audio | username: haltham

[aprescoup]

He... llo? Hey-ho! Hello. Got the hang of it now —

( But does he? A sudden spell of background laughter would indicate the channel remains disrupted, until… it suddenly quiets down. )

...there we go! How’s you lot? This is Haltham. Me? Been good. Real swell. Got me a... got a goat now. She’s a handsome one. Met’er coming down from the mountains, minding my own business, might’ve had a little to dri — ...but keeps the body warm, don’t it? And there I was, and there she was, and I think she’d just killed a man? Can’t be helping it, happens in a mountain. And we looked each other up, then down, though she’s mostly sideways, think she’s, hm... her eyes sort of cross, but you know, she’s a looker, and she walks the leash right, and we headed on together, so. And now, I take her everywhere.

( He seems, suddenly, to remember the point of his outreach: )

Anyway. You’ll have your own goat! Maybe. We’re taking you. Taking you elsewhere. On a walk. To a new place, better place, for living. Mostly better. Well... right, it’s not all that better, but it’s a home, a farm. And... look. Can’t be having you at the… ladies’ house no more. There’s trouble in the city now, with all them folks rising for Anurr, and... heard some of you got involved with all that. Keep your heads down! Oi! Oiiiiiiii. Down. Don't be dying before I even see you.

( A pause, then: ) So, this farm. Used to be a woodhouse. It’s... closer to the forest, where the old blood live, and it’s farther out, but… you can still walk to the merchants’ places, and it’ll do you good. Proper, honest stroll each morning. Works an appetite. Old man thought it might be rough, but I talked him into it, and it’s all yours, now! You can head on tomorrow, and Karsa’ll even... you know, sort out your speech pieces, so you can talk smart there too.

Now, it’ll need some cleaning... and some urging along of the wolves. And rats, and... the trouble with the... you'll see. I don’t think some walls are holding, but you’ll prop them, won’t you? Bit of sweat and mud and snow, and it really is all yours, once that’s done! And no one will come along to bother.

Just... don’t open your doors at night, no matter what the wind tells you. Or people. Them’s not people, in that forest.


( ooc: A mission log for the move-out and the delights of the 'farm' will be up tomorrow :) Characters with jobs at the House of Dew can hold on to their posts, even after they relocate. Translation devices will work throughout. )

Comments

un: dappled pearl of the parted seas [voice]

[beitangmoran]

We have been imposing on the ladies a lot, haven't we? And there are even more of us now. It's probably best for us to move indeed.

Thank you for your care, friend.

[aprescoup]

Don't you worry... I think they liked some of you. And really didn't like some of them others.

[beitangmoran]

We are quite the diverse crowd indeed. But no matter what I am sure they will be glad to have their space back. And if we have to rough it out for a while... beggars can't be choosers.

[bearshermark]

That's wonderful news. It's getting more crowded and more difficult to hide here. I only wish it wasn't winter, so we could make better use of the land.

Do we know about how long we'll be staying there before moving further East?

[aprescoup]

Well... you've got all them others now. It'll cost more to... you know. But the worst of it is the weather. Little's coming in, less coming out.

[bearshermark]

So, we're waiting for the weather to improve? What other costs do we need to account for beyond our own supplies?

un: anglicized

[descendency]

[ Haltham, friend, dearest, he offers you human companionship and you get... a goat. Well, as long as you're happy. ]

How far is this farm, my friend?

[aprescoup]

From the... the house of ladies, is it? Or just the citadel proper?

I'd say... hour's walk from where you sleep now. At a good step, could be cutting it. But you'll grow muscled and strong.

[descendency]

Hmm, I'll have to make some arrangements. I'd like to keep my current employ as long as I'm able, after all. I'm afraid I wouldn't be much good for entertaining after such a hike.

[ He's a delicate blossom, Haltham. He can't possibly walk an hour each way and still deal with men. ]

un: first blush of tender youth

[somebadnews]

Did you say your goat killed a man?

[ How is nobody catching this? -- As far as moving to a dilapidated farm... whatever. He'll focus on that in a second. ]

[aprescoup]

Well, there the body was, yeah? And there the goat was, yeah? And she was bloodied. And she don't look sad.

[somebadnews]

And that sort of thing just happens. In the mountains.

un: brimming cup of earthly passions; audio

[remugient]

[She doesn't really understand what's going on, for the most part, but:]

A farm? I know how to run a farm. Is there a barn? Or a place to, you know, grow, uh. Stuff? [Do they have normal crops here?? Like.......corn?

Guess she'll find out.] If we have some chickens to start with, and a milk cow or two that could give us a good start. [Eggs! Milk! She's mostly musing out loud]

[aprescoup]

Hello, little friend. I haven't heard you before. How are you?

[remugient]

Oh. [A bit startled, she fumbles to respond, feeling a little odd talking into the crystals.]

I'm-- Good. Little shaken, but it's fine. I'm fine. [She pauses and adds:] I have family here, so it won't be that bad. Everyone's been very kind. [another pause] So, uh, thank you. For all that. All of you.

un: silhouette among silk spreads

[foxable]

Haltham! Okay, nice, I have no idea who you are but it's good to meet you, I guess. You got us a house? And you're dating a murder goat?

Anyway I can help fix the house, I'm good at that, but ah - since you mentioned the crystals - I'd really really like to meet someone who works magic like that. If you know anyone.

Oh, and I'm-- [ A slight hesitation, before he gives up: ] -- Fox, by the way. You can call me Fox.

[aprescoup]

...you're a... a fox? Foxes talk? Like in them stories?

[foxable]

[ There's a pause, and then when he replies, it is with a grin in his voice. ]

Yeah! Exactly. I don't know what kind of stories you got there, but it sounds about right. Of course Foxes talk, we just only do it when we feel like it, yeah? And I'm a special fox. A spirit fox. So I can look like a human if I feel like it. Magic, right?

Have you ever met a Fox?

un: wide open-winged queen of butterflies | audio

[binghua]

[There is...a lot to parse in this big message. So much affection for a goat -

But more importantly.]

I assure you, I have no intention of going to such a meeting a second time.

audio

[aprescoup]

Now, what they do to you?

[scrapgege]

[Xie Lian's voice comes in mid-sentence as if he's talking to himself.]

... practical not to have a password but doesn't that mean anyone can listen in, though?

Oh, hi! Sorry! Hum, I'm sorry for that little mix-up the other day, I didn't mean to get in trouble or anything, it sort of just happened. I don't think I hurt anyone too badly?

A farm is good, and there's enough of us to repair it and make something of it, I'm sure!

[aprescoup]

Well... what did you do?

[scrapgege]

I... think they took me down the salt mines, to find some of those undead people? The moving corpses?

un: yiling patriarch

[weifinder]

( ........................................... wolves?! )

Hah, hah, Haltham, how are you?

( haltham married a murder goat and they're getting thrown to the LITERAL FUCKING WOLVES

HE'S TOTALLY

FINE

NOTHING AT ALL WRONG )

[aprescoup]

I am very good, thank you. I've got a goat now. She's handsome.