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Ylva Theodulus:
Ylva was having a not great day and had visited DA last night so today she is working on her Orchard. Peaceful work that, hopefully, wont stir up those problematic urges that got to her yesterday.
Her trees have changed a bit recently, there is a total of 8 here. 4 Full size trees with normal sized fruits and 4 Bonsai sized trees with little, teeny fruit. Its these ones she seems to be working on. Making them smaller, turning them into Bonsai trees, it seems that they were Regular trees this morning and now we are here.
A peaceful little melody is coming from a speaker at the door inside with a stack of paintings visible from the orchard. The fence around the orchard recently decorated for the Spoopy season. Its a white picket fence made of bones with little Jack 'o' Lanterns every few posts.
Asbolus:
Taking a wander down the city's trods had become habit for Asbolus since crossing the threshold to something more fae than man, and on this particular day the music drifting from the orchard caught the Darkling's attention. He was dressed neatly for the weather, jeans and a long-sleeved turtleneck rounding out the ensemble. Seeing the fence decorated for the season earned a small chuckle as he approached, giving Ylva a brief salute. "Salutations."
Ylva Theodulus:
Ylva looks up a Lollipop in her mouth and waves, she is dressed in gardening weather, as far as it can be called that. A sports bra and one of her old too short skirts, her hair was looking a little messy and was flowing down her back. Paws padding on the ground she wanders up to the gate a smile on her face.
"Heya, nice to see you again." There is hesitation to her words as she speaks. Something on her mind.
Asbolus:
"Good to see you as well." He replied, looking her over as the weight on her shoulders made itself clear. "Everything alright?"
Ylva Theodulus:
She shrugs before speaking looking down. "Im, managing. We had a run in with some Vampires and it was, well, shit."
Asbolus:
Asbolus frowned quietly at that, looking her over. "What happened, if you wish to say?"
Ylva Theodulus:
"Some newly turned Girl and an unreasonably loyal older one thought it was a good idea to attack Vorpal in the park."
She cringes as she speaks, gritting her teeth slightly.
Asbolus:
He winced in return, lightly pulling air through his teeth. "Ah hah...and I assume it didn't go well for his assailants."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Vorpal tried to just hit her a little bit to put her on the ground, and then she was an E-Girl shaped meat patty on the floor."
Asbolus:
"Not...too surprised there, admittedly, considering how potent she is these days. Wager that shook her up a good bit as well, nonetheless." A mental note was made to check in on his courtly mentor, followed by his gaze turning back to the Courser. "And how did you take it?"
Ylva Theodulus:
"Well." A sigh. "By the end of the night only two thirds of E-Girl ended up in the Duffel bag to be dealt with."
As she finishes talking she crunches her lollipop stick and all. Grabbing another from her pocket.
"You want some tea or some Goblin Fruit?"
Asbolus:
"Ah. No ill effects from that, I hope?"
"I wouldn't be a proper Englishman if I turned down tea, now would I?" He offered with a smirk, hoping to lift up the mood somewhat, while moving to enter into the orchard proper. "Very impressive work in here, by the way."
Ylva Theodulus:
"I think I have to say yes. When I came home I ended up doing a few things that fed into my Durance. Not the best for my clarity."
She opens the gate gesturing for him to join her inside and wanders into the main building. Inside it is like a large bird cage, stacks of painting to one side, a Hedge Beast sitting in front of a fire place and a stove that she pulls out of the wall in the way you can only do in Hollows.
"What flavor would you like? Keep in mind its not limited to normal 'tea' flavors here."
Asbolus:
Asbolus nodded as he followed her into the hollow, an understanding look in his eyes. "Have you been able to stabilize yourself as of yet? I know that can be a rough road until it levels out."
He took in the hollow with a keen eye as she prepared the stove, smiling a touch at the hedge beast by the fireplace. "Surprise me."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Still working on it. It was only two nights ago, so. Little steps. No slip ups since then which is good considering."
She pulls out a pot putting it on to boil and pulls out three cups. Adding some tea leaves to the pot. "Ill try to keep it kinda normal for you."
Asbolus:
"Good to hear. I had a rather large break last for a while due to not being able to spend time with my usual anchor for such things, and it was...not something I would recommend." He let out a quiet breath, finding a convenient cage bar to lean against as she worked on the tea. "Curious to see what you come up with."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Spending time with my Anchor is kinda hard at the moment. Its Ironside and busy during the day."
She stirs the tea a little, looking down and tilting her head. A little glamor moving into the pot as she stirs.
When she pours the tea hers is a Maroon almost black color with traces of gold through it. Almost the color of dried blood. Asbolus's was a golden color with purple flecks passing through it. When he drinks it it tastes almost like drinking a fruit salad on a tropical beach.
"Enjoy. Its not my best work but, enjoy."
Asbolus:
"That was my issue as well, our schedules never seemed to sync up properly. If it lasts for too long, others in the freehold should be able to assist you. Doll Wood of the Iron Spear was kind enough to do so for me in my time of need."
He watched curiously as she worked, taking the offered cup and giving it a respectful nod before taking a sip. His eyebrows went up in pleasant surprise, having another sip soon after. "Quite good nonetheless. Never thought of spinning up a new blend before, will have to try that out myself."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Its my shop, its always what kept me sane before."
She sips at her tea. "Gotta get back to work some time."
Finishing off her first cup she nibbles at the cup itself before starting on her second cup.
"Its a good distraction for me, its a reminder of the taste without, ya know. The actual thing."
Asbolus:
"Finding another anchor you can access easier can help as well. The theater I work in now serves as a second anchor these days, after that long drought of mine."
He smirked a touch as she teethed the cup, nodding as she continued. "Understandable. Whatever works best for you."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Its on my to do list, but so is being able to leave this place without an escort."
There is a chuckle. "It keeps me sane, sometimes its even enough to take the edge off. Enough for me to sleep it off."
Asbolus:
"I hope that comes quickly for you. Reestablishing that level of stability takes a different amount of time for each of us, I've come to notice. Was a good month or so myself until I felt comfortable enough to venture out of the Thorns for long periods of time."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Well, the leaving the Hedge is, um, unrelated to this recent attack on my clarity."
She finishes her second pot of tea, eating that cup and grabbing another Lollipop from the shelf.
"Big groups of people are, as you can imagine, difficult."
Asbolus:
"Indeed, and I had similar issues if for different reasons." He sipped at his tea, eyeing the lollipop curiously for a moment before continuing. "Where I had been was a vast city under constant observation by our Keeper, and for some time after my return the concern of Her eye still being upon me kept me from interacting much with anyone, just in case they got caught in Her web along with me."
Ylva Theodulus:
"I can understand how that would cause a similar effect even if the root cause was vastly diffirent. Im glad you got past it though."
Her eyes stare past him for a moment. "Trying to work on everyone not looking like a snack. It wasnt the best way to meet up with my Wife again."
Asbolus:
"I can imagine, and can relate on a certain level. I was built to chase and pursue those who rebelled as part of my tasks there, and any hint of a proper hunt still presses those old buttons...moreso now these days, in all honestly."
Ylva Theodulus:
"It seems we have oh so much more in common. I was built to make sure that never happened. Among many other tasks."
Asbolus:
"Seems so." He smiled a touch at that, lifting his cup in a small cheers before polishing off the tea within. "I was one of Her Chosen, investigating any hint of someone stepping away from Her vision and bringing them back to be 'returned to Her light', as it were."
Ylva Theodulus:
"That sounds slightly more positive than what I returned them for." She says with a chuckle before continuing. "I returned them and then he made me eat them usually from the feet up as he made everyone else watch."
There is a grimace. "Sorry. I forget how not normal that is, even for us."
Asbolus:
There was a brief flicker across his face but he waved off the apology, offering a small nod. "No need to apologize. We were all made to do unspeakable things to survive, and holding that against each other serves us no good."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Still getting used to that, that we all went through something, well, if not similar, fucked up in its own way."
She finishes this lollipop eating the stick again. "Makes me think back to the things I did to survive as a kid difirently ya know."
Tilting her head she notices the curious look at the lollipop. "Beast made into lollipop, another little half measure."
Asbolus:
"Ah...clever." He nodded with approval. "Seems to be working well, at least."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Like the tea, it all helps."
She bites at her lip for a moment before continuing. "How long did it take you before you could deal with crowds? I know we are diffirent situations but. Curiosity."
Asbolus:
"About a month or so, I'd say. I still kept to myself for the most part after that, however, until about a year or so ago."
Ylva Theodulus:
"That is, both good and bad. I can do small groups."
She leans back in her seat. "I miss my wife honestly and i know she cant stop me at all if I lose it. Its what makes hanging out with Vorp and Laura so easy."
Asbolus:
"That does make it difficult." He nodded quietly. "There's a certain fragility with humanity at large that one has to get accustomed to, more so as the strength of the Wyrd grows within us. Finding that balance is possible, though, and I hope you reach it soon."
Ylva Theodulus:
"Same. I work with her, and one of my other lovers."
She sighs sliding the table back into the partially transparent wall. Look hedge physics don't make sense. As she stands her seat of vines vanishes.
"Sorry to bring your mood down but I've got some chores to finish up around the place. Some of which I would rather others not have to see. If you get my drift."
Asbolus:
"No worries, and no foul mood has arisen." He found a place to put his cup away as she reset the hollow to its original configuration. "Have a good rest of the day, and it was good talking with you."
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