crescentview | winter catch-all

I)
[With their greenhouse running, there's still plenty of work to be done in regards to crops... but, at the very least, the elements don't have to be a part of it. Even from the start of the month, there isn't much rest for Otegine. With the cold comes the need for fire, and fire needs wood, so more often than not, one can hear the chop of the ax near their property, taking the free time he has to stockpile in case the snow gets too deep to work.

If he sees anyone, he'll stop, letting the ax rest against a shoulder as he pulls his scarf from his face, face tinged from the cold.]

Hey there. Ah -- did you need help setting up for the cold? I've got time on my hands.

II)

[After the first of the heavier snowfalls, there's enough accumulation out to have some fun with. Once can drag him up to the mountains if they want, but either in the mountains or on his own property, he slowly sets up a tiny collection of snowmen near the porch. None are more than a foot high at their tallest, and it only starts with one or two... but it quickly turns to six, then twelve, multiplying everytime someone visits. All of them have sticks of various sizes strapped to them - the tiniest ones have short little twigs at their size, while the taller ones carry branches even taller than them.

It's not hard to catch Otegine in the act, looking very thoughtful as he searches for rocks and wood to work with.]

Oh! Oh, hey, uh... sorry, this will be a weird question. Do you have anything purple I could use for a snowman? Or green?

III)

[After Winter 5 and a subsequent rejection from the goddess, Otegine's energy drops considerably. But he still tries to think of something to spend his energy on, in the moments where he can, while the town starts to buzz with the business of engagements and weddings.

At some time during the month, before the ceremonies start, he'll be knocking on the door of every single property. Fresh eggs and flowers are brought to each house in a basket in one hand, with a bundle of paper bound by hand in the other.]

Hey, hope you're staying warm. I know this might sound strange, but... given this is our last month together, I had a favor to ask before everyone gets swamped with preparations.

I know not everyone is leaving this place by the year's end, so I, uh... I thought it might be nice to put together something to remember the time, for the library. Sentiments, or advice, or anything like that.

It would be a nice memory for everyone, and it'd mean a lot to me to see as many people in here as possible... if you'd be willing.

[It's early morning when he trudges through the fresh snow towards Owen's farmstead, a little tense. He'd tried the pond again this morning, to the same solid wall blocking his way. She really wasn't going to hear him again... not for now, anyway.

He'd intentionally taken the rest of the previous day to find other ways to work through the hurt and frustration, not wanting to dump it on Owen when he knew the wizard was already at his own tense odds with the goddess. But he couldn't leave this to sit and rot when they had such little time left.

He shoves his scarf further up his face as he knocks at the door, trying to keep his eye out for fresh footprints. Was Owen even here right now???]

[He has a hard time finding Ori at her house, but it's to be expected - she is a busy, busy gal. So the craft shop is the next stop, a tied bundle of flowers from their own greenhouse in hand along with his odd bundle of papers, ducking through the doorway to take a peek towards the counter.]

Ori? You here??

[He’s there, even if he’s not actually inside his house. He’s around the back, watching Cerberus frolic, but the dog alerts him to the arrival of a visitor.

Seeing Otegine there should have been expected - was expected, because who else would bother to come visit him? - but the tension in the air is less expected.]

What’s with that look?

[For as much as he can see Otegine’s face with him fussing with his scarf… Also, Cerberus is still out! Still stuck as a puppy though, only reaching up to Owen’s knees, and it growls briefly at Otegine.]

Oh... hey, there you are.

[He actually has a dog. Incredible. Here he thought Owen had been making that up... well, he stands corrected.

He'll hook a finger to his scarf to free up his space, a little bitten and red from the cold, keeping a distance from the dog as he tries to make his way over to Owen.]

I didn't realize it had so many heads. Is that, uh... normal, back home?

His name is Cerberus.

[It’s an obedient dog, at least. Way more obedient then the adult Cerberus, which probably says something about training puppies… Or how Owen’s been dealing with everything here.

He arches an eyebrow.]

He’s not a typical dog, but he’s cute, isn’t he? Incredibly fierce.

[ Ori has indeed been busy as of late; there's to do for a florist during a month dedicated almost entirely to wedding celebrations! She's certainly not the only one in town to supply flowers, but that doesn't mean she hasn't got her work cut out for her. She peeks up at Otegine from behind the counter, having apparently been invisible behind piles of. Well. Floral arrangements. ]

Otegine! I'm here! Come in, come in!

Cerberus... [Huh.] I guess so. I don't know dogs all that well...

[He lowers to a crouch to get a better look, hoping it makes him a little less intimidating. Big things were intimidating to littler things, right?]

Are you guys liking the snow?

[Otegine had left the farm rather early in the morning with a basket filled with assortments of their crops. It's barely an hour before he returns, empty-handed, red in the face with his outfit wettened down from falling into the snow.

He's angry, and anger has made him silent and sulking, a cloud that can be seen a mile away as he looks for the ax and goes to the chopping block. Is he hitting things a little harder than normal? Maybe. But it'll exhaust him a little bit, while these emotions of his can settle.

By the time he slips back into the house to warm up, he's tired himself out quite a bit, kicking off the snow from his boots outside the front doorway.]

Syr? Are you still in???

[He lets out a low whistle as he takes in just how MUCH is on her countertop, closing the door carefully behind him.]

Geez, you've got your hands full...

Oh--- h-hey, uh... here. [He fumbles for the makeshift bouquet, a gathering of petunias of various colors transplanted from the fall.] Syr and I got the greenhouse up and running right before winter started, so some of the blossoms are still going.

I figured you could use a pick-me-up, with all the ceremonies going on. You must be busy...

[ Some might find it odd for Otegine to gift a florist some flowers, not even as an offering to her inventory, but to brighten her day. But not Ori! She knows the flowers are special because they came from Otegine, and were grown by him and Syr. ]

Oh... That's so thoughtful of you...

[ She rounds the counter to stand with him, taking the bouquet out of his hands once it's offered. ]

Right! This will get me through the day, for sure! I mean, all I really wanted to do with this place was give people that same feeling I just got from getting flowers, you know? Ah, thank you so much!

You're welcome, Ori.

[He hopes he can give her something a little better, before the winter is over... but he has time.]

I've got something else with me here, but... it can wait for a little. Is there anything I can do to help?

[Pff.]

No, I imagine not. I’ll have to teach you more, but I admit even I’m more familiar with wolves.

[Cerberus sniffs at him, one of the heads still growling while the others don’t seem particularly bothered about.]

The snow reminds me of home, but you didn’t come all the way out here to ask me about the weather, did you?

[ Insert everyone from here and other worlds voices echoing in her head to tell her to let someone help here... ]

Ah... There is, actually! Are you sure it's okay if I borrow you for a little while?

They're similar, right? I... don't know if I'll follow along, but I'd still love to hear.

[Except Owen peels at the week excuse for a topic change almost immediately. Otegine's expression drops with a sheepish shrug.]

Mn... no, I didn't.

[Gloved hands stuff into the pockets of his jackets as the light in his eyes sombers over.]

Do you wanna go inside for a minute, or are you okay to take a walk for a little bit?

Absolutely. I'm a little more flexible than a lot of the town right now, I think - it's the least I can do.

[He'll find a free area to set the rest of his things aside for the moment.]

Just show me where you need me.

[Syrlya notices his anger when he returns, but since Otegine seems inclined to blow off steam in the field, Syrlya doesn't comment.

But he's surprised when he returns with his voice still elevated, and he stops from where he's cutting up vegetables to freeze in order to poke his head out of the kitchen.] Otegine? Is everything all right?

Yeah, it's fine.

...

[A beat.

Okay, no. He knows better than to try and pretend around Syrlya at this point.]

Actually, no, it's not, b-but... the wood's fine. That part is, uh... is okay.

[He's quick to shut the door now that he's not tracking snow through the entryway, boots and gloves removed momentarily while he slides into the kitchen to get water. He still feels flushed... maybe he's overextended himself a little.]

Um... hey, uh, I took most of the fresh eggs already this morning. [He's still mad it ended up being a waste, but oh well.] If we need any more, I can go over to see if one of the neighbors has any left, if you want.

[Are they similar? He doesn’t think so but he doesn’t know what would prove they are…]

We can talk about it later.

[He considers Otegine, frowning, before tilting his head to the door.]

…Let’s go inside. I was going to make some tea. […] That roommate I was assigned isn’t around anymore, so it would be just us.

[ There's no shortage of surfaces for him to do just that! Ori gestures at the mess of arrangements on the counter... ]

Ah, um... I kind of just piled everything on the counter as I was making these, but now I need to put them away to the back room and make sure they're organized...! Maybe we can start with that?

[ She's also going to find an empty vase and quickly fill it with water to stow Otegine's gift in for the time being... Somewhere behind the counter, so no one accidentally tries to buy it! This one is just for her. ]

How are things at your farm now that it's winter, Otegine?

Sure, I'll give it a try! Just show me where to go.

[As she finds an extra vase, Otegine obediently heads to the countertop. Thank goodness he's tall enough to see over most of the arrangements, but he still has to lean over a bit to try and see where he can even pick up the first one without damaging it.]

Ah -- it's been a change, I guess! Since we've got the greenhouse working, most of what we've had to worry about is just cleaning up what's under all that snow and making sure the coops and everything are still nice and warm. Syr's been out a lot more than usual, so... I'm hoping to hear good news from him here at some point. [His grin grows a little cheeky as he chuckles over the forest of blossoms that he easily picks up, a slow and careful maneuvering past the counter.]

What about you? You and M21 seemed like you were enjoying yourselves a lot at Lucia's party a couple weeks back.

[Noe wasn't here... which meant privacy. Good. This wasn't exactly a conversation anyone else needed to snoop on, anyway.]

Fine by me.

[Otegine will wait obediently, letting Owen lead the way back into the house, kicking off the snow from his shoes before stepping in and taking a careful look around. He hasn't been over here hardly at all... it's a shame, he thinks.

Once the door is closed, he pulls his scarf off with his hands wringing the fabric, a visible hesitation to keep talking.]

...

I talked to the goddess yesterday. Or... tried to, I guess.

[ Oh! Ori can't help but smile at the sight of Otegine with an armful of blooms. She was right to ask for his help, huh? She could almost forget that it's wintertime, the way they're both surrounded by flowers like this...

Listening dutifully, she crosses over to where Otegine is to lead him into the back room so he doesn't have to fumble with any doors. Winter really has felt different for so many reasons... For many of them, it'll likely be the last season they'll be here... But Ori is trying to focus on the present. Which is easy, given how much work there is for her to do.

She has to chuckle in response to Otegine's remark. M-21 would probably dissolve at the reality that they were extremely perceivable during the party. But he doesn't have to know. ]

Ahh, at the party? We'd just gotten together around then, so I guess we might have gotten a little carried away. It's funny, though, because we've already been living with each other this whole time...

[ Have they accidentally been acting like a married couple this whole time at home... maybe. Once they're in the back room, Ori will direct Otegine to a large table there where he can put down the little forest he's carrying. ]

I guess in a way, we kind of went about this whole thing backwards. But... We're doing well. Thank you for asking.

What is it people say? Make yourself comfortable? Go ahead and do that.

[The house is surprisingly sparse, anything around for decoration whatever it is Noé left behind. Everything Owen needs he carries with him, and he hasn't cared about making the place feel "homey".

He heads directly to the kitchen, teapot and teacups pulling settling on the table with a gesture of his hands as the flame on the stove lights itself. The kettle settles onto the flame as Owen takes a seat, propping his elbows on the table as he watches Otegine.]

It didn't go well. What were you asking her about?

[A beat.]

Was it about feathers?

[He watches Owen set things up without ever touching a dish or knob, an open awe as he slowly moves toward the table and slides into a seat.

He nods to the wizard's first question, and goes quiet at the rest.]

Not completely.

I didn't want to ask her for anything like that unless I'd exhausted my options. So... that's what I went to her about. I asked if there was anything else we could do to get you home, or some way to keep a vow like that safe for you.

[...]

She, uh... she won't have it. And now I can't go back to her.

winter catch-all

OPEN PROMPTS, ALL MONTH

closed - owen (Winter 6, day after goddess)

closed - oriphi (winter 8)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

closed - syrlya (winter 5)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject