sixthiterationlogs | [MINGLE] Saints & Sinners Masquerade

WHERE: Corn field next to the inn
WHEN: 31 October, all day and night
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Please warn as appropriate in your subject lines
NOTES: Please make sure you have read and understand the event details! If you have questions, drop them here. RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED: Put your SCRUBS COLOR in your OTA subject line for folks doing bingo. Time your OTA for the harvest feast, the masquerade, or both. Costume matches and details for folks who did not get matched are here.

This morning, our intrepid villagers awoke to a surprise of the nicer kind: A bundle of clothing left at the foot of their bed, tied with a bow. There is also a note: Put on your new outfit and join the festivities in the corn field next to the inn.

You may be thinking, what corn field next to the inn? The one that sprung up fully-mature overnight, of course.

In the middle of the field, villagers will find an autumn feast: Tables piled with harvest time food and drink, warm and rustic decorations, the day's sunshine fending off any chill in the air.

Tuck in and enjoy, villagers, but take note: Things often look different in the dark, and you might be one of them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, I see." Beverly makes a note to keep an eye on Tommy. Maybe he'll be someone she comes to like as much as she has Wanda. In a way, he makes her think of Wesley and she finds herself missing her son very much again. "Personally, I don't think these naughty and nice matches are entirely correct. If they were, Jean-Luc would be the spice, rather than the sugar," she jokes lightly.

Honestly, they've both had their moments of being less than stellar officers. At the same time, he is a bit more prone to pushing back if he doesn't agree with something. Then again, she almost faced a court martial and was temporarily entirely relieved of her Starfleet rank. So, really, they probably are about even at this point.

Wanda's smile grew a little more earnest as her gaze redirected towards the surly officer. "You're right. You are much sweeter than he is." She looked back at Beverly and this time her smile was bright and warm. "I couldn't imagine him as the sugar of the pair."

They were all pairs... in a very strange way.

"There might be no point to this. The overseers have both useful and seemingly pointless acts at times."

Beverly chuckles warmly at Wanda's assessment. "Don't tell him that," she jokes easily, knowing fully well that Jean-Luc would probably agree and laugh if he heard. He might also tease her in return, even if only in private. "But that's part of what I love about him."

And yes, she has gotten to the point where she will admit to loving him intensely. At least where people as close as Wanda are concerned.

"They do, that's true," she muses. "It might just be one of the string of mostly harmless events lately. Whatever the case is, I won't complain. It's kind of nice, terrible costumes aside."

Wanda was happy. Not for her own situation but for Beverly. If anyone in the village deserved to be happy, it was her. She tried so hard for everyone else but had denied her feelings for so long. Wanda had seen it the moment that Jean-Luc had moved in and she was happy to see their relationship blossoming.

She didn't know Jean-Luc well but she didn't have too. He was a good man.

"I promise I won't tell him." Wanda assured Beverly in a warm tone. "It is nice. Something to smile about." It was hard to smile, hard to keep going. Tommy's presence in the village helped but some days Wanda didn't want to get out of bed.

"Beverly, I've been thinking." She looked down at her drink and pressed her lips together. "I might move out." She'd leave the chickens for Beverly and Jean-Luc and continue to come by and take care of the animals there but there were so many memories. Wanda was finding it difficult to sleep.

Jean-Luc's presence here has been a soothing balm for Beverly. Even as difficult and complicated as their relationship has always been, especially romantically, she has sort of known that this would be likely inevitable for them. They've been taking things slowly just in case and so far they have managed to work through their concerns. Their history might always weigh on them in one way or another. The important part is that they keep trying anyway.

Wanda's last words take Beverly's attention and as she turns her gaze back to her friend, she thinks she might have seen this coming, almost subconsciously. She can't blame Wanda for thinking about it nor for eventually going through with it. Had she lost Jean-Luc, Beverly might feel the same. So rather than try to convince Wanda to stay, she simply reaches across to gently and reassuringly squeeze Wanda's hand.

"As long as I still get to see you sometimes," she teases quietly. "You know Jean-Luc and I will support whatever you decide. I'll make sure you have enough from the garden to help for the coming winter."

She pauses for a few moments, able to hold herself together mostly because at least Wanda won't be leaving the planet or something. They will still be able to see each other as much as they want and that's better than she has with Wesley at the moment. Even for all that she is holding herself back, this feels a lot like the day Wesley told her he was leaving to explore with the Traveler. She has come to love Wanda like a family member. Like a daughter.

So the last thing she says is something similar to what she would offer if this were Wesley in front of her again. "I'll miss you, but this will always be your choice and you know you'll always be welcome in the house again, even if it's just a visit."

Wanda was infinitely thankful that Beverly didn't try to talk her out of going. Guilt, pain and worry already weighed heavily on her shoulders, she didn't need more of it. "Thank you." Her expression told Beverly how thankful Wanda really was. "I'll still visit. I'm keeping the chickens there because the coop is there and I won't have you taking care of everything on your own." She paused and glanced down at her cup.

"It's just been hard to sleep there." Not a lot would change but Wanda would find somewhere else to sleep, somewhere without so many memories. "Arado will come with but I wasn't going to take anyone else." There were a lot of pets at the house and they all chipped in to take care of them. Wanda wasn't going to stop just because she didn't live there anymore.

Beverly, Jean-Luc, the chickens, the cat and Arado; they were all part of her family and Wanda wasn't going to lose them or ignore them.

"But thank you. Really." Wanda set down her cup and turned towards Beverly, pulling the older woman into a tight hug. "I don't think I would have survived him leaving without you." Her words were soft but Wanda felt tears prickle at the corner of her eyes.

"If you want to take some of the others, I won't stop you," Beverly admits, leaning a little into the hug. With her arms wrapped as firmly around Wanda as she can manage with her awkward costume, she does her best to let the young woman know how much she cares for her. "Jean-Luc and I will care for any of them still there, but they belong to you as much as to us. We can work that out before you go." Figuring out which animals go where might be one of the harder things they'll have to do. Beverly only knows that her kitten will be staying with her. If Wanda decides to keep the chickens, the pig, and Eastwood, that's fine. She has a feeling, though, that Jean-Luc might like to keep an eye on the kirin. He always did have a special fondness for equines.

"I completely understand how hard it is to exist in a space you shared with someone important once they're gone," she says quietly. "I remember how hard it was after my husband was killed." Clint had seemed to fill something of a parental role for Wanda and that thought reminded her of Wesley and how the years after Jack's death had affected their son. "I want you to know that I will always support you. If you ever need anything, you can always come to me." She pauses just long enough to let that settle before offering, "I love you, Wanda."

Wanda shook her head. "It's there home. Arado will stay with me. He hasn't left my side since Clint left but the others should stay." She wasn't going to take them from there home and she wasn't going to stop coming to see them. The animals, Beverly and Jean-Luc; they were all part of her family and Wanda wasn't going to lose that.

She just needed time.

"I love you too." Wanda hugged Beverly tightly before gently pulling away. "And thank you. For everything."

[MINGLE] Saints & Sinners Masquerade

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject