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Antoinettes Wilds Foraging Expedition 250228
Antoinette's Wild's Foraging Expedition starts as a nighttime adventure in the forest that transitions into a lively, engaging experience at the Moonguard Inn. Antoinette, the expedition leader, successfully navigates the group through the woods, focusing first on the foraging aspect and later shifting towards community building at the inn. Key moments include Malcolm offering transportation via his raptor, Lark's enthusiastic anticipation of roast raptor, and various individual interactions that add depth to the characters' relationships. Notably, Evan's playful vanity, Lilian's overwhelmed departure, and the surprise of magic with Siofra's transformation mark the expedition's eclectic nature. As the night wears on, Juniper suggests postponing further commune exploration to another day, leading to a collective decision to enjoy the comforts of the Moonguard Inn instead.
The Moonguard Inn becomes a central hub for conversation, bonding, and the sharing of knowledge among participants. Discussions about the commune turn into wider conversations about the unique aspects of their world, such as the peculiarities of different families within Haven and the supernatural qualities that inhabit it. Malcolm, as a consistent source of information and guidance, elaborates on the town's historical and supernatural context, while sharing personal insights and warnings about the local dynamics. A spontaneous decision to enjoy a late-night dip in a nearby stream offers a moment of relaxation and further camaraderie among the group. This sequence allows for moments of vulnerability and humor, particularly highlighted by Lark's playful teasing and the group's collective musings on vampire and werewolf lore. The expedition wraps up with individuals expressing their departure intentions, reflecting on the enjoyable yet peculiar evening they shared, and contemplating the complexities of their shared and individual experiences within the mystical and mundane facets of their lives.
(Antoinette's Wild's Foraging Expedition)
[Thu Feb 27 2025]
In The Forest
It is night, about 78F(25C) degrees, and there are a few thin white clouds in the sky. There is a waxing crescent moon.
Antoinette nods in understanding to Juniper, whispering back.
"We're going to get an overview of the Commune from Juniper and then we'll head back toward the Moongaurd in for a brief visit before you all get to go home." Antoinette smiles to the group, starting to move.
Benjamin protects his little dirty plant while dragging his iron slab along with him, tearing up the forest ground.
"Raptor's on me when we head back," Malcolm offers as he follows along.
Lark fist pumps. "Fuck yes!!! roast raptor!!"
As the group is led back and away from the group, Evan gazes at Lark and smiles, snorting a bit of a laugh.
"Hair's lookin' fly today," Malcolm comments idly aside to Evan as they go. A grin aside toward Lark at her words.
Siofra's eyes flick to Evan's hair, closing her white eye to squint.
Lilian clings to Benjamin and Kaven's arms as she moves about, seeming a bit out of it. "Hey Toni... I might head off.. this is getting a bit overwhelming for me."
Evan slips something from his pocket, a little switchblade and begins to idly fix his hair.
Antoinette stops walking finally because lag. Looking to Lilian. "Of course." and Toni's player needs a second to reorient herself apparently
Lilian says "Which way is the gate?"
Siofra proceeds to undress and step into a suit of skin, twin glowing spines puncturing the flesh and suturing it and warping it around her.
"I think we're back in the real world," Carla mentions and wraps her arms around herself for warmth.
"Maybe, in respect for everyone's time and love of roast raptor, we can just do a part two one day in regards to the commune," Juniper suggests with a smile to Antoinette. "You can relax at the Moonguard as a tidy end to the evening."
Lilian leans over to give Benjamin a soft kiss, "Let me know to come get you after though I don't want you walking around in the dark."
Evan eventually, Evan tucks his comb away - slipping it back into his pocket.
Antoinette looks like she was about to suggest the exact same thing as Juniper and gives her a grin. "I'd love that, yes. I'm glad we could do this and I hope you have a wonderful night."
Malcolm figures to the lot, gun resting on his shoulder and a nod given to Juniper and Antoinette, "I second that; no pressure on folks."
Siofra claps happily as Evan retrieves and stows his comb.
Lilian waggles her fingers. "Thanks Toni and June."
William hums, thinking and tilting his head for a moment
Benjamin is leaning on his shield holding a flowering bush looking a bit winded, his breath fogging up the air.
"No pressure at all, and I think having a series of field research classes is a very smart idea," Juniper opines. "Toni's been wonderful to spear head it. So my thanks."
Carla squints uncertainly at Siofra and steps closer to Antoinette and Juniper, keeping quiet.
"Anyone who wants to depart now may do so after giving me their sample. Anyone who wants to come to the Moonguard Inn for a bit is welcome to follow me back in." Antoinette offers, though she does pause to look to Carla, "How are you feeling? I think you'll like the Inn. But I know I'm you're ride so if you do want to bow out I can bring you back to campus."
"I'm okay, just cold," Carla assures Antoinette and gives her a fleeting smile. "I don't need to go back yet. I kinda wanna see the inn."
Juniper shakes her head to William. "I'll be turning in for the evening," she announces with a smile. "But I welcome any questions or private intellectual conversation requests." She gesture to William with an appreciative nod. "Bill entertains me with them often."
"Likewise," Malcolm chimes in turn of what Juniper has to say, nodding toward Antoinette. "I got a place folks can post up in the Wilds that students're welcome at, too, and others elsewhere, but I ain't had the time to hold excursions proper. I know midterms're approaching, and I'm gonna send out an email about extra credit and one-on-ones soon."
Lark hands in her sample to Antoinette. "Thanks so much!"
"So thanks for leadin'," Malcolm informs Antoinette. Doesn't seem like he's leaving, though, lingering nearby.
Evan hands his lovely bag of dirt and vines to Antoinette. "Here!" he calls, handing it off.
Amused, Malcolm dips another small nod Siofra's way as he goes.
"Oh," Malcolm realizes, fishing in his bag, and procuring a divination tool that he holds out to Lark.
Evan slips off his gloves, and hands them to Antoinette. "Here are the gloves, as well."
"Thank you, once again," Juniper states loudly for the group. "Those who don't have my contact could get it from Toni, or send me an email through the school, of course."
Malcolm stares at Lark a moment. "... your ball...?"
Antoinette collects up the samples and smiles. "Perfect. Alright. Let's go get some roasted raptor and the like and warm back up." Her smile broadens as she tells Juniper, "Grateful for your help. I look forward to the next time." She looks to William, "And thank you as well."
Malcolm waggles a wave to someone pleasantly, then shoots a grin to Lark. "'course."
Antoinette reminds anyone too who isn't going to come back in to stop following her just in case!
Evan blinks as he looks between Lark and Malcolm. "Why does she have a ball?" It's not the proper question, but it's the first one that came to mind.
Evan blinks at it, and reads it. "Is it.." he says, busting out into a laugh.
Malcolm leans over to peep the response and snerks at the toy. "Priceless."
"How far out does one have to go into the Wilds to see one of those treants Toni mentioned? I don't think I've seen any myself" William poses to the comment about questions "Unless they are the same wooden people from the Other..." The question seems to be directed towards Antoinette before saying "I am likely going to get going soon enough as well, but if you're interested in like, vegetation, how come you thought of the Wilds before the Other?"
"All of them have unique flora and fauna, and all of 'em are necessary," Malcolm answers for William, his shoulders bouncing. "Other's comin'."
"Because I hadn't been to the Other when I scheduled it." Antoinette laughs to William. "But now the next one will be at the Other likely."
"Toni what am I supposed to do with this sample? I think I got carried away." Benjamin says still gloved up and holding this bush, which now seems regretable.
"I mean, I know... It's just when I think of the Other I think lots of trees and plants... When I think of the Wilds, probably an animal the size of an entire room chasing me" William tells Malcolm with a tiny bit of a shrug, before adding back to Antoinette "And uh, do you know about the treants? I will ask Juniper otherwise, just wanted to make sure, I write about the fauna of these other worlds"
"Hedge witchery," Malcolm claims to Benjamin, terribly helpfully.
Evan thinks it over, "Am I going to go bald?" he say to the ball, shaking it.
Evan frowns at the ball. "Oi!"
Siofra cackles.
"The ball's got a mind of its own," Malcolm seriously informs Evan askance, with a nod to William at his words. "I mean, you ain't wrong. Treants're... way out there, but I don't know how far. Tend to be, at least."
"Oughta have these conversations where we ain't gonna develop frostbite," Malcolm posits.
Antoinette looks apologetically to William, "Not specifically, but I imagine much farther out? Juniper lent me a book she had and it spoke of the treants but not much seems to be known about them. I can send you my notes from the section over text later? It might help you." She smiles to Benjamin then, "Just give it to me, Ben. I'll handle it. Thank you!"
"Yeah," Carla says and nods emphatically to Malcolm.
Antoinette nods in agreement, moving to step inside the gate at least
Benjamin moves over to Antoinette to hand off the specimen with probably far more care than the weed deserves. "Oh wait pop me back through the gate real quick."
Siofra says "I'll catch ya all later. I've got a thing."
Siofra hurries off nervously.
Benjamin additionally adds a sticker of success for Antoinette
Benjamin says "Oh spares?"
"Welcome," Malcolm muses to Benjamin. "Toss it back whenever you get your own. No rush."
Antoinette gives Benjamin an extra compass and accepts the sticker. "All yours now. Unless you want to give it back after you come back through."
"What happens if you drive a car through the gate?" Carla asks, looking around pensively. "I wonder if anyone's tried that."
"It'll turn into your horse, if you got one," Malcolm informs Carla askance. "Magic's fucky like that."
"That's messed up," Carla remarks.
Antoinette snaps her fingers. "I need to try and get a horse this weekend." She grins to Lark, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. And that you could come. Evan too."
Lark beams and turns to Carla. "Was this your first time in the Wilds?"
"Yeah, I gotta wonder how it feels for Lucky. If he just gets teleported or whatever," Malcolm figures back to Carla, with a nod to Lark and Evan too. "Raptor? Inn?"
"Totally," Carla assures Lark.
Lark grins at Carla.
"You got it," Malcolm informs Antoinette, giving a salute with his billy club's tip. "Anything happens, you know how to get me."
Evan nods at Malcolm, "Yeah, I'll tag along! I don't mind."
With that, Malcolm sets off, shotgun in hand. "Hands and feet inside the ride at all times, kids."
Evan frowns at Carla. "Didn't we just meet today?"
"Pleasure, Carla, Deputy Malcolm Welden," Malcolm introduces askance and casually, heading toward the bar.
Lark tries to placate Evan with a kiss on the cheek.
Antoinette wanders in a while later, putting some things away. "Ben headed off. I realized." She laughed.
"Raptor! Whole raptor, just to share. Extra crispy," Malcolm chatters at a scarred brute serves drinks while fiercely-flirty femmes work the floor.
Evan smiles as Lark plants that kiss to his cheek. "Okay, we're all good," he exclaims.
Antoinette sheds her hoodie finally now too as she drops down into a chair near Malcolm and rakes a hand through her hair. She gives Carla a smile. "So what do you think about the Wilds over all?"
Malcolm helps to hoist the hefty haul of roast raptor and deposit it on the nearest table. "Dig in," he offers the lot, with a shine of a smile back toward Antoinette.
"This place is so cool," Carla remarks, looking around nosily on her way to the bar. "Do you guys think they'll invent electricity some day or are they always gonna be prehistoric?"
Lark literally digs in for the raptor. Looking almost... raptor like in movement.
"Some of the places out here got electricity," Malcolm informs Carla as he settles in comfortably, shotgun resting on the floor between his legs. "My place does, got generators runnin', but this place don't. Some folk bring the amenities of home with 'em, and some, y'know, when in Rome."
Carla carves a piece of meat from the carcass, handling the knife a little awkwardly, and tells Malcolm, "If there weren't boar-men and macro-spiders and stuff, I'd go on vacation here."
Lark chews delightedly and tells Carla. "You gotta try this!!"
Antoinette reaches for some raptor herself, nodding to Malcolm's words. "There's castles even. Not -here- exactly, but I've heard of them. I don't know if they have electricity but. It would be interesting to see." She hums. "Maybe there's a place that's more...medieval town like and less, rural surrounded by dangerous forest." She chuckles.
Evan looks at the raptor in front of him, and then pauses - he's gotta deal with one of the fiercely-flirty femmes. "No," he whispers quietly, in a hushed tone. "I don't want a drink." There's a look from him towards Lark, and then his attention is back on the femme who's stopped by. "Any of you want drinks?" he chimes in with, "She's taking our orders."
"Holy crap, you're right. That's amazing," Carla informs Lark and continues gnawing on her raptor flank. "Do they have laws here? Because I'm not twenty-one."
"I don't see any cops around who're gonna give a shit if you do," Malcolm muses toward Carla, despite the fact that he's literally dressed head-to-toe in cop uniform, even labeled 'police' on his vest. "Have a nip, just don't be a complete shitheel or make me have to carry you back."
"When in Rome," Evan tells Carla with a shrug. "Fuck it."
"Cider," Malcolm utters toward the flirty wildling gal, with a glance askance toward Evan. "He's definitely into it."
"Just some ale or mead or whatever they drink here. I doubt they have tequila shooters," Carla remarks with a jovial grin and asks Antoinette, "Do you think that root is special? You should probably study it."
Antoinette snickers at something, ordering a spiced wine for herself and another for Carla. "I think it could be something! I'll be happy to study it and let you know what I might find out."
Evan blinks at Malcolm and then Antoinette and he lets out a little exhaled breath, shaking his head a moment and just snorting a laugh under his breath.
"This has gotta be the only place in the world where you can get a manicure at three in the morning, roast brontosaurus, or a lapdance at the Dive from someone who drives a Bughatti," Carla says and takes a swig of her barbarian wine. "But you can't get car insurance because everyone crashes every other day."
Lark thinks a moment. "Not to tempt fate but I've never crashed. Yet.'"
Antoinette idly asides, "One of these days I'm going to try the ribs or the boar - the mushroom stew is pretty good though." She eats a little more raptor, chuckling at Carla's observation. "If people just drove slower or didn't drive at all when the mist was higher than ankle deep it wouldn't be so bad."
"That's because I drive you everywhere," Evan tells Lark easily, around bites of raptor. "And then you just randomly yell at me, and almost make me crash."
Lark nods at Antoinette, in agreement on both counts. She doesn't contradict Evan and just reaches for more raptor.
"Who else? Unless there's a bait-and-switch, and then it's probably Fae. Difference 'tween a bargain and a pact is about how whimsical it is when it fucks you over," Malcolm reckons back to Lark.
Malcolm is very pragmatic on these subjects, clearly. Or paranoid.
"Well, it's kinda hard to justify walking home in this town, too," Carla mentions to Antoinette and wipes her mouth with the side of her hand. She adds to Malcolm, "I dunno if I should really go swimming. I'm probably the only one who brought a swimsuit anyway."
"Usually take a dip in the stream fully clothed, to wash all the blood off," Malcolm informs Carla aside, his hand flopping gently. "But then, ain't no pressure. Lord knows, though, I'd rather soak out here than in a tub back in frigid-ass Massachusetts."
"Hot tubs, not-so-hidden kink dungeons, and buried church rectories that definitely ain't haunted," Malcolm informs Lark. A snerk after.
"What made you decide to pack a swimsuit?" Evan asks of Carla. "I mean, to be fair, I barely even knew there was some teachable moment going on, I just woke up and texted Lark," he says, "And she said she was here, so.. maybe there was something about going swimming."
agrees with Carla, "Honestly, yeah. I keep telling Ben he needs to get a car." Antoinette mused. "I brought one! Only because you mentioning a suit reminded me there was even a bit of swimming to be had." She admits with a soft laugh. "I just said it was going to be warmer here so to keep that in mind when dressing."
Malcolm weighs two options visibly between his hands, eyes on Lark. "... drop a grand on a hot tub... walk eight feet through a portal to a place where it's balmy and delightful, and soak in the stream."
Malcolm lowers his first hand and shrugs.
"This place just sounded summery, so I figured," Carla says and shrugs noncommittally at Evan. "You did?" she asks Antoinette afterwards. "I'll go swimming if you wanna."
"You should see our hottub," Evan tells Malcolm now. "Just rent a place with one in your house already, it's really that easy."
"I've seen it," Malcolm informs Evan, not at all ominously.
Back to Lark, Malcolm ticks off on his fingers, "Cop, teacher, proverbial firefighter, babysitter, sufferer through Dawson's Creek headass drama..." The guy's head bobs, and he reaches for his badge to lift. "I do a lot of patrollin'. Your guys' locks are pretty solid."
Evan pinches the bridge of his nose at that comment from Malcolm.
Malcolm adds on, toward Carla and Antoinette, "I could wash up, too."
Lark says "Hell I could dip if we all are."
Antoinette feigns a pout, "I haven't seen it." She declares dramatically and then laughs then glances to the time. "I-" She starts and then grimaces at the belches, looking over to the offending table with wide eyes. She nods again though. "Yeah, I think a quick dip sounds like it could be fun."
Evan blinks at Antoinette, "Really?" he tells her, "You're wel-" he stops, and nods at Lark. "Yeah, that."
Malcolm nods seriously over toward Lark, informing Evan, "I couldn't knock 'em, and that's sayin' somethin'." The altercation starting to break out a bit has him start to rise as well, though not to disperse or bother with them. "Now might be a good time."
Antoinette seems to agree with it being time to move pool/stream-side!
Lark geabs a bite for the road!
No to-go boxes, Malcolm just hefts the whole-ass plank with himself, remaining raptor and all. He's a bit stronger than one might think. Doesn't bother him.
"Er, is there like a changing room?" Carla asks Antoinette and puts her goblet down. "And there better not be crocodiles or something!"
Malcolm figures to Carla, with a nod westward, "Might be able to find somewhere private-like in the rooms."
Malcolm goes to the northern door, though, literally on the other side of it.
Malcolm gestures from here back southward for Carla, if need be.
"Ready," Carla declares and stuffs her clothes and things into her backpack.
Antoinette returns with the ladies!
Evan hasn't really gotten all that undressed, except well, he has - considering the fact he's at least half-naked. He is fully pantsed up though. Just not-shirted up. More than likely he's going to absolutely regret this later, if his pants don't dry, but he can't /not/ swim if everybody else is going for a dip and a dive for that matter. That'd be very illegal on Evan's part, and Evan is totally not a criminal, no way, no way - just look at the lad: he's totally innocent, not a single evil thought in his mind.
Slips into the water a moment later.
Antoinette sinks into the water with a shiver and a sigh. "Cold. But like. The good kind." She laughed.
"I am not dirty," Evan tells Lark with a grin. "I'm perfectly clean!" Though, he does wipe off some left over dirt that was on his nose.
Malcolm is already asoak and afloat, not having shed much but his belt -- to prevent the contents from getting wet -- and his weaponry, for the same intents. Otherwise, he's blissfully adapting to the cold countering the heat, chiming back to Antoinette, "'zactly." Lazily, one hand scrubs at some dried blood on his uniform.
Carla lets out a little yelp at the temperature and peels some damp hair out of her face. "At least it ain't freezing," she remarks. "Do they have fish here?"
Lark relaxes, them starts looking down for fish. "Here fishy fishy!"
"They don't bite," Malcolm informs Carla, sounding pretty upset about that. "Catch a marlin in fuckin' Haven, can't catch shit out here."
"Other than, y'know." Malcolm pantomimes a gun with finger and thumb, 'bang' at the water.
"Yeah, well, I bet Haven started out as a fishing village or something," Carla tells Malcolm and sprawls out comfortably in the water. "And then grew into a lovely, peaceful coastal community."
Antoinette takes the opportunity to scrub a little dirt and sweat off as well. "Still don't know how you manage to sit in that weather and fish." She muses to Malcolm about fishing in Haven.
"Haven was founded by James Arkwright, first mayor, but -- yeah, they came over on the Adventurer's Promise, I think it was called, captained by a Salte. Who're still around in town today, and do most of the commercial fishin'," Malcolm prattles to Carla about the town's history. "Hook, Line, and Sinker is a Salte establishment. Finest bait and rods you can buy."
A look to Lark, and Malcolm shakes his head. "Sadly, nah. No biters out here, like I said." To Antoinette, he chuffs out a laugh and reckons, "Maybe I'm built different. But also, it was warmer that one night. And I got a fuckin' marlin, so I ain't complainin'."
"I got a couple spare rods in the basement of One-oh-Six," Malcolm relays to Lark. "Free to borrow one and try your luck sometime."
Malcolm looks to Evan at that and lets out a deflating siiigh.
Lark wears a shit eating grin.
Evan shrugs at Malcolm. "This is my life."
Antoinette winks to Malcolm and gives him a grin.
Malcolm offers Evan a damp, sympathetic shoulderpat.
"How come nobody lives in that big piece of land down by the highway? Behind the trailer park?" Carla asks Malcolm, moving her arms and legs lazily to float. "I'm not really the fishing type."
Antoinette looks curious at Carla's mention of land. Clearly she's not spent much time at all in the trailer park because she doesn't seem to know the area being talking about.
"... Tranquility Farm?" Malcolm wonders of Carla, his eyes narrowing marginally. "They... people live there, from time to time. It's... usually... not great news, when they do." And, of course, he can't help but add paternal guidance: "If you go nosin' around, do -not- nose around in the well. You'll get stuck. We'll have to get a ladder. It's a whole thing."
"She's a ball of energy," he tells Malcolm, "And.. I haven't been recently, unforuntately." He lets out a breath, smiling fondly at Lark. "I gotta let her tell me these jokes, otherwise she's gonna bounce off the walls all night." At the words Evan lazily drifts to where Lark is, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"It's alright," Malcolm chimes back to Evan askance, grinning pleasantly enough at the conversation and at his clear affection. "I knock her down with a terrible pun or two once in a while. Gotta keep the balance."
"Oh. Spooky. I'll probably just stay away from the place altogether," Carla decides, raising her eyebrows a little. "I got a friend who lives in the trailer park. Maybe she knows more about it."
Lark points at Malcolm, confiding to Carla and Antoinette. "This one is evil. And he has arthritis."
"Unfortunately," Evan replies, "I do love your jokes."
"He doesn't seem that evil," Carla remarks blithely to Lark. "He bought us a raptor."
"Wouldn't be unwise to avoid," Malcolm agrees roundabout with Carla, slanting a squint at Lark that doesn't really have any venom behind it. It goes unaddressed, though. "The trailer park is Moore territory -- they're another one of those families." Oh, he's still teaching.
"Kill them with kindness." Antoinette nods solemnly to Lark and Carla with a soft laugh as she relaxes back. Lounging, listening, happy to learn herself with her own teacher hat off.
"Yeah, I know that," Carla says and gives Malcolm a lazy nod. "Colton's one of them. He's pretty cool."
Lark gives Carla a skeptical look while Antoinette gets a nod.
Mirrorer by nature, Malcolm volleys that lazy headbob back Carla's way. "Colton's good people. 'cept, I mean -- well. Nature, y'know? And Lunacy's a motherfucker," he roundabout explains further. "Moores've been there for hundreds of years. Ain't wise to taunt 'em even if you hate 'em, like the rest of the Families."
"How come?" Carla asks, peering expectantly at Lark.
Malcolm lets Lark field this one, lips pursing thin.
Antoinette mms, "Which some people learn the hard way." She comments about not taunting Moores. Mostly spoken to herself though than anyone in particular.
"Tactful," Malcolm enthuses of Lark. To Carla, more than the others, who have probably heard this spiel a dozen times at this point: "Take everything people say, 'specially of others, with a big ol' grain of salt. Some people have axes to grind."
"It's a high sodium diet. You get used to it," Malcolm assures Carla.
Lark nods.
Evan isn't really participating much in this conversation, letting the others chat it all out, content to just soak in the stream and enjoy the relaxation of it.
"It would be kinda weird to try and avoid him anyway. He works at White Oak," Carla supposes and shrugs at Lark. She turns her head to answer Malcolm, "I mean, that kinda goes wherever you are. The only difference here is that some people are vampires and stuff."
"I am not exempt from this," Malcolm tacks on, hand to his collarbone. "Everybody's got an agenda. But the best advice I can give you, student or not, Aware or not -- find allies and people you trust, 'fore the people you don't trust find you. Make friends, don't burn bridges. Avoid people if you gotta but don't be a shitbag."
Lark nods at Carla and Malcolm before splashing water at Evan, inadvertently sending a bit of a splash towards Antoinette.
"Talk shit, get hit," Malcolm further platitudes, or perhaps vaguely threatens/promises. The guy's shoulders bounce. "But -- anywho. Other families --"
Evan was definitely way too relaxed to be paying attention to the fact Lark just splashed him. He didn't dodge in time, so a portion of water just directly hits him in the face. "Oi," he says, sputtering out water. "Lark!"
Antoinette nods all around, "Definitely best to form your own opinion at the end of the day." She pauses a beat. "And invest in a good pair of sunglasses if you haven't already." She checks the time briefly on her watch and then acks as she gets water splashed. "Hey!" She laughs, splashing Lark back a bit.
A hand comes up out of the water and Malcolm ticks off of fingers, "Inigo, started the bank. Rich as fuck. Still rich as fuck. Wilson, Richard Wilson -- first town councilman --" Some fact pulled from somewhere. "They're still around, they're... wildly charismatic, if you meet Sophie, tsk. Also rich." The splashing's taken in stride; a hand comes up to intercept errant collateral damage splishing his way.
"Swanns run the paper, Reeves... town guard, turned into Sheriff," Malcolm reckons of the other names, pat-patting his badge damply against his shirt.
"Haven, where you can go home with a vampire and a werewolf, and the most dangerous thing about it is the gossip people will spread the next morning," Carla says, grinning impishly. "Sophie lives on my floor but I haven't really talked to her."
Antoinette says "Sophie is lovely. Definitely a good one to get to know if you have the opportunity"
"I'll take your word for it," Carla tells Lark smugly.
"World's Wanderer," Malcolm snaps and recalls. "The ship. But, mnh, yeah." A sharp nod toward what Lark says. "Usually, wolves and vampires are at each others' throats. Some exceptions, usually horny." A snerk to Antoinette's words. "Jinx."
Antoinette briefly sticks her tongue out at Malcolm, pulling herself up and out of the water to sit on the edge. "But I declare that you owe -me- the soda."
Lark demands!
"Vamps can learn to appreciate werewolf blood, as I understand it -- it's a reckless and free feeling, we -- all the types got different... effects, to a vampire's bloodstream, when drank." Malcolm reckons further, a squint back at Antoinette as he's silenced. "Fine, I owe her a soda," he chirps aside to Lark, a hand flopping. "Yeesh."
Antoinette checks her phone to send a few quick texts since there's signal here!
Malcolm continues, though: "... but wolves should find vampires nearly intolerable. And usually do. It's... they've got a connection to nature that makes magic, and things aberrant to nature, like undeath, practically fuck 'em up."
"Can a werewolf turn a vampire into a werewolf? Or the other way around?" Carla asks Malcolm with a pensive look.
"Some of 'em do nature magicks and whatnot, it happens, but like. It's like, I'unno. Wearing the wrong glasses or something. It's -wrong- to 'em," Malcolm figures. Lark's words are considered a moment. "Y'all're like coke. Just fearless and reckless and wild abandon and whatnot," he figures, waffling a hand.
Looking back to Carla, Malcolm considers that. "I... don't... know. Assume so?"
Antoinette seems pleased over all. With her texts. With her future owed soda. Listening to the conversation. "It seems plausible?" She agrees after a beat. "I haven't heard of personal experiences though."
"I don't know which one I'd rather be, if I had to choose one," Carla ventures, squinting at the night sky. "Both are kinda gross, but vampires get to live forever."
"Is that really a good thing though?" Evan asks of Carla, "I don't think I'd ever actually want to live forever.."
"Yeah, I ain't got no love for Fido, and I've been soured pretty heavily on vampires lately, too, but. If I had to pick, probably the latter." A few beats, and Malcolm figures to Carla, "Most -- yeah." A nod to Antoinette. "Any of 'em can get there. Just gotta... lose enough of what makes you human."
Larksomeone a finger poking circle motion with her hands.
Thumbing over toward Lark, Malcolm reckons, "That's different."
Lark makes a finger poking circle motion with her hands.
Antoinette snickers
Evan groans at Lark.
"I will turn this bus around," Malcolm sighs.
Evan shakes his head a little, "Yeah, yeah," he says, waving a hand at her.
The facade cracks and Malcolm snickers, unperturbed and amused.
Antoinette sighs, "Okay. Unfortunately I have to get back home and pass out." She looks to Carla. "Do you want to head back or maybe if you want to say one of the others can give you a ride to campus?"
Lark settles down to laze in the pond.
Lark says "I don't mind going back I should sleep too. Got an early day."
"Maybe not *forever,* but if you get tired of it, you can always just eat a lot of garlic or whatever," Carla supposes and shrugs at Evan. She nods to Antoinette and clambers out of the pond afterwards. "Yeah, it is getting kinda late. I'll head back with you."
"Gettin' dark, yeah," Malcolm reckons, moving to peel up out of the water himself and start to drip dry. "I'm gonna head back my way."
Antoinette says "Jesus, there we go. It got dark. "
Antoinette smiles to Malcolm, "I'll see you in a bit."
Malcolm leans to cheek-kiss Antoinette, reckoning, "No rush. I'll probably be at one-oh-six."
"You too!" Carla calls over her shoulder.
Antoinette starts to lead Carla back off to get changed. "It was good to see two!" She tells Lark and Evan
Malcolm comes back out with FIRE. "Alright. Y'all want back toward the gate, or toward my place?"
Evan blinks, "Oh," he says to her - snorting a laugh.
Malcolm doesn't even huff at that, but figures, "Old man needs to know where he's line-leading to."
"Oh, gate. I'm deaf, too," Malcolm reckons.
Malcolm turns.
Antoinette grumbles to Carla, "I hate it already." The weather presumably
Malcolm throws up a peace sign to Evan and Lark, reckoning, "Pleasure havin' you both. I'm gonna duck back across. You know how to beep me if you need."
Lark waves!
Looking to Carla, Malcolm offers, "7109417, since you don't."
Antoinette waves to everyone!
Malcolm waves, and slips back off, shotgun on shoulder.
Malcolm doesn't take captives.
The Moonguard Inn becomes a central hub for conversation, bonding, and the sharing of knowledge among participants. Discussions about the commune turn into wider conversations about the unique aspects of their world, such as the peculiarities of different families within Haven and the supernatural qualities that inhabit it. Malcolm, as a consistent source of information and guidance, elaborates on the town's historical and supernatural context, while sharing personal insights and warnings about the local dynamics. A spontaneous decision to enjoy a late-night dip in a nearby stream offers a moment of relaxation and further camaraderie among the group. This sequence allows for moments of vulnerability and humor, particularly highlighted by Lark's playful teasing and the group's collective musings on vampire and werewolf lore. The expedition wraps up with individuals expressing their departure intentions, reflecting on the enjoyable yet peculiar evening they shared, and contemplating the complexities of their shared and individual experiences within the mystical and mundane facets of their lives.
(Antoinette's Wild's Foraging Expedition)
[Thu Feb 27 2025]
In The Forest
It is night, about 78F(25C) degrees, and there are a few thin white clouds in the sky. There is a waxing crescent moon.
Antoinette nods in understanding to Juniper, whispering back.
"We're going to get an overview of the Commune from Juniper and then we'll head back toward the Moongaurd in for a brief visit before you all get to go home." Antoinette smiles to the group, starting to move.
Benjamin protects his little dirty plant while dragging his iron slab along with him, tearing up the forest ground.
"Raptor's on me when we head back," Malcolm offers as he follows along.
Lark fist pumps. "Fuck yes!!! roast raptor!!"
As the group is led back and away from the group, Evan gazes at Lark and smiles, snorting a bit of a laugh.
"Hair's lookin' fly today," Malcolm comments idly aside to Evan as they go. A grin aside toward Lark at her words.
Siofra's eyes flick to Evan's hair, closing her white eye to squint.
Lilian clings to Benjamin and Kaven's arms as she moves about, seeming a bit out of it. "Hey Toni... I might head off.. this is getting a bit overwhelming for me."
Evan slips something from his pocket, a little switchblade and begins to idly fix his hair.
Antoinette stops walking finally because lag. Looking to Lilian. "Of course." and Toni's player needs a second to reorient herself apparently
Lilian says "Which way is the gate?"
Siofra proceeds to undress and step into a suit of skin, twin glowing spines puncturing the flesh and suturing it and warping it around her.
"I think we're back in the real world," Carla mentions and wraps her arms around herself for warmth.
"Maybe, in respect for everyone's time and love of roast raptor, we can just do a part two one day in regards to the commune," Juniper suggests with a smile to Antoinette. "You can relax at the Moonguard as a tidy end to the evening."
Lilian leans over to give Benjamin a soft kiss, "Let me know to come get you after though I don't want you walking around in the dark."
Evan eventually, Evan tucks his comb away - slipping it back into his pocket.
Antoinette looks like she was about to suggest the exact same thing as Juniper and gives her a grin. "I'd love that, yes. I'm glad we could do this and I hope you have a wonderful night."
Malcolm figures to the lot, gun resting on his shoulder and a nod given to Juniper and Antoinette, "I second that; no pressure on folks."
Siofra claps happily as Evan retrieves and stows his comb.
Lilian waggles her fingers. "Thanks Toni and June."
William hums, thinking and tilting his head for a moment
Benjamin is leaning on his shield holding a flowering bush looking a bit winded, his breath fogging up the air.
"No pressure at all, and I think having a series of field research classes is a very smart idea," Juniper opines. "Toni's been wonderful to spear head it. So my thanks."
Carla squints uncertainly at Siofra and steps closer to Antoinette and Juniper, keeping quiet.
"Anyone who wants to depart now may do so after giving me their sample. Anyone who wants to come to the Moonguard Inn for a bit is welcome to follow me back in." Antoinette offers, though she does pause to look to Carla, "How are you feeling? I think you'll like the Inn. But I know I'm you're ride so if you do want to bow out I can bring you back to campus."
"I'm okay, just cold," Carla assures Antoinette and gives her a fleeting smile. "I don't need to go back yet. I kinda wanna see the inn."
Juniper shakes her head to William. "I'll be turning in for the evening," she announces with a smile. "But I welcome any questions or private intellectual conversation requests." She gesture to William with an appreciative nod. "Bill entertains me with them often."
"Likewise," Malcolm chimes in turn of what Juniper has to say, nodding toward Antoinette. "I got a place folks can post up in the Wilds that students're welcome at, too, and others elsewhere, but I ain't had the time to hold excursions proper. I know midterms're approaching, and I'm gonna send out an email about extra credit and one-on-ones soon."
Lark hands in her sample to Antoinette. "Thanks so much!"
"So thanks for leadin'," Malcolm informs Antoinette. Doesn't seem like he's leaving, though, lingering nearby.
Evan hands his lovely bag of dirt and vines to Antoinette. "Here!" he calls, handing it off.
Amused, Malcolm dips another small nod Siofra's way as he goes.
"Oh," Malcolm realizes, fishing in his bag, and procuring a divination tool that he holds out to Lark.
Evan slips off his gloves, and hands them to Antoinette. "Here are the gloves, as well."
"Thank you, once again," Juniper states loudly for the group. "Those who don't have my contact could get it from Toni, or send me an email through the school, of course."
Malcolm stares at Lark a moment. "... your ball...?"
Antoinette collects up the samples and smiles. "Perfect. Alright. Let's go get some roasted raptor and the like and warm back up." Her smile broadens as she tells Juniper, "Grateful for your help. I look forward to the next time." She looks to William, "And thank you as well."
Malcolm waggles a wave to someone pleasantly, then shoots a grin to Lark. "'course."
Antoinette reminds anyone too who isn't going to come back in to stop following her just in case!
Evan blinks as he looks between Lark and Malcolm. "Why does she have a ball?" It's not the proper question, but it's the first one that came to mind.
Evan blinks at it, and reads it. "Is it.." he says, busting out into a laugh.
Malcolm leans over to peep the response and snerks at the toy. "Priceless."
"How far out does one have to go into the Wilds to see one of those treants Toni mentioned? I don't think I've seen any myself" William poses to the comment about questions "Unless they are the same wooden people from the Other..." The question seems to be directed towards Antoinette before saying "I am likely going to get going soon enough as well, but if you're interested in like, vegetation, how come you thought of the Wilds before the Other?"
"All of them have unique flora and fauna, and all of 'em are necessary," Malcolm answers for William, his shoulders bouncing. "Other's comin'."
"Because I hadn't been to the Other when I scheduled it." Antoinette laughs to William. "But now the next one will be at the Other likely."
"Toni what am I supposed to do with this sample? I think I got carried away." Benjamin says still gloved up and holding this bush, which now seems regretable.
"I mean, I know... It's just when I think of the Other I think lots of trees and plants... When I think of the Wilds, probably an animal the size of an entire room chasing me" William tells Malcolm with a tiny bit of a shrug, before adding back to Antoinette "And uh, do you know about the treants? I will ask Juniper otherwise, just wanted to make sure, I write about the fauna of these other worlds"
"Hedge witchery," Malcolm claims to Benjamin, terribly helpfully.
Evan thinks it over, "Am I going to go bald?" he say to the ball, shaking it.
Evan frowns at the ball. "Oi!"
Siofra cackles.
"The ball's got a mind of its own," Malcolm seriously informs Evan askance, with a nod to William at his words. "I mean, you ain't wrong. Treants're... way out there, but I don't know how far. Tend to be, at least."
"Oughta have these conversations where we ain't gonna develop frostbite," Malcolm posits.
Antoinette looks apologetically to William, "Not specifically, but I imagine much farther out? Juniper lent me a book she had and it spoke of the treants but not much seems to be known about them. I can send you my notes from the section over text later? It might help you." She smiles to Benjamin then, "Just give it to me, Ben. I'll handle it. Thank you!"
"Yeah," Carla says and nods emphatically to Malcolm.
Antoinette nods in agreement, moving to step inside the gate at least
Benjamin moves over to Antoinette to hand off the specimen with probably far more care than the weed deserves. "Oh wait pop me back through the gate real quick."
Siofra says "I'll catch ya all later. I've got a thing."
Siofra hurries off nervously.
Benjamin additionally adds a sticker of success for Antoinette
Benjamin says "Oh spares?"
"Welcome," Malcolm muses to Benjamin. "Toss it back whenever you get your own. No rush."
Antoinette gives Benjamin an extra compass and accepts the sticker. "All yours now. Unless you want to give it back after you come back through."
"What happens if you drive a car through the gate?" Carla asks, looking around pensively. "I wonder if anyone's tried that."
"It'll turn into your horse, if you got one," Malcolm informs Carla askance. "Magic's fucky like that."
"That's messed up," Carla remarks.
Antoinette snaps her fingers. "I need to try and get a horse this weekend." She grins to Lark, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. And that you could come. Evan too."
Lark beams and turns to Carla. "Was this your first time in the Wilds?"
"Yeah, I gotta wonder how it feels for Lucky. If he just gets teleported or whatever," Malcolm figures back to Carla, with a nod to Lark and Evan too. "Raptor? Inn?"
"Totally," Carla assures Lark.
Lark grins at Carla.
"You got it," Malcolm informs Antoinette, giving a salute with his billy club's tip. "Anything happens, you know how to get me."
Evan nods at Malcolm, "Yeah, I'll tag along! I don't mind."
With that, Malcolm sets off, shotgun in hand. "Hands and feet inside the ride at all times, kids."
Evan frowns at Carla. "Didn't we just meet today?"
"Pleasure, Carla, Deputy Malcolm Welden," Malcolm introduces askance and casually, heading toward the bar.
Lark tries to placate Evan with a kiss on the cheek.
Antoinette wanders in a while later, putting some things away. "Ben headed off. I realized." She laughed.
"Raptor! Whole raptor, just to share. Extra crispy," Malcolm chatters at a scarred brute serves drinks while fiercely-flirty femmes work the floor.
Evan smiles as Lark plants that kiss to his cheek. "Okay, we're all good," he exclaims.
Antoinette sheds her hoodie finally now too as she drops down into a chair near Malcolm and rakes a hand through her hair. She gives Carla a smile. "So what do you think about the Wilds over all?"
Malcolm helps to hoist the hefty haul of roast raptor and deposit it on the nearest table. "Dig in," he offers the lot, with a shine of a smile back toward Antoinette.
"This place is so cool," Carla remarks, looking around nosily on her way to the bar. "Do you guys think they'll invent electricity some day or are they always gonna be prehistoric?"
Lark literally digs in for the raptor. Looking almost... raptor like in movement.
"Some of the places out here got electricity," Malcolm informs Carla as he settles in comfortably, shotgun resting on the floor between his legs. "My place does, got generators runnin', but this place don't. Some folk bring the amenities of home with 'em, and some, y'know, when in Rome."
Carla carves a piece of meat from the carcass, handling the knife a little awkwardly, and tells Malcolm, "If there weren't boar-men and macro-spiders and stuff, I'd go on vacation here."
Lark chews delightedly and tells Carla. "You gotta try this!!"
Antoinette reaches for some raptor herself, nodding to Malcolm's words. "There's castles even. Not -here- exactly, but I've heard of them. I don't know if they have electricity but. It would be interesting to see." She hums. "Maybe there's a place that's more...medieval town like and less, rural surrounded by dangerous forest." She chuckles.
Evan looks at the raptor in front of him, and then pauses - he's gotta deal with one of the fiercely-flirty femmes. "No," he whispers quietly, in a hushed tone. "I don't want a drink." There's a look from him towards Lark, and then his attention is back on the femme who's stopped by. "Any of you want drinks?" he chimes in with, "She's taking our orders."
"Holy crap, you're right. That's amazing," Carla informs Lark and continues gnawing on her raptor flank. "Do they have laws here? Because I'm not twenty-one."
"I don't see any cops around who're gonna give a shit if you do," Malcolm muses toward Carla, despite the fact that he's literally dressed head-to-toe in cop uniform, even labeled 'police' on his vest. "Have a nip, just don't be a complete shitheel or make me have to carry you back."
"When in Rome," Evan tells Carla with a shrug. "Fuck it."
"Cider," Malcolm utters toward the flirty wildling gal, with a glance askance toward Evan. "He's definitely into it."
"Just some ale or mead or whatever they drink here. I doubt they have tequila shooters," Carla remarks with a jovial grin and asks Antoinette, "Do you think that root is special? You should probably study it."
Antoinette snickers at something, ordering a spiced wine for herself and another for Carla. "I think it could be something! I'll be happy to study it and let you know what I might find out."
Evan blinks at Malcolm and then Antoinette and he lets out a little exhaled breath, shaking his head a moment and just snorting a laugh under his breath.
"This has gotta be the only place in the world where you can get a manicure at three in the morning, roast brontosaurus, or a lapdance at the Dive from someone who drives a Bughatti," Carla says and takes a swig of her barbarian wine. "But you can't get car insurance because everyone crashes every other day."
Lark thinks a moment. "Not to tempt fate but I've never crashed. Yet.'"
Antoinette idly asides, "One of these days I'm going to try the ribs or the boar - the mushroom stew is pretty good though." She eats a little more raptor, chuckling at Carla's observation. "If people just drove slower or didn't drive at all when the mist was higher than ankle deep it wouldn't be so bad."
"That's because I drive you everywhere," Evan tells Lark easily, around bites of raptor. "And then you just randomly yell at me, and almost make me crash."
Lark nods at Antoinette, in agreement on both counts. She doesn't contradict Evan and just reaches for more raptor.
"Who else? Unless there's a bait-and-switch, and then it's probably Fae. Difference 'tween a bargain and a pact is about how whimsical it is when it fucks you over," Malcolm reckons back to Lark.
Malcolm is very pragmatic on these subjects, clearly. Or paranoid.
"Well, it's kinda hard to justify walking home in this town, too," Carla mentions to Antoinette and wipes her mouth with the side of her hand. She adds to Malcolm, "I dunno if I should really go swimming. I'm probably the only one who brought a swimsuit anyway."
"Usually take a dip in the stream fully clothed, to wash all the blood off," Malcolm informs Carla aside, his hand flopping gently. "But then, ain't no pressure. Lord knows, though, I'd rather soak out here than in a tub back in frigid-ass Massachusetts."
"Hot tubs, not-so-hidden kink dungeons, and buried church rectories that definitely ain't haunted," Malcolm informs Lark. A snerk after.
"What made you decide to pack a swimsuit?" Evan asks of Carla. "I mean, to be fair, I barely even knew there was some teachable moment going on, I just woke up and texted Lark," he says, "And she said she was here, so.. maybe there was something about going swimming."
agrees with Carla, "Honestly, yeah. I keep telling Ben he needs to get a car." Antoinette mused. "I brought one! Only because you mentioning a suit reminded me there was even a bit of swimming to be had." She admits with a soft laugh. "I just said it was going to be warmer here so to keep that in mind when dressing."
Malcolm weighs two options visibly between his hands, eyes on Lark. "... drop a grand on a hot tub... walk eight feet through a portal to a place where it's balmy and delightful, and soak in the stream."
Malcolm lowers his first hand and shrugs.
"This place just sounded summery, so I figured," Carla says and shrugs noncommittally at Evan. "You did?" she asks Antoinette afterwards. "I'll go swimming if you wanna."
"You should see our hottub," Evan tells Malcolm now. "Just rent a place with one in your house already, it's really that easy."
"I've seen it," Malcolm informs Evan, not at all ominously.
Back to Lark, Malcolm ticks off on his fingers, "Cop, teacher, proverbial firefighter, babysitter, sufferer through Dawson's Creek headass drama..." The guy's head bobs, and he reaches for his badge to lift. "I do a lot of patrollin'. Your guys' locks are pretty solid."
Evan pinches the bridge of his nose at that comment from Malcolm.
Malcolm adds on, toward Carla and Antoinette, "I could wash up, too."
Lark says "Hell I could dip if we all are."
Antoinette feigns a pout, "I haven't seen it." She declares dramatically and then laughs then glances to the time. "I-" She starts and then grimaces at the belches, looking over to the offending table with wide eyes. She nods again though. "Yeah, I think a quick dip sounds like it could be fun."
Evan blinks at Antoinette, "Really?" he tells her, "You're wel-" he stops, and nods at Lark. "Yeah, that."
Malcolm nods seriously over toward Lark, informing Evan, "I couldn't knock 'em, and that's sayin' somethin'." The altercation starting to break out a bit has him start to rise as well, though not to disperse or bother with them. "Now might be a good time."
Antoinette seems to agree with it being time to move pool/stream-side!
Lark geabs a bite for the road!
No to-go boxes, Malcolm just hefts the whole-ass plank with himself, remaining raptor and all. He's a bit stronger than one might think. Doesn't bother him.
"Er, is there like a changing room?" Carla asks Antoinette and puts her goblet down. "And there better not be crocodiles or something!"
Malcolm figures to Carla, with a nod westward, "Might be able to find somewhere private-like in the rooms."
Malcolm goes to the northern door, though, literally on the other side of it.
Malcolm gestures from here back southward for Carla, if need be.
"Ready," Carla declares and stuffs her clothes and things into her backpack.
Antoinette returns with the ladies!
Evan hasn't really gotten all that undressed, except well, he has - considering the fact he's at least half-naked. He is fully pantsed up though. Just not-shirted up. More than likely he's going to absolutely regret this later, if his pants don't dry, but he can't /not/ swim if everybody else is going for a dip and a dive for that matter. That'd be very illegal on Evan's part, and Evan is totally not a criminal, no way, no way - just look at the lad: he's totally innocent, not a single evil thought in his mind.
Slips into the water a moment later.
Antoinette sinks into the water with a shiver and a sigh. "Cold. But like. The good kind." She laughed.
"I am not dirty," Evan tells Lark with a grin. "I'm perfectly clean!" Though, he does wipe off some left over dirt that was on his nose.
Malcolm is already asoak and afloat, not having shed much but his belt -- to prevent the contents from getting wet -- and his weaponry, for the same intents. Otherwise, he's blissfully adapting to the cold countering the heat, chiming back to Antoinette, "'zactly." Lazily, one hand scrubs at some dried blood on his uniform.
Carla lets out a little yelp at the temperature and peels some damp hair out of her face. "At least it ain't freezing," she remarks. "Do they have fish here?"
Lark relaxes, them starts looking down for fish. "Here fishy fishy!"
"They don't bite," Malcolm informs Carla, sounding pretty upset about that. "Catch a marlin in fuckin' Haven, can't catch shit out here."
"Other than, y'know." Malcolm pantomimes a gun with finger and thumb, 'bang' at the water.
"Yeah, well, I bet Haven started out as a fishing village or something," Carla tells Malcolm and sprawls out comfortably in the water. "And then grew into a lovely, peaceful coastal community."
Antoinette takes the opportunity to scrub a little dirt and sweat off as well. "Still don't know how you manage to sit in that weather and fish." She muses to Malcolm about fishing in Haven.
"Haven was founded by James Arkwright, first mayor, but -- yeah, they came over on the Adventurer's Promise, I think it was called, captained by a Salte. Who're still around in town today, and do most of the commercial fishin'," Malcolm prattles to Carla about the town's history. "Hook, Line, and Sinker is a Salte establishment. Finest bait and rods you can buy."
A look to Lark, and Malcolm shakes his head. "Sadly, nah. No biters out here, like I said." To Antoinette, he chuffs out a laugh and reckons, "Maybe I'm built different. But also, it was warmer that one night. And I got a fuckin' marlin, so I ain't complainin'."
"I got a couple spare rods in the basement of One-oh-Six," Malcolm relays to Lark. "Free to borrow one and try your luck sometime."
Malcolm looks to Evan at that and lets out a deflating siiigh.
Lark wears a shit eating grin.
Evan shrugs at Malcolm. "This is my life."
Antoinette winks to Malcolm and gives him a grin.
Malcolm offers Evan a damp, sympathetic shoulderpat.
"How come nobody lives in that big piece of land down by the highway? Behind the trailer park?" Carla asks Malcolm, moving her arms and legs lazily to float. "I'm not really the fishing type."
Antoinette looks curious at Carla's mention of land. Clearly she's not spent much time at all in the trailer park because she doesn't seem to know the area being talking about.
"... Tranquility Farm?" Malcolm wonders of Carla, his eyes narrowing marginally. "They... people live there, from time to time. It's... usually... not great news, when they do." And, of course, he can't help but add paternal guidance: "If you go nosin' around, do -not- nose around in the well. You'll get stuck. We'll have to get a ladder. It's a whole thing."
"She's a ball of energy," he tells Malcolm, "And.. I haven't been recently, unforuntately." He lets out a breath, smiling fondly at Lark. "I gotta let her tell me these jokes, otherwise she's gonna bounce off the walls all night." At the words Evan lazily drifts to where Lark is, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"It's alright," Malcolm chimes back to Evan askance, grinning pleasantly enough at the conversation and at his clear affection. "I knock her down with a terrible pun or two once in a while. Gotta keep the balance."
"Oh. Spooky. I'll probably just stay away from the place altogether," Carla decides, raising her eyebrows a little. "I got a friend who lives in the trailer park. Maybe she knows more about it."
Lark points at Malcolm, confiding to Carla and Antoinette. "This one is evil. And he has arthritis."
"Unfortunately," Evan replies, "I do love your jokes."
"He doesn't seem that evil," Carla remarks blithely to Lark. "He bought us a raptor."
"Wouldn't be unwise to avoid," Malcolm agrees roundabout with Carla, slanting a squint at Lark that doesn't really have any venom behind it. It goes unaddressed, though. "The trailer park is Moore territory -- they're another one of those families." Oh, he's still teaching.
"Kill them with kindness." Antoinette nods solemnly to Lark and Carla with a soft laugh as she relaxes back. Lounging, listening, happy to learn herself with her own teacher hat off.
"Yeah, I know that," Carla says and gives Malcolm a lazy nod. "Colton's one of them. He's pretty cool."
Lark gives Carla a skeptical look while Antoinette gets a nod.
Mirrorer by nature, Malcolm volleys that lazy headbob back Carla's way. "Colton's good people. 'cept, I mean -- well. Nature, y'know? And Lunacy's a motherfucker," he roundabout explains further. "Moores've been there for hundreds of years. Ain't wise to taunt 'em even if you hate 'em, like the rest of the Families."
"How come?" Carla asks, peering expectantly at Lark.
Malcolm lets Lark field this one, lips pursing thin.
Antoinette mms, "Which some people learn the hard way." She comments about not taunting Moores. Mostly spoken to herself though than anyone in particular.
"Tactful," Malcolm enthuses of Lark. To Carla, more than the others, who have probably heard this spiel a dozen times at this point: "Take everything people say, 'specially of others, with a big ol' grain of salt. Some people have axes to grind."
"It's a high sodium diet. You get used to it," Malcolm assures Carla.
Lark nods.
Evan isn't really participating much in this conversation, letting the others chat it all out, content to just soak in the stream and enjoy the relaxation of it.
"It would be kinda weird to try and avoid him anyway. He works at White Oak," Carla supposes and shrugs at Lark. She turns her head to answer Malcolm, "I mean, that kinda goes wherever you are. The only difference here is that some people are vampires and stuff."
"I am not exempt from this," Malcolm tacks on, hand to his collarbone. "Everybody's got an agenda. But the best advice I can give you, student or not, Aware or not -- find allies and people you trust, 'fore the people you don't trust find you. Make friends, don't burn bridges. Avoid people if you gotta but don't be a shitbag."
Lark nods at Carla and Malcolm before splashing water at Evan, inadvertently sending a bit of a splash towards Antoinette.
"Talk shit, get hit," Malcolm further platitudes, or perhaps vaguely threatens/promises. The guy's shoulders bounce. "But -- anywho. Other families --"
Evan was definitely way too relaxed to be paying attention to the fact Lark just splashed him. He didn't dodge in time, so a portion of water just directly hits him in the face. "Oi," he says, sputtering out water. "Lark!"
Antoinette nods all around, "Definitely best to form your own opinion at the end of the day." She pauses a beat. "And invest in a good pair of sunglasses if you haven't already." She checks the time briefly on her watch and then acks as she gets water splashed. "Hey!" She laughs, splashing Lark back a bit.
A hand comes up out of the water and Malcolm ticks off of fingers, "Inigo, started the bank. Rich as fuck. Still rich as fuck. Wilson, Richard Wilson -- first town councilman --" Some fact pulled from somewhere. "They're still around, they're... wildly charismatic, if you meet Sophie, tsk. Also rich." The splashing's taken in stride; a hand comes up to intercept errant collateral damage splishing his way.
"Swanns run the paper, Reeves... town guard, turned into Sheriff," Malcolm reckons of the other names, pat-patting his badge damply against his shirt.
"Haven, where you can go home with a vampire and a werewolf, and the most dangerous thing about it is the gossip people will spread the next morning," Carla says, grinning impishly. "Sophie lives on my floor but I haven't really talked to her."
Antoinette says "Sophie is lovely. Definitely a good one to get to know if you have the opportunity"
"I'll take your word for it," Carla tells Lark smugly.
"World's Wanderer," Malcolm snaps and recalls. "The ship. But, mnh, yeah." A sharp nod toward what Lark says. "Usually, wolves and vampires are at each others' throats. Some exceptions, usually horny." A snerk to Antoinette's words. "Jinx."
Antoinette briefly sticks her tongue out at Malcolm, pulling herself up and out of the water to sit on the edge. "But I declare that you owe -me- the soda."
Lark demands!
"Vamps can learn to appreciate werewolf blood, as I understand it -- it's a reckless and free feeling, we -- all the types got different... effects, to a vampire's bloodstream, when drank." Malcolm reckons further, a squint back at Antoinette as he's silenced. "Fine, I owe her a soda," he chirps aside to Lark, a hand flopping. "Yeesh."
Antoinette checks her phone to send a few quick texts since there's signal here!
Malcolm continues, though: "... but wolves should find vampires nearly intolerable. And usually do. It's... they've got a connection to nature that makes magic, and things aberrant to nature, like undeath, practically fuck 'em up."
"Can a werewolf turn a vampire into a werewolf? Or the other way around?" Carla asks Malcolm with a pensive look.
"Some of 'em do nature magicks and whatnot, it happens, but like. It's like, I'unno. Wearing the wrong glasses or something. It's -wrong- to 'em," Malcolm figures. Lark's words are considered a moment. "Y'all're like coke. Just fearless and reckless and wild abandon and whatnot," he figures, waffling a hand.
Looking back to Carla, Malcolm considers that. "I... don't... know. Assume so?"
Antoinette seems pleased over all. With her texts. With her future owed soda. Listening to the conversation. "It seems plausible?" She agrees after a beat. "I haven't heard of personal experiences though."
"I don't know which one I'd rather be, if I had to choose one," Carla ventures, squinting at the night sky. "Both are kinda gross, but vampires get to live forever."
"Is that really a good thing though?" Evan asks of Carla, "I don't think I'd ever actually want to live forever.."
"Yeah, I ain't got no love for Fido, and I've been soured pretty heavily on vampires lately, too, but. If I had to pick, probably the latter." A few beats, and Malcolm figures to Carla, "Most -- yeah." A nod to Antoinette. "Any of 'em can get there. Just gotta... lose enough of what makes you human."
Larksomeone a finger poking circle motion with her hands.
Thumbing over toward Lark, Malcolm reckons, "That's different."
Lark makes a finger poking circle motion with her hands.
Antoinette snickers
Evan groans at Lark.
"I will turn this bus around," Malcolm sighs.
Evan shakes his head a little, "Yeah, yeah," he says, waving a hand at her.
The facade cracks and Malcolm snickers, unperturbed and amused.
Antoinette sighs, "Okay. Unfortunately I have to get back home and pass out." She looks to Carla. "Do you want to head back or maybe if you want to say one of the others can give you a ride to campus?"
Lark settles down to laze in the pond.
Lark says "I don't mind going back I should sleep too. Got an early day."
"Maybe not *forever,* but if you get tired of it, you can always just eat a lot of garlic or whatever," Carla supposes and shrugs at Evan. She nods to Antoinette and clambers out of the pond afterwards. "Yeah, it is getting kinda late. I'll head back with you."
"Gettin' dark, yeah," Malcolm reckons, moving to peel up out of the water himself and start to drip dry. "I'm gonna head back my way."
Antoinette says "Jesus, there we go. It got dark. "
Antoinette smiles to Malcolm, "I'll see you in a bit."
Malcolm leans to cheek-kiss Antoinette, reckoning, "No rush. I'll probably be at one-oh-six."
"You too!" Carla calls over her shoulder.
Antoinette starts to lead Carla back off to get changed. "It was good to see two!" She tells Lark and Evan
Malcolm comes back out with FIRE. "Alright. Y'all want back toward the gate, or toward my place?"
Evan blinks, "Oh," he says to her - snorting a laugh.
Malcolm doesn't even huff at that, but figures, "Old man needs to know where he's line-leading to."
"Oh, gate. I'm deaf, too," Malcolm reckons.
Malcolm turns.
Antoinette grumbles to Carla, "I hate it already." The weather presumably
Malcolm throws up a peace sign to Evan and Lark, reckoning, "Pleasure havin' you both. I'm gonna duck back across. You know how to beep me if you need."
Lark waves!
Looking to Carla, Malcolm offers, "7109417, since you don't."
Antoinette waves to everyone!
Malcolm waves, and slips back off, shotgun on shoulder.
Malcolm doesn't take captives.