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

[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. ]

[wolfish]

[ He huffs out a breath, softened by his fondness, and touches his fingertips to Dimitri's shoulder. ]

I'm pretty sure this was them repaying you.

[ Dimitri does so much for others while thinking nothing of it, maybe he needs someone to remind him sometimes. ]

[hauntedking]

...maybe so. But still... I'm not sure-

[ He sighs and cuts himself off. ]

You're right. I should stop second-guessing. [ He reaches up in a little gesture and brushes his fingers against Yuri's before giving his hand a squeeze. ]

[wolfish]

You're a champion when it comes to giving, but you could stand to accept a little more receiving too.

[ It's a light tease as his hand lingers there. But being the giving kind himself, Yuri fully intends to do his share with Dimitri. ]

...Does something about it worry you?

[hauntedking]

[ He squeezes one more time and then lets his hand drop. ]

I wouldn't say it worries me. More that I feel like I should be giving more of myself.

[ He shrugs. ]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri's lips press into a thin, ruminative line. He debates with himself for several moments in silence. Dimitri'd give every ounce of himself if he could, no doubt. Whether it's owed to his strong sense of duty or his deep well of kindness, Yuri can't entirely say.

It's likely some measure of both.

He steals a glance around. No one nearby to observe, so... Yuri bends, draping his arms about Dimitri's shoulders as best he can. If it's a little awkward, a little clumsy, well... He doesn't give out hugs much. But it's no less warm. ]

You give people more than you realize. I've got a pretty decent vantage point, when it comes to that.

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri seems slightly surprised by the embrace, but after a moment he relaxes into it. It's... warm. And it helps soothe his troubled heart. ]

....thank you. For everything.

[ His words. His presence. There's a lot there to consider. ]

[wolfish]

[ When Dimitri relaxes, it assures Yuri that the gesture isn't unwelcome. That it may have been comforting as intended. So he collaterally relaxes as well.

As Hayame might put it: he did not fail. ]

Hey, I've only just started here.

[ He hasn't given Dimitri all that much yet. ]

[hauntedking]

...I suppose I should give you time to work, then.

[ He offers a smile up at him. ]

And see what magic you can come up with.

[wolfish]

[ Yuri offers him a smile in return. ]

I won't disappoint.

[ None of that "he'll try" or "he'll do his best". Projecting confidence is what he does. ]

Just don't get any funny ideas about not doing enough when it comes to me. That's entirely impossible.

[ Just by being himself, Dimitri does more for others than he realizes. ]

[hauntedking]

...I suppose I'll keep that in mind.

[ Dimitri hums softly. ]

And do my best not to worry overmuch.

[wolfish]

That's a good goal.

[ He agrees easily. ]

Although... I'm also willing to listen to those worries.

[ Because he suspects Dimitri would be reluctant to "trouble" him. ]

[hauntedking]

Then I'll be sure to let you know if I need your advice.

[ Dimitri nods firmly. ]

And I will seek it out, I promise you.

[wolfish]

I can also, believe it or not, listen quietly.

[ A pause for effect. ]

Although it's a challenge, I'd manage for you.

[hauntedking]

...I'm sure you would.

[ Dimitri suppresses a little snort of laughter. ]

I suppose we're agreed then. I'll rely on you in the future, as appropriate.

[wolfish]

I'll be waiting.

[ He knows full well Dimitri's a worrier. ]

Meantime, anything you'd like to do?

[ Not that he minds lingering in Dimitri's garden. ]

[hauntedking]

...for now I think I'd like to sit and enjoy this, if you don't mind. It's... not exactly home. But it's nice to be back here, however different it is.

[wolfish]

I've got good company, so I have no objections.

[ He lets go so he can seat himself beside Dimitri, remaining close at hand. ]

I've always thought you had a fine garden, besides.