open ♔ june/july castle socialization

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || Any time after June 7th  
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of these few months. Because not everyone is into parties, ok.   

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. WE ARE BIG ON THREAD-JACKING HERE. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt.]

On this log:

Rafael, Buffy, Des & Wynn | Closed
Frankie & Lis'sa | Closed
Taradiddle @ the desk
Lydia @ the desk
Abigail @ the desk 
Adam @ the desk
Bambi @ the desk
Rebekah @ the desk
Dawn @ the desk
Adi @ the desk 
Stiles @ the desk
Felicity @ the desk
Will @ the desk
Han @ the garage
Ric @ the bars.  all of them.  also dragon's hoard lab.
Team NYC | Closed
Lila @ the kitchen/castle grounds
Kate B. @ castle grounds / training room
Aedan @ training / woods / common areas
Frankie @ front desk / garage / various
Maxwell @  rec room / training room / castle bar / forest
Will @ firing range / pond / castle grounds
Sven @ the woods
Adam @ library / firing range / London
Jaime @ castle tavern / training room / stables
Hook @ castle grounds / bar
Jack & Christos @ the training room
Damon @ the castle bar / castle grounds / woods / London / library
Sean @ castle ground / jumping out a window
Des @ the woods
Kate @ training / shooting range / castle grounds
Vi @ her room / bathrooms / pantry / dragon's light wing / firing range
Francesca @ training room / bar
Francesca & Val'drin | Closed
Kenzi @ training room
Lila & Bambi | Closed
Spike @ training room
Lissa @ foyer / Dragon's light wing / garden
Andrew @ his birthday!
Buffy @ Rafael's room / firing range / training room / dining hall
Francesca, Will, & Max | Closed
Faith @ Kitchen / London bars
Abigail & Will | Closed
Des | Dragon's Light wing
Jackson | Train station / training room / garage
Klaus | Bar / garden

Comments

francesca ♔ (ota).

[socialgraces]

[ francesca's been spending a lot of time in the training room, where she's already stalked some of you, or in the bar, or really anywhere that's not alone in her room, dwelling on all the sad that last month or so has brought.

she also has a boyfriend, so that's a welcome distraction most days, but he supposedly has other things to do, things that aren't her, sometimes. so she'll just be out wandering the castle, mostly in the evening time, looking for a welcome distraction from her own thoughts. ]

[theminotaur]

[ even though the drinking age here is eighteen and marissa no doubt convinced abigail to go to a party once in her sheltered youth, she will not be venturing forth into the bar anytime soon. or ever. so it's the training room for her, but before she gets settled in there, she checks to make sure will isn't around and even then goes back to the punching back in the corner to practice what kate taught her. she's very good at leaving will alone.

not so much his mentor. she sees the woman come in and tries not to shrink behind the punching bag, continuing to watch the woman though because abigail is a creepy stalker basically. this is what hannibal taught her. ]

[socialgraces]

[ well francesca's trained to locate traps (and also in the ways of the ninja), so she notices abigail pretty quickly upon entering (spot 33). she also picks up on the way she's practically cowering, and that only makes her more curious concerned.

needless to say, she makes her way slowly toward said punching bag, smiling softly in greeting, and as a way to make sure abigail realizes she intends no harm. ] I don't believe we've met yet. I'm Francesca.

[theminotaur]

Abigail. [ she manages to push her mouth into a smile but it disappears quickly like she's not used to it or being sad is too hard to hide. swallowing, she reaches out to still the punching bag so it doesn't swing out and hit francesca. she's awful at first impressions, but she's trying. ]

[socialgraces]

I take it you haven't been around long? It usually doesn't take me longer than a month or two to meet any new knights. Unless, of course, I'm off on a mission.

[theminotaur]

I was squired June 1st. [ she'd gotten there earlier, but that's not important. resisting the urge to fiddle with her scarf -- which she knows looks strange with yoga pants and a tee shirt -- she tucks her hands into her pockets. ] I saw you at the party. Your dress was really nice.

[socialgraces]

[ francesca's very skilled at not openly drawing attention to her scarf (will 24), as if it's not unusual with her other attire. she assumes there's a reason, and that it's probably really private. she is curious why the girl is so skittish, though. ]

Thank you. [ she smiles softly in humble gratitude ] I'm sorry I missed you there, then.

May I ask the same question I'm sure you've already been asked a hundred times: what brought you to the Knights?

[brokenteacup]

I left early to walk Lemon. [ will's dog is her bff. and then she just ran away with alex to watch 24 for three hours and/or whenever she fell asleep and he woke her up to bring her back to her room.

as for the question of the hour, her lips purse slightly as she thinks about how to answer. ] My parents were killed, I didn't have anywhere else to go. [ and she doesn't want to be like her dad. she needs to do good. or at the very least try. ]

[socialgraces]

[ she looks sincerely sympathetic ] That's... quite unfortunate. I'm very sorry for your loss, but grateful you found another place to possibly make your home.

[klepto]

[ Drow isn't exactly an easy lineage to hide. They're not Rafael Giovannis who can just grow their hair longer and pretend it never happened. Attica has the added bonus of the bright red eyes and sharp teeth of a tiefling, but even Francesca stands out when she enters the training room. They're something of a particular minority among the knights, even beyond how much drow tend to keep to themselves in the general public.

Attica often wonders if that shared experience is why she wound up with Val'drin for a mentor. She's not particularly off-put by the racial implications there because she's lived with it her whole life and, while she has tried to distance herself from others of her race, she is used to being grouped in with them, as well. She's desensitized to it, basically.

More than that, she's seen Francesca with Val'drin enough to have a measure of their relationship. She's his squire, ok, it's kind of unavoidable. She presses her palms against the bag to steady it and turns back toward Francesca. ]

He's not here. I don't think he's ever set foot in here, to be honest. [ Val'drin, of course. He doesn't exactly radiate fighter vibes. ]

[socialgraces]

[ the statement causes her to stop for a moment, but she seems to quickly figure out to whom she is referring (wis nat 20). francesca's actually never either of val'drin's current squires, but she knows attica is a drow, and they are most definitely rare in these parts.

so, with that knowledge, she continues her way into the training room, her expression softening. ] If you're referring to Val'drin, this isn't really his scene. I, however, have some physical responsibilities included into my knightly duties [ which wow sounds really horrible, but she doesn't seem to recognize that ] and like to do more than just 'keep up appearances'. [ it's all said pleasant enough, just very straightforwardly ]

I take it you're one of his squire? Attica, is it? [ and she'll extend a hand now that she's close enough ]

[klepto]

[ Even with the pleasant tone, the words themselves are defensive in a way that makes Attica raise her eyebrows. She bites down on any commentary she might have on the subject and lets her eyes drop to the extended hand. Reaching forward, Attica shakes it tightly, offering a decisive, professional nod. ]

Good guess. And you’re Francesca. [ Girl does her homework. She drops Franny’s hand. ]

[socialgraces]

[ yes, well, talking to women is a lot more difficult that talking to men, and it always makes her feel a little more out of her element. also, she's a jealous monster, but she's good at keeping that part of herself at bay until need arises.

and drow meeting drow is always an exercise in caution and nerve. it's a difficult habit to break. ] I find it hard to believe we haven't met yet. Wynn is usually quite skilled at pushing our kind together, whether we like it or not.

[klepto]

I had my suspicions that was the reason behind my assignment, but it’s good to have those theories confirmed.

[ It’s the first glimpse at her own personal judgment of Francesca—and a positive one, at that. She likes anyone who gives her information. ]

I can’t decide if that’s a compliment or not. A man wiser or more paranoid might make an attempt to keep us apart.

[socialgraces]

I believe it's more than he recognizes the general distrust and contempt other races view us with - even if it's an appropriate reaction to our species as a whole - and makes an effort to pair us with someone who has both the ability to understand where we come from, and also recognize our good traits that will be useful to the Knights.

[klepto]

You have a high opinion of him.

[ That's not even a guess, that's just a fact. If she really believes the best of him, the way all of that seems to imply, then Attica has to figure ... ]

What did he do to earn it?

[socialgraces]

He's done precisely that for me - helped me realize my true potential and make a place for myself here at the Knighthood, and in this world.

I was truly lost before I made acquaintance with one of his Knights, and almost the victim of a merciless crime based solely on hatred and ignorance. Yet, instead of meeting such an untimely demise, I was offered refuge in these walls and a chance to make a life for myself outside the tyranny of drow society.

I've also had the honor of fighting at his side during both of this world's great wars, seen him brave the carnage and desolation of a worldwide war to protect and defend not only his Knighthood, but also the ideals and standards to which he preaches to each in his charge.

the bar

[nothingsodivine]

[Des spends a lot of time in the bar, because he is a functioning alcoholic and most days he doesn't critfail his fort saves stuff. He's got a whiskey he's drinking slowly.

As soon as he notices her at the bar out of the corner of his eye, he gestures with his glass, but keeps his eyes fixated on the back wall of the bar.]

What's the news, Francesca?

[socialgraces]

[ she spots him by the movement, moving to the stool next to him and flagging down the squire bartender. if there isn't one, i'm sure someone will serve the pretty lady a drink. ] And here I was hoping you came bearing some good news of your own. Really, anything has to be better than we've all been through lately. [ which is why she desperately needs a drink ]

[nothingsodivine]

Sorry. Fresh out. [He lays his glass down.] There hasn't been a lot to celebrate here lately.

[socialgraces]

Hmph. You're telling me. [ she takes the drink from the bartender, muttering a word of thanks, and turns back toward des as she takes a sip (it's fey wine but she still got a 22 fort save) ] So, are you sulking about something in particular today, or just trying to forget this whole last... month?

[nothingsodivine]

The whole last year. [He grimaces.] It's been a year since Jade died.

[socialgraces]

I know. [ her voice is soft with compassion as she stares down into her drink ] Grief is such a staggering affliction. I can't say one ever fully recovers.

[nothingsodivine]

I thought I had. Got to a point where I didn't even think about her that much... 'cept when it rains. Every damn time it rains. [He stares idly into his glass.] Then it just hit me that I'm never gonna see her again. You'd think after being around this long, the shock wouldn't hit so hard.

[But it hits particularly hard now. For reasons.]

[socialgraces]

I think it speaks volumes for your character that it does still affect you so greatly. Besides, from what I've heard of her, I'm rather certain you haven't come across many like her before, even with all the time you've spent in this world.