Be my shelter from the storm | October Catch-all

[lasergrenades]

Characters: Pepper Potts, Devin Parker, and you!
Date: Throughout October
Location: Around Aifaran
Situation: Pepper is enjoying the festivities, while Devin is not
Warnings/Rating: Possible mention of murder, violence; will add in headers as needed.


A. [Pepper] Arts 2 | Open

Usually, Pepper is not a clumsy person, especially not with the level of physical training she's been doing since coming to this world. Her balance is better, her situational awareness is better - on every day but today, apparently. One moment, she's walking down the street taking in the decorations and wares of one of the pop-up fair. The next, she's stumbling to the ground as cake - and an ungodly amount of fondant - topples off its stand and onto her. The baker of said cake is now staring at her like she's an actual demon. At least one of the tiers survived?

"Sorry! Oh my god, I am so sorry," Pepper says in a rush, holding her hands up.

B. [Pepper] Sci-Tech 4 | Mid-late October | Open

Thanksgiving and Christmas may be some of Pepper's favorite holidays, but the whole city getting into a melting pot version of Halloween has her super excited, too. And she's gotten a ticket to a wicked cool haunted house that promises to be every bit as spooky (and hopefully not nearly as dangerous) as a Makluan temple. The free candy doesn't hurt either, so she's practically vibrating while she's waiting in line to go in, peering around every now and then to see if any of her friends are here, too.

C. [Devin] Academy Library | First week of October | Open

It was only a matter of time until Devin fell prey to the Dreaming sickness. He had been worried that it would be displays of one of his many hunting missions, or Bobby, or his family. He had been worried that all he would see was violence and not knowing the difference between dreams and reality, he would hurt someone. Privately, Devin had decided that the moment it started, he would go on a camping trip somewhere isolated and wait it out.

He turns down an aisle at the library and stops dead, nearly dropping the stack of books he's holding. Shock overtakes his features. Leaning against one of the shelves with a soft smile on his face is a young Asian man with shoulder-length hair pulled back into a tail. Devin barely manages a whisper: "...Sam?"

"And you said this wasn't a hobby," the dream needles.

D. [Devin] Commerce 4 | Open

Devin has a day job, but the owner of one of the bars he's taken a liking to is harried with preparations for the Night Parade. Since the whole idea of the Parade has him a little uneasy, Devin agrees to run an errand and retrieve a box of slow-burning red candles. Once he's made the purchase (and quite a few rhinn lighter, until the owner reimburses him), Devin considers them pensively. Red was meant to ward off the spirits, and he has a whole army of dead in his past that he would like not to meet again.

E. [Devin] Outside Aifaran | 2nd Week of October | Trahearne

This is an extraordinarily bad idea. Granted, it's a bad idea that could potentially resolve as many problems as it could create. Trahearne doesn't like him, and would probably continue to feel they have unfinished business until they got the chance to finish the fight they started. Or, Devin allows, until he has spent long enough proving he is not, in fact, like the undead Trahearne knows. It might take longer than either of them have here, or it might never happen. In any case, Devin has no intention of hurting the sylvari. The Fool is going to be angry with him enough just for sending the embossed invitation, much less getting into a real altercation.

Though he appears unarmed, Devin isn't stupid enough to leave all of his weapons at home and has daggers hidden on his person. He arrives at the field in the early morning. When Trahearne arrives, Devin is leaning against one of the sparse trees in the area, the picture of relaxation.

F. Wildcard!

Comments

B!

[rutility]

Pepper's in luck, because the one friend who has never experienced Halloween before - of any sort - is standing only a few yards away, debating whether dyed sugar molded into replicas of anatomical structures is really worth an hour's pay of rhinn.

"Look," the vendor says to Rutile, a twitch in her eye. "Either you buy things, or you don't. If you're not gonna buy, then move along and let someone else do it."

"I'm just not convinced your business model is reasonable," Rutile points out, their confusion becoming more evident with each word. "Sugar crystals are by no means rare."

"It's novelty sugar."

"It's just painted! How is it novel?"

(Rutile doesn't plan on eating the candy. It's the principle of the thing.)

[lasergrenades]

There are many things that make Rutile stand out in a crowd - their interrogation style is nearly as remarkable as the fact that they're a tall, living gem with hair that totally matches the seasonal colors. The stand and owner Rutile is currently pestering isn't far from where Pepper is waiting to go into the haunted house, so she disengages from that crowd to greet her friend.

"Sugar work can be a real art," the redhead points out, gently teasing. "Turns out it's easy to burn if you're not watching it closely, and it's finicky about temperature and humidity." She pauses. "I watch a lot of baking competition shows at home," Pepper elaborates a little sheepishly. "Also: candy is delicious."

E

[necrocabbage]

After how hard the Dreaming Sickness hit him, Trahearne had forgotten all about their talk of duels, up until his invitation arrived in the mail. The thorniest part of this whole situation was that he still didn't see anything wrong with doing this, no matter how deeply his common sense ran when it came to most anything else. It was nothing to do with his personal sense of honor - they did have unfinished business, and though a couple of people had vouched for Devin's good behavior, Trahearne had yet to see any of that for himself.

And so, he arrived at the field only a few minutes shy of the appointed time, striding purposefully towards Devin until he stops about five feet away. Trahearne was in his usual leaves, but he did have a weapon of sorts on him, a rod meant for channeling magic hanging at his hip. "Devin. I received your challenge, and I am here to meet it. On this day, I stand here prepared to defend my honor against - well, you being yourself, I suppose."

heheheh

[annihilist]

Devin, by contrast, knew exactly what was wrong with the challenge he laid - but in a classic example of conscious stupidity, he was doing it anyway.

The smile that curled up the corners of his mouth was both genuinely amused and shaded by something darker. "That could have used a little rehearsing, I think," Devin teased. "But yes, my very existence offends, you have your duty, etcetera, etcetera. Can we dispense with the ceremony?" He threw his arms out wide. "We have no audience but insects and birds. They don't care about your pretense at honor; name your terms and then get on with it."

[necrocabbage]

Trahearne frowns at him, only slowly relaxing his stance to one that was less stiff. "You were only interested long enough to send a proper challenge, I see. Without a 'pretense of honor', this is a fight without purpose." If it were anyone else, Trahearne might've let it go without comment, but Devin had rubbed him the wrong way ever since they first met.

"All I'm interested in is finishing what we started months ago. That said, a duel to first blood would give you an unfair advantage considering how fast you can move. Instead, I'd like to propose that we fight until one party willingly submits to the other." After that, Trahearne adds with a small, humorless smile, "I'm only armed with my magic, so I hope you don't take issue with that."

[annihilist]

"My point is merely that your desire to best me is more about pride than honor," Devin returned with a shrug. Sure, Trahearne had said hunting the undead was a calling, but Devin was fairly certain his aggravating behavior must have factored in.

He straightened up and stepped away from the tree so they would have enough space. "Your terms and your magic are acceptable." Devin would have to be on guard; he wasn't so foolhardy to think that those golems were the full extent of Trahearne's magic. He grinned sharply but made no other move to suggest an attack. "I hope you cleared your schedule. We may be here for a while."

For X

[annihilist]

From here

The vampire sighs as he turns to lean on the counter, now facing X's direction but with eyes on the floor. "Not exactly," he begins, folding his arm across his chest. "I can't pretend with myself I'm not feeling anything, but..."

Devin trails off for a moment, shoulders tense. "You know my life, X. You know that examples of healthy relationships have been practically nonexistent." And the level of violence he perpetrated, and the trauma he experienced, X knows about that too. He closes his eyes for a moment. "I don't know how to be what he wants me to be."

[psituational]

"You're scared," X says, summarising simply, but with no less weight than Devin himself gives the conversation. "And not in the way you're usually scared. You're no stranger to pain, or struggle. You don't mind letting yourself down. You're scared of letting someone else down."

X wonders, sometimes, if the fears he reads in others coalesce into fears in himself. He'd never been concerned about letting others down while his family was still alive. Now, he could understand where Devin came from even if he hadn't read all of Devin's mind.

"I think that's brave," he goes on softly. "The last time you tried, you..." Well. Literally had his heart ripped out. It doesn't bear repeating. "... and you still care more about what your potential paramour wants than about what you want."

[annihilist]

"He deserves better than a disaster." Devin keeps his gaze down. Most of his social skills had been learned out of a need to fit in, by observing people at a distance and faking it until it became natural. The result is that he is all too aware of how he should behave when he does the opposite, and the areas in which he is completely lacking. Being emotionally unavailable was part of how he survived.

"I can read every book on the subject, every bit of poetry and myth; I can observe other people and mimic," he continues, sounding frustrated. "But none of that will matter if there are some things I'm simply incapable of."

[psituational]

"You're not incapable," X replies, almost before he has a chance to think better of it. "You're not." And quite apart from the fact that X would know, he's also seen what being incapable looks like, and Devin is nowhere near.

... Actually, Devin might benefit from hearing that story.

"A muscle unworked isn't the same as the muscle not being there," he starts. "A disaster -- well, I won't argue that. But... my husband could turn off his ability to feel. He could make himself incapable of emotion, and love. I know what that looks like. It doesn't look like someone twisting themselves into knots to justify staying comfortable in misery under the guise of protecting their loved one."

He's gentle, despite the challenge. Always gentle.

C!

[purered]

Klaus had stopped at the library that day for some light reading. In Klaus's case, 'light' reading was about thirty pounds of hard-back books but who was keeping track. It was when he was perusing a particularly interesting volume about the holiday traditions of Aifaran when he spotted Devin passing by.

He was about to greet him when...

"...Sam?"

Klaus blinked, and turned his head in the direction Devin's eyes were set.

Something... wasn't right. The man didn't look quite there and Klaus replaced the book on the shelf, watching the exchange like a hawk in case it was something sinister.

[annihilist]

"It's technically a job," the vampire managed tightly. He tried to swallow the lump of emotion in his throat, with little success. Of all the times for the doctor to arrive in Aifaran, why did it have to be now?

The stranger pushed off the shelf and approached Devin, his posture relaxed and smile firmly affixed. The Dreaming-projection of Sam halted close enough to Devin to indicate more than just acquaintance with each other. "I think it suits you better than hunting. I think this whole city suits you better, actually."

"...How long have you been here?" Devin asked cautiously.

The apparition shrugged. "Not long. Promise I haven't been stalking you." He flashed a grin. "And I'm not here to stir anything up, so maybe you can try relaxing just a little. It's just me."

Devin grimaced and looked away. "You know you're not 'just' anything," he muttered, barely audible.

[purered]

Was this a friend of Devin's? Or something more? He couldn't tell - nor was he certain of whether or not it was part of the dreaming sickness or more genuine.

What Klaus did know that he was an unintentional intruder on what was clearly a private moment. Whatever Sam was to Devin, it must be special to evoke such a reaction from someone Klaus knew to usually seem so glib and unconcerned.

He quietly added the book to his stack, and gently stepped back to give Devin at least a moment of privacy.

[annihilist]

"I'm also not more than that, which is fine," the apparition assured Devin, still smiling and calm. "Why don't I let you get back to work? I'm clearly distracting you. We'll talk when you're done."

"...My shift is over at three," Devin conceded after a moment of hesitation.

"Perfect." With that, the vision of Sam put a spectral hand on Devin's arm and squeezed gently. The vampire felt it, but no one else would had they been in his place. Devin pivoted when Sam passed by and headed down the central aisle towards an exit-- and it was then that he saw Klaus.

Maybe it was the shock of noticing Klaus later than he should have, or his own movement, that caused the waking dream to fade away to nothing. Whatever the reason, Devin quickly realized that Sam had not actually been here, and was not currently present in Aifaran. He wasn't certain if that made him feel better or worse about the whole situation.

Belatedly, Devin noticed the weight of weariness on his eyes and the headache pounding between his temples. Shit.

"I assume you saw that," he grumbled in Klaus' direction before starting to slot the books he was carrying back onto the shelves.

D

[wolfishflame]

"Copper for your thoughts, my guy?"

Look, Aly hadn't sought out Devin - honest - but she was here anyway, also contemplating some of the candles. Warding off spirits took a lot more than red candles, in her experience, but things were probably different here. And she didn't have anyone dead who she wanted to avoid, anyway. Probably. The tough thing about the Otherside was making sure people stayed dead.

[annihilist]

By now, Devin has mostly grown accustomed to bumping into people he knows - the city isn't small by any stretch, but neither is it large enough to get completely lost in unless one actually tries. He's more guarded than annoyed when he looks up at Aly.

"The 'parade' reminds me of what happened when ghosts came to visit in Keeliai," Devin replies evenly. "Not everyone considers this a holiday."

[wolfishflame]

"Hm. Too right," she says, picking up a box of the red candles. "I've got some enemies who'd much rather I stayed dead, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of 'em tried to pay a visit."

Like the assassins who'd been sent to kill their whole little band. Specifically, the guy who'd chopped her head off. If any spirit had a grudge against her, it'd be that dude. Not to mention all the other faeries she'd taken down.

"D'you think that it's not just ghosts, though?" she says. "Like, more different kinds of spirits as well?" 'Cause if she has to deal with the Faerie Queen, that will suck.

...on the plus side, if it is only the dead, she's happy for once that she'd been taken from before her little assassination attempt. That'd be sure to send the Faerie Queen after her. As a ghost.

[annihilist]

"I couldn't say for sure," Devin answers honestly, shrugging. He is no expert in the Dreaming and its impact on Aifaran, not by a long shot. Give him a few decades. "But it does seem as though the emphasis is on ghosts from one's past, rather than something more aberrant," he reasons.

Devin studies Aly as she examines the candles. She's told him bits and pieces about her life and the structure of the world she comes from, both intentionally and in moments of frenzy. Planar changes have bothered her significantly before. "Does this have anything to do with the time I found you trying to sew the planes back together by yourself?"

A

[upshore]

When he hears some hurried apologies, Miles turns around from his mask-shopping. (Which he hates.) He's happy for the distraction, but is a little baffled to see Pepper coated in cake, and being the one doing the apologizing.

"Hey, you okay there?" he says, walking up to her and holding out his hand to help her up. "Only I'm pretty sure you didn't mean to become the human embodiment of that thing people do at weddings where they shove cake in each other's mouths." Beat. "Which is just generally weird."

[lasergrenades]

Pepper manages a half smile that's undercut by embarrassment when she sees Miles. Wiping some cake off of herself, she takes his hand and stands up.

"I think there's a reason for it that's really old, but that could be one of the other traditions," she hedges, and peels a layer of fondant from her shirt. "And no, no I definitely did not mean to wear cake." The redhead turns back to the baker, and apologizes again. Several times. "I really need a shower or-- something."

[upshore]

"The problem now is that I want cake," Miles says. "At least, cake that hasn't been worn first." He's going to tease her about this. It's official.

He dug some rhinn out of his pocket and gave them to the baker, who looked only slightly mollified. "Hopefully this should cover the cost of ingredients and your time..."

Judging by the look the baker's giving him and Pepper, even if it does, it still doesn't make him happy.

[lasergrenades]

Ugh, he is never going to let this go, is he? Well, better they have cake to joke about than... other things that can be compared to food but probably shouldn't for the sake of everyone's appetites.

Pepper starts to reach into her bag to pay the baker for his troubles, too, before realizing if she does that, it's going to end up with frosting inside it. Probably permanently. "Um." Another apologetic smile. "Eh he. Seriously, I'm sorry." To Miles: "I'll pay you back, this was totally my fault. I really try hard not to mess up pretty things, or art, or whatever."

By now, a few people have come over to help clean up the mess she's made. "How about this - you walk with me back to the townhouse, I'll get changed, and then I will treat you to unworn cake and whatever else you want to go with it," she offers. It might be a good idea to get away from the bakers, in any case.

B

[squidiot]

Pepper's not the only one who's excited for this haunted house. Kai loves a good spooking, and all the candy is only making things better. Sugar rush is a great way to prep for Turf War, because when a bunch of Inklings hopped up on sugar take the field, it's adrenaline from here to Octo Canyon. A three-minute game feels a lot longer, because everyone's running around and laughing as they spray ink at one another.

She's practically bouncing on the balls of her feet (or they would be, if she had bones), and turns to the person next to her in line. "I can't wait!" she says enthusiastically. "This is gonna be great!"

[lasergrenades]

Pepper is an Official Adult now, but the kid in her is definitely coming out. Kai's enthusiasm only reinforces her own, and she grins. "I hope so. I could use a good scare that's just for fun and also really well put together."

Her fellow haunted house goer also appears to be one of the Dreamfolk, judging by the green... hair? Not hair. A question for later, maybe. And the teeth. Other than that, though, she looks mostly like a teenager. "I'm Pepper." The redhead holds out a hand. "Nice to meet you. Did you come on your own, or are you waiting for someone?"

[squidiot]

"Yeah," Kai says. "And not like the weird thing that showed up before. Like, what was that all about?" Everyone had seemed pretty spooked by it.

The Inkling takes the offered hand and shakes it. "I'm Kai. Nice to meet you, too!" She looks around, trying to take in the whole situation. "Nah, I'm here on my own. I haven't met enough people yet. Mostly I've been tryin' to find some new clothes." Gotta stay fresh!