closed-ish, hmu if you want additional starters

[afoolsgold]

Characters: The Fool, Devin, Zephyr, Rutile + ???
Date: Mid-January.
Location: Throughout Aifaran in the aftermath of the storm.
Situation: Still reeling from the effects the peculiar eddies had on him during the storm, the Fool ventures out into the city again.
Warnings/Rating: None yet, will update as needed.
Notes: All starters are closed, but please hmu if you’d like one!



I. Playing House (closed to Devin)

The apartment is spare in a way that speaks more to the demons that plague Devin’s heart than they do to his aesthetic preferences. The Fool is hardly one to criticize--especially being that he is the recipient of his partner’s kindness and generosity until his own living space can be salvaged. (If it can be salvaged.)

Some evening after Devin returns home from supporting the recovery efforts, he’ll find the Fool--with Holly perched upon his shoulder--listening to the latest news reports on the radio with a grave expression on his face. He glances up from where he sits to greet Devin with a wan smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Understandably, one hopes. He’s been loathe to leave the apartment for very long after his experience during the storm.


II. Homeward Bound, The Incredulous Journey (closed to Zephyr)

One cannot avoid the world forever, and the Fool has never been one for remaining cooped up indoors for long. Besides, his (morbid) curiosity has gotten the better of him, and he is determined to see what has become of Die Rosa Tulpe--and his apartment. This excursion seems as good a reason as any to text Zephyr on his (newly acquired) yimo, to ask for a bit of help sorting through what’s left of his home.

“What’s left” turns out to be “drowned.” And inaccessible.

The Sentry won’t let him inside the strangely flooded building, but if nothing else, they are letting him close enough to it to see with his own eyes the state of the place. He’s left to stand staring at it in silent, wide-eyed awe.


III. Peculiar Derailment (closed to Rutile)

The copse of other-worldly trees that have sprouted up in the middle of the Skyway throw a wrench into the gears of the Fool’s plans to journey to the turtle’s head for a much-needed respite through meditation. The detour en route lets him disembark from the train a stop or so ahead of the closed section of track… and of course, curiosity gets the better of him.

He ventures towards it and stands just below the elevated tracks, lifting his eyes up to shield them from the sun as he takes in the strange qualities of the gnarled roots that protrude out into the open air.

Comments

I

[annihilist]

Staying nights with the Fool was distinctly different than having the Fool staying at Devin's apartment, even if he's been practically living above the cafe by now. Offering his space as a respite had been easy enough; he's hardly attached to the residence in any significant way, and the Fool needed a safe haven. Devin's rules and regulations have been loosened significantly by his time in Konryu. But as days stretch on, he's becoming more and more aware of his spartan living space and how it fails to serve his partner. It had been selected for location and factors that no real estate agent would enumerate in a list of amenities, and while it isn't a squeeze with two people, it lacked the soft touches of comfort his lover favors.

He's been out most days helping with storm recovery, though for shorter time periods than he might if he didn't have someone to return to. Luthien trots to the door, chirping happily up at Devin as he enters. The vampire ruffles her fur, raises his eyes to the Fool and smiles back. For once, strangely, his is a shade warmer than his partner's.

"I hope you haven't been listening to that all day," Devin says gently as he walks into the living room, slinging a duffel bag off his shoulder and setting it on the floor by the Fool's feet. He leans down to press a kiss into the Fool's hair, careful not to unbalance Holly. "Can I tear you away, or would you like to finish the broadcast?"

[spiralpatterns]

Oh, this is awesome. The curves this place throws him know no bounds, apparently. "So," Zephyr says, with a forced brightness. He claps the Fool on the shoulder -- remembers himself -- takes his hand away. "I know I said I'd help you sort through the wreckage and all that, but... I don't have gills."

Just as a starting point. He'd be happy to help if he could, but this is kind of... well, a non-starter.

"I'd say you can crash at my place, but X and I already have houseguests. Might be a tight fit."