time. It's almost ready!

[ There's no "do you want breakfast" this morning. The expectation that Wanda is, of course, staying for breakfast. ]

[carmesi]

[wanda has no doubt in her mind that himeka is aware that wanda is trying to leave unnoticed, despite her best efforts to not give away what her plans are.]

—I won't be staying for breakfast, Himeka.

[which sounds almost sacrilegious, to deny oneself of himeka's cooking.]

I'll be back by noon, though.

[at least she's honest?]

B

[leitstern]

Of course you are.

[Jasper sits beside her - with some distance - without invitation. His face is coloured with a cold and thoughtful frown. Did people request him to watch over her? Yes. Is he here for that reason? Not quite.]

The carriage is two hours out. So unfortunately you are stuck with my wonderful company.

[He smiles, sly and wry, in a mischevious manner. One that would have caused his old friend to label him a "brat".]

[carmesi]

[two hours is such a long time to just sit on this bench. with any luck, lasse would be a little more expedite and come around a little sooner instead of getting distracted with something or another out in the fields.

wanda takes a deep breath and leans back.

soon as she feels her strength return to her, she's going to set the basketful of gifts to the side and go about the settlement instead.]

You got somewhere to go?

[why he's waiting for the carriage...]

a! m-mom ;-;

[hairington]

[ steve is on his way back from one of his many trips out to the shrines, taking his walk through the tall grasses and flowers as a kind of meditation. there's no telling where his mind is while he's on these walks, no telling what tune he might be whistling to himself, humming or even singing gently, quietly, only enough for him to really hear.

he's not used to finding others out here - or, rather, those he does find tend to have places to go, things they're already doing. sometimes he'll pass locals to and from the shrines, sometimes he'll catch sight of a couple of other teens out in the grasses, on some kind of date.

perhaps that's why there is a brief, momentary hesitation when he sees not only the back of wanda's head - which he does recognize pretty quickly - but also when she seems to collapse to the ground. he doesn't know what's happening, and he should probably be a little more careful and check his surroundings, but as soon as the moment passes he is sprinting out through the grass as quickly as he can. ]

Wanda? Wanda! [ he all but dives to his knees at her side, probably crushing a couple of those flowers she'd just been working so hard to grow. he doesn't even realize he's done it, his hands going behind her neck, turning her onto her back. ] Wanda! Hey- are you okay? Can you hear me? Wanda- [ he shakes her shoulder just a little, not enough to hurt her further if she is hurt but enough to wake her if that's all it is. the blood on her face reminds him, suddenly, of el- and doesn't help the rising panic in his chest.

she's breathing, though - he's checked that much. but if she doesn't wake up he's going to have to carry her back to town, which, honestly, he could but- ] Can you hear me?

[carmesi]

[it's just a momentary thing, and, in that time, wanda doesn't feel much of anything at all. for a very few blissful minutes, she doesn't get to deal with the pain that's locked her unconscious nor the worrisome thought that her magic is somehow being afflicted by an unknown factor.

and then she hears her name. feels someone's hands on her shoulder, one hand by her neck to keep her mostly upright. her own hands feel the ticklish sensation of the grass under them, and her eyes open to find steve with a very much concerned look on his face.

is it because of her?]

I'm okay.

[it seems that she has picked up a few bad habits from one blind lawyer, claiming to be alright when she isn't quite so. her strength is returning to her, though, as is evidenced by her grabbing at his arm with a hand.]

—NOCWICH • OTA • SEPTEMBER

[carmesi]

[wanda's idea of coming into nocwich is to have her fill of company that she can't otherwise get while in solvunn. it's not the same, seeing someone in person versus seeing them in the horizon, so she tries to make every moment count. it's been on her mind, though, how to be of some service to the other summoned—especially after the previous open dialogue she and istredd opened themselves to not too long ago.

if people want to learn high magic, then she'll start this weekend with it. she sends a quick message to all summoned with a general address and the time she'll be there, but has no idea how many people will actually take her up on this.

wanda has chosen a place by luna, towards the northern half of the peninsula. having made a reservation through glen's recommendation for a bit of privacy, wanda waits about fifteen minutes after she's settled before sighing and getting up on her feet. after the events of the past few weeks, with the monsters, she's been feeling a sense of dread creeping up on her. she's been feeling a little unwell, too. but it's because of the trouble she put others through that wanda wants to do this—to give something back.

she returns from the bar with a steaming cup of tea to find someone seated on the velvet couch she had been on before.]

Oh. I didn't — actually expect anyone to show up.

[this person is here for the high magic tutelage, aren't they? just in case, stepping closer and sitting down on the other end of the couch, she sets the cup down on the table.]

You're here to learn about High Magic, right?

[she just wants to make sure!]

[sleepfan]

[Velvet. Linhardt loves velvet. It feels so nice to sleep on. And true to his nature, when Linhardt realizes that the designated meeting place for learning more about magic contains a velvet couch, obviously the first thing he does is curl up on it, grabbing the pillow and curling his long, pale arms around it and unfurling his legs in complete uncaring of the idea of 'sharing'. Luckily, the couch is big enough for them both.

He opens his eyes - having fallen asleep in the short duration Wanda has been at the bar - when she sits down on the couch. Linhardt yawns and nods.]

I am.

Why wouldn't anyone show up?

[carmesi]

[that is a valid question]

I guess my expectations were low as to avoid being disappointed...

[she sets the tea down on the coffee table, stirring at it with the small teaspoon she's been given at the counter. she glances up at the young man, then, and wonders if he came here despite seeming so sleepy?

in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, wanda conjures a second cup of tea, putting no fanfare to the action as she simply slides the cup closer to him.]

You are that guy from Thorne, aren't you?

[the one with a lot of questions and ideas.]

You had mentioned something about sleep schedules.

wildcardish!

[theidlemaiden]

[ Despite decided to rent a room in Nocwich for the three days they're allowed to stay there this month, Hilda is still slow to reach the appointed address. Thankfully being deliberately late is a habit of hers and probably isn't telling on its own that she's afflicted with something other than habitual lateness.

And besides, Hilda isn't specifically going to see Wanda about learning High Magic; the offer had been an open invitation to any of the Summoned, and despite a harrowing, near death experience with the dragon, Hilda's own lack of confidence in herself to make a concentrated effort to learn more hinders her from diving in head first.

Best to stick to lizard delivery and catching up with a friend.

Her own outfit is typical of what she'd normally sport with the exception of the high neck and the tank floating beside her being carried by Perry with two baby lizards inside an already built habitat. Hilda's smile is bright, and there's a touch more blush than usual painted on her cheeks to hide the pale quality of her face. ]

All done for the day?

[earthborn]

You're Wanda, I presume?

[It's a nice place. Then again, by the standards of Shepard's home, almost everyplace in Nocwich was "nice". Compared to the Free Cities, the place was a haven of cool shade and readily available resources— not that money didn't have its voice here too, of course, but still... She wonders, looking around at the lush upholstry and the crowded shelves, if it would feel strange being back home in prefabricated corridors and hardsuit armor, or if it would still be the relief she'd hope for?

In any case, the stiffening of spine and nod of acknowledgement that Shepard offers Wanda has the ghost of a salute in it, and all the respect that that implies.]

I'm Shepard. [have a handshake, Wanda] Guilty as charged. The more prepared we are for the worst, the better off we'll be.

[vixening]

[ yennefer had seen wanda's address to the entirety of the summoned not that long before, and she'd seen the various different responses to it. she'd known wanda had been looking into that form of magic and how it involved itself in this world. yennefer had seen the influence of the gods during the kidnappings, sure - but her own inclinations had always led her to lean away from it all. to focus on other ways. to deal with the issues at hands without the possible influence of greater beings. she and wanda had agreed to do their own separate research, and to keep each other updated. part of her had always thought that one, gods weren't real in the first place, and two, there was always a way around. a solution that didn't need to involve religion.

she also hated to be wrong - and the longer they remained here, the more that pressure sat over her.

it's been some time since she last saw wanda, and after the evening she spent with her own dreams, yennefer felt that separation even more. it might have been a single evening, for all that remained here, but for yennefer it felt like it could have been years. so, while her intentions may not be as the message had intended, yennefer goes to find wanda all the same.

yennefer in the room when wanda returns with the tea, and her face easily breaks out into a smile, something a bit tired, perhaps a bit older in its own way, and relieved. ]

Not really. [ she answers. ] I hope that's right.

[satanicpanics]

[ Eddie could probably easily have caught up with Wanda in Solvunn, but why pass up the opportunity to visit something a little more plush than Solvunn? He would never get an opportunity to visit this place otherwise.

The people of Nocwich would probably prefer he keep mum on the comparison, but it reminds him of all those sleazy 70s smoking lounges rock stars would hang out in—not that he’s ever been in one, but he imagines this is pretty close. All that’s missing is the smell of cigarettes and a shag carpet. He’s uncorked a bottle of something disgustingly bright green from the bar and is giving it a good sniff when Wanda turns to find him. ]

Oh, shit, no—

[ He sits up in mock surprise, looking around the room with wide eyes and an alarmed expression as if he’s only now just seeing it. ]

This isn’t Cult Leaders Anonymous? My bad…

[ He starts to inch off of the couch, but then he pauses, gives up the act, and grins. For real, he is truly interested in learning! ]

I’m kidding. Hey, Wanda.

[pendejadas]

{ there’s a message from someone he does not know, for the call for high magic. in his world, he’s classically trained, and now he’s chasing magic only to better understand what sort he’s gotten himself into.

there’s no wellspring in abraxas. or, at least he thinks the singularity might be this world’s source of magic. their wellspring. eliot decides he has nothing better to do, and does come to a mossy little quaint place that reminds him of the physical kids cottage. he’s nearly hesitant before stepping inside as if it’ll return it back to the happy place, but shakes it off, waltzing into the establishment with a gist of nonchalant and the foolishness of stepping into unknown territory.

he’s here. he eyes the cup of tea. not his thing, but he does smile at the woman, who he assumes is the one who told everyone to come. he can tell she’s magic as he approaches. as a magician he just knows. }

Don’t tell me it’s just a tea bar? I once infused tea and alcohol as one of my mixology experiments. Hello. { he settles into the other end of the couch with a shrug of his shoulders and a somewhat saccharine-like spoken voice that shouldn’t be as relaxed as it seems. } Eliot. I’m from Thorne. You said magic, I’m magic, so why not show up? Tada.

—SOLVUNN • MICHAEL • QUEST

[carmesi]

[wanda can already hear michael's arguments against her joining him to take on the tedious—but important—task of bringing back the lost spriggans to their homes. it's not that he wants to, but josie keeps nagging him about it, and wanda just so happened to be around when the conversation took place.]

If I hear one more person tell me I have to lie down and rest, I swear—

[it's no secret that she's been feeling weak as of late, bleeding from her nose and fainting (just the one time!) out in the fields. michael must certainly have heard of the circumstances around her health. whatever it is (and however they feel about one another, currently), michael is one of the few here in solvunn that she would not hesitate to act like a petulant, stubborn child around.

she follows after him, trying to plead her case, before he decides to fly off.]

I'll go by myself even if you say no.

[familysucks]

[It's not that he doesn't want to, either. He likes the spriggans. Very recently, they did a peculiar dance for him and then presented him with a daisy for helping to protect their—frankly already ruined, it's not like the monsters were going to make it any more abandoned or run down—home. He sees them as curious little animals, though, and doesn't see what the fuss is about them extending their range beyond the abandoned settlement.

One of them has taken up residence beneath Josie's porch, however, and from the way she goes on about it stripping her rose bushes and pilfering from the herb garden, it's long overstayed its welcome. It goes on the list of those that definitely need to be returned home.]

You don't have have to lie down and rest, it's simply what you should be doing.

[As evidenced by his tone, Michael is not particularly in the mood to listen to whining (do you know how many of his siblings had the privilege of throwing a temper tantrum in his presence and living to tell about it, Wanda? It's a short list!). His temper is frayed, not so much by recent happenings between them as by recent changes in himself, unfamiliar urges slithering beneath his skin.

Unfortunately, his options here are limited. If he snapped away her ability to speak she'd only make herself a hundred times louder and risk another fainting spell. Going off on her own, she risks losing consciousness somewhere that no one will find her.

Michael stops and turns on her, expression annoyed and voice cold.]

Fine, you come with me. If you pass out along the way, I'll let every Summoned in Abraxas know you're feeling a little under the weather and ask them to send you their best wishes and 'get well soon' cards. The kind with cute, fuzzy animals and pastel colours.

[He remembers how frazzled she was about having her birthday announced to all. He doubts she'll want to be the center of attention again.]

—NOCWICH • MATT

[carmesi]

[the months scatter back towards a colder season, and it feels even cooler in nocwich where the sun doesn't shine. booked into their usual inn, wanda and matt spent some time reacquainting themselves with one another—an intimate affair by all accounts—and after a shower, she's all cozied up and ready to call it a night. matt's still in the en-suite bathroom when wanda attempts to use her magic to organize things in the room a bit—make it cozier, still.

but there's that familiar, recent rupture that forces her to stop; blood spills down from her nose, over her upper lip, and she breathes slowly as she brings a hand up so that she doesn't stain her clothes.

back into the bathroom she goes, over the sink, to lean her face over.

even with matt being blind, with him being unawares of the situation, he would very well be able to smell the blood—would be able to hear it dripping down her chin and unto the stone sink. as for wanda? she's not trying to hide it, so much as just trying to make it stop, shutting her eyes and brows furrowing.]

[catholica]

Wanda, what's —

( she'd been in the bathroom with him for a few minutes but then she'd gone out to settle. when she comes back in, he smells copper and he can hear it drip drip dripping into the sink.

he steps back and puts a hand on her shoulder, frowning. )

Are you bleeding?

—NOCWICH • SAM

[carmesi]

[wanda really did not know there was a beer garden in nocwich, but when sam tells her about it—she's really not surprised that he'd know about it. it's good, though; once she returns to matt before the end of the day, she could bring him beer from the place and whatever food they sell.]

I really miss being able to wear jeans outside the Horizon.

[she says by way of greeting, joining sam at one of the tables scattered about. he isn't sitting yet, so she doesn't, either. the overhead lights that stream down a line like fairy lights really speaks of the ingenuity of the werewolves—the likely owners of this spot.

wanda's tired, and a tired wanda means that she's unwilling to fight appearances or the fact that she wants some amount of comfort. which is why she gives sam no chance to really look at her too closely before she's tucking herself against him, arms around him. they'd talked before about the fact that natasha was gone, and further looking into it confirmed the theory. it hurts, losing her all over again, but that's just how things are in abraxas.

they aren't permanent.]

There it is again.

[muttered—'it' being that pain that overwhelmed them when they had been returned, only to find out that natasha had sacrificed herself for the task.]

[falcony]

You're telling me- I just want some freaking basketball shorts at this point. Maybe sneakers. My feet started hurting two years ago and I don't think they've stopped.

[ sam, because it is sam, has of course made himself a regular here. there's something about the set-up, the open air, the way he can see people passing by even if they haven't meant to come sit or how the lanterns and fairy lights and scattered tables make it feel both communal and private. he's come here....honestly, too often, but he likes to visit nocwich whenever he's got the chance, and the werewolves tend to fall in line with sam's own sensibilities anyway.

he's found one of his favorite tables - off to the side, more private than the others, but close enough to the shack up from for more food and drinks. he's just finished chatting with a couple of the other werewolves who work there, because of course he knows them, when wanda arrives. he's talking before he's even turned his attention fully to her, which is probably how she gets the jump on him.

wanda gets her arms around him before sam's able to, but sam doesn't hesitate even a moment before his arms are around her, pulling her tight to his chest. he tucks his face into her hair, and just sort of breathes. it's a kind of back and forth, isn't it? because he wants to comfort her, just as much as he's going to take the comfort for himself. ]

It never gets easier, huh? [ he adds, squeezing her just a bit more. because this one...hurts. and maybe it's because sam's letting himself feel it, or maybe it just came at him when he was unprepared. ]

—NOCWICH • JESSICA

[carmesi]

[wanda has a feeling that she was responsible for some rather… distasteful nightmares set out on jessica. what happened at that time, when she was in a trance by the skeletal beast’s instincts, remains a bit of a fog on her mind; matt refuses to tell her what she did, but perhaps jessica will be a little more eager about that.

and, if she wasn’t, wanda wouldn’t blame her.

sheepishly, she takes a seat next to the dark-haired woman by the counter, ignoring the noise from the tavern to the best of her ability. the crowd is a little rowdy today.]

You’re having something already?

[expositus]

[ truthfully, she'd rather be trapped in wanda's head than in her own. what she'd seen, what she'd experienced in the horizon had been a lot. it had been terrifying. but it had been wanda's head, and she'd only been a visitor.

she's not entirely surprised when wanda finds her and even less surprised when she takes a seat beside her, but she doesn't stop the drink she's taking. until wanda brings it up. ]

A few somethings. [ which shouldn't surprise wanda. she'd called her out on it before. she takes another drink, unsure of whether or not she wants to continue this conversation, and after a few moments she sighs, setting the mug down. ] Why, do you want one?