isleofavalon | 凶 seasons change

Entry tags:

凶 seasons change

🧙 WHO: Cloud Strife & You!
⚔️️ WHAT: Catch-All; Quests from the QuestBoard (Don't Lose Your Head & BUNKER DOWN). Will add future prompt(s) for the end-of-month event.
🕒 WHEN: Throughout October
🗺️ WHERE: Around Camelot (Celliwig for the "Don't Lose Your Head" quest)
⚠️ WARNINGS: Inevitable fighting in the "Don't Lose Your Head" prompt

Don't Lose Your Head • Celliwig

[ It didn't take much convincing for Cloud to make his choice; he was going to Celliwig. What very little remained of it after the catastrophic damage was done. Was it dangerous? Yes, if only for the task he'd opted to sign up for through QuestBoard. Many of the jobs he took on were odds & ends within the city of Camelot and just outside its borders. So when reports of darker Fae shrouding the ruins of Celliwig in deepened anxiety became public knowledge, tales of a Headless Horseman taking...well, the heads of those who lingered too long, also came with. By the time Cloud arrives in the once ethereal city, it's all he can do to suppress the sense of dread that creeps up his spine.

He's here as hired muscle, fending off the Fae, especially this supposed Headless Horseman whose been culling the unfortunate souls scrambling to pick up the pieces of a fallen home. Despite his job... ]

Ready? On three...

[ That didn't mean he wasn't going to lend a hand whilst waiting for trouble to start. Volunteers that struggled to move glassed rubble from a destroyed home were aided by the blond swordsman, moving hefty slabs out of the way alongside them so they can do their job and either find survivors inside...or more likely, those who couldn't make it. Besides aiding in the movement of rubble or standing guard around groups who exhausted themselves digging and cleaning up, Cloud keeps his distance. His expression was stoic, but the morose in those faded blue eyes of his was palpable.

For all the headway he's made in elemental spellcasting and awakened kinetic magic... Could he have made a difference if he were as strong as he was before? It's a thought, fleeting despite it coming and going from time to time. Something that he can't afford to dwell on for long. ]

No time for doubt.

[ Said to no one in particular as he surveys the damage and keeps his attention both on his surroundings and device for any updates on the Headless Horseman. Night was falling soon, which meant it was only a matter of time... ]

BUNKER DOWN • Broceliande

[ Cloud may not have much to concern himself with for space, living out on a farm with Weiss for as long as he has been, but that didn't mean the problems stopped for the populous as a whole. Another task through QuestBoard, something closer to home, and it's...something he's not exactly skilled in. Carpentry. He wasn't about to go preparing the most illustrious beds, but he's no stranger to following instructions. Somebody was gonna hafta carry all this lumber too, right? So... ]

S'cuse me.

[ Cloud returns to the woodworking site just outside Broceliande, but not emptyhanded. In fact, he's...carrying an excessive amount of wood over his shoulder. Long planks of sturdy wood stacked at the base of the arc of his arm. At least ten of them. Stacked atop those? Sizable logs waiting to be cut down and carved for bedposts. He wasn't the biggest, musclebound laborer out there, but it looked like he was carrying at least triple the amount that others were (or should be) carrying. Cloud's strength was absurd!!

...is what he wishes he could say. But he doesn't have access to that monstrous strength he once possessed on Gaia thanks to the mako enhancements made by Shinra. And as he approaches the unloading area, sighing with relief as he starts to kneel down, some of the logs atop the pile of his shoulder almost slide off. ]

!

[ Suddenly, the wood stops halfway off the end of one of the planks he's carrying. Yup. That's Kinetic magic alright. He's totally cheating. Still... ]

Hoo boy. Almost there...

[ One wrong move or his concentration slips, he's gonna lose his focus over the wood he's lifting with his magic. Maybe there's such a thing as working too smart instead of working hard. ]

Wildcard

( ooc; This prompt is for anything you wanna play out that's not above! Got any other prompts or ideas in mind, either from the TDM or QuestBoards, or even just something unique altogether? Go ahead and ping me either at my journal here, Discord (Kuraudo@0214) or PM me on Plurk at Clandon. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yup.

[ There's no fight or "look whose talking" quip back at her in him over being called that. Dummy. Gross. It's come with the territory by now when she plants a soft kiss on his lips. Somehow it feels reminiscent of the first day they met... Granted, that time she kissed him on the cheek for luck in the tournament. When she slips away to prepare that bath for him, he stands alone in the kitchen, hand to his lips as his cheeks redden. ]

...

[ Yet...behind the hand to his lips were the traces of a smile, his heart becoming so warm as he watches her go. Finally, with a huff and shake of his head, he claps his hands together once before looking around their kitchen for something to do. ]

Alright.

[ Drawing a bath is easy and simple enough, but she wants to make sure Cloud is comfortable and worry-free when he gets out of it, too. Hot water in the tub, two cups of bath salt, stirred in the water so it dissolves quickly. It should help with any aching muscles! No candles— she doesn't think Cloud would appreciate that by himself, but she does light up a small oil burner and puts a bit of lavender oil in it to make the bathroom more relaxing. Dimming the lights a bit, it creates a very relaxing atmosphere! Hopefully Cloud will be able to find his towel despite it all... don't trip and hit the burner and accidentally burn the house, Cloud.

It doesn't take long to finish— less than 10 minutes later, Weiss is out of the bath and is heading downstairs again to call Cloud. He'd better not be preparing dinner??? That's what she said she would do, too 😡 ]

[ For all intents and purposes, she could have just ran hot water and been done with it, and he'd be perfectly content in that. When he eventually goes upstairs to unwind? He's going to be floored. ...and primed to give her all the attention and affection she could ask for when he comes back down. As for what he found to do while she was away? After checking his device for a while, he looks up from the big empty bowl he'd only just put out, peering over his shoulder should she come back in the kitchen. ]

Oh. Just brought this out just in case.

[ ...of a salad. When they think "light", that usually what they mean. But no ingredients or anything have been brought out! Otherwise he pulled out the cutting board for her and that was it. No touchy on the rest! She's making it tonight. ]

If I took any longer, there'd probably be leaves and fruits inside by now.

[ By which she means he would have already made a salad 😡 Still, she's not angry. She also wouldn't have gotten mad if that happened. Pouty, yes, but nothing worse than that! ]

The bath is ready. Take your time and relax, okay?

[ It's been over a year since Weiss has been trying to get Cloud to do just that. And at times, he does do it! And it's very nice to see. When Weiss pulls him close, fists tugging on his shirt so she can kiss him again after not seeing him for ten minutes, it's to make up for the time lost. Cloud's learned to let loose, some! Weiss just wants him to make him feel that resting and not having to worry about everything should be normal. It's not a privilege, but something he should claim for his own. He does deserve it! ]

You're...not wrong.

[ Totally called out. Even if he just put the butter lettuce and various other fruits & veggies on the counter. He would have taken his time. ...then honestly? Probably follow her upstairs if she were taking too long. The last thing he needed was an incident where he found her not waking up again. ]

I'll try. Not often I get to do this...

[ He hides a little "whoa-!" when she closes what little distance remains to tug him in for a kiss. Ah... Lost time, right? Rather than wrap his arms around her this time, his hand gently cups the side of her face to hold her there in the kiss, drawing a hair's breath away before coming back for a second one, equally as simple and sweet as the last. When he does finally pull away, his thumb strumming along her cheek, he cants his head with a little smile. ]

Thanks. [ ... he's in a damn good mood today. So she's getting a peck on the forehead as he quickly moves past her and leaves to head upstairs. As much as he wants to relax...he's also torn in that he just wants to get back down with her.

Oh well. He'll just let the water grow lukewarm naturally as a sign to get out! No reheating the water up via Fire magic.

...

What? He's not lobbing fireballs around like an idiot! ...granted, it was easier when he was a wolf during Sanguis. Heat was his specialty then. ]

[ Off he goes! And so, Weiss begins to prepare dinner for the two of them, too. Salad is easy enough to make. It's something that she's mastered—or at least, knows full well how to prepare one for herself! The leaves are in the fridge to remain crunchy, some salt and some pepper, dressing, fruits and vegetables... walnuts? She almost considers to add some, but adds sunflower seeds instead. Just a little amount, in case Cloud doesn't want it. In which case, she'll eat all those for herself. It's the chicken breasts that take the longest to make, but once that's done? She prepares their drinks, too. Nothing too fancy. Just red iced tea mixed with some mint leaves. When all of that is prepared, she puts everything on a tray and takes it upstairs.

... Cloud better not get out of the bathroom naked unless he wants a plate thrown at his face. ]

[ True to his word, he does his best to try and take his time in the bed. The undertone of lavender actually doing a stellar job in getting him to relax even further; he wouldn't have complained, but also lowkey appreciates that she didn't put a whole bunch of candles out for him. Truth be told, that was something that felt more intimate and something to be shared with his girlfriend.

...n-not specifically in the bath, but they've done that before. Maybe another hot spring trip? Or they can figure out how to get a hot tub... If it meant another way to help the busy bee Schnee unwind in kind? He can suck it up and handle jumps in the tub. It helps when he's got someone like her joining him. While his muscles hadn't been aching today, being in the soothing bath helped him realize just how tired he felt in the end. When you're used to showers and quick rinses, this is a bit of a shock to the system.

Luckily for Weiss? She won't be attacked by a naked, shirtless blond when he comes out of the bathroom. He'd thought of bringing in a change of clothes, far different from his traditional vest and multipocketed gear! Dark brown home trousers and a nice white longsleeved shirt with a v-cut collar, understandably without the strings tied up in the front. With a warm sigh, he has his towel scrubbing through his hair when he blinks at the sight of his girlfriend and the tray of dinner. ]

Oh- [ Heya. He's just gonna...stand here with the towel on his head like some makeshift hood, bright blues watching her. ] Didn't expect you to bring it up.

[ Not a complaint though! ]

Looks good.

Edited 2021-10-30 05:28 (UTC)

Oh! Well— [ What doesn't surprise and fluster her is Cloud coming out of the bathroom and all, but having to explain why she brought dinner up. There's no particular reason, she just felt it would be more convenient for him! ]

I just thought it would be easier for you. [ ... she's not that worried, but she has to ask— ] Is it too much?

[ Because she'll (try to) tone it down if he says she's being too much! At the end of the day, Weiss just wants to make sure he's okay and has everything he needs.

(and then Weiss never fed him ever again)]

Nope. Just surprised me.

[ Cloud didn't even need to think about his answer, rolling with the proverbial punches as he wastes little time in sitting at the edge of the bed, holding his hands out to help take her tray. ]

Here.

[ They'll eat together in bed! Then head down to clean up after the fact, maybe say hi to Elaine if she was around and busying herself with something. ]

Okay.

[ For once, the relief doesn't visibly show on her face! But... she does let out a soft sigh, more than happy that she doesn't have to change anything. She's more aware of how she can be now, and she trusts that Cloud would tell her the truth if she's being too much. He's always been honest with her!

She lets him take the tray and uses the time from when Cloud sets down the tray on the bed to take off her shrug, folding it neatly and keeping it on the chair by the desk for now. She'll put it in the laundry later! ]

Let me know if you like this kind of salad. [ He's practically eaten whatever mixture of leaves Weiss concocts, but it pays to know what he likes, too! ] Chicken always goes well with salad, too, but we can try other kinds of meat sometime.

Thanks, [ he quickly says as he takes the tray from her and sets it at his side. Rather than get up on the bed entirely, he's content in sitting at the edge and eating it. But he's also not going to go scarfing it down either! It's fresh as usual, and around this household, nothing goes to waste either. ]

Actually? Chicken's prolly the best thing to go with salad. [ A beat as he takes a stab of leafy greens with chicken on it. The traces of dressing help the sunflower seeds stick too. ] ...maybe duck? That's fattier though...

[ ... Before he can take a bite however, he suddenly huffs a laugh, smiling fondly as he looks to Weiss. ]

Before Charles and Marie taught me crepes, I probably woulda never thought of cooking as much.

[ And he's still not a good "cook" in his own eyes. He's damn good at crepes and following basic stuff otherwise. But the fact he'd started thinking about it more, around Weiss especially, was a welcome change. ]

I was thinking salmon or crab, actually. [ A little more expensive than chicken, but... hey, if there's an occasion? They should go for it! ]

I never tried cooking until I was by myself in Lunatia. [ Still, talking about it doesn't seem to ruin the mood. ] Of course, Ruby and Yang arrived shortly after I did— they're much better in the kitchen than I am. They would cook and I would clean, before I got my own apartment, anyway.

[ The mattress doesn't dip much when Weiss takes a seat on her side of the bed. Putting her feet up and folding it to the side, she takes her bowl and starts eating, occasionally placing the bowl on her lap while she chews. ]

...shrimp? [ Maybe? He's just tossing ideas out there now. ]

I think you're doing pretty good.

[ He can butter her up all the live-long day, but as he takes his first bite and sets the bowl in his lap, the truth is that Weiss' own cooking has gotten better too! By the time he swallows, he adds on, ]

Now look. Keep it up and you'll be a jack-of-all-trades, too.

Well, that just won't do! You know that a jack-of-all-trades isn't a master of anything. [ Which means she'll just be normal... And that's not any good. ]

Then again, I wasn't raised to be a homebody to begin with. [ The quiet nights at home are very, very nice. Don't get her wrong! But this is her way of saying that she doesn't want to be the kind of person who just stays home all the time. ] What I want to perfect is the art of making stew. [ No explanation needed there. Oh, but she pauses, just before she's about to take another bite of her salad. ] And whatever else you'll request, of course.

Then...a sorta jack-of-all-trades. [ If that makes sense? The best at certain things but knows how to do other stuff too? Makes sense in his head. ]

Hah... [ Cloud can't help a light smirk when she mentions the stew again. Ever since he mentioned that was his mother's specialty and how everyone in Nibelheim loved her cooking for it, she'd been trying to get close to it. Maybe he has to step his own game up and try to get it close as well. That way he can show Weiss! ...then again, there's something about her putting her own spin on it that he looks forward to more.

He doesn't just want cooking "like Mom used to make"; he's not so attached to his past that he needs something like that. He wants something that Weiss was proud of. ]

That reminds me... I learned crepes for you. [ Mainly. ...if they're ever reunited with their servants however, they can also have them. ] You ever think of anything else you'd want me to try?

[ The day Cloud finally unveiled his surprise and made crepes for her for the first time is a day Weiss will never, ever forget. When they weren't very close yet, but were already dating, it wasn't as if he tried to do extraordinary things to get her attention or to impress her. Learning how to make crepes and surprising her with breakfast was not at all extravagant, nothing like serenading her in public, or showering her with expensive gifts. It was thoughtful— the most thoughtful present she's received, ever. She never asked for him to try, but Cloud put in so much effort because he wanted to surprise her.

She shakes her head slowly. Weiss doesn't realise it herself, but her one hand's touching the snowflake pendant that hangs on her neck. It's not a habit of hers, but she unconsciously touches it every now and then when moments like this happen. When she's far too content and thankful for everything he's done for her. ]

I can't think of anything specific. But... I won't say no to more dessert. [ She can't help but giggle a little at that. Don't point out that she has a sweet tooth, Cloud. You know how huffy she gets when you do. ]

[ Instead of saying a single word, he gives her a subtle incredulous look. It only lasts for a second before he simply nods, returning to his salad as he starts to mull over new dessert ideas. ...what about pie? Or better yet, what were some specialties for this world and time? They sit in silence for a moment or so, his own gaze trailing back to the snowflake pendant on her neck. It was the first material gift he'd given her (the flowers don't count!) yet it's become one of her most prized possessions. As for Cloud? Well...

Reaching into his pocket, he brings out the old Schnee heirloom that was the red brooch. Whether he wears it on his person, via a suit, or keeps it pocketed for safety? ]

I gotta wear it more.

[ He's very protective of it. Especially after the time he'd had a nasty scrap with another Sanguis and nearly had it torn away from him. ]

You always wear dark colours, so it looks good when you have it on.

[ It's more than flattering to know that Cloud values the brooch as much as she does the necklace he gave her. The meaning of the gifts is not quite the same, but... Weiss gave both the same meaning in the end. If they have the necklace and the brooch, then they'll always be together.

Thinking about it now, she can't help but feel embarrassed that she said something like that. It's something she can hear Ruby saying!! Eugh... it really bites you in the butt when you get emotionally vulnerable.

At the same time, though? ]

Come to think of it... I almost told you I love you, when I gave you that. [ But she chickened out before she could do so. Almost... Her cheeks grow hot, turning redder as each second passes. ]

Wear it more.

[ >:T ]

[ As he admires the brooch, he's moments away from putting it on (even if it's just a white shirt he's wearing) before she confesses what she'd almost said. His eyes widen, and fortunately for Weiss? She's not the only one whose face starts turning red. It finally hits him. ]

Oh...

[ ... ]

So that's what that was...

[ His gaze falls back to the brooch in his hand before he clutches it tighter, huffing in amusement before looking back up at Weiss. ]

Guess I oughta make it even. [ Since they're on the topic of being honest. ] I almost said it earlier too, when I was falling asleep and saying how happy I was...

[ CLEARS HIS THROAT. PUTS BROOCH BACK IN HIS POCKET FOR NOW. ]

Salad's great, by the way.

[ EATS SALAD. ]

[ It's not a contest, so Weiss doesn't feel the need to say more. About how she almost said it when the went on her birthday getaway. After getting back from an unexpected trip home and revealing her fears to him, he promised her that he'd always have her back. He didn't have to, then, because it was an open relationship. They didn't have to be devoted to one another. But the ending to that is something Weiss would never change at this point. And it was then that Weiss started thinking to herself. This weird feeling in her chest... floaty, nerve-wracking, but exciting at the same time. How a promise like that led to more and more promises in the future. Whether they were promises made out in the open, like always wanting to come back to one another, or promises that they've kept to themselves, vows to make the other happy, to never make them feel the kind of pain they've already gone through.

Weiss smiles at her own plate just thinking about it. There's no need to say anything more, unless she wants to fluster Cloud some. Instead, ]

If you love me, and you're happy, then I think I hit two birds with one— [ SNRK. Sorry, she's laughing before she can even reveal the punchline! ] Broo— haha! Brooch!

[ please still love her cloud strife akdhakf ]

[ A bite of chicken and dressing later, and he blinks, bright eyed and curious to what's holding her up. Most of the time, Weiss would have his undivided attention. This? Was one of those times as the two seemed to be sharing another intimate moment as they reminisced about their past. They would have quite a few stories to tell their friends and family down the road... Well, he's invested until she starts snickering and laughing.

Then he can't help but mentally say, "Uh oh." ]

...?

[ "Broo— haha! Brooch!" ]

Oh come on— [ His cheeks puff, a rather uncommon break in his usual character before half-failing to suppress a laugh, clutching his bowl tighter out of instinct.

What the hell was that punchline. But he's still failing to hide his smile like an idiot. Before finally, ]

—pff- hahah...!

[ Aaand huff. He's good. He's good now. ]

[ "Oh, come on", but he's laughing, anyway. She's getting better at this! Yang would be proud.

(No, she wouldn't.)

She's about to rub it in— just how funny she is and all, when she notices the little speck of salad dressing on Cloud's cheek. Wordlessly, she gets up on her knees so she can crawl over to him, her bowl set aside for this. ]

You have a little— [ Mm, nevermind. She's taking her napkin and wiping the spot off his face with one end instead of finishing. Just the usual. ]

I kind of want dessert. I'll go see what we have downstairs.

[ 'u' there should be some chocolate cheesecake from the other day! And she should still have some fruit, too. ]

Are you done? I'll bring everything down.

[ He cracked because of how silly the punchline was. But he wouldn't have it any other way. Thankfully it doesn't take much for him to calm down when she wordlessly crawls over to him. Once again he's caught like a deer in the headlights, blinking back at her while his cheeks redden. ... it's an innocent thought, but there's something about her crawling up to him, high spirits and all, that's cute. It makes it that much easier to dab away the little spot of dressing from his cheek. How did that get there... ]

Hah... Thanks.

[ He takes a couple stabs at his salad and takes a big bite, finishing in record time to answer back, ]

Want me to come with? Or should I wait?

[ His bowl is empty. If it's the latter, he'll be patient and enjoy his red iced tea. ]

You can come get me if I take too long.

[ You know, if she ends up organising the kitchen again. Or the books on the shelf in the living room. Or other things, really.

She moves away back to her side of the bed so she can push herself up. With the tray by the end of the bed, she places their bowls on it, as well as empty glasses to take downstairs. It shouldn't take too long if Weiss doesn't get distracted. This should be five minutes tops! Or less than ten, if she moved any slower. Any longer than that? Totally sus... ]

[ Patient as can be, Cloud leans back on his hands and starts to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. This lasts for at least a few minutes... And by a few minutes? Meaning Cloud sneaks his way downstairs, staying out of sight because, yes, he's going to be gauging how long she's actually going to take. Not out of impatience or anything! She can put everything away like she said she would. Hell, he won't even push helping her with...other things, if she happened to get "distracted".

Leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the kitchen, peering around the corner on occasion to check what she's up to. It's a gamble, seeing if he'd get caught or not! But...well.

She's reaching sus territory. Almost. And there's a small, knowing smile on his face as he waits it out. ]

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