abraxaslogs | [Open] A Star In Hand Lit His Way

I'm glad she liked it.

[ Having Ciri as her first taste tester had been an excellent idea, really. Especially if she's now passing on word about her desserts! ]

I really like sweet things. But if there's any particular food other people prefer, I'm okay with learning how to cook it. We— I did a lot of cooking on the road, when I was traveling with my friends.

[ She's begun mentioning them to Ciri, in drips and drabs. But it's plain even with that brief mention that she misses them, whoever those friends might be.

Sharp eyes don't miss the limp that soon accompanies Geralt on their way back, and Rinwell is mindful not to keep him waiting, slipping inside and bee lining for the kitchenette. ]

Would you like anything in particular to drink?

[ She wouldn't usually ask, but he might want something else before she tries and pulls the ice cream out of the coldbox. ]

[ He shakes his head in reply. Probably by now Rinwell has discovered what's to drink in their household is ale or wine, and a store of vodka for when they actually desire to drink. He's gotten the sense early in this isn't what Rinwell is normally used to, but. Not much else to obtain in the city.

He distinctly does not lean back in the chair, instead resting his hands on the seat as he watches her. That's the first time she's mentioned her friends to him really.

It's curious, that she calls it travelling with friends. Hadn't she mentioned her people were enslaved? Was she still among them or had she found herself elsewhere? ]

We're on the road most our lives. We aren't the picky sort. [ Even Jaskier learned to make do following a Witcher, though the bard has put down coin for a more embellished meal from time to time. He studies her for a second. ] Seems you've spent your days doing the same.

[Hector shrugs.]

Not if you wish to remain human. Vampires can, in theory, live forever, but they lose something in the exchange. Nobody is meant to last forever.

[Nobody knows the inevitability of death better than a necromancer, after all.

The fox tiptoes closer, now more curious than scared, to try to catch sight of Hootle again. He has no need to hunt, but his instincts still call out to stalk, if only as a game. Hector can intervene if needed, but he prefers to let his pets do as they will unless it threatens them or someone else.]

It's not good or bad. It just is. [Rinwell's honest answer doesn't bother Hector. He can appreciate that being the laws of nature would be, to most people, 'scary'. But he doesn't think of his work as falling on either side of the scale of morality, although the church would certainly disagree.]

In nature, things die and are reborn. I just do it faster, for creatures that could use a second chance.

[ Ciri's smile widens into a grin. ]

That's what I like to hear.

We'll ride for the hills. Don't let Poppy get complacent. She'll follow the road half-asleep if you let her. Keep reminding her who's in charge.

C'mon. Follow me.

[ And with that, Ciri urges her mare off the wagon road and into a bouncy trot, looking back over her shoulder to make sure Rinwell is following. Nixie wants to go faster, but Poppy might resist speeding up at first. Ciri keeps an eye on the girl to make sure she doesn't fall behind, but otherwise does not provide other instruction or slow down, only making sure Nixie doesn't try to take off like she desires. ]

[ If he doesn't have a preference, then Geralt will find himself with a bottle of ale placed next to him, before Rinwell heads to the coldbox and pulls out the tub she'd been keeping cool inside.

Frozen, even, aided and abetted by a little ice magic application as and when required. She doesn't need a stool for this part, at least, and seems pleased as the lid is carefully peeled back and her work examined. A spoon, a spoon, her kingdom for a— ah! ]

I learned a little off and on. But we had to take turns, and everyone pitched in with learning recipes on the road.

One friend of mine is picky, even when he says he isn't. [absently mentioned; she's only really spoken of her absent friends with Ciri, and only recently at that] He'll eat anything meat, but hates eating greens. And sugar. [how can you hate sugary things?? honestly.]

He's not a big fan of this dessert. But I hope you'll like it.

[ Said, as she scoops a small helping out and into one of the few clean bowls; she's going to have to rinse things out and tidy when they're done, but that's no hardship in the grand scheme of things. And Rinwell looks genuinely eager for Geralt's opinion on her dish as she turns back and brings it over. Cold, creamy coloured, and smells sweet. ]

What's a vampire? And..what kind of things do they lose?

[ Living forever? That sounds like something made up for stories...things Rinwell is all to familiar with, thanks to her love of books. She's never read about vampires on Dahna, but fact has proven a lot stranger than fiction since she was pulled out of that well portal not so long ago.

Her attention is turned up and focused on Hector, while owl and undead fox play peekaboo around her legs. Hootle doesn't seem particularly worried about the stalking behaviour, though he does tilt his head this way and that to get a better view. ]

It just is.. That's like all magic then, isn't it? The magic itself isn't inherently anything except itself.

[ She's not entirely sure she's comfortable with the idea of messing with the cycle of life and death that way, but how he's explained it to her at least makes it..not better, but has lifted some worries from her shoulders. Besides, if he's friends with Jaskier and Geralt, he can't be that bad a guy. Right? ]

What other sort of animals have you brought back before?

[ The cold box is a new thing for him, but its usefulness grew on him quickly. And while it took him a bit of time to get used to chilled ale, it's become something of a preference now.

His lips quirk. Admittedly, he has little care for sweetness, too, or dessert. But Rinwell's obviously put a lot of effort into making what she has. The least he can do is try it. Especially when it seems to remind her of home.

He sniffs it first. It smells sweet, but lightly so. When he dips his spoon into it, the coldness seems to surprise him. Hm. It reminds him, a little, of cream left out in the winter chill: icy, thick. This is more deliberately done, though. Despite his absent sweet tooth, the cold and lightness makes it far more palatable—lacking the heavy stickiness he's tasted on some of the things he's been given to try in the Horizon. ]

Your friend's missing out. [ It's good, actually. He sticks another spoonful in his mouth. ] In winter, children would pour molasses or honey on fresh snow.

[ That's what this reminds him of a bit. He remembers doing it as a boy. Plenty of snow up in the Blue Mountains. ]

Okay, Ciri!

[ The instructions are easier said than done, of course. Off go Ciri and Nixie, and Poppy's ears perk up, mare happy to follow when directed. It still takes a bit of pressure, both in seat and legs; Rinwell's not about to sit on horseback flapping her legs uselessly - that had been day one, much to her embarrassment. She's come quite a ways since then! ]

C'mon, Poppy, let's show her what we can do!

[ Attempt to snatch at some of the side grass, is apparently it. But Rinwell's been getting wise to that, and while it takes a bit to get going, she's soon bouncing after the older girl at a springy trot.

Getting into the rhythm of posting correctly for the pony's strides is something she's still not used to, but it's clear she's been paying attention as the two finally catch up to the spritely mare and her rider. ]

[ Rinwell tries, and fails, to not look as anxious as she feels as Geralt inspects her offering, both owl and mage watching as he sniffs at the ice cream before taking that first bite. She's done her best, given the tools at her disposal, and even with a bit of magic to hasten some of the process, it's taken several attempts before she finally hit the right combination.

So when he speaks, she can't help the big smile that crosses her face. Hootle bobs his head, an echo of the happy mood he senses in his human. (Hah! Take that, Law!) ]

There's lots of flavour variation you can make, depending on what you mix into it. Some fruits can be really nice, and honey too. I really like chocolate, but I haven't really found much of that here..

[ Then eyes light up. ] We have that back home! Or, had, I guess. [the light dims, before she rallies quickly] My- Adults would tap some of the trees, and collect the sap. Sometimes they'd heat it first, to thicken the sugar, but usually they'd just pour it directly.

[ Is this the second time he's heard about chocolate? Might be. He still doesn't know what it is, but fruit and honey he understands. He listens as Rinwell speaks, eyes on her. His expression shifts when hers do; he hears it, the way she stumbles before she fills it in with adults instead. It's not hard to guess what she'd initially meant to say.

He doesn't ask outright, but: ]

We collected it on our own. [ He props his foot up on a stool to rest his knee. ] Mostly took care of ourselves.

[ He doesn't know how old Rinwell was when she found herself orphaned. But he does know what it feels like. ]

[ Ciri keeps an eye on her without providing further instruction or correction, waiting for Rinwell to figure it out. And she does. Ciri grins over her shoulder, a mischievous flash of teeth, and then -- as they approach one of the slowly rising hills off the main road -- she nudges her heels into Nixie's flanks. The mare takes off, lurching straight into a gallop up the hill.

Ciri only reins her in a little bit, making sure she doesn't leave Rinwell completely behind, as she shouts over her shoulder: ]

Keep up!

[ Nothing better to work off frustration than going real fast. She's sure Rinwell can handle it. ]

[Hector raises an eyebrow. Really, there are people who haven't heard of vampires?

He wipes his hands clean on a towel, leaving the cooking so he can focus on Rinwell. The stew can keep simmering while he talks.]

Vampires used to be humans, but ones who have died and been resurrected as something else. They do not age or get ill, but they must drink human blood and avoid sunlight to survive.

[Hector used to think that their advanced age allowed them a wiser perspective on the world, but it turns out, it made them lose more than they gained. Go figure.]

Yes, morality is largely a human invention. In nature, there is only survival and adaptation.

[Of course, he's also responsible for a lot of death, so maybe his opinion isn't the best one to listen to on the topic.]

Oh, back home I had dogs, cats, hawks, foxes, anything I found dead near my home. They made delightful little pets. Here, so far, I have this one and a frog. He came with me from Thorne.

[ There's a sidelong glance for Geralt, listening to what he says. It's nice, to realise other worlds had similar traditions (and similar frozen regions).

And there's a hint, or what she hopes is a hint, that maybe he understands better than she initially thought he would.

She smiles, and nods slowly. She's already said more than she'd planned today. But that's alright. It's a good sign that she's coming out of her shell, if slowly. ]

It got harder, when I was older. But I hope I can get to do it again, someday. Maybe not here [what is snow in Cadens, obviously] but maybe in the Horizon.

[ Keep up?? Rinwell's eyes widen as Ciri is suddenly bounding ahead, and Poppy's ears prick immediately forward, wuffling faintly as her head comes up. She may be much more laid back than the witcher's fiery grey, but even this mare enjoys a good run.

Rinwell can't help but feel a little nervous - but excited, too. Jaskier had ridden their ride at a canter when she'd gone practicing magic, and that..that had been so much faster than she expected. ]

C'mon, girl! [she squeezes against her sides hard, and-- welp, OFF goes Poppy! Not quite a rocket, but much faster than she was expecting!] O-oh!!

[ She doesn't fall forward onto the mare's neck from the sudden change in pace, but there's definitely a hand grasping in her mane, holding on tight as her mount moves after Ciri. It's so quick! ]

[ Ciri laughs, watching Rinwell's eyes go wide as she fumbles. ]

Don't pull on her mane or the reins! Keep a steady grip. If you yank back, she might stop too fast, and you won't like that.

[ She's going to have to teach Rinwell how to fall off a horse, come to think of it. It's an important skill. Even if the girl might not enjoy the lesson. ]

Keep your body low and move with her.

[ Nixie wants to keep running ahead, but Ciri makes her turn, circling back around to ride back and behind Rinwell in a loop, coming up on her other side. She grins, windswept. ]

Fun, right?

[ There's no immediate verbal answer to Ciri's coaching, Rinwell's face scrunched somewhere between intense concentration and very evident hints of joy blossoming as she starts to get a real feel for speed. She will absolutely not like a hard stop, but Rinwell is not considering that right now - not when she's almost flying.

That's what this rush feels like, not unlike the updraft that her tornadoes sometimes carry her along on, but with the added sense of movement and weight below her.

(Could this have been something everyone knew back home, once upon a time?)

'Fun, right?' ]

Yes..! [breathlessly enthusiastic, as she keeps low as instructed; if one hand remains with a grip on mane length, well, babby is still learning.] R-really fun!

Good! That's what I like to hear.

[ Ciri laughs too as they crest the hill, and she tugs on her horse's reins a little, urging Nixie to slow. She doesn't instruct Rinwell, watching to see what she does. ]

You get good at this, and I'll start challenging you to a proper race. We can bet on it. Winner doesn't have to wash dishes.

[ Ciri slows and Rinwell does not, though Poppy is certainly aware she's no longer being raced alongside with. (Poppy might be lazy at times, but even a pony enjoys a good canter from time to time.)

It's only as they clear the hill crest and are starting the downward slope that Rinwell realises she's leaving her friend behind, and sits up and back, trying to use her weight as she was taught rather than haul back on the reins to slow her mount.

It works, sort of. ]

Woahhh, woahhh, w-woooah!!

[ The last 'woah' is a lot less steady as the mare obeys but also veers a bit sideways with the command, and the sudden drop to trot has that bouncy gait returning. Hopefully Ciri won't laugh too long as Rinwell finds herself falling forward on the mare's neck, unable to adapt to posting in time, and is left clinging to Poppy's mane for dear life before mare helpfully stops. ]

[ No such luck. Of course Ciri laughs, loud and unabashed, but not unkind. When Poppy finally stops, Ciri guides her mare beside her still giggling, giving Rinwell a wide grin. ]

Almost had it. Solid try, but you won't beat me yet.

[ She nods over to the next hill, the desert covered in rolling mounds like like it, covered in large rocks and green-gray shrubs. The sand is too hard packed to be slippery, though; the horses are able to run just fine.

Ciri smirks, squeezing her heels against Nixie's flanks. ]

C'mon. Let's go again.

[Open] A Star In Hand Lit His Way

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject