isleofavalon | well, i got one foot on the platform [open]

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well, i got one foot on the platform [open]

🧙 WHO: Cliff Norman, OTA!
⚔️️ WHAT: Not-so-local teen wolf's first world-hop.
🕒 WHEN: idk, March.
🗺️ WHERE: Typical arrival locations and Camelot.
⚠️ WARNINGS: uh cursing, that's all for the time being.

[ a - aaaargh. ]

[There’s one thing worse than swimming in jeans and shoes, and it’s crawling out of the water in soaked jeans and not shoes -- not barefoot either, just no shoes. Socks. Squishy, drippy, muddy socks. Because the night hadn't been hard enough already. Also feeling a little drowned? Been there, done that. Cliff coughs as he falls back and glares at the sky, trying to figure out what the fuck. He’d been at Oscar’s, and exhausted, but that was more emotionally than anything, and then the next thing he knows? Weird grassy sea cows are bullying him. There’s some shitty staircase, some biker-rancher dude, and a wardrobe apparently named exactly what Cliff would have named it. At least it means he has his shoes now, even if he's reluctant to wear them over his damp socks.]

Okay… Okay. Think. [In an effort to act rather than panic, Cliff peels his shirt up over his head and swaps it out for the red hoodie so he can be at least somewhat dry and warm. He'd pace, but his jeans are squeaky. And his phone…

He has to groan as he imagines Oscar’s stupid grin as he makes the best of it with, ‘No shirt, no shoes, no service! Think they allow dogs?’ Not helpful, imaginary Oscar!] Fuck. I can't even get Eliza…

[Oh. Wait. If he was here -- ]

Kevin! Kev, hey, are you here?!

[Sorry about this panicking, frustrated redhead yelling around! Maybe looking like he’s going to dive off the cliff's edge and search the water instead!!]

[ b - bzzt. ]

Hey, cut it out!

[Having accepted that it was only him brought to this place, as little sense as that made, Cliff had been more than ready to find someone who knew enough that he could berate them. But it seems life had one more surprise for him in the form of a tiny, wispy shadow child that rasps out a laugh and latches onto his shoe -- which he'd finally gotten to put on, thank fucking christ.]

PUPPY-PUPPY!

You -- shut up? Hey! If you’re not going to leave me alone, then find a way to contact that stupid bear and get us out of here!

HEE HEE...PUPPY-PUPPY, SIT! STAY!

Think that's funny? How about this one -- FETCH.

[And Cliff grabs hold of the Thunder Child, rears his arm back, and chucks the thing as far as he can. This results in some instant regret.]

Shit -- watch out!

[Because that's a giggling little ball of darkness and sparks heading towards some stranger, and if it hits them? That’ll be a stinging shock, thankfully more surprising than painful.]

[ c - like three prompt opportunities idk. ]

[He wouldn't call himself any calmer or more settled, even when assured that things back home wouldn't be happening without him and he wouldn't be worrying his family. For once. It does help a little, just like the fact that the stupid Thunder Child had scampered into the woods with a giggle, finally leaving him alone.

...Turns out that being alone, while good for his introverted nature, kind of makes you lonely! And bored! So Cliff decides to try and go around the city with a curious look and his hands calmly in his pockets rather than a glare meant to scorch the path ahead of him. The busy city part feels weird...but interesting, and he watches stores and businesses through windows to distract himself from the sound of families out and about. Happy or arguing, each of them make his chest ache.

But eventually he finds a bench to sit on for a nice little break and scrolls through that weird quest-request or whatever app. It all sounds like things that are not at all his business. His thumb does pause as he reads through one of them, though, brows furrowing.]

What the… Oh, come on. They've got to be fucking with us. Find some horny bunny jackass cheating on his bunny wife? [Who somehow doesn't know about this, despite it being a publicly posted job?

Well. On the offchance, this isn't bullshit, he does have a way of finishing this one pretty easily. A wolf should be able to find a rabbit in no time, right? Once he's had an opportunity to shift without having to worry about anyone seeing or suspecting something -- even with animal magic existing, it felt like a risk -- Cliff sets out to put his nose to work in bunny country.]

Ugh. Why can't I smell anything? It's all just city and food…

[Speaking of which: damn, some of that food looks pretty good.]

[ d - we went off the alphabet theme. ]

[And everything else!! Just getting his foot in the door, so to speak, but if some fun, specific idea pops up, feel free to toss it here or plot with me over on plurk at

goblinhood.]

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[Robyn has come down to see if there's anyone she knows among the new arrivals, like Mebh or her father. She's accompanied by both her golden wolf familiar and her hunting falcon, Merlyn, who takes off with a startled screech as what looks like a small dark blob comes hurtling towards them.]

Ack! [And it proceeds to hit Robyn square in the face.]

[Oh, man. He just threw a tiny electric man at a kid's face. Shit, shit, shit. Cliff hurriedly jogs over, concern focused mainly on her, but with a sliver saved for a wary glance at the wolf. Hm...]

Hey, you okay?

[Just gonna...reach out with his foot and sweep aside the giggling Thunder Child with a flash of blue static.]

I-I'm fine, it's just...it stung for some reason.

[She certainly wasn't expecting to feel that when whatever that thing was collided with her face, though at least the sensation is already fading away.]

What was that, anyway?

Uh, yeah... It's some...forest spirit. A Thunder Child.

[The little wisp makes its return, first hiding behind Cliff's shoe, then zipping over to crawl up Robyn's leg. This time the contact doesn't cause any electrical feeling, though the spirit itself does have a certain...buzz to it. Energy. An awful little lifeform that tugs at Robyn's clothes before cackling and leaping to the wolf.]

APOLOGIZE TO LITTLE-GIRL AND BIG-WOLF!

God, shut up, seriously. You apologize.

PUPPY-PUPPY THREW --

Yeah, okay! What are you, my mom? I get it... Sorry. I wasn't looking when I chucked the little guy.

[Robyn yelps as the Thunder Child climbs up her leg, though at least she doesn't feel that weird sting this time. Her wolf, who's normally rather quiet and isn't fazed by much, shakes herself and bares some of her teeth in irritation when it leaps onto her.]

You threw him? [Robyn would ask why on earth he would do such a thing, especially if that creature's his familiar, but given what's happening right now...]

Well, if he's going to go around stinging people, maybe he deserves it a little.

[The Thunder Child is apparently delighted by this, giggling as it weaves its way like a toddler made of smoke and a bright blue glow to the wolf's head, intent on sitting on her nose.]

That, uhhh...is actually because I threw him. It? [Whatever. It wasn't keen on correcting anything, if it felt a certain way.] I think the shocking might be a speed thing. Anyway -- Thunder Children go around tricking people, so don't feel bad for it. It's just being a pain.

[See? Look at your poor wolf!]

[The wolf bares more of her teeth at the little troublemaker on her nose...though that also causes her to sneeze.]

Well, I suppose I should be used to that by now. The fairies here already like to go around trickin' people...

[The yelling is what catches Haruka’s attention, and it doesn’t take much to find the source. His lips purse as he watches the redhead, before it stretches into a grimace.]

Whoever you’re looking for isn’t here.

[...Which, okay, he doesn’t know that for certain, but. Seems the most likely scenario.]

[Cliff's gaze drifts over to the wolf again, and while he's not exactly feeling protective of the tiny spirit, the growling and the teeth are still making him uneasy. Thunder Child, please stop... He doesn't know what to do with this.]

Yeah... I think most magic creatures end up being some kind of monster in the end.

[That's been his experience... Even ghosts, as much as he'd enjoyed two out of the three he's met, had their darker moments. And...

Well. He's never felt very comfortable in his own skin.]

[Someone trying to be helpful has the unfortunate effect of Cliff thinking they know anything at all -- and even if they know more than him, the reality is that they can't answer all his ill-tempered questions. You know, the ones like:]

And how do you know? He was just with me! How is that supposed to work?!

[ -—!!

Karma doesn't get hit square in the face, pulling back at the very last moment but, not knowing what it is that's been thrown at him, reaches for it as if to grab it mid-air and hurl it back at his offender. The resulting shock makes the muscles in his arm lock for a moment as he swears out loud, grip tightening around the Thunder Child instead of letting go- and despite the prickling in the palm of his hand, he keeps a hold of it. His other hand digs around his coat pocket and produces a jar, something thick and red coating the bottom of it, and he loosens the lid with one hand.

Can a Thunder Child fit inside a mason jar? Doesn't matter. It'll fit if he tries hard enough. ]

[Truly, there is no way this can get any worse. It’s not like Haruka is going to sneer or anything, and very matter of factly say -]

Why do you think him being with you matters? Were you planning on showing up here?

[Oh, it will absolutely fit. A mason jar is pretty much the perfect size for one of these terrible little wisps. It makes a noise of displeasure, blue pulsing from some internal glow while it strains to cling to the jar's lid so it can't be pushed in.

Cliff, meanwhile, is stunned as if he, too, has been shocked. What...is happening. Does this person play baseball? Is this what sport people are like, fearlessly snatching things out of the air?]

Did you really just -- ?

[????? gestures!!]

[That's...sort of a fair point? He's not a fan.]

Because he's -- ! Look, I'm not an expert on magically being kidnapped just because this is the second fucking time!

[Last time he at least got to remember the circumstances leading up to that! He's going to leave a bad review on some witch's Yelp.]

[ No way, little Thunder Child. Karma clamps the jar between his hands, one palm on the bottom and one on the lid so he can at least keep the thing contained even if it isn't letting him screw on it on. ]

...Yeah? What's it to you?

[ With a question like that and the wild ???!!? gestures, Karma leans back slightly, as if on the defensive. It makes him look a little more like the 14-year-old he's supposed to be, even if he is fake tall like Cliff is. His voice at least gives a clearer indication of his age. ]

Is this thing yours?

[ He gives the jar a shake— maybe he can, like... dislodge the Thunder Child and get it stuck on the bottom. There's leftover jam inside. ]

Most of them, maybe. Not all of them, though.

[From Robyn's own experience, anyway, especially after she became more supernatural herself. She rubs her wolf's back in an attempt to calm her down.]

Maybe they only become monsters because people keep treatin' them that way.

[Even normal animals can be seen as monsters if enough people are afraid of them, considering how many people hate and fear wolves where she's from. And she was one of them, until she met Mebh and became a Wolfwalker by accident.]

[Oh yeah!!! Well! What if it just gives a few more tiny little zaps!! This does nothing, thanks to the jar, but it's the thought that counts. The Thunder Child wants Karma to know that it's not happy at all with its treatment, whether or not it's what it deserves.

Cliff pauses a moment longer, then starts heading over with a frown.]

Not really.

YES, YES! PUPPY-PUPPY, TELL THE MEAN BOY TO NOT TRAP LITTLE THUNDER BABIES!

[That's rich, coming from something that tricks people into getting lost and then eats them, but Cliff only glares at it because telling it to shut up and throwing it certainly hasn't worked.]

It's just something from where I came from. If I could keep it jarred up like that, that'd be great.

Yeah.

[Not all of them. Cliff averts his eyes to the ground, kicking up nothing with his ugly orange and green shoe. It's not a subject he's overly comfortable with, despite bringing it up himself and trying to get ahead of his...caring about it. Be nice if he just didn't care about it.]

Sorry. I'm used to my brother being afraid of monsters. He's younger, like you, and he'd think your wolf and bird are way cooler than this thing. Hey -- get back here and quit bothering her?

[The Thunder Child laughs and pats the wolf's nose one more time before floating on over to tuck itself in Cliff's hood.]

DON'T BE MAD AT THUNDER BABY! TOO MEAN!

Well...Rowena doesn't really like being around people other than me very much. She's normally off somewhere else when we aren't in the forest together.

[It's actually a bit unusual that she would accompany Robyn here today. Merlyn, on the other hand, flies back down to land on Robyn's arm.]

Merlyn's pretty friendly, though. He's me huntin' bird from back home.

Rowena and Merlyn, huh... Oh, I'm Cliff, by the way.

[Just going to maybe...take another step back. He's never been around a wolf wolf, so he has no idea if there's any instinctual kinship or something weird there, but what he does know is that he's not the biggest fan of dogs. Sorry, Rowena, you're kind of a big scary dog.]

Never heard of anyone using birds for hunting. Just...hunting the birds.

I'm Robyn.

[She probably could have introduced herself before she introduced her companions, but...oh well. Rowena, for her part, seems a lot calmer now that the Thunder Child isn't bothering her anymore.]

Really? Falconry's done a lot where I'm from. You can train a falcon like Merlyn to hunt small birds and animals for you. We'd both help me father hunt for food back home.

[At least, they did until they moved to Ireland and her father insisted that she stay in town instead of going hunting with him.]

[Animals are better than people, usually. If Robyn hadn't been a kid he was inconveniencing, he might not have bothered to introduce himself at all. He reaches back to cover the Thunder Child over his shoulder as it pokes out and starts playfully growling at Rowena. Seriously, why can't this thing just be normal?]

Oh, yeah. People don't hunt for food much in Oklahoma. I mean, they do eat it, but it's mostly for sport. Sounds like it isn't just a stupid hobby where you're from.

Where's Oklahoma? Is it part of the mainland?

[...yeah, she's from long before any of the United States were formally established.]

[Mainland... He doesn't pay enough attention in school to know what she means, but the accent is hard to miss.]

It's one of the states.

One of the states of what?

[...wait.] Are you one of those people who are from much later than I am? I've met someone who told me that.

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well, i got one foot on the platform [open]

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