Shadows Withal (June Catchall)

[chiefkeyward]

WHO: Lahabrea & Whomever joins him! {Open & Closed Prompts}
WHAT: So what happens when an millennia old sage-like Ancient decides to explore the city? Random hijinks, of course.
WHEN: Mid-June onwards
WHERE: Various places in Nightwake City
WARNINGS: Possible 6.4 Raid spoilers among other things, will change accordingly.


I. Amberfall Library

[He’s a becoming a regular around here. The Amberfall Library has seen its far share of guests over the course of the last few months, most of which are newcomers seeking whatever answers they could find here. Lahabrea is no different in that regard but the man has made it a habit to visit the library every three days in search of a new book. He’s always been an avid reader but the man is known workaholic prone to burning the midnight oil.

Between scouring the shelves or sitting at his favorite table by the window, Lahabrea can be found spending most of his day combing through archives for whatever slivers of information he can find about Ellipsa. While his dedication is quite admirable, the man is starting to look noticeably more and more haggard as he continues with his pressing research. His eternal war against insomnia continues anew even here in this world.

However, Lahabrea eventually loses the battle as he closes his eyes and falls fast asleep with his chin perched upon his hand. Thankfully, he doesn’t snore. Just the rhythmic sound of him breathing is heard over the comforting silence of this tranquil library. ]

II. Window Shopping

[Sometime later in the day, Lahabrea could be found in the middle of town staring longingly into the window of a random clothing boutique on the boulevard. He strikes a rather imposing figure out here in the middle of town, especially since he’s still dressed in those billowing black robes. While he has grown used to the stares he receives from others, Lahabrea decides it’s high time for him to blend in with the culture of Nightwake City. However, he doesn’t seem to know where to begin. That explains why he’s just window shopping today. He noticed that many of his colleagues have adopted the fashion and mannerisms of this bizarre little metropolis, so he decides to do the same.

However, Lahabrea is a bit picky and he doesn’t know the first thing about fashion. He could honestly use some help picking something out but who could he ask? Certainly not Emet-Selch since that man is a walking disaster even on a good day.]

III. Meet The House Mates
Closed - Hythlodaeus, Emet-Selch & Megumi

[It’s a little awkward to share a house with an associate from another department and the spiritual successor of your longtime work colleague but for some oddity, Lahabrea agreed to it. After annexing another bedroom to this lovely home in Blossomcrown using creation magicks, Lahabrea now has a cozy place to lay his head.

His home away from home is quite decadent in a art-deco sort of vibe. He pretty much recreated his apartment in Amaurot here using little bits and pieces here and there to get the desired aesthetic. That explains why there’s a lot of black and golds along with a mixture of ivory and marble here and there. He kept the color scheme relatively simple while adding a hint of green with the many houseplants he purchased from town. His bedroom comes with a small little office on the side, the perfect place for him to work in peace. However, peace will not be forthright within this lovely den. Not while the two gremlins plot to ruin his peace however they may.

Unfortunately, Lahabrea is none the wiser. He’s too exhausted to care about anything right now. That explains why he’s stretched out across his black and white sofa listening to dulcet tunes of whatever jazzy song playing on the radio. Clearly this is the perfect time to pester him. Clearly. If not, maybe they catch him while he's in the middle of reading this new book he purchased from the local bookstore. Lahabrea loves to read but even he needs to let his eyes rest sometimes.]

IV. Beauty of the Well - (cw/tw: spiders)

[This isn’t the first time that Lahabrea has volunteered his services to assist others. However, this might be the last time he does so without full comprehension of the situation at hand. There were sightings of a “beautiful woman” wandering around an abandoned well. While no one knows the woman’s identity, many of the locals are worried about her safety after she was seen climbing into the well. Several hours have passed and the woman has yet to return. A bill was made in hopes of having someone investigate her mysterious disappearance, one that Lahabrea himself decides to take.

Now standing before the abandoned well, Lahabrea gingerly glances over the edge with a curious hum. He could hear the faint groaning and creaking of something deep within the well but he can’t decipher whether or not its human. The sorcerer lingers there for a time with his arms crossed upon his chest, clearly debating whether or not he should venture down there. While he wants to solve this mystery, Lahabrea isn’t foolish enough to do so alone. He can only hope that there’s someone else willing to take this quest.]

V. Wildcard

(ooc: if you have anything else in mind, please feel free to contact me on devillady or hit me up on discord.)

Comments

[pedagogies]

I see.

Do you hate insects?

[chiefkeyward]

No.

[He grumbles with a little more disdain than usual.]

I don't dislike all insects, just a notable few.

[Arachnophobia isn't anything new.]

[chiefkeyward]

“Excellent listener, hm?” Lahabrea couldn’t help but smile a little as he rises to his feet. “I certainly hope I don’t bore you to sleep.” He allows for Hythlodaeus to lead the way towards his bed, quite eager to know what the young man thinks of his humble abode. Lahabrea did well to mimic the style of Amaurot here but the bed he took some liberties on since he wanted something softer than the bed he has at home.

Hythlodaeus might be surprised by what Lahabrea discusses. The man is a veritable enigma in every sense of the word. While everyone knows of Lahabrea and his many accomplishments, not many knows about the man behind the mask. This is one of the rare times that anyone has treated him like an equal and not as the venerable Lahabrea. It’s rather refreshing but also a little jarring as well.

Will Hythlodaeus be impressed with what he learns about him? Or is he simply doomed to bore the young man to death with his incessant prattling? Only time will tell.

[pedagogies]

I see. Is that why you volunteered?

[chiefkeyward]

If you must know, I'm merely curious about what lies within this well.

[pedagogies]

Curiousity is "mere" now?

[chiefkeyward]

{Something akin to a sigh is heard before Lahabrea yells out the following.]

Have you reached the bottom yet, Qifrey?

[pedagogies]

Just about.

Will you be coming down?

[chiefkeyward]

...Of course.

[He takes a moment to clear his throat.]

That was my intention all along.

[pedagogies]

I see. Then I will await your arrival.

[chiefkeyward]

[Damn that witch! He can almost sense Qifrey's smiling from here.]

I certainly hope there's enough room for the both of us.

[Lahabrea fusses as he gingerly climbs into the well. It's a bit damp like he said, making it quite slippery.]

[pedagogies]

I am sure we can manage.

[chiefkeyward]

I certainly hope we can--[He trails off momentarily when he accidentally slipped for a second. Thankfully, Lahabrea manages to find his footing again without much incident. It's just a shame that his heart is drumming in his ears now.]

How much further down must I go?

[pedagogies]

[ oh, buddy. ]

It's not much further. You can do it!

[wingbound]

[ To be fair, even if everyone looks short to Lahabrea, Levi would no doubt still stand out among them. At 5'3, he's probably smaller than other volunteers in the tent, but apparently he's got the attitude to make up for it. ]

[ So yes, crude and little, thanks for noticing. ]

Let me guess, you're just too far from normal people to hear them properly.

[ Because clearly that's what he meant, right? ]

[ Despite the verbal barbs, Levi doesn't seem opposed to actually working with him, though -- he's already lining up the small cake forms that need to be filled up on the table. ]

As many as we can until the next shift. [ Although, considering the improved tempo since he started bullying other volunteers, they might run out of ingredients before that. He shoots the giant man a suspicious look. ] Did you wash your hands?

/omg i'm back! sorry!

[chiefkeyward]

[It isn't easy being a venerable giant around these parts but this is a ridiculous. Something akin to a sigh escapes him once he hears the snide comment. While he is far too mature to take such bait, he cannot help but feel annoyed nonetheless.]

While I may have given life to flame and steward a world through many great tragedies, I cannot say cooking was ever my forte. Therefore, do try to be patient with me.

[Despite his eloquence, it is clear that Lahabrea is a bit frustrated. While he can forge mythic beasts from ash and flame, he doesn't know the first thing about baking. However, he won't let his mundane shortcomings stop him. Unlike many of his colleagues, he's quite determined once he puts his mind to something.]

Of course, I did. [He answers while pouring the batter into the first cake mold.] It would be unwise to containment our would-be guests.

[chiefkeyward]

So you claim, but I'm barely halfway there.

[He takes a deep breath before continuing his descent, idly cursing himself for ever volunteering for this mission.]

Instead of gawking at me, how about you search for the missing woman?

[A little bit of banter helps him keep his nerves in check. Someone here is a little claustrophobic, and it's not Qifrey.]

[pedagogies]

[ a missing woman. all the way down here? qifrey lets the lights hover, illuminating the way. ]

I don't hear anyone.

[ktizo]

For what it's worth Hythlodaeus listens rather intently, surprised but not unpleased to hear of his fellow Ancient's life. A lonely man made lonelier through betrayal and loss- it's a terribly sad story, and he squeezes Lahabrea's hand and smiles softly.

"Would that I could have gotten to know you better back on Etheirys. Alas, there is little use in regretting what we cannot change. Instead, pray consider me your friend from here on. You are a remarkable man, 'tis true, but I am sure you make a remarkable friend as well."

Perhaps they were not destined to be particularly close back home, but here... who is to say they can't be? He shouldn't even be alive, it's true, but given this extra time who is Hythlodaeus to turn his nose up at new friendships and adventures?

"Perhaps you and I could rope Emet-Selch and perhaps a few others into a night of revelry. It will be fun!"

III

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Emet-Selch has, by this point, come to be accustomed to treating Megumi and Hythlodaeus' place as if not something equal to his own home than at least a place where he is readily welcome. He has not, however, considered the fact that they might choose to find yet another roommate, much less one with whom he might be familiar. As such, the first he is aware of Lahabrea having taken residence is sound of unfamiliar music playing; something that is more than enough to have him drifting closer simply to check it out.

He has not, however, bothered to change his form from that which he had held as Solus. Both Hythlodaeus and Megumi are well aware of the fact that he is himself regardless of what he should look like, and though he is not wearing the full ceremonial outfit of the Emperor he had been the outfit he is wearing is not entirely dissimilar to it either. Right down to the touch of fur at his collar.

And given that he's not making any real attempt to hide his approach it's all but inevitable that Lahabrea will spot him sooner or later.]

no worries!

[wingbound]

[ That's good, because Levi doesn't even intend it as bait. To him, it's just an observation, if sarcastic one at that. ]

[ There's the slightest squint to his expression when the giant man uses a frankly outlandish amount of words to say he can't cook, which brings him to his next conclusion, delivered with the slightest hint of disdain; ]

You won't have servants wiping your ass for you here, so might as well learn the basics.

[ At least he seems pleased enough with the fact Lahabrea does indeed have clean hands -- not that he looked just to check or anything -- and places the rest of the cake molds without more biting commentary. ]

Good. [ Is all he says about that, and turns around to grab another bowl himself, starting at the other end of the cake forms. ]

[chiefkeyward]

[This man’s crudeness surpasses Azem’s by tenfold, and Lahabrea really doesn’t know how to feel about that. He stares at the pint sized bastard with a look of prime annoyance before filling the rest of the cake molds with batter. It’s a rather simple task but fairly tedious since they need about a dozen or more mooncakes for their esteemed guests. That means lots of repetitive motion and lots of him bending over, which is not good for his growing back pain as of late.]

I never had servants before, so I don’t plan on having any now.

[Can’t he just make these cakes using creation magicks? Probably, but they won’t taste right. The second he manages to snatch one of these mooncakes, he’s creating about a million of them so he doesn’t have to go through this nonsense again. That way everyone is satisfied, and he can begin his research on these moonbunnies in peace.

Until then, he’s at this man’s mercy.]

Have you tried this dish before?

[He asks before finishing with the last mold. In his infinite wisdom, or lack there of, Lahabrea decides to play taste tester and dips his finger into the batter. He then licks it off with a curious hum.]

Hmm…sweet. A little too sweet, honestly.

/back from holiday!

[chiefkeyward]

Let us hope she isn't down here.

[He manages to climb down the rest of the way without much incident, a testament to his fortitude. Nevertheless, this is a rather tight space for someone like him. After all, he's almost past 6'10 in height.

That's why he's crouching now.]

Either that or our alleged "beauty" has met a grim fate.

welcome back!

[pedagogies]

I wonder if it's another trick. Like last time.

[ which is a worrying trend. ]

ty! ❤️

[chiefkeyward]

I would hope not but I’m not very confident in that assessment.

[He glances at Qifrey briefly, his carmine gaze studying him momentarily before noticing a small nearby tunnel. While the well is a bit damp, the tunnel nearby seems dry enough to be explored. It’s like a catacomb of some sort. However, there’s large spider webs blocking the entrance and of this mock tunnel.]

You first.

[He suddenly commands while pointing at the tunnel.]