SCAWWY 😱 kate

[concoctive]

Nowadays the hellebore plant has strong associations with serenity, peace, and tranquility, but this has not always been the case. In Victorian times the flowers of the hellebore plant signified delirium, and some cultures today still see the flowers as representing stress, anxiety, and scandal. Also known as the midnight ruffle, black hellebore leaves, root, and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse this plant with white hellebore, which has been used as a poison. Despite serious safety concerns, people take black hellebore for nausea, worms, kidney infections, colds, and constipation.

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wknd 0; saturday

[concoctive]

[ alfyn stands in the kitchen of the haunted house, batting away at flies that he can't see just out of instinct and annoyance. he's trying to find anything that he can use for herb gathering, maybe a mortar and pestle instead of the rocks that he's collected in his satchel for the time being. ]

C'mon, I just want a sturdy bowl, if nothing else... [ sighing softly, before he turns slightly the moment he realizes that there's someone else here. ] Oh, hey there!

[sootprints]

[ she stops in the doorway. ]

... Hello.

[ she's just here in her regular clothes now. her lack of face is no longer being concealed as it was yesterday. ]

You say you're looking for a bowl...?

[concoctive]

[ alfyn is just sitting at the corner of one of the benches around the pyre, elbows on his knees, hands together, forehead against his knuckles. he's not looking up, but he does seem to be talking quietly to himself as he stays there. against the seat next to him is his axe, blade cradled by the dirt and handle within reach.

his head turns, just a little, against his knuckles when he realizes that someone's joined him. but he settles back into a quiet prayer that he lets the crackle of the flames whisk away before he says anything audible. ]

... hey, Kate. Was just sayin' some prayers for 'em, and for us.

[sootprints]

I see. I hope I wasn't interrupting.

[ she stops to gaze at the pyre for a few moments. ]

Week 1, Monday

[sootprints]

[ out at the ranch... petting the sheep. kate has a sunflower dress on today! yay for clothes!

she tries to walk away but one of the sheep just follows her all the way to the fence, where she sees alfyn. ]

... The animals here are a bit needy...

[concoctive]

[ alfyn hasn't been dressed just yet, so he's still in his usual outfit - but smiles at seeing kate in a new dress. ]

You're lookin' sunny, Kate. [ before actually addressing her comment, peering down over the fence at the sheep. ] Well, that's not a bad thing if they're friendly. Want me to distract 'em?

Week 1, Sunday

[sootprints]

[ somewhere outdoors after the execution ritual. ]

It looks like it's over for now... though that's little comfort, after all we've lost.

[concoctive]

[ he's seated on something with his legs kicked out in front of him, rubbing at his chest over his heart. ]

... three last week, and five this. I know it's the whole point, from the cult's perspective, but it feels like it's just never gonna end.

Week 2, Sunday

[sootprints]

[ after the execution and camille showing up late with starbucks, kate's just sitting out on a bench near the pyre. she might be easy to miss, wearing a black dress, but she's present and seemingly just trying to catch a breather after the weekend's rollercoaster.

if alfyn comes near, she'll look up, seemingly not too lost in thought to see and speak to him. ]

Camille... I thought, when they took her away, that she'd...

[concoctive]

[ alfyn almost doesn't see her, she blends in so well with her dress and the dreariness of the village. but when he realizes she's there, he's making her way over.

drained as he is, he offers her the slightest of smiles as he eases to sit down with her. ]

... yeah. Yeah, me too. But she's lucid. I dunno how long that's gonna last, or if someone's gonna try and target her even before Thursday night. Not when... not when Iwa didn't seem noticeably off, last week or this week. But we didn't catch him.

wk 3; monday

[concoctive]

[ time to explore! alfyn moves to fall into step with kate the moment he spots her, one hand on his satchel and the other resting lightly behind his back, on the handle of his axe, because.

well, after what happened to ishtar? he's a little bit more cautious, now. even in the academy he doesn't trust that a monster's not going to pop out. ]

Y'know, there's a lot of wild places back in Orsterra. Ruins, caverns, big ol' forests... But there's nothin' really like this. Where's that manor of yours at, Kate? You seen anythin' like this?

[sootprints]

[ hello. kate looks like she's shining today!

... literally? yes. somehow, her shadowy self appears to be shimmering. there's a pause before she answers. ]

... It's a small island with very little on it... but just outside the manor, there's a forest where fairies are said to live.

It didn't seem as ominous as the forest here, though...

wk 3; saturday

[concoctive]

[ honestly he's sitting at a table in the academy library, head in his hands and elbows on the table. just silent and exhausted - his shoulders aren't shaking and he's not sniffling, so he's not crying for once after one of these situations.

and then just.

plunk. he slumps down so his forehead is against the table surface. ]

Gods but this doesn't get any easier.

[sootprints]

[ kate arrives a little later than him, having taken some time to change into clean, soot-free clothes. she stops nearby and nods. ]

Yes. It wasn't as horrible as last week, but... it was a lot, wasn't it.

Week 4, Monday

[sootprints]

[ happy thoughtshare monday! today's fit.

kate's at the boardwalk, staring up at the ferris wheel with awe. she gives a little start when she realizes alfyn is nearby, but then she gives him a polite nod and a soft little woof. ]

What do you suppose this is? A fairground? I've never been to a place like this before...

[ The other time probably doesn't count... ]

[concoctive]

[ oooogh she's so cuuuute. return fit, although he's wearing his boots from home, instead, with the overalls tucked into them. he's arfyn back. ]

I've been to festivals, but nothin' nearly this big before... I'd say somethin' like that, yeah. [ Other time? his thoughts betray, seeing hers, but he's mostly just taking everything in. ] Smell all that food..?

Week 4, Friday

[sootprints]

[ kate's standing by the scawwy library shelves, facing the rows of books as her body gives off smoke. she's wearing a new outfit with a little hat, but if it's supposed to stop the soot, it sure isn't doing that. the smoke just rolls out from under the edges and rapidly stains her clothes in the haze it creates.

she tries to stand far enough back that she won't stain the books, at least.

Even you, Rondo... ]

[concoctive]

[ even rondo.

alfyn stands there for a long moment, just staring at the posters with red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks - at rondo's, most of all - before he looks over towards kate. he doesn't say anything, doesn't move, before he comes over, reaching out to set his hand between her shoulders. it's a gesture of comfort just as much as it is one that asks for permission.

soot be damned. he would hold her to comfort her in her grief if she wanted it. ]

Week 4, Sunday

[sootprints]

[ after the execution, kate's sitting on a bench by the pyre with a hoodie pulled up over her head. when alfyn's near, she doesn't move to look up, but she does acknowledge him with a soft, lifeless, ]

Oh, Alfyn.

[concoctive]

[ alfyn's steps are heavier, but more careful, as he makes his way over to the pyre. there's some shuffling, where she's not looking up, but, then, a soft series of thumps. ]

Hey, Kate. [ softly, voice a little hoarse. ] Don't sit out here by yourself for too long.

[ he'll keep her company, but... he's starting to add books to the library, sprucing it up as he goes. ]

wk 5; friday

[concoctive]

[ well. after attending to vin and anis, alfyn is going to show up at the pyre to check on kate. there's not... there's not anything that he can do, but he's still here, like maybe just by making sure she's not alone that she'll at least have that. ]

... hey, Kate. You here with us, sweetheart?

[sootprints]

[ she's just sitting here in her bubble.

in tattered rags stained in red and black. horns out. but otherwise, serene. she glances over. ]

Oh, Alfyn. Hello.

[ ... there's not a lot of emotion going on here. ]

Week 6, Wednesday

[sootprints]

[ at some point, when they're away from the party crowd, this little faceless penguin approaches alfyn. ]

Alfyn. It's good to see you again.

[ there is some warmth in her voice. ]

[concoctive]

[ ooogh he's so mad that he can't hug her. but, in lieu of that, alfyn reaches to put his hands down on this penguin's shoulders to try and squeeze. his expression wobbles, but - happy wibbly wobbly. ]

It's good to see you, too. And have you as you.

Week 7, Tuesday

[sootprints]

[ hanging around the morning after our town hall. ]

... It's not easy to find a way to make everyone happy, is it?

[ she's clearly still mulling all of our choices over. ]