november catchall

[medekh]

Who: Artemy and Perhaps you? If you'd join me?
What: Understanding a soft heart, experiencing a life after the plague, learning to fill time with meaning.
When: During November!
Where: Amongst Pumpkin Hollow.
Warning(s): Mentions of a consensual romantic murder! also mentions of a plague, of child death, of mourning said children... normal haruspex things!

Grocery Shopping

Artemy does his shopping like a man in a daze. His mind seems to be elsewhere, seemingly thinking of something else, as he goes through the motions. He's tall as his form sticks out amongst the townsfolk, picking out the basics he needs. Dried meat, milk, bread, eggs. He still buys groceries like he lives in the Soviet Union, like things could run out at any moment, yet his basket is bare, making sure to leave enough for everyone else, while still perfectly rationing out everything he needs for the week.

He looks down at his shoes. They are still splattered with blood. He keeps forgetting to go to the cobbler to get a new pair made. These can simply be his work shoes, he reasons.

Or his "murder his colleague" shoes. Consensually murder. For work reasons. Of course.

He avoids thinking of it further, knowing that he might start to blush if he does. He curses himself, and wonders if he truly does have poor rational thought, as Dankovsky so eloquently put it. Artemy wonders if he truly has nothing better to think of than their conversation as he irritatedly grabs some fish to fry up this evening.


Falls Promise Cemetery

All of Artemy's work is done. Artemy's work work is done. He's considering buying about five more alembics to brew tinctures upon tinctures just to keep himself busy. He's finally gotten himself his new boots and he decides to finally go on a walk, and what better place to walk than a cemetery? There could be worse places, certainly.

He walks amongst the gravestones. He thinks of home. Of little Grace who tended the cemetery who offered to help him speak to his father, who he turned down in fear for her constitution. He thinks of Murky and Sticky and wonders if they're alright. He wonders if time in the Town-on-Gorkhon and Pumpkin Hollow run one for one or if things are off set. If he gets to go back someday, and that is a big if, he wonders if things will be as he left it, or if everyone will be dead of the plague, including his adopted children. Such things are enough to keep a man up at night, guilt ridden, particularly a man that takes all things as his single and sole responsibility.

Perhaps a walk in the middle of autumn in the middle of a cemetery was not such a great idea after all! He sighs to himself, wondering how other people fill so much free time.


Closed to Anya

Artemy will knock on Anya's door and leave a package wrapped in twine and brown wrapping paper, walking away before she answers. If she opens it she will find a lab coat carefully folded inside. It is made of thick material with her name carefully hand embroidered in beautiful blue thread on the lapel. In the breast pocket is a small card addressed to her as well. It reads.

Dear Miss Anya,

You have my apologies for the other day. I am aware that I owe you a coffee as well. Please accept a gift, something I believe that suits you, for all of your accomplishments up to this point, and for all your hard work up to this point both in this life and in your last.

- Artemy Burakh

If she chases after him, she might be able to catch up to him.


Wildcard

(Feel free to reach out on discord to plot something else!)

Comments

[medekh]

"Artemy Burakh. I'm a surgeon, and healer of sorts." He holds out his hand for a handshake. Which, yes, is something he seems to do with everyone around here. "In turn, if you find your body in disarray, please let me know, I'm certain I can do something to help."

He's also plenty capable in a fight, but, well, that's not really something a surgeon goes around admitting- but by his build you could likely guess just that.

[abhorrently]

"I'd heard that we'd had a new doctor arrive," she remarks, taking his hand. Her own is smaller, clad in gloves of brown suede. "And I was hoping I'd get to meet them before it was necessary."

No doubt one day it will be necessary. But at least today, her insides are, well, inside, and not without.

[medekh]

"Hopefully you've heard nothing but good?" He says, voice sounding a tad bit hopeful as he shakes hers.

He's seemed to make a mostly good impression on people here, but with Dankovsky running about, Artemy's aware that he does have to be at least a little bit careful about his reputation now.

[abhorrently]

"Indeed, though not so much you need to worry about being on a pedestal," she replies, deciding that he doesn't need to know what precisely Dankovsky had been saying. "I heard you were an apothecary as well as a physician - and that you're fond of walking."

[medekh]

"I mean. I suppose the first two are true enough, but walking?" Artemy just sort of blinks dumbly, hands to his sides, "I am neither fond nor do I hate walking. It is simply a means to an end."

[abhorrently]

"I am relaying the words I was told but passing no judgement upon them, Dr. Burakh. I also use walking as a means to an end, since I possess no wings and no horse, and using magic comes with limitations and risks."

She shrugs.

"I thought it was funny enough to mention."

[medekh]

Artemy kinda just shrugs back at her.

"... Did Dankovsky say this?" He asks. He has to know. He has to know if it was him.

[abhorrently]

"The gentleman who seems constantly at risk of working himself into a fit? Yes. Hopefully he manages to relax before the Dance of Celestine, otherwise dancing will be a trial."

Of course it's Dankovsky. Who else would it be?

[medekh]

A very good point. Artemy sighs. He's going to gain wrinkles before his thirties.

"I'll need to keep a close eye on him." Artemy finally concludes, "I do hope he hasn't bothered you so."

[abhorrently]

"Not at all. He came to Town Hall with questions, and that's as much part of our work as record keeping and filing and running the town. He's been no bother, just in need of time to adjust, the same as any of us. That's why I mentioned the Dance - I told him to come, in hopes that something with a friendly atmosphere will help the process."

A beat.

"You should come too, if you don't already have plans for it. I've never attended, but everything I hear says it's going to be a pleasant time."

[medekh]

"Thank you for your kindness to him." Artemy says, genuinely, "I know he can be, a pain, and he seems to be more erratic than usual, but, you're right. He needs kindness now. More than ever. I'm glad you understand him."

He really does sound relieved. Like there's been a weight lifted off of Artemy's shoulders.

"I appreciate you inviting him, truly, I do- I will have to come, simply just to keep an eye on him." He pauses for a minute, looking slightly uncomfortable, before continuing, "I do admit, I have never been to a fancy to do, hopefully i will not stick out too much."

[abhorrently]

"Will it help to know it's not a formal affair at all? There are no rules about what to wear, what to bring - all you need to do is attend, and the rest will show itself. A celebration for the end of the harvest, both to honor Autumn and for everyone to come together, thinking of their wishes for the future and what we wish to leave behind in this year."

She grins.

"Of course, if you just want to come for the free food and the novelty of it all, no one will be offended."

[medekh]

He seems to perk up a bit at that news.

"That does help, yes- I will think of how to honor such traditions." He seems relieved to know that there are no strict social norms to break, as he tends to do, "Perhaps Anya will know what sort of dress to wear..."

[abhorrently]

"Merely something you feel comfortable in. Tell Anya she's welcome as well."

She doesn't know Anya, but there's no limitations on who can come to a community event.

"I've heard that some people intend to write their wishes on paper and tie them to the strings of kites that will be flown, to bring them closer to the heavens."

[medekh]

"I see, so then the religion of the area favors the skies."

He gives a soft shrug at the idea. It's foreign to him. In his own religion, the earth is everything, mother to all.

He'd be lying if he said he didn't have something he wanted to wish for.

"I will indeed invite Anya. I am glad I ran into you this day, Basaghan."

[abhorrently]

She nods her head, trying to puzzle out the meaning of the title before she asks after it. Perhaps context will make it more obvious.

"As am I to find you. A chance meeting's welcome, under peaceful circumstances. And if you have true questions about the religion of this place, the Temple's open for questions. I'm only a little more versed in this area than you, I ought to recommend the experts."

Yes, one of them is a corpse. Be nice to her sibling.

[medekh]

"Not the first that I've heard of the Temple." Artemy admits, "I suppose I should be curious about the religion of the area, seeming as I was supposed to become a religious leader of sorts. Or I am one. Depending on how you look at it."

He doesn't much feel like a leader right now. Or a religious man, for that matter.

[abhorrently]

"You've already met one of the goddesses, if that sparks any more interest."

It hasn't yet gotten old, getting to tell people this.

[medekh]

"Oh- Yes, when I first arrived. She did introduce herself as such."

Artemy's rather accepting of it. Doesn't seem distressed by the idea at all, honestly.

[abhorrently]

"And here I was excited to get to see the look on your face when you heard that for the first time. Next time, perhaps."

She's not too troubled, though - him taking it so easy means he'll be fine in that respect.

"It's not just religious matters that have me aiming you at the Temple, though. I'm biased, since I have friends who work there. Ones who I know will help newcomers if they can."

[medekh]

"I am not quite sure how they'd react to the teachings of my earth-cult from back home, but surely friends of yours must be decent."

He says all of this so casually and matter of fact, like it's the most normal thing in the world. Oh Artemy...

[abhorrently]

"They'd greet you with acceptance and a willingness to listen and accommodate you however you need, given how they've reacted to outsiders before. Faith's an open subject."

She shrugs her shoulders.

"Even in the Temple, there are shrines and symbols of worship for those we brought with us. The goddesses are not the jealous sort."

[medekh]

He looks genuinely surprised at Fever's news, but in a good way.

"That's refreshing to hear." He says, "Truth be told, if things were to go according to plan back home, I was to be a spiritual leader of sorts. Now, however..."

He's not too sure, that much is obvious as his voice trails off.

[abhorrently]

She nods, slow and singular.

"At present, you needn't be anything other than Artemy Burakh. This place has a way of being patient with you."

[medekh]

He doesn't look satisfied with that answer. If anything, his frown grows.

"Fair enough." He leaves it simple, but even in its simplicity, it's obvious that Artemy doesn't believe her.

He has his own hangups about the topic, it seems.