[OPEN] Now that we're out here, open your heart

[thepattern]

🧙 WHO: Corwin of Amber & you
⚔️️ WHAT: Various happenings, some quest-related, some not
🕒 WHEN: Throughout March
🗺️ WHERE: In and around Camelot, Brocéliande, and the Red Springs
⚠️ WARNINGS: Gun use, violence, ETA

I. The sun is still shining, look at the view – Carpentry + Gunfire

[ The results of Corwin's quest with Darin across the Pure of Heart bridge last month may have been... a mixed success (to put it mildly), but regardless of how things turned out, Corwin walked away from it one million gold richer. And that one million gold is enough for him to find somewhere more permanent to live. He prefers to live outside the hustle and bustle of the city, so he buys a quaint little house on the outskirts of Camelot, at the edge of the Brocéliande forest. Though he is accustomed to luxury, he doesn't need much space all for himself, so a modest sized house is fine for him. But he would like enough space in his backyard that he can build himself a decent gun range for rifle practice (now that his rifle has viable ammunition again). He buys himself an axe and starts felling trees to build a backstop and ricochet guard over the hill behind his property, so anyone is welcome to hear the gunshots of him testing his new range and come investigate. ]

II. The moon is still dining, with me and you – Trying new foods

With the Spring Equinox festivities in full swing, many Camelot restaurants are celebrating in kind, offering new dishes incorporating fresh flowers as ingredients. Such things may be common fare in some worlds, but for a man who was last on Earth in the 1970s, he's not quite used to such things as a dandelion salad.

"I'm sorry? I don't care for weeds in my lunch. Don't you have anything more, I don't know... I'm more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy."

The waiter politely suggests that he can bring a steak out for the main course, but insists that Corwin at least try their house special salad as a starter. Sighing, Corwin agrees, but when his meal is served, He glances at whoever is sitting at the table next to him, admitting in a loud whisper, "I have no idea if these dandelion greens are going to be any good. If I start gagging, cover for me so I don't make a scene."

III. Everything's turning, turning around – Selling wares + Catching a thief (Quest)

[ The nice thing about having a magically-reloading rifle, is that Corwin no longer has any shred of a reason to keep his custom bullets around. It's not like they even work anywhere outside of Amber. The jeweler's rouge component to them isn't combustible in the vast majority of shadows, making them the perfect weapon to lay siege to Mount Kolvir and try to dethrone his brother. He hasn't really needed them since then, however, so showing up in this strange new Avalon with a whole magazine and an extra box full... Well, he doesn't see the point.

And so he meticulously collects the jeweler's rouge from each bullet into little velvet bags, then goes to visit the local jewelry stores to see whether any of the proprietors are willing to buy it off of him for an appropriately inflated fee.

He's walking into one jewelry store in particular when he finds the proprietor in the middle of explaining the details of a quest to recover a stolen jewel to an interested quester, and what can he say? His curiosity is piqued. ]

Excuse me, do you mind if I join you on this quest? I always love a good chase, and can provide my own transportation.

[ Indeed, he has his own horse tied up outside of the shop. ]

IV. But if you want to play, stay right back on Earth – Wildcard

[ Want something else? Go for it! HMU @ millennialfalcon or ©hris#1234 to plot. Will match prose or brackets. ]

Comments

III

[cameprepared]

[Claire had responded almost immediately to the quest board going up. This seemed like fun, and it was something she could do. If Corwin was paying attention, he might have even seen her bike outside, with The Dog waiting patiently beside it.

She turns, giving him a wry smile, tipping the hat of her outfit. For whatever reason, it'd shown up with her, and she wasn't exactly against the look for the occasion.]

I don't see why not. I know you can keep up.

[thepattern]

[ Corwin's not wearing a hat to return the salute, but he nods his head, smiling, all the same. ]

Good, then it's settled! Who are we after?

[cameprepared]

Dude goes by 'Snaggletooth Miffin' I'm told.

[The Jeweler nods, and Claire turns towards the door.]

Got a basic description. Figured we could ask around, see if anyone knows something, but the rumor seems to be that he hangs around the Red Spring Inn?

[thepattern]

[ Corwin snorts a laugh and follows Claire to the exit. ]

Well, that's a hell of a name. I hope he lives up to the hype.

[ Outside, Corwin tucks his belongings into his saddlebags and mounts his horse, turning to be ready to head out. ]

Let's see if we can wrangle ourselves a thief.

[cameprepared]

[Claire heads out and hops on the bike, nodding to the Dog.]

Go on ahead, boy. We'll catch up to you at the inn.

[The Barghest wuffs, and takes off in the direction of the Red Spring like a shot from a gun. He fades in and out, bounding along like only a Black Dog can.]

Ready to ride?

[thepattern]

[ Corwin watches her familiar dash off, almost too fast for his eyes to track. ]

Impressive dog you've got.

[ But, if they're going to catch up to him, then they'd better get moving. Corwin shifts in his saddle, nodding. ]

Let's go!

[cameprepared]

Yeah, the furball's not too bad a familiar.

[She settles on her bike, gives a little chime and a wave, and then gets going, picking up speed fairly quickly and handling with an easy hand.]

Time to roll out!

[thepattern]

[ He would have said, "After you!" but Claire just moves off on her own so he's left chuckling, and kicking his horse into a canter to catch up with her. If he pushed his horse, it would outpace her easily, but they've already sent the black dog on ahead, so there's no need for him to get there before her. ]

[cameprepared]

[It's unfortunate but true. The inability to get a motorbike is frustrating, but a bike is manageable. She's dealing.

Rolling along, she actually sets a pretty brisk pace, weaving easily through the streets.]

Done a lot of thieftaking at home?

[thepattern]

[ He follows along easily, keeping pace beside her, weaving in front or behind wherever crowded traffic demands it. ]

Done more thief-being, if I'm honest. But a man likes to dabble in all sorts of things. I've taken a few.

[cameprepared]

Fair enough. Can't fault you for it. I've broken into government property and probably violated all kinds of international laws, myself.

[You know, breaking into classified information. It was during a zombie outbreak, and it was to stop it, but, you know.]

[thepattern]

None of the nations whose laws I violated were ones that have any sort of commercial or political dealings with the one I call home, so as far as I'm concerned, their laws are more... gentle suggestions, to be considered and disregarded when need be.

[cameprepared]

Heh. Not the case for me. My brother's a cop, and an ex-Air Force pilot. I'm at least a little obligated to care about US law.

[thepattern]

Well, sure. If you're a US native then US law concerns you. I'll obey Amber laws when in Amber. Everywhere else... free game.

[cameprepared]

Sure, yeah.

[She can accept that. But also, you know, not be a thief.]

Coming up on the Inn now. You ready to catch this creep?

[thepattern]

More than ready.

[ He kicks his horse and picks up the pace-- not so fast that Claire won't be able to keep up, but enough to hasten their arrival at the inn. ]

[cameprepared]

[Once they've made it to the inn yard, Claire slides off, fingers flashing out the motions to a curse to keep her bike from being stolen. Definitely do not touch that bike, Corwin.]

Okay. Any idea where we'd start?

[thepattern]

[ He's familiar enough with the movements and gestures of painful magic to know not to go anywhere near Claire's bike without her permission, and busies himself tying up his horse. ]

Might as well give his description to the innkeep, see if he knows anything.

[cameprepared]

Right. I'll go do that. Why don't you go check around the back, see if he's hanging in the springs area?

[No need to waste time, she guesses.]

[thepattern]

[ Corwin gives her a jaunty two-fingered salute. ]

You got it, boss.

[ And around he goes to the back, asking anyone who happens to be lounging in the springs area if they've seen anyone matching the thief's description. ]

[cameprepared]

[Claire heads inside. And as Corwin heads around he'll see the target himself, lounging out by the springs.

He's probably got a minute or two to himself, as Claire needs to confer, but she'll be heading that way fast.]

[thepattern]

[ As soon as he recognizes Snagglefoot lounging in the springs, Corwin halts his approach, doing his best to act natural without getting close enough to arouse suspicion. He positions himself leaning against the wall of the inn and pulls his phone out of his pocket, imitating the younger, more modern denizens of New Camelot that he's observed, pretending to scroll through the internet. Out of the corner of his eye, though, he's got a bead on Snagglefoot, ready to make a move if the thief decides to get out of the springs, or if it looks like he might have noticed the surveillance.

Once Claire comes around the back, he turns to her, genial smile firmly in place, and body language casual in the way of a man who had been waiting to meet a friend. ]

Claire, good to see you! [ Though his tone is carefree, there's an intensity in his eyes and the slightest nod of his head in the direction of the springs. ] I think I've found just the thing we were talking about.

[cameprepared]

[She adopts a similar posture, head canting to the side as she's greeted.]

Ah hey!

[She grins, following his nod. Yep, he's thinking the same thing. Claire reaches a hand out for Corwin's, giving him an impish wink and starts leading him in that direction.]

Been too long since we got together. Let's grab a table, eh?