Cricket Pate (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alittlehinky) wrote2019-07-03 09:29 pm
alittlehinky) wrote2019-07-03 09:29 pm
Happy Birthday//Welcome Home!
The garden is flourishing, a riot of blooms at one end, plants heavy with fruit at the other. The chickens are in place, over two dozen of them in an oversized coop at one end of the property. The barn is unfinished, but the moonshining shed is massive, shiny and new, with locks on the doors and storm shutters on the windows, in case of another winter like the last.
The house is not huge, a sturdy two-bedroom place built with thick stone walls. It contains single floor for living, a small attic, and a deep split-level cellar. The furniture has been moved in; it's all secondhand but repaired and refinished.
By Cricket's own standards, the place is practically a palace. He never dreamed he would own so much land--granted, this is the Nexus so the topography and acreage may fluctuate, his claim may be challenged legally, whatever--it belongs to him right now, he bought it with money he earned, and he's got the living space upon it arranged to his liking.
It's sunset, and there are fairy lights strung up on the porch and in the yard, tables with food and moonshine set out, and beneath the treeline off to the right of the house there are fireflies flickering. There's a radio playing music, and lots of blankets spread on the grass for sitting or watching the stars. It's meant to be a low-key affair, but enough people wanted to see Cricket's place he felt like a party was the right idea. A small one. A quiet one.
(This is the Nexus, and there are Lokis. There is always a chance small and quiet may not stay small and quiet.)
The cake, in case anyone wants to know, is vanilla with blackberry filling. There's no writing on it, but it's the centerpiece of the food table. Cricket's not in the habit of demanding attention on his birthday, but...blackberry cake.
[[ETA: Please feel free to assume if your character knows Cricket they were invited via text or face-to-face discussion. If your character doesn't know Cricket personally but you want them to drop in, feel free to PM me and we'll figure out a reason to get them there.]
The house is not huge, a sturdy two-bedroom place built with thick stone walls. It contains single floor for living, a small attic, and a deep split-level cellar. The furniture has been moved in; it's all secondhand but repaired and refinished.
By Cricket's own standards, the place is practically a palace. He never dreamed he would own so much land--granted, this is the Nexus so the topography and acreage may fluctuate, his claim may be challenged legally, whatever--it belongs to him right now, he bought it with money he earned, and he's got the living space upon it arranged to his liking.
It's sunset, and there are fairy lights strung up on the porch and in the yard, tables with food and moonshine set out, and beneath the treeline off to the right of the house there are fireflies flickering. There's a radio playing music, and lots of blankets spread on the grass for sitting or watching the stars. It's meant to be a low-key affair, but enough people wanted to see Cricket's place he felt like a party was the right idea. A small one. A quiet one.
(This is the Nexus, and there are Lokis. There is always a chance small and quiet may not stay small and quiet.)
The cake, in case anyone wants to know, is vanilla with blackberry filling. There's no writing on it, but it's the centerpiece of the food table. Cricket's not in the habit of demanding attention on his birthday, but...blackberry cake.
[[ETA: Please feel free to assume if your character knows Cricket they were invited via text or face-to-face discussion. If your character doesn't know Cricket personally but you want them to drop in, feel free to PM me and we'll figure out a reason to get them there.]
no subject
"It's really beautiful," he says of the gift, cradling it carefully in his hands. And he, like Adia, watches Caspar's transformation with amusement.
Willie's tail-wagging only increases when Adia speaks to her. She gives a couple upbeat little yips and lets herself be petted, but if there is any pause in Adia's attentions, she's going right for Caspar. She's acute enough to recognize admiration and will take her tribute now, thank you very much.
"Sure thing!" Cricket's enthusiastic about offering tours. "I had it built. Bought the property first, then took out a loan to build on it, but housing's cheaper in the Nexus somehow than back home. I guess 'cause of the materials and technology available?"
He heads slowly for the side door, giving Willie and Caspar plenty of time to keep up.
no subject
"The Nexus is pretty generous that way," Adia hums thoughtfully, giving Willie one last little pet before straightening up. "I think that's great that you had it custom built. You can make it just the way you like it." She's eager to see inside, and follows Cricket before pausing a moment and looking back at Caspar. "Honey? Are you coming?"
Caspar is crouched down, petting Willie affectionately, letting the dog love all over him, a helpless smile on his face. He blinks at Adia, then blushes furiously. "Um, y-yeah. Yeah, sure." He looks down at Willie again and reluctantly stands up. He'd offer to carry her, but he doesn't know if she'd like that, and it also feels weirdly like a betrayal to Princess. Dusting off his hands, he tries to pretend like none of that just happened and joins them at the door, Willie following alongside.