04 - Mulled Cider and Wine; Eel and Root Vegetable Hand Pies; Creamy Cod Chowder

[tisfinished]

1: The Milk Run, docked at Flotsam

Senshi seems unusually focused and far less chatty than usual as he serves up hearty winter fare; in addition to the headline items from this post's title, he has hot tea, coffee and cocoa available as well as pork pies and (as a vegetarian option) mushroom pies and an array of pickled vegetables.

He tries to be friendly as ever, but it's clear something weighs heavily on his mind.

2: The Vault's Practice Halls

Senshi is in need of a sparring partner. He's practicing with axe and shield - curiously, practicing with a cage strapped to his chest - and the poor wooden practice dummies he's been whaling on have been taking a serious beating.

"Think maybe I need an actual opponent," he says, his voice unusually clipped.

3: Solstice Gift-Giving

Beware: if you've done any kindnesses to the weird dwarf that loves to cook with monster meat (even more so than most Flotsam pirates, at any rate) then you're liable to find a box outside your home or apartment door wrapped in a ribbon.

While there is no name identifying who could have left them, the fact that they are exquisite, frosted gingerbread monsters narrows down the possible culprits significantly.

Comments

3-ish

[theriflespiral]

Of course, it being Solstice, and Natalia definitely not being worried about her tenuous position within the Corsairs, but rather wishing to allay suspicions, has decided to deliver a gift of her own.

She knocks on the deck hatch to the Milk Run, and while she waits, inspects and re-ties some of the moorings. She holds a parcel under her arm. Not one for secrets, this one.

Re: 3-ish

[tisfinished]

Senshi looks far more tired than he did when he advised Natalia on Solstice traditions.

“Natalia, was it?” He says. “What brings you here? Kitchen proper is closed but I can get us a hot drink.”

It seems Natalia is not the only one to anchor themselves with etiquette when at sea.

Re: 3-ish

[theriflespiral]

"I won't say no to it, but... Perhaps I should prepare it?" Natalia offers. "-- As for what brings me here..."

She produces the parcel from where she had stowed it. "I... Wanted to express some gratitude for the advice."

Re: 3-ish

[tisfinished]

“No, let me - you don’t know how the galley’s set up,” Senshi insists.

And then he sees Natalia take out the parcel, and pauses.

It’s hard to tell if he’s smiling, but that tinge of leaden weight to his words is lessened.

“Funny coincidence, I’ve got a thing for you, too. Come in and make yourself comfortable.”

He takes the package and steps aside, leaving an entrance point for his guest.

[harlequinchimera]

I: The Milk Run

Oki finally had the location and free time to visit Senshi's floating commissary, and thusly did, looking curious. She had taken up a plate, gathered from his offerings a pair of pork pies, some pickled vegetables and a mug of coffee.

She gave the dwarf a small bow and spoke, her voice soft for the moment. "I have something that you might like, a bit of a recipe from my own world..."

"It may not look it, but I have ears, if you've wont to speak."

III: Gifts, Solstice and thanks for all the fish?

Oki had spent most of a morning away from the group, between planning and also swimming and visited Senshi's ship, with a trio of enourmous fish, so fresh as to be nearly wriggling as she arrived. "I am told this is a time of givingg gifts. I have nothing beyond equipment to my name, so, I thought that a present from the bracing chill of the sea a worthy and useful gift."

[tisfinished]

"A fine solstice gift. Give me a little time to return the favor," he says, examining the salmon among his prizes. "Time enough to put these on ice till I can make something of them, at least! This beauty is bound for the smoker."

If there is heaviness in his heart, Oki can at least tell her gift made it a little lighter.

"Love to hear your recipes... and your thoughts on Corsair new years festivities."

By which he clearly means the fireworks at the Vindess Mines and Bluvink arms factories.

[harlequinchimera]

"Ahh, you know your fish - they're fatty and of a good size, so plenty to work with, certainly, also plenty of potential for stock and the like."

She flicked eyebrows and wings alike, chuckling. "Leavened and stretched bread dough, seasoned, not too heavily, add a layer of shredded cheese, a layer of robust red sauce, and top with finely sliced meats and veg, bake in an oven though, for best results, until edges brown and center's liquid. Be sure a good bake, depending on how thick the crust is, around a quarter of an hour."

She chuckled. "The overall shape depends, a rectangle or a circle, just cut evenly - be sure the crust has a crunch, but a fine chew."

She laughed then, genuinely. "The items it is topped with have nearly led to wars. The shape of it, sauce - all are your canvas, in the end."

She sobered and looked sidelong, giving the dwarf a look at her profile.

"It's serious business, those fireworks. Outside of my training besides very specific uses. I wish them success and precision, honestly. A line of work at least as dangerous as my own." She turned her off-colored eyes back to the dwarf. "Is that what's troubling you?"

1 with a side of 3!

[newmemorywhodis]

By this time, Link's more than familiar with Senshi's meals; it doesn't take him long to figure out just who the mysterious gifted of gingerbread is.

Link's not entirely sure of the expectations around this tradition of solstice gift-giving; it's not a tradition present in Hyrule. But returning with a gift of his own seems appropriate - so when Link makes a point of catching Senshi on his next milk run.

He pauses, noticing that Senshi seems...a little more solemn than usual. But maybe that just means he needs a gift even more. Link presses into Senshi's arms a small box, inside which is a freshly baked nutcake.

[tisfinished]

"Thank you," he says, simply. "Kitchen's open, if you want anything."

He opens the package and is, for a moment, taken aback by it.

"You made this?" he asks. "Well. In that case, would you prefer coffee or tea?"

The solemnity is not gone, but it is for the moment lessened.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods. Yes, he made it. But the offer of a drink gets a slightly perplexed head tilt, mainly because Link doesn't actually know one of the options.

"...Coffee?" Link asks - and it's clear that this is a question, not a request.

3

[upupatomway]

Atom goes looking for Senshi, hoping to catch him at the Vault before he leaves to return to his ship. Lucky for him, Senshi's horned helmet makes him stand out, even in a crowd.

"Mr. Senshi!" Atom calls after him when he spots him in the halls coming from the sparring area. He tries waving to him, the little box containing the gingerbread monsters he had received in the other.

Re: 3

[tisfinished]

“Hello there, Atom!” he says with a wave back - trying for a cordial tone, at least, with the mission so heavy on his mind. “I see you’ve gotten my Solstice present.”

[upupatomway]

Atom makes his way over to Senshi, grinning ear to ear. "Thank you for the gift! I'm sure these will be delicious! I wanted to find you before I ate them and ask what kind of creatures these are."

In case Senshi doesn't remember which he gave him, Atom opens the lid of the box so Senshi can see the gingerbread again.

1

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl is not a vegetarian, but mushrooms -- even if they aren't the ones Ilphyl grew up eating -- taste like home far more than pork. And while in theory Ilphyl has been at their adult size for decades, they also lead an active life, so can put food away.

"Hi, Senshi." They pause, a bite of food speared on their fork. "Are you all right?"

Re: 1

[tisfinished]

“Mmn?”

He wasn’t aware it was so obvious something was on his mind, and he takes a moment to gather himself and consider his answer.

“It’s just the upcoming mission,” he says. “I… used to mine for the Empire before I realized they were no good. Before they started using slaves wholesale.”

Re: 1

[spacetogrow]

"Worried about seeing someone you know, or just," Ilphyl waved a hand, "knowing what kind of people do that work, and that we will need to make a hard choice if we can't get them to leave?"

2

[redprayer]

Rezo has done his own share of assaulting the training dummies both today and in the past, though his focus has been on refining and controlling his magic rather than the usage of martial weaponry.

The clipped tones of Senshi- the ice cream man, as Rezo thinks of him as- catches Rezo's interest. He leans against his staff, making its chimes ring together.

"What sort of opponent are you looking for?" he asks.

Re: 2

[tisfinished]

“A challenging one,” he says. “Practicing with my kit for the mission so I’ll know how to fight with it.”

He’s not terribly familiar with Rezo, but he has seen him at the feasts and mission briefings.

[redprayer]

"Oh?" Rezo thinks about the upcoming mission, and what the intelligence on the guards is. As far as he's aware, the average Imperial soldier doesn't rely heavily on spellcasting, so Rezo himself wouldn't make the most accurate sparring partner. Though Senshi's phrasing does make it sound as if he needs more practice using his weapons at all-

But an idea occurs to Rezo after a second of thought. "I could try animating the combat dummies if you wish to practice with moving targets," he offers.

I, the Milk Run

[thunderwarden]

Cid's a new arrival in Flotsam, but that just means he's still figuring out the best places to get a bite to eat and this one looks promising. Can't say he's had a decent chowder since he crossed from the Continent, back in his own world, a lifetime or two ago. He doesn't know Senshi, of course, but he knows the look of a man who's in his head and ought to be out of it. He's worn it enough himself to recognize it in another.

"This is some fine chowder. I reckon it's your recipe?"

Re: I, the Milk Run

[tisfinished]

“Course. Don’t serve anything I haven’t tasted and approved of,” he says, and there’s a fierce pride in it. “I do victualing for the local fleet, too and that means it’s all stuff I hauled in aboard this boat.”

“Haven’t seen you around before,” he notes. “New arrival?”

I, the Milk Run

[thunderwarden]

"An army marches on its stomach. Good to meet a man who knows that."

Cid nods his approval at that. He could appreciate a man who took pride in his work.

"And I am, aye," he nods confirmation of the dwarf's suspicions. "That obvious, eh? Do I smell for than these other sods, then? I'll remember to bathe." The smirk that accompanied the comment made it clear he was joking. Mostly.

3

[relentless_sentinel]

Nephenee's absolutely been around Senshi enough that once she recognizes that they're big mean critters, she can make a decent guess at who made them.

And oh, they're really, really good!

Well, he can't be the only one to give tasty gifts! Not too long after, there's tall, leggy lancer poking her head into his ship-store's doorway, a gingerbread horse-looking thing conspicuously poking out of her mouth, and she calls out. "Fmfhe, m-..." Wait, cookie in mouth... "Senshi, ya in here?"

Re: 3

[tisfinished]

"Hmn?"

Senshi looks up from his table, and resigns himself to a friendly visitor.

"Yeah, I'm in here, Nephenee. Come in, let me make you a hot drink."

[relentless_sentinel]

...Well, that's not what she expected to see. Usually he's much more lively...

Coming over as requested, she smiles slightly, if a bit worriedly. "Ah, thanks. Ah wanted to come an' thank ya for the tasty cookies, an' bring ya somethin', but..."

Gently, she lays a hand on his shoulder. "Are ya alright? Ya don't seem yourself..."