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? ]
Mina pulled her legs as close to her chest as possible and shuddered. The Hapuna had never been fold of the cold. Temperatures so rarely dipped back home that the most she'd never needed to stay warm was a thicker blanket at night. Even in Matori she'd been blissfully toasty with the sun on her skin and the salty sea air lifting her hair.
Now? Now she was absolutely frigid and shaking so hard her bones ached. The older couple who ran the boarding house were doing all they could to ensure everyone stayed warm, but there wasn't much doing. With walls mean to allow airflow in the hottest of summers they were at a disadvantage with chilly, biting winds and even the fires stoked in the rooms could do little to fight against it.
Mina sat on the floorboards infront of the fireplace, multiple blankets pulled up around her and body tucked in as tight as she could. Maybe it wouldn't last? Maybe she would wake up and it would just be gone? If I wake up at all...
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 7:34 pm
While it wasn't a complete shock, Oly was certainly disappointed to find Matori in the shivering state that it was. He had been in Oba on a brief security escort and had been first introduced to the biting winds there. He'd held hope that Matori had been spared this abnormal freeze, but now he was grateful that he had bought the extra layers of clothes before leaving Oba.
The overcast sky made the already dismal day darker than usual, and the evening wearing on only made it worse. He just wanted to get home where he could start a fire, heat up something to eat, and put up some blankets to cozy up his apartment.
He had an important stop to make before he could do that though.
He slapped his gloved hands together a few times to get the feeling back before he knocked on the door to Mina's room. Just a quick check to make sure she was okay.. but dang, it felt just as cold in the boarding house as it did outside!
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 4:32 pm
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Mina debated whether or not she should ignore the knock, but ultimately pulled herself to her feet. She hadn't been able to find proper boots before they'd sold out so the Hapuna was making due with two layers of socks on her toes. Not that anyone would be able to see, that is; she kept her blanket nice and snug around her body as she opened up the door.
"Oly!" The only piece of her that was poking out, beyond her hand at the door, was her face. Everything else was swathed in a thick patchwork quilt. She stepped back, ushering him inside with a gesture from her exposed fingers. "Is everything okay?" It was late, much too late for little house calls, and with that weather.... "Here, take the chair. It's closer to the fire."
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:09 pm
Oly was about ready to knock again when he heard the soft shuffle of movement. The mound of fabric that greeted him made him blink a couple times until he could spot the pretty face peeking out from within its depths. "Hey!" He didn't hesitate to head inside, intending for Mina to shut the door behind him and preserve whatever heat was in the room.
..What heat though? Was it colder in here? "Yeah, yeah, I'm alright," he assured as he led the way over to the fire. He slipped the gloves off and stuck out his hands toward the struggling flame. Poor thing was fighting a losing battle! "I just got back from a job, and I-" A little heat managed to rise to his cheeks as he glanced over to Mina. There was no need to hide his concern! "Well, it's so dang cold, I wanted to make sure you were okay before I went on home."
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 5:26 pm
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While Mina had gladly given right's to the lone seat up to Oly, she had by no means given up the fire. As pathetic as it was it was still better than the alternative so once he was set to warm his hands she settled back down onto the floor. She'd made a pallet there with a few thicker clothes, a blanket and her pillows since the mattress had been a little heavy to lift on her own.
It was a little embarrassing but now that he was here, in her room, it wasn't nearly as embarrassing as what she had underneath the blanket. The only nightgowns Mina had were from home and they were crafted for much warmer weather...
Should she lie to him? Say she was fine, this was fine, everything was good? Another lie? Not a good look. A soft, tired smile came to her face. "This is awful." She shifted the blanket around her and a flash of bare thigh appeared before she buried it. "Is it...normally this frigid in Matori?"
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 7:46 pm
Doing his best to pretend he saw nothing, Oly snorted and shook his head. "No, it really doesn't get this cold usually. I have no idea where this came from. It's not just Matori either. I just came from Oba, and it's even cold there." A shiver crawled up his back to betray his attempt to cover his own discomfort. "It was cold there, but it's different here. seems like it seeps right into you."
He straightened up with a sigh and rubbed his warming hands together. "So, no offense, but being in here feels just as bad as being out there. Will you come with me to my place? I've got plenty of supplies and extra sheets. Never knew when family might pop in for a visit, so I liked being prepared. I even grabbed some extra stuff before leaving Oba." He slid the heavy pack from his back and untied a long headscarf from one of the loops. He shook it out and spread it on the floor close to the fire. "Let it sit to warm a little, and it'll work real nice to keep your ears and head covered."
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2025 5:19 pm
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"It does. It feels like someone used magic to make my bones freeze." She couldn't wrap her mind around a cold like this; the sort that, even with multiple layers and a fire, she couldn't banish. Mina had thought to use magic for a bit of warmth, but magic would need energy and she didn't want to waste it.
"You want me to go to your place?" Mina's neck warmed and it wasn't because of the fire. She could feel her heart jump a little because...well she'd never actually been to his place. It made her a little giddy and - Focus on getting warm first. But if she got a little mushy about it who could blame her, right? Right.
And then the scarf sealed it. "You really are too sweet for your own good sometimes." She rose up from her spot on the pallet, quiet as she thought over her next move, but determined. Mina let the quilt fall, exposing herself in her frilly - skimpy - mostly sheer nightgown before reaching up and kissing him. "I'm glad you're back."
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2025 8:50 pm
Oly's cheeks burned. "I mean, well, when you say it that way.. No, still, yeah. I-if you want to. Just wanted to offer." Most of his friends either had family or other friends to bundle up with, or knew where to go for support. Mina hadn't been here for as long and was alone, so he'd just.. he'd had to make sure she was okay.
He cocked his head bashfully at the compliment. "It's no big deal, really. Like you said, it's really-.. cold?" His voice stuttered in his mouth when he realized what the blanket had been covering. Or, perhaps more accurately, what it hadn't been covering... The faint fire made Mina's skin glimmer, emphasizing each curve that was barely covered by the flimsy fabric. The heat rushed to his face as their lips met, and his eyes instinctively closed to savor the brief touch.
Glad.. "Yeah.. me, too." What? He shook his head a little to clear it. "I mean.. Dang it, I don't know what I mean." A soft laugh of heightened nerves slipped out, and he couldn't stop his hand from rising to gently brush his fingers along Mina's arm. "No wonder you're freezing," he said in a very distracted tone, a blend of concerned while also completely smitten.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 5:38 pm
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A thin veil of bashfulness was drowned out by the looks Oly was giving her way. As Mina pulled back she found herself tucking a lock of hair behind her hair, not so subtly standing a little straight to show off the night gown. Was it a little risque? Yes and it was the very thing her mother would have hated. It was enough to make her a little nervous about not covering up immediately, even with the cold licking her skin, but there was more than enough fire in his eyes to keep her warm.
"I could bring it with me...if you wanted." She nervously parted her lips and exhaled. "I don't own anything thicker, but I could always sleep in a tunic if you'd rather I stay covered." Romantic advances and flirting were all fun, but this...This sort of invitation was new to Mina. She wasn't sure if she was coming on a little strong or not strong enough.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:06 pm
Oly's brain scrambled to get his thoughts in order, but he might as well have been trying to carry water in a sieve. This was unknown territory for him. Sure, he'd had a casual date or two, a little flirting, but nothing even close to serious. This was exceedingly different. Different and exciting. It pulled at his gut and almost made him forget how cold it was.
"'If?' Mina, covering you up is the last thing I want to do." Fresh heat flared on his cheeks as he paused to hold his breath. He'd said that out loud!
..Gods, what was he, sixteen? He gulped back the lump in his throat and let the trapped breath release. "But covering back up is the only way you're getting out of here. Then, once I know you won't be freezing to death.." his nerves showed in his smile, but there was a quickly building confidence as well, "..then you can uncover again as much as you want."
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 4:37 pm
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Mina's eyes widened at the admission. A flare went up her spine, bringing with it a fresh wave of nervousness. "Maybe...we don't have to leave just yet. We could...warm up...a little first." As if her cheeks weren't warm enough already! She could barely look at him, but when she did it was through her lashes. Mina cautiously bit at her lower lip as she contemplated saying more or just staying quiet to save herself the embarrassment.
"Then we could go back to your place and spend more time warming up together." Was she eager to escape the boarding house and curl up under a blanket? Yes. But they didn't have to go right away and she had missed him quite a bit...
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 7:24 pm
The suggestion made Oly's heart do a flip in his chest. He wasn't sure he'd be able to admit how much part of him had hoped for that very thing. It had felt like a selfish thought, but Mina was making her approval enticingly clear. His bashful smile grew, and he raised his hand to cup Mina's jaw gently. "Makes sense," he murmured as he leaned closer. "Will make the trip over there a little easier if we warm up here first." There was the briefest hesitation before he closed the last of the space and caught her lips for a deeper kiss than the previous one.
Meanwhile, his other hand tugged the ties of his long outer poncho and let the cloth fall from his shoulders... He had on a few layers, and it suddenly felt like he'd gone overboard with the protection from the chill. After all, who was cold right now?
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 4:53 pm
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Mina arched her back into his kiss and wrapped an arm around him to pull Oly closer. As her other hand smoothed itself over his oblique, drifting lower to his hip any lingering worry melted. Whether it would return or not didn't matter. At this moment, over the course of this long cold night, Mina couldn't be bothered with anything outside of Olokun.
This wonderful, wonderful man she cared so deeply for and wanted to share all of herself with.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 7:44 pm
Having Mina in this shared embrace was a dream made reality. Oly fully gave himself into the momentum of the desires. Instinct and emotion took over, pushing over any outside concerns, and he was content to let it. It was easy to let go now that the only thing that existed in the world that night was the woman he adored.