motion sickness*

Ignacio sighed softly. "We have many troubles in Lunar Cove. We cannot forget them, but I suppose we must try to find our own way between them," he trailed off, but after a beat, he broke into a laugh. He brought up a hand to give the other's shoulder a squeeze. "Daniel, Daniel...you do not insult me, I promise. Some Fae are tricksters. What all have humans written of Robin Goodfellow, hm?" He gestured at the books around them. "I am not often a trickster. I would not like to be giant either, non. I have my enchantments, oui, but...they do not tend toward mischief, you understand?" He hummed. "You are not rambling. But to tell you the truth, I do not know what a 'Baby Yoda' is. It is a small green person?" Ignacio grinned, an easy expression.

"I would like that very much, beau gosse. I must thank Pizza Joe, oui. I have a second date with a handsome, honest man, one with a noble jawline, a jawline I now find I can color red rather easily. Sometimes my luck does serve well."

He gave a cheekily innocent roll of his eyes, despite his earlier assertions that he was above mischief. "That is kind. Do you know...do you know tools well? You must come visit. I will show you the boxes and the greenhouse and the barn. I do agree, except for the one. Hope is...it is the roots, yes, but we must make a better day, yes?" Ignacio seemed pleased when Daniel took his hand, allowing himself to be led and staying close even when they stopped at the shelf. He craned his neck upward to read over the other's shoulder. "Elytis, no? In my father's library. Translated into Spanish. Do you know the poet lived in Paris for a time? Studied at La Sorbonne. What does it mean to you?"

"I believe you would still be quite poetic. Being well-read is just a plus in all of this. There's an ... elegance with how you string words together. It's beautiful." His gaze softened at Ignacio's words. He liked how insightful the Fae was. Daniel felt like he had to apologize for everything. He carried guilt that wasn't his to bear. "For my own embarrassment? When you put it like that ... I guess there isn't anything wrong with feeling flustered or just feeling in general. So many of us get in our heads or worry about showing too much of ourselves that we forget we're human. We're alive, we're supposed to feel everything and anything. You find my blushing charming?"

Daniel grinned easily. Any worries that he had rolled off his back like water. Which was an odd state to be in, given Daniel naturally settled into a place of anxiety. He was always waiting for the metaphorical shoe, but it hadn't come this time. "Okay, I'm glad. It's the last thing I would want to do. Humans have been writing about us for centuries, haven't they?" He looked to where the Shakespeare books were put away, then back at Ignacio. "But sometimes, I would assume when the mood strikes? Being a giant is very uncomfortable. Not a lot of space to move. I'm happy to be normal-sized again. You said you can only tell the truth. What other enhancements do you have?" Daniel laughed. "Oh, yes, he's a tiny green person. His name is actually Grogu; they just call him Baby Yoda because, well, he looks like the baby version of Yoda. It's, uh, it's a Star Wars thing. If you'd like, we can watch the show he's from." He took a breath, realizing he was rambling now. "If you don't mind nerdy endeavors, that is."

The blush on his cheeks only deepened. A bright cherry shade stained his skin, but Daniel refused to apologize for it this time. Instead, he kept his bright smile and nodded, his face burning. "I think I should also extend a thank you to him. I never imagined taking a chance on a lock and key event could lead me to someone so ... incredible. Well, I hope you like the color red. You'll be seeing it often."

"Oh yes, I do. When I was in the woods, I spent a lot of time tinkering. I'm a secret handyman when I'm not a bookstore owner. It would be my honor to visit. You painted such a vibrant picture when you spoke of your bees and greenhouse. I've wanted to see it ever since. Yes, we must make better days. Every day can be a better one if we try." For a moment, he considered dropping their hands. Daniel got inside his head, as he usually did, and began overthinking the situation. Instead of listening to his anxieties, he listened to his gut. His hand remained wrapped around Ignacio's even as they stood before the books. "Correct. Fascinating, what other books did he have? You know, I didn't know that. I might have to do some research now."

The vampire paused for a moment. "Well, it captures the quiet, haunting sorrow of emotional detachment. To me, it means that the weight of a relationship drifting apart often feels heavier and more painful than a sudden, dramatic end. It's more heartbreaking to watch something you love fade before your very eyes. The end is inevitable, you feel it, and all you can do is watch."

Straightening, he moved toward the controls, starting to get things ready. "We'll take it slow at first, let you get used to it. If you start feeling even a little off, just say something, okay? I won't go too hard on flight mode."

"This is my year of being more adventurous. Nothing screams that more than a boat ride. Yes, it is. I have no doubt that it will be." The small ripple of waves under the boat made Daniel feel uneasy for a moment. In his youth, he had been on more boats, but with modern technology, he had forgotten his sea legs over time. "Thank you. It's been .. quite sometime since I've been on a boat. If anyone knows about sea legs, it's you." The vampire leaned against the boat, hoping that would steady him. "I think it's a fitting name. A bit more sentimental than a few of the names I've heard for boats over the years. I do. Nature is very healing. It reminds you that the world is so much bigger than you. What made you love the water so much?" Daniel asked, his smile soft as he nodded. "Not silly at all. I can understand the sentiment, actually. Sometimes there are things, places, and people that we just feel drawn to. It's a part of us; we just can't explain why."

Daniel gave a tiny, playful salute to Jonah. "Aye, Aye Captain. First signs of uneasiness, I'll let you know."

Option A where: Lunar Cove Public Library

"It's the alphabet, Bartholomew," Rivkah said with an exasperated sigh. "Not rocket science." She plucked the book he'd unceremoniously shoved onto the shelf, placing Fitzgerald, F. Scott between von Volkman, Richard and Vonnegut, Kurt. If she had her way, they wouldn't be in the same section, but the public library was organized differently to her own personal library, and even the one at the university. She pursed her lips. "I know you know your alphabet." The boy, sheepish, looked up at her and shrugged. He probably wanted to be here much less so than she wanted him here, sorting her shelves incorrectly, but the boy had was here for community service, so it wasn't as if she could send him away.

"Sorry about that, Misses R," Bartholomew very thoughtfully and melodramatically said. Rivkah just barely refrained from rolling her eyes.

"It's Miss," she corrected with a hiss, "and no you're not. Don't lie to me." She leaned down close. "I see right through you, Barry. Now put the books away properly or I'll make you redo the entire section."

She wasn't a cold person, per say, but she knew the type of kid Bartholomew was-- she'd been just like him, at one point-- and she knew a gentle hand was only something the troubled teen would take advantage of. So, tough love it was.

The sharp, shrill ding! of the front desk bell pulled her away from her post, towering over the teen slumped on the floor. Unfurling her arms, she headed towards the front. "Hello," she greeted, putting back on her easy, relaxed smile, "how can I help you today?"

---

Option B

where: New Leaf Bookstore

As Rivkah dragged her fingers along the spines of the books on the shelf, she couldn't help but pluck out each one out of place and put them back in where they belonged, if it was close by. Perhaps she just couldn't help it. Every now and then, she'd pull one out and add it to the growing stack in her own arms-- some new titles, some old, some she already owned twice over. It didn't really matter to her what genre or author or section, they all went in the pile if they caught her eye. She had at least four walls filled top to bottom with shelves of books, and while some might call it hoarding, she liked to think of it as an abundance. A collection, though she kept the actual rare and unique tomes in a separate room, filled with only two walls of shelves.

Her finger paused on an old, threadbare spine and tapped against it before tugging it out. Next to her, she noticed someone perusing the shelves as well, but when she noticed that they had not pulled out a single book yet, she leaned over and whispered (because bookstores were library adjacent, of course), "Need any recommendations? Or are we just window shopping today?"

option b.

New Leaf was not a bookstore he had built from bare bones like the store he had previously owned in New York, yet Daniel had worked hard the last few months to create a place he was proud of. In the one hundred years he had been on this earth, being a bookstore owner wasn't his dream job. However, he would be content if this were where he spent the rest of eternity.

Daniel had been in the back office looking over recent orders. He could feel his eyes starting to strain, even with the blue-light glasses he had on. The orders were nearly finished. If he took a small break, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Daniel made his way to the front of the store. A smile danced on his features as he saw familiar patrons make their way around the store. It was a sight that he would never get tired of. He made his way to the shelves and began organizing out of habit. "I'm always happy to hear what your latest recommendations are for me." Daniel smiled softly as he turned to look at Rivkah.

At the question, he gave a small shake of his head. "No. I wouldn't know where to begin." His gestured briefly over the shelves of fiction and non-fiction stretching neatly along the walls before returning, "Unless you happen to stock law books, this isn't exactly my usual territory. Always been more Leyla's thing. She's made a few attempts to broaden my reading habits with some success but re-reading classics is favoured over anything new."

Daniel wasted no time placing the books on the counter. "They've already been paid for." The store he had in New York had been a great trial run on how to run a bookstore. Efficiency was key. "There are quite a few options here. It can be overwhelming." The vampire took pride in the selection of books he had crafted for patrons. New Leaf had just about everything and anything a reader's heart desired. "I might have a few. If there aren't any in stock, I can easily order them. She's quite the adventurous reader. What has she suggested recently that you've enjoyed? There's nothing wrong with that. They are classics for a reason. There are certain ones I come back to every year."

"No, I don't, but we're both still here regardless, aren't we?" He countered with a small smile. "That is true. You made a great first impression years ago, so you don't have to try that hard now." In truth, Daniel had already made up his mind about joining the Clan a few months ago. When he first arrived in Lunar Cove many years ago, he would have never joined the Clan. Hate was a strong word, one that Daniel did not throw around lightly. It took a lot for him to dislike someone, but he could say with full confidence that he had hated Theodore Moore. The man was the main reason he had refused to join, and a big reason as to why he had left town in the first place. Coming back to see that Meena was now the leader was the first thing that changed his mind. Daniel sat there listening to every word Meena said. He hung on to each syllable and made sure to keep eye contact with her to let her know she was being heard. Daniel had spent the better part of his life living in solitude. The loss of his family, his wife, it was all too much for him to bear. Eternity was a lonely sentence. It felt easier to detach himself from connections to spare himself from the inevitable goodbyes. Lunar Cove had made it hard for him to remain a loner. He had formed friendships he would fight tooth and nail to keep. The Clan was a chance at community, and maybe, deep down, that's what Daniel needed all along. He was tired of denying himself something good as a form of punishment for whatever sins he believed he had committed to deserve an empty lifetime. "I'm a stickler for the rules. You don't have to worry about my planning anything of the sort." He teased. "Yes, I'd like that - I'd like to be part of the Clan. I can have the forms signed and returned to you before midnight."

Lounged in a chair, wine in hand, Georgiana's mind began to wander. Her eyes on the beautiful green foliage above, and the occasional bird that flew by. The relaxed expression on her face interrupted by the suggestion to invite the public here. "No." Her answer was stern despite the awareness that Daniel was teasing. Her home was sacred, a place she kept for herself and those she chose to allow into her private life. She pushed away the vile thought of strangers anywhere near her birds or books with a long drink from the glass Daniel had just refreshed.

"Always so concerned with others." The older vampire mused as her head tipped towards Daniel. A movement that sent her dark locks spilling over the chair. "I remain unscathed." Her voice took out a more empathic tone. The sound of which was a rarity indeed. "With a heart so big I am unsurprised to hear you say that, but worry not for me sweet friend. I myself am quite formidable."

Daniel was not someone to hold grudges. In fact, he was probably too understanding for his own good. With a friendship that transcended decades, Daniel knew that Gia's words were true. There was no second-guessing about whether she would have found him or not because he knew that answer. He would have done anything for her as well.

A sensation of peace settled over the vampire. It was hard to have any worries when you were met with the beautiful scenery of lush foliage. The aviary was a little slice of paradise. A hidden gem that deserved to be kept from the public. He hummed softly in agreement. Despite his teasing, Daniel would have never asked Gia to do such a thing. Her estate was sacred, as it should have been. The years of love she poured into her space weren't meant for everyone. Daniel was just a rare, lucky one.

"You have always told me I care too much." One of these days, his big heart was going to be his downfall. Until then, Daniel would still care too much for the well-being of others. "That's good to hear." His features softened as he swirled the wine in his glass. The liquid moved in hypnotic circles. "I'll always worry about you, Georgiana." She was all he had left of the life he lived when he was merely Daniel Mansouri and not the man who moved through space like a ghost. For that, he'd throw himself into the fire if it meant someone like Gia, a person he loved dearly, would remain warm. "I know that anyone who dared to challenge you would regret it ... if they lived afterwards."

"But for now, perhaps we can be Daniel and Ignacio, hm? It was a difficult night. Masks can fall away until the mood is more festive to don them." Ignacio hummed softly, expression growing somewhat pensive. "I do promise that this honey is...simply honey. No tricks. Magical, oui, but...figurative, you understand?" Ignacio smiled. "Good. Good. I am glad. I am also sorry I was unable to find...the small bat. I did try. I hope you will not hold it against me too strongly."

Ignacio cocked his head to one side. "Pleasant surprises, though, yes? I am...stalwart. The bees are well. Difficult times do not mean boxes need no repairing or plants need no watering. Business is proper, but we must, I suppose, also allow moments for grief. I grieve for the injured." He trailed off. "Come. Give me the tour. Show me the books I must read." Ignacio held out a hand as if for Daniel to take to lead him along.

Daniel smiled as Ignacio's infectious laughter fluttered through the air. It made his insides feel sweet and syrupy, like the honey that sat before him. He could now feel his ears warming up as he put the correlation together. "That person at the masquerade was correct. You are very poetic. I, uhm, I don't mind that. Does it?" Daniel asked, touching his cheek. If he were any more obvious, he swore he would have turned into a tomato right then and there. "I suppose this is where I warn you, I get flustered quite easily."

"Daniel and Ignacio sounds perfect to me. It was. I'm glad it's over. I'm fine with keeping my mask away for a while." At the realization of his words, his eyes widened with an apologetic look. "Oh, I know it is! I have nothing against Fae food. I like Fae food very much. I just didn't like being a giant ... or naked ... or squishing Baby Yoda. I'm sure it's going to be the most magical honey I have ever eaten in my life. I'm just - rambling, aren't I?" He let out a nervous laugh. "I won't hold it against you. I was going to take you on a second date regardless. If that's something you'd like."

His features softened as he nodded. "Yes, very pleasant. I'm glad that the bees are well. If you need help patching anything up, I'm happy to offer my services. It never gets easier anytime something happens. All we can do is be there for one another and hope for a better day." Daniel felt his heart leap in his chest as Ignacio offered his hand. He borrowed the bravery of someone who could be nicknamed Capitaine and grabbed Ignacio's hand to lead him around. "Well, I think the poetry section might be the best place to start." Daniel wandered to the section, his hands gliding over the books until he landed on one to pull out. He opened the book to the first page he found and read. "No, it isn't death we will confront. But the tiniest autumnal raindrop. An obscure feeling the smell of wet earth in our souls that grow continually farther apart."

An addiction that she didn't expect crept into her waking hours and stayed with long after she closed her eyes, it was only during sleep that she could stop thinking about ichor but her sleep was often disturbed by the clench of her chest and she tossed and turned while trying to think of all the reasons she should not inject the dangerous substance and yet craving it all the same. It felt like she moved on auto pilot, faking a smile in conversations and staring long into space once left alone. It didn't matter how good drinking blood made her feel, all she could think about was ichor and so she found herself at the bookstore, hoping there would be a book that could help with addiction. "Do you have any books about overcoming addiction?" She felt like a lowlife being at this point, she had a good life and yet she knew she could throw it all away in a fleeting moment.

It was another peaceful day for Daniel at New Leaf. The drama of the masquerade no longer felt like a fresh wound. It had finally begun to scab over and heal. He kept moving forward with his daily life. Taking care of the store stopped him from spiraling about the little things, the embarrassing himself in front of the whole town. The vampire was trying harder to be better about not dwelling on things he couldn't control. He would never stop being a worrier, but he could learn to lessen what he worried about. Daniel froze in his spot when he heard Ivy's question come from the front door. It took him off guard to the point he found himself slowly setting the book in his hand down and turning to give her his full attention. "Yes, uhm, quite a few. Is there a specific one?" He asked. It was a delicate topic. Daniel was trying not to make a big deal about it, but also lead with compassion. "I can offer a few I've heard work well. Uhm, if you need to talk, I have tea in the back ... if you'd like to do that."

Pushing his way through the door, Ignacio adjusted the leather tote bag draped across his shoulder. It was well-made but evidently also well-loved, having been the thing to hold the meager belongings the pixie was able to carry along with him when making that first journey from France to Lunar Cove. Its contents clanked when he walked.

Walking up to the counter, then, Ignacio offered a gentle, teasing smile. "Bonjour, mon Capitaine." He reached into his bag and placed two jars of honey, one wildflower and one citrus, on the tabletop. "You had a difficult evening the other day. I am very sorry for it. I am very sorry for everyone. And I hope you are...coping well. I cannot fix the heaviness in this place, but I hope this might make it a little bit better. We must try for little betters." He hummed. "Life is real. Life is earnest. And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul."

Daniel considered himself lucky this time around. He wasn't suffering any life-threatening werewolf bites; however, his ego was slightly bruised. It could have been worse. He often reminded himself of that when he spiraled too deeply into shame, but it could also have been better. As a natural introvert, being the center of attention before the chaos ensued was one of Daniel's worst nightmares. It's one of the reasons he had stayed closed to his shop for the past few days. If he could avoid being reminded that he was a pirate lacking clothes, then he'd be happy.

The bell to the front door rang, and Daniel dropped the books he had been organizing. His usual customer service greeting lodged in his throat when he saw Ignacio at the front counter. Instead, he blushed slightly at the new mon Capitaine nickname. "Hello, great Pan. It's nice to see you." His eyes immediately fell onto the two honey jars before him. His smile grew a little more. "Oh, uh, it's okay. The chances you take with magical food. It was .. a lot, but I am coping the best I can. I think my embarrassment has finally subsided. Thank you for dropping in to check on me. I appreciate it more than you know. I have no doubt honey made from the happiest bees will brighten my spirits." He carefully turned one of the jars around to get a better look at the honey. "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. You're full of many surprises, Ignacio. How are you holding up?"

Ken's gaze drifted along the rows of books as he moved through the shop, fingertips brushing the occasional titles without actually seeing the content they held. Reading, for him, had always been a matter of function rather than pleasure, his leather-bound law books lined in precise order back in his office served a purpose. He would insist, if pressed, that he read them for leisure as well, but Leyla had felt differently, and when they moved in together, her books came with her, boxes and boxes of them. And somehow, despite already having too many, she was always looking for more.

Lifting his eyes, Ken caught sight of the man behind the counter and adjusted course. As he approached, a brief mental dossier assembled itself from the little information he had: vampire, acquainted with the Yildiz sisters and by extension, Leyla. That was enough. "Hello," he said, tone polite and formal. "Have Leyla's orders come in yet? I know she mentioned she might stop by, but I was around and thought I'd check."

Daniel was never happier than when he was in New Leaf. He was happy to be back in his store after a whirlwind start to the new year. It took a few months, but Daniel was starting to feel like his old self. Of course, that old self wasn’t exactly someone he could return to anyway. A metamorphosis had taken place over the last few months. One that was for the better.

The bell to the front door chimed, a sound that became his favorite to hear. Daniel set the books down that he was putting away on the counter as Ken came into view. They had briefly crossed paths from Thanksgiving to New Year's. His connection with Saf and Kiraz is what led them to be in similar circles. With Leyla as a regular at the store, it was only a matter of time before he officially met Ken Matusi. "Yes, they have actually. They arrived this morning." He turned to the small shelf behind the counter where he stored orders. "Will you be looking around for yourself today as well?"

The sky lingered in a stretch of stubborn cloud, despite the season having turned it didn't quite feel like it yet. Wishes for summer would stay as such, but spring carried a quiet brightness and a subtle warmth that Jonah refused to ignore.

He made his way to the wharf early, more out of habit than anything. Dives had grown fewer due to circumstance, and even his time in the water for leisure had been tempered, partly given the weather but largely not. Still, worry over rough currents and restless tides could only keep him away for so long, the pull of the ocean was harder to resist than any injury or near misses. Especially not when he would have a friend on board.

Jonah glanced up just in time to catch sight of Daniel approaching, lifting a hand in greeting as he fed a length of rope through his fingers. "Morning! Glad you made it!" Truth be told, he wasn't sure how he had convinced the man, not that it took much effort but was glad all the same. "How are we? Sea legs on? She's a smooth ride though, don't worry." He gave the vessel a fond pat before glancing back at Daniel, "Meet my mini yellow submarine," he said with a light laugh, "I thought I was pretty funny naming it."

The return of spring meant that changes were on the horizon. It felt as though change had been the central theme in Daniel’s life recently. For the most part, the changes that had come about were positive. Moving back to Lunar Cove is something the vampire never thought would happen. The little life he had created for himself in his cabin was one he had grown accustomed to. He thought the transition was going to be harder, but to his surprise, it hadn’t been. Becoming the owner of New Leaf had brought about a renewed sense of purpose and perhaps even healed wounds he didn’t know were there. What really made the move to Lunar Cove easy was the new friends he had made. His circle had been small for so long. Something he had done so intentionally. To his surprise, people seemed to enjoy his company, and he enjoyed theirs in return.

Nature was a place where Daniel could find solitude. Whether it was in his little cabin in the woods, in a field somewhere, or by the sea. It was easy to forget how small your problems were when the world was so vast and beautiful. He had never been on a boat before. Right now, he was in a phase of trying new things. When Jonah offered, Daniel jumped at the chance. So much of his time was spent alone; it was time to finally be in the company of others. Thankfully, he had made some pretty great friends.

He waved as Jonah came into sight. A bright, happy smile on his face. He had become quite fond of Jonah and Rohan’s company. So, Daniel was more than enthusiastic to spend the afternoon with his new friend. “Good morning. Thank you for inviting me again.” He replied as he stepped onto the boat. It took him a second to adjust to the movement, but eventually he stood still without any problems. “I haven’t had the chance to use them, but I am excited to get them adjusted to things. Oh, fantastic.” Daniel had been slightly worried about getting seasick. Which was a lot less worry than his usual. “Mini yellow submarine.” He let the words roll around, getting used to the name. “I think it’s a perfect name for a boat. When did you get it?”

Being back in Lunar Cove felt like an endless cycle of deja vu. Returning didn’t feel like a new adventure; it felt like he was returning home. It was a comforting feeling when home had felt like an empty word for quite a long time. His world had been intentionally small for so long. It was nice to be around others for once. Though he would always crave his solitude in the end. “I can tell. You’re amazing at it, which makes sense.” He laughed a little awkwardly to himself. If only for pointing out the obvious. “Being weird is something I’m well acquainted with.” He had always been a little odd, but it was nothing he was ashamed of, either. “I think that’s good. If you have more and you don’t mind. I want to see how many sprinkles I can get on this. I would appreciate it. Oh, t-thank you. It is true, those. Your pie at Thanksgiving was incredible. If you’d like to. I’d love the help.”