to live where one will

[do_what_thou_wilt]

It's raining, and that means it's muddy, and cold, and everything takes a little longer than it needs to. Auryn doesn't care. When he looks at the work in front of him, what he sees is freedom.

He knew, almost immediately, that he couldn't keep staying in the motel. It was good, in its way, for a while: motels and hostels have served him well in his travels, but he doesn't like paying what's basically overpriced rent to borrow something. There have been a lot of ways he's gotten himself from place to place, but the itchiness he'd been feeling to get out wasn't the same drive he usually felt to get out of a place.

He's not done with Siren Cove, yet, and that means finding a place to live. Making a home, not a camp or a place to crash.

His research had been meticulous. Someplace close enough to water to take advantage of the coast and the natural energies of the ocean, but far enough away that he isn't exposed. Away from town, easily hidden. He'd settled on a space a bit east of the Atwater place, undeveloped land but not so far off the road that it's hard to find again.

And then he'd started building, his tiny off the grid home. All told it's about 200 square feet with its upper half-story spiraling into the arms of a tree. He's done as much manual construction as magical lifting because it's his that way, his energy poured into the place, his blood in the wood when he gives power to the protections breathed into the place. But maybe he did a little suggesting to make the water collection work so well or to haul firewood.

No building permits, no permission, and the ward that makes people have a tendency to walk around it and forget it's there isn't, probably, legal either. The trees have accepted him, and no one's using the space, and that's all he's concerned with.
He's in a good mood then, heading back there, walking along the shoulder of the road with a knot of wood and a box that's equal parts hammer and nails and magical tokens.

[OOC: Open! Find Auryn and his tiny!house. Or get suspicious about what he's up to. But for the love of god, don't start googling tiny houses. Don't do as I have done.]

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[brigid_moran]

Brigid stepped through the shrine from Ireland and took a moment to just sit on the forest floor surrounding the stones and breathe in the air of home. It was different from Ireland, definitely, but there was a flavour to the air here that she truly enjoyed.

She hadn't been seated for long, however, when she felt a difference in the forest. There was something in the earth, pulling from it, in a way she'd never felt before. Pulling her cloak around her shoulders, she stood and walked towards the pull of power in search of the source.

Her brow furrowed, however, when she found the source but saw no cause or reason for it. Hand on the ground near her feet, Brigid looked around.

"Hello?"

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn's just about reached his destination when he feels someone's presence, and an echoing stir of power, and he shifts the weight of the bundle on his shoulder, in preparation for protecting his home.

He smiles, though, when he sees the green-mantled young woman looking puzzled. "Brigid," he greets her, sure to pronounce her name correctly. "It's been a while."

[brigid_moran]

"Auryn," Brigid smiled in return. "Aye, it has been a while, hasn't it? I felt somethin workin in th'forest and wasn't sure what th'earth was about with someone pullin power. I'm glad t'know it's you behind th'energy. Can I ask what yer pullin for?"

She was still looking as she spoke, but she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

[do_what_thou_wilt]

He smiles at her perception, and the ease of their conversation. "I'm making myself a place of my own. Ground up. If I'm going to call this place home, I need a place that's mine, not borrowed. Where I can be myself, practice." He smirks. "Not hear the couples in the next motel room over..."

He extends a hand in invitation beyond the wards. "Come take a look."

[brigid_moran]

Brigid's expression matched his as she took his hand. "That is th'danger of livin in close proximity t'others. S'why I found my wee house in the woods east of here."

Anything else she was going to say was lost when she stepped beyond the wards and saw what he'd built. Her mouth gaped, her gasp was audible, and her smile fairly beamed out its own light. "Christ Jaysus what a sight."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

His invitation would allow her to walk closer anyway, but he leads her past the boundary with a little bit of ceremony. It feels good, welcoming someone in, and he feels as though he can trust Brigid.

"It's not too shabby," he says, unable to stop from smiling with pride, the grin widening at her delighted gasp. He steps up the stoop to run a hand over the railing fondly, unable to hide the way he feels behind his usually cool demeanor. He nods to her to come in if she likes.

It feels good to be self-sufficient, to know everything about this place is how he wants it. "I don't need a mansion, just a place to call home and a little light. And you wouldn't believe the things people leave behind. I'd say half this place was just left to the junk heap." The doors, some of the sheet glass for windows, nearly all of the corrugated metal were gotten for free. That feels good too, proving the worth of something others left behind.

"You live near here, then?"

[brigid_moran]

"Aye, just a bit of a walk east, just near the water and past the stone shrine," Brigid nodded. She took in all the details, touching everything as she passed it. "Ye've made a beautiful home here, Auryn. It's a peaceful spot, and th'trees are happy t'have ye here. I can feel it from them."

She turned back to him. "Got t'say it. I'm impressed. Now I'll have t'come up with somethin of a housewarmin for ye."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

"Practically neighbors." He watches her explore a little: if she hadn't approved it wouldn't have affected his decisionmaking much - knowing himself, just dug his heels in - but he's gladder to have it.

"I'm glad to know that," he says genuinely. "I could tell I wasn't angering too much or I think the building would have gone a little less smoothly." He puts a hand on the tree that supports the left side of the house. He can't feel elemental energy as profoundly as Brigid can, but it feels right to him to have the living wood cradling the house.

"I just like to keep my hands busy," he defers with a smile. He's suddenly slightly uncertain at the prospect of being gifted with anything. "You don't have to do anything," he says, "though if you'd like to come inside for a while, I'd be more than happy to have you."

[brigid_moran]

"Considerin what I do t'make m'livin, I can understand th'love of keepin yer hands busy," Brigid laughed, "and of course I'll be bringin ye somethin, or ye can stop by m'shop and pick it up if ye'd rather not have visitors. M'mam would always bring fresh brown bread and stew t'new arrivals in th'village, but if I was the one cookin for ye, ye'd definitely not be thankin me for it. More like, ye'd think I was tryin t'get ye t'move."

[davin]

Davin is on a run before work when he spots Auryn up ahead. It's been awhile since he's seen the guy, and Davin's honestly a little surprised to still see him here.

But then again, maybe not. Magic is in abundance here. It can be a nice place for a witch. It's good to see Auryn, actually. Davin was just thinking about how he wishes he knew more witches in the city.

"Auryn, hey!" Davin yanks his headphones out and jogs up to him, falling in step next to him easily. "How've ya been, man?"

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn's been wrapped up in his project for the winter enough that he hasn't been speaking to people too much. He's naturally pretty isolated; solitude doesn't bother him and he prefers close, intense relationships with a few people to small talk with many, so he's not exactly drawn out by the bar scene.

But he has a few friends here, and a few undefined alliances that he wouldn't mind exploring, and Davin is one of them. There's something about the young man's bubbly friendliness and the way power glows off him that intrigues Auryn.

"Davin," he greets him with a nod. "Not bad, thanks. Keeping myself busy with -- a bit of a project." He gestures with the wood he's carrying and a mysterious smirk. "And yourself?"

[davin]

"Oh, I find that I can't complain 'bout much," Davin says with a happy grin. He raises an eyebrow at the look on Auryn's face and gestures at the wood. "Okay, I'm way too curious for ya t'pull that cryptic shit with me."

He gives him a happy grin and pushes his sweat-damp hair back away from his face. "What are ya workin' on?"

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Davin's grin is almost infectious, and Auryn laughs in an exhale at being called on his mystery. "I thought if I was going to stay in Siren Cove, and I think I plan to, that I better find a place I can practice, and feel comfortable. I'm making myself a place to live that's a little more private than a motel."

He nods at the woods as the road turns away, the landmarks and paths that seem to him obvious trails to follow toward the clearing where he's built his little home. "Will inviting you to take a look ruin your run?"

[davin]

"I s'pose it wouldn't hurt t'cut one short," Davin says with a laugh, patting his toned stomach through the thin, damp fabric of his shirt. "Worse things I could do than follow cute dudes out into the woods."

He gives him a good-natured wink and walks alongside him, tipping his head back to catch a soft breeze against his overheated skin.

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn has never actively thought of himself as "cute", or even particularly someone who other people think of that way. It doesn't trouble him particularly, it's just not part of his self-conception. Hearing it from someone as objectively attractive (almost pretty) as Davin is a little strange.

He smiles at it, anyway, and the smile widens at the wink, falling into step beside Davin easily. "You've never heard the fairytales?" he jokes easily. "You can't just leave the woods unchanged."

They venture down the trail, far enough that if Davin were on his own he might be feeling some pushback from the wards. Auryn's not honestly sure if they'd throw someone with as much natural power as Davin off the trail, or just feel a little discomfiting. He is sure, though, that Davin won't be able to see the house until he invites him to.

"Here," he says, and puts a hand on Davin's back, setting the wood down and nodding toward the clearing.

[davin]

"I'm safe out here," Davin assures him with a smile. "Who would wanna hurt Bambi?"

As they walk along the trail, Davin starts to feel a little strange. It's like the faintest buzzing under his skin, like his magic is going on alert. He doesn't feel threatened, just prepared. He follows along curiously and raises an eyebrow when Auryn points towards an empty clearing. "Please tell me you're not squattin' out in the woods like some hobo."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

The idea of Davin as Bambi makes him laugh. "Lord of the Forest, huh?"

"I have before," Auryn says, "but no. Come look." He walks confidently toward the stairs, gesturing for Davin to follow; the wards should fall away this close, with Davin in his presence. "I've been building myself a place to stay. Little, but more than enough for a person or two to sit and eat. Sleep. Something I can call mine."

[aoife_coombs]

There had been a time when Aoife was afraid to swim, afraid to be overwhelmed by all the water and the force of the wind. With Thor, and maybe with Isaiah as well, things have so very much changed.

She had invited both water and wind to balance her, play with her, send her through heaven and ocean, being so silly and wild that sometimes she ended up with more water inside her than out. It didn't matter, Aoife was safe.

Except now she was climbing out of the water in a place where she hadn't left her clothes. Now she was here in her bikini, quickly cooling off, even with the wind wrapped around her. "Shit", she giggled, still high on adrenaline. "Not good."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn felt the power being used before he saw the girl, free and wild, the wind being played with so that it ruffled leaves in the trees. It makes him smile, the uncontained use of power just for entertainment, hurting no one.

He can't help a once-over at the young woman climbing onto shore a little ways away, in a floral bikini and a small tornado. Between his own beliefs and the values of his childhood, though, he knows better than to ogle -- and instead he offers his jacket. "It's a little cold for swimming," he says, with a small smile.

[aoife_coombs]

"Only if you feel the cold."

Maybe Aoife should have noticed him, but again - magic. Instead she inclines her head in gratitude and accepts the jacket, letting the wind fall away.

"I got a bit too excited and now I'm glad that I left my dog with my clothes. If someone else would be at the beach in this weather. Thank you very much for the jacket."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

Auryn raises an eyebrow and says, "I'm not immune, but I can usually find a way to warm myself up." He lets a flicker of fire play at his fingertips, flare up and disappear.

"You're welcome," he says, with a nod back. "You've got quite a command over the wind." He extends a hand. "Auryn Connor."

[aoife_coombs]

"Oh, that would make us impossible to get along", Aoife sees when she sees the flame flicker between his fingers and right away wants to take it and give it to the wind. It's a mistake to say so, it feels too flirty and Aoife doesn't flirt.

The coolness around her is getting to her now, and she pulls the jacket closer, possibly ruining it with sea water. "I do, now. Honestly, it was just the sea and I, playing, but some things you shouldn't allow to follow you around wherever you go."

She takes his hand. "Aoife Coombs. No-one lived here for a very long time, Auryn."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

"I don't know," he says with a smile. "Wind and fire can be quite an effective combination. With the right kindling." Auryn isn't looking for anything, but a little flirtation never hurt anyone. Besides, he's only speaking the truth.

"That's the truth," he nods. In more than one way. "Aoife. That's a lovely name." Radiance, he thinks, if he's remembering right. "Coombs -" He gestures to the whole area in general. "A descendant of the famous Viviana?"

[aoife_coombs]

"Yes, and yes. I stand corrected." Aoife wanted to warm himself on him. "But the wrong kindling and you have chaotic destruction."

"We are the Coombs of Siren Cove, yes. And although Viviana is an ancestor, I always felt more similarities with Cassandra, even though she left less of a legacy. Family is very important to me."

[do_what_thou_wilt]

She's shivering a little, still, and he moves closer; he's rarely cold if he puts any effort into warming himself at all. "It's true," he says thoughtfully. "Depends on what you're looking to do, I suppose."

Aoife has a dignity to her as she talks about her family. He nods. "I don't know much about Cassandra, I have to admit. You'll have to tell me about her."

"Would you like to come inside while you dry off?" He gestures toward the house, a little ways further into the woods.