( JULY 6-7: CLOSED TO KIRA & KAREN )

At the first thunder crack overhead that morning, he already feels like he's late for "work." In Reims he would have been wrapping up his patrol and immediately begun soundproofing with Tetora. He looks around at the rudimentary job Bucky and himself had done in his house and sighs. Living as a scared recluse with a teenaged ward is probably not the answer for surviving this place, but maybe today of all days isn't the time to correct it. Or maybe that's an excuse, too.

Frank pulls his hood up and makes his way out into the fray, not entirely sure where the day will take him, but he knows he can't hang around and do nothing all day either. Not on a beautiful rain-day such as this. His first step is Mark and Kira's house where he goes to pick up Aurora. No one but the dog is home and he summons her out into the storm though he knows she isn't the biggest fan of rain. Max hadn't been either, at first, but once she's outside he knows she'll do fine. And it's easier than it should be to convince her, really, encouraging her in a soft tone until they've both cleared the porch.

From there they head straight on into the woods to do some exploring, maybe not the most productive use of the Mayor's time, but maybe here he doesn't have to be everything to everyone. He would actually much prefer being nothing to everyone though perhaps at first that wasn't the case - now he just wants to disappear. At least for a little while. He comes to a clearing with several big, sturdy treehouses and looks up at them as he remembers his treehouse hideaway in Reims. How is it possible to miss a place so much and yet be so grateful that he's never going back?

A bright bolt of lightning shoots across the sky and he opens his mouth in a gasp, Aurora transfixed by it too. Maybe they should take cover for a little while before venturing back out. Just off the path ahead is a cave with a low-slung entrance. They could at least get dry for a bit and maybe have a snack. The shepherd grins up at him suddenly as if he'd said the snack part aloud. She's such a strange dog...

Frank has to hunch down to fit through the entrance of the cavern, looking around to make sure it's safe. Aurora begins running excited circles around him as he swings his pack off his shoulder to open it and find the bone he'd brought her. While his back is turned, he hears something he could swear is - Karen's laugh? Just as he looks up to assure himself he's hearing things, another loud crack sounds from just outside, followed by a terrifying boom as the rain redoubles its efforts to drown the surrounding area. A thick, rotted oak tree falls with a slap into the mud, perfectly covering their route to escape.

( OPEN TO KAMALA + UP TO 2 OTHERS )

The rain is constant and cold today, coming down like a sheet in the middle of the field he finds himself in. There are little blue flowers arranged sporadically all around the area and something about it sets his teeth on edge. It's like when he first ran into Jessica at the Crab Boil, the hair on the back of his neck and arms raising even as the water tries to mat it down. Something's coming, something he isn't going to like.

He spots the person belatedly, wondering why he didn't see them sooner, but rain is in his eyes and ears and dulling his senses no matter how used to being out in the din he is. It's almost like seeing a vision a few moments into the future, feeling his body seize in inexplicable fear. Before he can register what's happening, he's diving forward and tackling the figure to the ground, shielding them with his own body as a single bolt of lightning strikes down, glancing off the edge of his boot.

His heart is hammering in his chest as he rolls off the person before he can crush them with his considerable bulk, not noticing they had landed directly in a patch of those mysterious flowers. "Are you okay?" he gruffs, trying not to think about how close that was, or the fact that without his newly given powers, they might both be extra crispy right now.

( OPEN TO ALL · listen to the waves )

Frank has acquired a few more... friends today. His usual faithful sidekicks are here with him, of course, Aurora the wild German Shepherd and Aretha the lazy bloodhound, but there are four more where that came from. The two Corgi dogs that had made an appearance at the Crab Boil, a sheepdog and a Husky-mutt are all following Frank dutifully as he makes his way through the fields, tending to the gardens in the light, consistent rain of the afternoon. The Sun is peeking through the clouds stubbornly, creating a truly perfect day in his eyes. Though he's slowly breaking himself of his silent existence, the rain makes it easier to acclimate. Even the soft noise of the gentle pitter-patter today is enough to conceal his constant chatter to his buddies. And to their credit, they all sit at attention and listen intently, even the usually hyperactive Aurora.

When he goes to pluck dead leaves from the plant he's stooped over, Aretha nudges in suddenly and does the task herself. His eyes widen as all the dogs follow suit, weeding diligently in an obvious mirror to his actions. Frank straightens up and watches them with his hands on his hips, like he can't believe what he's seeing. He accidentally taught a herd of dogs to... garden with him?! At least that's useful, if a little creepy. Uh. Yeah. He can work with this.

Soon, they're working together like a well-oiled machine, deadheading and weeding in the rain like it's the most natural thing in the world. Frank is humming a lively tune as they go and soon Aretha is warbling her own version along with him. Did he stumble into a Disney picture and not realize?

( OPEN TO ALL · let them wash away your pain )

Groffles. What a delightfully flawless creature. It's raining again today and there's a bow and arrow strapped to his back like he left his house with every intention to hunt. But then he'd come along a herd of groffles and stops for a moment just to watch them. They're so... cute, and he doesn't notice the pitchy sigh that's left his lips until he hears it belatedly aloud. Sometimes, he thinks he might actually like this place, and almost all of those times include dogs (or groffles, his totes new favorite.)

A particularly bold specimen comes straight up to him and nudges at Frank's jacket pockets. He shakes his head even as he reaches out a hand to see if he can pet her nose. "Oh... sorry girl, I came out here empty-handed. Rude, I know. Just like a New Yorker." You're rambling at animals again, Francis. But the groffle lets him pet her damp hair even though he has nothing for her and it's enough to get a shallow smile from him. Reluctantly, he turns away to set himself back onto the trail he'd been traveling but after walking a few paces, he realizes she's following him. That settles it, doesn't it? Frank Castle is officially a Disney princess.

The wild groffle follows him all the way back to the village, not to be deterred by any amount of distraction. Sometimes, you just have to accept the gift-groffle life gives you, right? And when life gives you a groffle, you get green milk and a really cute buddy. The afternoon will see Frank building a pen for the gentle creature behind House 6 and feeding her peaches from his pockets. "What do you think about Whitney?" he asks gamely, since apparently the Frank who was here last liked the classics.