Jan. Catch-All

[sonrises]

Characters: Varian [Victor Frankenstein] and (mostly) OPEN
Campaign: Break
Format: Brackets to start, but I'll happily match
Open or Closed Two open prompts, and one closed
Summary: Varian's been keeping to himself a fair bit since the Halloweenfaire, but that's starting to change.

A: 'Cause I'm not here.
[There were plenty of reasons Varian hadn't been out of his home much, mainly communicating over the journals. Oh sure, he'd enjoyed the Faire! And that just left him feeling more torn up about what was going on for him back home, before arriving in the Index. He also had a project to work on after the Faire, and it was always easy for him to get lost in those - so he'd spent most of his gold on supplies right after the Faire, and barely come out of his lonely house since.

Today, though, he's out and about. The "replacement" eye for Mr. McDuck is nearly done, and... He's also out of food. The teen can be found in the more commercial parts of the Index, shopping mostly for produce and meat. His typical absent-mindedness means he's bumping into people often; his lack of recent socialization means he's downright skittish about it.]

B: How can they say I never change?
[Once he's done shopping and returned his food to his house, Varian goes back out - it's not so bad, really. And it's time he practiced more with the powers from his Essence. Having read up on Victor, he can't help wondering if his electrokinesis can be combined with his ability to animate everyday objects.

That is why he's currently sat on the ground with a small porcelain figure of an elephant, and - fruitlessly - sending light electric zaps at it, which it actually runs around to avoid. That might look a little weird.]

C: You see the things they never see. (Closed to Scrooge McDuck [Odin])
[He can't believe he's holding a gun. He shouldn't be struck by this so much, after the things he'd done back home that had lead to his incarceration. But it's still... Very strange to him. But he'd bought himself a Blunderbuss and ammunition after the Faire, and now's the time for him to meet up with Mr. McDuck and learn to actually use it. He's got the duck's address, and knocks on the door with his foot, not quite trusting himself to hold the rifle with one hand, should he accidentally fire it off.]

Hello! Mr. McDuck? It's Varian!

Comments

A-ish

[ricebird]

[Commercial district, eh? Well, that happens to be where the pub is, which Varian might pass on the way to or from grocery shopping. And standing in front of that pub right now, Nabe-chan at her side and looking through her journal' contacts list, to refresh her returning memory and see who's still here, a familiar face catches her eye. The name sticks on her tongue for a second, but after the boy passes by she holds up a hand and waves at him.]

Varian-kun!

[sonrises]

[Varian gives a small start at his name being called, but the honorific narrows down who it could be, and he's already smiling by the time he turns to face Kotori.]

Oh, hey!

[He waves back, then approaches.]

Welcome back.

[ricebird]

[She gives him a warm smile back, still looking much the same as before, but MAYBE a teensy bit more centered.]

Thank you, it's really good to be back. [Oh wait!] And for house sitting too, did everything go alright?

[sonrises]

[A little chuckle.]

Yeah, things went fine! Although I'm pretty sure you're missing some vegetables.

[Despite what she'd said about it being okay, he'd hoped he could keep her produce safe.]

[ricebird]

[A soft laugh.]

I can guess why already... Maybe I should a bell of some kind down in the cellar too.

[And that's before learning the Fraggles are multiplying.]

But I'm sure you did a good job, I really appreciate this. I was actually going to ask if I could come by and get my key from you.

[sonrises]

Yeah, a bell might be a good idea. [An amused snort.] At least then you'll know when you're being robbed, right?

Oh, uh, and thank you. I was just heading back, if you want to come pick up your key?

[ricebird]

That'd be great, thanks! [And since he looks like he has his hands full.] Want help carrying anything?

[sonrises]

Oh! Sure, thank you!

[He shifts the items he's holding so she can take one of the cloth bags from him.]

It's, um, this way.

[ricebird]

[She'll take the handle in both hands at first... and if Varian's paying REALLY close attention, he might notice that the bandage that Kotori ALWAYS wears on her left ring finger is gone, the small but prominent scar there uncovered. But she doesn't draw any attention to it as she gently lifts the bag into one shoulder and follows his lead.]

Thanks... it still feels a little weird being back here. How long has it been here?

[She knows she planned on coming back in only a few days, but... the difference in time is still a bit disorienting.]

[sonrises]

[He notices that kind of thing, usually. Visual details. And this instance is no different - he makes a curious sound as he notices the missing bandage, then smiles a bit.]

It's been six days. How long was it there?

[ricebird]

[Brace yourself and don't drink anything, dude.]

Aha, well... about two years?

[sonrises]

What?! How old does that make you now?

[Wait wait no he can't ask that, that's really rude!]

N-Nevermind, I just... Two years? That's- Wow!

[ricebird]

[More sheepish chuckling...]

Ah... seventeen? And... yeah, I didn't realize I'd be gone quite THAT long, but... it's been good at home?

[sonrises]

[He's definitely blushing a bit. He just asked a young woman her age and she felt she had to answer, ugh, he feels so dumb.]

I'm glad it was - or I guess it'd be I'm glad it is, since the time doesn't move back there for us? Well, it doesn't matter...

[ricebird]

[Shhh it's fine, she knows what it's like to be awkward, she wouldn't have answered if she REALLY didn't want to. Plus really, it's still leagues better than their FIRST conversation.]

Yeah... [Some of the tension releases with another soft laugh, but then her smile calms again.] It is nice being back here, though. And that I could remember it a bit more clearly this time. It still felt like a dream when I was home [she flashes him a knowing smile], but... more like one of those that's so vivid that you never really forget it, if that makes sense.

[Or like a lingering sense of déjà vu about certain things, like reading this book or that, or seeing something flavored with sea salt.

Another laugh.] And I think my grades in my language classes are a lot higher than they'd be without this place.

[sonrises]

[Varian, being the thinker that he is, focuses primarily on the whole "what she remembered and how she remembered it" aspect. After all, it's an interesting notion.]

I'm glad you didn't totally forget... I wonder if the Storyteller does that to keep things separate, or if some things just don't carry well over different worlds like that.

[ricebird]

[She nods.] Keeping things separate makes sense. Still, I wish it'd be easier to remember everything, you know?

[sonrises]

Yeah, by the time I came back here, I'd forgotten being here before entirely - until I came back. And I hate to think there was part of my life that just left me.

[That said, he's sure not planning on going back again, this time.]

[ricebird]

Yeah... [Kotori's mood sobers.] That part... really bothered me too, the first time I visited home. It didn't help that I had a lot of other things on my mind at the time.

C!

[richestduck]

[Thought caws down from her place on the roof enjoying the sunshine, flapping her wings.]

[Scrooge's voice comes from inside the house.] I'm coming, lad! Give me a moment! [Pause.] And for gods' sakes, aim that thing at the ground!

[sonrises]

[Wait how did- Ah, right. Once Varian spots the raven, he remembers what Scrooge had told him at the Faire. Still kind of unsettling, honestly! He does as he's told, though.]

Right! Sorry about that!

[richestduck]

[Scrooge opens the front door to see Varian. He points at the weapon.]

The two most important rules to keep in mind with any firearm are (1) always treat it as if it's loaded and (2) never aim it at anyone unless you intend to fire.

[Then a small smile crossed his lips.]

How've you been, lad?

[sonrises]

[Varian nods - those rules certainly make good sense.]

I'll remember that. I've been - well, busy! I'm almost done with the eye, and I'm housesitting for a friend right now. She's gone home for a little bit.

How've you been?

[richestduck]

[His past few weeks had been a rollercoaster of emotions starting from fretting endlessly that Della wasn't returning to her coming back and feeling overwhelming relief.]

It's had its ups and downs. [Before Varian could ask for details, he continues.] Now let's take a look at what you brought me.

[sonrises]

[Varian nods - he's not one to waste time, either, so he doesn't see anything but that behind Scrooge's quick focus on the weapon. He holds the Blunderbuss out in front of him, keeping it aimed at the ground.]

You'd mentioned that a rifle might work best. This one wasn't one of the more involved ones, but that should be okay while I'm still learning, right?

B

[pidgeypidge]

What're you doing?

[She can see pretty much everything that's going on just as well as he can. There's probably no need to ask, but she's going to anyway. She probably also should've given him some kind of heads up, rather than just lurking behind him... but here we are.

In her defense, she'd spotted him while she was out walking and hadn't really intended on possibly giving him a heart attack.]

[sonrises]

[Varian gives a startled cry, then turns around. He does relax a bit when he sees Pidge, but he's still pretty shaken from being startled.]

Pidge, don't do that!

[pidgeypidge]

Ah, sorry!

[Sometimes Pidge just doesn't stop to consider that people might not be expecting to turn around and have her be standing right there. She does look suitably apologetic, though, at least?]

... Hi.

A

[gobetween]

[The last thing anyone expected a Fraggle, with their money-less society, to be doing was buying anything, but that was what Gobo was here doing, at least originally. Help from friends has certainly given him a better hold on the whole concept of purchasing, which was good when he first got low on supplies for maps. That occurring again had brought him out to the commercial district today, and it was after getting a few sheaves that the stationer, familiar with the Fraggle by now, asked for a favor. A simple delivery to another business, a book that'd been borrowed and needed returning. Agreeing to help, Gobo tucked the book into an inner pocket of his vest, and started off.

However he didn't get far before mischief happened. This being someone tripping over him; the problem of being so far below most people's natural sight lines. He bowled over with a sharp cry, landed with a wince- ooofh that was the corner of the book right into his kidneys -and pushed up to look around. Who-??

Oh.]

Uh, hi Varian. Sorry about that, guess I wasn't looking where I was going.

[sonrises]

[Varian doesn't take a fall, himself, but he stumbles pretty badly, having to hop on one leg to regain his balance.]

What was tha-

[Oh, indeed. He turns around on hearing Gobo's voice, finishing the turn with setting his other leg back on the ground.]

Hello, Gobo. Um... Are you okay?

[gobetween]

Yeah, I'm alright.

[He picked himself up off the ground and brushed his front off, then checked the pocket to make sure the book was alright. It was, but- ooh, that's gonna be a bruise later, as he lightly touched the spot where he'd landed on it. At least it was gonna be under his shirt.

...And under his fur, but, details.]

You alright?