crescentview | 🌸 be not defeated by the rain 🌸

[Not being able to read posted warnings and being so antisocial as to ignore the gossip of the locals means while Owen is aware of the weather shifting, he doesn't quite anticipate the storm that rolls in. Honestly, it's not even a storm he's particularly used to considering it doesn't rain in the North, and Central is pretty dry and mild... This is the sort of weather you'd find in the other corners of the continent, and he doesn't make a habit of going there for no reason.

At least Cerberus is tucked safely away, Owen privately pleased that his suitcase and his dog returned to him at the same time, but now he needs to... get back to the forest while it's pouring rain and it only seems to be getting worse... on his feet, without his broom... Maybe he'll just die and wait for the storm to pass?

It only gets more tempting when he realizes there's someone very tall and very familiar approaching him. Ah.]

What are you doing out here?

[sir this is his farm you're the weird one here]

Shouldn't I be asking you that??

[His voice is slightly elevated, if only to try to talk over the wind. Otegine's very obviously soaked, so it looks like he's been out in this for at least a little while, but what excuse did Owen have??]

Owen, this storm's going to hit the coast any second, this isn't a good time to be wandering around to other people's property!

Did something happen? Are you alright?

I was walking my dog.

[Which isn’t currently visible, but Owen isn’t about to explain his pocket dimension suitcase. That would be silly.

He huffs.]

Nobody killed me after that “meeting”, so you don’t need to worry about me.

[Said as sarcastically as possible, because as far as Owen is concerned Otegine concern is all just for show. He’s finally getting him to crack and hate him just like everyone else, which is totally fine.]

How bad can this storm possibly be, anyways?

[ [scooby-doo voice] Rog? Rwhere?

He squints at Owen, squints around him for said dog with on arm shielding his own face as the rain starts to pelt, before just flattening a look to Owen.]

Why are you saying that like that's the only time anyone should ever care about you? Come on, Owen...

[why must this man exist to be difficult]

Look, it's bad enough. We get these at home all the time. The flooding going to wipe our crops, the wind can rip up trees - you can't just stay out here or you're going to get flattened! [And before he can interrupt him--] O-oi, and it doesn't matter that you'll come back from it, so don't start that!

[He winces at the pelting of the rain against his bare skin, but still holds out an arm for Owen, nodding behind him for the farmhouse.]

Come on, come with me. Don't just stay out here. We'll take care of you.

[Because that’s the only time it makes sense to worry about him? Obviously? Owen shoots him an unimpressed look in return, before scoffing.

He is weighing his options, though he’s inclined towards just leaving and finding his own way back to his farm - or, again, simply dying to get out of this. Sometimes it’s just the easiest route! Not that he expects anyone will understand that.]

I can do what I want - and how exactly are you planning to take care of me? Hm? What are you planning to do to a poor, defenseless wizard?

[He just stares at him, dumbfounded.]

I -- Get you out of the rain?? Something to warm you up so you can wait it out??

You know! Decent things that decent people do!! Because I meant what I told you!

[Why are they having this talk in a hurricane?! There's an edge of panic to his voice, but his expression stays firm and urgent.]

I know you think I don't like you or something, but if you actually feel defenseless, then at least let someone get you somewhere different until you do feel safe!

Edited (Redundancy with last tag whoops) 2023-01-21 06:19 (UTC)

[Warm him up, huh. Owen is going to let that slide for now, but he does arch an eyebrow and files it into his back pocket for later.]

Or I can just die and wait it out. Wouldn’t that be so much more preferable for you? I’m sure you and your roommate [whoever that my be] won’t want me to stay for long.

[He’s too stubborn for his own good, unfortunately, but saying that… Well. If he wants Otegine to hate him…]

But fine. Lead the way, my generous savior.

[He will make him regret this.]

[What is with Owen expecting the literal worst out of him right now? It's painful, in a way, reflected in how he flinches with an almost hurt look locked towards the wizard.]

...No. It wouldn't be preferable at all.

[...]

I can't speak for Syr. But he's not going to want to let you sit out here and die, either. That would just make us all stupid.

[Once again, he holds out a hand for Owen.]

I'll take care of you as best I can. Promise.

[He doubts that.]

...

[He promises? He said he's never broken one, but to make one so casually, so simply... They're not the same, he knows. Otegine isn't a wizard. He's the same as any other human, really, when it comes to promises - as far as Owen knows. It's just a pretty word with no conviction behind it.]

Will you? And what do I get if you break this promise?

[He's taking his hand anyways, fingers ice cold and smile even colder.]

[...

The cold touch only gets his hand to envelop his fingers firmly, though his attention stays locked towards Owen.

...]

What would you want?

Fair's fair, isn't it?

[Otegine seems like the sort of person who likes things to be fair and equal, so he'll agree to terms like that, won't he? Even if he's kept in the dark about what exactly those terms entail.]

I want what happens to a wizard that breaks their promise to happen to you.

[He wants Otegine to lose everything that makes him who he is. He's not mad or frustrated over this entire experience at all, nope, but it would be a good lesson not to say things so casually.]

...

[The way Owen words it gets a visible hesitation from Otegine, the first realization that he's possibly walked into something larger than he expected.

He wants to ask. It's on his face that he wants to ask. But his jaw sets.

...]

Okay.

Syr's not included here, alright? But if I can't take care of you while you're here, like I promised... you can go to the goddess and ask her to do whatever you think is fair.

[Does Owen want him to treat this seriously? Fine. He'll treat this seriously.]

...Come on. You're getting soaked.

[Asking would have been free, and it's not like Owen isn't cruel enough to leave him with no answers... Sure, it might have been a very roundabout answer and needlessly hostile, but sometimes it's more fun when people know exactly what they're getting into. The realization that they can't handle what's going to befall them should they make an error... It's exciting to watch.

But he doesn't ask, instead agreeing just like that.]

...Hah. Alright. We'll see how you enjoy that.

[He looks away, at the closest house he can be, and heads towards it without even getting confirmation or waiting for Otegine. He thinks this is the direction he saw him coming from, so how wrong could he be?]

[Otegine is absolutely tripping over himself with how suddenly Owen is dragging him along, but given that the spear isn't really stopping him outside a grumbled sigh, Owen is definitely going in the right direction. He stumbles to keep up with the pace, keeping hold of Owen's hand and using his other to shove the door open against the wind long enough to let Owen slip inside.]

Oi, Syr! I got him, I'm gonna lock everything up! [It's semi-hollered toward the kitchen as Otegine shoves his broad back against the door until the latch clicks. Time to bag up the door and hope for the best.]

Owen, uh, be careful with the restroom, okay? We've got the birds in there right now.

Edited 2023-01-28 09:31 (UTC)

[Syrlya watches from the doorway of the kitchen. Once Otegine has the front door closed, he nods and straightens up.] I'll start some tea for everyone. The towels are in the bathroom, just watch the chickens underfoot.

What kind of tea?

[Also, he doesn't need towels? He can just use magic to dry himself off, except Owen forgot the heavens nerfed him and all he succeeds at doing is ruffle his hair with a sad gust of wind.

He hates the Goddess so much.]

This is the worst.

[At least the layout should be similar to his own farmhouse so he can go and lick his wounds in peace. With the chickens.]

Pretty sure being stuck out there is worse, Owen. Don't be like that.

[The door properly barred, Otegine wipes the soaked bangs from his face, a pat to Owen's shoulder before he slips over to the bathroom, quietly saying hello to the birds as he carefully tries to reach for what towels they have.]

You can borrow something of mine until we can get your clothes dry... So long as rain isn't leaking into the fireplace, I think we can set something up in there?

Just regular black tea. [Maybe Ote buys some fancy stuff too but that's not what Syrlya grabbed out of the cabinet!

He'll let Otegine handle helping Owen get something dry, as he fills the kettle and turns on the stove.]

[He… doesn’t know what constitutes as “regular” for Syr, but as long as it doesn’t make him glow or something it’s… probably fine? The food here is weird.]

…What about snacks?

[Feed him, Syrlya.]

[Time to drop a towel directly on Owen's head.]

Seriously? Clothes first. You can think with your stomach later. [You come with him, sir, chop chop, bedroom time.]

Syr, I should have some of those tea sweets left somewhere above the stove!!

Got it! [While the kettle is heating up, he'll stretch up on his toes to get that cabinet open and pull out the box of tea sweets. He can dump them on a plate for everyone.]

[But snacks tho…]

I can just walk around naked.

[Nobody wants that. Mostly Owen doesn’t want that, honestly, so he’ll grumble and follow Otegine to the bedroom. As soon as he’s in, the layers are coming off regardless of if the door’s closed or not. Coat, jacket, shirt, tie, pants… Why is he wearing this much clothing in the summer, anyways?]

You don’t even have pants that will fit me, so it’s basically the same thing.

[How are you not dying of heat stroke, my dude.

He doesn't bother to close the door completely - modesty is just a polite myth in this house when nobody is human, anyway - but he does at least keep his eyes turned away when he's seeing more skin than not, stripping off his own soaked shirt as he digs for a pair of sweatpants and a tee to drop on the bed closest to Owen, scooping up the fabric being shed and waiting a little awkwardly until he thinks he has most of it.]

Those should have a drawstring you can use, at least. I know it won't fit great, but... it's better to have something dry on you, isn't it? [It's all said with his head politely turned to the side, though he clears his throat to try and excuse himself.]

...Try to dry yourself off a little, okay? I'm gonna go work on hanging this all up.

[Don't mind him coming back out to the living area, Syr, still sopping wet, but now without a shirt and an armload of clothing, deposited carefully to the side as he looks for their washbasin and drying rack. Normally he'd set this up outside with the clothesline, but lmao... not happening.]

I hope it's a long time before I ever have to be this soaked again. [Remarked towards Syrlya in the kichen, as Otegine moves everything closer towards the fireplace.] Ugh. It never stops being a pain...

[By the time Otegine returns, Syrlya is setting down three cups and the plate of cookies at the table.

He looks up, an amused smile faintly tugging at his lips.] You should probably get a towel as well. As for your clothes, why not hang them in the bathroom?

[What, do you expect Owen to show off his bare arms like a cheap slut? He's a luxury few can tolerate! It'll take more then just the summer heat to get his clothes off, and natural disasters fall under that umbrella.

Everything about this is a disaster.

Still, clothes are clothes, even if he ultimately decides he's not going to spend the rest of the night tripping over himself in pants that are way too long and ends up just emerging wearing one of Otegine's shirts like a dress.]

So now can I finally have that tea?

[He doesn't care about anything but snacks. Who cares if Otegine is still wet!!]

🌸 be not defeated by the rain 🌸

closes my eyes

opens them back up for u

:screm:

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Let's do Ote > Syr > Owen from this point

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