singillatim | Raven & Wolf

[Potential cws: animal death, hunting trophies, non-graphic discussion of previous eye injury, genocide.]

After the deaths of Young Bill and the Old Bear, Randvi is surprised to find herself at loose ends. Some of it is to be expected, with the constant wariness required during the bear’s haunting of the area somewhat lessened (there are still the birds, but they're much more bearable to Randvi), but it seems to go beyond that.

And so it is that after one of her deliveries of fresh meat to the community hall Randvi finds herself sitting by the fire, Ulfrùn at her feet, holding a large bear claw strung onto a leather cord and watching it glint in the fire’s light.

A nearby shadow makes her jump.

“I apologize, I didn't see you there.”

[Potential cws: Darkwalker’s Revenge related cws (eg. vampire-like behaviour; illness), food talk, starvation, also Chloe might flirt with you - true players never rest.]

Chloe’s been feeling wiped out during the day ever since she’d had that weird nightmare about the Darkwalker, which means she needs more help than ever with the greenhouse, both in work and in distribution.

Various people have been invited up to the farmhouse if they've expressed interest in the work there. What they might see varies based on when they show up, day (bad) or night (better), but either way she perks up at the sight of someone that might be able to help. If they have the thrum of an aurora feat running through them, all the better.

“Hey, you made it. Here about the greenhouse?”

Honestly, Bigby isn't too sure if this is just the usual Randvi startling, or if there's something more to it. The other's thoughts do always seem to go all over the place - and especially to the darkest and most frightening corners of this place.

So the man doesn't seem to mind her reaction at all. Instead he just shakes his head with the thinnest smile before moving to sit down in one of the other chairs.

(And reaching out to give Ulfrùn some gentle scritches, of course. It's important.)

"You sure look like you were thinking about something."

It's not easy to find a good time to show up at Chloe's place when there's more and more daylight out. At first Billy figures he might show up before the night changes into day, so he can talk it over with her and then get to work once she goes to sleep, but-- well, that's a little bit too early even for him, thanks.

So he instead shows up at night, right as the darkness has taken over once more. It means he can't stay as long, still stuck with a regular person's sleep schedule, but at least it'll be enough for them to talk over what he can help out with, he figures.

"Of course. Unless you were intending to tend to it all by yourself all night." It's a little dry, but in a friendly sort of way. Like a friend gently ribbing you.

Ulfrùn is so happy to see Bigby, and rolls around in delight at the scritches.

Randvi holds up the cord she’d been contemplating when he’d arrived, showing him the large claw.

“The Old Bear is dead.”

Chloe makes a little grimace, though it's lighthearted. It's always nice to see Billy.

“Good to see you too. Want to come in for a minute?”

March seeks out Chloe for an entirely different reason, although he doesn't mind the greenhouse work at all the few times he's been roped into it. Mostly it's Chloe's company he enjoys--there's a push and pull they have that March finds pleasantly normal. And, of course. She's hot. So. There's that.

Today is something different: they've had hell rain down on them for the past God-knows-how-long but a particular highlight had been the cosmic switcharoo that was chloe and raylan.

He can't not bother Chloe about it. Which is exactly why he's got that usual deadpan look on his face.

"Thought I'd ask you what it's like to be a cowboy."

Perhaps to March’s comfort, Chloe immediately rolls her eyes.

“Christ, did he embarrass me in front of you, too?” They'd both been so panicked at first, she had probably not looked cool at all. “Looked cute in the hat though, didn't I?”

It's hard to have ears for an apology when Ulfrùn's right there. In fact, Charles barely hears her in his excitement to sit down and immediately address the big hulk of fur. Surely you understand, Randvi.

"How are you doing, buddy? Staying warm?" He offers out a mittened hand for sniffing, and keeps grinning through the resulting snuffles. Only then does he look up at Randvi, a bit sheepish about the excited display. "Don't mean to ignore you. But-" Dog. "'M sure you understand."

Come on, what could help an unsettled mood more than a raucous teenager absolutely commandeering your pet right in front of you? Even better, they smell about the same.

Ulfrùn is so pleased that she isn't working right now, and can sniff and jump up on the boy addressing her in such a friendly way.

The display does seem to break Randvi from her melancholy at least a little. “She does have that effect on people. Charles, was it?”

To her it's a foreign name and she pronounces it a bit carefully.

He pretends to topple over quite theatrically, letting Ulfrùn knock him down to her level, and sets about giving her ears a good scratch. Getting to pal around with a dog is still something a bit novel to Charles, given that he got sixteen years of never being allowed a pet, followed by more than thirty of putting them on edge with his ghostly presence. Ulfrùn is the first one he's gotten to pet with living, human hands in a long time.

He gives a little nod of confirmation. "And Randvi, yeah?" Then, after a beat to let her confirm, "What you got there?"

A little nod to the bear claw, which has quickly caught his eye in the firelight.

Oh, now Charles is in perfect face-licking range! Ulfrùn is having a great time, tail wagging madly.

Randvi holds out the cord with the claw attached, watching it in the light.

“The bear spirit that has been haunting this town is dead.”

"Sure am. Hope you don't mind the late hour."

Chloe knows why. What Louis doesn't know is that a new affliction(?) has fallen on his neighbor. He casts a look around the greenhouse. He's dressed for labor, gloves and all, even if he can't stay long. He has to mind the store. (Tim can only work nights, which doesn't help the fact that Louis needs a day shift worker.)

"What're we doin' tonight?"

“Not at all. I've been working late recently, too. Surprised you're not busy with the store.”

She's heard the kids are using it for game nights or something, and obviously Louis can't work during the day.

“I’ve got some carrots in the back that are ready to harvest. Let's start with those.”

Oh, and the face-licking is glorious! Charles' laugh is one not often heard from him in Milton - bright and unhindered, nothing shoved beneath it or masked. He lies flat on the floor, bested by the assault, and replies to Randvi between gasps of breath.

"Didn't think you could really kill a spirit." It's really a matter of semantics. You can certainly destroy one, in all sorts of nasty ways. "That's sort of our thing!"

But before any truth behind his joke can be dwelled on, he barrels forward, sitting up on his elbows just a bit. "Bit underwhelming, to look at. I thought it'd be... bigger, maybe?"

Ever since Frodo had to leave the Shire, he's had a hard time feeling safe no matter the time of day. There's no denying that the sun still makes everything feel brighter, even if it's only marginally, and knowing there may be unfamiliar people around, that's when he chooses to go.

For all that Chloe might not look too well, Frodo is sure he doesn't look it either. He certainly doesn't feel too well, wraught with stress and worry that he is. Hopefully, having something to do will help, but he's not so sure it will. Not when he can't stop thinking about Sam and Gollum, and the Ring.

He tries his best to shove those thoughts away for now, as he offers her a smile.

"Yes. I'm grateful for the invitation."

Chloe smiles wearily, though Frodo might note that she's standing far enough back to not let the sunlight touch her skin directly.

“Great. Come in out of the sun and we can hash things out. You want something to drink?”

The laugh makes Randvi smile, despite the grim topic. Ulfrùn takes full advantage while she can.

“That was the case with the entire battle, I think. This bear has harmed so many of us, but its true feud was with Young Bill’s ancestors. They felled one another and five of these remained.”

It really is too bad, they could have used the bear meat.

Considering how cold it always is, he's a little confused about the request to come out of the sun, but he doesn't question it out loud. With a nod, he joins her in the shade.

"Yes, please." He pauses for a moment, throwing a quick look around. "Were you the one who built the greenhouse?"

It honestly is a feat of wonder.

“It was my idea, but almost everyone here helped to actually build it. I used to have it down in an abandoned cabin outside town, but when Tim moved out of this place, he gave me first dibs because of the boiler.” It does work a lot better with a heat source, though it means she usually can't go far.

“What's your poison? I've got horrible pine liquor and water, or I can put some tea on.” The tea isn't great either but it's better than the wine.

Good thing she keeps that thought to herself - Charles still isn't sure how he feels about all the different animals they eat here. Back home, it was mostly cows, chickens, and the occasional lamb.

"Wish I could've helped more. Back home, fighting was my thing, yeah?" He lays back, one hand behind his head and the other petting at Ulfrùn. "My partner was the brains, and I was the brawn. Just a bit harder here, without my usual tricks."

Which, sure, sometimes amounted to getting his ass kicked as long as it took for his partner to fire off the right spell, but mostly consisted of whacking at things indiscriminately with his magic bat.

Edited 2025-05-05 14:13 (UTC)

So they had to build it. That thought is a very comforting one. The more time passes, the more certain he feels that the people here truly are simply trying to look after each other and survive.

And this? This feels homely. Enough that his heart aches with it.

"Tea would be nice."

Even if it might not taste the best, it's at least warm.

Chloe nods, putting the kettle on the stove to boil.

“Do you know Fraser? No relation. He showed me some plants that can be used for this kind of thing.”

So it's not going to kill you.

“It was a strange battle. We kept the beast at bay, but would likely have succumbed eventually had Young Bill not been present.”

As irritated as she had often been with the man, she's relieved that he had been with them when the attack had happened.

“What sort of tricks did you use?”

"I have not met Fraser. Which plants are they?"

He knows far from enough about how to survive in these lands. If the plants don't make you sick, it is very possible they would be good for you. With such cold and such difficulty growing crops, all plants in your diet are undoubtedly crucial.

Raven & Wolf | Open

Old Bear’s End | Milton | Open

Greenhouse | Milton | Open

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After the swap shenanigans

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two vampires walk into a greenhouse

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