|
Anneliese Kiel: Having been busking in the park until evening started to turn into actual night, Annie is packing up to go home. Starting with transferring her earnings for the day from her violin case to the bag she keeps in her satchel. Can't let the actual money makers get damaged, after all, even if the violin is fairly mediocre when it's not getting magically improved.
Asbolus: While he didn't have any pressing business on the Ironside Asbolus also wasn't particularly inclined to head back home either, so he took to what was now a normal course of action, following the sights and the sounds of the city to see where they lead him. The Darkling was dressed casually in black jeans and a plain t-shirt, nothing really worth noticing, his pace even and pale eyes scanning the park as he progressed along the path.
Johnnie: There was, briefly, a quiver in the air, of the sort that only folx like Asbolus and Annie could notice. A ripple, carrying a touch of discomfort- fear of the unknown, very much a tinge of Autumn. And then, overhead, the night's quiet clouds puff up fluffy white.
And, in defiance of pretty much all things thermodynamic, begin to casually sift snow down onto a not insignificant segment of Fairmout Park.
Christmas in July.
Anneliese Kiel: Annie blinks as she spots the snow starting to fall. She might not have been in Philadelphia for even a full year yet, but that's more than enough time to realise it doesn't usually snow in the middle of July there. The nymph's about to glance around to try and spot who's responsible before stopping herself, instead beginning to work faster to get her instrument and bow packed away before the precipitation starts to settle.
Asbolus: The sudden shift in the weather made Asbolus pause as well, the air about the Darkling going still as his own mantle flickered in response. After a moment he pressed on, looking about curiously for the source of that autumnal feeling.
Johnnie: It'll take a little work to locate the source of the effect. The area covered by the snow extends a good two hundred and forty meters across, after all. But if the two- once Annie stows her instrument- puts in a little footwork, it shouldn't be too hard to head towards the center with a little guesswork.
Anneliese Kiel: Put in that footwork they almost certainly will, now, as Annie clicks shut the clasps on her violin case before rising, glancing around once she's upright. "Hey, Asbolus," she calls on spotting the Winter. "How have you been? Want to go exploring for a bit?"
Asbolus: "Well enough, and indeed...rather curious to see what brought this about." He nodded to the Nymph as he moved to match pace with her, heading on further into the park. "Things going alright with you?"
Johnnie: It's only a pretty nominal walk until Asbolus and Annie find one Johnnie lounging against the foot of a tree, watching the snow fall, arms crossed behind her head. She doesn't look over- she's got sharp enough senses to catch the approach without looking- and calls over. "Hello, friends! How's your evening on this strange night?"
Anneliese Kiel: "Well enough," Annie replies to Asbolus, grinning slightly at him as she walks. "Rather snowy all of a sudden," she calls back once within earshot of Johnnie, voice wry. "I do not suppose you know anything about why that might be?"
Asbolus: "Glad to hear it." Asbolus smiled in kind, eyeing Johnnie as her presence became known. "Going well, all told...very strange weather indeed, though."
Johnnie: "Hm? Oh, so it is," Johnnie remarks, whilst leaves swirl every which way round her as they do. "And as far as I know, snow clouds require temperatures a lot lower than this to form! Maybe an aerial arctic swell or something, I dunno. It's pretty interesting, though, isn't it? Nice and warm and still snowing like it's Christmas."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie peers at the Elemental for a long moment. "I guess? That is not something I have ever celebrated, but the contrast is rather interesting, yes." Beat. "How have you been? I have not seen you in a while."
Johnnie: "Eh, it's a notable date in the middle of winter, that's all." Jackie shrugs, lazily enjoying the slow fall of snow melting on the warm ground. "I've been well, I suppose! Busy preparing for the missions to come, keeping patrols, all that good stuff. What about you? Doing well?"
Anneliese Kiel: "Well enough, I suppose," Annie shrugs one shoulder. "Busy with schoolwork and the bar, as usual. Trying to make sure we have time to at least attempt a peaceful resolution to the current crisis." Beat. "Considering taking Yu Jin off to a lakeside cabin to idle away a long weekend once it is over and we have a chance to relax."
Johnnie: "Oh yeah? I haven't seen them round a while. Good to hear they're still doing well! That you both're doing well together." Jackie flashes a thumbs up, oddly untouched by the thickening swirls of snow. "Feels like nothing really cares to give us a breather. Just clash after clash."
Anneliese Kiel: That gets a long sigh out of Annie. "You can say that again. Hopefully there will be one after the current one is resolved."
Johnnie: "A breather? OR another clash?" Jackie asks, blinking quizzically.
Asbolus: "Hopefully the former." Asbolus chimed in, smiling a touch.
Anneliese Kiel: "Another clash, obviously," Annie deadpans. "Why would I be wishing for anything else?" Yeah, she's definitely mastered sarcasm.
Johnnie: "The former, indeed." Jackie beams and flops backwards, staring up into the snow. "You guys ever get to play in the snow when you were little?"
Asbolus: "I did, quite a bit." The Darkling nodded, finding a convenient spot to sit nearby. "Lot of snowball fights with my brothers and whatnot."
Anneliese Kiel: "Not a guy, but yes," Annie says, shrugging one shoulder. "When enough of it fell to be worth it, which was never guaranteed."
Johnnie: "Sorry. Meant it in the colloquial nongendered sense, I'll avoid that in the future." Jackie stares up into the sky. "I didn't. My parent's didn't like me getting dirty, or wet, or cold, or anything, really. I was supposed to sit inside and study and be quiet with Nanny. Only ever out in the snow long enough to get to or from school."
Asbolus: "Ah...one of my aunts was like that with my cousins." He nodded quietly, looking Johnnie over. "Hence why you're indulging now, I take it?"
Anneliese Kiel: "Indulging now that you have the chance is entirely reasonable," Annie nods in turn. "Do you mind if I ask what Nanny's opinion of that was? Or was she more interested in the paycheck than supporting you?"
Johnnie: "Paycheck," states Johnnie simply. "Not her job to care. Just keep me quiet and safe. And she did. Paid too well to do anything else, or anything more."
She nods to Asbolus without turning his way. "Ayep. Thought I'd try it out. I've always been busy. Too busy to slow down and just Do Things like play in the snow. Besides, it'll be fun to read about tomorrow."
Asbolus: "True indeed..." He smiled a touch, holding a hand out to catch a bit of the snow and test how well it stuck together. "That will be rather interesting, yes."
Anneliese Kiel: "Taking breaks is important," Annie points out. "It might sound hypocritical, considering everything on my plate, but nobody benefits from you working yourself into burning out." Beat. "I am sure the Winters will have a field day trying to work out who was responsible." This accompanied by a slight smirk in Asbolus' direction.
Johnnie: The snow is fluffy and compressable, not bad for snowballs. "Hey, weather's freaky sometimes. And by the time anybody with a news crew gets here, it'll be packed with Philly natives enjoying it for themselves. Sometimes weird shit happens. This weird shit just happens to be cool." Jackie is unflappable. "Promise I won't make a habit of it, though."
Asbolus: "Appreciate it." Cue a perfunctory 'glower' from the Winter Courtier, who nonetheless was still gathering some of the snow to slowly form it into a decent snowball.
Anneliese Kiel: "Fair enough," Annie says, shrugging one shoulder. "So. What do you two want to do first? Snowperson, or?"
TBC(?)
|