come_sailaway | DECEMBER EVENT PART ONE: ALL IS CALM

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DECEMBER EVENT PART ONE: ALL IS CALM

early morning on the 23rd, Friday makes an announcement over the speaker system, cheerfully asking everyone who signed up for the excursion to gather in the atrium. when they arrive, they will find Friday, very seasonally dressed, who takes them down to the tender, which it appears she will be “driving” this time. during this particular trip, none of them lose consciousness, nor suffer any sort of physical aftereffects. however, it does feel like the trip takes about five hours of just. sitting in the tender in utter silence, with little light and still air. so maybe stop being little babies about the anesthesia???

when Friday opens the tender door for them, they find themselves stepping out into the lobby of a hotel - though, if they turn around, they’ll find there was no door at all, and any passengers they see after that will appear as if they are appearing out of the ether.

there is a clone Friday manning the front desk, and though, like the others, she isn’t much for conversation, she is very snappily dressed! she helpfully hands out keys to everyone who approaches her; they aren’t numbered, and are actually entirely physically indistinguishable from each other, but they seem to open up whatever room you want easily enough, and don’t seem to work for any others. weird. the dressers and closets in the rooms also contain suitably sized winter clothing, enough to last the few days they’ll spend there, and then some. weird.

once they’ve situated themselves, they’ll find that what lies before them is a realm much larger than others they’ve encountered; the land extends for miles in any direction, including upwards, though you’re more likely to hit a cliff before the hard barrier. there’s about a foot and a half of snow on the ground, and it continues to fall steadily. the forests lack all signs of life, but the foliage is rather attractive, as long as you don’t examine it too closely; coniferous trees are just easier.

all of the amenities are seemingly staffed by ghosts, though they give off even less of a presence than the ones aboard the ship do. there is also an industrial kitchen attached to one of the dining areas, though the meals served don’t seem to come from it, and it has a distinctly different feel than everything else around it, as if added in slapdash at the very last second.

there is one last oddity, however. every night, at about 2AM, the entire reality goes mute. voices don’t sound. snow doesn’t crunch under footsteps. even the winds are quiet. the effect ends at about 6AM. it’s probably fine.

happy holidays.

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[Rita couldn't get off that tender fast enough after what felt like the longest, dullest, mind-numbingest trip she's ever experienced. She's not exactly excited over snow or the cold, but...well, at least it's something different. And she came dressed appropriately for the cold, at least, if not the snow.

And hey, you know who else brought her ~~grilling torch~~ mini flamethrower? Rita, naturally. Finally, a chance to try it out without setting off sprinklers or having people make a big fuss about smoke.

She finds an ice sculpture of a snowflake outside. All of maybe five seconds are spent admiring its artistry before she lifts Marceline, opens the gas valve, and ignites the flamethrower--proceeding to melt a hole through the middle of the work of art.]

Ha, look at that... I dare any monsters to get close to this!

[Rita is always pretty, but today she looks especially cute with her hair tucked in a hat and with the tinted glasses protecting her eyes from the bright white snow. Natsuno catches up with her by the sculpture and nods approvingly when Marceline burns a hole clean through. It's small, but powerful!]

Did you bring an extra canister? It'll be a problem if you run out of gas.

Edited 2022-12-20 17:31 (UTC)

[She smiles at Natsuno--she's still a little worried about what could happen here, but she also feels like they can beat anything that comes their way when they're together like this--and switches the gas off at the reminder.]

Oh, right, it's limited--I did bring an extra one, just in case.

[She pats the Tommy Bahama tote bag she brought with her (the kitty purse that came with the outfit was cute, but not quite big enough to pack everything in).]

How is yours doing on fuel? I bet we could improvise some if it came down to it.

[He smiles back. It's still weird, how easy it is to let his feelings show around her, but nice.]

I fueled it before we left and brought an extra one. Should we take a look around? Maybe you can figure out some more tests for the torch.

[An excuse have fun and wander off to somewhere more private? Surely not.]

[It's cold out, but she's suddenly all warm when she sees his smile. Every time he does, she feels like she's privy to one of the greatest hidden treasures the world has to offer. That, and...there's just something...pleasing about seeing the expression on him, and noting the way it shows in his eyes, and how the curve of his smile is like the edge of an ever-changing organic spell pattern and oh wait she's just been looking at him in a daze for a moment it's fine.]

W-well...I don't see why not! This place is stocked with all sorts of stuff, from the looks of it.

[Ahem, she's going to pretend she was only being very normal about everything as she motions in a pretty much random direction.

She will reach out for his hand, though. Because, you know...gotta make sure his fingers stay warm.]

I bet yours would- [She suddenly pauses, then glances over.] Say, does yours have a name? Since this one is "Marceline"...

[She's looking at him in a daze, and that look makes his heart flutter so he looks at her in a daze, and the feedback loop of young love would've continued if Rita hadn't taken his hand.

Natsuno runs a gentle thumb over hand once, before heading off in the direction she chose, a trail running alongside the lake.]

It doesn't. [Not even a model or serial number.] Never thought it needed one, honestly.

[That little brush of his thumb is as magical as always, seemingly banishing the cold for a moment as they crunch through the snow over the trail; there's never a need to get drunk of Qingxuan's wine again when she's drunk on his every affectionate gesture and even the sound of his voice.]

Hmm. It does work pretty well already.

[He could say just about anything--he could speak gibberish, even--and she'd gladly bask in it, consistently glad he's here and they're here together.]

Still, giving it a name's a nice way to appreciate everything it's done. Maybe it'll even get stronger when you call out to it.

[Is she being completely serious about that? One never knows with Rita...]

[Lake on one side, trees and a rocky cliff on the other. Fake as it is, it's still a nice view for a date - research - scientific expedition date. To be honest, Natsuno thinks it's silly to name the flamethrower, even though people name their weapons all the time. He appreciates it by keeping it fueled and in good shape.]

Are blastia stronger when you call them by name?

[It is a serious question. For all Natsuno knows, hers can be a magic system where names have power.]

[Even if it is fake, it's enough of a change of pace. Sometimes she would feel like she'd be going stir crazy on the ship...before they started spending research time together, anyway.

She eyes the frozen lake as she gives the question serious consideration.]

...With blastia, words have power. Those spell incantations weren't just for fun; they can be used to activate the formula you want. Sometimes I felt like...it was the same with names, or even just talking to them at all--it was like they would respond more easily.

It could be a different story for something totally mechanical, though.

[Still...she isn't going to stop using the name Marceline. To her, it's fitting.]

[Natsuno nods. When Rita named Wilhelm, he thought it was kind of weird, but he believes when she says she felt something talking to them. Why wouldn't he? She's the expert, after all. Rita's passion is one of her loveliest qualities - naming blastia is just another way to express that passion.]

To each their own. People name mechanical stuff too, like ships. [Of course Rita can keep calling her torch "Marceline."] If blastia respond to words... I hope Theodora still knows you're there.

...Thanks. I hope she does too...and knows she's not getting forgotten.

[She squeezes his hand, appreciative. And it's obvious how well he maintains his flamethrower, so even if he doesn't feel like naming it, she can't ever say he's neglecting its care--he's far more attentive than that!

She nestles a little closer to him--it's wondrously calming, just...being up against each other like this--as the trail nears the shore of the partially-frozen lake.]

So...no sample collecting? Since it looks like it was created by the captain and all...

[When Rita nestles close, Natsuno pulls his hand away gently - only to slide his arm around her shoulder to pull her even closer.]

What's the point? It'll be lifeless and fake like always.

[Palamedes will surely try psychometry - he can ask him about it later. Natsuno will watch out for trouble as always, tracking their surroundings with heightened sense even as they walk, but... Friday asked for no murder, and he hopes people have enough sense to respect that.

His fingers trail closer to Rita's head, tousling a lock of auburn hair.]

I'd rather just - spend time together. [...] Do you want to... go ice skating? Or build a snowman?

[She's too busy making a pleased little hum at his cozy hug to bother wasting any breath on the captain's creations.

And...he'd rather spend time together. A few simple words that send warmth curling around her heart, and she's in full agreement--especially since there's no telling what could happen in the coming days.]

...I'd like that, too. I mean, I've never done stuff like that before, but--it'd be fun with you. [She leans her head against his shoulder.] Alright, let's do everything we can. How about--the snowman first?

--We could build a Jade and dress it up. [She says it with a quiet laugh, already just imagining what it would look like. (Sure, she could make a Catsuno, but...she has the real thing already with her!)]

[Natsuno has done stuff like that before, but that was quite literally in another life, and never with someone as precious as Rita. It's nice knowing she'll share this first experience with him. He wants to make is an especially good memory.

He snorts at the though of building a snow-Jade.]

Yeah, we could. It can borrow your glasses. But where would we get boring old man's clothes?

[She's not excited like she's a little kid or anything...but she is eager to share a new experience like this with Natsuno. When was the last time he had the chance to do this himself, anyway?]

I bet the gift shop here has boring old-man stuff just like the ship. Or we could dress him up with--how about twigs from those conifers? It'll look just like an old-man sweater.

[He'd wear something like that, wouldn't he? She can just imagine it!]

Good idea. And a longer branch for his spear. We'll have to get creative with the hair, though...

[The may have to go back to the resort anyway, maybe use a mop or scalp a mannequin. Natsuno looks around, occasionally stomping a particular snow pile experimentally. Gotta find the perfect snow to pack, after all!]

There, that's good for snowballs. [He leans the flamethrower against a tree carefully, leaving room for Marceline.] Did you get snow back in Aspio?

Alright, we can start rolling it up here, then.

[She trusts his judgement on selecting the perfect snow--they can't have their snow-Jade falling apart before they at least get a picture of it--and nods as she sets Marceline cozily next to Natsuno's flamethrower.]

Not exactly... The mountains would get plenty of snow, but Aspio itself was actually built into a huge cavern, so there was no snow or rain coming in.

[She tugs on a couple mittens as she talks, then crouches down to start packing some now together.]

How about Sotoba? You said it was in the mountains too, right?

[He crouches down next to Rita to pack more snow for the base. Snow-Jade may not be true to Human Jade's size, it should be as least as tall as Rita!]

Yeah, but it was in the south, so there wasn't a lot of snow and it definitely didn't pile like this.

[The city he grew up in had more proper snow doing winter. Natsuno didn't think it was something to brag about, but it did make the villagers' comments about the weather extra annoying. No matter how pathetic or inane something was, the people of Sotoba would treat it like the hottest of gossip.]

Isn't it gloomy, to live in a cavern?

I see. So you had hot summers to deal with instead?

[If it gets truly life-size, getting the details right will be tricky--she'd probably have to stand on Natsuno since she can't levitate--but it won't matter either way if they don't get this base nice and solid.]

Visitors always seem to say that, but I never thought about it. I mean, you basically never had to worry about any kind of weather unless you travelled outside the city. No snow, no rain, or even sunlight. It was always nice and breezy.

[It could be a bit on the cold side, but that's one of the reasons mages all wear cloaks. And Rita always preferred it to anyplace hot and stuffy, or rainy, or...just about anything else, really.]

Mm. Summer was gross.

[Long uncomfortable wait for the bus, the road hazy in the sweltering heat. Just thinking about it makes Natsuno glad he's cold.]

No sunlight sounds like a pain, but I guess you have a point. You were probably busy with your research most of the time, anyway, so you wouldn't want to worry about weather messing it up.

Seriously. There's only so much you can take off in the summer, too.

[Nothing's worse than sweaty, oppressive heat. At least in winter, it's possible to just throw on an extra layer. Anyway, she nods.]

Yeah, most mages are buried in their work no matter what season it is. Occasionally they have to leave the city for work, though, like for investigations and such. Still...

[Snow-Jade's base is getting nice and big as they pack more snow together, and Rita pauses. She's still fond of Aspio itself, but there's one thing she can't deny-]

The other people there left something to be desired.

[There's only so much you can take off... sometimes the heat isn't so bad, like when Rita wears that cute sailor outfit and wow is he glad for the cold air now!!

He starts piling snow on top of snow-Jade's base.]

You didn't get along with your colleagues? Or the other residents?

[Totally oblivious to the effect her very normal statement (and outfit) had, she idly resumes adding to the snow-pile, though she's not as concentrated on it.]

Not really... I didn't trust them--I wouldn't trust anything but blastia back then. That only changed when I left with Estelle and the others.

And...I'm glad it did.

[For many reasons. Her own little blastia world had an emptiness to it too that she didn't recognize initially, an emptiness filled by people she cares for. And...she glances to Natsuno, warmth curling in her heart again. If she hadn't changed, this relationship would never have been possible.]

[Estelle and the others, again. Natsuno remembers what Rita told him, how he realized it was just like him and Tohru. No matter how many walls you build around yourself, there's always someone who slips through the cracks and make themselves comfortable like they always belonged.

He hopes that the Rita on Terca Lumireis has a happier ending with Estelle than he had with Tohru.]

I'm glad, too.

[Emotion swelling and head still swimming with images of the sailor outfit, Natsuno leans over to plant a kiss on Rita's lips.]

[Rita hopes so, too. She'll always miss her friend, and be grateful to her for tearing down those walls. She deserves a happy ending.

She meets his kiss, reaching up to lovingly brush her snow-covered mitten against his cheek.

Natsuno deserves a happy ending, too. And Rita wants to have one with him.]

I'm glad to have you with me.

flame kitties

preview lied to me about the emojis!! flame kitties~

flame kitties!! ♥

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ahhh what a cute icon

her version of sparklevision for Estelle...soft smiles ♥

saving the softness for that special someone

and especially for each other now

time to google where sotoba is supposed to be and if it snows

especially when it's never shown in winter...

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