June Catch-All

[ofsilverflame]

🧙 WHO: Chris Lightfellow, and You
⚔️️ WHAT: Chris' comings and goings, including an open quest prompt, moving into a new place and her biggest trial yet; finding herself in a swimsuit at the beach.
🕒 WHEN: All around June at various times
🗺️ WHERE: All over.
⚠️ WARNINGS: There's going to be a fight club rescue and a bath prompt, so cw: violence and some nudity.


Quest Prompt-Open

[Chris wants a knighthood, so if you feel like running a quest with her, feel free to start a thread or DM me and I can add the prompt for you. Battle quests are preferable, but since she'll probably be going for noble title after that, they can also work!]

Moving Day

It didn't actually take long once they started looking to find a place that suited their needs. Once money changed hands, they were told the start of the start of the month would be when the keys were handed over and Chris and Rinea found themselves in possession of a comfortable residence in a quiet neighbourhood away from the downtown. Rinea had needed a suitable workspace for her alchemy business, while all Chris really needed was a comfortable enough room to sleep in and safely store her gear, a place to eat, and a cozy enough den to take her rest in, when she could grab it.

But since the totality of their possessions could fit inside a single hotel room, what was needed was suitable furniture. This was not an area Chris had a great deal of expertise in since Lightfellow Hall and her quarters at Brass Castle had come fully furnished when she'd taken possession of them. But fortunately "thrift stores" were a thing, and while your average Zexen noble would have turned their noses up at resorting to such measures, Chris had no such problems. The delivery date was set for the moving day, and she was going to need help for that, but there's no shortage of people she's come to know who would be willing to help. Or be made to, depending.

"Ah, this couch is for the den. Here, help me please." Chris motions to you, being the closest available to help who's not currently busy, to take the opposite side. "We'll be bringing this to sit under the front window. On three."

Later on, once the work's been taken care of and all that's left is the unpacking, which falls to the two residents, mostly, Chris steps away to prepare a small thank you; food and drink, all secured from a local deli since she should not be left to her own devices in a kitchen, and she knows this. "I've just left it all out, take what you like. And there's some cold water in the, uh...fridge. If you're thirsty." It's important to stay hydrated.

Avalon Beach Time Fun

Helping out with getting down to the ship seemed like a duty Chris should participate in, being an Elemental magic-user who's come a long way in the three months or so she's been here, and a good way to explore use of her magic outside non-combat abilities, since she values the benefits of a diverse skillset. She arrives on the beach lightly dressed since armour and water will not mix...only for the spell to quickly take effect and she finds her clothes changing to something more "suitable" and a lot more exposed.

In the end, the swimsuit she ends up with is fairly modest, but it still leaves her legs and arms bare, far more skin than she usually shows. Despite her mild discomfort, there's still a job to do and she's committed herself already, so Chris decides the best thing to do is simply power through it and get the job done.

"All right, let's be off." Chris isn't skilled enough yet to pull oxygen out of the water, but she can serve well enough for bubble duty. "We'll wade out and once we're deep enough, I'll create the bubble and we can proceed to the ship. She's businesslike and take charge as always, but the dusting of pink across her face is still noticeable.

Later on, after all is said and done and it's time for the beach party Chris is more interested in finding a spot to rest. Sustained magic use took a toll after awhile, so what she really just wants is some shade to rest, and a bite to eat and something to drink before she takes her leave. She helped herself to some food, as well as a cold fizzy iced drink. It's some variety of berry, very pink and she's not at all sure why there was a small umbrella stuck in it but she assumes it must serve a purpose. A long chair and a large, actual umbrella stuck into the sand provide the sand provide the shade and rest she's looking for.

But you, armed with a beach-ball and/or water-gun, may have other ideas. After all, she hasn't actually left yet, has she? Or maybe you don't want to make a nuisance of herself and this might be a good opportunity to catch up with her. Up to you, and on your head be the consequences.

Roaring Rescue

It didn't take long for word to get around about the string of kidnappings going on. Some investigative work has pinpointed the location everyone's been taken to, and even if nobody she personally knows was taken and needs rescuing, Chris won't abide this sort of criminality so she's all too ready to lend a hand to the rescue efforts. Fortunately, getting in is easy since everyone's focused on the current fight. The cells are barely guarded and if you're looking out your door you hear a *thud*, followed by a soft sigh as the goon tasked with patrolling near your cell falls forward, out like a light. Chris steps out behind him, still holding her sword which she used to bean the comatose ruffian in the head with the pommel. She looks through the cell doors.

"Don't be alarmed, we're getting you out of here. Are you hurt?"

That's her primary concern, getting everyone out safely. Once that's well in hand however, she can turn her attention to the fight currently in progress. And that fogueria she sprang was more than happy to help after she broke it out of its confinement.

Maybe your fight was going well. Maybe you were winning and you were even into it. But all that comes crashing to an end when Chris comes crashing through into the arena, on the back of a firey lion, no worse for the wear herself thanks to the fire resistance spell, with her own flaming sword and a stern countenance.

"I am Chris Lightfellow, and in the name of King Arthur and the people of Camelot, this arena is FINISHED."

Holly even provided a Toy Boat. (CLOSED TO CLAIRE)

Chris sinks into the warm water of the Red Springs bath with a grateful sigh, her towel folded up behind her along the rim. The month's not even half over yet and it's already proven eventful. Getting away like this to the Red Springs was an excellent idea to soothe her aching muscles. The open air bath house at Budehuc had been a goddess send, especially after the worst of the fighting, and not even Chris could resist taking advantage.

"Oh I'm already starting to feel better." She breathes, trying to work out a persistent kink in her neck. "Claire, the water's amazing tonight." She turns to call back to her friend, who had accompanied her. It couldn't all be giant spiders and krakens, after all. The last time they'd been out that hadn't involved combat was the...the ball. And Chris is quite happy to not have to put up with any "Emerald Dove" nonsense this time. What a fool she'd acted! Quite unlike herself. There was even some video that had been taken of their dance after the enchantment had taken effect, and it had embarrassed Chris to no end to watch.

It could almost give one the wrong impression about their friendship.

Comments

Moving Day

[notquitetamed]

Hawk had kept quiet about the fact that he'd already gotten a new place and where it was located, but he did have a nice little treehouse in the same area. Had she known, he probably would have roped into helping before now since he's strong enough for heavy lifting and he's also a kinetic magic user who can move things without having to do heavy lifting. He'd had to do the same when he moved in except he didn't need help.

But as he's on his way home to grab a shower after a quest he just wrapped up, he sees Chris. "Sure didn't expect to see you around here." Not like he'd intentionally been hiding where his place was. He'd just never had a chance to invite her to his place. If she looks to the trees from where they are, she'll be able to see the little tree house he's renting. "Let me guess, you want to borrow my magical talents to do the heavy lifting?"

[ofsilverflame]

Chris had gone back to the hotel to grab a small box of odds and ends she'd picked up while living in Avalon, the last bit of her belongings to be removed from the small hotel room she and Rinea had been sharing the last few months. Hawk's voice catches her by surprise, and she looks towards him, with perhaps a surprising amount of eagerness?

"Hawk!" She smiles despite herself "Ah, yes. Rinea and I just moved into the neighbourhood." She looks past him towards the treehouse. "...I wasn't aware we were going to be neighbours, however." But she doesn't sound displeased by the revelation; quite the opposite, in fact. "That's your abode, is it? Looks rather cozy, all things considered."

She chuckles dryly at his last comment. "Well, if you're volunteering, there's still some furniture that needs to be moved in. Come on, you can come see the new house. I'll even feed you for your troubles." Nothing homecooked, Chris doesn't have that amount of skill, but there's a deli nearby that should suffice to keep the wolves from the door, so to speak.

[notquitetamed]

Sure is an interesting coincidence, but at the same time it's not that much of one since this neighborhood is a suitable one for folks like themselves who just want a small place. "Yeah, the treehouse is mine." And probably isn't too shocking he'd enjoy something up high rather than one of the more normal houses on the ground. He's just glad for once to not have to share his living quarters with many other people.

"Never would turn down free food. Feel free to make use of any of my talents, magical or otherwise."

He grins at that, the meaning will probably fly right over her head, but he just couldn't help himself there.

[ofsilverflame]

"Well!" Chris smiles, rather uncharacteristically warmly at the confirmation. "This arrangement is working out better than I first thought, then. I do hope you won't wait long to invite me over." She chuckles. Hawk living by himself in a treehouse...she's rather curious to see what those living arrangements must look like. "Neighbour." She adds, with another small, amused chuckle.

"Good! It's settled, then." She nods with satisfaction, the meaning sailing over her head as Hawk expected it would. "Worry not, that is precisely what I intend to do. I'm well aware of how vigorous you are, and I'll see to it by day's end you are properly exhausted. Come then, it's just down the street. I shall have to give you the tour once we're all properly moved in and unpacked." Fortunately, that shouldn't take long after today.

[notquitetamed]

He can tell the meaning of his statement went right over her head because if she caught on she would have been outraged and she also clearly doesn't get the potential implications of him inviting her to his home. "I don't know, I have quite a bit of stamina so it would take a lot to wear me down."

That he knows definitely will go over her head, but it's still true even in a regular sense. He definitely looks amused as if there is something funny about what he's saying that he gets and she does not.

Holly, you rapscallion

[cameprepared]

Claire had been all to happy to hit up the Red Springs bathhouse with a friend. It'd been a trying couple of months, really, and things were finally beginning to get back to a point where she felt comfortable taking time off. Knighthood, the trials, krakens, spiders, moving, and all of that? Not really her idea of a restful afternoon with friends. So when the idea of a hot springs day had been floated, it seemed like a great thing for the both of them.

Unlike Chris, Claire had no intention of letting the Emerald Dove incident go unremarked. The video had caused her a bit of fluster, but only a bit. She could handle that kind of attention better than accolades of knighthood. It felt normal, somehow.

"I'm coming," she calls back in reply to Chris's invitation. Heading for the pool, she sat down on the edge and let the towel drop away before sliding into the water with practiced ease. She wasn't shy, exactly, and especially not with Chris here, but she got the sense that her friend was unused to "modern" sensibilities about bathhouses and figured that getting underwater and into the steam would be best.

"God in Heaven, this is exactly what I needed..."

[ofsilverflame]

As Claire's towel drops away, Chris' eyes momentarily flick over towards her, and almost immediately away before she drops into the water. She's...not sure why she did that other than a suddenly-overpowering sense of curiosity. Overpowering, and baffling. It was only a brief glimpse, but that was more than enough to get a good look. She bows her head slightly to reach up and scratch her nose, hoping to the Goddess Claire didn't notice.

"Y-Yes, I imagine you needed the break." She says lightly once Claire is under the water and enjoying herself. "Avalon's path to knighthood isn't exactly the same as Zexen's, but it is a great deal of work in a much shorter period. Small wonder you're aching, Ser Claire." She smiles with pride. "And congratulations. Knighthood suits you, if you don't mind me saying so." She has the right mentality for it.

[cameprepared]

Fate does not smile on Chris, not in that moment. Claire did notice, the flash of Chris's eyes in her peripheral vision enough to catch her attention. She smiles internally, amused, but doesn't bring the issue up just yet. Settling on the ledge underneath the water, within reach of Chris but with enough room for her to slide away if she's uncomfortable, she regards her friend.

"Ser Claire is..." she laughs, a hint of color dusting her cheeks, and not from the bath. Praise is good for her. "It's...not something I think I'll get used to. Dame Redfield, Ser Claire, titles like that are stuff from stories where I'm from."

Shaking her head, running her hands through the water and lazily kicking her feet, Claire adds.

"Thank you, though. I do think it was the right call, and it feels right. I wanna help, and Knighthood gives me a bit more of a voice, if it comes up. Hopefully I can use the title to do some good."

[ofsilverflame]

As Claire settles in, Chris doesn't feel the need to shy away, though she does also turn to better see her, resting her arm on the edge of the bath, and her head in the palm of her hand. The pink across Claire's face is an intriguing hue. "Have you considered that they very well may be telling such stories about you here, one day?" She asks, a brow arching in jest. "Ser Claire, Knight of the Red Fields? You might be a legend here in your own right before too long."

Chris nods approvingly. "I agree. Knighthood can be a powerful tool for inspiring others, especially when in service to a worthy lord, or cause. I'm looking forward to gaining one of my own and following in your footsteps." Chris still considered herself a knight of course, but Zexen Knighthoods were not applicable in Avalon, it seems. "At the very least I hope having one will help legitimize this militia I'm helping to build. Reassure people we're not simply some jumped-up gang or protectionist racket. They need to be able to trust us to help when needed."

[cameprepared]

Claire's cheeks turn even pinker at that whole notion. Stories about her? No, never. She's still just a nobody from the Midwest, she just happens to be a decent shot and difficult to kill. That's nothing all that unusual.

"I haven't...actually thought about that at all. It sounds really, I dunno, far out?"

She looks back at Chris, expression turning thoughtful. Her brow furrowed, and she worked her jaw a little before saying anything further.

"I think, maybe, that's why I did it. Because I want to at least reassure people that someone's there. I'm not a good rider, and I don't have a sword or a lance...just a pistol and a bicycle, but that's better than nothing, I think."

Another pause, this one more brief.

"...What's this about a militia?"

[ofsilverflame]

"Not as much as you might think." Chris replies with an uncharacteristically amused smirk at Claire being the flustered one for a change. "People were calling me and my companions the Six Mighty Knights long before I became Captain, or Flame Champion. And this is the sort of world that encourages heroic feats." Something for her to think more on, perhaps.

She waits while Claire thinks, and then nods. "Knighthood isn't about equipment or mounts. It's an acknowledgement of strength of character, and a demonstration of one's personal honour and mettle. Everything else is just frippery. I've seen what you're capable of, after all. Continue doing as you have, and I think you'll do the title proud." This is said with the confidence of an established knight.

When Claire asks her question, Chris turns back and leans against the rim. "Ah, you hadn't heard. The idea was floated on the network awhile back, that some of us more military-minded offworlders come together to organize a citizens' militia. To provide training, discipline, that sort of thing. The minotaur attack at the start of the month sped demonstrated the need for an active citizen's defense force so things have accelerated recently. I agreed to sign on when Hawk first proposed the idea, and now it appears as though I'll be in overall command, given my credentials." She had volunteered and no one else has really disputed, so it was looking likely. "Which is why I want to earn my own knighthood here as soon as possible; people need to know they can trust us."

[cameprepared]

Claire looks away, mulling that over for a moment as she kicks her feet in the water. Hands floating there, moving through the steaming liquid, she manages to get her blush and fluster under control. Heroic feats, heroism, all that felt like her brother's purview, since he was practically a professional adventurer at this point. She was just twenty, and still thought of herself as a grungy disaster most of the time, even though she recognized that she'd been caring for a child for months now...and she'd had some good mentorship from Barry and some of the other S.T.A.R.S. members she'd met through her brother. And she respected Chris's opinion enough to give it proper weight, not dismissing the compliment.

She nods finally, with some confidence, and looks back to her friend.

"Alright. I'll take you word for it."

Which is saying something, because then she immediately nods again, and continues with more firmness.

"I'll join, then. I must have missed the post. I'm not all that active with the network. But if you're working on it, and it's to help people, I'm in. Two knights might give some more legitimacy in the eyes of the locals, and I'm not bad at teaching. I work with a lot of new offworlders with their magic, already."

[ofsilverflame]

Chris nods, pleased. "I'm glad to hear it. We need all the help we can get." She smiles a bit at Claire. "And I should be happy to vouch for those teaching skills, considering how instrumental they were in helping me overcome my initial block. The first meeting is in a few days, I can introduce you to some of the others before we get started and figure out how to best make use of your skill-set."

That settled, Chris lies back in the bath, relaxing. "I'm glad you decided to come out with me. I'd have asked Rinea to join us as well, but I don't think she'd be comfortable with public bathing just yet." The poor girl already dealt with enough culture shock as it is. "During the war, one of the best ways I found to shake off battle-fatigue and other aches was to soak for a bit, and company always made it more pleasant."

[cameprepared]

Claire dipped her head, acknowledging the truth of that statement as well. She remembered that. Chris had been her first live attempt at Pain Transference, and that made it pretty memorable, since she used that often enough now that she'd gotten the hang of it.

"Definitely. Just let me know."

And then, on to lighter things. Rinea was a real gem, and Claire found herself nodding agreement.

"Rinea...is sweet. Maybe it's something we can work on with her. Having been in her kingdom during all that dream nonsense, I think it'd do her some good."

Claire's eyes danced mischievously as she looked over at Chris. She'd been blushing at the compliment, but this was something she figured she could use as an angle to tease Chris right back.

"And you think I'd turn down a bath date with a beautiful lady? Fatigue or no, I'd be here."

[ofsilverflame]

The term "date" catches Chris completely off-guard. "A...a date?" She asks, eyebrows raising and her cheeks turning red. "Oh, uh. Goodness. I'm flattered Claire, but I didn't mean the invitation to sound as though I meant to...to, um." She swallows, and her eyes momentarily flick down again of their own accord and she kicks herself again. "To court you."

Oh Goddess, after that dance she'd managed to give Claire completely the wrong idea, hadn't she? And now here they were bathing together! No wonder Claire thought Chris was sweet on her. She could burn that damnable mask!

[cameprepared]

Claire, sensing weakness, smirks and slides a few inches closer in the water. Just a little bit, but that's all. Tilting her head to look Chris full in the face, she flashes an impish grin and laughs.

"Are you sure, Chris? I wouldn't mind if you did want to go out sometime like that. You're cute, Kitten."

She cannot help herself. She really, really can't. But at the same time, she knows she's just being a little mean, and in the interest of not freaking Chris out more, she drops the teasing edge to her voice.

"...but 'date' is slang where I'm from for going out with friends, too. As just friends."

[ofsilverflame]

Chris puts her head in her hand, flushed with embarrassment once the word "kitten" comes out. Goddess, that word has well and truly been ruined for her now. "Oh, oh please no. You're not letting that go anytime soon, are you?" She groans, but not without a tinge of amusement.

Still, a smile creeps onto her face with a chuckle as she pulls away from her hand. "Well. I suppose that's not so bad then." She agrees. "Thank you, Claire. I consider you a good friend as well." After a moment she reaches up to rub the back of her neck. "You may have already figured this out, but I don't have a great many of those back home." At least who weren't also Knights, former Fire Bringer, or True Rune bearers. Certainly no one she could think of relaxing like this with.

[cameprepared]

"Not on your life, babe." Never. Ever, is Chris going to live that down. It'd been something that left Claire speechless and with her mind in a lurch. She wasn't the kind of person to deny that, or to let someone forget that they'd done that to her.

"Not so bad, though? How do you mean?"

She believes that Chris doesn't think she'd be a bad person to date. She has gotten a real sense of respect from the other. But the turn of phrase is perhaps a little bit clumsy, or she's missing something. Enough that she'd like to ask, and without accusation in her voice. Just curiosity.

"...and yeah, I've gathered. Doesn't sound like you've had the shot at much of a social life."

[ofsilverflame]

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you would be...that it would be unpleasant to court you. I know it would not be." Chris shakes her head, realizing her words were unclear, and she struggles to make her feelings known, but these are matters she has always struggled with, mostly due to inexperience with them in her own life.

"I meant more in terms of my own...shortcomings in the romance department. I've never really thought of myself in that light...or others much, to be honest. I'm aware that I have a reputation for being something of a stick in the mud." And that reputation isn't entirely undeserved either. "I think you would find me less...pleasing as a romantic partner than a friend, and I cherish our bond dearly. I would not wish to jeopardize it." She gives Clare a wan smile. "That's all."

It is strange to think of Claire in that light, but...not entirely unwelcome? That's something of a surprise, and there's no enchantment to make her think the feelings aren't anything but her own. It's something for Chris to think on...as she said, these aren't feelings she ever really considered for herself or others.

She shakes her head. "I have not, no. Being a knight tends to...take over one's life. Or at least it did for me and my companions." She has never minded that, since she feels no connection to the frippery and idleness of most Zexen aristocrats. "It's what I know how to be, and I'm comfortable in that role. And I am pleased to call the other Mighty Knights my friends, but I am also their Captain. Like it or not, that puts up a wall between me and them that cannot always be ignored." Nor should it be in the heat of battle when she has to give orders that must be obeyed without question or thought of bias. She considers things for a moment. "And...they are all men. The Zexen Knights are very male-dominated, to say the least." There has been a small uptick in the number of female recruits since Chris became Captain, but Zexen nobility tended towards the conservative, especially where their daughters were concerned for the most part. "I have only one female friend I consider close, but she lives a country away for the most part, and we do not often see each other." Even by caravan, travel from Tinto to Vinay del Zexay could take upwards of three weeks. "It's a different experience. You know?"

[cameprepared]

Claire's return glance is sympathetic, and not at all reproachful or unkind. She understand quite well what Chris is dealing with, though not from personal experience. Her brother is not really the best at people exactly, and some of his friends are sticks in the mud too, with an entirely too serious an outlook on life. In some ways, so is Leon. There's a kind of irony in hearing it from someone else named Chris, too.

She nods her head and smiles back, this time egging her into scooting back closer, and reaching a hand out for the other woman's beneath the water. Her grip on Chris's hand is as firm and solid as her gaze. Claire simply wants to make sure that her friend understands that she's not upset, or accusing her. She's still processing her own feelings about what's being said, because I know it would not be unpleasant to court you is about the last thing she expected to hear from the person in the pool. Teasing is one thing, and teasing during a magically induced party is another, but there was something real and heartfelt in the sentiment that is impossible for Claire to ignore.

Does Chris...? she muses, but shakes off the thought before she finishes it, so that she can give the proper consideration to what's being told to her. the Mighty Knights? Well, that sure is a title!

"Being a knight sounds like something you'd be very good at, but it also sounds like something that you wish was different. I can't...really say it's wrong, because yeah. My brother and his unit are the same way. He's friends with Jill, Barry, and the rest but not able to act on certain feelings he may have. You can't run a military organization with that kind of potential conflict of interest."

Not that she is saying that Chris Redfield has feelings for his unit mates, but there's a lot he's said about why he isn't dating actively despite wanting it.

"But here, you can at least have a semblance of a social life. With me and Rinea, if nothing else. I think you can call that a win."