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

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.

Re: I, the Milk Run

[tisfinished]

“Simply the accent and the fact that I haven’t seen much of you before,” Senshi says. “Newcomers speak all sorts of languages, even when speaking imperial.”

sorry for the late reply, holidays ate my brain

[thunderwarden]

"Aye, good enough reasons, I suppose." He leans back from his meal. Cid's still not certain he'll ever feel properly fed again, after the Empire had its way with him. "You've been with the Corsairs long enough to recognize a new face, then, or are you just that good with voices?"

they tend to do that, no worries

[tisfinished]

"Been working with the Corsairs for a long, long time," he says, with a laugh. "Longer than the Empire has been pulling in outworlders for their dirty work. I wasn't half as handsome or good at cooking back then, of course, and the Milk Run is new - salvaged after our first decisive victory against the Imp fleet."

[thunderwarden]

That gets a chuckle from the old soldier. "I don't believe that for a second, stunning mug like yours? Bet you can't keep the ladies away."

He gives a look around the modest floating establishment. "And a fine addition to the fleet she is." And then he smirks. "Grub's good enough, at least. I'll have to keep you around." He offers the dwarf a gloved hand. "Name's Cid, by the way. Cheers."

[tisfinished]

"Senshi, once of Izaganda." His shake is firm; his hand calloused, and not just from holding a chef's cleaver.

"You've come at a delicate time. New Years, and the fireworks that come with it."

[thunderwarden]

The old soldier raised an eyebrow at that.

"Fireworks? I'm guessing you don't mean the celebratory sort."