April Catch-All

[wolfish]

WHO: Yuri Leclerc wolfish & others
WHAT: Catch-all for April
WHEN: Late Pelu
WHERE: Various locations
WARNINGS: None, will update if needed.


I. Resupply Run (Old Springstar)
[ Yuri isn't yet acclimated to Skysong. In truth, he's not entirely certain how long that adjustment is going to take. Adaptable as he is, he hails from a world in which mass literacy is nonexistent and flight entails mounted travels. For most men, that's wyverns.

Seeing how it's been over a century, the house needs some creature comforts. Given the improvements to local technology, this day that means Yuri's drifting from one store to another examining their new wares.

A. Background Character
[ Occasionally, this leads to him being stopped by strangers who begin regaling him with their backstory. The prevailing trend here is that it's always something about their parents or grandparents — people Yuri either saved or helped. Orphans who moved on to have happy lives and families.

The thing is, Yuri doesn't know what to do with effusive gratitude. So, without fail, he'll be standing there like a deer in the headlights, clutching some kitchen gadget or other like a lifeline, in the face of strangers' enthusiasm. ]
B. Gadgets and Gizmos
[ On the occasions when Yuri manages to evade what's proving to be a small army of orphans' descandants, he spends his time examining the new innovations Old Springstar has to offer. Each time he encounters a new appliance that is neither enormous nor impossible to lift, he picks it up for manual examination, turning it about between gloved hands with rapt interest.

It may or may not be clear to passers-by that this is something beyond curiosity in the sight of something novel. Rather, he appears to be trying to discern what makes it tick. ]

II. Old Routines (Alenroux)
[ While the world has changed a great deal, developing in ways Fódlan certainly hasn't, some things are near enough to the same. At least, Yuri tells himself as much, holding to whatever scraps of familiarity if he can. For him, that means resuming the activities he'd used to pass his time previously.

In this case, Yuri spends the "early" daylight hours in Alenroux training. When he doesn't have a partner to spar with, he instead rigs up targets using whatever he can find — old buckets, broom handles, fallen branches — and slings spells their way. It's a flashy bit of a show that comes in two flavors.

Sometimes, visually identical magic strikes the target much more feebly.

Others, Yuri tosses one spell at his training dummy, then another, different spell, observing how they combine. In these cases, the answer is usually that his constructed target gets blown apart, its shredded components sent sailing in all directions, leaving him to sigh and trot off to retrieve them. ]


III. Free to Good Home (Communion)
So... Turns out before Fluffy joined Byleth for that incredibly long nap we all took, he found himself a sweetheart or two first. Now, we're swimming in cats. Much as I'd like to think looking after tham all is doable here, I'm not thinking it's ideal for them.

[ The cats, that is. Fellow Harbingers may be treated to fleeting mental images of cats and dogs milling about the grounds of Garreg Mach Monastery, uniformed students and recognizable clergy pausing to pet, feed or play with them. Then, too, are images of people who are evidently thugs and brigans...still fawning over cats in the underground halls of what some might guess is Abyss.

Yuri can't help the strength of his nostalgia in this. He spent a fair amount of time pining after feline affection due to just how bad his allergies are, not having the means to overcome them until he admitted his troubles to Marianne. By then, they were in the midst of war, far from Garreg Mach.

At least he's not sneezing to death now. ]

So if anyone's interested in giving a good home to a cat or two, let's make some arrangements.

[ Apologies in advance that they may answer to odd names already. ]

IV. Wildcard
[ ooc: If you have a different idea, feel free to drop a starter here! No need to plot ahead unless it needs some prior coordination. If it does, DM Yuri's journal or hit me up on discord (matchadrop)! ]

Comments

[hauntedking]

I do have an oven...

[ He offers a little smile as they turn the corner. There's some laughing children, more foot traffic. It feels... alive, fortunately. There's people here, building lives - even if they're now separated from the city above by so much distance. He likes that. ]

...that does sound like me. Although being described as a "funny knight" is... [ He doesn't bother to stifle his laugh. ]

Well. I guess it's accurate.

[wolfish]

It's a date then.

[ It is reassuring to see that people aren't just suffering or constantly terrorized. That they can still lead their lives in relative peace despite the changes that have come.

Yuri can't help smiling at the sight of those children as they pass. ]

He went strolling into town in full armor... Honestly I'm surprised no one recognized him before I did. [ He puffs out a helpless little laugh of his own for it. ] That does seem like something you'd do as well, big heart and all.

[ Though maybe this Dimitri would bother with some manner of disguse? He seems better at being covert when necessary. ]

[hauntedking]

A real one, at that.

[ Dimitri is rather pleased about that idea, too. He chuckles to himself. ]

...well, I suppose no one had seen my face, really. At least... most of the common folk and that sort of thing. None of those quick pictures that they have in some worlds. So it wasn't as if I'd be well known.

[wolfish]

[ A real date. When Dimitri expressed a desire take things slow, Yuri can safely bet he didn't mean waiting over a century for that. ]

I'll look forward to it.

[ He means that, sincerity permeating his tone. ]

While it's true few people knew his face, the fancy armor and impressive strength...you know.

[hauntedking]

I suppose that does make me unique. Although around here I tend not to wear armor for that. It gets in the way a little... and there's not really point to wearing it if I'm doing things like chores. So I can't imagine wanting to keep it on all the time.

[wolfish]

We were still in the midst of a war, but it was pretty conspicuous... May just be one of those differences between you two.

[ Yuri's not quite sure his king back home was much for stealth, after all.

He keeps an eye out for any buildings that may be bakeries as they stroll their way along, still holding Dimitri's hand. ]

So what sort of pastries do you like?

[hauntedking]

[ It's not that much further, Dimitri hopes - and it isn't because a block on there's a sign for it. It's probably different than it was a century ago, but there's still a bakery there and still people heading in and out with their purchases. Dimitri seems slightly relieved to see that something he remembers is still present. ]

All kinds, I think. Although I admit a fondness for sweet ones.

[ He smiles, just a little relieved. ]

They might not remember me... it's been generations... but something is still here in the end.

[wolfish]

[ His own expression warms, seeing and hearing Dimitri's relief. All of this is disorienting and difficult, but at least something familiar remains. ]

If they don't, they'll get to know you.

[ Punctuated with a squeeze to Dimitri's hand. ]

Let's see what they sell nowadays.

[hauntedking]

We may as well...

[ Dimitri is a touch nervous. The people he knows are gone, after all. But there's a brisk business! Even if they're not in Skysong, people still come for baked goods. The inside smells of bread; the woman behind the counter is chatting with one of her customers and there's a general buzz and him. No pastries here, it seems - mostly bread and solid foodstuffs! ]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri's gaze flicks around the shop, taking in the condition of the business, the wares, and at last settling upon a sign. Lifting a hand, he points it out to Dimitri while nudging his side. ]

"Family-owned for over a hundred years".

[ These may not be the people Dimitri helped, they're related to them. Maybe there's some comfort in that. ]

[hauntedking]

...well. That's a bit of a relief.

[ Some things stay the same. Sort of. He's just glad the family is thriving. But he wonders what happened to them - whether he can see the face of a great-grandparent if he stares long enough.

How strange. ]

...I'm strangely reluctant to talk to them, though.

[wolfish]

...Is it because the people you knew aren't the ones here now?

[ The question comes softly as Yuri peers up at Dimitri's face. He knows something of the man's relationship with loss. Of course he does. So too does he know what it's like to survive where others have gone, something Dimitri was tormented by.

Does all of this stir up some of that for him? These people could have lived long lives, never met a violent end, yet the bizarre jump in time still means those people are gone.

Dimitri might find closure in talking to these people, but the reluctance is understandable. ]

[hauntedking]

In a way, yes... but also...

[ He sighs and offers Yuri a sad sort of smile. ]

These people don't know me. At best they've heard stories from their grandparents or great-grandparents. At worst, they don't even know my name or that I was ever here in the first place. I'm... not sure I'm ready to deal with that.

[wolfish]

[ Being forgotten or unknown at all... It's a different sort of loss, a much more unfamiliar one. Yuri wouldn't necessarily say he'd felt close to any of the general populace, inclined as he was to distance himself as a matter of necessity and habit.

He still cared, he still helped, but he was genuinely stunned to find that the families of the orphans he'd brought treats and supplies to had cared for him in his long sleep. Yuri sees himself as a cold person — after all, hardly anyone knows his real name back home.

Dimitri, though... He has that great big tender heart. He doesn't go through life expecting the same ephemeral ties Yuri has trained himself to accept as a necessary part of life. ]

Shall we come back some other time then?

[hauntedking]

Perhaps. After I've had some time to adjust to all of the changes, I think.

[ Dimitri offers a little shrug and a laugh. ]

It's a little silly, but it tugs on my heart...

[wolfish]

It doesn't seem silly to me at all.

[ He's seen for himself that Dimitri genuinely loves people. Both versions of them absolutely have that in common. It's something he respects, something that makes him believe Dimitri is and will be a good king.

Something he...appreciates. Very personally. ]

Where should we go next?

[hauntedking]

The old neighborhood. It's changed a little, but... I do enjoy seeing it for what it is.

[ He's a touch wistful. Even having only been here a relatively short time, he still misses some of the familiar that had crept into his life. ]

[wolfish]

Sounds like a plan. Lead the way.

[ He can admit to himself he's curious about what it even looks like now. The world they'd adapted to has changed so much. ]

[hauntedking]

[ It's not a far walk. Once it had been a quiet part of a residential are and to a certain extent it still is - but where it used to be small houses on plots, it's become somewhat more urbanized. More townhouses rising over the street, more apartment-type buildings. His small cottage is a bit of an outlier now - but apparently someone cared enough to make sure it wasn't demolished and paved over for new construction. There's foot traffic and some of the newer vehicle traffic as well.

But it's not quite as sleepy as it used to be. ]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri takes in the sight without comment, simply remaining by Dimitri's side as they take in the changes. Dimitri's house looks to be in reasonably good stead, given the passage of so much time. It's not the sleepy, quiet area it was before, but even so...

He's relieved the house Dimitri had been proud of still remains. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri pauses. It's been built up by now and he has to give a slightly sheepish nod to someone waiting by the gate - someone who looks like they might have walked a long way. They flash Dimitri a smile and start thanking him - saying they're so glad he's awake, that he heard stories from his grandmother, but he'd never thought he'd wake up-

And Dimitri is being a king, suddenly. Gracious and smiling and laughing and reassuring.

He really does have something of a switch for that, it feels like. ]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri's well familiar with performance, though from another angle. He's very smoothly let go of Dimitri and tucked his hands behind himself before the man could even take note of his presence there, expression a carefully neutral one.

This isn't so different from the people who'd watched over him, save that they asserted that they always believed he'd wake. That and he can admit to himself that he had no idea what face to wear.

Dimitri's better at that, he thinks... Though there's a certain distance that comes with being known as a leader, rather than anything else. ]

[hauntedking]

[ The conversation goes on for a few more minutes before Dimitri is finally able to break away and they part. He gestures for Yuri to follow up the path. The garden looks like it's in surprisingly good shape. Someone's been taking care of it. ]

...someone took care of this place. Or several someone's, really. I was touched.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri falls into step just behind him, following the well-kept path up through the garden. There are plants he recognizes still. Whether they've continued to grow or been replaced, he can't say, but he remembers the ones Dimitri picked out when they paid a visit to a nursery. Others he recalls from coming to visit him. ]

Your garden's well-tended.

[ He agrees, a soft smile on his lips. Dimitri deserves that, for all the good he's done. All the people he's fought to save. ]

The house looks maintained as well, from what I can see.

[hauntedking]

Yes, they took care of it while I was asleep. It was... touching. Although I feel like I can't properly repay them.

[ He pauses to kneel and examine some of the plants, fingers running against the earth. ]