SUMMER 7 - ACTION (morning: housemates / afternoon: ota)

[dispare]

SUMMER 7 MORNING: DEER CABIN

[April woke a bit late in the morning, feeling unusually well-rested for the first time in years; barring a single exception when she was in the Lunacen Tower, it'd been a considerable amount of time since she'd last had a decent bed, and thanks to that, she almost didn't want to get up at all. She didn't want to laze the whole day away, though, so she eventually forced herself from the bed, and turned her attention to the bag she had brought with her. She'd only set it down and hadn't bothered to unpack its contents yesterday, so she might as well take care of that now.

Not that there was much to unpack, just some extra clothing and a few other necessities.

When she made her way down to the cabin's communal room, she realized that her housemates were either still in their respective rooms, or were already outside of the cabin already doing their own things. She wasn't about to check their individual rooms—especially with not yet having even met the second of those housemates yet—but it made enough sense to assume that Chloe might have gone out on that walk she had mentioned.

Though the day was a cloudy one, going for a walk of her own didn't seem like a terrible idea after all. Before that, though, she needed to see what her options were as far as breakfast went.]

SUMMER 7 AFTERNOON: GENERAL STORE / THE LAKE

[She began her walk in the middle of the afternoon, having taken some time after her breakfast to clean up a bit and try some of the extra clothing that Elia had given her when she left Lunascen; most of what she'd been given looked like it had been chosen based on her apparent preferences, so she simply grabbed one of those outfits and called it a day. There was one piece of clothing there that didn't really fit in with the rest—a blue dress with some silver trimmings—and though it struck her as familiar somehow, she wondered if it had been put in with the rest by mistake.

After she finally went outside, the first place she went was the general store, mostly for a quick visit to see what was offered because she had come straight to the cabin almost immediately after stepping off the ferry. After some browsing (but not picking anything up; she was just looking), she continued on her way, and before she knew it, she'd wandered out toward the lake. Her last few experiences involving forested areas hadn't exactly been pleasant, and though things here looked much calmer in comparison to the forests back home (especially in recent times, with everything that was going on over the past weeks), there still was that nagging feeling that she was being watched. It made her a little uncomfortable, really, and if anyone else happened upon her while she was out here, that discomfort would be pretty clear to them as well.]

Comments

[cursebreaker]

[ It won't take long for April to find Evelina. She can be seen outside the kitchen window, tending to a little patch of earth where she's growing a few varieties of herbs. There are no weeds growing and nothing ready to pick just yet (since she planted a little late), but she's watering each plant with care.

At some point she looks up, sees someone in the kitchen window, and jumps a little in surprise. But then she lifts a hand to wave shyly. ]

[dispare]

[April's attention is mostly on what she's doing, but the movement doesn't go unnoticed, and once it's seen she takes a glance out the window.

Deciding that breakfast could be put off just a little longer, she gives a tentative wave back and then vanishes from Evelina's view. Moments later, she's out the door and coming around the side of the building.]

Hi, I don't think I saw you when I got here yesterday. Name's April.

[cursebreaker]

Oh, I must have missed you. I'm Evelina.

[ She's a petite woman with lightly tanned skin, dark features, and an accent that's hard to pin down. ]

I heard the ferry had brought more people, but I didn't think to ask if any were coming to this cabin.

[dispare]

There's one more that came to this cabin, her name's Chloe, I saw her yesterday a little bit after I got here. So, uh...sorry if you planning on staying here alone? [It doesn't sound like Evelina has any sort of problem with it, but April's apologizing anyway.] They didn't really ask who wanted to be where when we all got off the boat.

[She probably would have asked to be put in one that wasn't already occupied, if she'd been given the opportunity, but since she wasn't...well, she'll roll with it for now, and if she decides she needs to be alone later, she can go and ask to see what her options are, if there are any.]

[cursebreaker]

Oh, I had no plans like that.

[ Yes, she's used to keeping to herself and being alone, but this place is supposed to be a fresh start and she's starting to feel a bit more at ease around people. ]

I think it will be nice to have roommates. It will be new for me.

[dispare]

[April hasn't been too much of a people person herself for a few reasons, but smaller groups have usually been fine, and the cabins having space for up to four people makes for a pretty small group here as well—smaller than the one she had met back up with not long before writing her letter to be admitted here.]

It's a bit new to me too. [Even with that group she was been with before, she had tended to keep most of the others at an arm's length, with very few exceptions. She has recently started feeling a need to change that, though she can't exactly pinpoint why she feels that way.] It's going to take getting used to.

[Turning her attention to the garden:] So, what do you have here?

[cursebreaker]

Oh, it isn't much.

[ She looks down towards her plants and reaches down to touch the leaves on each in turn. ]

Thyme, mint, lavender. They're all quite versatile and I use them often in the things I make.

[dispare]

Still more than I'd have if I tried gardening; the place I'm from isn't really good for that kind of thing. [Or, rather, it is, but there are certain other factors that would prevent April from actually trying her hand at it.]

What sort of stuff do you do with 'em? [She pauses for a moment before adding:] If you're fine with saying.

[cursebreaker]

It isn't? That's too bad. I love growing things. Herbs are easy. If you can't put them in the ground, you can get the right soil and grow them in pots instead.

[ Evelina is happy to share what she knows and continues touching the leaves of each as she says what can be made from them. ]

Mainly in cooking. Thyme goes well with chicken, and also pairs well with a lemon flavor. Mint can be used as a garnish, but also does well in drinks, like tea or a lime drink. Lavender can be used in dishes, but I prefer to infuse my sugar with it. It changes the taste ever so slightly. Of course, you can use herbs in bath products too. I make a lavender scented sugar scrub, as an example.

[dispare]

[April's not going to admit that she wouldn't have much luck with anything potted, either; doing so would possibly put herself into a position where she would probably need to explain her family's situation back home.]

Huh. [From the girl's tone, she actually sounds a bit interested. If, after everything's over and done with back in her world, she left the city of Arendith and made her home elsewhere, she could see about trying it.] And how often do you have to tend to them? Just daily, or...?

[cursebreaker]

You should check daily, but you don't want to overwater them. Check the soil and if it's still damp, then you wait. But if it feels dried out, then you can water them again.

[dispare]

Makes sense. [She looks down at the plants herself, assuming to herself that Evelina has been making sure to check them specifically in the morning, as opposed to just at some point in the day.]

Sounds simple enough, too. [Yeah, she's definitely planning to give it a try back home, once she has an opportunity.]

[cursebreaker]

Oh, yes! Gardening is easy once you know what type of plants need what kind of care. Then it's just a matter of caring for them.

[ Done with the watering, she clutches the watering can handle in both hands. ]

Have you had breakfast yet?

[dispare]

Nope.

I was taking a look to see what we had available here when I saw you out the window, thought I'd come out to say hi in case you weren't coming back in after you were done. Figured waiting just a little longer wasn't gonna hurt anything.

[cursebreaker]

Oh, that was nice of you! I've already eaten, so I was planning on visiting the store. I'm not sure that I need to stock up on anything, but it never hurts to look, right? I might find a hidden treasure.

[ the lake ]

[bluerocks]

[ Even with the storm clouds brewing out at sea, Zelgadis wanted to get out and stretch his legs with a look around the island. He found himself following the forest path until it reached the lake, where he'd stopped for some quiet time to himself, away from some of the more social activities that inevitably happened around the cabin areas.

He'd been at the lakeside for a while before April came along the path, equally feeling itchy about being watched but having a hard time pinning it down on anything specific. Birds, small mammals, the general sharpened awareness of being in a new place with new sounds to adjust to, perhaps.

But his sharp ears catch the unmistakable crunch of shoes on dirt, and before she reaches the place where the path opens up to the lakeshore, he turns towards her in a whirl of cape. ]

Who's there?

[dispare]

[April hadn't been paying any particular attention to where she was going or what (or who) was in the path before her, so when Zelgadis turns and calls out to her, she all but freezes out of surprise, hands subconsciously raised to show she isn't doing anything.]

April. I was on yesterday's ferry. Who's asking?

[bluerocks]

[ When he sees that it's just another person, and not some strange forest being trying to sneak up on him, Zel relaxes a notche. His hand was mid-spellcast, and he looks a little sheepish about his jumpy response.

He'll just...slowly put his hand down like nothing was happening. ]

Forgive me, this place has been strange. [ Says the blue guy in a cape who nearly cast a Flare Arrow at a rando. ] I'm Zelgadis, I was on yesterday's ferry as well.

[dispare]

[Had she recognized what he was about to do before he stopped himself, her reaction likely would have been worse. A lot worse.

She lowers her own hands.] You were? I wasn't really paying attention during the ride to get here, had some stuff I was trying to think about. [Though he hadn't asked, there's an explanation for why she hadn't noticed him (or anyone else) on the ferry.] Sorry 'bout that, if it bothers you any.

[Then she glances out over the lake.]

So, not even more than one day and already this place is strange, huh? [She wonders if he's had that weird sense of being followed too, but then again, he might think that that was her.] I've had a bit of a weird feeling sonce coming out here for my walk, but then again I've been having some weird feelings since before I came here, so I don't know how much of that actually is this place or how much of it is just me.

[bluerocks]

[ If anything, Zelgadis is relieved that at least one person didn't pick him out of a crowd. She seems to be babbling through her nerves, and he doesn't particularly care at the moment. ]

I meant the forest, when I said this place seems strange. [ He looks around where the forest meets the lake, as if he might catch someone darting away out of the corner of his eye. ] There's something out here that's hard to detect.

[ Zel isn't really concerned about if this makes her feel better because it's not just her, or worse because it confirms her suspicions; if anything, it also validates his own senses. ]

[dispare]

[Whether his response makes her feel better or worse about it, it's hard to really tell for sure, not with how she's looking away, and not with how her tone shifts to something that sounds a bit more neutral.] Any idea what it could be?

[bluerocks]

I can't imagine it would be anything particularly dangerous if we're encouraged to spend time enjoying the forest. Still, I'm not fond of surprises, or jumping at every shadow.

[ He walks over the edge of the lake, peering into the water. It's fairly clear, gently rippling, and small fish dart away from his reflection. ] Monsters frequently live in forests and lakes in my world.

[dispare]

Same as mine as far as forests go, I found that out firsthand not too long ago. [She hadn't been in any way prepared for it, but fortunately the people who'd stumbled across her were.

Speaking of forests, she's looking back out into the trees now. It's more than just a casual glance now; more like she's actively looking to see if she can spot anything.]

Don't know about any lakes, since the particular place I'm from doesn't actually have any. There's plenty of rivers though, but as far as I know nothing nasty lives in those. They're probably too shallow anyway.

[bluerocks]

Hmm. What sorts of monsters are you familiar with?

[ He picks up a stick, using it to push at one of the lily pads near the edge of the water. None of them appear to be blooming, just floating peacefully on the surface. Still, he thinks of the gentle warnings they've been given about water lilies. ]

[dispare]

Personally? Just the few that decided I'd have made for a pretty good dinner; I hadn't actually seen any before then.

They were pretty big, each maybe about the size of a bear if not a bit bigger than that, bright red eyes, nasty claws, and dark-skinned but I'm not entirely sure as to what color. Night was starting to fall and it was in the middle of a forest, so it was getting to be pretty dark at the time. None of the stuff I'd had with me at the time was any good in fending them off either; unless you kill 'em fast enough they just regenerate and heal any wounds that you inflicted.

If there's any specific name for 'em, I don't know. We usually just refer to those kinds of things as demons.

[bluerocks]

Those sound like the trolls from my world. The only way to defeat them is to destroy their bodies completely, before they can regenerate.

[ Spoken as someone who's certainly pulverized his fair share of trolls. Zelgadis smirks a little at the recollection; he's not here to go on any monster-killing raids, but he's not going to turn down a chance to deal with anything threatening if it happens.

He fishes a lily pad out of the water with the stick, holding the dripping leaf at arm's length while untangling the root structure. ]

The brochure may have mentioned it if those were here.

[dispare]

Makes sense. [The creatures that had attacked her had gotten completely wiped out, and she understands not wanting to take a chance.] I had no way of doing it myself, so I guess I was lucky to have been seen by some people who did.

As for here, I don't think I saw any mention of anything really dangerous. [Except the waterlilies, apparently, though she doesn't recall a reason being given for that, so she's a little skeptical about it. She did only give the brochure a quick once-over, though, so it might be worth another look when she returns to her room later.] You'd think they'd have said something if there was.

[bluerocks]

Or this is all a ruse to lure together a bunch of unwitting sacrifices to a hungry monster.

[ He says this with a totally flat expression, the way someone might remark on the weather. But, speaking of which, he takes a moment to gaze at the sky past the trees; the morning's clouds seemed to have picked up some momentum, rolling more energetically above them.

Once he shakes loose most of the pond water from the bottom of the lily pad, he gently wraps it up with a corner of his cape, making a slightly awkward bundle that he holds under one arm. ]

Don't worry, I've killed a lot of monsters myself.

[dispare]

[That is a possibility, she thinks, but way Zelgadis delivers the remark makes April think he may be saying it as a joke. Or an attempt at one, anyway.]

Well, I guess we'll be finding out.

[She sees what he's doing with that lily pad, but makes no move to question it, figuring that he might have decided to try to find out why they were told to be wary of the things.]

Kinda guessed from your saying how to take them down that you were speaking from experience. You some kind of hunter or something? [One of the people in the group she had been with—Koria's brother, she'd recently learned—called himself a hunter. In her world, the term was largely used in reference to those who hunted demons and other dangerous creatures.]

[bluerocks]

It's a useful skill. [ He shrugs; no big deal to smash through monsters, right? ] Sometimes it pays well, but usually it's simply unavoidable in my travels. It's not like I go looking for trouble.

[ As if he wasn't tempting fate by pulling one of the lily pads out of the water to take back to the cabin with him. ]