(march catch-all) OH LOOK, THE HANDS ARE BACK

[vestigemods]

MARCH CATCH-ALL

► I WONDER IF THEY LIKE VEGEMITE?

Though Spring isn't quite in full swing just yet, life in the containment zone definitely seems to think otherwise. Plants are sprouting new growth without a care in the world, woodland creatures have lost that mildly haunted edge they've had since late fall, and the number of juvenile raccoons in the general lake vicinity is honestly just ludicrous.

In fact, if Foodland's anything to judge by, the Technicians might be on some sort of 'go forth and grow shit' kick in general. They have seed packets at ready, right there on a rack by the checkout counters - and to those unfamiliar with St. Paddy's Day, it quite likely seems that the holiday decor has been replaced by just... a general celebration of greenery, as a concept.

Speaking of greenery, a few unlucky souls get to go on a bit of an impromptu field-trip through shrubbery hell a bit later this month - but let's not let that spoil the mood, shall we? It's only a little death, nothing to get worked up about.

► MOD NOTES

• This is the March Catch-All Log, for any non-event action top-levels throughout the month. Large gatherings (parties, meetings, etc) are still encouraged to post their own logs for organizational purposes!
• There will be an event log for all things pertaining to the Twists And Bloody Turns event, so keep an eye out for that.
• Refer to the bottom half of the March Bulletin for any March-specific info to potentially include in your prompts! The above blurb is honestly just mood-setting flavortext.
• Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment)
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

A! For that breath of night air~

[singularwidower]

[The stars start to glitter alight one by one as the daylight fades, and Daemon settles himself on the porch steps of his cabin at the treeline just a bit north of the lake, cup of tea in hand. The warmth seeps into his hands as he casts his awareness as far as he can, picking out the familiar minds in the nearby cabins...and a not-quite-as-familiar mind cautiously moving about rather closer than he would have anticipated. He calls into the night:]

Hello?

[He knows someone's there, but it's a query all the same, and one in as curious a tone as he can manage. He's not alarmed, particularly, by the furtive slinking about, after all. He remains relaxed on his front stoop and takes another sip of his tea before gazing directly at the shadowy figure.]

[cryingforever]

[ There's a startled Eek in the darkness and the shadow jumps nearly a metaphorical mile in the air. Definitely a teenage girl from that noise. ]

A-ah! Am I in your yard? I'm sorry! Please don't be mad..Or kill me.

[ She is not good at being startled as she blurts out the first thing on her mind. ]

[singularwidower]

[Daemon's eyebrows fly upward. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't a nervous teen.]

Even if you were in my yard, I don't believe I'd be mad then, either. I'm not entirely sure I have what could properly be termed a 'yard.'

[He doesn't move from the porch, just lifts one hand from his mug and kindles a small witchlight above his hand that casts a rich red light across the winter-brown grass.]

I have no plans to kill you. [More amusement.] Come over so I can get a look at you.

[cryingforever]

[ This is the end of Bernadetta von Varley. He's clearly lulling her into a sense of security so he can obviously kill her for trespassing. ]

A-are you sure? [ She does creep a little closer, stopping barely in the edge of the red light from Daemon's magic. At the very least she's discernible and not some indistinct shape in the darkness. What the man will see is a short and terrified looking teenage girl practically enveloped in a huggle hoodie. ]

[singularwidower]

[Daemon doesn't answer immediately, only raises his hand to let the red light nibble at the young woman's toes. He looks her over as best he can in the dark, curious as to this neighbor that he's yet to catch sight of before this. Both hands occupied and shoulders relaxed, he considers her.]

Am I sure...? That I'm not planning to kill you? Do people around you often answer that question with anything other than no?

[cryingforever]

[ Bernadetta glances down and scuffs the dirt a little with a boot, drawing the huggle hoodie a little closer to her. ]

Not at the monastery but.. There were the bandits...And Sylvain's brother's men... And the monsters..

[singularwidower]

[Daemon stills for just a moment with a slight indrawn breath, his eyes sharp as he watches her fidget and burrow into her jacket-blanket-monstrosity. He lobs the witchlight into the air between them so that it would illuminate them both from a few feet overhead and sets his mug of tea down on the porch steps beside him.

Very seriously, he leans forward, bracing his arms on his knees and folding his hands together.]

Upon what can I swear that you would trust? I would like to give you my word, but I do not know what oaths would set you at ease.

[cryingforever]

[ Bernadetta looks a bit surprised. This was an unexpected turn of events. ]

I..No one's ever really made a promise to me..

[ Vows and promises are very serious, what would be an appropriate oath? The teenager scuffs on the ground again, deep in thought. ]

Could you...Swear on my uncle's grave? I-If that's too much I understand! I..I don't really know how this goes...

[ Her uncle had at least tried to promise to be there for as long as he could, even if it was less time than the girl had wanted in the end. That seemed somehow appropriate for this moment though. Invoking the one person who she felt really cared for her. Well, at least until she came to Garreg Mach. ]

[singularwidower]

[Expression tightening, Daemon takes a moment to think. That she'd chosen something that was meaningful to her made sense. However, he does not wish that to be the only binding between them. He has no idea who her uncle is, after all. Blood would seal any oath, but in this place he cannot say if that would be more or less dangerous, nor does he want to frighten her. So something on his end...

Then he nods decisively and fights his instinct to stand up to lend the moment gravity. He stays seated, keeps his hands folded.]

Alright. That's fine.

[He allows himself a moment for the drama of it, because if he's not going for gravity then he's going to go for the appropriate amount of drama, and then speaks.]

I swear upon the grave of your uncle and the memory of my wife that I have no intentions to kill you, nor even harm you. I do not wish to, and I will attempt not to do so in the future as we navigate whatever this place has in store for us.

[cryingforever]

[ That takes her aback again, the seriousness of the vow, and she does note the inclusion of another person. It does seem the oath has given her more security though as she every slowly creeps more under the light of the witchlight, illuminating her a bit better. ]

I..Thank you... And.. I..I'm sorry about your wife..

[singularwidower]

[He watches her carefully, not moving even as she's illuminated just that much more.]

You're welcome. [The amusement is back.] And no need to be sorry. I merely thought that any oath I might take should have some assurance of sincerity that would be meaningful to both of us. And now that that's taken care of, might I ask who you are and what you're doing out in the dark?