[ NPC Open] The crows in the garden are laughing at my expense.

[thethirteenthchild]

Who: Dahlia Leeds (thethirteenthchild) & YOU!
What: Work, Historical Society, around town, and whatever else I think of
When: Late May, early June
Where: Kinda everywhere
Warning(s): None for now!

My stone, my shield, my steady hand.

[ Town Hall ]

Got paperwork to do? Dahlia's here to help, as usual. She sits in the front office of Town Hall, working on a few things at once--- approving employment paperwork, making a stack of things for Fever to file whenever she's on shift next, filling out some budgeting thing for Mayor Poe. She keeps busy these days, with how full the town has gotten. It's no wonder there's a sign out front advertising the upcoming open election for a few more Town Council slots. You can ask Dahlia about that as well. Or stop by for a chat! She could probably use a break.

Hold your light to the darkness in my head.

[ Graveyard ]

One early, grey morning, Dahlia can be found out at Fall's Promise Cemetery. She's sitting on the steps of the Leeds family mausoleum, and seems to be enjoying a picnic breakfast as she sits on the short stone stoop and looks out at the sea. She seems lost in a daze, a far away expression on her face. It's a familiar one to any one who knows her.

Behind her, a bundle of blue gladiolus flowers tied with a black ribbon lie.

If someone approaches, she will snap out of her stupor and wave. She seems amenable to a visit.

Put your ear to my heart or set your teeth against my throat.

[ Historical Society Meeting ]

For the past few weeks, the community bulletin board and the library have had fresh flyers with the mark of the Pumpkin Hollow Historical Society have been advertising a public meeting.

"Converse with your neighbors. Learn more about the history of our fair island and the world around it. Help us gather research about the monsters that appear here. Refreshments provided!"

Those interested can join the rather elusive group for a midday open meeting, finger sandwiches and tea available for those dropping by. Dahlia herself mingles, happy to compare notes or simply discuss the benefits of joining her research club.

Give me something pretty to wear beneath my bloodstained clothes.

[ Errands ]

On a weekend day, Dahlia can occasionally be found around town, doing some various errands. Shopping for new clothes or accessories, picking up groceries, going out to lunch. Sometimes she stops by the Temple with a sandwich for Degas from her favorite cafe or pops into the constabulary with snacks for Cerrit. She also frequently stops by various weapon shops for knives. One day she comes into town to dispose of a sack of shattered glass and bent metal for reasons unknown.

And occasionally she can even be found in the tavern, drinking. She's apparently quite fond of their ale.

Won't you cut down that apple tree for me?

[ Wildcard ]

Want a Pine Devil moment? Want to catch Dahlia throwing knives at trees? Throw anything you like at me, or DM me on Discord to plot!

Comments

My Steady Hand

[blindwatchersees]

With the tap, tap, tap of a wooden cane against the floor, an old man makes his way across the foyer and to the main hall, whistling cheerfully.

"Good day! I'm here to make sure my paperwork hasn't been confused, but I'm not sure who to speak to."

[thethirteenthchild]

"That'd be me," Dahlia replies, looking up from her work. "What should be the name on the paperwork?"

[blindwatchersees]

"Well, if it is confused and has my letters scrambled up, it might say something like 'Theodor Gorlash.' They're actually supposed to be in an order where they say 'Lord Sheogorath.'"

[thethirteenthchild]

"That's quite the clerical error." Good thing Fever's taken over some of that. She's better than the guy who was doing it before. Some local boy who really should have been focusing on his school work. "Let me check under both names and see if we have anything outdated."

She turns to her cabinet and pulls out a handful of incorrect documents. "Here we are. We just need this one redone. It's just some personal records, address and phone number for urgent contact."

Put your ear to my heart

[xiaoxiuya]

Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingqiu's old demesne, was famous for its collection of historical and naturalistic texts, containing many descriptions of the beasts, demons, and spirits that needed to be kept in check. Shen Qingqiu himself had pursued the study of this library with a voracious appetite, and quietly took pride in the fact that he'd memorized its contents in less than four years. Everything the previous masters of Qing Jing Peak had known about that world, he'd known too -- plus the cheats he'd retained from actually reading the book the world was based on.

But now he'd entered an entirely new world, one that he didn't have any cheat codes or special knowledge of at all. The Greymane Library had been helpful, but Shen Qingqiu craved more. And thus his attendance at the Historical Society meeting.

He of course already knows Miss Leeds by sight, from the times he's had to visit her to file paperwork at Town Hall or crossed paths with her at the library, and he makes a point of coming up to her to say hello before the meeting begins.

"Do you hold these meetings often?" he asks her with genuine curiosity. "This was the first I'd heard of such an organization, but then I haven't been in town very long."

[thethirteenthchild]

"We do, but they're usually just for members. Every so often, though, we have a public one to see if anyone is interested in becoming a member," she explains. "Often times we hold the private meetings in my home. I have a library there as well. If you're interested, I'd love to talk to you about it."

[xiaoxiuya]

"I certainly am interested," he informs her eagerly. "I used to maintain a library myself, concerning historical and cultural matters as well information on the world's beasts and other lore. I'm quite eager to learn more about this world, just as I studied the last one I lived in."

Historical Society Meeting | OTA as well as for Dahlia

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik, naturally, has come to show his full support for Dahlia and the historical society. He sits to listen, his leg politely crossed at the knee. Sadly, he cannot partake of the refreshments but it doesn't bother him.

When the mingling begins, he makes his own rounds, asking in a light voice that doesn't belie how intensely interested he is in the answer, "Do we know when that old covered well ran dry?"

With Dahlia, he will be more forward. He pulls her aside to speak more discretely, "What can you tell me about cursed indestructible tomes?"

Re: Historical Society Meeting | OTA as well as for Dahlia

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia frowns when pulled aside, tilting her head quizzically. "Cursed indestructible tomes? I've never heard of anything like that. Did you find something?"

[lordoftheozarks]

"I didn't, but a close acquaintance of mine did. Do not worry; the book itself is in safe hands, but I wondered if anything of that nature has show up in past records."

Graveyard

[mindflayed]

Having been shown the library by Ava, and come to a tentative cease fire with Fever, the one person he's certain is from his own world, Imbros' next plan of action is to memorize the town layout and learn more about it.

The large, looping path he's following around the edge of the island takes him to the marina and he pauses, looking out at the water for a few moments. Then he takes the map out of his pocket and makes a note of some sort on it with a fountain pen he's stolen from somewhere before tucking them back away. He turns to continue on his way, pausing as he spots someone sitting near the cemetery gate and... having a picnic?

Odd.

He'd been levitating a few inches off the pathway, rather than walking, but he drops down to the ground and walks over.

"Are you eating in a graveyard?" he's been told before that's bad luck. Of course the one who insisted on it was an elf so their opinion was questionable.

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia stares up at the most bizarre-looking person that she's ever seen in her entire life for an uncomfortably long moment. She doesn't seem horrified or uncomfortable. She just sits there, chewing her food, sitting on the mausoleum steps, and just sort of... taking Imbros in for a minute, her expression neutral.

Finally, she swallows her bite and speaks. "I'm having a picnic with my family."

[mindflayed]

He looks at her, looks at the graveyard, and states the obvious. "You're alone."

After that incredibly tactful response he elaborates slightly, "In the realm I came from someone I know insisted it was bad luck to eat in a graveyard. If you believe in luck anyway."

hold your light to the darkness in my head

[lovethyneighb_or]

A figure moves between the graves. He is cloaked in black, and holds a broom, and he moves with some amiable enough manner.

One of the many duties Mulcahy has taken upon himself is tending to the graves. Sweeping away leaves, trimming the curliest branches. He doesn’t want to disturb things too much, especially as a stranger to this world, but he thought it would help. Someone ought to help.

After a while he notices he’s not alone, and offers a wave.

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia awkwardly waves back, feeling exposed. She looks as though she's been caught doing something she shouldn't for a moment, but it passes, and she focuses on being polite. "Hello there. Thank you for picking up for my neighbors."

[lovethyneighb_or]

“I thought it was the least I could do,” he hums. “Few others here are, and the keeping of the dead is one of my duties as a Catholic priest. Though we keep returning from death, it oughtn’t mean that it should lose meaning.”

For what it’s worth, Mulcahy’s manner is all easy friendliness, without judgement. He steps a little closer; if they’re having a conversation now, it’s easier doing it not so far apart.

“You’re Ms. Leeds, yes? It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. Pumpkin Hollow is a lovely town, even now.”

(She may note that she’s never seen him in Town Hall. His affairs were always arranged by someone else on his behalf.)

Errands

[graveling]

Dahlia comes by the temple with a sandwich, and Angel's there making early preparations for the cucumber festival, pulling out decorations and sorting them--what's usable, what needs repair, and what needs to go away. He glances up when Dahlia walks in, though.

"Hey, what's up? Or wait, do I need to put on my priest hat?"

[thethirteenthchild]

"No, no, you're good." Dahlia waves off the concern and holds up a bag with a cafe's name on it. "I just brought lunch for you and the reverend. Do you have a preference between smoked salmon with cream cheese or chicken and cheddar?"

[graveling]

"I'll take the smoked salmon, unless there's a really loud sauce on the chicken. I still don't taste like normal people, y'know?" No, he's not even thinking of the double entente.

He sets down the banners in his hand, walking over to Dahlia with a hint of smile that, as usual, fades quickly.

Historical Society meeting, mid-June

[not_the_last]

There's a new arrival to the island here, holding a cup of tea and listening with interest to the matters under discussion. If Dahlia is very perceptive, she will most likely notice that this young woman watches her intermittently for a good while before picking a moment to approach.

"Mistress Dahlia? Might I have a moment of your time?"

[thethirteenthchild]

And perceptive Dahlia is. She's well aware this young woman is new, and it intrigues Dahlia to think that she's attracted the girl's attention so quickly. She can't help but wonder why.

"Of course," Dahlia agrees easily. "And please, just Dahlia."

[not_the_last]

"Thank you. I'm Cassandra de Rolo, I've only recently arrived here. I understand you are the ... ah, president," pronouncing the term carefully, as it's unfamiliar to her, "of this historical society? And also active in the Town Council?"

Wildcard - Pine Devil! [Topics of this thread will include: death, illness, violence]

[be_seeing_you]

The time of his monthly death is nearly upon him; he can feel it. But, if it holds to precedent, he estimates it won't be for a couple more days at the least. Time enough for him to venture past the bounds of his farm and into the forest to gather lumber for his carving projects. In one hand is his cane and in the other the handle of a rolling wagon piled with deadwood.

Unfortunately, he overestimated how much energy this might take. It's growing darker now and he still hasn't reached the edge of the forest again. Sweat rolls down his cheeks and his legs shake with the pain of supporting him this long and far. Despite his best efforts to push on, he's forced to stop and sit on the edge of his cart.

"I'd better call Ava..." he mumbles to himself while reaching into the inner pocket of his coat.

One might assume he's reaching for his sending stone but what he pulls out first is a flask. He's just tipping it to his lips when a subtle sound nearby catches his attention. Is he not as alone out here as he thought?

[thethirteenthchild]

In the gathering darkness, a pair of sharp blue eyes peer out of the trees. You're being watched, Peter.

The Pine Devil is close. Too close. Close enough for 6 to smell the putrid, coppery odor of its breath. It almost wants to be noticed, to toy with him.

[be_seeing_you]

He can practically feel her eyes on him, and now he notices the smell too. Blood.

"Show yourself!" he calls, rocketing up to his feet and brandishing the cane in his hand like a foil.

"I can see you watching me."