☔️ 🌧️

[firstofherusername]

 

the rain meme

Ah, rain—the precipitation that the whole world has a love/hate affair with. It waters the garden for free and ruins baseball games. It cools you off in the summer and it causes more ice and sleet to appear in the winter. Sometimes it is lovely and falls at a decent pace for a few hours, other times, it blasts the whole eastern seaboard away.

Poems and songs have been written about it, people have danced in it, others have cursed its entire existence, and still more refuse to go out and drive in it.

Now it’s time to roll some dice and see what the weather will have in store for you today.


 

 

directions

1. Comment with your character, series, preferences, etc in the subject.
2. Roll a number between 1-5 with the RNG for an intensity.
3. Roll 1-15 with the RNG for a situation.
4. Reply to other comments and play the scenario out!
5. Don’t catch a cold!



intensity

1. DRIZZLE ☂ It’s not too heavy or too light of a downpour, just enough to wash away stuff in the air, water the ground, and clean up the streets.

2. MONSOON ☂ It’s horrible and awful! Rain is coming down in buckets, no one can get anywhere, the wind is whipping everything about, and now the cable is out.

3. SHOWER ☂ Reminds you of early spring, doesn’t it? A nice shower to make everything all green and smell fresh again. Lovely.

4. FLOOD ☂ While rain is good, it can sometimes be bad. Grab a boat!

5. CATS & DOGS ☂ You’re lucky with this one. It’s not the worst storm in the world, but it’s still pretty heavy. Be careful when driving!


prompts

1. A DARK, STORMY NIGHT ☂ You know all those stories that start off with a stormy night before something goes wrong: a murder, an attack by ninjas, a crime. It is one of the best known clichés in the world, and you’re stuck in the middle of it.

2. HUMIDITY ☂ It’s that time of the year again when the humidity rises and the rain has two options: make it worse or make it go away. Good luck getting the latter.

3. GRAY RAIN OF DEPRESSION ☂ We all know this one. Stuck in the middle of no where, or right after an argument, or something that leads to angst, the rain decides to express someone’s feelings in a physical form, serious or over the top.

4. QUIET MORNING ☂ Nothing to do, nowhere to be… sometimes the rain is a welcomed addition to a quiet day. Gives you an excuse to stay in, curl up in a warm blanket and a book, maybe a loved one or a cup of hot chocolate. With sprinkles.

5. PUDDLES ☂ After it rains, what is the number one thing you have to do? Go put on some rubber boots and splash around of course!

6. SUDDEN STORM ☂ It might have been predicted, but sometimes storms just sweep in and do their thing with little to no warning. Hope you’re not outside.

7. THUNDER & LIGHTNING ☂ Loud, surprising, scary, ominous, comforting, fantastic to watch or listen to… some like thunder and lightning, others not so much. Of course, if this happens before a big confrontation, the universe is telling you something.

8. CAN’T GET WORSE ☂ You did not say that. You did not just say that. How many times does this need to be seen in movies and books before anyone learns?

9. STUCK ☂ No, no, no, no. This cannot be happening. What happened to the ten percent chance of rain? You forgot your umbrella and now you’re stuck in it!

10. RUINED PLANS ☂ You had all these wonderful plans to go outside, have some fun in the sunshine, do some errands, maybe a date… and the weather goes against them.

11. DANCING ☂ Sometimes rain is a cause for celebration, or you just feel like doing something spontaneous. Grab someone to join you and get wet!

12. RAIN BATTLE ☂ The most intense, important battles happen in the rain. Verbal spars, punching someone in the guts; it’s all dramatic and climatic. And no one slips.

13. DATE ☂ Aww, don’t let the weather ruin your date! It can be really romantic, being out in the rain, and it’s always fun to go with the flow.

14. A DAY INSIDE ☂ Sometimes, it’s just better to stay inside and enjoy something simple and easy like board games or catching up on TV shows, or maybe the bills.

15. WILD CARD ☂ Was there something I missed? Did you want to roll again or choose your own adventure? Go for it!

 

 

Comments

4 with a side of 14

[bagelbites]

(( Dal’s never been a morning person. Even before he ran away to be on his own he was a nigh owl. That hasn’t changed even with the security of a roof over his head. And the rain making the morning grey and gloomy isn’t helping to motivate him to get up.

Michel said he’d be there that weekend, but Dal hasn’t heard or seen any sign of him yet. So he just stretches out on the couch under a blanket to watch the rain beating on the windows. Until he drowses a little too much and drifts into a light sleep. ))

[singlemalts]

[ Michel arrives later in the morning than usually, business had him preoccupied in Paris, but eventually he drives to the country house and meets his housekeeper in the door who nods towards the living room where the young man has taken refuge from the rain pouring down outside. Fabiola gives him a knowing look, assuming the worst, no doubt, about their relation, but Michel just smiles widely at her and shooshs her off, stepping inside in still wet shoes. More work for her, she luckily never complains. Walking over to the sofa, he bends down over Dal slowly, placing a hand on his shoulder, heavy, friendly, unassuming. ]

Sleeping on couches gives you a bad posture, my mother used to say. She'd poke me with a pencil if I dozed off in here. You're lucky I believe in gentler methods.

[bagelbites]

(( He isn’t deep asleep. Those dark eyes open slowly, though, blinking a few times to bring them in focus. Recognizing his new friend, Dal offers a warm, slightly apologetic smile. He curls his legs up to give Michel a space to sit while Dal sits up himself. ))

Did you just get here?

[singlemalts]

[ At the invitation, Michel does seat himself, crossing one leg over the other and glancing towards the doorway leading to the hallway where Fabiola is filtering past at intervals, throwing them long glances. And that woman has seen it all, yet she's still staring! Michel shakes his head and turns his attention on Dal, nodding once. Yes, yes, it means. ]

It seems I brought the rain with me from Paris. My apologies. The landscape out here is less attractive bathed in so many greys.

[bagelbites]

(( Fabiola's been very accommodating to Dal since he arrived. He's not sure she appreciates his efforts to chit chat while she's busily keeping house. So he's happy for more receptive company. Though, now that Michel's here, Dal's at a loss for what to talk about.

Glancing back to the window, he looked beyond the rain to the landscape beyond. Usually, Dal didn't enjoy the rain at all because he was stuck out in it without much in the way of shelter. But now? ))

It makes the trees look greener.

[singlemalts]

[ Perceptive, isn't he, Michel thinks, watching him look beyond the curtain of raindrops to where the trees are shining lavishly and all dark green already. It will be summer soon and he will get to experience that. Michel decides he's done a good thing here. This house finally serves a purpose.

Leaning back in his seat, he smiles. ]

It does, doesn't it? At some point when it stops and a ray of sun breaks through, it'll be like a painting. I call it "Corot country" out here, after the painter. Do you know him?

[ He chooses neither to assume that Dal does, nor that he doesn't. It can go either way and that's the spice of life! ]

[bagelbites]

(( Turning his attention back to his host, Dal shakes his head to indicate the negative. ))

[singlemalts]

[ A soft nod and Michel looks away for a moment, out at the landscape again as he thinks it over. ]

French painter, mid-19th century. Landscapes, mostly. He always painted in very dreary grey and green colours, but with dabs of -- stronger hues, red and yellow, so there was hope in all that colourlessness.

[ He smiles and looks back at Dal, eyes crinkling at the corners from something warm and amused. ]

Like life!

[bagelbites]

Sounds pretty.

(( There's a wistful sort of tone to his voice. Art is something he'd love to learn more about. ))

I haven't seen a lotta places like this before. I always end up stuck in the city.

[singlemalts]

And the city is where I always return to. I've never had any great fondness for this house.

[ A wistful sigh, then he reaches out and pats Dal on the knee. It's unassuming, it doesn't travel or linger, just a brief show of comfort, mutual enjoyment. ]

Maybe it'll be different now you're here.

[bagelbites]

(( The gesture doesn’t bother Dal in the least. ))

I wouldn’t mind the company.

(( As if this isn’t Michel’s property and he’s just a guest.

His gaze turns back to the window as if he’s unable to tear it away from the outside. Even with the gloom of rain, Dal finds the landscape beautiful. ))

It’s so pretty here.

(( Then, he looks back to Michel. ))

Before I came to France, I lived in Seoul. I’ve only seen places like this in pictures.

[singlemalts]

It looks its best in pictures. Where you can't feel how cold and old it is.

[ It's not an objection or even an argument, but a very matter-of-fact observation. The house is big and your feet get cold, unless you're wearing your shoes indoors like Michel currently is. His mother would scold him, but his mother hasn't been around a decade now.

It's Michel's house at this point, certainly he can do with it what he wants. Like, inviting young men to stay. To live.

Ah, what new and exciting times!

He listens as Dal explains about his background, nodding calmly. ]

And I have only seen Seoul in pictures. What is it like? Surely not cold and old!

[bagelbites]

(( Dal hasn't been wearing his shoes in the house, just his socks. But he's noticed the floor is cool and there are some places where there's a bit of a draft by the windows. Even that's a step up from how he's been living. Besides, he can layer up if he gets too cold.

The question prompts a thoughtful look, Dal's eyes looking up as he tried to recall without some of the more bitter memories. ))

It's, uh, -- how do they say it in English? A concrete jungle?

(( His French is barely passable and his English even worse. And please, please, please don't ask him to read in either! ))

Seoul is complicated. Friendly but competitive. People work hard and play hard. Day or night, there's always somethin' goin' on.

(( His expression changes minutely, a subtle frown bowing his lips and his eyes lower to focus on his knees. ))

My dad's an important person at an international financial firm, so I got to see only the very best and most luxurious parts of Seoul.

[singlemalts]

[ While the younger man talks, Michel watches him, the way his eyes stray and the air of both nostalgia and... some slight bitterness they certainly all carry inside when it comes to any notion of 'home' that clings to his every word. ]

'Concrete jungle'. [ He repeats the words in English, his own laced with a heavy French accent, though it's understandable. ] Which runs by the law of the jungle, I gather.

[ A pause, then Michel clasps his hands in his lap and turns slightly towards the other man. His guest. ]

It must have feel like you've come a long way, from that to Paris. And from Paris to here. This is neither the best nor the most luxurious part of the country, but it is yours for now. [ He smiles, though it's not a happy smile, but full of the same nostalgia and resignation with which Dal spoke before. They mirror each other in that moment, as Michel carries on, ] It is what it is, and we make of it what we will.

[bagelbites]

(( Michel has history here, something Dal lacks. Perhaps that's what makes him so eager to be fond of it. Or just the change in his circumstances. Eight years on his own, in the streets of one of the most amazing places in the world (according to some). One might think Dal sees nothing but ugliness from his experience of the city, but he's still awed by the fact that was living (struggling to live?) in Paris. Sure, he camped out in churches and shelters, slept in doorways and alleys, but he somehow managed.

And now he's here. In the countryside with someone who doesn't expect anything in return for his kindness. Well, maybe a little conversation, but that's hardly a trial to provide. Dal enjoys Michel's unassuming company. He enjoys the landscape, even in the rain, and how quiet everything is. Nothing like Paris or Seoul. It's nothing like he's ever experienced before. ))

I like it.

(( After so many years without knowing where he was going to sleep at night, this is a marked improvement. It may be old and a little drafty, but it's a roof over his head every night. It's a place to sleep safely. It's clean and he gets fed. Dal's standards aren't high and being in this place exceeds them. ))

It's a soft life here.

[singlemalts]

[ A soft life, the young man says and Michel thinks of Corot who painted in muted tones, 'boring' some would call it, but there is a distinctive quality to softness, too. Michel has always thought so. Michel has always lived by it.

Nodding a few times in agreement, approval, he slowly gets to his feet, towering over the other man this way, before leaning in and placing his hand on his shoulder, softly, no expectations or demands, merely presence. Say 'I'm not hurting you', he'd asked of Elio - because if he'd hurt him, he'd rather die.

Some people, some men, are like that. Michel's men always leave him in that desperate state, to please, to protect. To provide. ]

Only as soft as its residents. What does that say about us?

[ He smiles. It isn't truly a question that demands an answer, or even requires it. It's said as a conclusion, an observation - of the house, and of them. Together.

Such potential they have.

Straightening back up, Michel starts walking back towards the hall, his shoes mostly dry now, but Fabiola is giving him dirty looks as he passes her by anyway. Ah, she'd complain without the work, too! He walks tall and proud and when he waves, it's with a slightly nonchalant air that could make him seem arrogant, if you didn't know better.

He knows that Dal knows, better. ]