Himmel March Catch-All

[heroicstandard]

Who: Himmel and.... you?
When: Throughout early to mid Budding
Where: Around Rosavelle
What: Casually helping people, being a little introspective sometimes
Warnings: N/A

OOC: Any of Himmel's TDM posts can be considered canon if you like. I'm assuming at least a couple of them are!


[ A: Bloom Bond Reflection ] (Greenhouse, first couple days of March, or even late February)

[ People heading into the Everbloom's greenhouse around the changing of the months will find there a man with hair the color of the sky, sword at his side. He's knelt down in front of a flower - a hydrangea, with petals the colors of the man's hair. Or, at least it seems as if it will be that way, as none of the flowers have quite sprouted yet, but instead have buds growing, almost but not quite ready yet to face the world. ]

I can only assume these flowers cannot measure the bonds I have back home, or else this would be blooming beautifully. I'll have to work hard to forge bonds just as strong here. [ Then he turns, noticing somebody else nearby. ] Excuse me. Have you been here long? I have a few questions.


[ B: Sweetheart Sharing ] (The Amber Knot, after they begin selling their Sweetheart Loaves)

[ Himmel had heard that the new sweetbread being sold at the local bakery, the Amber Knot, was simply divine, and he had to investigate this claim for himself. However, it seemed that it was usually sold in pairs - and for some reason, the person at the counter had simply refused to accept Himmel didn't have anybody special.

And that is how he found himself standing outside, leaning against a lamppost next to a bench, holding not one but two Sweetheart Loaves. The next person to wander by looking even a little hungry will have a hand held out to them, offering one of the loaves. ] It looks like I've found myself with two of these. Would you mind taking this off my hands? You'd be doing me a favor.

[ His smile is charming and disarming - and might be mistaken for flirtatious, if the other person is aware that offering baked goods from this bakery is often considered a mild form of flirting. Unfortunately, nobody's told Himmel that yet. ]


[ C: Sword Training Daycare ] (Little Buds Atelier, throughout the month)

[ Himmel can, at various points throughout the month, be found helping out at the Atelier, a glorified daycare center that, intriguingly, seems to be run by professionals of various sorts. Himmel finds himself with a fairly important job there, though - draining the energy of the rambunctious and physically-inclined.

During the early afternoon, he can be found play-fighting with the smallest children, letting them tire themselves out with padded and soft toy weapons. In the later afternoon, he'll actually be doing some basic sword instruction with the older children as a sort of after-school activity for them, wooden swords being used for training.

He'll pause when he notices somebody watching their outdoor practice and/or play sessions. ] Here to help? Or were you hoping for a few pointers yourself? You're a bit older than the rest here. [ He smiles good-naturedly, his joke obvious and not meant as a rib. ]


[ D: Rehearsal Confession Guidance ] (Bloomlight Theater, early-mid March)

[ Himmel followed the voices into the theater, drawn by the heartfelt tones and urgent air. He isn't sure what he expected, but he did find himself at least a little intrigued here. So many confessions, obviously being practiced. They were all very direct, for his own tastes, but they came from the heart, and that was most important.

Most important, but not wholly. He could certainly see why many of the people here were practicing. They had room for improvement... and Himmel is exactly the kind of person who finds himself helping, even in odd tasks such as this. ]

Excuse me, could you repeat that last line once more? But this time - [ He offers advice to somebody who caught his eye, whether that's a visitor like himself, or whether a visitor might be watching him. ]


[ E: Flower Crown Crafting ] (Primavain craft fair, March 16-19)

[ At the Primavain, the entire plaza is bustling and working. Handmade jewelry, accessories, and more are all being made, displayed, and sold in equal measures. Along with the more usual variety of crafts, though, are the flower crowns - florists putting their all into weaving together beautiful flowers into wearable, if temporary, hairpieces.

And one of the people making those flower crowns is Himmel. The blue-haired man takes his time choosing the best flowers, but once they're chosen, he weaves them together deftly, obviously experienced in this. ]

I used to do this with my companions. A flower crown can brighten anyone's day - no matter how much they might not seem the type for it. [ A grin plays on his lips thinking of his friends with similar crowns. ] Ah, but my apologies. Were you here for one?


[ F: Wild Card ] (Anywhere, early-mid March)

[ Have your own idea? Go for it! Himmel can be found wandering Rosavelle - exploring, chatting with people, helping out whenever he's asked. ]

Comments

B

[nightwild]

[You idiot. You fool. You absolute rube.

You may be offering the food to Yayoi, but as soon as you blink, it's simply gone. Devoured. She swiped it and seems to have just swallowed it. Did she even chew? Did she have to unhinge her entire jaw like a snake to eat it? How did she do it?

It doesn't matter. The important thing is that there is no longer a loaf there.]

Thanks for the food.

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel has to let out a little laugh there. ]

That was quick. I hope you at least tasted it. [ His expression reads amused rather than reprimanding, if the laugh wasn't enough of a tip-off. ]

[nightwild]

Of course I did. It tasted like bread.

[... so, maybe she didn't.]

[heroicstandard]

I've been told it's a type of sweetbread baked only for a short time every year. Supposedly it’s so delicious that business triples while it’s being sold. Everyone in town insists on getting a loaf.

[ Himmel might be embellishing just a tad. Not trying to make Yayoi feel bad, but simply trying to capture the essence of what makes this bread special. ]

C: Sword Training Daycare;

[hjadningavig]

[ It's not a place Dainsleif manages to involve himself much in all that often. But, it is certainly one of note, because he does on a blue moon show up to lend a hand, as sword-play instruction harkens back certain memories. And he used to like to teach others how to properly swing a blade, regardless of whatever his personal status happened to be at the time. ]

...I am here to lend some of my own expertise. Although, I would say for the time being you seem to have a majority of it covered.

[ And so, he believes himself landing a hand might be a bit much. ]

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel offers the other man a smile. ] I’d be glad for the help. Perhaps you could take over for a little while? The other volunteers have their hands full, and I could use the time to prepare some snacks for the students.

[ Is that true? Technically. Himmel might just be looking to find a way to make this work, however, and has no qualms about doing another type of work for a little while. ]

[hjadningavig]

[ Dainsleif gives a little nod, serious all the while. But, despite his demeanor, he is in actuality glad to be able to do something. ]

...I don't mind taking over for a short time.

It is an indisputable fact that food will be needed for those practicing, even if light. [ A small pause. ] That said, this is the first I have managed to see you around. I presume that you have either just arrived, or we have simply yet to have crossed paths by happenstance.

[ Dainsleif looks at the students momentarily, already looking for what to correct. Forms are likely not to have been engraved in stone at this point in time, so there is much he can start with amending from there alone. ]

C

[red_oni]

Hm?

[Leave it to Dante to find a bad place to post up for a snack.

He'd been lost in thought, parked on a bench at the edge of the field with a sundae in hand, lazily picking at it. He had to hide, you see, because his loving girlfriend would almost surely get upset if he spoiled his appetite with sweets before he got back to her place.

Then, one of the friendliest looking guys in the world waved him down when all the older kids cleared out to put away their swords.]

....Me? [He feigned ignorance, glancing around as if there'd be a second guy there--one who didn't look suspicious in drab, wine-red attire.]

[heroicstandard]

[ The confusion in the man's tone is enough to tip Himmel off that he'd misread the man's intent. ] Ah, my mistake then. I thought you might have some advice to offer the students. I'm only one instructor, after all, and you seem capable.

[ He laughs lightly, letting the misunderstanding pass without fuss. ] You're welcome to stay, in any case, though we're about done for the day.

[ His gaze flicks briefly to the sundae in Dante's hand. ] Though I suspect you have more important things to attend to.

[red_oni]

Mmmm. [Another noise, in lieu of a proper conversation--at first, anyway. Turning his spoon up, he left it wedged in half-melted ice cream and offered the kind-looking fellow a curious appraisal.

Dante liked to play dumb. It kept everyone off their guard, from thugs to mafioso to demons and devils. He'd canted his neck one way, almost flippantly, and offered a shrug with a hunched shoulder.]

Couldn't say it's all that important to anybody but me... but, I didn't think anybody'd mind. Way quieter here, y'know? Everyone's just so... focused...

[He grinned rakishly.] Really lets you think!

A

[hallucinogem]

[well, there hasn't been much else to do except try to get acclimated. emerald's got a tulip bed to look after now, apparently, not that she knows the first thing about raising flowers. what, do they expect her to have rivers in the desert or something? none of her bulbs have blossomed yet, but the leaves on a couple have begun to split ever so slightly, and she decides that that's good enough for now as she begins to wander the greenhouse looking for others.]

[she overhears some guy standing here muttering about how good his relationships are back home and decides to get closer, if only to see what his garden looks like and hear what he's saying a little better. and when he asks her what's up—oh, uh. she tries not to look too surprised by actually being noticed.]

I only just got here, so I'm not totally sure what it all means yet either. But I can give it a shot if you want.

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel smiles a little. ] Ah. Then it seems we have that in common.

[ He turns, slightly, pointing his body towards his hydrangea while still keeping tilted towards his new friend. ] I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of this. It's all very new. The flowers represent the bonds we make here, I've gathered...

[ He trails off slightly, leaving the last part unspoken - that it still leaves quite a few questions unanswered. But he offers a smile anyways. ] If you're still figuring things out as well, perhaps we can compare notes?

[hallucinogem]

[comparing notes. like she's back in school. it's almost funny—and she likes the idea enough that she might as well go along with it. she hooks her thumb in her pocket and cocks her hip casually.]

I haven't really been taking notes, but yeah, sure. My garden's over there [she jerks her head in the direction she'd come from] and I still don't have anything blooming yet, really. There's a couple that look close, like yours do, but it'll probably be a while until we get anything like... I don't know, whoever that one belongs to.

[she gestures over at some random hydrangea garden that looks like it's doing much better than either of theirs.]

Not that I've ever done anything with flowers before, even just normal ones. I was under the impression we had to water them to get them to grow.

D; we can handwave their short TDM interaction or start from scratch, whatever you'd like

[she_wears_short_skirts]

[Cheria has been a somewhat regular visitor to the theater since she arrived in Rosavelle, so she's seen multiple confession rehearsals almost from the get-go. Undoubtedly more than a few had been...a little embarrassing to watch. But that's why they're here, right? To practice and improve for the real thing.

Initially more of an observer (first out of curiosity, and then for...No Real Reason, really, not like she has anyone she'd like to confess to. Obviously), the warm support from audience members is infectious, and this sappy stuff is well within her wheelhouse anyway, so she's begun to pitch in with her own opinions here and there. (Which is the only reason she's filing away other people's suggestions for later reference. Yup.)

When Himmel offers his feedback to the latest confessioner to take the stage, Cheria piggybacks on it:]

Yes, I think maybe you should leave out the part about the blueberries...

[Although it's certainly a unique detail she hasn't heard in any other confession up to this point.]

handwave is fine

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel nods thoughtfully, then gestures slightly to Cheria with his next statement, though still addressing this poor confessor-to-be. ] I do think she's right. What matters here are the feelings you're trying to convey.

If the story about blueberries distracts from it, it's best to leave it out.

[ Then, slightly more quietly, to Cheria more than the person practicing- ] Though it certainly would make for a unique confession.

[she_wears_short_skirts]

It certainly would. ...But I'm not sure that the other person would find it romantic.

[Cheria would have been a little confused, herself. Anyway, this person's confession — like many others — is packed with a lot of other flowery language and particular details; some editing and condensing is required regardless.]

C

[roundofavalon]

Huh? Me?

[ Her? Help in sword practice, let alone get some pointers? It's a ridiculous suggestion for... well, a few reasons, but also it might not be the worst idea? ]

Ah, no, probably not... I'm good at making swords, but using one is less my thing.

[ ... ]

Also, hey! I'm only sixteen, you know!

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel looks back to the class of older kids - they're the ones old enough to train a little seriously, but also not yet old enough to be helping their parents. So around 10-12. Then he looks back to Castoria. ] I was about that age when I started my journey, actually. And it sounds as if you've developed your own skills, making swords is no small feat.

But apologies. If you're not here to help with the children, I've no intention of pushing.

[roundofavalon]

You started a journey when you were 16?

[ She resists the urge to go "same here!" If only because she just pointed out that she's still 16. It'd be weird, then, to bring up that she's finished her pilgrimage... like, whoa, what a short journey! Ahaha... ]

Yep... I'm pretty good with a staff and magecra—um, I mean, bloomcraft... [ She almost forgot that they need to pretend to be from this world...! Even though she's, like, got no bloomcraft knowledge yet! Though she can at least play off her magecraft as bloomcraft in a pinch. ] I guess I was a little interested to check out what was going on here, but I probably shouldn't!

A (wanna make the test drive canon?)

[steel_over_blood]

[ Bulat's nearby, tending to his garden patch, flush with a wide assortment of healthy and colorful flowers. While he seems like he's completely absorbed in his task, he's very much aware that he's not alone, and he snaps his eyes over to Himmel without so much as a twitch of surprise. ]

Since the end of Wilting - or autumn, you might call it. Ask me anything, handsome!

(I absolutely wanna make the test drive canon!)

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel takes only the slightest moment to bask in the mention of his good looks - he may be a hero, but his vanity is real - before pivoting. ]

I suppose the most basic question is this. I've been told our plots represent our bonds, but I'm not sure I understand how that works yet.

How do the flowers show it?

[steel_over_blood]

[ Bulat understands completely. Paying and receiving compliments are both vital qualities of handsome behavior. He waves him over. ]

Take a look at these tulips, for one. This white one's been here for a while, and it's bright and healthy, but barely open. That's because I see Fujino regularly, I wish her well, and I don't know much about her. She's a nice, ordinary girl from a strange land, that's about it.

The pink one - it's open further. Even though I've known Simran for less time, she's nosier. She's talked to me about some personal matters and vice versa.

E

[lovelikeyou]

Oh, don't worry! I'll just make my own!

[ Rose has been gathering up flowers for it. To look at her bundle, there's no apparent theme; all sorts of colors and blooms are represented. She just went for anything she thought was pretty, which was a lot! ]

I learned how to do this from some humans ages ago. I'd never even thought about it before!

[ She did have access to flowers before that, after all. Just...maybe not in a way that really mattered. ]

[heroicstandard]

[ Himmel takes a look at her wide variety of flowers, all the different shapes and colors, and then takes a moment to consider how he might be able to help. ]

You certainly found quite a variety. I'm sure it will make a crown fit for royalty.

How were you intending to arrange them? [ Just the gentlest nudge to let her consider the aesthetics on it, if she already hadn't. ]

[lovelikeyou]

Maybe like a rainbow?

[ She's not super worried about it! There's enough here for a decent gradient, though! ]