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.

Comments

[sootprints]

[ nodding! ] I'll keep you in mind.

I know of a few other people who lost their partners... some who really wanted their wish, and some who seemed indifferent about 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]

I don't really mind not havin' mine... there's not anythin' I'd use it for, so I'd rather help somebody else with it.

[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..?

[sootprints]

Yes! What is that...?

[ there are lil flowers sprouting around her head as her attention is drawn to the food. ]

[concoctive]

If some of that ain't turkey legs, then I'm a cait's uncle...

[ he also sprouts animal crossing flowers, but they're wafting through a scent breeze like he's from a cartoon as he sniffs the air, following. ]

Ohhh, man, you might have to roll me outta here, Kate.

[sootprints]

Hehe.

[ they're coming up on the food stalls and there are so many. ] I hope I'll have enough time to try everything. I don't know if I recognize any of these foods.

[concoctive]

There's so much... [ will they be able to eat all of it in a week. ] Kinda wish we could keep this place for longer than a week.

Sweet or savory?

[sootprints]

[ Both!


... ]

... Savory to start?

[concoctive]

[ barks out a non-bark laugh. ]

You and me both. Alright, let's see - we do savory, then we can have dessert, right? That's normally what's proper.

Normally.

[sootprints]

Yes. Then let's do this... properly.

[ lol. ]

[concoctive]

If we sneak a few sweets in, who's gonna tell?

[ lol. but he'll follow their noses to the nearest food stall, nyooming in. ]

What's a corndog?

[sootprints]

It must be related to "hot dogs"...

[ and not actual dogs!

she's been learning the important things about all this modern stuff. ]

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. ]

[sootprints]

[ she lifts her chin in surprise and glances up at him. ]

Oh... Alfyn.

... I suppose the loss and grief doesn't get easier for any of us, does it.

[ she tries to sound calm and collected, but her voice wavers. sometimes it's a blessing to be without a visible face. ]

[concoctive]

... no, no it doesn't.

[ with a shuddery voice, alfyn shakes his head as he speaks - but he moves to take a knee, to being himself to her height. his eyes scan her face as if it'll tell him something,
but also it gives her the chance to tell him no, before he goes in to wrap his arms around her.

loss is a lonely concept, but it doesn't have to be. ]

[sootprints]

[ she gasps softly when he pulls her into a hug. then she lifts a hand and gently places it over his arm. and takes a shuddering breath.

I needed him here. ]

[concoctive]

Me, too.

[ he'll say the quiet part out loud, as he hugs her, tight but gentle, rubbing his hand along her back for a moment. ]

We all did. But... they're still out there, somewhere. We'll get them back. [ We have to. ]

[sootprints]

[ she allows it briefly, then pulls away. ]

... We will. But first, we'll find the truth tomorrow.

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. ]

[sootprints]

Ah... okay.

[ there's a thickness to her voice. she does seem to be facing him now, her head lifted enough to watch as he places the books. ]

[concoctive]

[ he finishes adding this batch of books, and then sets a jar with fresh flowers down next to the shelf, sitting back and just - staring at it all, maybe through it. thinking - What would he say, now..? ]

... Rondo is the kinda person that's gonna look out for us, wherever they've wound up. He's gonna get us as many answers as he can from the other side, and he's gonna be rootin' for us. Karlach, too, is gonna worry for us, with everyone else. And once they've had time to talk about what happened...

[ he takes a deep breath. ]

They're gonna tear down the veil between us and them. So we gotta keep goin'. Take care of each other, through better or worse, and not let anyone think that they're alone. [ facing away, he reaches up to scrub at his eyes for a moment. ] We gotta be able to welcome 'em back so that we can put an end to all of this together.

I'm gonna keep believin' in that. Same way they'd keep believin' in us.

[sootprints]

Alfyn...

[ ...I don't know if I can, but... ]

... I want to believe, too.