Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Clairee Donya on Jun 27, 2019 16:23:55 GMT
Clairee was awake, but groggy. She hadn't slept as well as she would have liked, dreams flitting in and out of her brain, half of them waking her up suddenly but she could never remember why. She finger combed her hair as best she could, a few bundles of curls staying stubbornly in place where they'd bunched up on her pillow. she redressed in the same clothes from last night, feeling a bit crinkled and after a failed attempt to smooth the wrinkles out with her hands - she stepped into the hall on a yawn. The yawn froze half way through, at the sight of Lasair already in the hall. She snapped her trap shut and gave a little embarrassed finger-wave.
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Aug 6, 2019 20:48:36 GMT
"Good morning," he greeted quickly, recovering from the slight shock. She had opened the door and stepped out just as he was going to walk away. Well, at least his indecision was resolved for him. "Did you sleep alright?" he asked, turning to face her properly. He noticed how she wore the same clothes, realizing that she hadn't thought to bring more. He certainly didn't mind. After she answered, he followed up with another small question. "Do you want anything for breakfast? I figured we should at least have something small before heading out. Speaking of, how soon do you want to head over there? I'll need a bit of time to change and dress up." He was wearing his comfortable around-the-guild clothes right now and planned on dressing in something fancier for meeting her family. But that was later and he didn't know how much later. So in the mean time, a loose shirt with a color that drooped down a little bit and baggy pants were pleasant enough for him.
Post by Clairee Donya on Apr 12, 2020 16:42:50 GMT
"Sleep, yeah well, no. but Breakfast...," she said while blushing, which was another thing she needed to get under control before they went to see her papa. "Breakfast would be good." It felt like a lifetime since they spoke the night before, and she forgot completely what all she had wanted to say as she tossed and turned over an overactive mind throughout the night. The dreams, or brainstorms that she'd had vanished into early morning mist as they made their way down the hall toward the kitchen.
I am sOOOOoooo so sorry for taking just eons to reply forgive me!
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 11, 2020 20:48:23 GMT
He led her down the hallway, snaking his way through the building until they arrived at the kitchen. He rummaged around for a bit, deciding to grab an orange, some biscuits, and a jar of jam. He left the biscuits out for Clair. "Sorry you didn't sleep well," he said lightly, sitting down now. He opened the jam jar and started spreading it onto his biscuits.
"So, if you don't mind me jumping into it," he began after a moment. "What exactly do I need to tell them? Or I guess more specifically, what do I not-tell them? They're gonna know I'm an ander." He gestured up to his hair. "So I feel like that means they already don't like me."
Clairee reached for the biscuits and thought for a moment about his questions.
"Well mostly... I just need an excuse for sneaking out all the time without giving away that I've joined M.I. and am participating in missions." To his other remark she added. "To be honest, they weren't too thrilled about... me and, um, Roan, and he was a human soldier... so if I can't be with either of you, I'm not sure who they expect I am allowed to..." she didn't finish that sentence, but rather bit into her biscuit.
She hated to mention her confusing relationship with the soldier boy, brief as it was, not wanting it to stir up any issues regarding her status with the guild. But there was a chance if her father or any of her brothers got huffy, they might try to throw it in her face and then Lasair would know anyway. Better it came from her than one of them.
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2021 10:08:50 GMT by Clairee Donya
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Apr 17, 2021 18:52:28 GMT
Lasair listened as she explained things, noticing how she was careful with her tone and pacing. She spoke so slowly, was it to gauge his reactions as she went? He remained calm the entire time, relaxed as she spoke about the drama in her family. At the mention of a human soldier, he lifted an eyebrow, intrigued by that bit of history. Clair was unafraid of it as she talked though, which eased any rising worry for Lasair. If she had nothing to hide, then surely there was no reason to assume that anything happened. She was very shy about it however, seeming almost ashamed that it had happened at all. He didn’t want to comment on that though, feeling like it was better to change the subject.
“I had an idea for that sneaking out bit; I think I mentioned it before?” It took a moment for him to recall the memory. “We’ll tell them I work nights at a library, and you’d sneak out late to catch me when I get off work and we’d walk around the city together.” He smiled at her, imagining the date in his head. “Sounds romantic, doesn’t it?” After a pause, he continued. "Anyway, I think I should start getting ready. How soon shall we leave?"
She sat up a little straighter as his suggestion sunk it. It was brilliant, no noticeable affiliations to the military or the MI should greatly decrease her families anxieties, and working in the library is perfectly harmless. They might assume then he is the janitor but that wasn't so bad. She nodded.
"That would be perfect, lets go with that. And um... lets go now. I don't want them stewing mad between the time the wake up and find me out again and when we talk to them." The sooner, the better. Very literally.
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 5, 2021 1:55:42 GMT
“No time like the present,” he smiled at her, standing up straighter and adjusting his shirt. “I’m ready now, ready to go then?” He offered his arm to her before walking, his mind running over the story a few times more before the meeting came. Meeting the family of a friend was always a stressful encounter, especially when the friend in question was a young girl with soft eyes and a pretty face. She was more than a friend now too, at least in practice, but that part would be easy. He’d pull her closer as they walk together, or lean towards her more in conversation, small things make it easy to fall into. Maybe some of it wouldn’t be acting, but Clair didn’t need to know that. Either way, he was excited to finally meet the famous family. All he had to do was be his most inoffensive self.
Clairee smiled and hopped up to her feet. She gave a little nod before slipping through the door and heading for the exit. The journey home would feel different this time, since she wouldn't be going alone. It would feel less... cold. And for some reason, the newfound warmth was coming from somewhere in the center of her chest and radiating outwards.
She was still smiling slightly when they entered the woods. "I really appreciate this, Lasair," she half whispered over the crunch of twigs, leaves, and the like underfoot. There wasn't much to see beyond your average woodland creatures, so she struggled to think of something else to talk about. She was still nervous, but truth be told also a little excited. She felt like she was doing something proactive about a real stressor in her life, and she didn't have to do it alone.
Her family's farm was just on the other side of the woods, along the outskirts of town. Most of the agricultural properties were. There just wasn't room for them further into the city. "That farmhouse over the hill, that's my family's." She pointed and told Lasair once it was within sight.
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on May 29, 2021 0:25:20 GMT
They set out right away, Lasair taking the lead out of the building, but then yielding to Clair as they got outside. The woods always felt a little eerie to Lasair, but he had traversed them so much that it was more of an afterthought now. He smiled at his companion when she spoke up and offered a reply, but the rest of their walk was calm and quiet. As they went, Lasair felt his nerves start to kick up bit by bit. He never was nervous in front of new people, but today felt more like a performance than his usual self. His pulse quickened and he caught himself playing with his hair more than was needed. This little ticks of nerves; he reminded himself to quell them by the time they arrived.
When she pointed to the house in the distance, Lasair squinted at it. He could see the blurry outline of the building; enough to know that they’d be there soon. The details didn’t come into focus until they were much closer, however. “You sure I look okay?” he asked. “And is there anything I need to know at the last minute?” Soon they’d be coming up to the door, and then it was time for the show to start.
Clairee paused when he asked if he looked alright, and took the opportunity to run her fingers through his hair, knocking what little twigs and forest debris their walk had passed along to him. "There we go, it was like a birds nest in there," She teased, a gentle smile on her face and a bit of a sparkle in her eyes. To the last minute cliffnotes, she tilted her head to the side and thought a moment. "I did mention my oldest brother is in EIRAL, right? Mum was an Ander, but Pa's a human through and through, and my mum was his second wife. All my brothers are human too." It always felt so weird putting it that way.... but it was the truth. Alien, but accurate.
"Well.... here we go!" she chirped cheerfully as if willing the awkwardness away with her words. She reached for his hand to hold as she led him up the steps to the front door and let themselves in. Not surprising.... the whole household was already up and having breakfast and each turned to stare as the old door creaked open. Whatever breakfast conversations they were having died out quickly and only the sound of grease popping on the stove from the bacon was left of their earlier ambience.
Last Edit: Sept 29, 2023 0:05:27 GMT by Clairee Donya
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jul 3, 2021 20:37:30 GMT
Right, the family included a soldier. Not the worst thing in the world, but Lasair felt an inherent need to be extra aware of that brother’s opinion of him. No pressure, not like they would hate him the moment they saw his hair, or anything. The time for preparing was over, however. When Clair grabbed his hand he held it firmly, feeling good to have connection there. The door opened, the family looked up, and silence took the air immediately.
Lasair cleared his throat, squeezing Clair’s hand for a moment before speaking. “Good morning everyone. Clairee wanted me to meet you all. My name is Lasair.” He looked towards her then, begging her to follow up the conversation with his eyes. They were in this together, now it was time to cooperate and sell it.
The silence that followed Lasairs introduction was palpable. It wasn't until Luca dropped his spoon in his oatmeal that everyone started talking at once.
The loudest was Christopher, "I'll be, Clair brought home a bo-" At least until Milo hurriedly tried to finish his sentence "-boyfriend?!" "Don't we know him?..." Klaus asked, his hand coming up to his head bewildered. "Of course we do!" Luca reacted, probably the loudest yet. "I dont know this interloper" Milo denied, starring daggers, despite the fact he absolutely did know Lasair, at least by sight.
Clairee squeezed Lasairs hand a little tighter. Luca, ever the empathetic one, flinched for them.
Her brother Adelheid pushed back his chair and snapped to his feet in a very militant fashion. He was an imposing figure, tall and brawn with clean cut blond hair and a square jaw. Ralph followed suit, though a bit more lethargically as he knocked his chair back and shoved his hands in his pockets, grinning ear to ear.
Adel was just opening his mouth to speak when their father (still sitting at the head of the table, a little too old to rise on account of formalities) beat him to it. Pa cleared his throat loudly and the buzz in the room died down.
"You look paler than I remember." He pa said, starring right at Las, and motioning all over his face. "Last time I saw you, you were covered in soot." Clairs eyes went a little wide. The state he was in after the fire, she was surprised her father remembered anything at all.
"He's usually not that dirty," she answered dumbly. Then shook her head. "I mean, are we too late for breakfast?" She added.
Luca jumped up. "You're right on time," the youngest of her brothers answered, and started dishing bacon onto plates from the skillet.
" Your friend can sit next to me." Adel added, pulling up a chair next to himself and gesturing for Luca to place the mans plate in front of it. Luca frowned, knowingly, but did as he was told. Clair gave Lasairs hand one last squeeze then let go. "Sissy can sit on the other side of the table, next to Klaus, right Klaus?"
Klaus looked at their oldest brother Adelheid (oldest still living at home anyway, the other six had married and moved out by now), and shrugged before grabbing another seat for Clairee. The table was pretty crowded now, with mismatched seating of all sorts around it. Not even the plates all matched but the variety was so well mixed that it didn't look out of place somehow.
Last Edit: Feb 14, 2023 18:30:40 GMT by Clairee Donya
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Feb 22, 2023 4:18:29 GMT
The flurry of activity was a lot to take in, but Lasair rolled with it well. He smiled, there was a hint of nerves behind it, but still a sense of comfort in the way he carried himself forward. There was a mental pause when they talked of recognizing him, but then it clicked with the father’s mention of soot. Before he could stammer out any sort of reply, he found himself laughing at Claire’s answer. She was nervous too, and it was cute the way she wore it. Happy to be with her family, but jittery with her proximity to Lasair. Maybe sitting apart would help? Or maybe it would make it worse, loosing that connective lifeline. He braced himself either way, going with the flow as well as he could make it.
Adel was the one sticking his chin up, holding himself like a man of power and profession. Honestly, Lasair would have been more surprised if Adel didn’t want a seat next to him. “Thank you all for having me,” he said as he sank into the chair, shifting to find the most comfortable position. Across from him, Clairee seemed to be handling herself well, save for the nervous glances his way. When given the chance, he offered her a smile and a nod before turning to look over the breakfast laid out. All the different plates and silverware looked comfortable in their arrangement and the variety was nice on the eyes. Speaking of, he knew that even if no one was staring at him, someone was bound to be looking towards him at any given moment. It was a little thing, but still something in his brain. He decided to try and get them talking.
“Have you ever used pancakes to make a sandwich? Do you think it still counts as a sandwich even though it isn’t bread?”
The room fell into another awkward silence as the Donya's all seemed to be seriously contemplating the question at hand. Clairee was no exception, her brow scrunching as she stared sightlessly down her nose at her plate of eggs, suddenly wishing she had some pancakes to go with them.
".... what do you mean Pancakes aren't bread? Aren't they?" Asked Luca, apparently saying what -most- of them were thinking.
"Fills up my stomach the way bread does," Milo added.
"And it's made with flour, ain't it? Ain't it sissy?" Christoph corroborated. Klaus, for his part, was too busy testing it out, putting his eggs between his pancakes, to venture an answer.
"I.... why are you asking me for?" Clair responded, unhappy to be put on the spot before she knew the right answer.
"It's cos you're a girl ya ninny." Adel enlightened her, feeling pretty smug to know the answer to that question at least.
"Well I don't know... it's a sandwich, I guess?" She answered as best she could. She looked at Las to see if she got it right.
"Then it's a sandwich," her pa agreed, and passed the plate of pancakes down the table. "They're a bit cold now." He told Lasair as he handed over the plate.
Last Edit: Mar 2, 2023 17:31:26 GMT by Clairee Donya