[Open]

[refire]

Who: Alphen and you!
Which: Open Log 
Where: quest locations + treehouse 
What: monthly log for may
Warnings: butts 


1. Fae Moon Mirror. 

[The disappearance of the moon is concerning enough. Alphen can only hope things will get better in Reverein before they get worse. He's really wishing for the best. Trying to lend a hand to those in need is exactly what needs to be done in a situation like this. He begins searching for shards of the mirror but unfortunately his luck isn't very good. His sense of direction isn't that great. Alphen can be found suspiciously on of one of the treetops if you can manage to get up there.] 

You can see so much from up here, but I still don't see anything that looks like a mirror shard. 

[He can hear some shuffling and moving around the area so he remains alert. Maybe he's not alone after all. ]  

How are things with you?

2. Flower Blossom Owls.

[Alphen is used to being around an owl or two but these ones seem a little different from the ones back in his world. They're covered in pink blossoms. They've been friendly so far so Alphen tries to call out to them a few times but it's not working. After some time he figures that calling out to them normally might just be scaring them off instead. So he attempts to lure the owl out.]

I think these owls are hungry. Would you happen to have any more fruit on you? I used up my last one a while ago. 

[He speaks to anyone who may be nearby with the owls perched up in peoples flower beds and crops. It'd be better if the owls could find a home with the trees and settle there where they wouldn't get hurt.]

They keep coming back for more food and they're really friendly. I might want to give them a name. 

[Do not name the owls.] 

3. At the treehouse.


[Alphen's is getting really tired of the moldy laundry piles back at home. His brows furrow until he sighs into a frown. He thought that burning older clothes that can no longer be used might free up space and give him peace of mind.]

I thought I might try helping with some of the chores. 

[Maybe by incinerating moldy clothing would help, yeah. He doesn't want to burden Kisara too much with all the cleaning.]

Burning stuff is one way to get things done. Are you any good at cleaning?


WILDCARD 

feel free to make your own prompt or bother me at Springbloom

Comments

[refire]

Yeah! That's my friend and we live together. It only seemed fitting to name the owls after people you care for.

[ This isn't how it works, but Alphen seems to believe so. ]

Wait. Do you know Law? It sounds like you've met him already.

[ He smiles when he talks about his friends and opens up immediately to the topic. ]

[starshower]

I have, and it definitely isn't the owl.

[It draws a small giggle out of her though as she looks at the little guy, who's eyeing the grapes in their hands with big, black, eager eyes.]

We took down a noctaere together, and then some bubbles at the festival. I had no idea he had a roommate, though.

[The more you know!]

But why the owl? Is there something I don't know about him?

[refire]

He has an owl friend and his name is Hootle.

[ Alphen sees just how well Law gets along with Rinwell. ]

I met his dad in our world and we've been traveling together. Sounds like you're more than familiar with him. Law can put up a good fight.

[ He's always training and never gives up. Alphen can respect that resolve. ]

[starshower]

[She's learning so much right now.]

Only a little bit. I've seen him fight though; he can throw as good a punch as I can.

[If not better. He was impressive out in that dream desert land when they were taking out that giant scorpion... thing...]

Not well enough that I'd know what he thought about having an owl named after him.

[As if it's been listening this whole time, the little creature hoots at them both, and hops up on Alphen's arm to try and get itself closer to the grapes he's been withholding from it.]

[refire]

Really? Law specializes in combat and I've seen what he can do in a real battle. Maybe you can teach him a few moves too. He's serious about learning.

[They seem to have plenty of fighters around, including himself. Alphen's interest is piqued.]

The owl just reminds me of him somehow.

[Alphen will feed the owl some fruits and stare at it more curiously. Then it Hoos at Tifa.]

[starshower]

I think he could teach me a few things here and there, too.

[But if he's willing or looking to learn, then Tifa wouldn't mind teaching. She has, in the past, considered something more along those lines for something to keep her busy, but she thinks a bar is a good place to land. One-on-one teaching wouldn't be so bad, though.

She takes a look at the owl, regarding it with a smile when it hoots at her, and she offers it a grape.]

I guess I could see it. This one's a little bright-eyed, aren't you?

[Hoot hoot!]

[refire]

Learning goes both ways. I have a lot to learn from everyone else as well. We can support each other.

[Alphen stretches out his arm so that Tifa may take care of the owl.]

Bright-eyed and curious as ever. This owl is growing attached to you. You should probably hold him.

[Please take the owl, Tifa. ]

[starshower]

Oh—

[She has no choice but to extend her arm when the owl practically leaps at her, searching for something to latch onto as it eyes the bag of grapes with awe.]

I think he's more interested in the grapes...!

[As the owl starts to peck at them, before it's even finished the one it had been eating, the brat!]

So, we're calling this one Law, then?

[refire]

Must be a hungry one then.

[ He smiles a little feeling slightly amused all the same. ]

Yeah, that should be his name. I promised that I'd take care of our Law when I found him back home. I just want him to know he's appreciated and his friends care for him too.

[ Why does Alphen make it sound like he picked up a stray child? That's exactly what happened. ]

We all have to be there for each other, don't you think?

[starshower]

[That's sweet. Tifa has no idea what Alphen and Law's relationship is like, but—]

Law's lucky to have friends like you here with him.

[There is that smallest pang of jealousy in her heart, that ache that makes her miss her own friends from back home, but it's quickly overshadowed by something warm at his question.]

I agree... except this one's not so lucky. [Then, with a playfully stern smile, she turns to the owl.] Finish the food you have first before taking another, Law!

[ .............. Hm. ]

That felt a little weird.

[refire]

Is it really that weird? Maybe it is. I just want to be supportive in what ways I can be. That's what it means to be a friend.

[It's surprising to see just how much the owl has grown attached to Tifa. The owl hoots again curiously and then stares at Alphen intensely. FEED ME.]

How good are you with pets? I didn't know you were so good with animals.

[starshower]

Scolding an owl named Law? A little.

[Her words fall into laughter though, when the little owl pecks at the grapes again before turning to Alphen in search of more food. This owl's a ravenous one!]

I didn't think I was either, but this isn't the first time I've had to deal with an unruly owl.

[Although she can hardly call this one unruly. Cute, definitely.]

When you take care of twelve dogs, you learn some things, I guess.

[refire]

You have twelve dogs? That's a lot of work. Taking care of an owl isn't any easier but we do what we can to get by. I can't imagine you getting any rest when you have that much to manage.

[He looks at all the owls again and then back at Tifa.]

The act of giving a name is important too. I had forgotten my own name once before.

[starshower]

[Well, she has a certain someone who's amazing with the dogs to help with that.

But just as she's about to say as much, he says something else that grabs Tifa's attention, and the owl's as well, as if he's part of the conversation, and even gives a little "hoot hoot" in inquiry (or so Tifa likes to imagine). It's endearing.]

You have? How come?

[Unless it's personal, in which case, she'll understand if he doesn't want to share.]

[refire]

I was asleep for so long that when I woke up I had no memories. It took a while before I could recall my name again.

This place has a strange way with memories too. Have you experienced anything off like that recently?

[Maybe he's not the only one who's dealing with memory problems. The owl continues to poke around for food until it finally finds another fruit! ]

[starshower]

[You know what...

Tifa's just going to pull out an entire bundle of grapes from the bag and set it down on whatever surface she can find and gives them a pat to beckon the owl over. It's cute how little Law's eyes go wide when he sees them, and he waddles on over to start pecking at another grape. And then another, before he's finished the first, and she can only sigh.

Children...

His question gives her pause, though, and Tifa gives a slow nod, her brow knitting with worry as she considers his words. Asleep for so long he had no memories...?]

Yeah. Quite a bit recently. Woke up one morning after a really long dream and... I had memories I didn't have before. Of another place. It was pretty jarring at the time.

[refire]

[ Alphen smiles when the baby owls continue to eat the fruits. They seem so happy. He wonders if he can be just as happy like that with a new family sometime. ]

Memories from another place? Were you hurt anywhere after having your long dream?

I don't know what kind of danger you might have been in, but I can understand if you were feeling disoriented about the whole thing.

[starshower]

No, not at all.

[Tifa shakes her head, and grabs a pair of grapes, one for herself and one to offer to Alphen, to which the owl responds with an angry hoot! Hey! Those are his fruits!!!]

It was just like any other dream, except more vivid. They were good memories, though. Ones that felt like I was missing for a really long time. Nothing dangerous. Just... happy things.

[refire]

Just happy things?

[ He repeats her words back to her with a curious tone folding his arms back. Alphen takes the grapes and holds it for safe keeping. No more for the owl. Too bad. ]

I'm just glad you weren't too hurt from all that. Stranger things can happen down here for all we know. I suppose it's okay as long as we can find a way to live in the dream.

You have friends here too, right?

[starshower]

[Tifa's eyes widen a fraction at his question, but they quickly soften with melancholy.]

I've got plenty of friends here, yeah.

[The sort that she's come to know over her time here, but is that what he'd meant? Either way...]

None from home, if that's what you're asking.

[refire]

Yeah, I was wondering more about your home. I know I have to go back someday.

[ He feels fortunate to have his friends here but Tifa ended up here without the company her friends from home. He wonders if it's hard. ]

There's still people counting on us back there too.

[starshower]

[There's a clear twinge of conflicted sadness that flickers across Tifa's eyes. On one hand, she knows that there are still so many things she needs to do back home—people who depend on her, like he said, but on the other... there are so many people here who do, too. People who she's come to care about just as much as those waiting for her back on Gaia.

Including this little owl.]

Maybe someday. A girl can dream, right? But... even without them around to cause trouble, there's plenty to keep me busy in the meantime. Like naming owls.

[She looks to Law, the Owl, and offers a finger to him, and he bumps his beak against it with a hoot hoot!]

Speaking of, what're you planning to do with them?

[refire]

It's important to have dreams. Without dreams and hopes for the future...where would we be? I know we'll be fine and make it into a better tomorrow.

[It's fine for Tifa to dream. He nods in approval. That sounds like it would suit her too. ]

I was thinking of taking care of them. There isn't much I can do other than give them a roof over their heads and feed, but it's better than leaving them in danger. I don't want them to be in any more pain. Would it be fine to watch over them?

[They're just owls but Alphen respects life all the same. ]

[starshower]

[Tifa gives a small, warm nod.]

I think it'd be just fine.

[Her eyes do wander up to the canopies in the trees though, and to the skies above.]

Although... it might be better to build a proper place for them to live rather than keep them cooped up inside. They aren't meant to be kept under a roof, but... I get what you mean.

[Wanting to keep them happy, healthy, and safe, but she thinks they would be happiest with the option to fly free if they wanted with a safe place to go to rest.]

[refire]

Yeah, they have wings so that they can fly freely. It might help to build a proper shelter for them. A place they can call home and fly into the open skies whenever they need to.

[ an owl home sounds good. ]

You know I started fighting so that the people back in my home would be free from oppression. There's too many people who would be more than willing to abuse power for the sake of it. I can't let that happen. I also won't let these owls suffer needlessly because it goes against what I believe in.