Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
As the year comes to an end, an abnormal cold snap has taken over Tendaji. The mountains of Zena are covered in a blizzard, and even the desert of Oba is feeling a bit of an abnormal chill.
[ What do you get up to during the cold? Do you find a place to warm up, or check up on a friend? ]
Blizzards and the cold were nothing new in Zena. Every so often though, a particularly strong attack came through. A bitter front had come through yesterday and brought with it a blizzard of rare spirit. The household in the sanctuary had scrambled to make sure the beasts out in the barns and stables are comfortable, fed, and safe before they retreated back inside themselves.
In the kitchen, Rhonann laid out a line of mugs. Half of them got a scoop of cocoa powder while the others got steeping balls packed with tea. Two kettles were heating up, and pot of stew was gently bubbling. Everyone deserved a tasty, hot snack to warm up with after enduring the bitter cold for those beasts! She looked over at the stew and waved. "Teagan, give tha' pot a stir. An' fer land's sake, don't go addin' more pepper; it's got enough."
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 7:23 pm
Teagan was innocently chopping up a hot pepper when she was warned off. "It ain't for the stew," she huffed indignantly as she pushed it aside.
..Of course it had been for the stew. Maybe she would have mercy on the others though, and keep the extra hot peppers for her own bowls. Would taste better to cook in with the whole pot though. Not only were hot peppers delicious, but they were surely just the thing to chase off any lingering cold that clutched her gut.
She pulled on a mitt and dunked the large spoon unceremoniously into the pot. "Why are we livin' where it can snow eighty feet thick, anyway? I vote we go to Sauti or Tale next winter instead."
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 7:36 pm
Kuno stomped the snow from his boots as he came inside. The physical work had felt good, so he had done a little extra for the sake of doing extra. There was enough on his mind that the mindless labor of tending animals had been just the thing to help him not think. He was content enough to keep not thinking when the warm smells of the kitchen hit him. Yumm~
"Ya say that every winter," he teased his sister as he joined her and their mother. "I think I'm just gonna have mom leave ya there on your next trip. How's that sound?" He sat down at the table and stretched his legs out with a sigh of relief. It felt so good to sit!
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 7:37 am
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Any plans Zakia had made of getting to Jauhar before snowfall had been well and truly dashed. A harsh cold had slithered it's way down the mountain and held the region in it's maw. She'd still attempted leaving, only to be told in no uncertain terms that doing so would be her death and so, Zakia found herself seeking shelter with family friends instead.
The Aishan came in behind Kuno, one arm braced on the wall as she untied some of the lacings around her thick, furred boots. She snagged up a pair of thinner furred slippers, clearly meant for home wear, and slipped in before the chill could claim her toes. The least she could do while waiting out the storm was help out and it wasn't as if working with Kuno was anything new. Except for whatever was going on with him. She was used to Azreal being broody but not Kuno; never Kuno.
"Come back with me to Jauhar and you'll never have to worry about snow again. If we can ever get there." Zakia gingerly pulled her locs free of their tie, ran a hand through them, and then pulled them back again, this time into a bun. "What's left to work on?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:24 pm
2/7
'Yeah, right. It ain't fer the stew like my socks ain't fer my feet," Rhonann replied with a snort. She knew her daughter well enough that she was keeping a close eye as the pot was stirred. She looked between her two children with a brow cocked sharply. "Ain't you two old 'nough ta move out yet?" she asked in the sharp but fond way that only a parent could manage. "Honestly, maybe ah will just leave ya our next go 'round."
When Zakia spoke up, Rho gave the younger woman a sweet smile. "If ya would, that cooker there has the bread with the herb butter on it. Should be ready ta pull out. I'm sorry yer trip got stubbed, but we're all grateful fer the extra help."
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:33 pm
Teagan wrinkled her nose at her mother. "Fiiiine. More for me then." She brushed a splatter of stew from her shirt as she looked over at Zakia with bright eyes. "With all the sass ma and Kuno keep givin' me, I might just take ya up on that offer." She would never admit to what an intimidating thought it was to entertain. She was so used to having family around... but maybe Zakia would be able to teach her how to wander on her own! "I'll go travel further than the rest of ya and never worry 'bout the cold or your grouchin' again." She raised the spoon and took a quick taste of the stew. ....Definitely needed more hot pepper.
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:44 pm
Kuno's brow cocked in a similar fashion to his mother's as he glared incredulously at his sister. "Teagan, you give twice as much sass as the rest of us, ya brat. How about ya do us all a favor and actually go on and explore right now?" Such heckling was common for them, but he spoke a bit more harshly than he had intended, so he got back onto his feet to grab the bowls that he didn't see out yet. His legs immediately complained about having to work again so soon after sitting, but he pushed through in the hopes of avoiding anything getting thrown at him.
Painted Moose
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:02 pm
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Zakia stepped around Teagan and got close enough to bump against her with a grin. "That's some pretty bold claims. You know Jauhar's really hot and muggy, right? You'll be begging for a snow storm in a week." She reached for a mitt, then thought better of it and took up a few folded towels instead. Even if she could have gotten her bigger hands into the damn things there would have been no way to get them back out.
That bit from Kuno though....It caused Zakia to look over her shoulder, a furrow in her brow before turning back to the task at hand. She was used to the siblings bickering - any combo of them, really - but... "Doesn't really seem like she's the brat," Zakia murmured and dipped down to pull out the ban of bread. A little louder she asked, "What's up with you, anyway? I was going to give you some space, but this isn't like you, Kuno."
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:05 pm
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Rhonann's brow furrowed as she looked between her children again, her eyes lingering on her son. "She ain't wrong, Kuno. Ya been snippy ever since ya got back from the city." She had her suspicions, but relationship talk was never something she was very comfortable with. It was still strange to think that her babies were old enough for courting! Gods, it made her nervous to look at her danged reflection. How many wrinkles did she have by now?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:11 pm
Teagan had been content enough to just roll her eyes at her brother, but hearing both Zakia and her mother stand up for her made her willing to tap the counter top. "See? I knew he was bein' touchy." Since the... city? She'd thought Kuno had been gone working again, but if he was in the city... She couldn't help it as a gleeful smile spread along her lips. "Ah! It's Mero, ain't it. She finally did somethin' ta annoy ya 'nough ta notice? Didjya dump 'er?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:24 pm
Kuno's cheeks heated with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. "Nothin'," he started to brush the concern off, but then everyone else just had to pipe up with their opinions. He couldn't meet his mother's searching gaze, but he was fully capable of meeting his sister's overly pleased face with a glare as he sharply dropped the bowls onto the . "You shut yer trap. There's no dumpin' or anythin' goin' on." His cheeks heated further as he tore his glare away to stare at the bowls with irritation. "Not like she's even my girlfriend or nothin'. Can't a guy be cranky without havin' ta say everything?"
Painted Moose
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2025 10:34 am
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"The city?" Had he gone to visit Azreal? Zakia folded a cloth on top of the counter, made sure it was thick enough and gingerly sat the bread pan down atop it. Last she'd heard Az was studying up north, but surely whatever issues the brothers might have had would have been worked through-
"Oh for Aisha's sake." Zakia grumbled. Of course; why else would Kuno have gone north in the middle of winter? As annoying as it was that he was still involved with her, Zakia took a deep breath and looked towards him. "But you went to Zidel for her and she's not your girlfriend? That's a long trip for nothin. Were you hoping to...make it something?"
A strong howl from outside made her think of the raptrix, but the longer it pulled the more she became aware of the wind. Goddess it really was getting bad out there, wasn't it?
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:27 pm
Rhonann pressed her lips slightly as she leaned over to take the bowls from where Kuno had dropped them. She wasn't entirely certain of the infatuation. Mero certainly was pretty and seemed nice enough, but she was quite different from the usual flow of people around there. "Ain't sayin' ya can't be crabby. We're concerned is all. Glare at my bowls any harder ‘n ye’ll crack ‘em." She took the bowls to the big pot of soup and slowly filled each one to give the kids a little space. If anyone was going to get anything out of Kuno, surely Zakia could? "Teagan, no need ta antagonize 'im, either. Just settin’ yerself up fer trouble from ‘im once ya get yerself a crush."
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:27 pm
Teagan merely grinned more as Kuno’s denials were aired. “See? Ma sees it, I see it, even Zakia sees it! Mero’s just a priss.” Men could be so thick… especially her brother. “ The warning from her mother earned a shocked gasp. For one things, she was not antagonizing! Simple facts was all! For another.. “Maaaa. I told ya, I ain’t got time fer boyfriends. Or girlfriends. Or whatever. I don’t need anybody but myself an’ you guys.” Her grin widened as she leaned toward her mother and took the moment to dump the extra peppers into two of the bowls. Hopefully she would end up with one of them!
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:39 pm
Gods, why was he surrounded by all these nosey women right now? This snow storm was looking more and more like a curse at this rate! “Nothin’ ta be concerned about. I’m fine. Dang it, look outside. Big snow storm. Got more ta worry ‘bout. Lots of snow comin' an’ all that.”
His gaze flicked sharply over to Zakia, and then quickly away again. He’d been avoiding thinking about it. About why exactly seeing Mero get that fancy necklace hurt so much. About why the thought of her being courted by anyone else had slowly evolved into something that left a sour taste in his mouth. About why he was actually worried she might choose riches over… “Doesn’t matter,” he muttered.
