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WHO: anyone and everyone in solvunn
WHAT: mingle for the summoned, particularly the new people
WHEN: a day or two after the new summoned arrive
WHERE: in aloy's homestead—crossing some wilderness but close to the primary settlement
WARNING: TBA

A. THE JOURNEY THERE

The invitation to Aloy’s homestead is made shortly after the newly Summoned find their bearings within the Primary Settlement. Aloy begrudgingly agrees to it, but seeing as how their group has grown within Solvunn—it probably is for the best to be a little more open to the presence of others. Much like with the treehouse by the lakes, it’s good to know of another place further away from the settlements where the Summoned might feel comfortable enough to traverse into.

That is not to say that the homestead is very friendly to strangers, though. Aloy has set up tripwires, disguised pitfalls, snare traps, and other devices in the surrounding area, creating thus a challenging attempt for anyone who wants to travel there by themselves. Additionally, a way to avoid most of that (read: not all; consider it a bonus for getting close to the homestead) is to go through the arboreal parkour course that has been set up. A network of catwalks, platforms, and balancing ropes to traverse the woods. Reaching Aloy’s truly is a test of guts and skill.  

(Alternatively, travel with Wanda or Himeka—the path clears up for them. For the ballsy, follow Nero and Rocket; surely they aren’t scheming anything…)

And, past all of that, the woods will open up to a tall, spiky fence, about eight feet tall, and the gate will lead towards the homestead proper.

B. HOME SWEET HOMESTEAD

The seasons are turning, and while Solvunn doesn’t suffer from incredibly cold winters, there is definitely a chill in the air. Storm clouds in the distance by the coast rupture with booming thunder, bringing down the temperature quite significantly. It makes the bonfire burning outside a welcome source of warmth. Despite the threat of rain, there’s a strong chance the skies will clear up, as the wind picks up.

Within, Aloy’s homestead boasts the woman’s survival and technical skills. Making the most of her resources, there are meats hanging to dry, chopped wood on the side of the house, and animal skins splayed out that will most likely need to be stored at some point. The inside of the homestead is a simple affair, but for someone who isn’t in the business of receiving guests, it’s decent enough.

For today, the space—inside and outside—has a few extra wooden chairs and tables, picnic style, and they’re decorated with an assortment of food: recently harvested apples from the orchard, berries, roasted mushrooms and acorns, and more complex dishes thanks to Himeka’s arduous work in the kitchen the day before. At one point, a giant stew will cook over the bonfire, with meats and veggies, with bowls to the side for anyone to take their fill. Additionally, there will be grilled fish, flat breads, baked cabbage with lentils and, for those with a sweet tooth, apple pie. Wanda will also be sharing sarmale, a pot of goulash, spinach and cheese pastry—gibanica, and a table of assortments to build their own burgers. Additionally, there will also be apple cake and mandelbrot cookies. All in all? No one’s going hungry at the homestead.

But, worry not, all that food needs to go down with something. Barrels of mead and ale will be available for all to drink. For those who don’t want anything alcoholic, there is apple (and other fruit) juice available.

Make merry and mingle, new faces and old faces alike.

And, of course, please take one of the pamphlets.

C. THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING

Lightning strikes, and almost immediately the boom of thunder brings an eerie quiet to the homestead and the forest past its fences. There’s the awkward laugh the tries to break the silence, shaking the jitters away. Some are quicker than others in mobilizing, perhaps feeling the pinprick of raindrops that others don’t, and start moving what they can salvage from the food and miscellaneous items into the cabin. Some may choose to spare themselves of the rain, pushing the way inside or hiding under the roof’s awning at either side of the cabin; others may be entirely unbothered by the rain, as heavy drops fall fast from the darkened skies.

More thunder rumbles in the distance, roiling ever closer from the mountains in Thorne’s southern border.

A few Summoned might notice it first, that it isn’t really the rumbling of thunder that shakes the muddled earth. The grunts of approaching beasts are mixed with the sound of hooves drumming up in rhythm of an uninvited approach. Birds fly away in flocks as the mammoth boars make their way through the forest, inadvertently towards the homestead.

They are due their mating season, and traveling to the wintry mountains of Thorne has been delayed by the appearance of the beasts in the rifts, the journey now a toll on the boars as the continuous lighting and thunder confuses, frightens, and angers them.

They ram into the fence at different points, and chaos would soon ensue, but thankfully all the Summoned have their powers back.

Right?

D. CLEARING UP

After a few boars were felled, the rest scrambled and escaped, continued their path northward. Killing some of them was inevitable, but nothing ought to be left to waste. The skies clear, the waning moon appears over a colorful sunset, and the rain stops. The fire is built again in earnest, and meat is, quite literally, back on the menu at the grilling station, as per Nero’s helpful suggestion. Some fences need a little mending, and a general amount of cleaning up within the homestead needs to be done, too.

As sunset gives way to nighttime, the sky—once marred in dark tones of gray—gives way to a beautiful night sky, with stars and constellations to be delighted by many. Wanda will be offering to dry the wet clothes of those still sticking around, and Himeka hands over warm cocoa or warm cider, something for everyone.

Now that things have quieted down, and with folk sitting around the fire or standing just by the edges of it, Rocket and Wanda inform everyone of the letter from the Nether that they received—something, perhaps, so they can get a general idea of what everyone thinks; about getting involved, about helping, about Solvunn’s interests in all this. It’s not meant to start an argument, debate, or a long conversation, but it’s something to have everyone think about — to know that they might be sent off somewhere else, soon, for a while, and brace for the trip.

Those who have been in Solvunn for a lot longer will be around, to ask questions or start a conversation about what has happened, what is currently happening, and theories for their futures, here.

Aloy didn’t mention anyone can stay to sleep, though, so best feel ready to head back at some point.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

HOME SWEET HOMESTEAD — [ Erik is glad to see that he's not the only one wanting for a quiet, secluded life here. His trip was particularly easy, having come here with Wanda, but it's still not hard to see that it's distant from the Primary Settlement, and well-guarded in various ways.

Immediate impression is that he likes it. A lot, actually. It's simple, unassuming, practical. There's absolutely nothing wrong with any of those things. He hasn't even met Aloy but he's already halfway to deciding he likes her.

Still, he's not the most sociable of people. He doesn't know how to even approach anyone here, but he supposes he must. That is what he's here for, after all.

One thing that comes easy now, however, is displaying some of his abilities. Let's not go so far as to say that he's showing off, but... yeah alright, he's showing off. While you're distracted, maybe looking away or helping yourself to food, a fork will levitate from the table where some food is laid out, seamlessly floating over and landing perfectly onto Erik's hand. If you turn to look at him, he'll just smile, then use said fork to take a small bite from the sarmale.

Or, if you'd rather, find him helping himself to a mandelbrot cookie, looking both happy and wistful for the brief moment of a smile. Now he's the one distracted enough to be snuck up on without even realizing it. ]

THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING — [ Trouble comes quick, and with little warning. What seemed like distant clouds that should pass turn to roars in the sky, and Erik quickly tries to help others salvage the food. In a place like this, he can easily see why every bit is important, and honestly, he wouldn't want it to go to waste regardless.

It's while they're all busy with this that the boars sneak up on them, the sound of hooves at some point earning Erik's attention as he's carrying some plates inside. He turns to look out towards the surrounding woods, a worried frown on his face, only for his eyes to widen as the first of the massive creatures comes into view. ]

Watch out!

[ It's a yelled warning to whoever he can see outside, their backs to the fence just as it's brought down by sheer force. Erik doesn't think twice, dropping the plates and raising both hands to bring up a magnetic force field. It's not strong enough, not wide enough to protect the entire place, but it's enough that the creature slams right against it and ends up rolling onto the side, thankfully not trampling whoever was in its path. ]

Move!

CLEARING UP — [ The whole place is left a mess in the aftermath, Erik is surprised that people even want to keep the mingle going. He was ready to just head back at this point, yet instead they're roasting the killed boars and helping around with mending the fences. Erik opts to join on the latter.

He's soaked to the bone but hardly seems to mind; if what needs done is getting debris out of the way, he will do so by either using his powers or his bare hands, depending on whether or not he can find metal around. He's not half-bad at repairs either, so he'll try his best in putting the fences back together again too, turning to whoever seems to need help the most. ]

What can I do?

[wanda had been observing the action around the tables, working as a bit of a guide to those who were hesitant in serving themselves. a bowl offered, and then a general explanation of what was part of the buffet. others were more certain about what they wanted and didn't really need her help.

she catches erik's eye when she follows after the floating fork. they're several feet apart, so all wanda does is snort to herself, because that's definitely showing off. her attention is quickly turned elsewhere, however, as she steps to the side at another summoned asking her assistance in some other endeavor away from the foods.]

I see you're enjoying herself.

[—but she does find the time to return, this time approaching him directly, by the time erik's having the mandelbrot cookies and looking delighted about it. hands tucked into the pockets of her skirt, her smile is mostly out of a bit of smugness stemming from the fact that the sarmale he had been eating and the cookies he's now munching on are, in fact, things that she made.]

How's the taste? The almonds aren't too overpowering?

[ That little remark earns nothing but a bland smile, neither denial nor admission. Whether or not he's enjoying himself is debatable; it's not the worst place to be, but he feels a little like an outsider. He supposes most new arrivals feel the same way.

Observing everyone else proves to be entertainment enough, though. There's a lot he can learn about someone by simply watching them, and at least he doesn't have to awkwardly try to start conversations with strangers.

Still, he's glad Wanda comes by to talk to him later on. She is one of the very few people he's spoken to since arriving, and probably the one he's gotten along with best. His posture eases when she speaks, smile not leaving, just shifting to something lighter than before. ]

No, they are done to perfection, [ he assures her. ] It's been a long time since I've had mandelbrot.

Yeah? My mother would always keep a batch ready for me and my brother. A family activity for two kids to do over the weekend.

[where had the recipe come from? she isn't sure—perhaps a grandparent or one shared among friends; memories of her childhood are few and far in between, if not muddled by the tragedy of the violence in sokovia.

she grabs at one of the cookies for herself and finds an empty spot on a nearby bench, sitting down and stretching her legs out a bit.

time to take a break from standing up.

wanda takes a bite, and chews on it for a moment before turning her head up towards him. she can't quite put it into words, but outside of the usual circumstance of their being summoned, brought into this world, and connecting because of that... she feels something more. it's comfortable. easy.]

I saw you liked the sarmale, too.

[ Were it anyone else, he'd have probably set the cookie back down. Instead, he takes another small bite from it, the flood of memories and emotions gentle and quiet, yet at the same time overwhelming. There are little pieces of him that he's pushed so far down, buried so deep beneath the weight of purpose, of anger and revenge, that he doesn't know what to do with them when they claw back to the surface.

He finishes the cookie in that same heavy silence, wiping his hands from the crumbs as he looks to her. ]

My family was Jewish. It wasn't very common, but we occasionally had simple dishes from Central and Eastern Europe. [ Before, when he was a child, innocent in so many ways. ] I also lived in Poland for some years.

[ It's another of those times when he's not sure why he's sharing all of this with her. He hasn't once opened his mouth about any of it, not even with Charles. With Magda, maybe, but he was in love with her. She was his wife. Wanda should barely be an acquaintance, but there is something deep beneath the surface that he can't even begin to understand. ]

[wanda is about to make a teasing comment about how food from her side of europe is better than just 'simple', in comparison to the stuff in germany—a light joke, but there's depth now to the silence, and it's really difficult to gather whether that sadness is her own or his.

maybe it's all his, this overwhelming sentiment as if one were drowning.

was and other verbs used in past tense, like they're part of a life that he had to give up. the same way sokovia was, the same way she had a family.

her own cookie is unfinished, as she glances at him. she glances at his left arm, at the string of numbers partially hidden under his sleeve, then back at his face. he's older than her, and if he lived in germany, and poland, then...

well, she didn't finish school, but everyone knows about it.]

My family was, too. It was only my brother and I after we lost our parents, and we lost everything, so we weren't really focused on celebrating without them. [uhm, this is a little awkward. because this feels like it'd just be heavy regardless.] —uh, I don't... really know—

[the words die in her mouth. how does she bring it up?]

Did you live through the war?

[the war.]

[ Erik has never made a secret of his past, but he also doesn't go out of his way to bring it up. At times, he hides the numbers, in the same way he doesn't mention his family's religion, or where he is from, if only to avoid that topic altogether, so people won't look at him like he's just a victim.

He isn't a victim. The victims went into those camps and never walked back out. Everyone else is a survivor, with the insurmountable weight of having to live a whole life with something like that on their minds, and their hearts, forever.

He sits next to her, letting out a deep sigh. He knows what she's trying to ask even before she manages to string the words together, and he nods once, briefly pulling the sleeve of his tunic back before covering the six digits once again. Better that way. ]

Auschwitz. [ That's not what he meant when he said he lived in Poland, by the way. That wasn't living. That was Hell. ] I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to put a damper on tonight. We can talk about something else.

[ He probably would prefer it, honestly. ]

[he isn't a victim, but he went through something horrible. wanda also hates being pitied, seen as a victim when the circumstances didn't let her become anything but. it's an ugly label to have.

reaching behind her for the plate with the mandelbrot, she hands another one to erik.]

You don't know this, but I know a lot about loss and being stuck in the middle of a war. [it wasn't the war that defined erik's life, and the ones of million others, but it's the one that changed hers forever.] I am sorry to know of someone else who also went through something like that.

[—but, they are survivors, aren't they? besides, she doesn't think anyone would say they lived in poland if they were in a camp.]

Was it better for you in Poland?

[minefield after minefield. oh well.]

[ A war is a war. There isn't a better or a worse, it's all just bad. Losing everything, being surrounded by violence, or by the constant fear of losing everything. Actually losing everything. She mentioned once how Sokovia no longer existed; he dreads to think how much more she has lost. ]

The sentiment is mutual, Wanda.

[ Maybe that's what draws them together. Maybe that's the underlying feeling that makes him feel like she's just someone he can let close. He could be wrong, but he's always trusted his instincts when it comes to people, he'll trust this one as well.

The question that comes next catches him so off-guard, that he can't help the pained chuckle he lets out, pushing it back down quickly enough. ]

I, ah... sorry, it... it was. For a while, yes. [ He looks at the cookie in his hand, thoughtful. ] It's hard. Finding a place in the world where you belong, after you go through something like that. I'm sure you know.

erik lehnsherr — x-men cinematic universe ( the hermit )

home sweet homestead

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clearing up

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Clearing Up sorry it's me again

❤️

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