Be careful what you wish for, it might make you happy...

[darksmokerising]

WHO: Merlan Margret O'Keefe | SPN

WHEN: Catchall for: April

WHAT: Monthly Buncha Tags

WHERE: Tavern/Inn, Stables (getting her a badass blue roan), Vasari area (clearing out shitheads), and definitely enroute to check out Roselake because why the fuck not? It sounds pretty cool.

WARNINGS: There's cussing??? Angel wings, maybe. Pew pew things?

NOTE: Please maketh use of a header so I know wtf you are. Prose preferred!

 

A. TAVERN/INN

[2+ weeks of arrival ]

Merlan was in the back of the tavern watching the clientele, a small lute, its wood varnished in deep wood nestled in its soft straps treated suede. Her fingers strayed to it and the heavy looking bag at her hip. Her coin purse was in there, so were the medicines and potions she'd made up from the help of her own knowledge and a very helpful book she'd gotten at a herbalist's shop. Local plants were foreign, so having the knowledge to start with and then experiment with was worth her time. 

 

That book and a blank new Hunter journal/tome had eaten into almost all her savings and to get that back had made her feel absolutely miserable for a while. Ditching her modern clothes had been her first order of business and earning enough to get daily clothing in more of a men's style that afforded her more movement was something she had to work with the tailor on. Also, hidden pockets. He'd said those were fun to make. And then she was broke. 

Until she found the badly broken lute. A little twist of words, a soft, pleasant hum of magic, and the strings united, the wood strengthened and did what it wanted with its colour and pattern. When she'd come back with tea, it was an almost cobalt shade of blue and the intricate inlaid knots of natural and blue had turned into a flight of raven-type creatures that perched and flew here and there. Magic lutes, she found, were really rather lovely. When she wasn't doing things like fixing roofs in Gazin, or hunting things - sometimes for food, sometimes because they were trying to eat people - she was busy with potions and figuring out how her lute worked. Making and selling potions seemed the be the route for quick coin and  she had really begun to collect on in. A bit of magic used here and there never hurt, she saw to it well. Favours got her things with far more consistency than coin. 

So much had happened since she'd been dropped here and her scramble to adapt to the situation had been like some of the drops she'd had with Micah. Painful lessons in survival - only she had things to trade, things to cure, and she adapted to her environment like shedding a skin.  Never one to shit flip, magic filled in much of her modern needs and with skills that had always welcomed challenge, she imparted them to others. 

Sitting here, now, a knee crossed in a half lit booth, she had asked for something harder than pisswater beer and had gotten something that probably resembled fairly decent whiskey. On the rocks wasn't an option. Merlan had very covertly made her own tetrahedron chunks of ice and frowned at the singer getting harped (ha!) on. Her cloak hid most of her face as she slipped out her lute and picked notes around the words and melody to help them out. She unconsciously reached out to bolster their confidence, weaving and embellishing as she went. It wasn't a terrible voice at all, they just needed a touch of confidence and someone to help with accompaniment.

"There now," she murmured, setting her instrument down at the end of the song. "I can't stand it when people are arseholes just to be arseholes. Everyone starts somewhere and that was a fine bit."

B. STABLES

[ 3+ weeks of arrival ]

Getting the right horse for your needs both as a companion and a warrior requires more than a favour, it requires someone who knows horses. As for Merlan, she'd seen that massive blue roan in the back pasture, his strides long, his dark tufted legs beautiful as they had been when she was fixing up the one going colic a bit ago. She had yet to meet the lad but there was a nice zing in the air when he stopped showing off. Good thing she had enough to kit him out properly like the king he was.

Yet again, she'd probably be broke. It was a struggle filled in by music or song or arrows.

She frowned.

"Well shit," she said, walking into the stables proper and squinting beneath a hat that had seen way better days. "I should have gotten a fucking sword."  

C. VASARI

[ 4+ weeks of arrival ]

Traveling solo or with a group, whatever goes. Fighting shit, eating shit, learning shit.

D. ON THE ROAD: ROSELAKE

[ 4+ weeks of arrival ]

Still traveling on.

Comments

Stables

[themerlin]

"A sword? Now, a sword is something I can help you with."

And the man behind her who had not been there before, stood up. He appeared to look somewhere between a vagrant and a king, wearing a robe that was rumpled and ragged, and that rippled in the wind, even though there was no wind. It shone, and it was filled with colors, some of which did not exist and all the colors that did. And there was a little twinkling that was almost like actual stars were imprisoned within the robe.

If one looked too long, the head and eyes would begin to hurt.

He had a grin that was just a little off, just a little crazy, just a little... Merlin.

"Why do you want a sword?"

[darksmokerising]

"Oh? Hmn." Merlan eyed him with a soft grin after a moment of study. "Well, firstly, you never know when you'll need to stick 'em with the pointy end only to discover you havent got one. Then you just might be rather...dead."

She loved his fashion sense, rumpled and ragged as it was. It suited him, honestly, and the slightly-off crazy thing she was getting from him just made her smile. The whole appearing out of nowhere was pretty damn impressive. Merlan settled on a lidded barrel with her legs crossed to peer up at the man, interest, bright humour, and wide-open fascination written across her features.

"Secondly, I am tiny," which she was at 4'10" and fine-boned," and the animals that might like to eat me are definitely larger than I am and not what I want my end to be if I can help it. I'd really, honestly like a blade for not only my protection but for the protection of others. It's a useful tool if my own magic fails."

[themerlin]

Merlin followed suit and sat on a chair opposite her. Whether or not the chair was there before he sat on it really has nothing to do with anything. His grin was a lopsided thing of curiosity and whimsy.

"As to that, well, I would advise a staff would be better, but whatever you wish, milady."

He grinned, eyes gleaming. "I can forge a sword for you, an ye wish it. And make it so it will snicker-snack wherefor and whence you want it to go."

He was, now and again, working at the smithy, using his muscles which hardly anyone ever saw, to make things of use and to slowly forge the pieces he would need to build the tinier pieces he would need to build the even tinier pieces he would need to build his owl.

[darksmokerising]

"A staff? Yes, well, that would take care of--" she was lost in thought for a while, calculating and the like, "A staff would be delightful. Perhaps a shortsword or something small for, ah, snicker-snackering." Merlan took off her hat absently and hummed in thought. "Uff...decisions, decisions. Bo staff work was always my favourite. Tch...it's true, staffs are delightful and focusing. Been ages since I've had the pleasure. It's the kind of wood that really matters."

She half shook her head and laughed.

"Honestly, if you're going to forge anything at all, I'd love to learn. New places, new skills." She might be tiny but she was full of surprises. "And this is a place that needs everything it can get."

[themerlin]

"A little greedy, but also wise. Both it is, then. First, we must needs start the forging. then find the wood, then finish the crafting, then finish the staff."

He nodded again, grinning at her, eyes a little wild.

"Sounds like a fun week." He considered such work what he was made for. Helping heroes along was what he did.

[darksmokerising]

"It is a bit greedy, I freely admit," Merlan said, scrunching her nose a bit. "But being prepared is never an easy task."

She leaned forward a little bit, her hazel eyes warm and bright with anticipation. Perhaps, too, there was a touch of chaos there, too. Just a touch.

"I agree. I'll have so much to learn, after all." How could she not like him? He was clearly a kindred spirit. "My name is Merlan, it's absolutely lovely to meet you."

Did he do handshaking? Not everyone did. The grinning was a thing though.

[themerlin]

At her proclamation of name, he cants his head to the side, almost like a crow might, and peers at her. "Merlan, you say? How intriguing." And he does offer his hand to her, grinning that wild grin at her, the hand calloused from many long works, but strong. The hand he offers is the one he takes off the staff, which sort of hops in place as it is left to stand on its own. "My name is Merlin and I am very pleased to meet thee."

[darksmokerising]

The Merlin.

She takes his hand with a leap of joy. Oh, he really is, she can feel that right deep down in her magic. Her father would have absolutely adored this moment maybe more than she was.

"Merlin," she murmured, "good lord. That's brilliant. My father loved your stories through all the various mythologies so much he insisted I be named after you. It took mum some convincing and a vowel change." There's a good energy to him, for all he's got those crazy eyes and it's almost difficult to let go. It's almost a regret to let go but she does lest it seems weird. How many get to meet Merlin in their lifetimes. She adored him already.

Her magic bubbles up in greeting, too, as she bounces lightly on the balls of her feet. There's a shimmer and a bit of a shrug before her wings unfurl, luminescent in blues and indigos. It's just an explosion of joy, really, that's a damn good match to that madcap spark he gives off. When she laughs, it's a bright, sunny thing.

"Oh, am I ever pleased to meet you."

[themerlin]

His smile is lopsided and once his hand is free, he bows to her, a real full court bow, and then snaps hsi fingers, and holds out a glass of fresh water, sipping it, then extending it to her. "Water, my friend?" It is an old tradition, one that few remember in the modern time, but he extends it now because it feels absolutely right with her. Her magic is greeted with a warm smile and his eyes glow bright, a flicker from red to gold to black and back to his normal eyes slowly.

[darksmokerising]

"Please," she says, inclining her head slightly, her expression somewhere between bedazzled and incredibly honoured, her fingers were light against the glass as she, too, sipped at it before handing it back. Her bright wings curved in a little, blocking a little of the sunshine but adding a little of her own.

It was an old tradition that spoke of the winding of bonds between travellers and dearest friends, which felt right like all of this had been. She felt a bit like she was on the edge of an adventure, of something fantastic.

But this was Merlin, after all and she wasn't sure she'd ever get the stars out her eyes.

[themerlin]

Merlin grinned as he glanced at her wings, curious and beaming and pleased at her response and action. she was quite the amazing one, yes she was. "Now, milady. You were speaking of a sword?" And his grin was one of definite adventure. "I think we can craft one suitable at the smithy. At least until you find the right one for you." He nodded, the glass gone away and the chair he had been sitting on gone as well. He reached out for the staff and instead it was a hat that he sat on his head. A simple old cap of worn leather lines and nothing more, but very definitely not a staff. "Shall we?"

[darksmokerising]

"Quite so," she said, moving to join him on the walk. "I think a sword crafted by you and perhaps with my aid will be something beyond wonderful. If one puts their will and hope into a project..."

She trailed off with a hum, her dark brown hair catching the breeze as she smiled at the hard word ahead. Merlan had rebuilt cars for fun, hammered and shaped, so she was pretty sure she could keep up with Merlin. The blessing of the fast learner, the sharp memory, and hands that felt comfortable with difficult work.

"Well, anything could happen with magic," Merlan said quietly. "That's it as its best - chaos."

[themerlin]

Merlin nodded, eyes bright. He was impressed, yes. "Yes, rather. One can do wonders if one bestows such on a project. And I have a feeling you can do interesting things, yesss." Merlin felt a crazy grin creep over his face. "Chaos and order, merged in one, and made paramount and needed, and sometimes, even wanted!" Oh, he had a good feeling about this! Of course, the rest of the town should probably flee, but shhhhh.

[darksmokerising]

"I can fuse magic and technology," she said with a bit of eagerness to show what she'd accomplished in her voice. "That was one of my biggest projects back where I came from. I'm refining the interface for my car but it'll get there, I'm sure."

Merlan redirected her attention to his words and grinned.

"Mages," she murmured and laughed softly, flicking her wings in amusement. It felt so good to just leaven them out like this like they'd cramped and trapped, even that wasn't the case.

"We'll either create something astonishing or have to replace a whole bunch of shit and try again. I'm beginning to think we need a bitty forge in the woods." It was a soft tease as much as it might be the truth.

[themerlin]

Merlin's eyebrows went up. "Intriguing, milady. Pushing magic into machinery took me rather a long time to figure out how to do. You seem very young, forgive me for saying, and such an accomplishment so swiftly is very impressive." He grinned at her, then nodded, admitting silently that such was perhaps wise. "We could work on such. we will need to build an anvil, and make the tools, using the forge in the town." He chuckled.

[darksmokerising]

"Oh. Thank you! I'm thirty-three, I suppose that's young," she said with a laugh. "All I had was time and access to the right tools, it seemed rather boring, so I read and practised and learned. For me, I find it's not so much about pushing magic into technology but weaving it around and through, like...like knitting or working a loom with all those threads. You just have to have the right threads the metal and machine will accept."

She frowned struggling to explain the concept. Words were difficult when the thing being described was rather vastly complicated.

"It takes a fine ear and touch."

Merlan nodded sagely. It would take work, certainly, their forge, but it would be wonderful.

"We very much should work on that. Tools are lovely to make and it would be enjoyable work."

[themerlin]

He nodded, smiling warmly and touched her shoulder.

"I understand. Its okay. You do well, young one."

he grinned at her and listened to her, feeling rather proud of her and hopeful for what she and he would do together.

"I have a feeling this will be fun."

His eyes danced with it, a brilliant warmth.

[darksmokerising]

"Mm," Merlan nodded, "lt's satisfying, figuring things out like that but terribly strange trying to explain. That's what diagrams and books are for, I suppose - to get one's thoughts together." She did smile at the brief contact as it was warm and supportive and familiar perhaps because her magic resonated so well with his. She had to wonder what didn't since he was so adept.

Merlan looked about as they walked, taking in her surroundings, noticing details, the scents and sounds, listening for that unique ringing sound of the anvil.

"What shall we make first?" she asked when they arrived, taking a moment to warm herself and neatly secure her hair back. It mattered little how hot the forge and surrounding area was, it felt really good to her.

[themerlin]

Merlin nodded, eyes alight as they walked, and as they arrived in the smithy. "Indeed. I think that is most of why magic uses resort to the word magic. It is hard to explain to those who have not gone through it." Looking around, he discarded his robe, revealing only jeans below it, and sandals which he discarded as well, to one side. His torso was scarred, tattooed, and angular, long, and lean, but muscular. It had been a long life. "If you need them, there is a sports bra and such in the side room. There have been occasionally other women smiths here." As to her question, he nodded. "I believe the tools would be a good start, then a basic anvil we can carry. That way if we need to, we can move that and the tools to the woods, and then use those to build the rest in place." He glanced up at her. "What say you?"

[darksmokerising]

"Agreed," Merlan said, easing off a few layers into a neat pile until she was down to her bare midriff and a short suede top that had been wrapped and tied in place. She, herself, was not unblemished as she shrugged her wings back. Some were fine scars, some healed gunshots and slices that she'd gotten after Micah had left her. As she turned, her spine tattoo in Norse and Enochian wound around each other was visible. Over it, her wings were laid in what seemed to be tattooed ink, disappearing past the soft material of her trousers. The tips of curled feathers could just be seen curling up around her hips.

With another light tug to make sure her hair stayed put, she was ready to get to work.

"Whatever the weight of anvil, I can carry it," she added, her eyebrow arching. "It's a simple process of mind over matter."

[themerlin]

Merlin watched her, curious, indeed. "Beautiful ink, milady, very nicely done." He grinned lopsidedly at her, then shook his head. "New world, new rules. We know not where and when our power will work. best to use muscles where we can, and save the magic for more fun and needed things." He waggled a finger at her.

[darksmokerising]

"Mm, thank you," she murmured and then let out a pffft and snatched his waggling finger without a thought.

"Now, now," Merlan grumbled. "Test at least a few times to make sure things work or don't otherwise you'll never know what does exactly what."

She made a face at him, released his finger, and stretched, rolling her shoulders to limber up. Her eyebrows arched and she realised she was bouncing a little on the balls of her feet just a little with impatience. They had things to be making and hard work ahead of them. Merlan would work until they were done properly, that old fascination and need to plow into a project was in full swing, now.

She stood there for a while, all study and concentration, mapping out each dimension of each tool, letting the images and then handling each with her eyes closed to get the heft into her mind and the feel of them into her arm. Too, there was something of the maker in them that made her smile and the let out a satisfied sigh as Merlan turned back to Merlin.

"Tools first, then anvil, and after that, we'll see what I can and cannot lift." She wasn't precisely in a hurry but she wanted dearly to find her stride in it, so in her eagerness, she reached out to gently bump up against his mind. The contact was very brief and certainly not enough to do anything but establish that she was ready and, well, chomping at the bit. A corner of her mind said she should have done something with her horse but it was fleeting and she was solidly focused on their project.

[themerlin]

While she stood and thought, he smiled as he started to pump the billows and heat up the anvil as they prepared, laying out tools. He selected a long slip of metal to begin and grinned at her. "Yes. I think that sounds like a good order, milady." He gently bumped her mind in turn, warmth and a feeling of age beyond age in the mind that gently touched hers back. "We can work until sundown, then we will need to stop. I promised my lady that I would be home at a reasonable hour this evening." His grin was warm and gentle as he mentioned Emma, and he nodded to Merlan. "So work we shall!"

[darksmokerising]

"We'll be mindful of time, then," she murmured warmly. Merlan was sure she could find her way back to an inn or maybe even a place to camp for the evening, as she had been doing off and on to save coin.

The regular even timing and shaping put her at ease, smoothing any worries or concerns or thoughts beyond the tools they were making from her mind. Merlin having a companion was really quite lovely and she looked forward to meeting her at some point. In her work, Merlan rarely paused, perhaps stopping once and a while for water, but as she fashioned this or that by the wizard's side she sang lilting Enochian, Norse, Irish, or Old and Middle English songs. They all seemed to fit different parts of the work at different times. There was care, love, ad heart put into each process.

And there was nothing more besides that, though she might have worked into the night if it hadn't been for Merlin's bit about sundown. When it did come, she found herself unknotting her neck and shoulder knots, wishing for a long soak in a bath as she looked over their progress.

"Good work for the day," she said, working herself back into her overshirt and belting it. Merlan still had most of her things in her pack and would ease some of her soreness with herb and liberal stretching. "I'm not sure where I'll be staying the night. Probably outside the town for the savings. Wish your lady well for me?"