and it's harder than you'd think [February, catchall, open]

[ruinsprofessor]

Characters: Raine Sage and open!
Date: The vast majority of February.
Location: multiple, including the healers' guild, her apartment in earth, and the dojo
Situation: many, lots
Warnings/Rating: general suicide content warning for the thread with Kratos; no additional warnings yet


A | snowfall, anywhere | open

Despite their trips to Flanoir, and the fact that there is very little Raine hasn’t seen in one way or another, snow is still something she sees infrequently enough to be fascinated by it.

It’s making life difficult for some people, of course, and she’s too practical a person not to be concerned for the chill and for people unused to snow caught out in it, but all the same occasionally when there’s snow falling Raine stops out in the open air, head tilted back and one hand extended to catch flakes.

B | memory-share, Earth | open

Somewhere around the eighth, Raine is heading to the markets in Earth, choosing to walk from her home rather than take the rheaird. It’s impossible sometimes not to remember what it’s like with certain people accompanying her, but these days it sparks wistfulness more than anything else.

All the same, when she bumps into someone and reaches to steady them, there’s the flash of a memory. Walking with someone taller, discussing earnestly the physics of shadows-- or a pastoral village, sunny and brilliant, with a boy who looks much like Raine beside her.

[if you would like a specific memory these are not the only ones on offer, just lmk and I’ll cook something up in response to your tagin. <3]

C | Healers’ Guild, Water | open

One of the first things Raine does when it becomes clear that the snow will be continuing to happen is make up a quick refresher course on hypothermia, its signs, and the primary easy treatments. She goes back over this with her healers, her volunteers, and anyone else who will sit still long enough and expresses any interest.

Apart from that things are mostly as usual at the Guild, though there are fewer Foreigners than there were and Raine is in charge of scheduling again. She isn’t commonly immediately at the front, but whoever’s looking after the entrance can usually find her within a few minutes, whether it’s in her office or the deeper laboratory she’s co-opted for her own.

D | Bakura’s dojo, Wood | closed

This has been put off by one thing or another long enough. With Bakura’s assurance that Zorc’s presence has receded for the time being, and her ka a more present murmur at her ears when she returns to the idea, Raine goes to see Bakura.

She estimates, at this point, that she has at least an eighty-five percent chance of success. It’s significantly better than even. When she makes herself known in the apartment linked to the dojo, it’s early morning, before most people will be there looking for instruction or practice space.

There is no fruit basket to bring this time; but there is a fresh if lonely breakfast pastry for him.

[ooc; want something else? just want to plot? drop me a line here or at makaricrow and let's get something happening.]

Comments

A

[lasergrenades]

Dragging had not, in fact, been required to get Raine out in the snow, which Pepper is pleased about. She loves snow, and this is a lot cleaner than she often gets to play with in New York unless she can trek her way to a park.

Being a little wicked, however, when Raine seems distracted by the snowfall, Pepper loosely packs together some of the snow and then tosses it at her friend.

It's only around the time it poofs against her shoulder that Pepper laughingly says, "Heads up."

[ruinsprofessor]

This is the second time this has happened. Raine laughs disbelievingly. "Pepper," she says reproachfully, when she turns to see her.

It isn't necessarily that she objects to the cold or the snow; she just doesn't understand why people insist on throwing it at her.

"Surely Tony would make a better target?" she offers hopefully.

[lasergrenades]

"Maybe, but you're here now," Pepper reminds her friend. "Besides, I threw it softly and I'm good at aiming. I intentionally avoided your head."

The redhead trots closer. Her cheeks are red and there's snowflakes fringing the tips of her hair. She's also grinning from ear to ear. "I'll give you a free shot at me if you want," she offers, holding her arms out.

[ruinsprofessor]

Not everyone does avoid the head. But this mollifies Raine, and she relaxes a hair, though while she's trying to maintain her disapproving look a smile is fighting to break out.

Pepper looks like she's having a great deal of fun.

"That hardly seems fair," Raine says, extemporizing, considering how tempting it is. It's irresponsible and she shouldn't descend to the level of snowball fights, but...

[lasergrenades]

Raine really could use more time for just fun. True, there's been a ton going on lately, but there's always something happening, and Raine is waaaay too young to be an old person yet. Pepper simply won't allow it.

"All's fair in love and snow, go for it. If you don't, I'm going to throw another one at you and then some," Pepper declares slyly.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine should really be responsible.

...but if Pepper's going to be throwing snow at her regardless, it makes sense to go on the offensive, doesn't it?

With an eye on Pepper all the while, Raine stoops, scooping up a handful of snow and compressing it into a sphere with quick, efficient twists of her wrist. "Well," she says slowly. "If you're sure."

Genis isn't there to be setting a bad example for, and Pepper is asking for it. Literally. Raine pitches the snowball at Pepper, overarm and aiming center-mass.

[lasergrenades]

Getting Raine to be a little less than responsible from time to time is not at all a bad thing, and Pepper is happy to pay that price in the form of being hit by a snowball. She stands still as it arcs towards her, only raising her arms a little to protect her face when it looks like it's going to land high enough up on her chest to throw spray upward. And then, of course, she giggles.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Pepper tells her, stooping to pick up material for another. "Lay on, Macduff? Or would you rather we do something that involves less chasing and throwing and a lower potential for faceplanting?" There's plenty of snow to use in a variety of ways. Snowkedan anyone?

[ruinsprofessor]

"Macduff?" Raine inquires, almost out of force of habit, since she's slightly more concerned with the creative application of snow at the moment. She tilts her palm up, watches the remaining snow melting into water in her hand, and thinks about the options for a moment or two.

She'll have to telegraph her movements to acquire more snow, which is the only true drawback. Slowly, as though she's still considering it, Raine bends to gather more snow, sculpting and compressing. --and eventually, in one sudden movement, throwing.