deercountry | January Catch-All [Semi-Open]

There is a Wizard in the foyer at 2 am.

Normally this would not seem to be a terrible issue, because sleep was for the defeated and the dead when there is an imbalanced world full of wrongs that had to be righted. But, this Wizard was not supposed to be here.

Perell, to his credit, was at least quiet. He stood staring at the ornate portrait done in oil paint that was hung in view of the door, a particular look of bitter nostalgia drawing his lips into a line while he waited for the fog to clear from his saltwater smeared glasses. He was at least dressed warmly-- in a thick sweater knit in a multitude of stripes that tried and failed to be colorful that was offset by the obnoxiously vibrant plaid of his flannel pants, with a furred hat that mercifully covered his ears as well, and a pair of thick socks that he wore underneath his ridiculous crocs. Somewhere along the line he had gotten some frog charms to stick into the air holes in the rubbery material-- and he wore them unironically.

It was comfy, and he was just glad to have a hat again.

Next to him, in the silence and darkness, floated a weird little Koi who didn't look like it belonged in the physical plane at all. Perell sipped at the hot drink he had acquired-- coffee, a rarity in the northern climes of Trench, or so he had heard-- and silently shook his head. Truly, not even another reality could spare him from the gloating smile of Morris Wadge.

At least they had the forever tent, and Perell was content enough to just collapse on the sofa and sleep-- should no one find him, first.

A-- Haberdashery

He didn't like the cold.

Perhaps it was his recent problems with nearly drowning in the open sea, where the torrential current was only matched by the torrential storms that continued endlessly over the Sea of Graves, but Perell did not like the cold-- and was miffed that all of the fashionable hats were sold out.

Or, at least they weren't being sold to him.

"What do you mean, none of this is good enough to trade?"

A selection of sundry items, ranging from cool shells to small, empty jars were spread out over the counter while Perell looked askance at the Shopkeeper. He knew he had only arrived, but weren't newcomers supposed to have an easier time getting necessities?

"Well, there might be One..."

The Shopkeeper reached over and delicately plucked the long, delicate looking feather Perell had stuck in the knit cap he wore as a memento-- and immediately Perell snatched it back.

"Uh. No. That's not for trade."

Suddenly protective, Perell tucked it away into safety. It wasn't much, but it was an expensive accessory...

And the first one he had bought in well over a century.

B-- The Library

If there was any place that had the answers he needed, it was the library.

Perell, a man who well understood the power of books, was prepared for the haul of an extensive research venture. Sure, he could ask Vyng or Tuck for information, but he knew what the odds were on that front and he preferred the direct approach to information gathering over accepting it from secondhand resources.

He also wasn't Wanted in this land. It was amazing how nice a little freedom felt after so long without.

Throughout the month people could find Perell tucked in a corner with a mountain of books, scribbling notes in his book or even passed out among the tomes he had gathered. Perhaps he wasn't as well prepared for extensive study as he thought.. but, at least his heart was there.

Wildcard

[Don't like a prompt? Make one up!]

Edited 2022-01-04 04:27 (UTC)

[And then, suddenly, there's a tall old man here! He's grinning.]

Looking for hats?

[It was a small mercy that the man wasn't too tall. Perell wasn't short, but he was of average height-- being among people who were practically as tall as trees had its own troubles.]

Well. Yeah.

[It's why he was in the shop that sold hats. That and, even under the knit cap he was wearing, it was obvious that he was a little bald.]

I've got a good, warm one already. It's just not very... fashionable. This town seems like a place that appreciates good fashion, so I was hoping to get a nicer looking one for nicer occasions.

Well, if you're looking for fashionable hats at an affordable price -

[He puts his arm around Perell's shoulders and starts to steer him away from the booth, apparently not at all above just snaking other peoples' customers right out from under them. If they can't be bothered to go easy on a newbie without a lot of trade goods, then that's their problem!]

- there's another shop right down the road that does custom work! What sort of thing were you thinking?

[Perell eyed the man with suspicion. Anyone who swoops in like this has got the bones of a crooked salesman, and he didn't particularly want his first venture in Trench to involve being swindled.]

A wide-brimmed one with a band that I can stick a feather in.

[He explained. Then:]

Excuse me. I need to get all my stuff before we go.

[It was a few handfuls of interesting shells and a few small jars that barely had the space to contain much more than alchemical agents. Not a lot at all.]

Well, that's not very specific.

[Michael grouses lightly, apparently not at all aware that he's coming off as shady af! Isn't this just how people do?

Normally this would be where he brought out a notepad and did some sketches, but he didn't actually come out here to do this - he doesn't really have one close at hand. Sighing, he just waves one hand and creates, in the other, the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks of a fancy hat with a feather.]

What, like a pirate hat?

[If it was that simple, and Perell had his powers, he could have managed that feat himself-- along with conjuring his blue robes and a multitude of other matters. As it stood, all Perell could do was stare, wide eyed for a moment before he snorted irritably.]

Please. I may have associated with pirates, but I am not one. Maybe something more... dashing? Less gaudy?

When Perell wakes up he'll find that his isn't the only mountain of books in this section of the library. Another one has cropped up just down the aisle from his own. The main difference is this one looks particularly more "Fort" like including a little hole in the middle for a mechanical eye to spy through and a pirate flag jutting out from the top.

Eventually with little warning a book will come sailing through the air out of the top of the fort to crash into Perell's pile of books.

At a certain point, I feel like associating with pirates just makes you a pirate. "Pirate accomplice" sounds boring, anyway.

[Own your piracy! But that wasn't a true attempt on Michael's part - frankly, he takes enough pride in his work that he wouldn't have parted with that thrown-off product anyway - so he just sets it aside.]

Come on, man, give me some actual colors and design elements. Can't exactly read peoples' minds anymore.

Does two weeks under their protection even count?

[It was a valid question-- but it doesn't change the implications that he was a wanted criminal. Seeking protection from a Pirate Queen isn't something ordinary people do.

And the continued commentary, he heaved a sigh. At least, he felt a little less alone at being bereft of his magic.]

Right, right. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I don't exactly have access to my magic right now. And, before you say it? This isn't related to arriving here-- even if it didn't do anything to help, either.

[He shook his head. Without his magic, he didn't know if he could even rightfully call himself a Wizard for the moment. The shock of it was still too raw. Frankly, it still unnerved him to even fathom that aspect of reality...]

A floppy hat with a wide brim that you can pin up on the side, with a band that you can stick a feather or a flower in. It doesn't need to be too fancy, but I'd appreciate it if it looked nice.

Uh. You can use either blue or green for colors. And-- don't make it over the top, or there's three people who will never let me hear the end of it.

That was...

Startling.

Perell jumped up in his seat when he heard the book crash into his pile, momentarily bewildered and heart racing as he blearily wondered if a monster was really going to assail them with the First of the Sailors taking them to safety. Then he observed the books... and he remembered where and when he was.

This wasn't the Sea of Graves anymore. This was Trench-- and evidently the library was a den for pirates.

He hummed thoughtfully, still bewildered, and set his notes aside. He wasn't keen on turning books into actual ammunition, but perhaps there was still a way out of this peacefully.

Sounds like you might just be friends with pirates.

[Michael doesn't actually mind this - he thinks pirates have a fun aesthetic!]

What blood type did you end up with? I could do this before, but other Darkbloods have developed similar abilities. Honestly, this is not as good as what I used to do.

[The end product is probably about the same, but back home, he really could have just made "the hat this guy wants" and it would've happened. Here, he's gotta form a good mental picture first. Michael listens, nodding along, looking into the middle distance as he visualizes. He likes blue, he'll go with blue, frankly he leans towards fancy himself but he can bring it back down to "nice"...

Once he's happy, he snaps his fingers to make the hat.]

How's that? [Also:] Not three people from your world?

'Warmblood.' I think that's what Vyng said.

[It looked like ordinary blood to him-- and it frustrated him to no end. The hat was certainly acceptable enough for Perell to nod gratefully, even if it was a little gaudy. There would be a chance to fix it later, but for the moment he was content enough to remove the knit beanie and place it on his head.

The whole ensemble, with his horrid looking knit sweater that failed to be colorful and his ridiculous flannel night pants, looked beyond silly. At the moment, Perell just didn't care.]

And yeah, three from my world. Somehow, we keep finding each other.

Oh! You know Vyng?

[Luckily this completely distracts Michael from making any other suggestions about this horrendous outfit!]

[Thank god!]

Yeah. He's one of the three I'm talking about. I'm sure you can guess who the other two are. They're very hard to miss.

[There was obvious affection mixed in with the sass, and it was clear that Perell thought the world of them despite his tone and words.]

Well, yeah, they live in my front room! I've seen so much more of Tuck than I really wanted to!

[Grinning, Michael moves to shake Perell's hand.]

I'm Michael. I met Vyng back in the dream, we've been friends for a while!

You, and I, and plenty of other people.

[The man was both massive and not shy about dressing in his loincloth-- or his frankly impressive pectorals that Perell had little choice but to stare at sometimes.

Perell accepted the handshake, glad for something that seemed a little ordinary in this world.]

I'm Perell. And, uh, sorry about those guys camping in your living room.

...And my breaking in last night to find them.

[Frankly, he was rather proud that he even got in. Without his magic, he was feeling very limited in his capabilities at that moment.]

Oh, you broke in? You're lucky Eleanor was out hunting last night!

[She won't mess with people Michael brings in, as long as they don't mess with her, but he doesn't imagine an actual break-in would go over great.]

It's fine, I invited them. Couldn't have them just camping out. It's wild out there.

And Eleanor is... a ranger?

[Who else goes hunting at night, that he would need to worry about in this place. He had heard stories about monsters, but felt reassured that the incense around town was enough to ward them off. However....]

Thanks for inviting them. Those three clowns are used to roughing it, and probably tried camping outside the town at first. And, with that tent? It's enough to make people a little overconfident.

No, Eleanor's my warg. I'll introduce you sometime, so she knows you're supposed to be there. She won't bother you if you don't bother her. Also, not sure if Vyng told you, but don't touch the hat in the front hallway.

[Don't worry about it though!]

Yeah, of course. Vyng's done a lot for me, before. I'm glad to help him out.

[And, just like that he was invited in by a stranger. No questions asked. Suddenly, Michael's aura of a sleezy, reality bending salesman didn't matter. Perell found himself touched by the odd benevolence.

Destruction and pandemonium tended to follow in their wake, and even before encountering Vyng, Tuck, and Billie, Perell had been a Wanted Man.

After all, Wizard Crimes had broken his own reality.]

I-- I don't know how to thank you. But, I'll remember that. Vyng... has done a lot for me, too. All three of them have.

[He owed them a great deal, and he was quietly glad that they had fought against the impossible to keep him by their side.]

Edited 2022-01-05 11:07 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm just getting to know Tuck and Billie. Billie wasn't even there, in the last world.

[He likes them well enough? But Vyng's the one who's his friend.]

Are you gonna be staying with them? I just assumed you were - gotta grab onto that, if you've got friends from home around. [He wishes he did, sometimes. But he's okay.]

January Catch-All [Semi-Open]

Open Threads

Closed Threads

For Tuck, Vyng, and Billie (and, let's face it, whomever else gets dragged in)

Intro

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