( open & closed ) july catch-all

[bloomly]

Who: aerith & you
When: throughout july
Where: solvunn, the horizon
What: catch-all for the month
Warnings: will update if applicable

( open and closed starters in the comments. if you'd like a custom starter or want to do something specific, please feel free to hit me up with a PM and we can go from there! )

Comments

[funbreaker]

[ As Thancred glimpses the side of the house, he's able to gather that the woman is painting some sort of mural. It seems to be in the early stages still, and so he can't quite gather what it will look like when it's all done. Or perhaps it's meant to be more abstract, a swirl of colors as she experiments with them? The beauty of the Horizon is that she can simply make it a blank slate and start over, if she wishes.

She isn't the least bit perturbed by his presence here despite the fact that they're total strangers, and that sort of openness immediately reminds him of Himeka. That alone allows him to ease up a bit as he nods in confirmation. ]

I can't claim to be much of an artist, but if all you require is for me to fill in the lines, I should be able to manage.

[ It depends on how creative she wants to be about this. She has made a mess, her clothes and boots covered in splatters of paint, but that also doesn't truly matter here. Even so, Thancred decides to shrug out of his own stark white coat and set it aside, leaving him in the black undershirt that he wears here in place of his body armor.

He blinks in her direction when she asks for his favorite color. ] Then I suspect if I tell you I don't have one, that I'll fail said interview. [ He taps one boot against the dirt path, taking a moment to consider. His thoughts shift to Ryne, and a moment later a can of paint appears near his feet, almost exactly matching the color of her burnt orange hair.

He stares down at it, briefly taken aback. ] — Well, I suppose that answers that.

[bloomly]

( it's a good thing that he sheds that stark white jacket--her eyes are drawn to it almost immediately, thinking of all the ways that she could paint it, instead of the cottage; in reality, it's not like it would do any harm, given where they are, and were they back in the actual world of this place, she wouldn't dare tamper with someone's clothes like that, at least not a stranger. still, what he's wearing underneath looks good for painting: she addresses it with a short, prompt nod of approval. not like he needs it. )

Well, not necessarily...If you said you liked all colors, then--

( then? it isn't a possibility that they have to address, it looks like: the man falls into thought, and to her surprise, a can of paint appears, right at his feet. bringing her hands forward in a clap of pleasure, she inches a little closer, crouches down and wraps her arms around her knees so that she can get a better look at it.

it's a pretty orange color, the sort that looks almost like a sunset, or the flames of a burning orange fire; pleased with it, she glances back up at the stranger, but he looks a little overtaken, like he hadn't expected that to come up at all.

straightening up again, she brushes out the skirt of her dress. )

Let's see what we can make with this color, then! You pass the interview. ( with an open palm, she gestures towards a bit of blank space on the end of the wall. ) It's a very beautiful shade, I think.

[funbreaker]

[ It would have been fair enough to say that Thancred likes all colors equally, though he does prefer to deal in shades of white, black, and gray when it comes to his own attire. That's neither here nor there, as the Horizon has seen fit to answer the question for him. The woman studies the paint bucket with immediate interest. If she's so fond of flowers, it does stand to reason that she appreciates colors of all kinds. ]

Good. I was worried for a moment there. [ That he wouldn't pass, that is. It's said lightly, even as he bends down to the grab the handle on the pail and then walk it over to the edge of the wall. ]

And you? What is your favorite color? [ He takes note of her clothing, dirtied though it might be, and that ribbon in her hair. ] Let me guess — pink?

[ He isn't much for this sort of creative thinking, though the arrangement of colors on the wall thus far doesn't seem to be following any specific pattern. He nods up to the canvas, then glances back to his newfound friend. ]

What would you have me do?

[bloomly]

Pink is a good one. I think I'd probably go with pink.

( and it's not like it would have been hard for him to deduce: after all, she's still dressed as she might be, usually, even in this place. the horizon could likely let her experience all manner of clothing, whatever her thoughts might be able to conjure up, but for now, there's at least some comfort in sticking to the familiar. not everything has to be an adventure, and not everything has to satisfy her needless curiosity.

besides, the stranger beside her is enough curiosity for now. letting him take the part of the wall that she gestured to, she retreats back towards her own paint can; it's a bright lavender, now, and she reaches down for a broad paintbrush. )

Whatever comes to mind. Maybe... Try painting something that makes you happy. I'd like that.

( with a grin, her eyes go back to the cottage; it's almost like she's trying to decide what that might mean for her, in terms of painting. )

I think this place is sort of like a safe haven. You know? Like...when things don't feel so good, we all get to come here, where it's a little safer. A little nicer. ( her eyes skate towards him, but only for a moment, before she looks back to where she's drawing a long line with her brush. ) Where do you live, in this world? Is it dangerous?

[funbreaker]

[ Something that makes him happy? That's a tall order, given that Thancred's first thoughts are of people and there is little chance that he'll be able to paint a good depiction of any of them. He scoffs and shakes his head. ]

You are expecting far too much of me. I'll attempt to keep it simple, as to not ruin your wall.

[ Were Alphinaud here it would be a different story, but there's little point in having such thoughts. Yet Thancred can't seem to stop them all the same.

Now, what is something simple he can paint that is the same color as Ryne's hair? A setting sun, perhaps? He dips a brush into the paint to coat it as he deliberates, then glances over when the woman speaks up again. ]

I suppose you could think of it like that. It's a chance to get away. [ Though they are quite vulnerable while in this state. He won't point that out. Instead, he focuses on reaching up with the paintbrush to start making a circle at the top corner of the wall. ] I'm in Thorne. It's well protected for now, but doesn't grant me the freedom that I would like. And you?

[ What does she need safe haven from? ]

[bloomly]

Oh, I'm from Solvunn...! I imagine you haven't been there, have you?

( there's a polite smile on her face as she says it, as though she doesn't want to make any sort of assumption, at least not fully; her gaze lingers on where his paintbrush touches the wall, but an artist can't accomplish anything when being watched, and she doesn't want to make him worry that she's analyzing what he's working on. instead, she looks back to where her own brush is on the wall.

it doesn't make any sense, but she starts, at first, with something that might look to be the shape of a cloud: soft and fluffy, round edges that she starts to sharpen down into more of a body, perhaps for a creature of some kind; she's working with a smile, one that lingers on her features as she continues. )

I haven't been to Thorne... I've heard that it's rather protected, though. There isn't really any danger in Solvunn, either, but sometimes... There's just sort of a feeling, you know? It's hard to explain. It's exactly the sort of place I would want to live, but at the same time...

( her lips press together; with a wrinkle of her nose, she laughs. )

Maybe I'm just too suspicious of everything. What do you usually do, in Thorne? Is there anything fun...?

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred shakes his head at the question. He hasn't been to Solvunn or the Free Cities, but his understanding is that the number of Summoned who have actually crossed faction borders are few and far between. He's already a rare breed for having seen as much of Thorne as has. ]

I have not, but a good friend of mine is there. Himeka, if you've met?

[ His guess is that Himeka knows most of the Summoned in Solvunn, at least in passing. She's the sort of person who would be pleased to meet someone new each and every day, always eager for novel experiences.

Thancred's made the circular border of the sun now, and so he reapplies paint to his brush and works on filling it in. ]

I have heard that the people of Solvunn put their faith to old gods. If there's truth to that — [ and that seems to be the case, based on what Himeka has told him ] — then that might explain the feeling you're having.

[ There's nothing wrong with a bit of suspicion, in his opinion, and he gives a small shrug at her next question. ] I try to pick up jobs in the town outside the castle, to stay busy. Being cooped up in such a lavish space isn't exactly my preference, but it is what it is.

[bloomly]

Oh, Himeka...! ( that has her head whipping around to look at him, an excited lift to her shoulders. ) Yes, she's lovely! A very good friend, and a great person to have in Solvunn for sure...

( she's sure that if this person is friends with himeka, then it's okay to trust them--less to be suspicious of, if someone like himeka finds merit in their friendship. it makes her feel a bit more relaxed, smiling to herself as she forces her head to turn and focus on her painting. it's been a long time since she's done any art, after all--her picture is slowly morphing into something, but she can't help but feel like it's still a blob...

with another laugh, her nose wrinkles. ) It sounds like there's a little more excitement in Thorne. Not that Solvunn isn't exciting...! But it's very...

( her lips press together. ) Hmm. Rustic! A lot of work with your hands.

( to that point, she wriggles her fingers a little around her brush--and then deflates her shoulders with a soft sigh. ) Okay, I need your advice I think. Give me a number between one and ten... Actually, give me two numbers between one and ten.

[funbreaker]

[ As he expected, then.

Thancred pauses for a moment, letting his brush fall to his side as it occurs to him that they've gone all this time without exchanging names. ]

I'm Thancred, by the way. Surely she's mentioned me — only good things, I hope. [ He winks then, not actually convinced his name would have come up and yet going with it all the same. It's difficult to fluster him, so if the young woman says that she's never heard of him, he won't take it personally.

As for whether or not Thorne is more exciting that Solvunn, he couldn't say. Yet all he's heard of the rural area does make it sounds as if there's a finite number of things one can do with their time, and much of it involves livestock or crops. ] There's a lot of movement within the court, plenty of magick and alchemical study going on, that sort of thing. [ He shrugs, not particularly interested in such pursuits himself.

At her sudden request, he glances over to what she's working on, eyes narrowing as he tries to puzzle through what the final product might be. Yet it's hard to make anything of the amorphous shape currently on the wall in fresh paint. ]

Hmm? Five and ten. [ Not particularly inventive, but he has answered her. ]