OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

[faderifting]

WHO: All
WHAT: WINTER IS HERE
WHEN: Haring 15-Wintermarch 1
WHERE: The Gallows, Kirkwall
NOTES: You can use this post as an event-style mingle log, or just use it as background information for your RP elsewhere!

It's been a chilly month already, but in mid-Haring the temperature suddenly plummets. One day it's merely cold, and the next morning the Inquisition wakes to frost on the inside of the window panes and an icy draft whistling through every crack in the tower's masonry. Downstairs, the pipes that feed the bathing chambers and the kitchens creak in the walls, loud enough to be heard even out in the courtyard, where they run beneath the stones, and around midday, when the sun has failed to raise the temperature above freezing, a blocked pipe finally gives, cracking open to spill water across the central court and send it running down side passages. The whole area floods several inches deep and almost immediately begins to freeze, presenting at first a gigantic, treacherous slush puddle and, after a few hours, a sheet of sheer ice.

Melting a safe path from door to door and laying down sand or wood to keep it from becoming slick again is a simple enough undertaking, but before the entire courtyard can be thawed, someone appears with ice skates—and that’s a better idea, surely, for at least a few days. Anyone who complains about the frivolity can be assured it’s good exercise, not to mention good training for a force that may have to travel or fight on ice in the future.

Temperatures remain cold enough that even some parts of the harbor begin to freeze, first just at the calmest edges of the shoreline, and then the more protected nooks and crannies of the bay, inlets and the spaces between piers and beneath docks. It snows most days--not real storms, just a couple inches here and there--little enough for the window to blow most of it off the icy plain of the courtyard and other wide open, paved spaces, accumulating on branches and in alleyways, and creating growing drifts in corners and against walls.

After a week or so actual chunks of floating ice begin to fill the narrow channels of the harbor, threatening smaller and less-sturdy vessels, and the situation in the poorer parts of the city begins to grow dire. With the Viscount's blessing, Inquisition teams (particularly mages) are called in to help. Some are assigned to the docks, to clear ice that makes landing and unloading treacherous, others to help escort ships into harbor by melting a path ahead. Others are sent into Lowtown to clear ice and snow and to provide warmth and medical attention where needed. At least one mage is sent with each team, and while many neighborhoods are pleasantly surprised and grateful for the quick work fire glyphs make of cold hearths and frozen streets, a few are unable to overcome their distrust, and refuse the teams entry, determined to take care of their own without the help of dangerous outsiders.

In the last week of the year, a true blizzard strikes, snow falling steadily for more than a day, blanketing the city at least three feet deep. Digging out the Gallows will be a group effort, and most non-essential trips outside the base will be cancelled for a few days until travel is less difficult, while those who reside in the city or elsewhere may be encouraged to stay a night or two in the fortress so they might continue to work without traveling through the storm. But on the first day of Wintermarch the First Day feast goes on as planned, with modest but plentiful food and ale served in the Gallows' dining hall for anyone who wishes to celebrate the new year.

Comments

[thunderproof]

"Well, to be an ambassador, wouldn't you have to be invited here?I think most anyone who could invite you here as an ambassador would rather you'd have stayed in Arda," Adalia says, teasing. She's not trying to make Elros feel bad about his lack of a kingdom anymore, but she's not exactly thinking about not making him feel bad either — she just needs the subject of conversation to be literally anything other than feelings or kissing.

Which is unfortunate when that's what Elros keeps bringing them back to. She ducks her head, tucking her hair behind her ears to give her hands something to do, and shrugs.

"Well, we have known each other longer than a day now. I think a month is time enough to consider someone a friend."

Despite her reluctance to deal with any sort of feelings, she does look up at Elros and give him a shy smile.

[tar_minyatur]

"Good point." He agrees, still watching her shyly.

"So exile? Or maybe Tribute? No, tribute would imply I was taken deliberately, wouldn't it? I don't mind being in Exile, it sounds very dramatic."

She looks so shy suddenly, and it's very cute, and he reaches over to touch her hand. Just lightly, so she can pull away, if she wants.

"Oh good. I ... don't want things to be awkward! After the kiss, you know. Which was very nice! I just... "

Just spit it out he can almost hear his brother laugh.

"I do like you." He says in a rush. "You're smart and kind and pretty. But I don't know if you want anything more. We barely know each other enough to say! But I think I wouldn't mind finding out. If you don't mind. As friends!"

Could you be any more awkward he laments to himself and sighs, pulling away to run fingers through his hair.

"And I've just made everything about a hundred times more awkward, haven't I? Sorry."

[thunderproof]

There is a point Adalia could make about exile also implying a certain amount of purposeful action, but there's no point. The conversation is going to carry on with feelings no matter how she tries to deflect it, so better to get it over with as quickly as possible.

...a rather difficult thing to do when she has been left so utterly speechless, however.

She stares up at Elros, mouth slightly agape, blinking owlishly like a moron, for several seconds before she can bring herself to snap her mouth shut. He likes her? He likes her? That's so... it's incomprehensible, honestly. Adalia is not unaware that she's rather attractive, as far as humanoids go, but she isn't by any means spectacular. She is terrible at dealing with feelings and can be so oblivious it's ridiculous, she makes terrible life choices —

and Elros likes her.

"Um," she says, very eloquently. "I — that is, I'm not sure — I've never —"

Adalia groans and drops her face into her hands. Pull it together, kid.

"That was my first kiss," she admits, the words muffled by her palms, "I've never — been courted. Or done any courting. Or anything like that. I don't know how it works."

[tar_minyatur]

Elros would apologise for making her even more uncomfortable if he knew but he's just as embarrassed, shyly fidgeting opposite, watching her a little anxiously.

"Well, I mean... I haven't either...so...you know...I just...well I mean..."

He stutters to a halt and then tries again. "I'm sorry it was such a terrible first kiss. I never wanted things to be so awkward. I just...if you don't mind it, could we maybe...try?"