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? ]
The days lately just trudged along at a nearly painfully slow pace. Wake up, go to work, go home to an empty house, go to sleep, scatter meals somewhere throughout the day, and repeat. There was nothing to break up the drudgery of the mindless rituals.
At least, until the strange cold front came in.
Alfina hadn't been able to tell from inside the tanner's but the cold had bitten into her skin the moment she'd opened the door to leave. At least she was able to borrow some spare leathers from work! It was a small deviation from the regular walk home, but she was glad for any sort of altered path. Even if her face prickled against the chill...
Painted Moose
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:29 pm
Cornetified
It was absolutely cruel for her return home to be in the middle of a winter storm! Vaani hadn't seen Yael in so long that she'd nearly forgotten what Pajore looked like, and after weeks spent on Matori's balmy shore she'd been more than ready to return. That was, of course, before she'd found out the very air outside hurt to breath.
Vaani had bundled up in as many layers as she could find before heading out. The wind bit into her skin at first chance and the yaeli nearly turned back. She needed food; there was no working around it. She could have stayed at her desk all day with the fire roaring on her back if only she had a proper meal. Or at the very least a snack! But maybe -
"Omph!" She'd been so wrapped up in staying warm that Vaani hadn't noticed anyone else and had promptly walked smack into another body. The impact jolted her and for a second she struggled to comprehend just what happened before her cheeks darkened with color. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention."
Painted Moose
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:05 pm
Walking with her head tucked as far down between her shoulders as she could get it made ignoring her surroundings easier. She was eager to get home to a cup of hot tea and a warm bath. By the Gods, she couldn't remember it ever being this cold before! Hopefully her family was warm and safe in their travels.
With her eyes locked on the trail at her feet, the head-on collision caught her by surprise. She yelped with surprise and swung her arms out to stop herself from toppling backward. That had been close! "I-I'm sorry!" she immediately echoed, knowing she hadn't been paying very close attention either. A jolt of cold air grabbed at her neck when she raised her chin to see who was talking. Cold!! "It was me, too. I'm sorry! Are you okay?"
Painted Moose
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 2:10 pm
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"I'm fine, are you-?" Another harsh wind snapped against the exposed flesh of her cheeks and Vaani bundled tighter into her own skin. "By the gods, what is this?" She wasn't sure if it was starting to rain or snow or some unholy mixture of the two, but something was starting to fall around them.
"Do you know of anywhere that's still open? I was going to pick up something to eat but it's starting to look like everyone was smarter than me." At least that's what she was picking up on. A quick glance around showed nothing but closed off store fronts and shop keeps scuttling home. Maybe she should just go back and wait it out? It wouldn't be comfortable with an empty stomach, but at least she would have her fingers...
Painted Moose
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:37 pm
With her head sucken back down between her shoulders, Alfina squinted against the sharp wind and shook her head. She had no idea what was going on, but if this was across the whole of Yael... "Someone must have angered the gods. What else could it be?" She had never experienced this type of miserable weather before!
Goodness, what would still be open in this mess? Never mind that it was also rather late! "Perhaps The Nightlark might be open, but they could just as well close from this weather." She pressed her lips with a small deliberation. She recognized that face.. but from what? "Or.. It's a little bit further, but you're welcome to come to my home. I have plenty of food there that I can share, and you can wait there until this mess calms down."
Painted Moose
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 11:30 am
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Vaani nodded fervently before another gust nearly knocked her off her feet. "I hope whoever upset them repents soon. I don't know how much more of this I can take." It was so unbearably cold that Vaani could feel it in her soul.
"Oh, that's very kind of you, but I couldn't ask that of-" A few pellets of freezing rain landed on first her back and then her head. There were many things Vaani could turn down, but shelter and a possible meal in freezing rain? "-On second thought, I would appreciate that very much. Lead the way?"
Painted Moose
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:00 pm
As nice as it would have been to go spend time at the tavern, Alfina didn't want to risk it being closed up for the weather. She would take a slightly longer walk over going all the way to town to only be turned away and have to come all the way back through this sleet. She certainly wasn't comfortable with letting the other woman take that risk either. With her head still ducked down, she reached out to take her sudden guest's upper arm to gently guide her home, fingers loose for easy release if desired.
She broke into a jog when the path opened to the familiar clearing. "Come on. Hurry!" She burst through the front door and held it open for her guest. A stiff gust of wind chased them inside to fight against the warmth that the protected home naturally held. "Oh, I'm soaked through completely!" she groaned out as she took stock of her appearance.
Painted Moose
Posted: Tue May 06, 2025 2:01 pm
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Vaani let out a little surprised squeak at the contact, but didn't push away. If anything she pressed in closer, raising an arm to cover the other's so that they might stay a little bit warmer.
"Tr-trying!" Despite having an active family and a best friend who shared Elarian blood Vaani was most definitely not a runner. She sprinted because it was either that or be left behind, but once she crossed the threshold the yaeli was a sweaty, frigid, wheezing mess. Several locks of hair stuck out from her braids, while many more clung to her neck.
"This was not the homecoming I was expecting!" Vaani tried to steady her breathing, but a tired huff slipped out all the same. "Matori was so much warmer. Maybe I should have stayed until summer."
Painted Moose
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2025 5:27 pm
Alfina peeled off the borrowed layers and tossed them unceremoniously to the side by the door. She would have to take care of those tonight to make sure they didn't end up damaged, but that could wait until she was warmer! "This is your homecoming? Oh goodness, how miserable! Perhaps the gods really are scolding you for having left." She gave a small laugh to show that she was mostly joking. After all, such storms hadn't happened any time her father had returned from his trips...
The first thing she did was duck away into her room and emerged with a few of her outfits. "Here. Take these and try them on. You've got to get out of those freezing clothes. I'll change myself once I've got things going." The second thing she did was start up the fires; one in the main fireplace to heat the house and one in the kitchen to start heating up the water for hot drinks.
Painted Moose
Posted: Tue May 06, 2025 5:48 pm
Cornetified
"That's what it feels like," Vaani groaned. She took off her scarf and gloves, content enough to have just those layers off, but when the other woman returned with fresh clothing she nearly cried. "Bless you. That's very kind."
She ducked away to strip out of her soaked, half frozen attire and pulled on the offered clothing. It wasn't a perfect fit - her hips made anything that wasn't tailored difficult - but they were warm and clean so Vaani wasn't about to complain. By the time she emerged she was pulling her hair out of it's braids and running her fingers down the chilled tresses.
"Is there anything I can do to help? I'd feel guilty making you work this hard after all that."
Painted Moose
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2025 6:38 pm
Alfina ducked back into her room to quickly change. With some sturdy pants and a sweater on, she instantly felt her mood improve. She clipped her hair up and sighed with relief. "Okay. Now for some tea."
The tea was steeping by the time her guest came out. "Ah. I'm relieved those work for you. Make yourself comfortable. The tea will be ready soon." Without the pounding sleet in place, she got a clearer look at the other and a grin rose. "Oh! I do know you! Vaani, right? It's been a long time since our- erm- date."
Painted Moose
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 5:56 pm
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All of the warmth that had settled back into her was washed away by an icy deluge of realization. She did know this woman; knew her well enough to have gone on a date with her! Vaani's first, at that! "Oh gods I am so sorry." The yaeli sucked in a sharp breath and covered her mouth with her hands.
"Y-yes, I'm Vaani. And you're Alfina, right? You work at a bakery?" The back of her neck burned.
Painted Moose
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 8:47 pm
Alfina's eyes widened curiously. That.. was a strong reaction that she hadn't been expecting. "You have nothing to apologize for, really!" she urged as heat rushed to her cheeks. "But, I, yes, Alfina. Err.. I used to work at a bakery. I've been helping out at the tannery lately though. Family business." A pit of longing opened in her belly. Gods, she missed the bakery... but she just wasn't good enough...
She shook the sadness away and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "You said you've returned from Matori, right? You must have had a big adventure since we last met. It's alright. I mean, I didn't recognize you at first either." She bit down onto her tongue to stop it from wagging so much and focused her attention on pouring the tea into two big mugs.
"Here. Some hot tea is exactly what we need to chase off the shivers from that rain."
Painted Moose
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 5:47 pm
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Fin~
"Oh, really?" A tannery? What she remembered about Alfina had been a passionate, young baker, but maybe there had been a family emergency? Rather than ask any upsetting questions, Vaani switched gears and smiled nervously. "It was just supposed to be a little trip with my sister - she's a sailor on a trading ship - but we came across a wreck and - "
It may not have been a short or particularly pleasant tale to relive, but Vaani did her best to edit around the worst of it. As she drank her tea she talked about her 'adventure' and about everyone she'd met along the way, content to be warm and safe in such a dreadful storm.
