sticksandbones | [OPEN] gardening & sewing log for your domestic cottagecore needs

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[OPEN] gardening & sewing log for your domestic cottagecore needs

Who: Ain & You
What: Gardening + new tailor shop log
When: A day or two after everyone gets back from the Grove... people might be dying in the log under this we'll deal with it
Where: The Grove
Warnings: None, this is a peaceful and happy log-

I. - The Tailor Shop Prompt

[The Grove has a new shop when everyone returns from the beach. It's little, the outside sign woven with wooden motifs of leaves and carved text reading "NEEDLE & THREAD", and the windows having displays of mannequins in them, one of which has only fabric draped around its neck and the other which Ain is using to sew a dress. He's also wearing his own as he does this, ten different bobby pins in his hair to keep his bangs out of the way while he works.

Although he looks busy, shuffling about to get the display set up, he'll cheerfully greet people who come in and ask if they want anything done. He doesn't have anything premade yet because this place just opened, but he's happy to take requests — or sew something up, if you need it.]

II. - The Gardening Prompt

[After the tailor shop is fully set up, Ain can be seen walking around in short overalls with a ton of gardening supplies. Flower pots, seed packets, a toolbelt filled with gardening tools he got from Heimr... he has thirty-six packages of seeds, three each of any one type of plant, and he looks overjoyed digging in soil. He has become a Dirt Boy. Which is to say he has somehow gotten swipes of dirt on his face. If you want to help, or just stare at him, you can find Ain either:

a) futzing with flower pots and hanging planters that he's trying to get hung up on the awning of the tailor shop and on the other buildings, once things get planted; and he specifically tells you that the cacti need to be planted in large pots because they grow out too, not just up, and can you help him reach this and that or move this big heavy cactus flower pot over there?

b) digging holes into the actual ground, but not near the sunflowers so he doesn't harm them by accident, around the various buildings. Here is where he's planting lilies and frangipani and a bunch of other flowers, watering the spots the seeds are buried where they immediately spring to life thanks to him asking Moder to make them grow faster earlier. The Guardian herself is lingering in the distance supervising like a mom at the park.

c) Of course, if you didn't want to help with the process of planting things, you can find Ain a few hours later making flower crowns from the lantanas and lilies.]

[[ooc: if it's helpful to anyone wanting to garden, this is the full list of plants bought: cactus, aloe vera, lilies, frangipani, wisterias, fuchsias, begonias, hydrangeas, poppies, lantanas, calendulas, & gardenias. have fun planting plants :) ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Other than Wolfwood's titties, anyway-

But yes, sure, he definitely believes that name drop neeeever happened. But the communal silence is nice. He'd almost forgotten how much he appreciates that.

He'll look over at Ain after a while, the steam rolling off the surface of the water between them. At least it does well to preserve their modesty so there's no risk of wandering eyes, mostly.]

Didn't really thank you before. For listenin' to me.

[If Ain were feeling any more unhinged he'd already be under the water trying to do just that, but he's behaving and he's been humbled by all the angst in the air lately. This will only get worse when Mizuki dies later haha—]

I'm a good listener, I like to think. I may not have all the answers, but I can at least hear you out, can't I? And you know I won't go telling anyone that you cried on me~.

[Looks over at Wolfwood and beams.]

You don't have to thank me for doing the bare minimum. You should be thanking me for something more significant, like the flower crown!

[oh my god]

Oh yeah, s'that it?

[Wolfwood actually chuckles at that. He did make sure to take the flower crown off that he was wearing before getting into the water, so.]

Well, I guess...if you ever need the favor returned. I dunno.

[He shrugs one shoulder.]

Bare minimum or no, I kinda do owe ya one.

You humans are so weird. [Sorry soapbox moment] Elsword always told me that when humans do things for each other, it's to be nice, not because they expect something in the future. Is that not true now?

[Please help him he's trying to understand why you're not all The Same.]

Every time I try to do something, everyone reacts differently. I still don't get it. Do you owe me? I don't think you owe me unless you want to owe me.

Well...no. I mean, Elsword's right. S'just...

[Hm. How does he explain this. Wolfwood leans back a little, his head resting along the edge of the bath.]

Everyone reacts different 'cause all people are different. Everyone's got different baggage and shit. Different experiences...different perspectives.

I mean...yaknow Add? [Your Add, not doctor Add] You wouldn't expect him and Elsword to react th'same to everythin' would you? They're super different.

Oh, I know that much, but I mean...

You're telling me you owe me for me being nice to you, but I learned back home that's not a thing. So why is it a thing here? Do you really feel like you owe me? I don't want you to owe me, I just want us to have a normal conversation.

[blows a raspberry]

Don't owe me, just let me talk to you.

Oh.

[Okay, that makes more sense. It prompts Wolfwood to exhale through his nose, slowly.]

Sorry. That's prolly a "me" thing. I'm just...used to everythin' havin' a catch. Even just bein' friends with someone.

[He'll turn his head against his shoulder, giving Ain his attention again.]

...but a'ight. You don't owe me nothin'.

[The catch is being friends with Ain is nearly impossible because he's gay as fuck and has a crush on half the people here haha—

Looks over at Wolfwood.]

Good!

[No owing. :) Happy Ain noises. ...well, would be happy Ain noises, except he's sort of chewing on the inside of his cheek now like he's considering something. Hard to not consider Really Heavily when you've got a crush on a guy who just went through a catastrophic breakup.]

You know human things, don't you? Like... how human emotions work and stuff. You're a smart Mr. Priest, surely you can answer a question I have?

Mmm...well enough, I 'spose.

[Sometimes he wonders, given his track record with dealing with humans. But he knows what Ain is getting at, Ain is talking about basic human level things, he's pretty sure.]

Shoot. I'm listenin'.

[Very basic things, probably! Things he brought up with Mizuki but—]

Is it really common for humans — and I'm using a blanket term here — to try to use other humans when they're hurt badly enough?

[...okay not that basic. What a conversation to have while you're having 5ft apart bathing 'cause you're not gay.]

[Hahah uhmmm...]

I wouldn't say "really" common.

What exactly do you mean by use? If y'don't mind me askin'.

[Well this is about to get really specific so watch out (and watch Ain scoot more feet away because uh)—]

It's hard to explain, because I don't really understand it myself. I already asked Mr. Jellyfish though, before you say anything. Um...

So, humans... mortals, whatever, get hurt by others somehow. That's kind of obvious. [They went over that earlier when Wolfwood said his life sucked.] But what I don't understand is why they make it into a cycle. Is it 'cause something in your human brains break down? Does it make you feel better?

[...]

More specifically, I guess, I know I did something wrong. I didn't know I was doing it at the time, but you remember how at the weird gay contest you had [lol] Mr. Flirtatious invited me back to his cabana? Obviously I said yes 'cause he's pretty, but apparently, this was the wrong thing to do? He said my enthusiasm made him wary of me and made him think I wanted to use him and hurt him. All I wanted was a kiss.

[ :( ]

And I felt really bad about it, and I still do, but he told me he was always using other people back, I guess to defend himself from getting hurt like that again. I don't think he wanted to do that to me, maybe, I don't know. Maybe he would have if I hadn't stopped him and asked him what his problem was.

That's what I mean by use. Is that normal? Do humans do that now?

[Humans will always hurt other humans. Its in their nature. Whether it be intentional or not, psychological or in complete awareness. Nobody is perfect, and no one person is ever wholly good. Wolfwood knows he's of the number who are even less good than most, because the death toll he's created in the name of saving lives he personally cares about is...staggering. And whether or not that can be considered "good" is subjective.

It's a way some people cope. They fall into cyclical patterns they can't break, and more often than not it doesn't actually make you feel better. At least, it never has in his own experience.

He settles back a little with his arms loose at his sides as he listens to Ain, and it...very quickly goes from "normal question about human behavior" to "oh fuck no" in record time. Wolfwood's had his moment of vulnerable, uncontrollable crying, so it's easier for him to keep his abject horror out of his expression at what Ain tells him, his brows knit together. I did something wrong is what he leads with, and...

His teeth grit. He makes an unintentional clicking noise with his tongue before he can stop it from escaping, and if he could bristle physically, he'd be bristling.]

First of fucking all. You didn't do anythin' wrong. He's the one who invited you in, not the other way 'round. Second: I don't know what the fuck kind of explanation he thinks that is, but you do not do that shit to people.

[Especially under the pretense of "using" and "being used". Like, excuse him?]

That ain't normal at all. I think he was being a piece of shit to you completely out of pocket, actually. If he was wary of you, he should have left you alone. The fact he jumped to tryin' to hurt you so, what, he'd get the jump on you potentially hurting him?

Fuck all the way off.

Did I not...? I thought I did, because he said I freaked him out?

[Ain is obviously very sympathetic... his feelings were hurt, yeah, but that's a normal reaction too. He tilts his head at Wolfwood's bristling, sitting up a little more and folding his hands together in his lap.]

Hm... so it's not normal, then. [Well, at least he got that part down.] Relationships are complicated, huh? I mean, I guess we both knew that...

[Ain still thinks the guy is pretty, though. He knows his worth sometimes he goes on sale, etc.]

...I won't say I fully get what happened still, especially because I thought we were just having fun in the end, and I'm not sure if it makes me feel better... but I'll take your word for it that I didn't do anything wrong, haha.

[Turns out being enthusiastic about getting close to someone like that is actually a good thing, surprise surprise, you don't have to be weird about it first. Actually, if Ain thinks about it, saying "no I don't want to" and then going in full-force would've made him massively uncomfortable anyway, so hmm.]

...thank you, Wolfwood.

How he reacted ain't on you. You had no idea of knowin', and he invited you in under false pretenses. That kind of shit is gross.

[Like sorry, he doesn't care what kind of trauma you have, you do not project that shit onto other people. That's when it starts becoming a real problem.]

Like. I ain't good with relationships. I ain't a therapist. Hell, I'd say I'm pretty shit with 'em most of the time. But even I know that's common fucking knowledge that you don't...you don't do that!

[He can't find a way to articulate himself better than that. It's made worse knowing Ain was just there to have a good time, and ended up unintentionally playing into Affogato's idea of what was "actually" happening.

After a moment, he tries to soothe the anger bubbling up. He remembers what Mizuki told him about breathing, taking a few slow breaths in and out, his eyes drifting closed.]

...yeah. Yeah, no problem. Just...I get you care a lot 'bout people. [He's a lot like Vash, in that way.] But you can't let that empathy also be what opens the door for people to take advantage of you. I ain't sayin' to distrust everyone from now on, but...there are some things you don't tolerate.

[Hmm...]

People are complicated. Our group is pretty big back home, and I never know what to expect... but Elsword has this ability to tell instantly who'd be a good friend and who's a foe. He's turned people that would be our enemies into our friends. I kind of wish I had that power, 'cause I never know. These days, if people don't immediately do something awful, I sort of just assume they're fine.

[Which is, honestly, a fair way to go about things. A normal way, even. Ain is the most neurotypical person I play—]

You've been around people longer than I have, [you know, a whole, 12 ? years compared to Ain's 5,] so I guess you'd know certain things.

[People are complicated. Ain't that the truth.]

Yeah? ...sounds a lot like Vash, honestly.

[Elsword and Vash are those types. They can just immediately sense it. They're like golden retrievers but for people they can make into their friends.]

And I mean like. It...ain't a bad thing to wanna see the good in people. It's harder for me 'cause I've been through so much, I guess. I don't really trust all that easy.

[For obvious reasons.]

And when you live in a world where it's the strongest survive...it's easy to assume people just got their own interests at heart. I guess I get where that mentality comes from, in a way.

But if nobody's done anythin' to you...there's no reason to do it first just to get a "head start".

Mm... I guess so.

[Turns out being accused of wanting to do the most heinous things you can to someone when all you wanted to do was have a bit of fun is pretty hurtful! Ain has too much anxiety anyway, there's no way this wasn't going to stick.]

You know, he also offered to do some sort of drug with me after I told him that not everyone is evil, and I think that made me mad, too. Human drugs usually lower your inhibitions like liquor, right? [He has never done a drug either. First sexual experience bad, he'll probably do drugs and it'll be bad, the only drug Ain should be doing is fucking Xanax for his anxiety disorder.] He said it was to calm him. Anyway, I left.

[lmfao.]

Haha, I'm sorry to bring the mood down. It's been bothering me, so I wanted to bring it up somehow, but... I don't know, nothing has been about me, and I don't like talking about me either.

[Haha what the fuck? What the fuck. Affogato, how do you fumble the bag THAT badly.]

Good. You shoulda' left.

[Like not to become means girls about it but also-]

...listen, Ain. [Ain. No nicknames on his part either.] You don't gotta apologize. You ain't "makin' it about you". We're both talkin'. We're venting. S'fine, okay?

Like. That...had t'be hard to talk about. So don't downplay it so much.

[But what if (hear him out) what if (anxiety starts revving) he's evil and bad (anxiety gets worse).]

Oh, it was, but I figure if I downplay it and say sorry a lot that it'll be easier. [Ain please seek prozac.] Ms. Harnier said I was an anxious person when I talked to her last, though.

[SHE WAS RIGHT!]

I'm not sure coffee and sugar will help with that any, but... if you're done, do you wanna get dressed and go cheer up at the cafe?

[Ain your anxiety...]

I think you'd prolly benefit from talking t'Mizuki more. It helps me, even if I'm kinda slow goin' at it.

[So, you know! If Nicholas D. Wolfwood is vouching for therapy, you know there's something to it.

But he knows a subject change when he hears one, and he's starting to get a little pruny. He rolls his shoulders a bit, sitting forward and shucking a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes.]

But yeah. I'm ready when you are. I could use a fuckin' coffee.

[Ain already taaaaaaaalks to Mizuki... but good to know. Subject change acknowledged, now Ain is no longer sad*

*he is still sad but he's running off now.

Like he is literally just getting out of the bath there's no modesty now, he's yeeting himself out of the water and if Wolfwood gets flashbanged by ass well he'll have to live with that.]

I don't think they make them like that.

[Hehe teehee... grabs his towel, yeets himself off to the changing room as he dries off.]

[Oh yeah he super is getting flashbanged by ass, good lord. He'll just have to try not to think too hard about the fact he's pretty sure he saw freckles there.

Shaking his head a little, he'll climb out a bit more slowly, grabbing for his towel so he can throw it around himself.]

Slow down, will ya? I don't wanna hafta carry you outta here cause you cracked your head on the floor.

[He did. Don't think about it. Or do, up to you buddy.]

I'm a healer, I won't die.

[And then, dramatically as he's throwing his dirty towel into the laundry basket and getting his clothing on:]

You're saying you wouldn't carry me bridal-style? [where did bridal style come from] Aww...

[Oh no, he will be thinking about it. He will be thinking about it Muchly, actually-

Wolfwood takes the time to scrub himself dry, finishing with his hair that he only manages to get half dry before he too tosses his towel into the laundry basket before going for his clothes. They're not clean, but at least he's not covered in plant soil like Ain was.]

Hey now. I didn't say I wouldn't. Just said I didn't wanna have to cause you broke your head. There's a difference.

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