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

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

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?

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[Sylus knew the depth of their feelings went deeper than the playful carnality they'd shared throughout their time in Hydeland but, with it never having been truly talked about before, the idea that either might have genuine feelings for the other was still something he was incredibly awkward about. Expressing even the suggestion of it to her, let alone her reciprocating those vaguely-stated feelings, caused his face to flush despite his best efforts.

Shifting from having his arms wrapped around her, he moves his arms to her shoulders and gently holds her at a distance more suited for conversation. The urge to kiss her screamed at him as he transitioned positions, but he didn't want to completely lose his composure and stuffed the urge down instead. He still maintained the physical contact of his hands on her shoulders even after the shift, though, and unconsciously stroked her skin with his thumbs as he talked.]

I had- was steeling myself to face this exile alone, mentally preparing to be away from anything I knew and anyone I... anyone I cared for. Magic seems almost nonexistent here, so my hopes of even being able to find other casters here were low. Taunting myself with the notion of finding someone from home, though, just seemed like a cruel idea to entertain.

Then, out of nowhere, you call out to me and all my pragmatic bracing for the worst is shattered. I must admit..."

[He sniffs, holding back tears like keeping a dam at-bay.]

"I was not ready for it."

[Gods, even after a year apart, his touch still gives her goosebumps. She both hates and loves how much she missed him. Combine that with Sylus dropping the passive aggressive act they share between each other and being openly genuine with her, Scarlett really wasn't sure what to make of it.

It was unfamiliar, even scary in some aspects. Would... this world force them to work on the details of what they were to each other? Or would, once they were settled in, things go back to how they usually were? The rest of the company wasn't here so they didn't need to pretend that the UST between them didn't exist. (And that it wasn't so thick you could cut it with a knife.)

Sorceress bites her bottom lip and averts her gaze again, remaining silent as she thinks of how to address this, how to process it. An emotional Wizard was not anything she was expecting to ever see.]

... Well, I suppose I arrived at a good time then.

[She reaches up with one hand to beep his nose, trying to remain a bit more casual about their current situation.]

So just relax. We'll take care of things together now, alright?

[Her lighthearted touch brings a smile to his face and helps him to suck back the brimming feelings he'd been holding in.]

"That sounds nice."

[He gestures to the booth he'd been sitting in earlier.]

"Will you join me then?"

It does.

[She pulls back slightly, gesturing to her food.]

I was already planning on it.

[Sorceress slides in to one side of the booth, not minding whether Wizard joins her on the same side or the opposite.]

So, how have your writings gone?

[He slides into the booth, sitting opposite her and scooting his grimoire aside to make better room for her dishes.]

"They've been slow, but steady. Many of the incantations are quite involved, so it will require more to imbue them than simple writing."

[Running his left hand over the book, he pauses over the pages before slowly closing the cover and turning his attention back to her.]

"To that end, I've taken out a lease on a building in the southern hollow. It's far from being in good repair, but it's got much of what's required to build a decent Arcanium."

[Wizard reaches out his hand and takes hers in his, somewhat awkwardly trying to be comforting, and gives his best attempt at a reassuring smile.]

"That being said... it's a large place for a single magister to manage. If you would like to join me in that endeavor, I would welcome your company."

I still say you're a madman for doing your magic that way.

[The redhead raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her companion's resourcefulness. Before she can comment though, he's reached across and taken a hold of Scarlett's hand, which brings color back to her cheeks.

She could get used to this. Maybe. Probably.

At his offer, the Sorceress's voice takes on that usual playful lilt and she offers a smirk.]

Why, Sylus... Are you inviting me to stay with you?

[He sighs exasperatedly at her comment on his magical approach.]

"You act like my magic is trapped in a book or something silly like that. My magic isn't restricted to the book but, rather, any spells that I encounter can be bound to it. That means I can draw on anything I encounter, even in passing, by studying what's been bound to the grimoire. It also means I can teach it to others, or pass it on to apprentices much in the same way Lucain was able to share his runes. It's a far less devil-may-care approach to the Arcane, not that anything I'm saying will actually change your stance on it."

[He smiles a bit, enjoying the familiarity of sitting in an inn with her and engaging in yet more casual disagreements about schools of magic as they'd done so many times before. This smile turns to awkwardness when she brings attention to his invitation in that kind of way though, and he feels his face flushing.]

"I mean- there aren't- there aren't many magic casters here! It seems only logical to pool resources right? Particularly with someone I've worked with before."

~~[Very convincing Sylus. That'll throw her off the scent.]~~

I know, I know.

[She waves her hand dismissively.]

It's both handy and troublesome in my mind. I'm simply teasing you for your methodology is all~

[At his very convincing reassurance that he's only suggesting they live together for professional reasons, Sorceress can't help but giggle.]

Ufufufu... Strictly business, yes, of course.

[She gets a spoonful of soup for a dramatic pause.]

It is a good idea though. I would be a tad concerned if you offered such a thing to someone else.

[~~And might be jealous if he did.~~]

[He wasn't exactly sure why he was looking for an "out" to downplay the level of affection they shared while literally holding her hand, but it seemed to have worked decently enough for the warmth in his face to begin to fade. He was in his own thoughts about why he'd done that now, though, and a momentary furrow of the brow can be seen spreading across his face before he responds.]

"With the lean towards the more physical here in Pumpkin Hollow I'd be concerned to source magical talent from anyone here that I didn't know personally, and with the sheer amount of strange places the arrivals seem to come from there's no telling what manner of bizarrity I'd be inviting upon myself by opening the door to an outsider."

[Wizard nodded in affirmation of the statement.]

"No no."

[He squeezed her hand reassuringly with his thumb.]

"You're the smart choice."

[She is the smart choice. They know each other — have known each other for a long time now. They both know and understand each other's magic and skills so it only makes sense that they partner up like before.

So why does his phrasing and the stroke to her hand bring a sheepish smile to her face?

Scarlett tries to play it off like it's nothing but it's clear from her flushed cheeks those words mean more to her than she's letting on.]

Of course I am. You'd be a fool not to pick me.

[Seeing Sorceress blush causes him to worry that he'd overpromised the home awaiting them. If she was expecting to tuck into a cozy lodge somewhere and ~~definitely not make the beast with two backs until neither could stand~~ enjoy the finer things then would she be crushed when she saw a dilapidated shack was what awaited them? He thought it best to temper her expectations rather than run the risk of overpromising and underdelivering.]

"There is... quite a lot of work that will need to be done to the place I've secured. People don't truly die here in Pumpkin Hollow and the town isn't the largest, so affordable housing - let alone a place large enough to make into an Arcanium - aren't as available as they might be if we weren't in a realm of immortals."

[A look of "ehhhh" spread across Wizard's face as he looked for the right words to describe the condition of the building he'd leased.]

"It's fine structurally, so it's not going to be collapsing or the roof falling in soon. It's damp and dilapidated though, and I don't think there's a single part of the place that won't need a heavy sanding or treatment for mold. The ground floor is nice and open, so when repairs are done we should be able to have a runecrafting altar, a laboratory, and just about anything else you'd expect of an Arcanium. Getting there will be the hard part though, and the upstairs has leaks in the roof and more than a little woodrot. There's rooms for both of us though, so we won't want for space."

[He realizes he might be overpromising again by talking about the place at it's completion rather than the state it's currently in, and throttles back.]

"There's a reason I've been staying here at the inn though. It... it needs a lot of work."

[That look says it all, thankfully. The redhead purses her lips in a pout. She was hoping the place wasn't completely dilapidated... but you have to start somewhere. And if anyone can get it to her level of approval, it's definitely Wizard.

The thought of the two of them owning a little place together makes her smile.

Strictly business, of course.]

Then we'll continue to stay at the inn until it's ready. I'm still impressed you managed to snag a place despite having just arrived.

"There's a reason why I was able to get it without much competition. It's location is in the gloomier part of town, complete with all the puddles and mud whenever it rains, but the biggest thing is its proximity to the graveyard. In a place where people never truly die there's not much draw for being near such a place."

[Wizard grins a little, full-well knowing that the location would be anything but a bad thing for his dining companion.]

"Not that being near the town cemetery would be a bad thing for you, of course. Just don't get the urge to go stirring-up any of the townsfolk's dearly departed ok?"

[Scarlett perks up at the mention of the graveyard.]

Oh, yes, I've passed through that area already. I rather like it.

[She gives him a bit of a stink eye.]

I wouldn't do that. But I have found the sticks near the graveyard are perfect for my staves.

[Sylus makes a face when she says she's just picked up sticks to make her staves. To build proper staves was an involved undertaking, consisting of imbuing the appropriate vessel of wood or metal with the elemental essence necessary for it to resonate with the corresponding magic, yet witches like her just walked into the woods and found a cool stick and that was it. Her seat-of-her-pants approach to magic constantly exasperated him, but there was no denying that she managed to make it work for her... somehow.]

"I had a feeling that would be someplace you would have visited sooner rather than later. Its energies are sure to feel welcoming and familiar, just as the scent and sounds of a library would be to me."

[The thought of what he has in mind for the Arcanium brings a smile to his face. Ironically, it seems like it would split the difference perfectly for what both he and she would need. How funny. The Goddesses really do work in strange ways.]

"Poking about with sticks aside, I honestly do think the place will work strangely well for both our preferences once we can get it fixed-up into a proper Arcanium. My real estate decisions had been strictly for cost and seclusion, but with you here the proximity to the cemetery seems almost heaven-sent."

[Obviously she can't just pick up any old stick. It has to have the right energies and look to it. But it's certainly easier than what Wizard needs to do.]

Then clearly we'll need to begin a book collection so our place has that scent to it.

[Because she'll enjoy that too. For as much as she teases Sylus about his books, the witch enjoys a good collection herself.

... Sigh. His smile is as charming as always. It's nice to see him in a good mood.]

It does seem it was meant to be, doesn't? I'm looking forward to this.

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

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