🌸FALL CATCHALL🌸

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🌸WHO: Otegine and many others
🌸WHAT: Closed prompts for Autumn including the date auction cruise
🌸WHEN: From Fall 1 through the end of the month
🌸WHERE: Various
🌸WARNINGS: some NSFW (labelled)

Hit up plotting or my contacts if you would like a closed starter! Open prompts including most bonus effects will be on the event posts!

Comments

DATE CRUISE (some dubious time between Fall 1 and Fall 7)

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Pyra/Trahearne

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dinner three ways -- let's do order of Ote > Trahearne > Pyra for this

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[He's a little blown away just stepping into this place - he's never been ANYWHERE quite this fancy, let alone treated like a patron. But it's about midway through the day, and Otegine at least wanted all three of them to spend some sort of time together, even if there's some very clear boundaries on how he wants to approach both parties on this date of theirs.

That doesn't, however, change the fact that his eyes get as big as dinner plates when he spots other dishes at other tables. Someone here loves food... quite a lot.]

Aaaah... Look at all of this...! Finally, some place with sake... [Oh and speaking of which -- Otegine's brightly thanking the server that rounds with a bottle and three glasses, offering to pour. The brunette, oddly, declines the offer, letting the server give them time to look over the menu before they come back.

Otegine's smile falls into something comfortable and nostalgic as he takes up the bottle, a straightened and gentle formality to how he organizes the glasses, how he starts to pour.]

I'll do the honors. [Starting with Pyra, then Trahearne.] Thank you for letting me in your care today, both of you. And for letting me care in kind.

[Only when they have their own glasses comfortably to themselves does he pour one for himself.] I drink this often with one of my closest companions back home. It's been sorely missed, so... it's good to see it in a place like this.

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne has never been a part of such luxury, either. He has been received well by important people, given his standing at home, but nothing like this. Nothing so...opulent. Meant for relaxing, and not for business.

With great interest, Trahearne watches as Otegine pours with practiced hand. He gives the other a similarly pleased smile when he sees the wistful look cross his face. The context of this entire dinner aside, it's nice to have comforts from home. ]

I'm glad, Otegine, for your sake. I can tell how much you've missed this.

[ He takes the small cup in his hands. It must be strong if they have to use such tiny little things. ]

And I'm delighted to get to know you, Pyra. I hope I've not made your outing uncomfortable.

[ He holds up his glass to her in a little "cheers" motion. ]

Trahearne

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[It's an odd balancing of the day, trying to juggle two people. But Otegine finds a quiet time to go look for Trahearne when Pyra's been given time to herself - perhaps in the spa, perhaps taking a rest - either way, leaving Otegine alone and with a good chance to speak to the Sylvari without making things too awkward.

Wherever he finds Trahearne on the boat, Otegine will give a little clearing of his throat to get his attention, nodding respectfully.]

Sir. Do you mind if I take up some of your time?

[pactmarshal]

[ The sun hangs low over the horizon when Otegine finds Trahearne--he stands on the deck, absently watching the shimmering of the setting sun on the water. He's perfectly still, lost in thought.

This is his favorite time of day.

But Otegine's voice isn't a shock or scare for him. He slowly rights himself and turns to face the other, a small smile on his face. ]

Of course not. What do you need, Otegine?

Pyra

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[They've had some time to do some exploring as a group. But Trahearne has taken some time to dismiss himself to speak to Mishka, and for Otegine... this feels like a perfect opportunity to jump onto the nervous, winding hesitancies currently tightening in his chest.

Wherever Pyra's wandered off to, Otegine goes searching, giving her a polite distance to make sure she's not occupied before sliding in to try and get her attention.]

...Hey, Pyra? If it's alright... did you want to talk a walk for a little bit, before we do anything else?

Owen

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[It's been an awkward morning, trying to navigate anything on the ship without feeling like it might make Owen miserable. At the very least, Otegine's tried to coax Owen to show him anything on the buffet that he recognized from home, tried to chatter when the space lulled. But the air still sits tense between them, especially with Owen pointedly dodging the spa amenities. Otegine thinks it might do him some good, but... it's nothing he can force.

So when Owen slips back to the bedroom for a bit to sulk, Otegine gives him a little space and time before eventually following up behind, closing the door but not quite latching it just yet. If Owen told him to leave, he'd leave.]

...Hey. [It's gentle, cautious, trying to see where Owen's at before he gets too comfortable.]

Is the mood getting a little too boring for you up there on the deck?

[sicklysweet]

[Owen knew the date was coming up, but finding out it was on a ship was a bit of a surprise. It's even worse then he was expecting - how can there be all of these little pieces of home brought in but he's so weak? Why couldn't they use all of this magic to send them back home without them needing to worry about marriage? It's stupid and it seems hypocritical, and that combined with the fact he's got to deal with Otegine means Owen is in a worse mood then usual.

Which says a lot, considering how sour the wizard usually is.

It's not even like Otegine's done anything wrong, or that Owen loathes spending time with him, but that's also exactly what the problem is. Maybe Owen's just been cursed. That makes way more sense then any other alternative, and Owen is. Tense. Irritable. It's almost soothed by all the sweets in the buffet, but he still finds it all gets to be too much and too frustrating and he skulks back to their room.

He'll never admit to being relieved Otegine doesn't chase him down or that he's made any demands of him at all during the date so far, instead trying to be considerate and even interested in the bits from his world, but... He is, just a little.

He's opened the box of chocolates left for them by the time Otegine does join him, the note tossed aside with little regard for the contents, and he has the box resting on his stomach as he lays on the bed.]

This whole thing is a disgusting spectacle.

[What's even the point of it all, really. At least the chocolate and all the other food tastes good so it wasn't a complete waste of time...]

deito

[blankpoint]

[ The date auction had been... "disastrous" doesn't begin to encapsulate it. They refuse to admit to themselves that they wish they'd have snagged at least one date. It's no one's fault, of course, because there's no fault to be had.

They're not lonely. That's ridiculous.

It hadn't been difficult to figure out who contestant 20 is; Owen had bet all of his coins on him. They don't expect to see him around, either, as much as they try to keep to themselves. Especially since Otegine and Owen know each other... it's too much of a risk.

As distracted as they are in general, Mira doesn't notice they're about to run into someone until they literally run into someone. At least they don't eat shit, like they did with Gaku. ]

Oh-- uh. Sorry.

FALL 20 APOLOGY TOUR

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Syrlya

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[He doesn't make it home overnight. Who knows if he died or not! What a shame.

Sometime in the late morning, though, Otegine's trapsing through the front yard with fat less gusto than he'd has the day before. He sure has on a nice new outfit, but it's disheveled, his old clothes tucked against his arms.

He's not sure where his roommate even went... but he's carefully slipping into the house regardless, at least to drop his clothing off and change into something a little more... himself. A cable knit sweater in deep green, jeans (which he still can't get over as far as comfort), his normal tennis shoes... it doesn't hide all the bruises he's ended up with, but hopefully it's enough to avoid questions. Heaven forbid his former self see him like this.

Only when he's changed does he cautiously try to hunt down Syrlya. If he isn't home... well, they'll just have to have an awkward conversation after the karaoke party.]

[chronosynthesis]

[Whether it's really fortunate or unfortunate, Syrlya is hope. He's sitting at the table munching on berries, dress for the day.

So he hears the door open, and he's already side-eying the entryway as Otegine attempts to slink by.] Good morning.

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[He flinches as he first enters the front door, sparing Syrlya a quick glance drowning with guilt. But he doesn't say anything more, beelining for the bedroom. If he has to spend any more time in this outfit, he's going to die.

Only when he's properly changed does he slide back out to the dining room, a hesitant hand against one of the chairs without sitting down.]

Syr... About yesterday, I... uh...

Are you okay?

Ori

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[It feels wrong, to be standing in front of her door. But out of the dozens of horrific conversations he remembers from the day before, hers sticks out with painful clarity. Her tears, her earnest kindness, how hard she fought against his words in the only way she knew how... the utter defeat and hurt in her face when he'd dismissed her.

It has his grip hesitant against the door, his stomach in knots. How does he even start to repair this? Can he?

...

He breathes out. Breathes in. Hesitancy would never be easily fought, but... he values their relationship too much to just sit and gawk at the ground like a child.

He slips into the store, green cable knit sweater and jeans and sneakers, hair its usual mess. He's slow going, letting his gaze travel across the abundant number of plants, the way everything's laid out with care. She's... got a really pretty place here, doesn't she?

...

He's a deer in the headlights for a long moment, trying to spot her. If she isn't in the room... then he'll continue to browse, looking over each arrangement with a curious eye and staying quiet.]

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori is indeed not there at present, but a small bell hanging over the door that chimes when Otegine enters is enough to draw her out of the back room before long, her arms full with various bundles of flowers. ]

Hello there—

[ —even with the lush array of flowers and plants that fill the space of her shop, it's difficult not to immediately notice Otegine's presence. His height alone makes him easy to spot, but - well, yesterday's events have certainly left her a bit hyperaware of him in particular. Though he'd left her well enough alone after leaving her shop, for the remainder of her day, even when she trekked home, she couldn't help but wonder if she would see him again, and what he would be like if she did.

That he looks more like what she's used to seeing of him is a good sign, she thinks.

She wonders if he even remembers yesterday... And to that end of discerning as much, she says: ]

... I did say you would always be welcome here, didn't I?

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[He perks up to attention immediately hearing her voice, dropping his hands from the plant he was looking over.]

Ori.

[An eager step is taken forward, expression knit with concern... before he stops like a puppet on a string, expression glazing over with shame as his outstretched hand withdraws, fingers tightening and pressing into a fist against his side.

No. No, that... wasn't smart.]

A-ah. I know.

[He can't bring himself to look at her. But he lets his eyes travel the shop, slightly nostalgic.]

It's really something, you know? Everything you have here, how you're arranging things. It's like you've got your own little greenhouse to share with everyone else in here.

[One of Ieyasu's sons had loves the garden, hadn't he? He never knew Nobuyasu... but he remembers how fond Tonbokiri and Muramasa had been towards him. How gentle a soul he'd seemed. To cultivate the earth and what grew of it... it needed love, too, didn't it?

...]

You... really must have been working hard for this, haven't you?

FALL 19 - that day ote committed crimes

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OWEN (cw: nsfw for the whole thread)

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[He's uncertain Owen will even bother showing up, but Otegine at least is there as promised, one leg crossed against one knee as he casually scrolls over a magazine in the inn lobby at the hot springs.

Whenever Owen finally slips through the doors, Otegine's eyes snap to him, a ferocity that isn't shown in his body language.]

There you are. Here I thought you changed your mind. [One hand is held up, a key dangling from it. All yours, babe.] It's getting late out there, you know. Maybe we should take advantage of the energy while we have it.

[sicklysweet]

[This certainly isn’t how Owen was expecting things to go - he can’t quite deny the appeal of a crueler Otegine, even if he’s aware it’s not who he really is. Another of the island’s oddities, and he’s sure Otegine will be back to his usual self in no time at all. For now, though, he’s not going to turn down a good time.

Or a challenge.]

I’m not in the habit of backing down.

[He reaches up to snatch the key from Otegine, huffing.]

Already afraid you can’t deliver?

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Hardly. I know what I'm capable of~

[He hums out a chuckle, putting his magazine aside as he uncrowded his legs and gently kicks Owen in the ankle as he moves to stand up.]

You're so tense, Owen. Maybe you should rethink who's the scared one here.

post karaoke.............................

[sicklysweet]

[Owen notices when Otegine leaves the party early - he doesn't actually watch him leave, but the man is there one moment and gone the next while everyone still seems content to make fools of themselves. He... can't say he's surprised, either, because of how worn and tired the man seems to be getting. Maybe dull and rusted would be a better turn of phrase - but the Otegine never rusted.

He was always cared for.

Owen doesn't follow him immediately. He couldn't really catch up to him, anyways, so the wizard is content to take his time. He's not even what comes to find Otegine, even.

It would be impossible for Otegine not to notice the birds that seem to have taken a keen interest in him - the fly back and forth, and then eventually a couple land on him and begin to tug at strands of his hair. The behavior is wholly unnatural, and even if Otegine tries to shoo him away they just return, changing between tugging at his hair or his clothing, like they're trying to get his attention. Like they're trying to lead him to something.]

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[It's a million small things that whittle him down over the night, finally slipping out the doors when he can't take any more of the forced honesty and strange looks and tight spiraling of inadequacy in his chest. He doesn't want to be alone - that much was true when he spoke to Ellis. But he also didn't want to be feeling whatever it is he's currently feeling, a stubborn looming mountain of emotions that crumble into undefinable pieces if he looks at them too closely.

Syrlya had already gone home earlier in the evening, visibly upset. So Otegine had kept to himself, curled up out closer to the beachfront properties, throwing rocks into the surf until he'd had enough of sulking over himself, before trucking back off towards his farm at an ungodly hour of the night.

He doesn't speak a word of it to Syr in the morning. Or in many of the following days. He just shoves himself right back into work he should have been doing days ago, trying to pick up on the farming where Syr had needed to handle all on his own.

It's while he's out in the middle of his own fields that the birds start to circle. Nothing confusing at first - maybe they were looking for seeds or bugs. All the more for them, he could use the help with the vermin. But when they start to land on him, tugging at him with pecks of their beaks, he starts to stumble with a sqauwk.]

O-Oi, hey, what's going on--?? H-hey, knock it off...!!

[He tries to gently swat them away, but they turn more persistent. Seriously... in the middle of his guilt-laden work day??

After a few failed attempts at trying to deter the birds (including a single attempt at running away that only proved that the birds do have eyes), the Touken relents, shoving his shade hat off to the side with his hoe and gloves.]

Fine, fine, I get it... geeze, you guys just won't let up. [He flinches at a tight tug against his hair.] I know, I know, I'm coming...

[Where are we going, birds?]

[sicklysweet]

[To hell.

Or, more accurately, the birds are leading Otegine to a quiet little clearing in the forest. It’s not especially deep in the woods, but it’s off the beaten path enough to be private enough. Owen sits in the clearing, accompanied by other birds and small animals.

He doesn’t look up, attention seemingly in the squirrel he’s holding a seed out to.]

You made it.

[The squirrel takes the seed, and Owen watches it run away.]