faderift | Yup, what's goodie

Entry tags:

Yup, what's goodie

WHO: Erik Stevens & Y'ALL
WHAT: Checking things out, buying some stuff, reading books, &c
WHEN: ooc: December | ic: Cassus
WHERE: Exploring Kirkwall and the Gallows, &c
NOTES: Erik curses but that's probably gonna be it

→ I got all the sounds, got plenty; open

[ Here are a few places one can find Erik within the Gallows on a regular basis:

The Library: Reading a little bit of everything, actually but focusing on recent history reports, whatever passes for science fiction, books about the Fade, and books about religion. Oh and a book or two on elven culture. Shh.

He's here at all sorts of hours but mostly between 11pm and 5am, apparently not sleeping very well otherwise. Why else be in a library at prime sleeping time?

The Smithy: Erik is fascinated by this area and mostly writes notes about whatever process he's allowed to observe here. Leave his little engineering heart alone about it! (Or don't, actually. Bothering him is preferable to the narration.)

The Herb Garden: Because he's curious if he recognizes any plants from home. Spoilers: he doesn't, but he keeps coming back anyway, usually in the early afternoon.

Training Area: Sparring with swords and spears, because there's no excuse not to stay in shape. Also there's a war on? So. Come gawk at the man. It'll be fun.

Anywhere else: He explores the entire Gallows during his quarantine and then does it again afterward, so consider this an open invitation to wildcard me.
]

→ You should ask around, my city; open

[ Erik discovers the market district in Lowtown and spends an inordinate amount of time there, mostly browsing, but occasionally buying small items. A scarf at one point. Close to the middle of the month he is clearly looking for something specific - jewelry, it would seem. He picks up bracelets, necklaces, earrings, but doesn't seem to settle on anything for a while.

You can also find him in the occasional tavern. He hates drinking alone; join him? ]

→ You should get to work, get busy; closed to athessa & vanadi

[ Erik left a note at Athessa's. Now he just has to wait for them to show up. So he's chilling in the herb garden, again, this time at sunset. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, am I missing a history lesson?

[ That's from the opposite corner of the garden, as Vanadi weaves toward them. He's dressed warmly (and dramatically) as always, with the big cloak about all he needs for the chill.

There'd been an ounce of trepidation at the news of the mail, but — that's stupid. He wants to get to know this man better, as promised, and if he's inviting them anywhere then surely Vanadi's drunken mess of a display hadn't been too off putting. True, he's left not sure which face he should wear around him, but he'll figure something out. So, anyway, here he is, doing absolutely fine. ]

Christmas lights and decorations become a whole thing between residences, [ Erik mentions offhandedly. ] It's too bad I don't have any way of showing you what I mean.

[ Pour another one out for not having a phone, or Google, or even just a selection of stock images to explain things with. He could make so many memes, it's depressing almost.

Vanadi gets a wave and a smile. ]

It's a panther. They're important to my people, my family.

I was just telling Athessa about Christmas, the spirit of giving, and other bullshit.

Yeah I'm not sure I understand everything you said, but I get the gifting thing. It's what Satinalia is about, too.

[ As Vanadi approaches, Athessa hands him the note, making sure to point out the panther drawing with a tap of her finger. ]

I didn't expect you to be an artist as well as a warrior.

[ He plucks up the note with an amused eye for the drawing in particular, which finds Erik a moment later. ]

That can't be how you sign everything.

I do a lot of doodling little figures like these in my notes, [ he says with a shrug, but it's clear he's pleased that they like it. ] Back home I'd have been scrolling shit on my phone, reading whatever while I write. Been a minute since I've passed notes.

[ Erik smiles a little. ]

I'm glad y'all like it, but I'm hoping you'll like these more.

[ He hands each of them a small wrapped parcel from his pockets: Athessa gets one in greyscale Griffon-patterned cloth, and Vanadi gets a a red Griffon pattern. ]

[ Athessa is a bit taken aback, despite having known she was about to receive something. The idea of a gift is different than an actual one, and now that it's in her hands... she's not sure how to react.

She looks over at Vanadi, but figures he won't know how to react either. He'll just be better at hiding any awkwardness about it with his practiced charm.

So why not just open it? Maybe shake it first. But— ]

It's not gonna break if I shake it, right?

[ God, gifts, why is Vanadi always being caught off guard by gifts. That Erik should care to give them any is also startling, but ... perhaps less so. This place isn't lonely, Vanadi had told him.

So he accepts it with a warm smile, and tucks the note and its drawing into his pocket. He'll find a way to bring that back. ]

You do get right to work, don't you? [ He meets Athessa's glance, but as predicted, it's only relaxed good humor from Vanadi. ] More importantly is this an open now situation, or is there a particular time for it?

No, you can shake it as hard as you like, it should be fine. [ He stuffs his hands in his pockets and scuffs the toe of his boots on the ground a little. How the fuck do normal people do this shit? ] You ain't even gotta open 'em now, if you don't wanna.

[ But he hopes they will, honestly. ]

Oh, okay.

[ Athessa stands with her hands behind her back, still holding the gift, and puts on a guileless smile, as if she would actually wait to open it.

She looks to Vanadi, interested to see if he opens his and what it is. ]

[ Yeah, Vanadi's definitely not waiting, not even to be cute, Athessa. He pulls it open carefully, appreciative of the cloth, and looks pleasantly surprised at the delicate metal inside. Earrings, he recognizes them quickly, and holds them up for Athessa to see as well with a grin. ]

Is there something about me that says earrings? Is it the six piercings, do you think? [ Well, more than that now — he added two more at the tips, for the set Athessa had got him. He transfers his grin to Erik, where it warms to a smile. ] Thank you, really. I do love them, this is very thoughtful of you.

[ Erik is resolutely not going to pout at Athessa. Nope. Not gonna do it. He's just going to look at her very intently and then raise his eyebrows at Vanadi as he opens his gift. ]

More like I dunno what the fuck I'm doin', and...I dunno. [ He makes a face. ] Wasn't nobody around to give gifts to, before. So I picked something I thought y'all would like and could keep on you without too much trouble.

[ He brushes Vanadi's arm with one hand. ] Glad you like it.

Yeah, it's 'cos you have so much real estate. [ Elves can wear so many more earrings than anyone else. ]

I'm usually the one giving people things, [ Athessa says, like an admission. She relents and opens her gift and her smile ticks one notch closer to "bashful." ] Never got used to receiving them.

[ She runs her fingers over the star engraved on the metal, already deciding what she'll wear these with. ]

[ He may not know just yet how to feel about Erik, but he does know how he feels about the smile it's put onto Athessa's face. His gaze returns to Erik and his own smile has gone toward grateful, appreciative. ]

Thank you, I think is what she means.

[ And he leans in to drop both arms around Erik's neck, to tug him into a hug. It feels just over the line of overly friendly (even despite the other night), but it's largely for Athessa. ]

[ Erik smiles, lacking all the bravado the expression usually holds for him, but That hug though? He can return it without question, closing his eyes for a moment and just feeling it.

When the fuck was the last time someone hugged him? His breath catches a little, but what a dumb thing to get all up in his feelings about. It's just a hug. Vanadi probably hugs people all the time, don't be a weirdo about it.

If he rubs at his eyes when they separate, well. They'll either tease him about it or they won't, he's not sure he'll mind either way. Or he might wanna run. Which he does, already. ]

Y'welcome. Both of ya. [ Sniff. Sniff. Rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. ]

[ Not long after Erik and Vanadi separate from their hug, Athessa throws her arms around his neck to hug him, too. With him as tall as he is, and her as short, she ends up more or less hanging off of him with her toes barely touching the ground, but it doesn't need to be a sustainable hug.

Just a good one.

Why does she feel like she should tell him that everything's gonna be okay?]

[ If he'd thought a hug a bit much, that sniffle he surely doesn't miss almost definitely is. But, gods, he'll be the last one to ever be able to accuse someone of an abnormal reaction to a fairly normal thing.

That's probably what has him shifting to the side opposite of Athessa's, slipping an arm through Erik's. He trusts Athessa to pick up on this bookended-elves thing he's going for with their tall new friend. ]

So, are you off of quarantine yet? Or will I be cooking dinner?

[ Since that is, as of just now, what they're doing. Sure hope everyone is hungry.]

[ Athessa's hug gets the same treatment as Vanadi's, closed eyes and deep breaths, though Erik does wrap an arm around her torso so she doesn't have to jump down and can be lowered instead. Also it just. Seemed like the thing to do. ]

Thanks. [ Another sniff and now he's binding his lower face up in his scarf. ]

Nah, [ A little surprised eyebrow raise at the change in topic and sudden plans, but not about to argue against it. ] Quarantine been over. You wanna go eat somewhere? Unless you wanna cook which I ain't sayin' no to.

[ Oh, she picks up on it. When she's back on the ground again she mirror's Vanadi, hooking her arm through Erik's and putting her hands in her pockets so it's real casual-like and not the usual lady-being-escorted pose. ]

Vanadi is a great cook, though last time he cooked for me I had to do the dishes.

[ She didn't mind doing the dishes then and she doesn't mind now, but she can't help teasing him. If nothing else, it provides some levity to distract from whatever feelings Erik is struggling with. She knows that body language well. ]

[ Thanks Athessa, they got 'im. He starts them forward, headed for the kitchen. The choice was already made as he offered the options. ]

You didn't have to do the dishes. [ That's with a semi-offended huff, for Erik's benefit. ] I whined and you took over, is all.

[Well now he's been flanked, there's clearly no escaping. He can feel the desire to run ebb a little bit anyway with Athessa and Vanadi's banter. ]

I don't mind dishes. [ He smiles behind his scarf where no one can see (but it does reach his eyes) as they walk. ] Seems like a fair trade.

He says I didn't have to do the dishes but you haven't been on the receiving end of his whining. It's impossible to ignore.

[ She winks at Erik, if he's looking at her to catch it.

Why tease a man for having emotions when you can tease around him and not make him feel foolish? The banter continues, becomes conversation and laughter — at least on Athessa's side — and lasts well until they've reached the kitchen and Athessa takes it upon herself to make them some coffee.

With minor assistance, since someone keeps putting the coffee pot and kettle on a tall shelf. ]

[ Poor short Athessa, he does pause to grab the pot and kettle for her. Then he's quick to set on the kitchen at large, taking a brisk inventory of what's publicly available for working with, what's run out since he was last here, what prep dishes haven't been stolen yet.

With his head half-buried in a storage cupboard: ] You'd best give me the rundown of favorites and least-liked, Erik. Is there anything I ought to avoid?

[ He does catch the wink, and chuckles a little from behind his scarf, which gets unwound from the lower half of his face as they enter the kitchens (it's warmer there). He hasn't really explored any areas where he's found people working, other than what he can get away with at the forge - that's too fucking cool to ignore - because he's worried about being in the way or making someone's life more difficult by virtue of being nosy.

Also, he stands out compared to the elves and others working in the kitchens. It's probably the height. Or maybe the intensity. Either way. ]

I don't like octopus, [ he says after a moment's consideration, ] but I like spice, and anything else is fair game. I'll try new shit too. If it's something other than chicken, I'd be cool with that. Had a lot last few days.

[ Athessa has to pause to have a tiny eureka moment, whispering "spicy octopus" to herself like she's just solved an ages-old riddle. Then she gets back to grinding coffee beans in an old burr grinder, putting them into the long-handled carafe, and then setting the gooseneck kettle on the grate over the hearth. ]

Luckily I don't think chicken is going to be on the impromptu menu.

[ The memories of Murderhaus are fading from the fore, but not quickly enough. Athessa still can't think about meat without remembering the grisly past-time of Medrod the Cannibal. ]

[ Chicken is absolutely not on the impromptu menu; meat in general isn't, when he's got just a small spur of the moment in mind. Vanadi makes some noise of agreement, already distracted by food-planning.

Talk amongst yourselves, children, he is official busy with his Craft, becoming a one-man-whirlwind of preparation and assembly. ]

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