#lamialawless

Nonetheless, the beginnings were set. Casey had taken their time to Lamia’s house, stopping to talk to the right people and spread just enough hints about what could happen. Forgotten Quarter. A pursuit. Going back to search the ruins, desperately clinging to old clues that don’t give much else away... With the right people, the gossip would eventually spread to the wrong people. This was the intended result.

Lamia's gift comes in a canning jar, but it isn't more chutney. The delivery-urchin is quite honest about her intentions for it. "I'd have kept it for myself, but then I'd get cursed by Stone for stealing, and I'd have no hearth or home under any roof or on top of it. No, thank you."

What could be so precious, but so dangerous? The urchin peels her mittened hands from the jar, revealing rocks, and dirt, and the trailing moss that grows in the Stone-touched trees of the Elder Continent. And nestled there, a glassy glint, a diamond-shard no larger than a finger-nail ... it illuminates the jar from within like a fugitive sun ...

A mountain-sherd! Pilgrims strike these from the side of the Mountain of Light -- they bring blessings of light and unlikely life. Amid the moss, there grows the tiniest of orchids, sepals red and orange with curling petals and yellow anther like a lick of candle’s flame.

"Oh, and here's the card. Happy Christmas."

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

To grow, your terrarium needs light, water, and care. The light is from Stone, the water is from the springs of the wisp-ways, and the care of course is from you!

Watch the glass, and you will see how water clings to it in droplets and makes a mist. This is what the plants drink. They will need not need to be watered again until there are no more droplets and no more mist. But I like to watch them, anyway. When your terrarium is dry, put one or two spoonfuls of water in -- the small spoons, like you use to put sugar in coffee or tea. If there is too much water and the plants seem to struggle, do not worry! Unscrew the top and let them breathe. Let them dry, and you can try again. 

Keep your terrarium away from mirrors, if you can. They will not hurt it, but the things in them become jealous. Nothing can take your terrarium from you for long, though! It is a gift for you, and Stone knows it is for you, so it will find its way home to you wherever home is.

I hope you enjoy it! Enjoy your holy-day!

Oh, Lamia. I--no, absolutely not going to be emotional over this! I will instead just pen the best thank you letter.

(an overheard conversation about your OC)

“Fought ‘em.”

“Didja win?”

“Yes and no. I fought ‘em more than once. First one was a sweep, and they dropped to the ground so fast that I couldn’t believe it was already over. That must have been early on in their fightin’ career though. The next time around though, whoosh.”

“What happened?”

“Bets were divided through the whole crowd and everyone was out to see blood. I honestly wasn’t too sure who had the advantage that time around, but it was a fair fight. Fair fight. Both of us got our faces bloodied up and were still going at it, and I think the ref was about to just call it a tie, but they got in one good shot and I went down.”

“What about after?”

7: someone describing a time your OC hurt them

(your OC overheard while drunk)

1: an overheard conversation about your OC

“Captain’s in a mood today.”

“What kind of mood?

“A mood. Seems like something happened in port. None of my business, but I’d give ‘em a wide berth if I was you.”

“Anything to do with that chap waitin’ for ‘em on the dock?”

1 - their voice

oh that’s sorta tough. hm. i couldn’t find an example so: ransom has a fairly sophisticated accent, but definitely slips into something a bit more trashy when tired, drunk or angry. they’re also actually genuinely soft-spoken, with a mild, pleasant voice, but they’re capable of raising their voice quite loudly. i mean, you kind of have to. but they probably sound really pleasant. i’d let them read me the dictionary to be honest.

20 - their reaction to a mystery love letter

i mean, if it were anonymous, they probably wouldn’t have much of a high opinion on someone who didn’t even have the courage to sign their name on the letter. but they’d be curious enough to go, if it arranged a meeting. and then would probably bully their secret admirer mercilessly. but anyone who’s sending love letters to ransom is probably into that.

23 -