( open )

[cajolery]

Who: clair (cajolery) & you!
What: catch-all for wyver stuff & the second part of the event
When: now!
Where: various places in wyver
Warning(s): none (yet?)


A. JOURNEY TO WYVER: DONDE ESTA EL BANO

[ Clair isn't too thrilled with this prospect of picking up everything and dashing off to Wyver, though she can see the necessity. She's even less thrilled about leaving her sick friend in someone else's care for the gryphon flight over, but—that is also a necessity, and so she sets off on this journey with pragmatic determination.

That changes when she's given the option between a horse and carriage—a horse, of course! It's no pegasus, naturally, and not as finely bred as the warhorses she's accustomed to, but... it's been so long since she's been in the saddle that she's pretty easy to please, in the end.

She's pretty confident in her riding skills, but that doesn't always hold for the other refugees. Since she's such an incredibly generous soul, she'll approach anyone who doesn't look like they really know what they're doing with this whole horseback riding thing and jab them unceremoniously in the spine. ]

With that posture, you shall feel quite sore when this is over, I assure you—come now, straighten your back!

B. OLD CITY: THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB

[ How the heck did your character get roped into this? Well, if they're not exactly the child-caring type, then you can be certain that this girl is somehow at fault for volunteering the both of them to take care of children at the orphanage. Between the illness and the flood of people from Olympia, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that the orphanages are severely understaffed and need help—good thing they're here to save the day!!

Unfortunately, Clair has completely forgotten what a disaster her last experience in babysitting was. In fact, it's having the opposite effect of giving her unwarranted confidence in her (nonexistent) child-handling skills. She looks assured, but don't trust it. ]

This should be quite simple, no? [ She picks up one of the babies they've been tasked to look after, which immediately starts to cry. ] Ah...

C. UNDERGROWTH: THIS CANNOT POSSIBLY GO WRONG

[ Wait, how the heck did your character get roped into this one?? Well, no matter! A medicine woman in the city has lost her assistant—he journeyed into the Undergrowth in order to retrieve some special spring water, but he was supposed to return hours ago. Clair, being the magnanimous person she is, volunteered to help find him...

And so here they are, wandering the Undergrowth in search of the missing assistant. At least they can start by heading towards the rejuvenating spring that was the man's destination, and go from there. He should be somewhere nearby, right? ]

I do believe she said that the spring was east from here, did she not? [ Either way, they should be close. ]

D. WEST END: [CANTINA BAND PLAYS IN THE DISTANCE]

[ Even though Clair's more used to... houses of ill-repute than she was before, thanks to her time at Shades Darker, she has very little use for them, and so she steers clear. Instead, she goes for the ones that are a little more high-brow, with dancing and music and boisterous conversation spilling out of their doors—it's the kind of place that almost reminds her a little bit of home, of the inns and taverns the army frequented in its march to Rigel.

She finds herself drawn in by the lively atmosphere of one of those establishments—but, after buying a drink, she's faced with a dilemma: it's crowded in here, and all of the tables are taken.

Never one to let a setback deter her, she approaches someone with an empty chair at their table and smiles brightly. ]

This seat is not otherwise occupied, yes? Do allow me to join you. [ She's... pushy... ]

E. WILDCARD

[ Hit me with anything!! This is open to sick people too who need someone to take care of them... or just leave a blank comment and let me throw you a starter. Feel free to hit me up at optimismnice if you want to plot something out. :) ]

Comments

[defenses]

[ wow clair!?

but, perhaps she's not entirely incorrect. still, regardless of whether he can relate to them or not, it seems to be doing little to alleviate the crying child in her arms. as clair has surmised, he doesn't think it's much of a diaper issue. nor does he think they're hungry. according to the caretakers they've recently had their meal. ... and likely were changed soon after. but, he doesn't actually think as far as how fresh??? they still smell so??

he's very ... firm on this silly face plan. ] Just anything! Usually they stop crying when they're laughing, don't they? At least that's my experience. [ even in the guard, there have been a handful of guys with kids, and well, it's always sorta worked out like that? ]

Uh, .... don't tell me you don't know how to make one? That's impossible, right?

[cajolery]

[ It's okay. If he hasn't figured it out yet, he's actually the one best suited to babysit these children, not her. Clair is at that dangerous junction where she has no idea what she's doing, but she also has no idea that she has no idea what she's doing.

Anyway, she looks at him in wonder, then nods her head vigorously. ]

Ah! Yes, that does make sense. Quite so.

[ If a baby is laughing, then it can't be crying, right? Maybe he isn't useless at all... holding it under its armpits, she lifts the baby up closer to her face, so that she can make eye contact with it—she shoots Vane a frown. ]

Of course I know! Wherefore would I not? [ Still... in spite of what she says, she looks back at the baby like she's at a loss with what to do next. Silly face... silly face...

Finally, she sticks out her tongue, scrunching her eyes shut. ]

1/2

[defenses]

[ in a way, he's glad she takes to his haphazard response. if anything, he could already picture a certain knight rebuking his claims. regardless, he seems to be visibly relieved, and only once he catches himself doing this does he seem to clear his throat and straighten up a bit. ]

My bad, my bad! I didn't mean anything by it, it's just ...

[ ah, and then ...


she's making that face. for a few seconds he just stops speaking altogether. ]

[defenses]

[ that was actually sort of cute?! there's something endearing about that effort alone and he finds himself ...


suddenly bursting out laughing, and in suit it seems the child also does the same. they say humor was infectious and somehow it seems to be holding true enough for the babies involved. except, it doesn't seem like vane is stopping laughing anytime soon. ] Hahaha, that was the best!

[cajolery]

[ Look, she doesn't have any grounds to refute it. She doesn't know the first thing about babies, so making silly faces sounds completely sensible to her.

Still... this isn't quite the reaction she was expecting. Okay, so she was expecting it, since she is obviously naturally capable of succeeding in everything, up to and including making silly faces, but maybe not quite to this degree—certainly, she didn't really expect Vane to burst out laughing like that too, and it makes her feel a little... embarrassed? Shy?

Why, he's laughing harder than the baby! ]

Wh-What is the matter? Is that not exactly what you had just suggested?

[ He better not be messing with her... but, well, she can't deny that it worked. The baby looks a lot happier now—it's even kicking its little baby feet. ]

[defenses]

[ it isn't his intention to embarrass her, and yet... here he is. still unable to stifle his laughter. at least not immediately. after some time (sorry clair) and with great effort, he finally ceases. that is, before deftly reaching out and giving her a firm pat on the back. ] Ah—

I was a just thinking I'd want to see that face again. I mean, it got this little one to stop crying, so it must be something. [ vane gestures towards the baby in clair's arms with an easygoing smile. ] What about another one?

[cajolery]

[ She eyes him warily (read: sulkily) for a while as he laughs, but her mood starts to dissipate once she realizes that he doesn't actually mean anything by it. This is literally... just how he is, and how can she stay crabby about that? Besides, his good humor is kind of... infectious. The baby certainly seems to think so too, apparently, because it's burbling happily in her arms.

She even finds herself smiling softly at the baby— ]

Ah, another one? But the child is already happy, is it not? [ Is there a point of diminishing returns on silly faces? ]

[defenses]

[ while vane wasn't the sort of person who deliberated over the finer details of people's reactions (or, in turn, what they implied), he does notice the way she sulks, and then the way her expression seems to soften. somehow being overly aware of the transition up until that point has him feeling a little self-conscious.

there's a touch of color to his cheeks, especially as he momentarily seems caught up in the idea. that is, before she begins speaking again, and he does his best to adjust ... himself back to the conversation. which he does so a bit clumsily. ] Huh? Oh, yeah. Guess so, but...

I was asking for myself. Is that weird? [ and to vane there is no diminishing return on silly faces. ]

1/2

[cajolery]

[ Sweet Mila, mother of the earth, that actually makes her blush a little, ungainly as it is. It's just—she'd just assumed he was talking about the baby, so it catches her off guard when he says that he actually meant for himself. And who asks to see silly faces from her anyway?? It's her face, so of course people want to gaze upon its beauty... but there can't be that much beauty to behold when she's purposefully trying to look ridiculous.

Ah, yes, that must be it. The absurdity of the request just flustered her! ]

I-Is that so? [ Still... there's something almost winsome about his clumsiness, and she can't find it in herself to be annoyed by it. ]

[cajolery]

I cannot say that I have ever fielded such a request before— [ Here, her smile quirks teasingly. ] Are you perhaps as easily won over as this babe?

[defenses]

[ light teasing was fairly commonplace for vane, and so he sees her flustering more in a reaction to that (or interpreting it as that???) than anything else. except, does it count as teasing if he genuinely meant it? either way, he doesn't sweat the details.

but, is it him or ... does this somehow make him feel like he's seeing different sides to her?

he seems to laugh bashfully at the idea before furiously clearing his throat. except, now he isn't sure if he's thrown off more by his own words or clair's...?? ] Won over? [ :shockedpepe: jk, bc for better or worse, he's oblivious. ] Isn't that natural?

But, of course your smile is a full 100, too. [ #doesnotgetit ]

1/2

[cajolery]

[ No, Vane, it isn't natural at all—you're just, like, twelve. But before she can communicate this sentiment he has to go and—say that. For a split second, her eyes widen in surprise at the compliment, a blush rising to her cheeks, that cheeky smile immediately wiped from her face.

Her defense is secretly low to sincere compliments. It's a critical hit. ]

I—well.

[cajolery]

[ It takes her a second to regain her composure—finally, her smile is back, tinged with something haughty. ]

Is that so? Why, naturally. A full one hundred... hm! [ She's obviously tickled by the turn of phrase. ] Of course, I have been told that I am the loveliest young lady in all of Zofia.

[defenses]

[ he is ... young at heart, alright? but, twelve is ...

okay, twelve is fair, but at her reaction vane blinks a few times. he almost feels like he's missing something? still, he gives a good-hearted laugh. ] You mean like a beauty contest winner or something? I remember some villages having something like those.

I think it works. Plus, you seem plenty strong! [ what does... that have to do with beauty, though. ]

[cajolery]

[ Believe it or not... it makes total sense to her, and she just goes with it. It probably helps that all of the women in the army are both badass and beautiful as heck. Just look at her brother's fiancee, who is both hotter and has way better stats than Clive. ]

Of course! As a knight handpicked by the king, I am one of the strongest warriors in all the One Kingdom.

[ The baby in her arms giggles at that, for some reason, and she looks surprised, as if she'd forgotten she was holding it... a beat later, a smile spreads across her face, this one somewhat softer. She's looking a lot more comfortable holding this baby now. ]

Oh, but do tell me about these beauty contests! You say that some villages engage in them? [ Is this a peasant thing??? She's dying to know. ]

[defenses]

[ as someone who had always desired, and eventually came to be a knight himself, he's undeniably impressed at her titles and accomplishments. ] Woooah! [ there's a drawn out sound of pure astonishment there. ] How reliable! Chances are I'll be counting on you from here on out, then.

[ for all it's worth, he notices how relaxed she's become, and in a way... it relieves him. it isn't as if he had doubts, no, but there was something nice and tension-melting about clair with a smiling baby in arms. it's an image he could get used to for sure! but, on that note: ] Hm... I've never seen one all the way through, but usually they have girls from all over? [ why does he sound so unsure... ]

And normally the crowd picks one out to be number one. [ painfully with a lighthearted laugh, he admits: ] I honestly don't know too much about it, but when you said you're the loveliest in ... Zof... Zoe??? [ what was it called again. ]

[cajolery]

[ She can't help it—when he says that he'll be counting on her from here on out, she lifts her chin, looking pretty proud of herself. Obviously, she really likes playing the hero... ]

Zofia. [ She corrects him immediately, stretching out the syllables a little. ] Though it is now a part of the One Kingdom, I should say.

[ She's still the loveliest young lady in all the One Kingdom, though!! ]

Hm... [ She gives his description a lot more consideration than it probably warrants, a thoughtful expression taking over her face as she absently rocks the baby in her arms. Girls from all over... and the crowd judges them and determines a winner... very intriguing. Peasants truly come up with some interesting ideas. ]

I see. Is this a common form of diversion amongst the peasantry, do you presume?

[defenses]

Diversion...? [ vane seems to give an equal amount of consideration to her words.


before a simple: ] Nah, I think they're just having fun. [ but, at least it seems like maybe ... clair was too? while he could have been reading this entirely wrong, it does seem she's become sort of used to this whole thing. ... and she did seem proud and confident? but, maybe that was a pre-existing thing?

he gives a small laugh at the idea, before— ] Either way, I still think your chances would be great. [ that's why she's curious right? maybe she wanted to enter one and well vane wasn't going to deny her support if she had! ]

[cajolery]

[ Vane, that is literally the meaning of the word diversion—something done for fun. Her brow creases, and she lets out a little huff of indignation. ]

Is that not what I just said?

[ She doesn't hold onto that for long, though—her indignation quickly melts away to her usual self-confidence, though she aims her smile at the baby instead of Vane, a small hint of shyness. As it turns out, flattery gets you everywhere. ]

Naturally, of course. Is—

[ But whatever she's about to say is interrupted, because there are other babies in this log, and one of them is putting something in its mouth. ]

Is that child permitted to eat that?

[defenses]

[ a what???

still, vane doesn't splice over these keen differences (or similarities). instead, he just sort of laughs it off. if anything, maybe it works out for the best that this one baby so happens to have itself entranced with a large crystal-like object? it sort of does look like candy so vane can't entirely blame him, but—

that's not important right now. instead, vane does his best to quickly maneuver over, though the baby he's been carrying on his back now begins to cry from the sudden movement. on top of that, when vane does manage to grab onto the crystal... that baby also begins to cry.

is this ... where that strange phenomenon of domino babies finally occurs?

maybe.


... and of course vane looks to clair for help. ] I-... made them cry.