Posts by MERLOT T.M.

"I'd like one." He still has yet to complete the tasks given to him by Sangria last week, but he doesn't see harm in getting another to do for once he completes those. The servalline feline takes a seat as he waits for Jaymoon to respond.

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Merlot doesn't always know quite how to speak to children. He's managed to get by thus far, at least with his own children, but he knows that he isn't the most comforting presence. He does his best, but he also knows that there have been children who find him intimidating. He doesn't blame them, but it doesn't make it easier to try to help them relax. That won't stop him from approaching, though; if Sorin is going to be sticking around, then he'll need to get used to seeing all of the members of the group around. The savannah approaches, quiet for now as he takes a seat, simply sitting nearby and waiting to see how Raeliana's brother reacts to the sudden influx of people coming to greet him.

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This time around, Merlot is prepared. They made sure to gather a few of their extra piercings that people could use—none that used to belong to Nadine, never those, those are for family only—and they have them in the pouch they carry around with them, just in case anyone asks them to give them piercings yet again. This time, they're working on the other ear; they have a small golden sun stud, with a chain that attaches it to a golden cuff that they can also pierce through, so that it stays. They carefully grip the needle that they sterilized with their fire and lift it up to their ear, pushing it through quickly while it's still hot. A quiet hiss escapes them but they don't flinch, instead pulling it out and lowering it to make the second hole. With this one they don't notice the pain quite as much, given that they're already feeling the sting of the first. They place down the needle and grab the earring, putting each part through the respective hole. They don't have anything to look at themself in, not right now, but they can hope for now that it looks alright.

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While the borders are regularly patrolled, Merlot doesn't think they've actually seen full groups go out together in a while. Of course, one person is just as effective, given that enemies rarely show up at the border, but it's a way to spend time with clanmates, right? Besides, they have to host a patrol for their task, and it would be strange to be alone while completing a weekly task; tasks are for the one they're given to, they know, but they also know that they're often for others, too. So, they may as well take a few of their fellow Solarians with them. The savannah lingers near the entrance of the camp, hesitating for only a moment before they call out, "I'll be heading out to check the borders. Anyone is free to join me." Maybe they can ask collect some herbs while they're out; there's no harm in stopping on their way back, right?

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As expected, someone arrives. Merlot isn't too surprised; creatures waiting at the borders is not an uncommon occurrence, and with the arrival of a dragon recently, the size of the stranger in front of him isn't too much of a shock either. He glances over the lupurca, observing him for a moment before he speaks. "Who are you, and what can the Kingdom do for you?" He's uninterested, really, but it's important to make sure anyone who shows up feels welcome, so it doesn't matter whether he wants to be the one standing her doing this or not. It's his responsibility.

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'Take care of me', she says. For a child, it isn't the strangest request, and yet he's taken aback by the blunt way in which she phrases it nonetheless. He hopes he's doing alright in hiding the perturbed reaction, keeping a mask of indifference on his face as he listens to Lavinia speak. She seems as if she wants to get to know everyone, so once Meenah and Maeve have finished introducing themselves, he gives his own name. "Merlot," he says, giving a smile, though it's the slightest bit forced.

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"Not at the moment," he admits. He's tempted to explain why, but he's not sure whether Hades had mentioned their kids to her, so he stays quiet on the subject for now. "I'll make sure to send him your way when he's available, though." The conversation flows onwards, moving on to another topic. "We've... we've been better, actually. Marigold has stepped down for now as a result of an injury, we've sustained raids from both the Ruins and the Exiles, and there's, um..." He hesitates, then decides against saying anything. He doesn't want to have to talk about his brother, not now, not when his murder is still so recent. "We've had a loss, recently," he says instead, keeping it vague. "But we're pushing through, and Sangria is still standing strong and keeping us going." He's not sure where he or many of his fellow Solarians would be if not for her.

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"I'd like a task," Merlot requests. He's slowly working through the ones that he's received recently, but it's always good to have some extra ideas prepared. He takes a seat as he waits, glancing over at his sister momentarily as she speaks, but otherwise not reacting much.

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It'd good to see activity is picking up somewhat. They can't say they're particularly glad about some of the reasons for it, but it's working, and that's what matters. They do hear their name mentioned, and their warning is finally lifted; their work is paying off. Now, they just need to keep it up so they don't fall back into those habits.

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For as long as he's lived in the Kingdom, Merlot has followed Helios. He doesn't see why one wouldn't; though, he's biased in his thinking, given his interest in religion from a young age. It makes sense that he would hold an interest when he grew up in the Ruins, surrounded by the talk and rhetoric of the Red God. As the savannah walks over to the altar, he begins with his offerings. He has a small bowl, which is filled with rose petals and a few sprigs of lavender and hyacinth, as well as a few drops of blood, which will hopefully burn away before anyone notices them. Despite leaving the Ruins and disagreeing with their practices, he can't fully give up his respect for one of his deities. A small golden fire lights the herbs on fire and allows them to begin to smoke, while he turns towards the basket and places an amber stone inside.

With his offerings given, he moves away from the altar, finding a pillow for himself. He lowers himself to the ground, closes his eyes, and bows his head to pray.

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"Preferably none of the above." The Healinghand joins the group; he may as well help, since he can inform the rest of the patrol of which herbs Solaris actually needs to collect right now. "We're running low on poppy seeds, sorrel, and if we can find it, marjoram as well." He's not sure what the others know about herbs, but Helier, at least, seems to know something about them. The two of them could point out what each of them looks like to Namjoon and Makariy, if needed.

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Merlot isn't sure when things shifted and Solarians began announcing which guilds they'd be joining. He had never done such a thing, and yet he still was a member of the guilds he chose, regardless of the fact that he hadn't stated it for everyone in camp to hear. It seems that it's become a regular thing, though, so he may as well welcome the boy, right? "Good for you," he states. "Any plans to get started with now that you're a member of the guilds?" He knows some new members tend to have ideas right of the bat, but he isn't sure if that's the case with Makariy.

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"A net would work for the leaves," he says, agreeing subtly with Helier heading out to find one. "We also need to clean the stone itself; do we have any spare fabric laying around? We could use that." Sangria specifically had asked if she could do anything, and he's sure three people working on the fountain is enough, so he asks, "Would you be alright beginning to weed the paths? Once we're done with the fountain, we can join you in finishing that up and beginning to work on weeding the garden itself, as well." With tasks given, he's hoping this can move quickly. Maybe they can finish by the end of the day, and he can start planting new herbs and flowers in the garden within a few days.

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A few of their Clanmates answer rather quickly. They glance between them, give a nod, and then turn away, back towards the exit of the camp. "We should head out, then. If anyone else wants to join, they can always catch up with us." With that said, they stand and begin moving, leading the way out, and then begin speaking once more. "I don't think we need to check any borders except the northern; no one ever shows up by the water, after all. I was hoping we could grab some herbs on our way back, once we've finished what we're heading out to do, if everyone is alright with that plan." They give a quick look back towards the other members of the party but don't let their gaze linger, instead turning their head back to look forwards once more so they can make sure they know where they're going.

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Three Solarians join them, none of which seem interested in piercings of their own. It's a stark difference from last time, where they were asked by several people to pierce their ears, and hadn't quite had the chance. It's strange to be the center of attention while not doing something of use, so they hesitate before responding. Eventually, they say, "Thank you." It's directed at the compliments sent their way by both Resin and Jaymoon. They then glance over at Meenah, who seems to be hanging back for some reason. They'd been wary of her at first, thought it had mostly been due to her treating them as family when they didn't know her. They appreciate her holding back on it now, and have nothing against her. "Nothing to say, Meenah?" they tease from afar, tilting their head, waiting for her to come closer.

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While Merlot doesn't know Junebug all that well, he is aware of the fact that it was Junebug who chose flowers as a theme for the names of his and Sangria's children. While he doesn't know him, he knows his ster, and that's enough to make an educated guess that June holds such an interest, and this only confirms it. The savannah walks over to join his Clanmates, curious about what he's doing, and sees he seems cautious about what he's doing. "I've made one before," he comments, then hesitates for a moment before he makes an offer. "I could help, if you need it." If he's turned away, he's alright with that; there's no harm in trying, though.

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Merlot, it seems, is too late to help. He was out when someone had come to fetch the Healinghands, and as such hadn't been able to assist medically. At least, now, he's here to help get the child back to camp and to the infirmary. Sangria has already had a met ordered to be made and food and water to be prepared, so there's nothing else he can do but help move her. "Raeliana, if you're done, can you fetch Meenah? I can try to help get her back to camp, but Meenah would make the whole ordeal much easier for us, and for this child." It's odd to refer to her without a name, but he doesn't know who this is, so it isn't as if he can refer to her any other way. In the meantime, he moves towards the hellhound, trying to decide where seems like the safest place to lift her from.

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It isn't the most appealing thing, in Merlot's mind, but they know they should probably tag along. Their focus might be the medicine guild, but they should be more involved, both with the other guilds and with their Clanmates. "I'm coming along as well," they tell him after a moment of thought. They don't have anything else they need to do at the moment, so they might as well, right? They wonder, though, when they'd be going. is it right away, or later on? They assume Jaymoon will explain further before they leave, so they decide against speaking up to ask about it.

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This task was assigned to them a few weeks ago, and it's taken them longer than they'd like to admit to finally get started. At the very least, they're doing it now, right? Merlot has a few baskets in front of them as they sit in front of their home, each of them mostly empty with a few items inside. They have different objects and miscellaneous things scattered about around them, and they're searching through to find what they need. Right now, they're putting bundles of Expanse-native herbs in each of the baskets. Their allies don't have their herbs, for the most part, so it's best to make sure they send some their way, in case they ever need any of them. It's better for them to have it and not need it than the reverse, in the savannah's mind. They put the final bundle into the last basket, then look around once more, trying to decide what else they should include.

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