You've got to give until you get (open)

[ossie_oswald]

CHARACTERS: Ossie and YOU!
DATE: Post-excursion
LOCATION: Various
SITUATION: Ossie concocts some bright ideas
WARNINGS: Aftermath of excessive drinking

You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe

Ossie hasn’t felt the full brunt of a hangover in something like sixty-ish years. It’s a rough guess; one day he woke up for another morning of torment in Arcadia without a pounding headache. Or perhaps just not feeling it anymore. Like an evolutionary adaption on a much smaller scale. Or maybe his liver is magic now. Who knows? Not him.
The point is that he swans out of bed as put-together as he always is, rising early with Giles. He has a plan thought of last night and he’s intending on following through. Write drunk and edit sober, as they say.
At around midday, there’s a knock at your door. A small care package of painkillers and bottled water has been left for you, along with a small wrapped sweet from Scoops. Ossie can be seen dropping off a similar package at the doors neighbouring yours.

You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive

You might be wanting a nice quiet breakfast/brunch/’whenever you wake up’ meal to deal with the worst of the Never Have I Ever game. TOO BAD, HERE’S OSWALD. He’s just going to sit himself down across from you with something to snack on for himself, asking something to the effect of “how have you pulled up?” “are you feeling alright?” “do you want me to get you some water?”
He might be mother hen-ing a bit.

Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet

Ossie’s on a tear. He can’t help it. Once he gets going with the gift-giving he’s a veritable little Saint Nick. Even if you aren’t hungover, or really doing much of anything, you’re not safe from Ossie.
Catch him leaving a little packet of trail mix in amongst your belongings if you leave them unattended, or dropping it near you while you’re doing something else.

Leave the bottle full for others, thank you kindly, desert Pete

Wildcard!

Comments

[ossie_oswald]

It's a good thing Ossie had his existential crisis about this being/not being Arcadia before now, because if so he would've been right in the midst of one trying to categorize April. Probably a Darkling Mirrorskin from some nightmarish Durance that scrubbed away one's identity. As it stands, they said they aren't either, and Ossie is inclined to believe them.

"Fair enough, I suppose. Not everywhere can have such neat categories as we do back home. And I imagine if we were alike in nature in any way, you would've said. Which makes me rather curious as to how you know of us and our customs. Of course, you don't owe me the explanation," he clarifies, because apparently he has to, here.

[tempingainteasy]

The difference, perhaps, between April and all but the coolest Mirrorskin is that April prefers to be like this.

Anyway, April is fortunately more confident in their ability to escape a conversation than they are with debt, and they nod, leaning against their doorframe.

"It's funny, what seems to be universal, isn't it?" they say in answer. "That said, I suppose 'entitled group of beings with as much power as they have self importance' is broad enough to fit something in many worlds."

That doesn't answer the question, and while April enjoys being the one saying annoyingly cryptic things sometimes, this shit is going to come up eventually:

"Anyway, worked at a paranormal research institute, we had procedures written up for anything that might come knocking. The world's full of Strange things."

They cross their arms, taking a long moment to add one more concession, since this is the whole reason they're down this road: "... That, and it's a big pond out there. If you're a strange duck, it's good to be aware of the geese and the swans."

(Look, the waterfront was a great photo-op spot, alright? So what if they got into birdwatching for a bit?)

[ossie_oswald]

"Ah," that does in fact explain a lot. He's not sure if he should be... relieved or more concerned that someone clearly supernatural would be working for an institute like that. It just seems like a bad idea from the onset. Keeping the people Lost from every outsider was something others took far more seriously than he did, but it still didn't mean he was ringing up every bally tabloid and cryptozoologist he could find in the phone book.

"As good a reason to know as any, I suppose. Although don't go spreading it around, will you? I've been fairly open about what I am to those who've asked, but it's still my story to tell, and it's not a pleasant one."

[tempingainteasy]

"Tell you what, don't go blabbing about whatever you've picked up about me to anyone either and we'll call it square." April says.

Given his nature, they'd guess he'd be able to retain a little more than average about them, so why not nip it here while they both have the chance -

Suddenly aware of the notepad and pen still in their hands, they untuck their hands just enough to leave their arms crossed in an X in front of them.

"No signing for anything, we'll stick to the honour system." they add.

Or mutually assured destruction, April could work with either one, but the former is more flexible... And less stressful.

[ossie_oswald]

"Mum's the word, as they say. And thank you for the trust, I'll ensure that it isn't misplaced."

Ossie inclines his head towards them.

"I suppose 'can I have your name' would be a distasteful joke under the circs, but is there something I may call you by?"

[tempingainteasy]

April's arms settle back into position on time for the question, and while the rest of their face is passively indistinct, there is the clear impression of a grin.

"Oh, no worries, there isn't anything there to be 'had' in the first place." they say.

The smile ebbs back to a normal level of clarity (at least, for April, which is 'there if you're looking), and they tip their head. "But April works."

Sometimes, April finds it interesting to see how the name sticks with people: if the fact that it's the same as a month will be what gets held onto, or if it'll be the first letter or number syllables that steer the guessing game. But with other strange things like themselves, a name can settle in with a few encounters - or less, depending on their nature. Maybe the metaphorical goose feathers stuck to this guy will speed up the process of acclimating to April's identity issues.

"What about you? Any preferences?" They ask, since it feels fair.

Yeah, he said his name while narrating his contract, but the name he gives on a contract and the one he's actually comfortable giving to an identity-ambiguous creature could be different things.

[ossie_oswald]

"My friends call me Ossie, so I must insist that you do too."

He's got April to smile, so that's a little victory to keep close to heart, even if they don't quite feel comfortable with him yet. They'll get there.

"Do you imbibe beverages, April? Or eat? Once I'm finished delivering these, I couldn't tempt you to talk over tea, could I? You of course would be in control of procuring your own refreshments and you'd owe me nothing for it, wot."

[tempingainteasy]

Don't look now, but April actually... almost... laughs at that.

Just a little snort, but it's still a sight more positive than how they started this meeting (and probably another win for Ossie).

"Sure I do, and sounds fair to me." they say.