Who: wanda maximoff + others When: march Where: solvunn & horizon What: catch-all for the month! general top-levels for solvunn, horizon threads for out-of-territory friends (and new meetings). Warnings: tba!
( the tempest seems to come in time to force them to set aside the situation with nocwich out of their minds. there is plenty of work to be done back in the territory, plenty of small and big disturbances to try and pacify. the unusual weather taking place during an approaching springtime puts a lot of activities, rites, and general fortitudes of solvunn in disarray.
and as such, for the time being, wanda fills the void of being able to go to nocwich by keeping busies than usual, by trying to come up with creative ways to keep the springtime rites alive. )
( A ) SPRINGTIME DECORATION.
( with the storm looming over their heads—lightning sparks and thundering roars—and the amount of wind-like disruptions that form outside, the children, especially, have been confined to having their school day and play times set inside different homes. the children are split up into smaller groups, so they can all be comfortably in different houses, looked after by expectant mothers, grandparents, and older teens.
wanda's chaos magic allows her to easily bend the will of the wind from getting in her way, making herself a path devoid of the strong winds whipping at her and stalling her progress as she makes way from house to house, to join the children for a few hours to aid in their activities and learning.
having been here for over two years now, some of these children have grown with wanda's presence around, and are expectant of learning new things from her at any given time. today, she brings emptied eggshells for them to decorate. )
The wax is hot, so you have to be careful.
( she demonstrates as she draws over the contoured lines with the beeswax. the children in the house lean over nearby, on the table, to see her work. there's a set-up in place, with candles and different colored dyes in jars on the table, the whistling of the wind into the crevices of the walls and under the doors the only reminder that there is a world outside they are currently not allowed to go out in.
once done through the process, wanda washes off the dye and wax with a cloth, and the bright colors of the egg will awe the children into wanting to do their own. in no time at all, the children are working with their own tools, decorating and dyeing, giggling and conversing with each other as adults alike join them in their efforts.
wanda turns to another summoned who has been also assisting with the children, holding out an undecorated egg to them. )
Want to give it a try?
( B ) OF TWISTERS AND ANIMALS.
( it is rather unfortunate that gardens are getting uprooted because of the small twisters that have begun to form across the territory; the way it pulls at the roots of plants, forces small animals to run from their dens and burrows.
one of the things wanda does to help in that situation is to go about to the uprooted land and, by placing her hand down onto the ground, solidify the dirt and the grass, enhances it with her magic so it my not suffer the same fate again. the plants and flowers will have to be replanted, however, and the animals will have to find their way back themselves once they are no longer frightened of the potential danger.
heading into one of the smaller farms, wanda stops and crouches down to pick up something that was stuck in some brambles. it's a bell on what seems to have once been a harness of sorts. pets and farm animals are synonymous in solvunn, but the locals tended to make incredibly clear when they had a favorite creature by adorning it in colorful trinkets.
this definitely belongs to someone's precious companion, likely a small goat, given the size of it.
wanda steps away from the path, looking for signs of said goat, and only stops when she runs into another summoned. she raises the bell ornament, as if it alone provides context to her situation. )
I'm looking for a goat. Small, by the looks of it.
( with the twisters and the strong winds and the looming storm, small animals won't make it very far (nor very safely) outside of their homes and sheds. wanda raises her voice as a rather strong surge of wind pushes her to take a few steps forward, blasting by towards her back. )
Shit— ( her hair whips around and over her face, annoyingly so. she pushes it back with a hand. ) Have you seen any around?
( C ) NEW HOME, OLD RITUALS.
You've chosen quite the time to try and fix this place up.
You're telling me.
( it is no secret between the folk in the tertiary settlement that wanda's been looking to have a house there, her visits to the settlement more frequent as of the last couple of months. she's friendly with the ravn family, whom she aided last year with a mild case of a haunting, and it is the matriarch, klaara, who has helped her now in finding an unoccupied house to call her own. klaara and her son oren even cleaned up the surroundings prior to her arrival, but what windows had been opened to clear up the air have been effectively shuttered due to the strong winds.
klaara leaves once her son comes to collect her to help her back to their own home, allowing wanda to settle and fix things up as she sees fit. it's not meant to replace her place in the treehouse, but having a place to come to in the tertiary settlement is something she had been looking forward to for a while.
but, despite the new home, old habits remain.
following a path at the back of the house will lead to a clearing completely devoid of any wind intrusion. the squalls strike against the dome of magic wanda has created to no avail. inside this space, this quiet hex, wanda works on a ritual for her patron god, carving shapes on the ground and creating, effectively, a shrine for soris immaneus on this end of the territory.
wanda will fancy providing a tour of her new home once she is done carving up the symbols she wants onto the rock at her feet.)
[ The best question to ask here is how did Nebula of all people get roped into this? At least, that's the question she's asking herself. ]
[ She knows why she'd agree — even if she'd never admit it aloud. Nebula doesn't know much about children or how to be gentle in the least. Of all the skills that were sharpened, childrearing wasn't one of them. (Something she's woefully aware of and of her own concern - given Knowhere's newest circumstances). ]
[ She tells herself it's the fact she knows she can keep them on the ground from house-to-house if necessary and not that she cares if a child gets hurt at all. Even if right now is... They're safe. Happy. And she keeps to herself, watching the activities more like an observer than a body guard. Only speaking when some child pipes up asking her how something looks and she's quite a too second long time before saying 'it looks fine,' which was clearly not the enthusiastic response they wanted and so she kept quiet after that. ]
[ Cleaned up a mess here or there. Corrects tool holding. You know. Things she can do. ]
[ So when Wanda approaches with the egg she turns her attention at the offending item. No, offending wasn't the right word. Bewildering? For a lot of reasons. And she could answer no but she asks something else instead and it's not 'what's the point'? ]
... Is it normal to play with your food?
[ It is not, in fact, a condescending question despite the same serious way she says it - a quizzical note to it. Like she doesn't get any of it to begin with and a part of her might be insulted on what happened to the food (or the creature that would otherwise be born). ]
( wanda is used to comments that question the why and how of certain customs, especially when it comes from individuals who are less of an earthling and more along the lines of 'aliens' as far as her own point of reference is.
nebula is a bit of a tough cookie to crack, in every sense of the word, it is someone that is very important to rocket. and, in lieu of that, wanda works to make an effort.
she turns the egg around and points at a tiny hole within the shell. )
We emptied and cleaned up the egg before now. They're preparing an egg torte in the kitchen. ( that cleared up— ) Do you need help with it?
[ Not entirely inaccurate, at least, but the point is made well enough. At least here it's usually not a part of it. Even so, she's as much one to pretend she understands something as she isn't (usually when her pride is at stake). ]
[ Which is why although she doesn't know what an egg torte is, she nods in acceptance and doesn't ask further - some kind of food clearly. Her brows do furrow at the additional question and she stares at the other woman, hard a moment: ]
Help with - [ She starts. Then stops quickly finishing her own question as she glances at the item in hand. Then quickly, perhaps a little more so than someone might otherwise. Because Nebula isn't capable of not seeing it as a challenge, especially if children can manage. ]
I can do it.
[ She offers a hand to take the one Wanda still has. Another beat before she - assumingly -moves to a table,] Why do you do it?
( the idea that both rocket and nebula have experiences in other planets is something that wanda has still to get used to. for now, it will just have to remain a little trivia fact that wanda could bring up again at some other time — or shelf into the recesses of her curiosity for the moment.
wanda hands over the egg shell to nebula, and follows after the other woman. )
It's tradition from back home. Not exactly the same, but it's a bit of a fun thing my brother and I used to do as fun.
( taking a seat, she watches nebula. )
It might just have been a way for the adults to keep us busy, though.
Zagreus doesn't seem particularly bothered by the winds. They push at him just like they do everybody else, of course. But he doesn't seem particularly bothered by it. If anything, it's actually a rather new and fascinating experience for him!
But something has Wanda worried, so he stops when she approaches him. "I...don't know," he says. "What does a goat look like?"
Wanda lets her question die down in her lips, confused and a little flustered by the weather. There are so many goats going about in Solvunn, but maybe no one's really explained to Zagreus that those are, in fact, goats?
"They're the most common farm animals around here," she starts by way of explanation. "Some of them have horns. The one I'm looking for is small. A 'kid' is the name for their young."
She has a feeling that despite him not being familiar with what a goat is, that Zagreus would be open to helping her.
"Ah! With the horns, yes - I have seen those!" Zagreus says, pleased to finally be able to put a name to the creature he'd seen so frequently about the place.
Although his smile soon falls from his face. One of them is missing. He might not be very experienced with winds like this, but even he can see how they would be dangerous for such a small creature.
"Do you know where it was last?" he says, looking about as if it might just pop up in view, right then and there.
"It couldn't have gone far, though." There is quite a few areas to look through to see if they can find the goat, but it's hard to tell. "It most likely is looking for shelter, so perhaps inside bushes and the like."
They will likely hear the kid crying for help, in any case.
"In that case...we'll just have to search all of them," Zagreus says. Not an ideal approach - but better than any alternatives that might have them missing the creature. He scans their surrounding, taking note of any piece of vegetation large enough for a small goat to hide behind.
"I can search to the left, while you go right?" he suggests. Divide and conquer - always a respectable strategy.
[As Wanda carves away, Michael arrives in a rush of air much quieter than the gusting winds outside the bubble of magic. The wind doesn't interfere with his flight, but he prefers to engage in conversation without sticks and bits of plant debris slapping him in the mouth throughout.]
I hope it's not too early for housewarming gifts?
[If so, too late. He has arrived with a cloth-wrapped gift in hand. She looks like she's made quick progress on her weekend home, however; he assumes any rough patches on the outside are the work of the recent storms.]
( somehow, despite it all, wanda expected michael to come here. at some point, in some unexpected moment, whenever she was far too ensnared in whatever she was currently working on to foresee his arrival.
(but she wasn't really disconnected to knowing he would arrive, though.)
she waves a hand at him, her back turned, pushing the rock down with forceful attention to detail imbued in her magic. she does come to a halt at some point, sitting back on her knees, and brushing off any beads of sweat on her forehead. )
I thought time wasn't significant to you.
( and up she goes, stretching out her legs and cleaning up her palms on her skirt. her question is curious, as she turns her head to him. )
[Michael tilts his head, matter-of-fact when he speaks.]
It's significant to you.
[In some ways significant to Michael, too—not in comparison to his own lifespan, but in the moments he has spent with Wanda and gotten to know her, absolutely. Friends and interfamilial siblings are a rare and notable occurrence.
He approaches the rest of the way and offers her the small bundle between his hands. His eyes flick to her work for a moment, but he does not comment on her ritual practices.]
Only a small something, for your new home.
[Wrapping paper isn't really a thing in Solvunn, but if she unfolds the dark fabric she'll find it large enough to play the part of a placemat or a hand towel; within, there's a fish-scaled ceramic tea cup. Fishing is an important part of life for many residents of the Tertiary Settlement, hence the nautical theme. He did also want it to be something she'd find a use for, though.]
( michael would never directly comment on her 'ritual' practices, many of them which are just what she thinks could create some form of rite. it's inspired by what she's read, what television and film she's seen, by memories of a life that feels not her own anymore.
and then there is the bundle that he hands over, resting heavily in her hands like an anchor to the now—what is important to her, what and who matter to her most.
she smiles up at him once she's uncovered it and been privy to its contents. )
For our afternoon teas.
( wanda says softly, knowing all too well that he isn't keen on tepid, flavored water (or any kind of drinkable liquid, as it were), but loving all the same the fact that they have a tradition built around it. it means a lot that michael thinks of it, and puts some effort to it, for her. )
[He might be fonder of flavored water if he had the capacity to perceive it as she does. Alas, with his brother gone, he has no mentor with experience in how to bend his angelic senses to perceive the little joys in life. Perhaps with more practice, it'll come to him.
Michael echoes her smile in his own way, a far milder curve of his mouth. He's pleased she likes it. ]
If you're finished out here then yes, I'd be interested to see what made you pick this place above the rest.
[The door is obvious, but it's her home so he waits for her to turn and lead the way in so he can follow.]
( wanda leads the way, then, and the hex that keeps the wailing wind of the storm from touching them follows after, making sure that they are otherwise untouched by the whims of nature. the door opens before they reach it, and in they go.
the house is not very decorated, but that's mostly because wanda hasn't spent much time in it. she could easily decorate it with a snap of her fingers, but she does like taking her time with things.
reverently, she sets the gifted cup on top of the table, and the dark fabric next to it. )
I haven't figured out a layout for the place, yet. Feel free to take a seat if you want, though.
[The roaring wind makes him think of himself at times, but he appreciates the bubble of calm she creates. Batting flying sticks and stones away with his wings is getting old.]
Following my design philosophy, I see.
[Joking, though he doesn't sound like it any more than usual. The lack of decor on the inside does not escape his notice. It's not what he associates with Wanda, who rather likes her clutter in his opinion, but he also gathers it's only a start. She did only just move in.
He gives the chairs a sharp, evaluating look. She could likely have guessed which one he'd pick before he makes a move towards it: basic, bare wood, but it's solid and level. There's no wobble as he seats himself.]
I'd offer to help, but I have yet to finish cleaning up the inn. Something I'll be doing alone, now.
[Gabriel had been doing the opposite of helping, but still. It feels like tidying up after a dead relative rather than foiling his brother's chaotic instincts.]
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—SOLVUNN • OTA • MARCH
and as such, for the time being, wanda fills the void of being able to go to nocwich by keeping busies than usual, by trying to come up with creative ways to keep the springtime rites alive. )
( A ) SPRINGTIME DECORATION.
( B ) OF TWISTERS AND ANIMALS.
( C ) NEW HOME, OLD RITUALS.
A - ish? Mostly A.
[ She knows why she'd agree — even if she'd never admit it aloud. Nebula doesn't know much about children or how to be gentle in the least. Of all the skills that were sharpened, childrearing wasn't one of them. (Something she's woefully aware of and of her own concern - given Knowhere's newest circumstances). ]
[ She tells herself it's the fact she knows she can keep them on the ground from house-to-house if necessary and not that she cares if a child gets hurt at all. Even if right now is... They're safe. Happy. And she keeps to herself, watching the activities more like an observer than a body guard. Only speaking when some child pipes up asking her how something looks and she's quite a too second long time before saying 'it looks fine,' which was clearly not the enthusiastic response they wanted and so she kept quiet after that. ]
[ Cleaned up a mess here or there. Corrects tool holding. You know. Things she can do. ]
[ So when Wanda approaches with the egg she turns her attention at the offending item. No, offending wasn't the right word. Bewildering? For a lot of reasons. And she could answer no but she asks something else instead and it's not 'what's the point'? ]
... Is it normal to play with your food?
[ It is not, in fact, a condescending question despite the same serious way she says it - a quizzical note to it. Like she doesn't get any of it to begin with and a part of her might be insulted on what happened to the food (or the creature that would otherwise be born). ]
no subject
( wanda is used to comments that question the why and how of certain customs, especially when it comes from individuals who are less of an earthling and more along the lines of 'aliens' as far as her own point of reference is.
nebula is a bit of a tough cookie to crack, in every sense of the word, it is someone that is very important to rocket. and, in lieu of that, wanda works to make an effort.
she turns the egg around and points at a tiny hole within the shell. )
We emptied and cleaned up the egg before now. They're preparing an egg torte in the kitchen. ( that cleared up— ) Do you need help with it?
no subject
Depends on the planet.
[ Not entirely inaccurate, at least, but the point is made well enough. At least here it's usually not a part of it. Even so, she's as much one to pretend she understands something as she isn't (usually when her pride is at stake). ]
[ Which is why although she doesn't know what an egg torte is, she nods in acceptance and doesn't ask further - some kind of food clearly. Her brows do furrow at the additional question and she stares at the other woman, hard a moment: ]
Help with - [ She starts. Then stops quickly finishing her own question as she glances at the item in hand. Then quickly, perhaps a little more so than someone might otherwise. Because Nebula isn't capable of not seeing it as a challenge, especially if children can manage. ]
I can do it.
[ She offers a hand to take the one Wanda still has. Another beat before she - assumingly -moves to a table,] Why do you do it?
back from trip! happy to continue if you are <3
wanda hands over the egg shell to nebula, and follows after the other woman. )
It's tradition from back home. Not exactly the same, but it's a bit of a fun thing my brother and I used to do as fun.
( taking a seat, she watches nebula. )
It might just have been a way for the adults to keep us busy, though.
B
But something has Wanda worried, so he stops when she approaches him. "I...don't know," he says. "What does a goat look like?"
no subject
Wanda lets her question die down in her lips, confused and a little flustered by the weather. There are so many goats going about in Solvunn, but maybe no one's really explained to Zagreus that those are, in fact, goats?
"They're the most common farm animals around here," she starts by way of explanation. "Some of them have horns. The one I'm looking for is small. A 'kid' is the name for their young."
She has a feeling that despite him not being familiar with what a goat is, that Zagreus would be open to helping her.
no subject
Although his smile soon falls from his face. One of them is missing. He might not be very experienced with winds like this, but even he can see how they would be dangerous for such a small creature.
"Do you know where it was last?" he says, looking about as if it might just pop up in view, right then and there.
back from trip! happy to continue if you are <3
"It couldn't have gone far, though." There is quite a few areas to look through to see if they can find the goat, but it's hard to tell. "It most likely is looking for shelter, so perhaps inside bushes and the like."
They will likely hear the kid crying for help, in any case.
Sure thing!
"I can search to the left, while you go right?" he suggests. Divide and conquer - always a respectable strategy.
C
I hope it's not too early for housewarming gifts?
[If so, too late. He has arrived with a cloth-wrapped gift in hand. She looks like she's made quick progress on her weekend home, however; he assumes any rough patches on the outside are the work of the recent storms.]
no subject
(but she wasn't really disconnected to knowing he would arrive, though.)
she waves a hand at him, her back turned, pushing the rock down with forceful attention to detail imbued in her magic. she does come to a halt at some point, sitting back on her knees, and brushing off any beads of sweat on her forehead. )
I thought time wasn't significant to you.
( and up she goes, stretching out her legs and cleaning up her palms on her skirt. her question is curious, as she turns her head to him. )
You brought something?
no subject
It's significant to you.
[In some ways significant to Michael, too—not in comparison to his own lifespan, but in the moments he has spent with Wanda and gotten to know her, absolutely. Friends and interfamilial siblings are a rare and notable occurrence.
He approaches the rest of the way and offers her the small bundle between his hands. His eyes flick to her work for a moment, but he does not comment on her ritual practices.]
Only a small something, for your new home.
[Wrapping paper isn't really a thing in Solvunn, but if she unfolds the dark fabric she'll find it large enough to play the part of a placemat or a hand towel; within, there's a fish-scaled ceramic tea cup. Fishing is an important part of life for many residents of the Tertiary Settlement, hence the nautical theme. He did also want it to be something she'd find a use for, though.]
no subject
and then there is the bundle that he hands over, resting heavily in her hands like an anchor to the now—what is important to her, what and who matter to her most.
she smiles up at him once she's uncovered it and been privy to its contents. )
For our afternoon teas.
( wanda says softly, knowing all too well that he isn't keen on tepid, flavored water (or any kind of drinkable liquid, as it were), but loving all the same the fact that they have a tradition built around it. it means a lot that michael thinks of it, and puts some effort to it, for her. )
Would you like to head inside?
no subject
Michael echoes her smile in his own way, a far milder curve of his mouth. He's pleased she likes it. ]
If you're finished out here then yes, I'd be interested to see what made you pick this place above the rest.
[The door is obvious, but it's her home so he waits for her to turn and lead the way in so he can follow.]
no subject
the house is not very decorated, but that's mostly because wanda hasn't spent much time in it. she could easily decorate it with a snap of her fingers, but she does like taking her time with things.
reverently, she sets the gifted cup on top of the table, and the dark fabric next to it. )
I haven't figured out a layout for the place, yet. Feel free to take a seat if you want, though.
( there is a few chairs around, at least. )
no subject
Following my design philosophy, I see.
[Joking, though he doesn't sound like it any more than usual. The lack of decor on the inside does not escape his notice. It's not what he associates with Wanda, who rather likes her clutter in his opinion, but he also gathers it's only a start. She did only just move in.
He gives the chairs a sharp, evaluating look. She could likely have guessed which one he'd pick before he makes a move towards it: basic, bare wood, but it's solid and level. There's no wobble as he seats himself.]
I'd offer to help, but I have yet to finish cleaning up the inn. Something I'll be doing alone, now.
[Gabriel had been doing the opposite of helping, but still. It feels like tidying up after a dead relative rather than foiling his brother's chaotic instincts.]