it's not your act of creation

[beautifullies]

Who: Claire and closed starters + opens
When: September + October
Where: her house in Solvunn, the Horizon, will add more locations as needed
What: An open where Clarie discovers she can control bees (up to 30 ft), an option to bake bread or garden with her, eventual questing, a handful of closed starters and more!
Warnings: Will update as needed
Notes: Please feel free to match the brackets or switch to prose, tag with your heart. Assume wildcarding is on the table, just message me first or hmu on plurk @ babybananas w/any ideas!




look how cute, how adorable, how perfect

Comments

[familysucks]

[Michael follows her with his gaze as she moves to her seat. He sets his hands on the table and folds his fingers together.]

Maybe I should try the same.

[There's a joke if ever he's told one. He may be effectively retired from the business of running Heaven, but Michael isn't someone who can idle for very long. He appreciates being invited into Claire's circle in part because setting out breakfast and occasionally helping her with the garden give him a purpose, something useful to do.]

I think Joe the cat enjoys any activity where he doesn't have to do anything. Helps if he gets bits of bacon from time to time.

[Okay, so maybe he spoiled the cat a little, too.

Claire's plate isn't quite a full English breakfast, but it's a hearty meal: toast, eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Keeping Joe fed and sleepy kept him from sticking his paws in the plate.]

Do you have plans for the day?

[beautifullies]

No, my real plans won't begin until I head into Nocwich. The garden still needs tending, the fall harvest is in mid-swing. [ She smiles happily, no discontent here about chores on her birthday. They're the things she loves doing anyway. ]

And now, I have a cat to introduce to the bees.

[ They'll have to make an arrangement between the two of them: no stinging and no swatting, and they shall co-exist in peace. ]

I don't remember if my birthday last year fell on a day of celebration, but now it gives me more time with Jon than normal. Real time, I mean. It's going to allow me to see the Doctor too, we're meeting for a late birthday lunch.

[ So this early breakfast is perfect, because it will hold her over until then. She's certain she will see others too, she always does when they're able to mingle. ]

Are you going to the inn or spending time in Nocwich?

[ She's tucked into her food, humming her appreciation at how good it is. ]

[familysucks]

[Simple a task though it may be, proof of a job well done always has Michael looking as content as a little round songbird preening itself. Food's hard to master without a sense of taste, but he's got breakfast down.]

Is this a new hive I've yet to see, or simply the resident bees? Either way, if you have need of a negotiator, I'm available.

[Not that there'd be much to say. Bees aren't complex enough for big words. But where Claire's concerned, whatever skills he has are always on offer.]

Have fun in Nocwich.

[He gives Claire a small smile, knowing. He can guess what she'll be getting up to in Nocwich and with whom—but those details are one aspect of her life he's content to leave fuzzy, not entirely understood by him.

Michael takes a sip of his plain hot water. This is a mark of friendship, this mirroring. He doesn't drink around strangers.]

Both. The bird needs tending to whether or not I have visitors, and I have to make sure the walking fish haven't gotten themselves tangled in the fence or something similar. Someone once let them in and they managed to trap themselves in the bath. As for Nocwich, I can make a few coins from the locals in exchange for procuring goods they can't acquire locally. And frankly, it's nice to be allowed out of here from time to time.

[beautifullies]

A new hive, finally. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take, but here we are. They're magically fortified, so if we're ever absent for long again and they can't get to the flowers for some reason, they'll be alright.

[ She feels so much better about that, and she takes a sip of tea. Consciously, she doesn't realize exactly how comfortable they've become around one another, but she doesn't sit with many others in her shift with bare feet. No one else, other than Jon. Michael brings her comfort and ease, the first friend in her life she felt she could be herself with from the start.

Her lips curl into a small smile. Yes, yes she will have fun. ]

Thank you. I meant to ask, how are you enjoying your fish with feet? And remind me to get you some fresh jars of honey if you'd like.

[ For whatever he'd want to use them for: at the inn, for trade or re-gifting. ]

I'll be around in the next couple of weeks with autumn and winter tea blends and items for the rooms.

[ With her wax she can make candles, and she provides lotions and soaps. It's a fun side hobby for her, something to keep her contributing. ]

Not to change the topic, but why did a Summond tell me he was in need of character references?

[ Which was absolutely hilarious to her, and completely on brand. ]

He wound up getting me accidentally hit in the face again, this time minorly thank goodness.

[ Her lip is nice and normal looking thanks to a little magical touch up. Not healing, because she can't heal herself, but she'd found a loophole. ]

[familysucks]

[Magically fortified bees is a mildly concerning concept—imagine they got out and hybridized with the local bees—but if he trusts anyone's use of magic, it's Claire's. It sounds like resiliency is the goal and not any of the other dozen worse things one might do with magic bees. That desire is easy to understand. He hasn't forgotten how low the loss of her original hives had brought her mood.]

You'll have to make introductions for me, as well. Perhaps while you're introducing Joe.

[Two birds, one stone. Michael's always in favour of efficiency.

He nods acceptance at her offer. Truth be told, the monthly visits might very well be a big part of why he's kept the bed and breakfast open now that Gabriel's no longer around to annoy him into participating. It's nice for them to have a place to go that isn't the Primary Settlement, home of the most upright and religious members of the commune. The change of scenery is welcome in the same way getting to visit Nocwich is.]

I'll keep a room ready for you, and I'm happy to accept whatever you care to bring. You know better than I what might make a guest's stay more comfortable.

I suppose I'm enjoying the fish well enough. They do have an odd fascination with ankles, but they don't seem to be having an adverse affect on the environment and they keep the insects in check. I assumed Nanaue would return for them at some point, but he seems to forget them as soon as he's made them.

[So, they're not causing a problem. That's praise from Michael. He has less praise for the man in her change of topic, his grip shifting and tightening on his mug in a way that suggests irritation. The knowledge that he got Claire hurt tips his opinion of Chris into the negative.]

Young man with a mouth and a bad attitude? [He's asking to see if they're on the same page as to their general opinion of him. He knows who she means. There's only one person he's set those restrictions on.] He seemed surprised I'd let him stay at the inn, which suggested to me he's been trouble in the past. It seemed wise to vet him first. I'm sorry to hear he dragged you into whatever fight he started. Any other medical concerns I should know about?

[Michael gives her an appraising look. Minor bumps and bruises are normal and no cause for concern, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Claire can take care of herself better than most—but sometimes she doesn't.]