open. Full moon is risin'

[oligomania]

Characters: Velvet Crowe [Big Bad Wolf, Red Riding Hood]
Campaign: July-ish Break
Format: [ brackets ]
Open [Closed sections for Rokurou and Eizen]
Summary: A wolf has returned and wanders around to check how things may have changed - or perhaps how they haven't.

A - No use in hidin'

[ Once again Velvet finds herself in a different world, the same one as before. That much is obvious as she can just feel the wolf ears perched on the top of her head brushing against the hood of her cloak. Her tail is hidden in the massive blackness that is her hair so she isn't particularly worried about it being seen. Before her stands the Index, an odd mix of buildings that could only come from a fairytale. She sighs heavily but with resignation, checks her gear to ensure that the blade she had picked up last time is still with her before taking a step forward. ]

Time to go see what's changed, if anything.

B - Oh, you're never gonna find escape

[ Seeing as how her journal, medallion and key all appear to be the same Velvet doesn't bother searching for her house here. Even though she knows she's been gone at least a few months, chances are the stone building will be in the same place. It may even be dust-free. Or that could just be her hopeful thinking. As much as the daemon-turned-wolf enjoyed a good cleaning, Velvet isn't up for it at the moment. Tonight she'll either rough it out in the woods (it wouldn't be the first time), or crash at someone else's place if her own magically granted house is dirty.

What she can't ignore is the unending hunger that haunts her even here. Was it too much to ask that her bottomless pit of a stomach didn't transfer over into this new world? Apparently.

Rather than pay for a meal in town, Velvet heads out to the woods to do her own hunting. Not as a wolf because that's a bit dangerous to do without knowing who's around hunting them at this point. She has plenty of experience hunting as a regular human so it doesn't take long for her to catch a meal, skin it and start a fire to cook it over.

Should anyone happen upon her at her campsite, they'll find Velvet cleaning the blood from her blade as she sits by the fire. To most it may appear that a whole wild pig on the spit would be more than enough to feed a single person. Truthfully, she could eat that and more without ever feeling sastifyingly full.

All the same Velvet will gesture to a fallen log on the opposite side of the fire. ]

Care for a bite?

C - When the wolves come out to play! [Closed to Rokurou & Eizen]

[ Eventually Velvet goes to seek out the two people who she knew had been here the last time she'd been in this world. Her feet remember the way to their homes (or where their homes used to be, if they'd left) - not that the wolf gets lost in the woods. The first stop is Eizen's. His house appears in the trees and a small part in her eases a bit. Hopefully the man is still actually here and the house wasn't simply left to stand after his departure. Upon getting close, Velvet steps up to the door where she lifts a hand to knock loudly. ]

I'm giving it to the count of ten before I let myself in. [ It certainly smells as though Eizen has been in the structure recently. Whether he's actually home right now is a different story. ]

_________________________________

[ Visiting Rokurou's cabin is potentially more dangerous so Velvet is on-guard long before moving anywhere in his direction. Last time he'd attacked simply because there was a wolf nearby and she'd be pissed if he managed to accidentally hurt her because the damn Huntsman sensed danger. Chances are good that Rokurou will know when she enters his territory (or he comes home - whichever it may be) so Velvet doesn't bother heading to the front door. Instead she chooses to drop into one of the chairs on his porch and wait for him to come to her. Velvet doesn't even need to look to know when a familiar presence makes an appearance. ]

Hopefully you're still ridiculously stocked up on meat or I might attempt to eat you instead. [ Having had "dinner" earlier means nothing to this bottomless pit of a wolf. ]

Comments

[rokubro]

Is that what you're into these days?

[Just a grin.]

Exactly, so not really much of a problem unless it's somehow brought up.

[oligomania]

I'll take entertainment where I can get it.

[ Casual shrug. ]

So far I've only told one person. Have you told anyone I left?

[rokubro]

You're guaranteed a pretty good show at least.

[Also, share some of those snacks later.]

Nah, there's been no real need to.

[oligomania]

Don't expect me to patch either of you up afterwards.

[ Only if he can get to them before she devours them all. ]

Hm, good. Keep it that way.

[rokubro]

So just watch and leave, huh? Sounds about right.

[Just a laugh before he finishes off his beer and sets it down on the floor before stretching out a bit.]

But your "secret" is safe with me.

[oligomania]

No, I'll just poke at the wounds while you fix yourselves up.

[ A small laugh even as she eyes that bottle like it offended her.]

I hope you're still a daemon of your word.

[rokubro]

Now that's just mean. No wonder you're the Wolf.

[But said with a grin. And what did this bottle ever do to you, Velvet? And he's only had one (so far).]

Of course. That's part of who I am, after all.

[Debt or no debt, that part of him definitely has not changed.]

[oligomania]

Something tells me this world doesn't have myths about Lords of Calamity so they had to put me in a suitable role that was available.

[ If it's empty it belongs in the trash, not on the floor. So it's not the quanity of booze consumed. ]

Hm, one down. One to go, then.

[ Now to get Eizen to agree to the same thing. ]

[rokubro]

I dunno, you'd be surprised what kind of stories are around. That library is pretty huge.

[But they're on the couch and the trash bin is in the kitchen. He'll throw it away later, it's fiiiiine.]

I'm sure you won't have too much trouble with Eizen.

[oligomania]

Hanging out reading stories is more Laphicet's thing.

[ Both of them. If he falls asleep on the couch, she will take his bed with no hesitation. ]

Probably not, but he is a pirate. He may expect some kind of payment in return.

[rokubro]

I'm sure you have your own favorite kinds of books to read.

[How can she be sure that's not his plan? In fact, he's going to be a dork and readjust himself, turning so that his legs hang off the edge of the arm rest and his head is on the seat cushion. Still some space away from Velvet, but considerably less. Don't mind him just crossing his arms behind his head looking up at her.]

True, but it's also Eizen. Don't think he's going to care that much.

[oligomania]

What do you enjoy reading?

[ Velvet's not sure she can recall the last book she read. She looks down at him as he takes over the couch and yet doesn't completely fit on it. If he sleeps here, he'll end up with a cramp or sore in the morning. ]

I'll bring him some sort of dish to pay him off.

[rokubro]

Usually the adventure types. You know, with a lot of action and fighting.

[Which is probably not that surprising, really. And it's fine, when she moves he can take over the rest of the space. Wouldn't be the first time he just crashed on the couch instead of going all the way to his room.]

If he wasn't able to make his own drinks, I'd suggest that, too. Honestly that guy just needs to get out more.

[oligomania]

Same. Niko always tried to get me to read romance books but even back then I wasn't all that interested.

[ She had a family to take care of, not go looking for love. If Velvet was going to sleep on anyone's couch, it would be her own. That thing was comfortable. ]

He doesn't need more alcohol. So our malak is becoming a hermit?

[rokubro]

...Yeah hard to imagine you reading anything like that. But I bet you read some things, am I right?

[Even upside down she should be able to see that telltale smirk that deserves to be smacked.]

More or less. Not like he was the social type to begin with, but he just fishes and drinks most of the time. Think it's the old age—going senile.

[oligomania]

Most of what I read was about recipes, knitting, sewing - that sort of thing. When Laphi was younger, I'd read him bedtime stories.

[ Seeing as how his face is so conveniently close... she will smack his forehead. ]

Please, even senile people still go out. He's just becoming a hermit.

[rokubro]

[There's a wince, but he just laughs at the smack.]

Wait, seriously? Were you preparing to be a housewife or something?

[Because all of that sounds very—domestic. And while he's seen that side of her, it's still hard to imagine. On the other hand, that was before Artorius turned her life upside down... ...Huh. Just a bit of a thoughtful look as he stares up at her, trying to imagine this.]

I mean you're not wrong. But he'll deny it or say it doesn't matter.

[oligomania]

[ She is in the perfect position to do it again. ]

Aball was a small village, we all did what we needed to. Sometimes it meant fixing rips in clothing or knitting items for the winter. I was usually the one who made the meals. Before I became a daemon, I was already taking care of the household. Celica died when I was a child so someone had to take over.

[ With Laphi sick and Arthur on daemon-duty most days, it was up to her to take care of some of the daily chores. Becoming someone's housewife was the last thing on her mind because she sort of already was one... except not a wife. ]

So we don't say anything and just drag him out into town.

[rokubro]

[...That makes sense, and there's a thoughtful hum.]

I see. So you just focused on the practical things. [He can respect that, especially given the circumstances. Even so, he looks at her a little curiously.] Did you have a favorite story? You know, like a fairy tale or something?

[It's not something he needs to know, but he is a little curious. Learning more about a side of Velvet he's never seen before.]

Sounds like a perfect plan to me. But if he asks, I'm telling him it's your idea.

[oligomania]

[ Can he really picture Arthur doing all that housework alone? ]

Yes, it drove Niko crazy. [ Her friend wanted her to have romance... a love, and all the things Velvet denied to take care of her family. ] I never had one I liked over the others. Celica liked to tell us different stories, sometimes making them up. The ones she made up were usually the ones I liked best.

[ Her sister was the sort of person who would create stories that was clearly based on their family. Stories she likely won't share easily. ]

Fine, I'll take the blame for it. This is hardly the worst thing I've done.

[rokubro]

[...Yeah. No, no it would be terrible.

Annnd that's kind of a bit of a let down, and his face clearly shows it. On the other hand, he can kind of see her being more fond of family made stories. They're more personal and can be more relatable, not to mention more sentimental meaning. And Velvet had always been more family oriented.]

I'm going to guess you're not going to share.

[Just a slight, wry grin. He won't pry, but hey. Can't hurt.]