#the song was 'may i' by trading yesterday you're welcome

[margarethelstone-2]

so i've been listening to a random shuffled playlist on spotify and all was fine and good except when it started playing one of my old fanfic songs and now i'm. not fine.

[nancypullen]

Thursday

Howdy do. It's Thursday here in Dullsville and I've decided to go full steam ahead with fall decor. Why not? Just gonna' do what makes me happy and maybe Mother Nature will see it and usher in some true autumn weather. We've had some really pleasant days lately, it was actually FIFTY degrees on Tuesday morning! I think our high today is 76 which is just fine with me. A little rain wouldn't hurt, but I feel like that's asking too much. I'll just be content that the brutal summer heat seems to have moved on. So....FALL! Remember the candlesticks I was going to paint and distress? I'm building a centerpiece around them, not sure where it's headed yet but I like the before and after.

That's the dollar store pumpkin I covered with napkins, and the little $1 pumpkin stack got some fresh paint. Easy and cheap! Tonight I'm headed to The Foundry for a mosaic class. I've taken these mosaic classes a couple of times before, it's pretty straight forward - you're basically just paying to use the supplies. She always has boxes of tile, glass, china, and of course the nippers to cut it all. The instructor is super sweet, so it'll be fun to create and chat. Tonight's class will make a 14x5 house number or welcome sign. This is the example given.

I plan to make a house number with a Halloween vibe. Our house number is 504, so I can make the 5 and 4 with black tiles and make the 0 an orange pumpkin. We'll see if that works. I've never been able to get to the grouting stage in class. I always have a big plan and not enough time. I'm keeping it simple for this project, so maybe tonight is the night I finish!

Tomorrow I'm scheduled for a COVID shot at 10am. I also have a 1pm plant pick up at the arboretum. Every spring and fall they have a big native plant sale and I always buy a couple of things to support them. This fall I'm just getting some rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) and some blue mistflower.

It's supposed to attract bees and butterflies, crossing my fingers but not counting on it. In a quest to lure more wildlife to our yard we added yet another bird feeder. This one clamps onto the railing of the back porch and allows us to watch the birdies from the sofa. The cats are loving it too. It's been nice enough to have windows and doors open lately, so Phoebe is on duty.

Of course, the squirrels found it right away. They never miss a snack. I zoomed in with my phone to snap that from the living room.

This one too - Phoebe had him in her crosshairs.

I think a birdfeeder is better than tv. The sounds are certainly more enjoyable. The new feeder is covered in finches every day now and with the windows open it's lovely to hear their chatter. They sound like they're terrible gossips. A Caroline Wren entertained us yesterday afternoon, they have such pretty songs. Yep, that's who I am now, a crazy cat lady who looks forward to meeting new birds. I own it. I've been reading about people who develop relationships with crows, trading trinkets and stuff like that, and I've never wanted anything more in my life. When I drive between Denton and Easton (which I have to do for just about anything) and I see a crow near a corn field I want to roll down my window and scream, "Come to my house, I'll give you stuff!" Crows remember faces (so do hummingbirds!) so maybe one will land in the backyard soon and recognize me from the road. This is all normal to think about, right? Alright, time for me to go beat my hair into submission, then throw something together for Mickey to eat while I go glue mosaic tiles to a board in hopes of having a little fun. The class is 5:30 to 7:30 and I'm usually the only person who stays to help clean up, so I may be out until 8 o'clock!

Sending out tons of love, take what you need and pass it on. Stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy

[samuraiko]

You should write orym meeting the crown keepers for the first time!

Again, I am *SO* very sorry these are taking so long, Anons. But I appreciate your patience! (And in the meantime, I've got other vignettes you might enjoy.)

"Kinda Sorta Something in Common"

Orym wandered aimlessly through the streets of Emon, taking in the sights and sounds. It wasn't his first time here, as he'd travelled occasionally with Keyleth and the other Tempest Blades as part of her entourage, but for once, he was alone.

And it felt... strangely lonely.

The halfling shook his head as if to clear it of negative thoughts, and became aware of music coming from somewhere nearby. A lute, being played decently well, with a lilting, cheerful melody that brought to mind brightly coloured banners being tossed about in the wind and sunshine.

"And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before The Tavern shouted—"Open then the Door. You know how little while we have to stay, And, once departed, may return no more.""

Rounding the corner, he saw a handsome young man, stylishly dressed (though an odd combination of ostentatious and well-worn), sitting outside a tavern and busking for the passersby. There was a small pile of coins in a threadbare basket next to him, and citizens would occasionally toss him a coin as they walked past.

Orym stopped a short distance away, leaned against the tavern wall, and listened to the young man's song.

"Yesterday this day's madness did prepare; Tomorrow's silence, triumph, or despair: Drink! for you not know whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where."

As he finished the song with a flourish, a few others nearby clapped, and a few more coins tossed into the basket before they moved on.

"Thank you, you're too kind!" The musician called out after them, then he began gathering up his things.

Orym pulled out one of his few gold coins and tossed it into the basket with an expert flick.

The musician looked up at him in pleased surprise.

"Thank you, good sir! Please... allow me to buy you a drink for your generosity!" He waved at the tavern beside them. "The wine is good, and the shade is welcome."

"Sure," Orym said agreeably, and the two were soon seated at a small table, two glasses of wine set before them.

"You're... not from around here, are you?" Orym asked after taking a sip of his wine. "Your accent's a bit different."

"No, no, I'm not from Tal'Dorei. I'm, ah, actually from Marquet." He gave a half-bow with a slight flourish. "Dorian Storm, wandering bard at your service."

"Orym of the Air Ashari. It's nice to meet you. You play well, by the way. I never quite had the knack for it."

"Well, we all have our gifts. Do you live here in Emon?"

"No, I'm actually from Zephrah. The eastern side of Tal'Dorei."

"You're quite a long way from home, then. What brings you here?"

Orym briefly looked uncomfortable, and Dorian gave him a thoughtful look over the top of his wine glass.

"I seem to have put my foot in my mouth. Forgive me."

"Oh, no, it's fine. I'm just... kind of tasked with looking into something." Orym hastily took another gulp of wine and looked away. "And I take it you're just seeing the world? Plying your trade?"

"It's the open road for me," Dorian agreed. "I see things that I'd never have seen at home..." Then his eyes were drawn across the tavern to something over Orym's shoulder. "Like that, for instance."

Orym turned to look behind him, where a rather pretty albeit flashily dressed young woman was sitting nearby and openly looking at the two of them. She grinned and waved at Dorian, who immediately turned red and stared intently into his wineglass.

"I, uh, think she likes you," Orym said.

"Oh, I don't know about that..." Dorian stammered.

Then he nearly leapt off his stool as the young woman came over and sat down uninvited at the table.

"Well, you're back again, pretty boy! That makes it a whole week, right?"

She turned to look at Orym and said in a stage whisper, "What do you think? Is he coming here for me? Or for the wine?"

"I wouldn't know, I only just met him myself. I'm Orym."

"Opal." She turned expectantly to Dorian, whose cheeks were now even redder. "And you are?"

"D-D-Dorian. Dorian Storm."

"Dorian. Pretty boy, pretty name. And a pretty decent musician too." She turned back to Orym. "You heard him play? He's been doing his thing outside this tavern every day for a week or so now."

"Yes, I have. I quite liked it."

"Please, allow me then to buy you a drink," Dorian stammered, and signaled the bartender to bring over another glass of wine for Opal. With an effort, he collected himself and turned back to Orym. "As I was saying, you can find all sorts of things here in Emon, if you're looking for something in particular."

"That's what I'm hoping," Orym said quietly. "But we'll see." He looked over at Opal, who was sipping at her wine and making a face.

"is it not good?"

"I don't know much about wine, so, hard to say. But hey, free drink!"

Just then, a loud crash of furniture breaking filled the tavern, and Orym, Dorian, and Opal all looked over to see a stout dwarf with wild reddish-brown hair lying in the middle of the wreckage of a table.

"HEY! That was totally uncalled for!" he protested. "It's not my fault you're so lousy at cheating at cards!"

Three other men were getting to their feet and growling, their fists clenched.

"What was that?"

"Oh come on, it was totally obvious." The dwarf got up, dusted himself off, and walked back over the other three. "If you're going to cheat, the least you could do is be good at it."

One of them snarled and with a flash of lanternlight glinting on steel, produced a knife.

Orym tensed and prepared to spring, but suddenly the dwarf waved his hands and flames flashed into existence around them.

"Ooooooooh," they all heard, and everyone turned to see a tall, statuesque female faun come sashaying up. She completely ignored the three card players and approached the dwarf. "You're quite good at that."

The dwarf had to crane his neck to look up at her, but gave her an appreciative grin. "I do my best."

She then sauntered over to the card players and lightly put her hand on the shoulder of the one with the knife. "You wouldn't be so mean as to hurt him, would you?"

"Get out of my way, lady," he growled, but his eyes went huge as her visage changed. Suddenly the lovely innocent face was savage, her eyes blazing, her teeth now fangs, her hands clawed.

He let out a panicked yelp, as did his two friends, and they all three nearly fell over each other scrambling to get away from her and out of the tavern.

"Yeah! And don't come back until you learn how to cheat properly!" the dwarf shouted after them.

For a moment, the tension in the tavern was thick enough that Orym could almost see it in the air, but then Opal giggled, and things abruptly relaxed.

"That was... quite the show," Dorian said, staring wide-eyed at the faun, who was now smugly tossing a small money pouch from hand to hand, while the dwarf was scooping up the money that the other gamblers had left on the table.

The faun and dwarf noticed the three of them watching, and came over to sit down.

"That was AMAZING!" Opal said to the faun. "You went from being all hot to all HAAAAAAAH!"

"Why thank you," the faun preened as she tucked the stolen money pouch into her dress.

"Hey, I was all HAAAAAAAH too," the dwarf said, leaning a spear against his chair. "Cowardly bastards."

"And you two would be..." Dorian let his voice trail off.

"Oh I'm Fearne. Fearne Calloway." She held out one hand to him, no longer clawed, and Dorian kissed it.

"And I'm Dariax Zaveon." The dwarf also held out his hand to Dorian, who looked at it briefly then shook it. "No kiss?"

"Sorry."

"I'm Opal." Opal shook their hands as well.

"And I'm Orym of the Air Ashari," the halfling chimed in, reaching across the table to shake hands as well. "Are you two locals?"

"Not me," Dariax said. "I'm from the Turst Fields, over in the east."

Orym brightened. "I'm from Zephrah. The Fields are just a little ways north of us."

"Zephrah? Oh, that highfalutin' Ashari place way up in the mountains. Yeah. Never been there myself. Heard it's nice, though."

"And I'm from the Feywild," Fearne said amicably, and Opal's eyes became huge.

"NO! Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"So what are you doing here in Emon, then?" Dorian asked, signaling for another round of drinks.

"I'm looking for someone," Fearne replied.

Dariax shrugged. "I'm just picking up odd jobs here and there."

"It sounds like we're all here looking for something," Orym observed. "I, um... I don't suppose any of you might be... I don't know... interested in looking for things together?"

"I'm down for it if you are," Dariax said cheerfully. "I got nothing better to do."

"I wouldn't mind," Fearne replied. "I imagine I'll find all sorts of new and exciting things with all of you."

"Yeah, I could do that," Opal said. "I mean, I'm not that great at anything, but it beats just sitting around watching the world go by."

"Well, if you don't mind having a humble bard along, I would certainly enjoy some company." Dorian lifted his glass in a toast. "To... what should we drink to?"

There was a pause, then Dariax said, "To... kinda sorta having something in common!"

There was another, longer pause, and Dariax looked around the table. "What?"

Orym gave a slight grin, and lifted his glass as well. "To kinda sort having something in common."

They all drank to that.