03: In Like A Lion

[theriflespiral]

01: Pancake Week (Elysium)
Much as she despises the Orthodox Church, there was one tradition, Natalia thinks, with which she can truck, and that is the week before Lent being Pancake Week.

She has a small Ether stove and a little chalk sign: IT'S PANCAKE WEEK! Deliver a pancake! Ask me how!, with a small list of fillings, and a drawing of a penguin carrying a pancake wrapped around little herrings and a pleased expression.

Although, the ability to deliver a pancake, still warm, without breaking it, is a hell of a statement for a shipping company to make...


02: To Dance As The Queen Does
Once more, Natalia listens to distantly piped jazz and taps the rhythm carefully, gathering Ether, ice swirling in her hands as she moves to the beat.

And, once again, as her mind fills with other things, the spell breaks, sending little bits of powder snow all across the improvised dance floor, to evaporate.

She hums in annoyance. Of course, by now, surely someone would hear soft or hard jazz and come to investigate.


03: Unfurling Inner Lotus
While much of her time is given to maintaining her front or honing her marksmanship and spellcraft, time must be given to conditioning her body.

This is risky, because unlike the other forms of training, to do it she must engage her energies at their fullest. This is less a risk of her being hurt-- no more than usual-- but rather a risk of discovery; for no one notices a girl with black hair and black eyes, but a girl with blue stars shining in her eyes? Now that has been seen once or twice, to say nothing about how it might touch on the senses of those sensitive to Ether.

But it's the only way to make sure she's training to her utmost, and so utmost she must go-- keeping up with others, never mind the Empire, demands it.

Thus it is that someone as apparently light as Natalia Koutolika is now lifting sacks of shot that are obviously as heavy as she is, and tossing them some distance, besides.


04: Special Deliveries

This was the spot. Natalia stood on the deck of the Humboldt in the little shelter the rocks of the island made, and waited to make contact.

As much as she wanted to recover and utilize larger ships, even ships that might be better suited to the line (intentionally), ships like the little sea sloop were too useful for Penguin Logistics' other purpose: smuggling packages, people, and information.

Was her chronometer wrong? She kept a weather eye out. Who is meeting her? And for what?

Comments

01 » Pancake Week

[thunderwarden]

All in all, Cid doesn't find the folks in Elysium all that bad. They may not be as rough and tumble as the people of Flotsam, which he's slowly starting to call home, but the place has a sort of idyllic charm he likes to visit on occasion. Admittedly, the man doesn't look all that out of place there, as he's making his way from one area to the next, and it's the smell of caramelized bread that catches his attention first. Blinking, he stops.

"You know, lass, for all your specialties, I didn't think street vending was on the table." He's not sure what Pancake Week is, or what significance it must have, but he's not a small man and he's never been one to turn down food.

Re: 01 » Pancake Week

[theriflespiral]

"Of course I'm not vending them, strictly. For one thing, the local restaurateurs' association would be quite upset with me. The idea, rather, is that we deliver a warm, filled pancake along with the package. It's just a little thing." That speaks, silently, of the speed and safety of the delivery. "For this week only, it's free with any courier-delivered parcel."

Re: 01 » Pancake Week

[thunderwarden]

"So, this is some sort of holiday, then, this 'Pancake Week' of yours? Never heard of it." There's a glint in his eyes that suggests he's likely teasing her. One thing he noticed when they were working together was how uptight she seemed, and if he was honest, he didn't think a lass her age needed to be half as serious as this one.

"And you've giving your customers an incentive for what? Commissioning deliveries during it?"

Re: 01 » Pancake Week

[theriflespiral]

"Oh, no. Nothing so official. Maybe in a few decades, when my petition is sponsored by a bishop, and then countersigned by the Emperor, in triplicate, notarized by a vestal virgin." Natalia has absolutely no sense of humor. Just ask her.

"Not just an incentive-- a boast. Think of what care and speed it would take to deliver anywhere in Elysium a stuffed pancake, still warm, unbroken."

[thunderwarden]

"I reckon every second sod could pull it off if I tinkered with a food delivery box that can maintain heat. Never tried my hand at that one." He smiles in response to her sarcasm. "Maybe next year. When you've gotten your papers signed."

[theriflespiral]

"I shall wait with bated breath for the Emperor's reply." FINALLY someone who gets it. The smile is faint, but it's there. "That's not to say we haven't a few tricks of our own, but--"

She pulls out a small set of steamer boxes, the kind with about a centimeter of thick wood for both ease and insulation. "I suspect if you can get it lighter than these, everyone would thank you next year."

[thunderwarden]

"I'm sure he appreciates the patience, lass. Blokes like that got a lot more important things to worry about, like taxes or tariffs. Maybe the odd courtesan." His smirk was lopsided, sardonic, as he reached out, eyebrow raised questing for permission before he took one of the boxes.

It did have a weight. "Aye, I might be able to work out somethin', but I'll need materials. Mind if I hang on to this one? For research purposes?"

02

[testygirl]

Aira has been watching quietly for a little while, whether Nat has noticed or not. She's leaned against the nearest wall and paying pretty close attention to her movements. As a courtesy, she doesn't say anything until the break.

"Gotta say, I didn't actually know how serious you were about dancing when we were talking about it at the restaurant. You just don't seem like the type, you know?"

Whatever that means. She might have to elaborate.

Re: 02

[theriflespiral]

"... You're not wrong. Before, it was just a way to help me blend in. You would be amazed how many forms of dance exist." In truth, of the options that had been given her for social camouflage, she'd taken most eagerly to dancing. If anything she ever did could be said to resemble a hobby, it was this.

"There's still something about it I'm missing... Maybe a different form of dance...?"

[testygirl]

"Something missing, huh? Hm." Aira taps her chin. "When I learned piano as a kid, I did it just so I could win one specific competition and beat the girl who got first place ahead of me the time before. Buuut, now that I'm more mature"—ha—"I think there are certain musicians and artists and dancers who aren't satisfied no matter what. Like, is there even a real end point when it comes to learning that stuff?"

"I don't know." She shrugs, then steps over towards Nat, adding a playful little hop with a flourish. "Maybe you just need to practice with a partner! Hehe."

[theriflespiral]

"It's true, there's no end to the ways a human body can move," Natalia nods. "But in this case I have a specific, actionable goal. I know it's not a one-off miracle, and I know it's something I can keep doing. I want to call the ice. Fully. Or, if not that, figure out how this capability is better directed."

She hums, kneels down, and sets up the record player again, winding its flywheels with abandon until she heard the governing spring winding. "That said, if you are volunteering to help me figure out this dance, I am glad to work with you. I'm not ready to give up for today."

[testygirl]

"Mm! I see, I see. I thought maybe you were just adding that in because it looked pretty. In that case, I totally should have brought my mittens."

That's pretty clearly a joke. The cold shouldn't be too much of an issue, really—particularly if she stays moving.

"And yeah, duh, of course I'm volunteering. We're friends? Sheesh, I hope you don't think I'm going to trample all over your toes or something!"

Declared with a bit of a pout, but her tone is still light and teasing. Aira has practiced some herself, though not a ton. Sadly she doesn't always have the energy, or time.

[theriflespiral]

"And if you did, you'd consider it a point of pride to keep going over it until your toes broke," Natalia said, with a nod. "Though-- perhaps you are not wrong. I have been concentrating much more on-- rhythmic and kinesthetic perfection, dance as recipe and consistent performance, than... matters of expression."

She sets the needle, listening to the familiar static of the record, and extends one hand, palm upward, a hint of a smug smile on her face. Her eyes are black, the inner lotus furled. "If you have a style you prefer, now is the time. Because I will be attempting swing."

01

[newmemorywhodis]

Unlike most, Link does not in fact question the promise of pancakes delivered while still warm. After all, he's carried around pancakes in his korok-enchanted pack for weeks before - and they'd been as warm as if freshly cooked when he finally ate them.

So no, Link does not ask how. He presumes Natalia has some way. What he does instead is come stand before her little stall, and stare at her intently.

"Pancakes, please."

Re: 01

[theriflespiral]

"Where do you want them sent?" Natalia asks. "Or, I suppose, if you really just want one for yourself, is there something you'd like to send to someone else?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Where does Link want them sent?

He points to his mouth. That's where he wants them. Right now. Or...after she's cooked them, whenever that is.

[theriflespiral]

"Strange. I know you don't usually live hand to mouth. Any preference on fillings, or shall I surprise you?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link shrugs; he ate food whenever food came his way. Or he was hungry. Or just felt like it. Really, 'eating food' was just a thing Link did a lot of.

As for fillings, well, there was only one answer.

"Surprise!

[theriflespiral]

"Surprise it is." She clicks on the stove, which lights up immediately and starts heating the cast-iron pan, which already has some fat in it.

She considers Link's taste, so far, and...

Well, she's workmanlike, at least. She can make a serviceable meal of most things.

So! Some farmers' cheese and pre-cooked fish (and some particularly savory sauce) later, she wraps the entire thing up in a bit of yesterday's newspaper and hands it over. "Just don't tell anyone, all right? I'm in enough trouble with the Flying Flounder as it is."

2

[relentless_sentinel]

By now, Nephenee's heard a decent bit of the local music, and one that keeps getting her attention for reasons she can't begin to comprehend is this 'jazz' stuff. Something about it just moves her, and when she catches wind of it this time, she can't help but come investigate. When she turns the corner and pokes her head in, the sight of Natalia makes her smile, though the snow about her gets a quirked eyebrow.

"Hiya, Natalia...uh, how's there snow everywheres?" It's the tail end of March, after all... "Magic?"

Re: 2

[theriflespiral]

"Ah-- Nephenee, was it not?" Natalia starts to crank the flywheel again. "... Yes, I believe it is, of a sort. What sort, now, that is proving difficult to assess. I could go over the story, if you like."

[relentless_sentinel]

The Sentinel nods at mention of her name, and watches quietly as Natalia works and speaks, before stooping down to inspect the fluffy bits already starting to melt. That's snow, alright; it feels wonderfully cool to the touch, even as it almost instantly turns to water in her palm from how warm she runs.

'The story', huh. She's not sure what that means, but after giving the water in her hand a dirty look and sighing slightly, she looks up to Natalia and nods. "Sure, Ah'd like to hear it." Neph isn't quite sure what the woman means by all that, so she's rather curious.

[theriflespiral]

"Well. You remember how bad off I was right after Bluvink?" She pauses. "During the moment I made... several tactical errors, the snow around me responded. ... Saved my life, really. Ever since, I am training to see how it works."

She listens to the governor, and keeps running the crank. "So far, results have been mixed. I either get something like this, or nearly destroy most of my own operation. I've learned some things, but it's... Frustrating."

[relentless_sentinel]

The soldier crosses her arms and tilts her head as she listens. "Yeah, Ah remember that. Ya were pretty roughed up then...thankfully, looks like ya've healed up good."

She looks around the place and at the thing Natalia's working for a moment in thought, beofre looking back to the young lady. "So...what do ya know 'bout it so far, then? Like...how did it respond? How's it wreckin' stuff? All that." She doesn't know much about magic, but...might as well she if she can help.

[theriflespiral]

"So far all I have are... conjectures. But. Here is what i know. One day, my heart froze. For... a while, that was all I knew. It turns out this is axiom. I-- begin to freeze, when i express myself normally." She readies the needle. "My current conjecture is: so long as i express it in ice, my heart remains in some manner, frozen. A hand to grip my chains. But... this doesn't come easy."

She queues up the record at last. "I'm open to suggestions."