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.

[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."

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.

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.

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?"

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.

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?"

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?"