ph_logs | April Showers Bring Strange Flowers [OTA and one closed]

Who: "Theodor Gorlash," the butterflies, and you!
What: Getting to know the island and its inhabitants, finding oneself in the more literal sense
When: April general
Where: Downtown general/Paradesium
Warnings: To be listed in individual threads, likely to contain heavy discussions of various mental health topics

Strange Signals For a Small Desert Town [Closed, for Cecil]

In the middle of the night, that strange voice makes its way into Cecil's head yet again. That's quite rude of it, considering that at this time, more people are trying to sleep than not. There's an appropriate hour and an inappropriate hour for psychic communications!

Find... her. Find... her. The scion-to-be carries the spores. Find... me. Find... me. The worm waits alone. Dark. Strange.

A Fiddle of Sinews, a Flute of Bone [OTA, Empty Pockets]

He hasn't an instrument of his own, but Theodor wonders if perhaps he might find one on loan in the lovely little place where music wafts out like the alluring smell of freshly-baked bread. In the manner of a hungry stray cat, he makes his way though the door and settles in a corner (not in a chair, just a corner, sitting in a manner that is oddly feline and rather ill-befitting the frame of an old man). He scans the place with yellow, lamplike eyes, taking everything in.

A List of Things, Strings, Wings [OTA, Northwest Hollow]

After managing to scrounge up a bit of paper and charcoal, Theodor has settled in the quieter parts of Northwest Hollow, and is attempting to sketch the flowers and butterflies of the area. He's quite good at capturing their likenesses, however, the edges of his drawings seem to have a tendency to melt into faces, bearing exaggerated expressions of laughter, terror, and sorrow. It's probably intentional.

If anyone walks by, he's going to look up and acknowledge them, while his hand will keep scratching out designs independently. One of the aforementioned butterflies will keep its eyes on the page, as it perches on his shoulder.

Hum Dum Dee Dum, Hum Dum Dee Dum, Time For Something Sweet [OTA, Oak and Iron]

Speaking of the smell of baking bread, he's gotten quite hungry, and it suddenly occurs to him that he can't remember the last time he had a nice cup of tea or a strawberry tart. He makes his way to the Oak and Iron, and sits down at the first open spot that's just a little too close to someone else's seat to make ignoring conversation entirely feasible.

"So tell me... what's a good blend of tea around here, in your opinion? I imagine it's hard to find Greenmote Gunpowder around here."

Wildcard: PM me on Discord (redheadednimbus) if you have other ideas!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hmm... hang on..."

Chris flags down one of the servers, who greets them as 'Freeman', and asks if she has heard of gunpowder tea. Theodor will have an opportunity to explain the pellet-like look, or Chris will do so... to which the serving girl brightens and says,

"Oh, you mean pearl tea! Yes, we have that. Would you like me to bring you some?"

Theodor visibly brightens.

"Oh, you do have it! Yes, I'd love a cup, thank you!" He does a happy little wiggle.

The server comes back with a filled cup of tea, as well as a small tin of the loose leaves and a teapot of hot water. "In case you want to make yourself another cup, sir."

Chris comments, "A few of the locals have an orangery going, and a lot of citrus fruits are in season. I recommend the lemon tart, but they also have an orange upside down cake. To go with your tea."

"A tart, you say? A lemon tart! Oh, that sounds scrumptious! But... hmm, responsibilities, responsibilities. I can't go into debt over a slice of pastry. Or I could, but it's not something I'm terribly keen on dealing with."

"If you haven't found a job yet, you should have been given food vouchers to use here at the Oak and Iron," Chris points out in a mild tone. "But I'm not averse to buying food for a friend. My name is Chris Freeman, and you are..?"

"Oh, I was wondering what all of those were! Glad I didn't get rid of them." He chuckles.

"Theodor Gorlash is the name I've got. Not sure who's got my name at the moment. Probably someone who's usually called Theodor Gorlash."

[[ OOC: Hmmm... the site said my comment didn't post, then I come here and it did! Odd. Anyway! ]]

"Would you like me to call you Theodor, or is there something else you prefer?"

The specificity over names, who claims them, so on... it all sounds a bit like a faerie tale... the sort that gets bloody, not the sort that's been cleaned up and sanitized. All the same, Chris isn't going to be rude about it. After all, they have their own preferences when it comes to address.

"Best to just call me Theodor! Wouldn't want to accidentally take someone else's name, an make this matter all the more confusing!" There definitely is something about this man that has the vibes of a faerie tale, though it's utterly impossible to define.

"'This matter'?" Chris repeats, and would you look at that, they are certainly confused. "I don't follow."

"The name matter! The whole 'being called one thing, actually being another' ordeal. And if I got a third name involved, soon there might be a fourth, and a fifth. Can you imagine a thousand people with each others' names, all tangled up in a nymic knot?"

Oh, now Chris can't resist... before Theodor asks that last question, Chris murmurs, half to themself, "The minor fall, the major lift..."

But, circling back to the question, "How does that work with deadnames?"

What would count as the name one 'actually' is -- what was given, or what was chosen?

"Well, that's an old bit of nymic, cast to the side, unwanted, and no one'd really look twice if you found someone to pawn it off on. Think I've actually dealt in those before. Couldn't give you the details right now, of course."

Chris nods thoughtfully.

There's comfort, of a sort, in the idea that a cast-aside name doesn't have that kind of power anymore.

"I'm the head receptionist and medical assistant at Marrow Isle Health and Wellness," Chris says, "though I worked as a coroner at home. Not much call for that here, and it took me a few months to figure out where I fit in for the island. Nobody will rush you into employment... but definitely don't throw out your food vouchers before then."

Definite amusement colors that last statement.

"I do think I'd like to find work sooner rather than later. Idle hands make for a terrible snack, after all. Health and wellness, you say? Don't suppose you're looking for anyone who's good with suturing?"

"We're always looking for more help. First Aid is the one in charge of training up more doctors from the pool of locals. I'm no slouch when it comes to sutures myself, though. If you could demonstrate your skills, that would be good."

"Of course! I could demonstrate right now, if you've got a means of my doing so!"

"Before you've finished your tea?" Chris asks, with a raised eyebrow.

They continue, in a lightly amused tone, "Besides that, the only suitable material for a demonstration right now would probably be other patrons' meals. I don't know that anyone would appreciate having their stew sewn together." Chris says, "I'm in no rush. One of the pig farms lets me know when a butcher day comes up, and we bring our students there for practice."

Pigs are similar enough to humans, and it gives the students a base of experience before the larger crises.

"Oh, I'd never do such a lovely cup of tea the insult of not giving it my full attention. I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself." He waves a hand in front of himself, as if to dismiss the "himself" that's gotten ahead of him.

"But do let me know when something is available."

April Showers Bring Strange Flowers [OTA and one closed]

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