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 Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:26 pm
 xaawopost eight"I suppose that will do." Xaawo smiled. "Follow me."
She led him toward the stalls, unsure of what she was looking for until she saw it—a small, cozy spot that reminded her of the place where she had shared her first meal with Howth. The locations were nothing alike, but the feeling remained no matter how much she told herself the comparison was silly. Out front there was a wooden sign stuck in the snow with a steaming mug painted on it.
"Do you have anything chocolatey?" she asked the man behind the counter, bouncing a bit to settle Jasla as the poscuta stirred again.
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:26 pm
 howthpost nineThe man nodded, hunching over his supplies and getting to work on a mysterious beverage. Chocolatey, if Xaawo's request was to be honored. Howth watched with curious interest as the drink was mixed in front of them, taking note of the powders and pastes the man used, even though he could not see exactly what they were. The scent of his new drink preceded the mug, and it was, in fact, very chocolatey. Howth took it with a nod as Xaawo handed over a coin.
"Thank you." He sipped without considering whether it would be too hot to drink and was thankful in hindsight that it was not. No, it was perfect. "This is excellent."
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:26 pm
xaawopost nineHis fascination with the warm chocolate beverage was kind of endearing, but also potentially... lucrative was the wrong word, as his creations would likely only benefit those around him who wouldn't have to pay, but... personally tasty, maybe. If he were so inclined, maybe Howth could reproduce the mixture. Then she could drink it whenever she wanted.
"Do you think you could recreate it?" She didn't know where they would get the powders, but it wouldn't hurt to suggest they try.
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:26 pm
howthpost ten"This drink? Well, I'm hardly a chef." That much had been made clear enough on the way here when he'd charred some perfectly lovely vegetable skewers while he tried to warm them back up.
Once again, Howth nodded at the man who had sold them the drink, and after a hesitant pause, he shuffled back toward the darts. He had given his word that he would watch, and witnessing Xaawo's attempt was guaranteed to be an education.
"I suppose I could try?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:26 pm
xaawopost ten"We're talking about a liquid. Ink is a liquid, correct? And you are the master of ink." Xaawo turned to walk backwards at the same pace as Howth moved forward, watching him as they went. "You don't need to be a chef in order to make delicious hot chocolate."
She faced forward again with a grin, hurrying over to the woman running the dart booth.
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
howthpost elevenHe huffed out an unintentional chuckle. Howth supposed she was right if he didn't think about it too hard. Drinks were just another kind of ink under someone's definition, and he had already intended to reverse engineer that potion he'd pocketed after the taste test with Zumei.
Zumei. He hoped she was doing all right. Howth only paused for a moment before smoothing his features with a sigh.
"Yes. You've convinced me. I'll try. Now show me your... uh... miraculous darting."
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
xaawopost eleven"Ah, here you go dear." The old woman's grin was mostly toothless, but Xaawo found it kind of charming anyway. "Just fling them at the target. We blocked off the whole area behind it, so if anyone gets hit, it'll be their own fault for wandering around back there. You get a point for each bullseye."
Xaawo smiled to herself as she removed her mittens and lined the darts up in her palm. She debated handing Jasla over to Howth to hold, but the challenge of not disturbing the poscuta while battling won out.
"All right. I'm ready."
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
howthpost twelveHowth stood well behind Xaawo as she prepared to play. He had watched her practice with a spear before, and while it was admittedly mesmerizing, this seemed considerably more dangerous. He enjoyed using both of his eyes, thank you very much.
"Are there any prizes for winning?"
The woman chuckled. "You get your name on a big board by the entrance. And the right to brag."
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
xaawopost twelveXaawo took a deep breath and closed one eye as she held a dart up to her cheek. In her opinion, the likelihood of getting a bullseye on the first attempt was low, so she was more focused on analysis. The way her arm tensed just so, the weight of the weapon, the faint breeze ruffling her scarf. She chose an angle and flicked her wrist.
The dart flew through the air, thunking about four inches to the right of the bullseye.
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
howthpost thirteen"Oh." He avoided saying anything more. Her throw had been effortlessly impressive, but Howth got the idea she would neither appreciate his comment nor agree that her attempt had been a good one, since it had failed to hit its mark.
He was surprised to find himself wanting to give the game a go, despite how he had felt before, but that curiosity wasn't strong enough to spur him to action. Howth folded his arms, the chill forgotten.
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
xaawopost thirteenBecause she wasn't facing him, Xaawo didn't bother hiding her smirk. Was he impressed by her performance?
Aiming to finish the game with style, and because she knew she had already lost, Xaawo didn't take nearly as much time with her remaining darts as she had with the first. One ended up at the edge of the target, the other an inch from that.
"I suppose that's it then." She crossed to the target and retrieved the darts, handing them back to the older woman with a sigh. "Thank you."
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
howthpost fourteenIt was like watching a dance of death. Even though Howth couldn't really pinpoint the exact results of her throws except to say they weren't great, the way she moved was quite compelling, continuing to draw his focus away from the chill.
"Are you sure you don't want to do it again?"
He hadn't missed her wistful sigh, and he wouldn't have minded watching her give the darts as many tries as she pleased.
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
xaawopost fourteen"Not right now." She reached over and squeezed his shoulder, directing his attention to the large, rotating wheel cutting the horizon.
"It's time."
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:55 pm
howthpost fifteenWell, he could definitely tell what that was. The sky wheel. He had hoped to avoid it, but it seemed he wouldn't get the opportunity to continue doing so.
"Is it? With Jasla here? You know Belrea has perfectly adequate amusements we can ride if we ever visit."
He hoped that if they ever did it would be a long, long time from now, so long that she would have forgotten her fascination with the blasted thing.
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
xaawopost fifteen"If she's not allowed to ride, I'll just have the operator watch her. It will only be a minute." Actually, she hoped the ride went on longer than a single minute, but she wasn't about to mention that.
With a decisive little nod, Xaawo strolled toward the wheel, returning the smile of the woman at its base.
"Two, please. Or three, if we can bring her along." She gestured at Jasla who obligingly stuck her head out of the sling to be admired.
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