aterat | Clever subject line goes here

Entry tags:

Clever subject line goes here

Who; OTA
What; Pupper Shenanigans, Moving Day/Anniversary, Investigations
Where; All over
When; Early to mid-April
Warnings; None as yet! I will update if they come up and add the warning to the header of the tag

( I can also do personalized starters if you want! just let me know either on Discord: WhimsicalSpook#8219 or Plurk:

whimsicalspook You are also welcome to throw a starter at me if you want, I don't bite!)

A wrinkle in plans... - Open to all

A. Network Assistance Request?

[ Llewellyn wasn’t much for using the network, really. Tell-phones were something he tended to be more than a little clumsy with. It did help, though, that Enis had put his on a chain so he wouldn’t lose the darn thing so much. So there’s a light metallic rattle as he adjusted the phone and peered into the camera. ]

Er... Hello everyone. I hope you’re all... well?

[ That seemed polite, and he was trying to work up to asking for a favour. Somehow delivering news on a case was easier than this. Why was work always easier? ]

I’m just uh- looking to see if anyone would be interested in helping me out with a little project I’ve been working on. Some of you already know about it, since you mm... were around in the last world I was, as well. Pretzel’s particularly good at following scent trails, and we had thought he would be helpful in the event that people went missing back then. Seems as important here as it was there. Especially since this world has a lot more potentially confusing places to get lost, like the forest.

But! Anyway, I um... I’ve been spending the better part of the last year and a half training him in scent tracking. Rhy and I have mostly been working with items and making trails like that... But I think it would be beneficial for the little fellow to get experience looking for real people now.

Also... He’s very sociable, and because the last world we were in had very... few animals... [ Complicated in ways Llewellyn didn’t know how to explain, really. ] He doesn’t quite know what everything here is. He keeps trying to make friends with creatures that aren’t fond of dogs. [ A small amused huff. Pretzel really was as awkward as he could be sometimes. ] So if anyone has a particularly social pet that he might get along with, it might be nice for him to get to know them?

[ An awkward pause, then a nod. That was about it. ]

Uh- anyway, I’ll be going then. Thank you for your time!

[ The feed closes. ]

B. Open Log

Pretzel was a very energetic, growing ~~wrinkle~~ hound. It was important to get him out for walks so he didn’t get too housebound, and while the move was going to give the little guy more room to run around? It was going to be an adjustment, and Llewellyn was hoping to keep his routine as close to normal in all the excitement.

Especially since Pretzel had somehow gotten very good at slipping out without their notice to explore the city in search of friends. Neither he nor Rhy could figure out how the dog kept doing it, it was a mystery.

Llewellyn had decided it was just that the dog was rather intelligent, and he wasn’t being challenged or engaged enough. So the best answer he could come up with was to increase training and give him something a little more difficult. Challenge the clever little hound’s mind while they were out and about.

Afternoons where he wasn’t at the Gullwings office, Aerith’s garden shop, or with his husband were spent on very long walks around the market... Or running around the park with fake scent trails and dog toys as he tried to keep up with Pretzel’s training and exercise.

ooc: People could either run into them at the park (especially if you want to handwave them arranging to help with training) or bump into them around the market! Both Llewellyn and Pretzel are very ~~awkward~~ social!

Helping out a friend in need. - Closed to Lauri-Ell

Llewellyn adjusted his hat slightly, moving down a side street with Pretzel trotting dutifully at his heels. The detective had a somewhat concerned and definitely curious expression on his face as he took a shortcut to the forge where his friend worked.

Lauri-Ell didn’t tend to ask for assistance or favours much, in his experience. They had their weekly lessons for writing and sharing books... But this was a little different from that. She had sounded a bit frustrated and troubled, explaining that something rather important was missing...

It hadn’t taken more than a half second of thought to agree. He wasn’t fond of friends being troubled by things, especially if he could help.

So off he went with a quick note for his husband where he was going for the day in case he didn’t make it home till later in the evening, getting Pretzel’s leash on and making his way to their destination.

I know exactly what I want, and it's this life that we've created, inundated with the fated thought of you. - Closed to Rhy

This was it. This was moving day. Well... Moving week, really. They had been working for the last week or so to get their belongings moved from the red and blue building to the stonework house that was situated in a small neighborhood near the market.

But today, in particular, was special. It was moving in day. It was also, amusingly, their wedding anniversary. Which had felt rather fitting for their next step together.

There were other things, of course, that needed doing. The house was in livable conditions, but it did still need a little work here and there. Some painting needed to be done to freshen things, some small repairs here and there, and perhaps a little more cleaning where it had been vacant for so long...

But they were both rather eager lovebirds, after having been searching for the right house for a few months now. Especially since this one had been perfect, hitting most of the marks that they had agreed on for a home, which felt rather lucky.

Llewellyn had been... Well, he was up to something. Rhy would be able to tell that much as they got ready for the day. The detective had never been good at hiding things unless someone’s life depended on it (and if it was his life, then less so). So it was clear enough that he was keeping something to himself while they went over last-minute plans.

It was their wedding anniversary though, so what on earth did the man have up his sleeve today?

“So uh- we need to stop off at the shop to get the um...” He gestured at the windows lightly from where he was standing next to the closet, trying to button his shirt and get dressed for the day. “The materials you picked out for the curtains and your projects? And I have to get some paint to work in the kitchen in the next few weeks...” He tapped off the list on his finger, forgetting his task of getting dressed for a moment. “Should probably see if the carpentry shop has some of the things we commissioned finished, too. I think the note I received from the messenger said they had Pretzel’s bed and a few other things ready.” He added, piling a few more things onto the list while he tried to decide on a green waistcoat or a blue one.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, perhaps Llewellyn was right. It was all so much, a lot more than it had been at the Sphere. There one had merely requested a transfer of housing and your things just APPEARED in the new location. It had all been so much easier.

As for Rhy, he finished pulling on his own soft gold waistcoat, and then moved about to make sure the rest of the items were carefully put into a bag for carrying. He would be responsible for the final items coming out of the Red Dorm and over to the house.

"I expect I shall get there before you. I'm just glad I asked for today off, to be ready for it all. There's still so much cleaning to do. I'll have to learn how to clean a window and polish furniture. How strange and new."

“You just might be, yes. But I’ll try to not be too long so we can tackle things together, hm?” He responded, finally moving away to gather up his satchel so he could grab the last stack of notebooks and files from the blue building before he went to the house. The detective hoped to beat Rhy there, if only so he could see his husband when he discovered surprise that he had already arranged to be set up for them.

But if not, it would give Rhy a chance to wander the house to take it all in. To see that even if there was much to do, that some things were already taken care of so they could spend their first night comfortably.

He chuckled lightly at the comment about cleaning, though. “Luckily, Mrs. Young was very mm… serious about chores when she took me in. I know how to clean and polish well enough. I can show you, love.” Llewellyn was happy to help with cleaning, which was funny to realize, given how cluttered and disorganized he could be. Cleaning and organizing were very different things to him, so even if his papers got out of hand sometimes? He never let things get actually dirty.

"Then you'll teach me," Rhy said, relieved. This was so much easier for him. "Together, we'll learn our lives."

Which made his heart swell with happiness. This was something he'd never really expected. To get to live as a normal person. Even if the memories of what he is are out there.

"Alright. You head on out. I'll have to gather the last things. The food, clothes, All of that."

And no doubt his boss had some little gift for him for moving in.

Llewellyn smiled to hear the relief in his husband’s tone, tilting his head back at the man with a softer expression. “Yes, together, my love. I like the sound of that.” So very much, in ways he couldn’t describe. It made him feel lighter to think that they had a future to share and grow together.

He moved closer again. “Alright, love. Pretzel and I will be on our way. I’ve um- got his treats in my bag, in case I need them before we get to the house. But I’ll see you soon. At home.” Llewellyn added with a particularly bright look in his eye, pressing a light kiss to Rhy’s cheek before he moved off. There was so much to do, and he didn’t delay them too much.

The busy afternoon was worth it if it meant they could get settled into their new home.

But the race would be on, then. To see who got finished their portion of the errands first.

If Rhy ended up at the house first, light still filtering in through the large windows and lighting the rooms inside. It was quiet, of course, aside from the odd sound of songbirds that had taken up residence in the hollow of an old remains of a tree near the fence outside. It seemed impossibly empty still, of course. But… If Rhy looked a little closer, he’d see a few things that shouldn’t be there yet. A small dining room table in the room they’d discussed to put one… A small sofa in the sitting room, and ventured upstairs. He’d find that the master bedroom actually held a surprise in it.

Edited 2022-04-05 21:55 (UTC)

"At Home," Rhy agreed with a warm smile."

Llewellyn did have an advantage in their 'race' though. Rhy didn't even know that there was one going on. So it was easy enough for him to take his time about all of this. He would most definitely get there second, because the ladies at the shop had gifts for them after all.

Llewellyn would certainly thank the ladies from the shop if he saw them. It gave him a decent head start on getting the things he needed together. Picking up the paint for the kitchen, as well as placing an order for some more to use on other parts of the house that needed a touch up. The carpentry shop wasn’t long since he’d had a couple things finished in advanced, and only needed to finish paying for the next bits that had been finished and would be delivered in the coming days.

So he glanced down at Pretzel thoughtfully as they made their way to the house. “What do you think, buddy? Ready to go home?” The little hound wuffed lightly with a wag of his tail. “Yeah, me too…” He smiled softly, before laughing lightly. “Nope, not that way. We’re going this way today.” He gestured, turning them towards the little neighbourhood near the market district.

Once there, he let Pretzel off his leash to go wander and explore the house. A rather fancy little dog bed having already been set up for Pretzel to nap if he liked, as well as a little food and water dish set in the kitchen. Which he’d fill, after tucking the paint away in one of the cupboards under the counter to use another day.

And after that? It was a matter of getting a few things set up. Still… He found himself paused in the entrance hall, staring in some distraction at the house. Incomplete but… Full of potential. Llewellyn was very good at visualizing things, and it wasn’t hard to see it as they had planned. Slowly walking through each space and seeing it as though it were full of life and cozy… Soft expression crossing his face, as he realized that this was so far from what he ever could have imagined for himself a few years ago.

“Let’s get to work.” He hummed, wanting to make this perfect- or as perfect as he could manage for Rhy. Time to get to work!

And with that, the detective was kept busy with some last-minute cleaning in the rooms they’d be using sooner and setting out a few special things here and there.

"Beloved!" Rhy called out as he entered the home, arms laden with bags and baskets and wrapped parcels. "Have you gotten home before me? I was quite delayed. The ladies at the shop had gifts for us, for our new home."

He'd been shocked when they'd pressed bundles of sheets and other things 'for the bedroom' into his arms, all wrapped up so he couldn't see them. They were larger than he'd been expecting too. What he didn't know was that one of the journeymen carpenters had been in recently with his fiance and talking had happened. And when the ladies in the shop had learned of the bed being built for Rhy's husband, well... They'd demanded measurements of everything and started to make bedding and curtains and all other sorts of things for the room, in three different sets of colors.

Llewellyn was absolutely going to be visiting the shop to personally thank the women who bestowed the very clever, very needed gift of bedding and curtains. As it was, Llewellyn had only their sheets and blankets from the apartment to put on it to use for now, and he was trying to decide if he could rig up something for bed curtains until they could get a proper set to at least make it look complete.

Because even as Rhy returned, the man was fretting as he stared at the bed. Beautiful as it was, with intricately carved wood and a stained glass canopy with a rose garden design… Llewellyn was vaguely nervous about even showing it to his husband. It was a surprise, but part of him was a little nervous that it might not be quite right. Especially without the curtains yet… Everything else was set! Perfect! Just right! A smaller something set out on the balcony, a little something in the fridge to go with the food Rhy picked up. Things he was far less nervous about.

Mostly…

But at the sound of Rhy’s voice calling out, he looked at his pocket watch. Oops! Out of time…

“Coming, love!” He called down the stairs, fussing a bit as he straightened his waistcoat to look a little less rumpled after doing a little advanced cleaning and rushing around to get things set. Once as presentable as he could be, he took the stairs two at a time, as it sounded like Rhy had his arms full. His eyes widened at the sight, moving the rest of the way quickly to help take bags and baskets to set down. “Goodness, there’s uh- so much?? How did you even make it?” He actually did know how. His husband was in far better shape than him.

But once they were set aside, he tugged Rhy closer and tilted his head with a playful expression, now that he could greet the man without baskets and bags in the way. “Welcome home, my love.”

"As my brother often reminded me, I'm of very solid build," Rhy admitted with a shrug. That was just who he was, how he was even. Built like a statue, Kell said.

But hey, it was nice to have the other man help relieve him of his burdens.

"And home I am, my Sweetest. The ladies at the shop plied me with many gifts. As did a few of our regular vendors. Apparently people like supporting couples in their own homes here. The ladies said we'll be grateful for what they've been making for us, even if it isn't their normal sort of work."

Llewellyn hummed lightly with a smile, a glitter in his eyes as he responded to that. “Solidly built, yes… Definitely something I’ve noticed and appreciated quite often.”

His eyes wandered to the packages again, a little distracted by the explanation. Grateful for what they’d made for them? “That’s so kind of them. I know sometimes people give housewarming gifts… But I really hadn’t expected it.” But Rhy was well liked, and they did enjoy getting to know the shopkeepers and vendors around the market. “We’ll have to find a way to thank them? Especially if it’s outside their mm… normal work. I wonder what they are?” He commented, yes, they were going to have to see while they sorted through these things to put away. “Shall we… Get this sorted and see about getting settled?”

Yes, that seemed like a good start. So he could think about how to show things to Rhy.

"Yes, that seems like a lovely start," Rhy said, reaching for the first bundle for the ladies. "Let's see what we have."

He didn't wait for permission, just opened. And found the most beautiful wine red cloth inside. He looked shocked as he pulled it free. Then another large piece of fabric.

"Oh!" he said as he produced a pillow case, "sheets! Lovely!"

ANd yet, when the second pillow case was put aside... there was more fabric. Most of the package left.

"Are these... drapes?"

Llewellyn wouldn’t dream of expecting Rhy to wait, anyway. These were gifts from the ladies at the tailor shop, which meant it seemed fitting to him that his husband start opening them first. Of course, he might have had other thoughts if he knew what was in the packages. “Oh- those will come in handy, especially where we only had the sheets from the apartment. Mm… They’re even fitting colours compared to what you’ve picked out for the house already!” He smiled lightly, leaning forward to pick up a pillowcase and admire the fabric. "This is a very thoughtful gift."

Of course, the confused tone from his beloved gets a glance up from the bedding and his brows rose rather high. He knew exactly what those were. They wouldn’t have made anything for windows, since Rhy had probably been talking about making them himself… No, those were bed curtains.

Reaching out to draw some of the material closer to inspect, he hummed with some awe in his tone as he spoke. “How did they know we needed these now…?” Slipped out before he had much chance to think about what he was saying, but it was truly a mystery about how they might have known they would need them. Then he paused abruptly as his thoughts caught up with his mouth, and an embarrassed flush crossed his cheeks. Sure, it explained nothing, but it was an odd thing to say, given Rhy’s question.

"We need these?" Rhy asked, quite confused. After a moment he handed the package to Llewellyn and opened the next. This one was identical in contents, but done in soft gold. And the third? Deep, forest green close to what Rhy preferred to make for his husband.

"Love, why are they making me curtains?"

“Mm….” He awkwardly offered Rhy a mysterious, clumsy little grin with a shrug. “Let’s see what else there is, love.” He commented, settling the first open package in his lap and sorting through it curiously to double check that he was correct. They were, indeed, bed curtains… He was down right mystified, and certainly was going to have to ask them next time he visited the shop.

Especially when Rhy proceeded to open two more packages, all the same but with different colours to coordinate. His eyes lighting up with some obvious delight at the green, a particular favourite shade of his, certainly, that he knew Rhy liked to see on him. “They’ve been busy… These are absolutely perfect.” He mumbled to himself again, shaking his head.

That aside, though, as Rhy looked up to question him again, he supposed it was probably a good time to see how his surprise was going to be received. At least… At least they had something to complete the look now, and to finish off the bedroom quite nicely.

With a small, clumsy smile. He gathered the red sheet set and curtains into one arm and offered the other to Rhy. “I believe they’ve mm… been made aware of a secret I’ve been keeping. How? I couldn’t say… I haven't really told many aside from the people involved in making it happen. But come, I have something you should see…” He responded, gesturing to the stairs awkwardly to avoid dropping anything. Trying to keep some of the nerves out of his voice as he led Rhy up the flight of stairs. “I Um… I wanted to give you something nice, my love. For our first piece of good furniture to celebrate both our anniversary and the home we’ve found together.”

Nudging the bedroom door open with his foot, he stood aside to let Rhy go in ahead of him.

What was going on here? The guidance upstairs leads him to find the surprise. And he gasps. Wow.

"Oh dear. Is that a canopy-"

No, it's not a canopy bed. He moves closer and sees the glass. Oh dear.

"Oh wow. OH Llewellyn! It's stunning!

Llewellyn lingered by the door, watching Rhy carefully for a reaction. Some kind of sign that he hadn’t missed the mark when he’d come up with the idea and provided the thoughts and vague design he had in mind to the shop.

At Rhy’s exclamation, though, he felt something relax in him. The tension leaving his shoulders as he carried the curtains the rest of the way into the room to set on the mattress carefully, not wanting to drop everything on the floor (though he’d cleaned it thoroughly earlier). “So you like it then?” He asked, a pleased flush on his face as he tilted his head at his husband. “I wanted you to have something fitting that went well with all the lovely things you’ve come up with for the house…”

He chuckled lightly, “And here I was, fussing for most of the afternoon about what to do without bed curtains for it. So the timing of this thoughtful gift is both mysterious and lucky.”

"I love it," Rhy said, moving to toe his shoes off and then he was lying down ont he bed to look up at it.

"In my bedroom back at home, the ceiling was painted like the sky. But this? I like this better. It captures the essence of us I believe."

He holds a hand out Llewellyn to pull him down to stretch out as well. Sorry dear, but you're going to do this.

"Which color should we do this in first?"

Llewellyn’s smile widened, so very glad to hear those words from his husband. He moved to stand by the bed, leaning on the bedpost and watching Rhy lie down on it with a pleased hum. “I’m so glad you do, my love. I wanted to surprise you, but it was rather difficult to keep to myself… Kept wanting to make sure you would approve.” The fact that he’d pulled it off in the end was rather impressive. He hated keeping secrets from Rhy... He was also bad at it, of course, but that didn’t change the fact that he liked being honest with his beloved.

But to hear that it was alright that it wasn’t like the room he had been accustomed to in his world… That Rhy thought that it fit them both together…? He felt a warmth in his chest and he leaned on the post as he tilted his head down. Looking at the hand offered, he didn’t have the heart to resist the silent request. His shoes already gone from having been fussing with the bed earlier, he let Rhy tug him down to lie next to him with a small laugh.

His eyes turned to look up a moment later as he admired the stained glass roses. He found himself enjoying the way light from the window glinted through it as he considered the question. “Hmm… Which, indeed? They outdid themselves with their choice in colours.” Turning his head to look at Rhy, he smiled a little. “The red ones are quite striking, and seem fitting for the day.” Reminded Llewellyn of Rhy, of course, but also of the colours from their wedding reception a year ago.

"Ah, but the green ones evoke the memory of you," Rhy answered with a smirk. "What if I want wrapped up in your shade?"

Wouldn't that be beautiful? Surely Llewellyn could see that.

Oh, Llewellyn could certainly see it. A small, distracted expression on his face as he considered the idea… A pleased hum escaped. He liked what he could imagine, certainly. His husband wrapped in sheets of green, sleep tousled and comfortable and- well, damn, he was going to get too distracted if he let his mind wander further.

So he rolled on his side, fingers still tangled in Rhy’s as he considered his answer. “Who am I to deny something you want, my love?” He commented playfully, grinning lightly. “And I confess, I think I’d rather like to see that… My beloved husband tangled in sheets of my favourite shade? Like a lovely bloom in a field of green in the spring? Beautiful.”

"Then we shall do green," Rhy smiles, before rolling to his feet. Time to do that.

"STay here, I shall go fetch them," he laughs happily. Then he's out of the bed and racing from the room. Oh this was going to be so nice, to share this place and all the decisions with his love.

Llewellyn propped himself up on his elbows, watching Rhy hurry to his feet with a small, delighted laugh. “I wouldn’t dare go anywhere now, my love. We have much to share here, after all.” He responded with a mysterious little grin, watching his husband leave to get the green curtains. The most he did was push himself to his feet to ready himself to assist in putting the curtains up and bedding on. Removing the makeshift attempts from before Rhy’s arrival and folding it up to tuck in the closet.

He peeked out at the balcony once to check on something else, satisfied he returned to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress, waiting for Rhy’s return. A particular, satisfied calm had come over him once the anxiety of the initial surprise was out of the way. That they could proceed together, make the changes and set things up exactly how they’d both like it… It was feeling more real with every step.

Rhy returned soon enough, arms loaded with all three packages. They'd likely want to put the things away somewhere. For now he smiled and put some in the corner and handed the green one to Llewellyn.

"Here, let's work with these."

Llewellyn reached out and took the bundle of green curtains and sheets, carefully removing them and separating each piece. His brows raised slightly as he tried to work out where to start. “Let’s see how this looks with curtains, hm?” He asked, stretching slightly to stand up taller and beginning to work on hanging them on the rung between the posts under the glasswork.

He hummed lightly as his fingers fussed with the fabric a bit. “This is a lovely material… They’ll hang nicely. The sheets look soft, too. We’re going to have to thank them somehow tomorrow.” He fumbled a little. “Can you draw the material a little that way, love?”

Rhy thought perhaps it would be easier to start with the sheets and pillows, but he's not the experienced one, so he's going to work with it.

"We shall. I will buy some lovely cards and write a proper thank you."

He works with llewellyn, trying to get the fabric spread enough to hang.

"We'll need a cord to bind these to the posts with, if they didn't include any. I think a soft white color would go with them all."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject