Difference between revisions of "Log:Luke at the Wayhouse"

29 June, 2018

A new Changeling arrives at the Wayhouse to be greeted by a Custodian and Waykeeper.

The Wayhouse

There's signs written in magical ink all over the city pointing to the Wayhouse for any changeling to see. And it's also the place changelings in other cities will tell you to drop by first.

It's very early morning, too early for some, the city itself has yet to wake up, and the only real life in the Wayhouse is Haruki, in the kitchen, making soup. He has zucchini. Lots and lots of zucchini.

Luke says, "Howdy. I'm new in town. Name's Luke. I followed the signs here."

"Hi!" Haruki smiles brightly at Luke. "Nice to meet you. I'm Haruki." He looks around. "I'm not sure if any of the Waykeepers are around yet. Do you want a tea, coffee? Zucchini?" he asks the last hopefully.

Luke says, "Uh...Zucchini?"

This early into the morning most of the residents and staff are still sleeping. The early risers are typically few and far in between during the weekends. Raymond is one of those among the Waykeepers on one of the few weekdays he helps around the house. He's coming from downstairs in jeans, t-shirt, and white sneakers that could do with a bit of cleaning. The horned Fairest has a stack of blankets in hand as he looks around, offering a polite smile to Haruki and Luke. "Good morning, guys. I don't think I've met either of you, yet." The blankets are shifted to the other arm, and he moves to offer a hand to them both. "Raymond Rhodes, Waykeeper Recruit."

Fantastic! Luke wants Zucchini! Haruki smiles brightly, and points at the basket brimming with the stuff. "Help yourself." He finishes dumping zucchini into a pot and lets it saute with onion. "So, what brings you to Tamarack Falls?" He looks over at Raymond and flashes a bright smile. "Oh! Wonderful to meet you. I'm Haruki." And then he remembers he has a title, even if he's not Lost like the others. "Custodian. Luke's new. He was just looking for a waykeeper."

Luke says, "Luke Corbett, no title. I guess oddjob? I'm in town to help out with the harvest. Thought it best to let the locals know I'm dropping in."

Luke takes a zucchini from the basket and starts munching.

Luke says, "I'm staying over in Fort Brunsett. Got myself a sharehouse with a few mortals. The rent is crazy here!"

"Good morning to you both, Haruki and Luke." Raymond dips his head in greeting, and moves to set the blankets on one of the lounging chairs in the living room. As he returns back to the others, and leans against the wall while Luke speaks. "Titles aren't that necessary. I do it just so people know what's what. How bad is the rent in town, anyway? I've only been out here with my in-laws and bought a rather cheap house from someone else around the way, too."

Haruki eyes Luke with great surprise as he just bites into the zucchini. "The rent it's really high around here. I thought it was going to be cheap, since up and coming town, middle of nowhere, vermont of all places, but it is so expensive."

Luke says, "Well that's why I share- part of why I share at least. Also means I can deal in cash. Fruit picking on its own makes for a tight budget. But I've got my ears open for any opportunities. Speaking of, if you folks have any hot tips regarding work in the area..."

"If you really wanna continue working with your hands, and can stomach working at the crawk of dawn..." Raymond pauses, chuckling for a beat. "And I do mean crack of dawn...The Frys can always use the help on teh farms from what I've seen. They'd just require a whole hell of a lot of effort outta you too, though. I'm also hiring cashiers at Out of the Box if you've gotten some experience there or dealing with retail customers and children."

"I live on an orchard." Haruki says. "My friend, Nathania, owns it. She's a Waykeeper. You could speak with her and see if she needs any workers. She almost always does. There's probably other job opportunities around too. Nathania'll pay really well though. What's Out of the Box?" he asks Raymond.

Luke finishes consuming the zucchini. "Mmmm. Hard to beat fresh."

Luke says, "All other things the same, I would prefer to work for someone like us. So those do sound like good prospects compared to the... normal... farms. Before I make my decision, you should see some of my talents, see if there's anything special you would like me to do."

"It's a toy shop not too far from here. It was owned by a local, and I was going to originally going to be brought on as assistant manager. He passed not too long after, and I was left with the shop. He wasn't really able to hire anyone else because the place was haunted, and he could never get anyone else to agree to it." Raymond shrugs to that, clearly a doubting thomas. "I don't think the place is haunted. Yeah, a family got murdered there a few decades ago, but that's in the past."

"I think most of the Frys are normal," Haruki says. "Well Cardinal isn't. She runs a haunted icecream shop. I'm not sure if she's looking for workers though." He nods at Raymond. "You could ask someone if they can help with the ghosts. Or to see if there are any."

Luke flickers for a bit while listening to Raymond and Haruki. He looks agitated but tries to recover. "Go on" he says, "I aint afraid of no ghosts! So haunted toy shop or haunted icecream shop? I tell you what. Why don't I promise to visit both establishments during my stay here? And I will talk to this Nathania about the orchard."

"I'm not concerned with any ghosts, and I haven't had any problems aside from a few things here and there." Raymond shrugs, idly so. "It's not like ghosts are real or anything like that. Just freak occurances every now and again, and nothing more. As for Cardinal, I can't say I know her too well aside from being a cousin of Sara and an in-law. Lovely lady from what I heard, though."

"Of course ghosts are real." Haruki replies to Raymond. "Why wouldn't you think they are? You're real and he's real." He gestures to Luke, who he then frowns at. "What're you trying to do? Hospitality is here. You can't cast magic on us. Everyone has to be friends."

Luke is staring at the wall behind you, poised as if he is about to leap forward. He grits his teeth. Then he seems to focus on the conversation again. "Oh er, what? Who is Cardinal again?"

"Calm it down a bit, Luke. Like Haruki said this is a place of hospitality for everybody and everyone. Whatever it is you want to do, you can just tell us." Then Raymond turns to Haruki, and he taps his horns as if it to prove it to himself. "Yeah, I'm real. That doesn't mean ghosts're real. Next you're gonna tell me that Santa Clause is the ones leaving presents for my kids, and it's not me chowing down on cookies and milk on the 25th."

Luke says, "I was ah, trying to step into Twilight. Like a ghost. Sometimes it just doesn't work, its the darndest thing! But maybe it'll work better around ghosts hmmm?"

Haruki steps back when Luke tries to leap forward, in fact he's looking for cover, just in case this is attack. He nods at Raymond. "Yes. We believe you. You don't need to magic. You can just tell us. No need for magic and magic. I've met ghosts. I've nto met Santa Claus but I'd think he's real too, one of /THEM/. There's probably lots of santa Clauses that stalk about and feast on milk and cookies."

Luke says, "How old were you when you started getting coal instead of presents?"

"The only Twilight I know is those vampire movies, and ya know what? They weren't really that bad from what I remember." Raymond nods sagaciously to that, slightly sure of his assertion. "And maybe you didn't talk to ghosts, but some other kinda thing. If there were ghosts why is it I never seen or saw one of my-" While the fairest remained stoic he clears his throat, overwarm mantle begining to flare until he calms down a bit more. "I never really got coal. Didn't get a ton of presents either until I was in high school, and my folks started earning enough to give us a bit more."

Haruki smiles at Luke. "Santa didnt' visit me ever. Not for coal or gifts." He smiles at Raymond. "You like Twilight?" He shakes his head. "I talked to a ghost. We were at the graveyard and a friend of mine made it so I could see them. I talked to one and it was weird. And really, really sad. You've not seen them because you're not gifted in the way you can see them. Most people aren't sensitive to them."

Luke says, "Do you know what? If it looks like a ghost and acts like a ghost, I'm going to call it a ghost. Now I'm not saying it is what we think it is, but if "ghosts" don't exist then the word "ghost" is up for grabs. So whatever the things we saw are, I'm calling them ghosts."

Haruki laughs at what Luke says. "Well said."

"I believe you saw what you saw, but I don't think it was a ghost." Raymond shrugs, as wrapped in disbelief as ever. "The day I actually see a ghost I'll run around town in a sundress singing 'Girls Just Wanna have Fun.'" Back to Luke his attention goes, and he asks, "Aside from the twilight thing, what else can you do? Are you any good in a fight?"

Haruki grins at Raymond. "I'll take you on that deal."

Luke says, "I've been IN a fight! ....Ah, honestly I'm better at getting out of fights."

"I never make a bet I'll lose so you're on," Raymond responds cheerily. Luke's reponse gets a brief frown, a moment of disappointment more than anything else. "A shame then, but that's not a big deal. Luke, have you any kinda interest in joining the freehold for the area?"

"I'll be right back," Haruki says. "Maybe sure the soup doesn't burn please?" And he dashes off to take care of something.

Luke "Well, I'm not part of any freehold currently. Didn't stick around where I popped out for long. Sure, why not?"

Luke moves to the soup and gives it a stir. He looks unsure if he is doing the right thing.

"If you're really interested the current corwn his from my court. Queen Meredith." His chest puffs up with brief pride that the queen comes from his court. "There are a few laws to be mindful of, same as any other freehold. We do keep it written down if you actually wish to look through it all, and not be strongarmed into something you're not ready for or don't want in your life."

Luke says, "I'm a bit of a slow reader, but I think I better see the fine print. No offence, but I've been tripped up before."

"That can work, sure. Just gimme a few to go upstairs and see what I can find, and you can take all the time you need with it. Days, weeks, months." He shrugs. "It took my sister-in-law a bit for to make her decision on it, and I don't think every body is just gonna sign up without knowing what's what. Especially when we want you to know these things." Raymond nods to that, returns back to the chair to grab those blankets again, and departs for the stairs.

Luke reclines on the comfiest furniture in the room, and waits for his companions to return

Raymond eventually returns with a packet of papers in tow, and the blankets no longer in his grasp. He looks around for Luke, making sure to hand the papers to him, and then he goes off to the kitchen to check on Haruki's food. When it looks like things are done there he turns down the heat, and heads to the door. Luke gets a wave and a smile from him. "Was nice meeting you, Luke. I gotta head out, though, and take my kids to school."