aterat | Wandering Around in November

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Wandering Around in November

Who; Llewellyn and whoever!
What; November logs! (Open ones below the cut, closed ones in the comments!)
Where; The market, park, and all around
When; Mid to late November
Warnings; None but I will warn accordingly if something comes up!

There’s something to be said for the bustle of a market - Open to All

Between one job and the next, Llewellyn had found himself wandering the market with a pretzel in hand as he browsed the wares on various tables and through windows of smaller shops that had opened up over time.

It was quiet moments like this that reminded him of his world, in a way. If you tuned out the chocobos and other oddities, squinting just a little…

In many ways, it was better than his world, of course. Society was a little more relaxed here, for one. There were fewer things for him to hide. But he still felt out of place sometimes in other ways he couldn’t quite explain to people.

But there was something relaxing about moving from one table to the next, admiring the craftsmanship of one person’s work or chatting with another about what news or gossip there was to be heard while he bought a snack.

Llewellyn seemed to be on the lookout for something, though it was hard to say what at a glance. One might even wonder if Llewellyn knew what he was trying to find... But he was a bit caught up in some musings, brought on by the time of year. It was a complicated one for the detective, and he seemed intent upon keeping himself busy.

Sometimes Llewellyn would get so distracted with a thought or a conversation that, unsurprisingly, he’d almost bump into another person. “Oh- er… Pardon!” He uttered at one point, nearly walking into someone, only to awkwardly spin a little and lean around them instead. How he did so without falling over was something between extensive experience of almost walking into people and a small miracle.

Progress with a pupper at the park - Open to All

It was a brisk autumn afternoon at the park, leaves caught in breezes to fly through the air and eventually land to only be crunched underfoot. It had quickly become a favourite haunt of Llewellyn’s and his pup Pretzel alike. The open air, the space, the sounds of ducks or excited squirrels were pleasantly familiar. The man always felt far better outside than he ever did inside, often taking his casework on walks with him, even in his own world.

Today was not about work, though. Instead, he’d gathered up a few things from the apartment and hooked a leash to Pretzel’s collar. His intentions were to continue training his wrinkly companion, hiding toys and setting up trails for the dog to follow. He wanted to work the canine up to the point they could practice with people, hoping the dog would help with finding missing persons should such cases arise.

Of course, it had eventually devolved into tug-of-war games and Pretzel taking off at a run to burn off some energy or if another animal or person had caught his attention.

He was a sociable pup, good-natured and often confused over the idea that not everyone would want to be friends… So someone might be surprised by a dog tripping over their own ears to get to them to say hello.

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Llewellyn had eagerly been awaiting this opportunity, ever since speaking with Ignis the night of his friend’s wedding. The other man had expressed an interest in putting in a small garden, and, well… Llewellyn couldn’t help but offer his assistance with the project. He’d been working on his gardening skills for well over a year now, before arriving in this world and doubly so after Aerith gave him a job at her garden shop.

He was happy to help his friend, after all, and it would also give him a little more practice on planning one for when he was able to start his own one day… Something he found himself thinking about more often of late…

He’d gathered a couple of books on the arrangement of flowers and a notebook with some rough outlines of ideas he had for layouts. Then there was his book of preserved, pressed flowers to look at and suggest if Ignis needed any help with visualizing and pictures in books might not do. All of this was tucked carefully in his satchel… Well, carefully might’ve been a strong word. His organization skills were always a bit chaotic and messy, but it was still better than trying to carry it all around in his arms or in pockets.

Llewellyn wasn’t sure how much his friend would want to get into, considering the season, but he wanted to be prepared for anything. For the most part, he presumed a hot cup of coffee and an afternoon planning would be just what was needed to get ideas turned into more solid, helpful plans for the other man. It would be nice to catch up, and Ignis had promised recipes that might just be something Llewellyn could figure out how to prepare without setting things on fire.

Spotting Ignis as he neared where they agreed to meet, he offered a wave and a smile to his friend. “Hello, I uh- hope you haven’t been waiting long? Got a bit preoccupied with making sure Pretzel was settled. He’s been at my shoes again… Small apartments, as it turns out, do not make comfortable environments for growing canine companions.”

Ignis had gotten up early. This was one of the few remaining days off that he had, as he was on his honeymoon still. But the days went by quickly as he and Nida planned the house out or did some small repairs. He was more than sure the Hunting Lodge was running smoothly without him at the helm and of course he'd left plenty of plans in place for the crew members that would be carrying out in his temporary absence.

Work of course was paramount but he'd had plenty of opportunity to gather more ideas for foods that he wanted to try out once he got back to running things. There were nights when Nida lay on Ignis' chest exhausted and the advisor simply steadily ran his fingers through his husband's hair to lull him to sleep. And if he himself found sleep elusive, he would carefully extract himself and grab the notebook Llewellyn had presented him with on his wedding day and write his ideas in it.

So he carried that and a few pens with him as he headed out to meet the detective.

Now though as the man neared, the advisor nodded. "No, I've just arrived myself, so no worries at all." Looking at the dog then, he couldn't help but smile. "I suppose for a dog an apartment isn't a good fit. But you'll fix that I'm sure."

Llewellyn relaxed a little to hear that, adjusting his grip on his bag and the leash Pretzel had been towing him along on. “Excellent, I’m uh- glad!” He was. His concept of time had never been great. His pocket watch was about the only thing that kept him from being entirely late when it came to appointments.

That and the odd reminder…

But he shrugged a little. “I’m… working on it? Seems more difficult to figure out than I originally thought.” He added with a small gesture. Finally, talking to Rhy about it had helped, at least. Finding a place was an overwhelming task for someone who’d never had somewhere to call home before… The detective might have built up the pressure a little too much there, trying to take care of the matter on his own and find something that was right.

“The larger he gets, the more uh- small things seem. Especially when gets a case of the zoomies.” He chuckled softly at that before pressing onward. “Now, where would you like to set things down? I tried to gather up what I could of my things, so I should be able to give you a few good ideas?” Gardens were… Well, something he often thought about. Even before arriving here, even before considering the idea of getting a home.

"It's quite a lot of work and research." Ignis replied with a nod. "Which was precisely why I had Nida do the looking around. My only concern at first was a large kitchen in which to cook." And he felt no shame admitting that. Nida was the heart of the two of them or so Ignis considered his husband as such.

But Pretzel only got an affectionate smile from the strategist. "He'll need more room to run in time, but if you need to look at places and your husband isn't there, I can either offer you my services or those of my own husband." That word was still a bit odd to say, but he could only smile every time he said it.

To the question, Ignis nodded. "The house isn't far, and I've made us some snacks and some tea. I thought sitting down and having plenty of room would be helpful." The smooth light wood table had been a gift to the couple, and it was pretty big. "I do believe Nida has some drawings done as well that I can show you just for ideas."

“Mm… I don’t think I realized how much, before now.” He smiled wryly, “I wasn’t really sure where to start, or what might be considered a good place for us.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a free hand, slouching a little as though the weight had re-settled for a moment. He straightened (as much as he ever did) as he continued speaking. “But! We’re discussing possibilities, what might be nice and what we’d like to see in a place we’d live. I’m going to um- take Rhy to some of the addresses you suggested, I think?”

He smiled a little at the idea that Ignis’ largest concern was the kitchen. “I think that a large enough kitchen for you to enjoy your culinary skills makes a lot of sense? One should have space to do what they love.” Llewellyn shrugged a little. “For myself… I kept getting preoccupied with space outside the home. More space for Pretzel to run, certainly… But I’ve also never spent much time indoors. I think that’s why it was somewhat challenging to figure out what the inside of the house should be like. I would like to work on a garden I used to imagine… And I want to plant roses for Rhy.” A symbol of the man’s family, for all that Llewellyn wasn’t about to share that secret. But he wanted something that reflected both of them… The garden would be theirs, as much as the house was. Which was why he was eager to assist someone else. It would be good practice, and it was nice to help a friend.

“So, uh- on that note, I will let you lead the way and we can begin!” Llewellyn grinned a little, gesturing for Ignis to lead him towards this house. Llewellyn wasn’t much for tea, but he had at least learned over the years that you accepted it in polite company. It was best, in his opinion, with more milk and sugar than tea. Snacks, of course, would always be welcome.

“I’d like to see what he has drawn, then? I, um, have a few outlines I tried to put together but… Without seeing anything, it was difficult. I did bring a couple books on arranging what flowers go well together and what make nice boarders and edges.” He smiled, “As well as my mm… collection, for visual references.” Samples of flowers that had caught his attention over the last year and a half pressed carefully between papers in a notebook.

"That is precisely why I asked Nida to accompany me, to make sure he loved the place." Ignis was used to living in a Citadel but that wasn't really something he tended to bring up so he didn't. "But I'm sure you and Rhy will find something that will work for both of you." Initially Ignis hadn't been crazy about this place. But seeing it through his husband's eyes gave him the ideas to work with what he had.

He smiled at Llewellyn stating that he should make room for the things he loved and that was of course what he was trying to do everyday by making meals at home. Sometimes he was trying them out on his husband for ideas for the Lodge, but that was because he didn't want to stick to just one thing.

"Gardens are wonderfully versatile things. You can plant food or flowers. And given enough room you may be able to do both if you've the space and patience." The only thing that Ignis knew was off limits was strawberries. Anything else that he knew of was totally acceptable.

The advisor nodded and they made their short way to the house. Ignis pulled the door open and nodded at the detective. "After you."

And once they were inside and Llewellyn was talking about the books, he headed into the kitchen to listen, grabbing the tea and snacks, and set each down on the table. Of course there was tea and he had made about two dozen pretzels. More sat in the refrigerator if they were needed.

Once all of that was set out. Ignis took out his own notebook that the detective had gifted him with a smile. "I daresay we might be here for a little bit."

“Quite, it’s just a matter of arranging them in a pleasing way that encourages growth.” He hummed a little, considering something else. “I had wondered if you intended to grow any vegetables or herbs. It would probably be quite convenient to have on-hand with all the cooking you do.” He added thoughtfully, some herbs were quite pretty to look at.

Llewellyn followed along, slouching a little as he shuffled the bag from one shoulder to another as Ignis led them towards the house. He was rather curious to see the place, having not been invited to see someone’s new home since Murdoch’s… Though part of that had been for a case due to an unfortunate situation with a ‘potato-cooking-room’ as George had called it. Ducking his head in a small nod, he grinned at the invitation. “Thank you, it looks like you’ve both been busy.” He added, eyes darting around curiously once they entered.

He unshouldered his bag to hang off the back of his chair, flipping over the flap to begin pulling books out. A couple of papers may have escaped out of the sides of one, floating forgotten to the floor… That was normal, he tended to leave a trail of notes in his wake wherever he went. There were a few books he’d managed to scrounge up from the historium that were familiar to him. Titles such as ‘The Gardeners Kalendar,’ or ‘Hardy Perennials and Herbaceous Borders’ could be found in the stack. Then there were his notebooks full of pressed flowers and a few notebooks he’d scrawled notes with ideas.

Taking off his hat and hanging it from a doorknob out of habit, he turned back a moment later to see Ignis setting out tea and far more pretzels than he would have expected to see. It was a pleasant surprise, his brows shooting up almost comically at the sight before smiling a little. “Oh, I expect you're right, much to think about and uh- discuss. Snacks are a must for optimal productivity!” He turned his chair slightly, sitting down and resting his arm on the back of it. “And those look delicious, Ignis.”

Ignis nodded. "Indeed. But I have to confess that I've not tried an herb garden, as much as it would be beneficial to me." He did grow vegetables back with the lads, and he could still see the young king's displeased face in his mind, even if the memory still made him smile even as it did right at the moment.

He couldn't help but smile at the detective's statement. "Yes we've been busy nesting as it were." Of course the bird reference was meant as intended, but given Nida's fondness for birds in general it went with that intention as well. In fact one of their conversations involved Nida stating he'd like a bird as a pet. Somehow he ended up with a cat with a bird sort of set of feathers.

Ignis had noted the detective's notes falling out but he'd pick that up later as he was busy with the snacks and tea at the moment. But Llewellyn didn't seem overly nervous because his hat was hanging on a doorknob as if he lived within these walls. And of course that attitude was completely fine with the advisor. He wouldn't want Llewellyn to stand on ceremony or ask if he could sit or anything formal such as that.

Still, he nodded at the compliment as he set the snacks down and started getting the cups ready for tea. "Well I have to thank you for the inspiration of course."

“Then we’ll have to add that to the list for consideration.” He responded with a little grin, quite pleased that the idea might be beneficial to Ignis and his kitchen. He liked to think he was getting good at this idea and planning thing. It was nice to have some area of knowledge that wasn’t… Coloured by his other job, which didn’t tend to be rather pleasant most days.

The hat situation was… More because he didn’t know what to do with his hat most of the time. He knew in polite company hats should be removed indoors, and just putting it on the table was considered rude by some… So it found a variety of homes over the years. The door handles, lampshades, vases, the morgue skeleton and/or dummy on more than one occasion… He tried, but as long as he could get it easily if he needed to run then that was the priority for him at the end of the day.

If Ignis pointed out the notes, he’d actually pick them up rather quickly since who knew if they were important or not… It was just once he was focused on one thing, he tended to forget himself. Still, he’d appreciate that Ignis wasn’t being prickly at him about his scattered methods. Most people were.

But he grinned a little at the comment, “Well! I’m happy I could inspire if it means a delicious snacks, especially these.” He added, snagging a pretzel for himself. “There’s something about a freshly baked pretzel that always puts one in a good mood.” Well, it did for him, anyway.

“This… Should be everything.” He added, closing the shoulder bag he’d brought his books in once everything was set on the table for them to go through.

Closed to Ignis

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Closed to Rhy

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Closed to Lauri-Ell

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