✵ [Feb Catchall] Love many things, for therein lies the true strength

[cantgetanyworse]

🧙 WHO: Jane Porter (cantgetanyworse), Thanatos (inevitablerest), Poison (writtendestiny), Red Wine (judgementor), & Mogget (themogget)... and perhaps you.
⚔️️ WHAT: TDM things, quests, general prompts, closed prompts for February. Drop me a prompt to answer if you like!
🕒 WHEN: Through February
🗺️ WHERE: Noted in prompts.
⚠️ WARNINGS: Warned where required.


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Comments

[judgementor]

It doesn't sound much of a sad loss either way.

[Red Wine, as Bailey well knows, has no issues with occasionally being impolite. But he listens to his partner talk with visible interest, always curious to know more about their life. Not that much of it is a secret, really, but 'sit down and tell me about yourself' has never really been on the cards so much as simply learning things as and when they come up.

At the nudge, he grins right back and shakes his head. The camaraderie comes easily, and without two hundred years of weight behind it it's casual and light-hearted thing. Something novel and familiar at the same time.]

Nonsense. I'd listen to you talk anywhere, even if I couldn't see who you were talking to.

[... And there goes the charm again.]

[polterguide]

Nobody really seems all that torn up about it.

[Maybe whoever it was was perfectly nice and the ghosts just thought they were kind of weird for choosing to live among the dead and they're taking any excuse to gossip, but Bailey can't say for certain.

By now, they've come to expect Red Wine's charm, even if he still manages to fluster them more often then one would expect after so long. It's not like he ever says anything truly ridiculous or over-the-top, but it's all so... sincere that sometimes it takes Bailey a moment to respond. Except for now, when they press their lips together before laughing softly.]

Well, next time I'll ask if you wanna come over. I think most of the poltergeists have calmed down enough they won't throw things when they see someone new stop by.

[judgementor]

[Sometimes he just says things, and sometimes he's deliberately trying to fluster Bailey. It can be difficult to tell one from the other, but on this occasion it may just be the latter... if the way his grin turns almost roguish is anything to say about it.]

I'm sure I can handle a few pieces of flying debris.

[He has had worse thrown at him, and even Bailey has seen him in pricklier situations than dealing with a few irritated ghosts.]

So long as I don't have to fight any of them. [He doesn't expect any of the talents currently at his command would be much use against spirits - he would definitely have to rely on Bailey in that instance.] I don't think it would be a problem, unless any of them take issue with your choice of company. I hope none of them are the jealous type.

[polterguide]

[What a menace.]

You shouldn't have to, but I've never brought anyone with me so I don't know. Maybe one of them would get jealous, so try to be on your best behavior, okay?

[Seems unlikely, but they'll play along.]

But hey, if they do get mad, at least I'll get a chance to show off.

[Not that they're much of a fighter. They're more of a... negotiator, but they're pretty sure they could talk a pissed off spirit down from attacking Red. It would depend on why they're angry, at least.]

[judgementor]

I am always on my best behaviour.

[A menace, and a terrible liar. Granted, Bailey does tend to see more of his good behaviour than most, though he still gets very rowdy when he's had something to drink.

Red Wine puts his arm around Bailey and curls his fingers around their hip, pulling them lightly in against his side while they walk. The difference in height isn't quite as noticeable as it used to be but he still has to look up as another of those teasing little smiles moves across his face.]

But I might like to see you showing off. All the more reason to come along. [His thoughts shift then, and he glances down at the instructions for the delivery again.] Maybe when we're done with this.

[polterguide]

Always?

[It’s not that Red Wine is chaotic or unreasonable or a total asshole or anything like that - but they’ve definitely seen him causing problems on purpose. They can only imagine what he got up to before Bailey met him, just based on what they’ve seen between when he drinks and his friendship(?) with Steak.

He’s a good man, but a good man can still choose violence.]

But sure, I’m down. How many do we have after this, anyways? Or is this the last one?

[They’ve knocked out a few deliveries, but they did start with the easy ones and Bailey wasn’t the one keeping track.]

[judgementor]

Always. [Red Wine confirms with another grin. It is not true, and he is well aware that Bailey knows it isn't true. He can be the devil when he wants to be, when the situation calls for it... but he isn't cruel, at least.

He can say that much about himself, even if he often has little else good to comment on. Outside of his swordsmanship, in any case.]

Mm... there's one more, but it's close to home. We can take it on the way back. [A quick trip to see what Bailey got up to when they were up at the manor couldn't take long, after all?]

Do you see any other living people up there?

[polterguide]

Sometimes? Though most of them are pretty, like, quiet. Keep to themselves as they practice their magic.

[Not that Bailey is really any better... But they think they're not nearly as gloomy as some of the people they see there.]

Which I guess is fair? Dealing with the dead is probably something that takes a lot of...

[They trail off, pursing their lips together as they try to think of the right way to word what they mean.]

I think it's something that people need to get used to, if they're unfamiliar with it, and there's probably a stigma to it for most people. Still, I think that means we won't have to deal with any awkward small talk on this delivery.

[Because there is absolutely nothing worse than awkward small talk.]

[judgementor]

[The last comment prompts a light chuff of laughter.]

Always looking on the bright side, aren't you, Bailey.

[Dislike of awkward small talk is definitely a quality shared here, but Bailey can have a way with words sometimes that Red Wine just finds so delightful. They say what they think, at least with him, and it's such a refreshing thing.]

You think there's a stigma here? As far as I can tell there's an absolute abundance of ghosts in Avalon. You'd think they'd be used to the idea. [He purses his lips, not really noticing the way he mimics Bailey's own expression in doing so.] As for the other ones like us... I expect none of them have any room to judge.