Penny Rose [ Serah Farron ] (
rememberher) wrote in
pawnstorm2016-07-31 04:06 pm
Late It's-Not-July-Anymore Catch-All!
Who: Lux Crownguard, and you!
When: Backdated to the later half of Delphine (post-dungeon)
Where: Caissa & Petrosian
What: Late month shenanigans and overflow for July's intro! Job listings that didn't make the last catch all (harvest soon, wonderwall), plus a few other prompts. If you want something specific, message me at
sheepyton!
Ratings: PG for the most part, but will change this if need be.
Warnings: None currently
♕ o1. SEEING DOUBLE (HALL OF GLORY).
♕ o2. "FINE" ART (CAISSA).
♕ o3. SOMEONE STOP THIS CRAZY THING! (PETROSIAN).
♕ o4. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME (CAISSA).
♕ o5. HELL'S KITCHEN (CAISSA).
When: Backdated to the later half of Delphine (post-dungeon)
Where: Caissa & Petrosian
What: Late month shenanigans and overflow for July's intro! Job listings that didn't make the last catch all (harvest soon, wonderwall), plus a few other prompts. If you want something specific, message me at
Ratings: PG for the most part, but will change this if need be.
Warnings: None currently
♕ o1. SEEING DOUBLE (HALL OF GLORY).
- [ Walking around the dorms, you might find that your eyes are playing tricks on you. Did you just see something strange out of the corner of your eye? A trick of the light, maybe? A vague shimmering, just out of your peripheral vision. Blink and its gone, however. Or was it even truly there? Spooky. ]
Excuse me.
[ Yikes, where did that voice come from?! Suddenly from behind, Lux stands there, smiling as she almost always does, her head quirked slightly to one side. Curious, the bracelet on her wrist appears to be glowing..? ]
Could I borrow you for a moment?
♕ o2. "FINE" ART (CAISSA).
- [ What... what was she looking at exactly? Wandering around the Lucena Museum, soaking in all of the grandeur that Gammonian art had to offer (a good magician surrounds herself in as many strange and wonderful things as she can, after all), Lux was left more confused than anything.
She just didn't get art. Not at all.
Great sculptures and paintings of heroes past, sure, she can get into that. But here, she was stumped. It was a bit too weird. So, attempting to look like a good connoisseur of art, turning her head this way and that to try to at least somewhat analyze each piece, she found herself looking more and more confused. What was she even looking at here? She wasn't sure... ]
♕ o3. SOMEONE STOP THIS CRAZY THING! (PETROSIAN).
- [ So weeding? Not her thing. A noble city girl born and bred, she hardly knew what a day out on the fields were like, and after taking about an hour to get a small area of land weeded, some poor farm hand took pity upon her.
She could work a tractor, right? Sure she could! Anyone can! Seriously, just... go do something. Here, take the keys to that tractor over there. There was no way she could get into trouble with that, the darned thing hasn't worked in years— ]
WATCH OUT!
[ Judging from the giant cloud of shimmering black smoke careening forward on the horizon, she's "fixed" the tractor! Well, "fix" being a relative term, at least. It's running. Chugging and sputtering, bucking against the spell she placed on it to make it run, the machine managed to wrest dominance from the young mage's hands, and had a score to settle apparently.
Poor thing, she's holding on for her dear life. THIS WAS NOT WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND. ]
♕ o4. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME (CAISSA).
- [ What started off as a routine shopping trip has taken a significant detour. She intended to only go out looking for a calendar—something simple that she could use to keep track of holidays (and perhaps a few birthdays, while she was at it), but managed to get sidetracked along the way. A bit of window shopping never hurt anyone, right?
...And her room was a bit barren, wasn't it?
Moving between shops, the blond would occasionally stop, looking at something, picking it up and turning it over, before inevitably putting it back. Was she looking for something specific? ]
♕ o5. HELL'S KITCHEN (CAISSA).
- [ The farmers in Petrosian had been nice enough to gift any and all heroes that helped them with produce from their crops, and Lux was no exception. But what would she do with all of this? She couldn't eat it all herself, it would go bad before she got to it. And you know, it might be nice to share with others. Yeah!
Cooking didn't seem so hard, she could probably handle it. And after convincing a few of the maids that she wanted to make something in the kitchen, and no it was all right she could manage herself, Lux went to work.
At first, it seemed fine. But after a while, a strange smell began to waft through the cafeteria. Then strange noises—pots clanking, worried mumblings
If you choose to not intervene, she will continue her battle in the kitchen, for better or for ill.
Wandering out into the cafeteria, a large pot and lid in her arms, she looked harried. Like she had just seen a terrible crime take place in front of her. Her face somewhat smudged with... lord, what even was that, gravy? Were those scorch marks on her apron? Looking around, she spies a
Oh, hello. I made a little too much, would you like some?
[ Run. Dear lord, run. ]

wrecks yours right back ♥︎
The fond look in his eyes, the way that he smiles just so—gentle and just a bit nostalgic... It was something so special to him, a small glimpse into that ugly yet beautiful world of his, that Lux couldn't help but find herself wrapped in by his words, caught in their spell.
She could see it, these people brought together through otherwise tragic circumstances, celebrating as a family, as friends, laughing, singing, and simply enjoying the warmth of the love that they shared for one another. Playing out in the snow, huddling together inside for warmth.
Together. ]
I remember a few classmates leaving the dorms during Snowdown to celebrate with their families, while I was at the College of Magic.
[ The way her words hung in the air, it seemed that she was not among them. ]
Mother would usually write a letter wishing me well. Father...
[ There was a heavy pause as she tried to find the words. ]
Father was usually busy that time of year. But she would always wish me a happy holiday, and a happy birthday, for the both of them. They would usually send me a care package—a few books, or new winter boots, something practical that I could get some use out of. My family was never one for frivolous gifts or the like. Not for Garen and I.
[ For all the fanfare and finery that Snowdown in Demacia displayed... She had good memories of her own wintertime festival, of dancing and socializing, but it somehow seemed a bit...
Strangely sterile, after everything she had experienced here. It felt strange, feeling that she wanted something that was not her own, that wasn't quite Demacian.
(But...)
She smiled hesitantly, as if admitting it would be doing some great injustice to her people, to herself. ]
I think I may like your Christmas a bit more.
no subject
It's a funny thing maybe, because for Allen who had no real family, never knew anyone he was biologically related to.. in that moment, he realizes maybe that even so, he might have known what family was like more.
(And the hesitancy and fragile nature Lux seemed to have with her own notion of home makes a little more sense.)
That's... sad. ]
no subject
Mn. Right, then. ]
We can celebrate it together, then.
[1/2]
It was something so simple, so innocent in nature, yet hearing those words, even if just a little bit...
It was subtle, but the blond brightened. ]
I'd like that.
[2/2]
Pushing through it, Lux turned slightly, tilting her head gently and resting a finger on her cheek. ]
But I'm not sure what I would get you for a gift. I suppose I have a long time to think about it, but...
[ The gloves were a lucky pick; she wasn't sure how he would take such sturdy fabric. What else would someone like him like? ]
no subject
His cheeks might color with just the littlest dusting of pink at that even if he smiles bright (and sheepish). ]
It's a long enough time for both of us to consider that.
[ Moving on: ] You wanted to look for a calendar then, Lux...?
no subject
[ She waves a hand in the air, a girlish smile on her face.
(...Was that a blush from him?) ]
Yes, but I got a bit distracted...
[ Now it was her turn to look a bit sheepish, casting a gaze again at the window. There were a number of interesting glass crystals hanging, each catching the light and refracting it in interesting ways. ]
no subject
rubs at the back of his neck.Eyes to the window then. Sun catchers? ]
Aa—by these? [ You know it is kind of weird that this is the last sort of shop one would expect to find a calendar...
He lifts his chin, cocking his head a bit to the side. ]
Were you thinking of getting one?
no subject
It was the last place to look for something like a calendar, but they caught her eye. Her smile turned almost wistful, and she sighed gently. ]
I don't know. I've never had anything like these. A few of my classmates might go into the city from time and bring something like this back to decorate their rooms, but...
[
She didn't want that place to feel like home. That prison.]They are pretty to look at, aren't they.
no subject
But...
He smiles and leans down in order to look. Humoring her perhaps? ] Mn.
[ Except: ] I like that. They suit you.
[ And he points then, a touch brightly. Guileless boyishness. ] Aa, that one.
[ Not one of the many round, clear multifaceted ones that catch the light and scatter it. There are a lot of those, hanging alone or in colorful mobiles. But the warmly golden one shaped like a star that could nearly be a pendant as well. ]
no subject
Like a star, shining on its own, reflecting a warm, prismatic radiance for all the world to see. Standing there, looking at the small starburst sun catcher as it turned slowly, casting gentle rainbows of light around itself.
They suit her. Was that what came to mind, when he thought of her? She watched it in muted awe. ]
It's beautiful...
1/2
And yet somehow so alone by itself, too.
That's how her souls looks. The essence of herself. So it's a simple and natural sort of parallel in his mind.
But her reaction is answer enough and he blinks for a moment. Considers. ]
2/2
And will snag the cuff of her sleeve very gently (politely, such a small sort of gesture) between his white-gloved fingertips and tug her towards the door. ] Mn.
Here, then— [ we're going inside Lux ]
no subject
Feeling him grip her shirt sleeve gently, she gave him a curious look before suddenly being pulled toward the shop. ]
W-wait a second, what are you—
[ O-oh, all right, they were going inside, apparently. Letting Allen lead her along, she at least tried to open the door for them (whether she was successful was left sight unseen).
It was a small shop, not quite cramped or claustrophobic, but filled perhaps a bit too close to the brim for some with a number of curious, unrelated things. Cluttered. It would seem that the owner had very eclectic tastes. Thankfully their quarry was not too far from the door, hanging from a small ornament stand in the window. ]
no subject
But he casts her a bright silver-eyed sort of look as he does so. (He knows, but don't worry.) ]
I think, perhaps...
[ Tugging her along and casting what's... actually an almost painfully carefree look over his shoulder to her, for those that would know him. ]
...that even maybe if it's not the sort of thing we'd normally do, it's important to remember little things that remind us that we have a home we can come back to.
[ Even Exorcists at the Order would decorate their rooms. ]
Don't you think, Lux?
[ But they're being greeted by the shopkeep then and Allen is quite charmingly animated, pointing to the star suncatcher in the window when asked what brings them in. Why yes, was that for sale, how much... ]
no subject
Letting him guide her through the shop, she tilts her head gently. A home they could come back to, to keep her grounded. To remind her that, even if for a little while, this place could be...
Home. With people like him. Friends. Dear friends.
She brightened gently. ]
I suppose you're right.
[ Turning toward the shopkeep, the watched the exchange, looking between the two and attempting to interject. Between Allen's animated gestures and the shopkeep's excitement over having actual customers, Lux found herself only just following them. What was he..? ]
no subject
Which kills his soul. Just a little. And possibly his wallet. (Same difference.)
(Actually it kind of burns... like a hole in said wallet... but he'll persevere...)
But if Lux is paying attention he is, and after a brightly colorful exchange with the shopkeep (and he is ever in his element, interacting with people on the street like that and instantly striking up such an instant connection with someone he'll probably never see again) the man turns and heads to the window to collect the sun catcher from it—and starts to wrap it.
To which Allen will turn to Lux with a finger to his lips as if to hush any protest, but still with a merry sort of brightness to his eyes. ]
It's perhaps a bit early this way and not a surprise, I'm afraid... [ Teasing? Teasing. Of course it's not a Christmas present but they were just talking about such a thing. And does that and the obvious way the merchant is wrapping the ornament for sale mean what Lux might think it does...?
Yes. Yes it does.
Allen Walker who never spends money ever because he quite simply never has it. But who if he did have it (and somehow miraculously in this world he does)...
...well, after hoarding away the majority of it for the inevitable day his debts come knocking, it is a little nice to be able to do something for the friends that have already gotten him gifts as well. Besides, this one is sort of important and means more than that.
He also does kind of owe her after the hassle he inadvertently put her through with the selfsame money he's using to pay for this. ]
I hope that's alright.
no subject
But, with his finger held to his lips, a bright, impish sort of grin painted on his face, and a bit of light teasing to boot, it was hard to be mad at him. So instead, she huffed a resigned sigh, doing her very best to not look both positively tickled and genuinely quite happy. She would never get something like that for herself, contenting herself with simply looking at it through a store display and moving on. ]
You're terrible.
[ The tone of her voice certainly didn't convey that, with a bit of a lilt of amusement. She smiled easy, a pure and gentle little thing that caught in her eyes and sparkled brighter than the sun catcher he just purchased. ]
You really didn't have to, you know.
no subject
—it just seemed right. And it's actually...
...
Actually, it really is the first time he's bought a gift for a friend.
That's just how penniless he always was.And that's why he looks so very incredibly (impishly) pleased with himself when she chides him. ]Aa, I know. [ ♥
Don't worry, his tightwad heart might still seize and die.
Also it wasn't that expensive.]no subject
It was nice. Freeing, being able to smile and joke like this. She was happy. ]
That you're terrible, or that you didn't have to?
[ A playful tilt of her head, and a bit of a mischievous smile. Which was, it, Allen? ]
Or is it a bit of both?
no subject
He's actually a little proud. It's worthy of a hand of cards like the kind she coaxed him into showing her. ]
Miss Luxanna... [ It's positively devilish, so radiant is it, like he's just pulled the ace from his sleeve. Did he pick up her full name from Sion?
Given how one of his eyebrows raise in quite undeniable mirth... Yes, yes he did.
You could almost picture the cards he'd fan to hide his smile at it. ]
You wound me.
no subject
Pursing her lips in an overly childish (playful) pout, she shoves him lightly with her shoulder. Hmph! ]
I'll do more than wound you if you call me that again!
[ It was hard to keep the giggle from her voice, but she tried. ]
1/2
You can have quite the mean streak, Lux... [ Definitely a soft laugh under his breath despite the tease, though, as he rubs at his shoulder.
A fond one. ]
2/2
Even if it's not that much—
[ Ah, his countenance really did shift with that from the carefree teasing from a moment ago. (The closeness camaraderie or kinship, as Allen understands it.) Gentle and warm still, but also a little heavy.
Although no less close. ]
—I hope something like this can make it a little easier to have something to come back to. [ Especially if we might be here until Christmas and "Snowdown", Lux.
Especially when he knows even if she tells him "I'm home" it doesn't mean she misses her own that makes her sad any less. ]
[1/2]
[ A perfectly well-behaved lady who isn't afraid to take him to task, that is.
There was that laugh finally breaking through, clear as a bell. And oh how she smiled, like the night at the ball, as they practically flew down the side of the building, weightless and carefree. ]
[2/2]
(no subject)
how would you like some mood whiplash, friend?