(open) and these thoughts are in my head

[abhorrently]

Who: Fever & open
What: Settling into the town in varied ways.
When: Second half of March/early part of April.
Where: Varied locations - see prompts.
Warning(s): Likely intrusive murder thoughts, others to be added should they arise.


work - town hall.
The newest clerk at Town Hall is a woman with a scar on her face and an eagerness to learn the system. Soon enough, she's figured things out, as if she'd been working there for months instead of the short time it really has been. Things flow easily, aided by both the strange item she'd retrieved from that one shop and what seems to be an innate understanding. But then again, if one can negotiate tactics midbattle, a job with paperwork and filing is practically nothing. So, if you need something, she's likely the one to dispense the forms or take them, working through the level of administration that all the new arrivals warranted.

Of course, it's not always business, and at the right time, someone might catch her at break, a novel from the library at hand and a dictionary close by as she needs to look up words. Some concepts and items are as of yet unknown to her, but she believes firmly with a bit of study, it can all be sorted.

training - "fight club."

When she joins the ranks of those sparring, talking her way into a day when the militia and the Enforcers are doing their training, it's really to satisfy her own desires for combat no matter what she tells them. Sure, she can go out in search of monsters, but that requires a companion and planning. This is more freeform, and fighting against someone else here lets her look at their capabilities. No magic to start with - best to be fair to all involved - and instead, Fever relies on a sturdier branch. Peter's not done with the staff yet, so this is the closest she can get. She fights with a clear joy in her movements, happy to test herself against anyone until either her opponent yields or someone outside calls the match.

That said, there are moments of downtime, where one has to catch their breath and drink water, where she's just leaning against the side observing or lightly applauding at the end of one spar. Catching a fighter's eye, they're offered an amused but restrained smile, and win, lose, or neither, it's clear something impressed her.

They're still never getting her to sign up with the Enforcers, though.

festival green - picnic.

Though she shies from the doll making, Fever can't deny the appeal of being able to picnic on the green, and waits until the event is over and dealt with before she takes her inspiration and heads outdoors. It's not perhaps the most ideal weather for it - clouds, the wind - but it's not so bad as to keep her from it. So here she is, with a simple lunch that's been ferried over and a blanket to sit on, trying to think about if she's ever done this before. Had reason to, really. But a passerby will interrupt her thoughts, and she'll raise her hand to get their attention.

"Does it seem like rain to you?"

Of course, there's enough room on the blanket for two, if you're feeling particularly sociable or are eyeing a free snack. Or, it can start to do as much as lightly rain, and she's not budging from where she is, considering it still fine weather.

wildcard.

Different idea? Throw it at me, I'm wide open for other scenarios. Will match the format of any tag-ins. Opt out post.

Comments

Fight Club

[redlightgreenlight]

The others are surprisingly easy to defeat now that she's in command of her powers, she can see, move, deflect...all with the ease of a thousand years. It's not like sparring with Yato, where she could go all out, in fact, she regrets having to hold back, but harming the others isn't good form, no matter how much the idea of death calls to her. The sword given to her by her employers feels foreign in her hands, but it's a decent weapon and she shouldn't have any complaints.

Valdis catches Fever's eye and joins her friend on the sidelines.

"Having fun?"

[abhorrently]

"A great deal."

She offers Valdis water when she's close enough, taking a break after a few bouts earlier. The confidence actually getting to move and test herself brings can't be denied, and she's content while she allows herself to regather her energy. Just because she can keep going doesn't mean that a pause won't do her some good.

"You're impressive out there. And generous, giving them half of a chance."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis accepts the water, taking a long drink before settling a bit more to watch.

"They are allies, defeating them doesn't benefit me, and if they can learn something in the spar, all the better." She flashes a teasing smile at Fever. "That's not to say I'm not longing for someone who can give me a real fight, but it's best to save the real fighting for an actual enemy."

Like the demons who keep showing up in and around town.

[abhorrently]

"Hence why I'm resisting the urge to retaliate with magic. None of them need to get lit aflame for the crime of a friendly match." She laughs a little, but it's a real factor. An enemy, now, she'd let her impulses strike as true as they could and lance lightning into their chests.

"I'd offer to try you myself - I'd lose, since you've got the edge with experience, but it'd be fun while it lasted."

She's fought swords against staves plenty of times - at some point, she wants to see if she ever knew a blade herself. It'll be rough and awkward no matter what, though.

Town Hall

[preacher_in_reticence]

The man who stops by Fever's desk is older, grey, and has large watery eyes. He's dressed in a simple hand-knit sweater over trousers, and seems to hesitate a moment when seeing a stranger at the desk. But then he steps forward.

"Paperwork for hiring one of the offworlders? If it isn't too much trouble."

[abhorrently]

While she doesn't recognize him, she does note the hesitation. Was he expecting someone else, or is it just that she's an offworlder, as he calls it?

"Not in the slightest."

She gives him a smile and rises from her seat, going to one of the cabinets. That's a few things put together, she knows - by now, it feels almost routine.

"Will they need the forms for housing as well? If they turn those in early enough, we can probably get them a key for their chosen residence by end of day tomorrow."

[preacher_in_reticence]

"Yes, he'll need a home. Single occupancy, ideally in Downtown Hollow. I can ask him for more information or send him over, if you need details beyond that. Sorry, uh. This is my first real 'hire'. The other one had income and housing sorted by other means before coming to me."

The fact that everything is organized to this degree after so many months shouldn't surprise him. Things have been changing, of course there's a system in place.

[abhorrently]

"Nothing you have to apologize for."

Nodding, she pulls out the corresponding forms.

"There's a number of places I already know of for vacancies - he's welcome to stop by and have his pick of what's there, if he's got any preferences. I know I chose mine for the view, after all. Morning'd be preferable if he can, that way the key can be in his hand all the sooner."

Coming back to him, she hands over the papers.

"First one's for you to fill out, and everything else is for him. Just updating some records." Where's a pen...there they go. "And whatever questions you have, I can answer. Or at least, I know who has the answers."

festival green - picnic; early april

[pineapplesalmon]

César brightens when she asks. "I've got a cantrip for that!"

He closes his eyes for a moment and reaches out, mumbling under his breath. His eyes open suddenly.

"... oh." His eyebrows go up, and he looks mildly amused. "Well, you've got another few hours, at least? But I'd consider not getting caught out in the coming downpour. Guess we're finally in Spring."

[abhorrently]

"A downpour? Really?"

She probably shouldn't look as excited about this as she does.

"Oh, that's wonderful news. I didn't expect another so soon..." But she'll happily take it. "Where are you coming from?"

[pineapplesalmon]

"Coming from my farm. Got to go pick something up a bit later today, and it was nice out, perfect for a leisurely walk." César chuckles and crouches down so that he's not talking at a weird angle. "And yes, really. Someone likes rain, I take it?"

[abhorrently]

"I'm fond of having actual weather. Rain is rather dramatic, so it's a good contrast to too many memories of the same sunlight. Chaos as opposed to stasis."

Which is why the chill has also been welcome, the clouds. It's a feast for deprived senses.

hawkeye.

[abhorrently]

It is a tiring, annoying thing to realize you dropped your house key somewhere.

True, there are ways she could get another made, and with the right application of climbing, she could no doubt get in the apartment through the window. But the lack of safety in that - that someone could find it at random, use it - is perhaps highlighted by her being the exact sort of careless ruffian that would do such a thing with a random key. If she'd do it to others, there's nothing stopping them from doing the same to her.

So it is that in the latter half of the afternoon that she's slowly retracing her steps in a way that she doesn't care if it's obvious, crouching down to peer under a bench to see if it's there. Nothing. Okay. Next step has to be work, but...what if it was over here, when she was putting her gloves back on? Nope, and not to the side of this tree either.

She's got to find a way to avoid this in the future.

[notinflictthem]

Hawkeye walks past, does a double take, then retraces his own steps a couple of paces to say-

"Oh hey, I didn't recognize you with your clothes on. You uh- you looking for something? Under the bench?"

He sort of stoops to check with her.

[abhorrently]

The look she shoots him, with her eyebrow raised, is a cross between amused that he had the balls to say that aloud and the vague exasperation that comes from a fruitless search.

"My house key. I've dropped it somewhere today, and I can't figure out where. Next step is going back in and checking behind my desk."

She nods in the direction of the Town Hall building, quite close, before straightening up.

"Do you need me to reintroduce myself, or has it all come back to you?"

[notinflictthem]

"Oh no, I definitely remember you," he grins, "Fever, the uh- the sorceress."

Not like they found much else more about each other than the basics on their first meeting anyway.

"You want a hand to look? I'm on my walk anyway, I don't have to be back at the clinic for a couple of hours."

Fight Club

[sistermagnetic]

It takes some time for Magne to find a spare day away from work and personal projects, but with the chaos of the last few weeks starting to wind down, it means that she can be out and about, touching base with others in a less official capacity. A hello to one of Jean's men, a check in for groceries at one of the local shops, a pause to buy some small supplies to be dropped off at the home she's finally chosen for herself.

Hearing the sounds of training by the militia's newer recruits, Magne stops to get a head count, hoping she hasn't missed any new faces that had passed through the inn on their ways toward getting situated. Among the crowd she spots a familiar head of curly silver hair.

Approaching Fever to see what she's up to hanging off to the side of the ring, Magne offers a small smile and a wave if she's spotted first on her way over.

"You've been busy," she quips, noting the branch that Fever has propped nearby as she takes her break.

[abhorrently]

Magne's greeted by a smile in return as Fever drinks down some of the water, looking more at ease than she had at the potluck. Settling in's gone well, from getting a job to figuring out how to adapt to a whole apartment, and now another essential part of the adaptation has been done - figuring out where to blow off steam in a way that doesn't mean hiking out to Paradesium every time.

"I like having things to do," she replies, setting the water aside. "And if I let my skills rest any longer, they'll start getting rust."

The ship's forays into the horrid had been good for the occasional bout, but this place is peaceful, and she's started to get itchy under the skin in a way that will only act up if she ignores it.

"The militia were easy to talk into letting me join for a few bouts, but I must say, I did notice an advertisement written by a certain hand-to-hand expert with a more intriguing offer." Her eyebrow raise at Magne is significant. "Have I missed the grand opening for such?"

[sistermagnetic]

Magne chuckles quietly. "I certainly understand that. I'm starting to feel creaky just using my skills on drunks, myself." She leans against the fence post and observes the ring, as well as some of the others milling around outside it.

Her smile only broadens at the mention of the bulletin. "Not yet, no. The plans for construction are underway, but I feel I may have underestimated the scope of the project just now. Don't worry, it'll be put together soon enough but for now, the few of us getting together in an official capacity are using one of the other training grounds that are a little more out of the way for the sake of not being a public nuisance."

wildcard.

[blindwatchersees]

It's in the tender hours of the morning, after a night of restless attempts at sleep, that Fever might feel a small tickle on her cheek, just below her eye.

[abhorrently]

She jolts awake, only in a light doze, hand reaching up to brush whatever it is aside. A hair? An eyelash? Some weird bug she has to put outside?

Whatever it is, her eyes focus in the darkness - perks of the elven blood, looking to see what it is. It's been a rough enough night.

[blindwatchersees]

It does seem to be a bug. A caterpillar, to be specific, maybe two inches long. It's got a smooth body, no fuzz, and a fancy pattern down its back.

picnic

[maximumcake]

Max smiles and plops himself right down next to her on the blanket without waiting to be invited. He holds a hand out as if he could somehow feel the air to judge how moist it might be. "I dunno. Maybe? It's been so long since we've had to worry about that." He doesn't sound like it would bother him much, either, if they got rained on.

[abhorrently]

"Are you even worried about it right now?"

She laughs some, leaning back on her hands and nodding at the picnic basket if he wants to rummage. There's water, fresh bread, and a little fruit - a simple bit of snacking, but it's more about the experience than anything else.

"Personally, if the heavens were to open up on me at this very instant, I would consider it a grand gift."

[maximumcake]

"Not at all," he says, letting himself tip back so he can lay spread eagle on the ground. He sticks a hand in the basket without looking and pulls out some fruit to munch on.

"I used to love watching thunderstorms. I'd sit out on the porch and count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder."