[OPEN] Just when I think I'm gonna get away

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

Who: Sorceress (bedknobsandbroomsticks) & anyone
What: Sorceress familiarizes herself with Pumpkin Hollow
When: May Catch-All
Where: Around town
Warning(s): Shippy feelings between Sorc/Wiz

[Around the Town - OTA]

[Dealing with death was one thing. She'd died a few times during her adventures back in Hydeland. Waking up revived in the chapel was sort of the norm. Waking up somewhere else and to someone other than the Priest was... a bit shocking, to say the least. Sorceress, of course, listened to the explanation, holding on to every word about her current situation.

It sounds similar to what she had just been through in Hydeland. Perhaps... it was what the Goddesses wanted of her now? But where was this place?

Honestly, the biggest disappointment was she didn't have her outfit and staff. The latter would make for channeling magic a tad difficult. Something she'd worry about later. In the mean time, the necromancer spends her time (after getting an outfit or two) studying the town of Pumpkin Hollow. Its history, what she can learn about the townfolks, the mythology of the Goddesses, (what an interesting little coincidence~), the various organizations.

She generally keeps to herself though, lurking around the different Temples, the Greymare Library, and the Oak and Iron.

Or, alternatively, Sorceress can be found near the outskirts of town, near the Fall's Promise Cemetery, inspecting various large sticks to try and craft herself a new staff.]




[I hear those words that you always say - Locked to substitutiarylocomotion]

[It was strange to be without the rest of the Company. Fighter, Elf, Amazon, Dwarf... why, even Wizard. The stupid, pig-headed, overly confident, handsome... Er, that was beside the point.

One evening at the Oak and Iron, after a day spent mostly at the library, the magic caster grabbed herself some food with a tired sigh and sat down...

Only to find herself staring at a very familiar face across a few of the tables. All she can do is gawk in disbelief. There's... There's no way. It can't be. Were they still in Hydeland somehow? Or was all of the rest of the company sent here as well? Gods, this only created more questions rather than answering any of the hundreds of ones she still hasn't been able to figure out. Maybe it wasn't who she thought it was.

There was only one way to find out.]

... Sylus?

Comments

About the Town- Fall's Promise

[blindwatchersees]

She's not alone. There's an old man in the graveyard, going for a stroll. He's got a staff already- well, it's more of a cane, actually, but it's a very nice cane. If he's noticed her, he hasn't given any indication of it. He seems to be muttering to himself about something.

"Really, I don't see the point of it... nothing to bury, you're not even remotely... not that you need a reason to take the dirt out of the ground and then just fill the hole back up again with the same dirt, but you're being... and that's coming from me!"

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

It's hard not to notice another presence in such a place when the dead has been that way for centuries here. The redhead eyes the cane, finding it similar to one of the ones she's used before as a staff.

This place is certainly filled with little coincidences, isn't it?

Normally she'd just let him be but she's been trying to get as much information as possible so...

"It seems it's been here far longer than any of us," she says, just audible enough for the man to hear her as she weighs too large sticks in both hands, seeing which feels better.

[blindwatchersees]

“Ah, there’s more than a few places here where old growth runs deep. Have you taken a stroll down to the buried paradise yet?”

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

"I have not," she answers, carefully setting the stick she decides against back down on the ground where she found it, the chosen one tucked under the witch's arm. "I shouldn't be surprised that there are ruins to this place. I assume they're dangerous?"

[blindwatchersees]

"No more than anywhere else around here. The whole island is dangerous. Full of things that'll turn your insides out and your insides into something else besides. Or turn the whole of your into something new, with or without the mind. It was spiders, once. Lots and lots of spiders."

[imjustaman]

[A very tall man with long silver hair is also near the cemetery. Seeing her, he goes over curiously.]

Hello.

[He wonders what she wants the wood for. It’s getting a bit warm for firewood, and the sticks look too thin around to be supposed to be that.]

Are you new in town?

[As part of the local law enforcement, he tries to keep track of newcomers. But there’s always so many, he doesn’t always catch them all when they first arrive.]

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

[Sorceress perks up at the sound of someone's voice, looking up to see who it belongs to.

She almost does a double take. Long silver-white hair, striking eyes. But they're not the correct color so any tenseness she may have display immediately dissipates.]

I am.

[The redhead returns her attention to the long stick she's holding, humming in thought for a moment.]

I arrived a few days ago now — and you?

[imjustaman]

I have been here for several months. My name is Sephiroth.

[A name everyone knew back home. It’s been strange to be where not everyone has known him … although not unpleasant. He had never wanted such recognition. By now, however, everyone has likely at least heard of him except for newcomers. The demented opera they were forced to attend laid bare many of his demons in the performance of his past. He’s still not sure what most people think.]

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

[Ahha. Someone who's been here for some time. Good. Maybe she can pester him with questions later on.]

Sorceress.

[Despite that being her class, she used it as her name most of the time. It just made things easier.]

Has it... been an unpleasant time? I'm not quite sure what to make of this place yet.

[imjustaman]

[He nods in polite acknowledgement.]

There are … good and bad things about this place, the same as with other places.

I hear those words you always say

[substitutiarylocomotion]

[The Wizard was hunched over a book, copying down lines of incantations from his memories onto its thick pages while occasionally taking-in spoonfuls of soup when the Sorceress called-out to him. Initially, both at hearing his name and at the sound of that familiar voice, he simply nodded in a "just a second" kind of way. When comprehension caught up with him, though, he sat bolt upright.

Could he be hearing things? There was no way she was really here... was there? Not even his clothes had managed to follow him into this place, let alone any of his companions, but that voice only belonged to one person and there was certainly nobody else who would call him by his given name. His eyes wide and his heart pounding Wizard stood up in his booth and began to scan the dining area for her.

Panning over the regular patrons his eyes fixed on the unmistakable silhouette and ocean of burgundy hair and his heart leapt. Though he had only been here for a matter of days the time since he'd parted way with his companions had been significant and their absence, particularly her absence, in his life had been keenly felt. Seeing her here brought a well of emotions that had been held back since his arrival roaring to the surface and he fought to hold back tears. If she was here, then he wasn't alone, but if she was here that meant that she had also been cast into the land of the dead.

Inhaling sharply before letting out a deep breath he looked at her with a weak expression and half-whispered.]

"Scarlett?"

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

[Only a few people call her by her real name — and given the level of intimacy between the two, it was expected at this point.

She'd purposely tried to stop herself from thinking about the fact that she'd been separated from the rest of the company since awakening here. With no one else in sight, Sorceress was certain she was alone. But there sat the Wizard, looking (mostly) the same as always although the expression is a tad... odd. Not something she'd seen before on his face.

She gets up from her table, grabbing her plate of food in one hand, and makes her way over to her comrade, going to sit next to him rather than across.

As much as her pride hates it, she is happy he's here. The redhead would never say it outloud but she found herself desperately missing his company. In more ways than one.

She purses her lips, arms on her hips now that she's not carrying anything, and gives him a look over, trying to ignore that unfamiliar expression of Wizard's face.]

When did you get here?

[substitutiarylocomotion]

[It really was her. The arcane implications as to all them both ending up in this strange place after the Goddesses were restored were tremendous, doubly so with all the other exotic mixtures of people that seemed to be brought here as well, but those thoughts couldn't be further from his mind.

He had been awash in contemplation for days now, pondering the state the hamlet and the requirements needed to earn his passage back the living, and the magnitude of uncertainty had him drowning. He was a man of science after all, with a carefully-researched answer for every question and every problem that life might throw his way. People relied on him to be like that but, now, he'd found himself utterly cut off from everything he'd learned and everyone he knew. Even his grimoire, the culmination of his life's work, had been stripped from him and he now scrambled to commit what fragments of spells and incantations he could recall before he forgot them for good. Just when things seemed that they would only go from bad to worse, though, she appeared.

Had their reunion come in more familiar territory he would likely have some kind of posturing or taunt to greet his former companion... and lover, but with the tumult of being torn from his sister and thrust into a land under-siege he was simply overcome with relief to see someone that, no matter how much he made airs of despising, he cared for deeply.

As the Sorceress approached he worried he might be in a dream, standing by the table and following her with his eyes like she might vanish into smoke if he dared look away.]

"Um... about a week."

[He shook his head, snapping himself out of the many feelings coursing through him.]

"And you?"

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

[A week. He's only been here a week while it's been about a year since she last saw him after they'd restored the Goddesses. After becoming bored with entertaining nobles, she'd been out adventuring with some others, not their company, and that's when she met her untimely demise. (The Sorceress made a note to herself earlier not to go exploring without the others from now on. No one was as polished and professional as they were. Sigh.)

... She still isn't sure what to make of this shift in demeanor. He isn't insulting or teasing her. Did he... No. Of course not. Sorceress glances off to the side, her own posture relaxing some.]

Two days ago. I'm surprised we didn't run into one another sooner...

[A pause as she decides to meet his gaze again.]

Have you been able to find out much about this place?

[substitutiarylocomotion]

[Gods she was beautiful. Time and distance had done nothing to change that and, with her so close, he could tell that she even smelled good. Whether she'd somehow gotten perfume since coming into town or that was just how she smelled naturally he hadn't the slightest idea, but the fact that not even being pulled into the land of the dead could manage to put a single hair out of place was simultaneously impressive and made him terribly nostalgic.]

"Not much."

[Wizard did a slight shake of his head, trying to collect his thoughts to better focus on what she was asking.]

"The island is much larger than just the city, and there are certainly elements vying for superiority here, but I've not had the time to learn more than the most rudimentary of information about them."

[He gestures to the thick book he'd been writing in before she called his attention.]

"As you can see, much of my time has been spent trying to rebuild my grimoire."

Around Town

[redlightgreenlight]

The woman isn't the only one wandering the cemetery, a giant black wolf watches from next to the formerly haunted well, its long tail curled over its paws as it watches through emerald eyes as Sorceress looks through the various sticks littering the ground.

Valdis can sense the aura of death wrapped around this woman and tips her head as the woman picks up one of the sticks.

Are the sticks here special in some way?

Her voice rings in the woman's head.

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

She's been around long enough to know when she's being watched. Sorceress continues as she is, inspecting the various sticks, until she hears the voice in the back of her mind.

The witch looks around, trying to spot who or what the voice might be coming from before deciding to answer softly, "They have the right energy for a magical staff."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis rises, leaving the shadows of the trees and well behind, shadows that seem to recede from her dark fur.

Another necromancer then.

She cannot imagine many others could find use for the energy in this place.

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

A wolf? Perhaps a shapeshifter? Or... a familiar? It's hard to tell. But that's likely the source of the voice.

The wolf's statement though causes her to raise an eyebrow.

"Another, you say?"

[redlightgreenlight]

A very large wolf, one that rivals the size of the largest horses, but it is indeed the wolf that speaks to her now.

River, she is also a necromancer. Tends to raise skeletons to help with tasks. Also a friend. She does not use a staff though.

Outskirts of Town

[medekh]

Artemy has been a bit of a homebody lately. After certain events.

A bit downplaying the situation, of course.

But with spring finally here, and his precious supply of herbs running low- Well, he can only send Anya out for him so many times before she grows suspicious.

If she hasn't already.

So here's the man himself. With a basket. Picking his own mix of herbs, medicinal in nature. He is hoping that since he's outside town he won't be bothered too much.

Of course he should know better. This is Pumpkin Hollow after all, and newcomers are plentiful. He should know, he too has seen some come, and others go-

Quickly he pushes the thought out of his mind, focusing on the woman instead. It seems like she's looking for something, but what, he isn't too sure. She certainly isn't gathering herbs, or if she is, she's terrible at seeing what's right in front of her face.

"Can I help you?" Artemy finally says, voice gruff and laced with a thick Russian accent.

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

Sorceress looks up from where she was staring at the ground. The only thing she seems to have been collecting is large, gnarly sticks, which are carefully tucked under one arm. (She's also on the look out for boxes for Wizard but highly doubts she'll find anything on the outskirts.)

"Hmm? Oh, no. I'm quite alright, thank you," the witch says with a pleasant smile as she looks down at the man's basket. "I return the offer though, given it appears you're looking for ingredients?"

[medekh]

"For tinctures- herbal remedies, yes." He confirms, one eyebrow raised, "You can tell?"

It's pretty rare anyone can tell he has things of importance in his basket. He's been asked more than once why he's out weeding by people who haven't stopped by his clinic or heard of what he does.

[bedknobsandbroomsticks]

She smiles and gives a wink. "Of course I can tell. I'm a Sorceress, after all." As if it's common knowledge that she's basically your stereotypical witch of sorts.

"Are your remedies for a private collection or are they for sale?"

[medekh]

In his world, Sorceress would almost certainly be a derogatory term. Though he's been here long enough to know that different words mean different things to different people. Pumpkin Hollow is truly a mixture of so many different cultures, everyone brings a different perspective to the table. So he reserves his judgement.

"For sale." He says. The Haruspex pulls one dirtied glove off of his hand, holding it out for a handshake, "Artemy Burakh, I run a clinic in town."