[closed] June Catch All

[nastyboy]

Who:Team Femblemtroika and whoever gets dragged into their nonsense
When: All of June
Where: Olivine, and maybe other places
What: It's Sylvain birthday month! And Pride. And other such things.

Comments

Around 06/05 -- Birth!

[gautsome]

[Sylvain, as is expected, has spent plenty of time back in Olivine. He's got the house all nice and put together, or at least as much as he can without infringing on the styles of his lovers. He's always here for input though.

For most people, it would probably be pretty tacky to decorate for their own birthday, right? Well... Not for Sylvain. He doesn't go over the top but, well... Let's just say someone discovered the Poke-Equivalent of Spencers and now it looks more like a Bachelorette party than something for a birthday.

It's fine.

Regardless, whenever the squad makes it home, Sylvain will have dinner ready. Not birthday dinner, just your standard Househusband sort of thing. In the leadup to his birthday, and a few days after -- basically whenever the polycule is around -- Sylvain does his best to be available. He's trying to accommodate for everyone's schedules.]

knock knock its your daughter.............'s delivery

[fortuna_tenax]

( don't ask who she asked for this information sylvain because i don't know it either, but by pidgey post you have a small package! there's no card, but the bright teal bow on the package makes the intentions clear. a box of peach gummy candies shaped like the fruits themselves, a simple but elegant gold chain bracelet with a blue star hanging off of it, and a couple water color paintings- the beach view of olivine, ilex forest, and a warm sunset with stars peaking out over the mountains.

all are signed on the back from felicity.

if he wants to call after everything's calmed down some, though, she'll be happy to. )

[gautsome]

[Hey Felicity, guess what! You're getting three pictures back. The warm sunset above his and Felix's bed, Ilex forest in dining room, and the beach of Olivine in the living room. Each one has a series of emoji hearts attached.]

You are the sweetest kid ever, you know that? Got a minute for me to call you?

[fortuna_tenax]

( is he sure he's got the right girl? ... sweet, though. )

yeah, of course! poppy wants to say hi anyways.

[gautsome]

Cool, just a second then.

[With a minute or so, Jinx's Gear will ring and, oop, there's Sylvain's bright and smiling face.]

Hey, Felicity! How's the road?

[bestswordmaster]

[Felix has been warping back to Olivine in the evenings whenever time and location allows - sometimes alone, sometimes with Claude or Dimitri in tow.

On the night of the 4th, he’s alone, and carrying something hidden behind his back when he follows his nose to the kitchen. He steps quietly, hoping to have a few seconds to watch Sylvain from the doorway before he’s aware that Felix is there.

After all that weird weekend nonsense, Felix had stayed here for a few days just to process everything, talk to Sylvain about it - and to reassure himself that his husband wasn’t going anywhere, that he was still here and alive and well, and he hadn’t vanished back to Fodlan or anything.

So yes, sometimes he likes to just watch Sylvain exist. That’s not sappy. It’s just...okay, who is he kidding, it’s sappy as hell and he’s becoming a sentimental fool.

As evidenced by the gift he’s hiding, honestly.

Whether Sylvain catches him watching or a minute or so goes by, whichever comes first, he comes fully into the room and peers at whatever’s cooking.]

Smells good. What is it?

[gautsome]

[By this point, Sylvain has been both domesticated enough by his surroundings to not be easily startled by someone else's presence, and used to Felix's in-and-out behaviors enough to not at all be surprised. He turns around, smiling the kind of smile that crinkles his eyelids and brightens his whole face. Certainly no fake smiles here.]

Spaghetti and meatballs. I figured it was the easiest thing to cook en masse. Didn't know who all would be coming in tonight or needing leftovers tomorrow.

[He crosses the room, attempting to pull Felix into his arms.]

[bestswordmaster]

[Uuugh, look at his stupid handsome sunny smile. Felix tries to remember what they did on Sylvain’s last birthday. It wasn’t much, thanks to the war and all that, but he and Ingrid and the professor had set aside time to have tea with him, and the Lions as a whole had pitched in to get him a new set of saddlebags and riding gear. ...well. All except Dimitri, obviously.

Anyway, this year Felix and the others agreed that Sylvain’s birthday should be perfect.]

Tch. You’re spoiling us rotten, Sylvain.

[Not that he seems to mind, if his expression and the way he readily moves to meet the other man in the middle of the kitchen are any indication.

He lets Sylvain pull him close, and even wraps one arm around him in return, while the other still hides the gift. When he speaks again, it’s quiet.]

Hi. I brought you something - but don’t look yet. You have to close your eyes before I give it to you.

[gautsome]

My husband and the rest of our family deserve it, don't you think.

[Don't mind him, nestling his face into Felix's hair. Despite taking care to ensure that the pillows of their room always hold Felix's scent, and pilfering more and more of Felix's shirts as time wears on, he still misses the real deal. Besides, none of those come with the softness of Felix's hair, either.]

Now who's spoiling who, Fe? My birthday present before my birthday? You never do that! Even when I ask really nicely!

[Still, he takes a few steps and closes his eyes. He even covers them with a hand.]

STUMBLES IN LATE

[nastyboy]

[There's something delightful about coming back to this house, every time Dimitri hops back to Olivine. Sylvain seems to really have blossomed in this particular life - that of a homebody, making a comfortable and beloved home. Dimitri is certain that the girls at the Academy would be shocked by the kind of sight he often makes.]

[Dimitri is glad for him. It seems... so much more Sylvain, somehow. Like he's really come into himself.]

[Dimitri just wishes he could have prepared a slightly better birthday gift, although he's done his best.]

[A day after their big birthday meal that they all go out for, Dimitri approaches Sylvain shyly with a small box cradled in his hands.]

Are you busy today, Sylvain?

[gautsome]

[Likely, Sylvain is just finishing up combing out Inda's... leaves. It's entirely unnecessary and they both know it. But it's become a morning routine for him. Not unlike brushing or braiding a child's hair.

Both of them perk up at the sound of Dimitri's voice though. He turns around and opens his arms.]

Never too busy for you, Mitya!

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri is hardly going to be the first one to say anything about how people will pamper their Pokemon. Considering that every single one of his rats has their own accessory, and how he takes care of Karimala, and all the others... He understands perfectly.]

[Frankly, he almost feels guilty to interrupt such quality time... but how can he resist Sylvain's open arms? Dimitri is drawn to them like a magnet, sinking into them with a soft sigh.]

You really have been taking to this life so well... It makes you look beautiful, Sylvain.

[Radiant, even.]

I wanted to wish you a happy birthday... All on my own.

[gautsome]

Aw, Mitya, you don't think I'm always beautiful?

[His voice is obviously playful. With a warm little sound, he nuzzles into Dimitri's shoulder. It's comfortable here -- Dimitri is comfortable. And as much as he loves hugging all of his partners, there's something special about being the smaller one for once.

There are lots of things that make Sylvain feel safe and secure in this world. But Dimitri's presence and, moreover, his embrace? That ranks pretty damn high on the list.]

\o/

[woofdad]

[So Grant might’ve worried over this a little longer than he needed to - which, yes, is a sentiment that can be applied to a lot of what Grant does, but he’s got his reasons here! Like the fact that he’s got to make sure Sylvain knows how much he’s appreciated, but also should avoid anything that might send the wrong message while their relationship is on pause the way it is, and… well, and so on.

He would think that he’d worry less about the “sending the wrong message” thing, given that it’s not like they’ve stopped joking around and flirting, but there are… degrees. Flirting is one thing, but Grant can’t be sure if giving Sylvain a gift that could be construed as romantic would be too much.

At least he made a decision, in the end. Maybe not one he’s fully confident about, but that’s not new, either, so!! Here he is, a box in hand, carefully wrapped in black and teal striped paper.]

Hey - this a good time?

[gautsome]

[Perhaps unfortunately for Grant, Sylvain is currently sprawled out across a couch, enjoying the bustle of a full home. Worse still, he has some sort of lollipop in his mouth, and he's currently enjoying it a little too much, considering the... shape it's in.

Sorry, Grant.]

Yeah, sure! [He gives his entirely too suggestive lollipop one last suck -- entirely unthinking! -- before setting it down on the plastic it came in. He glances toward the box but doesn't say anything yet. That wouldn't be very polite.]

Sit with me!

[woofdad]

[Ok well speaking of it feeling silly sometimes to worry about sending Sylvain "the wrong message".

Just give him a moment to get his train of thought to reboot now that Sylvain's nuked it, and there's that slightly nervous, flustered laugh that comes with so many if his lapses in attention.] Uh-- right! Okay.

[He sits down next to Sylvain, on whatever space isn't covered by the Sprawling, and fidgets with the box he's holding.] So-- I mean, first of all, happy birthday, and... how's your day going?

Dimitri and Grant - oh yeah, it's that month

[nastyboy]

Dimitri has not minded the constant travel that life in Johto has encouraged. That was his life for five long years before, after all. Johto is honestly an improvement, considering that he's allowed to stay in comfortable inns with soft beds.

But... There is something to be said for once again having a home they can return to, even if it is temporary as a rental property. Sylvain has done so much work in setting it up, decorating things, making it feel lived in. It's entirely different from the careful presentation and repetitive designs of the inn rooms - all nice in their own way, of course, but meant to hold many people through even just the course of a week.

All of this... is so much nicer.

And a part of what makes it nicer is when they're sent off to do actual grocery shopping, for an actual dinner, instead of the meals they constantly have to eat out for while staying in an inn. Today, Dimitri and Grant have gone off to go get things that need replenishing from the nearest store. Dimitri likes these sort of things the most, which is unsurprising considering what his and Grant's first not-date was, so he's more than happy to step into the store and look about with the same kind of quiet delight and wonder he had back then.

Modern grocery stores are still incredible, in his opinion, and should never stop being marveled at.

Yet as they start to do their shopping... A particular set up draws his attention, no doubt to the sheer amount of color there. "Oh," he murmurs, pausing their grocery cart near the display. Little flags, mugs, a couple of plushies... Many in rainbow patterns, but others with certain color pairings like stripes of black/grey/white/green, or blue/purple/magenta.

Dimitri picks up a mug with a pastel sort of blue/pink/white pattern, charmed. "What a colorful display! You know, I think I noticed a few things similar in a couple of stores in Mahogany, although not so much... I wonder if it's in reference to a particular gym, or Palien?"

Because it seems like a lot goes back to Paliens.

[woofdad]

Grocery shopping with Dimitri never gets old on Grant's end, either; Dimitri's love of modern grocery stores is almost infectious, stacking up on top of the inherent comfort of being around Dimitri to begin with.

Finding this display just adds to that excitement. It's surprising, somehow, seeing something so familiar in this world; but... it's nice. He leans over to take a look, considering pointing it out himself just before Dimitri comments.

He can't quite help a soft, charmed laugh. "No, actually - though I see where you'd get that. We actually had displays like this back home, too, especially this time of year!"

[nastyboy]

"Oh, so it is another holiday!" Dimitri lights up. Ever since he started to get a clearer mind in the late autumn, enough to pay attention to the world around him, he's found that he's delighted in every holiday that he's lived through. The comfort and care of Christmas, the sweetness that came with Valentine's...

There are other holidays, he's sure, but those have been the most noticeable ones for him so far.

So he turns his attention back to the display, putting down the mug as he does so. "Is it another gift-giving holiday? I wonder if Chip feels they have outgrown their interest in toys..." He picks up a small plush Steelix - no doubt in reference to the Olivine Gym - and marvels how each segment is a different color. Pink, white, purple, black, and blue this time.

[woofdad]

"Along those lines. It's Pride Month - it's a kind of... celebration and demonstration rolled into one?"

He's not gonna get into the politics of the commodification of Pride with Dimitri; Dimitri doesn't need that kind of stress, and Grant doesn't even know how the history of this topic here compares to that back home. He has to assume it's similar, given how many of these flag patterns he recognizes, but without looking into it in more depth--

Okay, anyway. The point is, he'll just go over the basics. "It's set up as a time for people whose sexual orientations or gender identities don't align with what's considered the 'default' to celebrate who they are. All these different color patterns represent a different identity or group of identities under that umbrella."

The Witcher Gang comes over for dinner

[nastyboy]

The best part about having a rental property is that now they can invite people over, whenever they want. And properly entertain them, too! With a massive garden, a patio in the back and one in the front, plus a hot tub, and more than a few rooms....

Even with how massive the travel group is, from the polycule to the small child to friends, it seems to fit them well enough, so another small group is no trouble at all.

Which is why Jaskier and company are coming over for dinner.

Meditation with Dimitri and Geralt

[nastyboy]

This wouldn't be the first time Dimitri has heard about meditation, not exactly... but it's never something he thought about trying it himself. Maybe it's just because his life is so busy, really, although that just sounds as though he might need meditation even more. Still, for something that Geralt recommends, he's willing to give it a shot. At any rate... Dimitri has to admit he needs all the help he can get, too.

So after Dimitri has offered Jaskier some belated birthday blackberry cream cheese pastries - made with help from Silkie, although not as much help as he might have previously needed - he ducks to the side with Geralt.

"We have a couple of rooms we could use where no one might disturb us," Dimitri offers as he ties his hair back with some difficulty since Joanna Nod the Frosmoth is holding onto one shoulder. Dimitri seems more bothered by her bulk there than the light layer of snow that's spread across his bare shoulder. "Or would you like to try outside in the gardens? We have a greenhouse as well... Whichever you might like to try out the most."

[lovelybottom]

When Dimitri approached him for advice on maintaining control over volatile emotions, the most relevant thing that he could offer-- because 'go through extensive alchemical manipulation to dull your emotions' isn't an option-- was meditation. Witchers have used meditation techniques to rein in their enhanced senses and focus their energy on healing for centuries, and if it can bring inner balance to a bunch of inter-generationally traumatized monster hunters, it might work for a traumatized once and future king. Worth a shot, anyway.

With Jaskier quite thoroughly distracted with blackberry pastries-- please ignore any vaguely orgasmic noises from the bard when he eats them, really, when there are pastries around, what does he even need Geralt for?-- they are able to duck off somewhere quiet without being questioned.

"I can meditate in almost any circumstance," he says. "It would be best for you to start in a place that's quiet and most comfortable to you."

Wherever that might be. It's Dimitri's house, he would know the place that he feels most comfortable in. Geralt can meditate even with his guts hanging out, so the location isn't nearly as important for him.

[nastyboy]

Frankly, Jaskier's concerning noises over the blackberry pastries is probably why Dimitri opens the doors into the backyard, allowing Geralt to go through. This isn't really his house yet, and not just because it's a rental. Dimitri just... hasn't had as much time to spend in it yet. Still, he's hoping to change that, especially as the SEMPER race comes up.

At least he knows one thing that attracted all of them, and the gardens really are lovely. "If Chip and Kiri get a little too excited, we can always duck into the greenhouse as well," Dimitri says. "I imagine meditation is to help deal with all noises, but... Just in case. Playful children can cause all sorts of things to happen."

Dimitri's Pridemas Gifts

[nastyboy]

So Dimitri just learned about the fun celebration/demonstration called Pride! And this isn't a gift-giving kind of holiday, but that's not stopping him whatsoever.

Grant got the fun experience of explaining not only Pride, but also all the different flags to Dimitri, and that's why he gets a bear pride shirt with stripes all along it and a lineup of big tough Actual bear Pokemon on the front.

Chip also gets something! And it isn't a murder done on their behalf! But it is also a shirt, with the nonbinary flag, a Ditto, and the words "No Gender, No Problem" written on it. Dimitri got it in a slightly bigger size, in hopes they can keep wearing it for longer as they grow.

Felix gets something very similar to grant, only in the form of a jacket with the lineup on the back: various cat Pokemon, some shiny and some not, their colors making the rainbow. It's summer now, but they'll hit autumn and winter again before they know it.

Sylvain gets a similar sort of gift, only instead of the cats being on a jacket, they're on some oven mitts! And majority eeveelutions as well. Dimitri knows he's gotten into cooking... So hopefully these keep his beloved hands safe.

Claude gets something a little silly, as a Umbreon hat with pansexual pride colors taking over the normally yellow markings. The yellow is honestly why Dimitri got it for him, even if he's not entirely sure what everyone would go with for actual titles. He's not sure if it matters? But he's having fun.

Ashe's gift is a pair of socks, with rainbows along the top, and a Piplup on the side. Someting sensible that Dimitri hopes keep his feet comfortable.

And finally, Jinx gets a little gift sent to her via Elshot, with a pair of rainbow Zubat earrings and a letter of Dimitri happily explaining Pride and how he just learned about it from Grant. He doesn't know if she cares about these things, but he wanted her to have something regardless.