open ♔ september castle socialization

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || First half of September, any time between the September squiring ceremony and the War announcement on September 18th
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of the first half of the month.    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:
Drax @ the desk
Kate Bishop @ the desk
Sam @ the desk
Henry @ the desk
Kate Bishop @  roof/dining hall/library/grounds/bathrooms/desk/Dragon's Hoard/etc
Abigail @ Movie theater / library /firing range / training room
Francesca & Val'drin | closed
Penelope & Sam @ the woods
Emma Frost @ the library
Spike @ rec room
Lydia, Stiles, Astrid, Adam | closed

Comments

[unhand]

I don't know what that is. [But he knows she's lying (sense motive 22). He doesn't call her out on it, but he does give her a knowing smirk. That's not why she's here.

He takes a bite of his pizza slice and chews it thoughtfully.]

[uncurse]

[ Holding her ground well, Emma doesn’t allow her expression to falter. Her placid expression never quite reaches stoic, but she manages quite well to look unruffled. ]

I don’t wanna know what you’re doing to keep yourself occupied without it.

[ She chuckles through a bite of pizza, shaking her head as she begins to chew. ]

[unhand]

You'll have to show me some time. [Second date maybe? He's forever optimistic.]

[uncurse]

Will I?

[ She arches her eyebrows, fighting the playfulness out of her expression and dropping her gaze so she can tear at the crust of her pizza, picking at her food. ]

[unhand]

I could persuade you. [He doesn't fight his own playfulness at all, leaning forward with a smirk.] I'm very convincing when I want to be. [Considering his diplomacy check was a 28? He sure can be.]

[uncurse]

[ Her will save was 25, so she does a really good job holding it together initially, but eventually has to press her lips between her teeth and duck her head to hide her smile, reaching one hand up to obscure it under the pretense of wiping sauce away from her mouth. Herp romance how does she shot. ]

[unhand]

[He smiles at her for a moment, then looks down at her own pizza, taking a bite. He chews and swallows before he breaks the silence again.]

Do you remember anything from your stint as a statue?

[uncurse]

Not a thing. From the sound of it, I should be glad for that. Apparently my head came off.

[ It never occurs to her that sharing this might upset him. ]

[unhand]

[Hook knew, actually. Between the scar on Emma's neck and the fact that Faye had described the situation while sobbing into his shoulder, he has a pretty clear picture of what happened.

Doesn't stop him from flinching and looking like he might throw up (will save 10).]

Aye, for the best, then. Seems you retained a memento from the experience nonetheless.

[uncurse]

Nice of you to notice.

[ Sarcastic? We just don't know. She reaches one hand up to absently rub at the fine red line. ]

It's just a scar.

[unhand]

And much better to have a scar than no head. [He gives a sympathetic smile.] Try not to lose it again. I don't know how many close calls we get.

[uncurse]

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were worried about me.

[ She smiles just slightly, hiding the humor behind her beer mug as she takes a drink. ]

[unhand]

Me? Worried? [He shakes his head, and I'm not rolling a bluff check cause he's not really trying.] I just know Lila and Faye would be insufferable if we lost you. They seem to have become rather fond of you.

[Hook's become rather fond of her.]

[uncurse]

[ She spots that underlying fear because she didn't crit fail her sense motive, and sets her beer aside. Leaning forward a bit, she hunches her shoulders. ]

Hey. I'm fine, all right? Barely even noticed. I wasn't trying to make a career as a pageant-winner, anyway.

[unhand]

I know, love. [He looks over at her, mustering up a smile for her.] But you didn't see yourself. Or hear Faye's rather chilling recollection.

[uncurse]

I know. I know, and I talked to her about ... that.

[ Sighing, she rubs a hand against her forehead. Pizza grease forehead. Yay. How did she come out of a mission that was supposed to fix the problems with one kid with new problems? ]

She just needs time to process.

[unhand]

I know. She's stronger than she realizes. And we'll help her.

[Hook looks a little amused at the pizza grease. He grabs a napkin and reaches forward to wipe it off.] Here.

[uncurse]

Ah— [ She reaches out and takes the napkin, touching it to her forehead and settling into a resigned expression. Sighing, she hands it back to him, and sits back in the booth. ] It's good she told you, right? She's not normally good with that stuff.

[unhand]

Yeah, I suppose. [Though his heart twists when he thinks of her sobbing on his shoulder.] Better than keeping it all bottled in.

[Eyebrow raise.]

[uncurse]

Like ... I do.

[ She sighs, looking clearly put-upon in being called out. Tearing at her pizza, she tries to mull over that blatant call-out. ]

I leave a lot to be desired as a role model. I know. I never asked to be one.

[unhand]

[He shakes his head and glances up at her, expression softening.] You're better at it than you give yourself credit for. There's a reason they look up to you.

[uncurse]

Appallingly bad previous experience and limited choice?

[unhand]

Or you're strong and confident and caring... all sorts of things a good role model should be. They could do a lot worse. [He smiles at her and takes another slice of the pizza.]

[uncurse]

[ Apparently (for whatever reason), she didn't anticipate that, so her expression flutters into something softer briefly. Her lips press together, processing his words, and for a moment, she manages to speechlessly convey her gratitude.

Emphasis on speechlessly. Emma has never been good at verbalizing her feelings. So, rather than engage, she goes back to chowing down, allowing the moment to pass. ]

[unhand]

[He catches that look. And it warms his heart. It's not much, but from Emma, it's practically an epic poem. He ducks his head to hide his smile and goes back to his own pizza. One of these days, she'll get used to him saying nice things about her.]