Yup, what's goodie

[clawings]

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. ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa is the first to arrive, because Vanadi doesn't share a room with her, actually. So when she got Erik's note, she had to relay the details to Vanadi over the crystal and who knows what route he's taking and from where. But she's here, appropriately dressed for the weather (and still cold, ah well). ]

Is there something significant about the twenty-fifth?

[clawings]

[ Erik has on a blue sweater over his clothes to allow for the chill along with a hand-knit scarf in complimentary greys and blues. He stands as soon as he sees Athessa, smiling at her. ]

Winter solstice. Shortest day of the year. Also something called Christmas, which is a religious holiday.

[sulahnan]

Oh, what's the religious importance?

[ She has the note in hand, because she 100% needs to show Vanadi the drawing. ]

[clawings]

The birth of a worldwide savior some two-thousand years ago that died for our sins. The son of God. [ Erik rolls his eyes. ] Ain't my faith and they stole the date from people that predate them.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa scoffs. ]

Sounds familiar.

But if it's not your faith, then...?

[ plz explain commercialism and marketing ploys to her, Erik, explain the true meaning of crimmus ]

[clawings]

[ Erik scrubs a hand across his beard as he considers how best to answer her question. ]

Okay. Two things: one. [ He stops rubbing his face and puts up a finger. ] The society I come from is very 'stuff' obsessed. Things are made in factories by people instead of by people directly. Stuff is intended to break in a few years so you have to go buy a whole new one. Artisanship is...complicated. Everyday goods don't tend to be made by hand. Christmas, the holiday, is a holiday of stuff. You get people stuff. That's the whole point, so that the people who own the companies that sell the stuff make money.

Two. [ He puts up a second finger and then opens his hand into the air. ] It's a...family-social holiday. You spend time with relatives, eat food, exchange gifts in lights to fight against the dark nights.

[ I never had that, he doesn't say. Instead: ] Trying to do something different means making it up as I go.

tavern

[lettenhove]

[ jaskier, not knowing what else to do with his time, has taken to playing at taverns, hoping to make some coin with his songs. so far, it's only sort-of successful. it's hard to sell songs about a witcher when no one's heard of what a witcher is. he's had to reframe several ballads to make them more appealing and so far, it's just not working like he'd hoped. his muse is in a different world and he needs a new one. so far, his discrete searching has not turned up much.

right about now, he's finishing his set when he spots a rugged man in the corner. perhaps inspiration has finally found him? would this man make a good muse? there's only one way to find out. he approaches slowly, snagging a cup from a passing waitress and invites himself to sit at the man's table. ]

I like how you seem ominous just settled in this corner. Has lady love betrayed you or are you drinking for another reason?

[sulahnan]

Fight against the dark nights... I like that.

[ She does; let it never be said she doesn't appreciate a good turn of phrase. Athessa tips her head as she regards Erik, trying to decipher something she doesn't have enough clues to figure out.

Oh well. She gestures with the note, an endeared grin spreading over her features. ]

And the cat?

[highborn]

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. ]

[clawings]

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.

[sulahnan]

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.

[clawings]

Sometimes it be's like that, [ the man says, his diction unique enough that Jaskier could likely recognize him by voice alone. But Erik gestures to the bench across from him at the table. He'd been listening to Jaskier sing, trying to absorb this old/new method of storytelling. ]

I'm just drinking to kill time, honestly. What's your poison?

[lettenhove]

[ jaskier is clever enough to note changes in tone and inflection because it comes with being such an excellent musician, but that doesn't mean he can tell this is the man he spoke with over the crystal. it's not even on his mind as he lifts his drink to his lips, taking a pull, and then making a face. ]

Absolute shit, apparently. But I've come to expect it from this place.

[ he gives a slight jerk of his head towards the shard in his hand before checking to see if the stranger has one too. ]

I haven't even been able to find a good, bloody wine.

[clawings]

Wine here is very...hit or miss.

[ Erik shrugs a little. It's not strong and it's not good, but he can work with it, as evidenced by the drink he pulls. This man, this bard he's presuming, is also from Riftwatch or at least lives in the Gallows. ]

How long you been here? You got a name?

[highborn]

[ 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.

[clawings]

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. ]

[sulahnan]

[ 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?

[highborn]

[ 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?

[clawings]

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. ]

[sulahnan]

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. ]

[highborn]

[ 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.

[clawings]

[ 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.

[sulahnan]

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. ]

training yard / lightening stuff.

[tender]

[ There is a training target set some distance away, at the very edge of the yard. Derrica has brought her staff with her today, uses the heavy, weighted focus to point out her mark. ]

I don't think it's going to be as impressive as it sounds, [ she cautions, glancing up at Erik. ] But I can hit it from here with a lightening strike.

[ A comfortable distance away from the people practicing with more traditional weapons in the ring behind the. ]

[clawings]

[ Erik is standing off to the side and somewhat behind her, trying to make sure he's not in the way, but when Derrica speaks Erik moves so that he's within her line of sight. ]

If you make it light up like a handheld sparkler, I'd be impressed. [ He gives a slight shrug. ] What I mean is, I'll be impressed by most anything, so.