𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕦𝕤 𝕧𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕥 (
grappleking) wrote in
songerein2022-01-10 11:55 am
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Entry tags:
closed 👊 a frozen heart worth mining
Who: Balthus von Albrecht & Hilda Valentine Goneril
Which: Log, Closed
Where: Ye olde Ice Palace.
What: Winter nymph adventure! Maybe some confused feelings, if we're lucky.
Warnings: None so far, will update as needed.
Which: Log, Closed
Where: Ye olde Ice Palace.
What: Winter nymph adventure! Maybe some confused feelings, if we're lucky.
Warnings: None so far, will update as needed.
Well... whaddya think? This place doesn't look so bad.
['This' is the frozen palace that has appeared beyond the outskirts of town in recent weeks, still a good distance down the path— but near enough that even from where they stand, Balthus can see that it's well-guarded. These nymphs may not look like much, but he knows better than to let that lead him to underestimate them. If they're able to change the weather on this scale, they've got to be a hell of a lot more than meets the eye.
Brute strength ain't gonna do it.
He lifts his gloved hands to blow on them and try to trap heat between them before rubbing them together, the coat and hat he'd managed to find for himself only able to do so much to ward off the biting cold, and he grins as he looks to his partner.]
I'm thinking we're gonna need to depend on your powers of persuasion, Hilda.
[She's good at talking people into doing things they don't want to. It's basically her livelihood, right?]
no subject
(And good thing, too, because this sucks. How do people live like this?)]
Yeah, leave it to me. I have quite a few things I'd like to tell these uppity nymphs once I have the chance.
[First and foremost: how dare you.]
I just hope we don't freeze to death before we get there. I didn't think it'd be that much colder once we left town, but clearly I was wrong.
no subject
We should probably be, you know, kinda nice to start. See if we can make friends before picking a fight?
[He's pretty sure that even with as tough as both he and Hilda are, a fight might not work out in their favor.]
Here, if you're too cold— take these. I can tough it out without 'em.
[He starts pulling off one of his own gloves, preparing to hand it over to her.]
no subject
[That would suck for a multitude of reasons, not least of which being that he won't be able to defend her! And also having to deal with all of the complications of severe frostbite. That's probably pretty gross.]
Let's just get this over with as quickly as possible so we can go back somewhere with a nice fire and warm drinks.
[And with that, they trudge onward. The snow gets worse as the approach, and Hilda especially struggles to traverse it as the snow pack is deeper and deeper. She's way too short for this.]
no subject
[Besides, if he ends up having to start swinging, that'll warm him right up! Nothin' to it. He hands them over without any further explanation, and settles for sinking his hands deep into his pockets as they trudge forward. The snow is pretty deep, but he's able to angle himself in front of her to carve something of a path with his own steps, though they'll both still end up with plenty of snow in their boots before they're done.]
Food, too— can't forget the food.
[Warm is definitely the key word across the board, though.
He looks back over his shoulder, frowning as he realizes she's starting to flag behind a little bit.]
Hey— need a hand? Can't have you getting lost in the snow, you're our diplomat!
[He'll carry you if he has to.]
no subject
[A pastry sounds wonderful right about now, she has to admit. Something fresh out of the oven with a warm and gooey filling.
Hilda is about two seconds from shouting after Balthus when he realizes that she's no longer keeping pace, buried almost up to her waist in the snow. With a huff, she stops in her tracks and waits for him to circle back and help her.]
I think I'm going to need a carry.
[Frustrated, she shoves a bit of snow away from her as if it would make any difference. It does not.]
How do people from Faerghus deal with this kind of weather every year? It's awful.
no subject
[What kind of friend would he be if he'd left her behind to languish in the snow? He circles back fairly easily, cutting the path a bit wider with his own steps, but given their difference in height, the snow is still too difficult for her to pass on her own.]
Faerghus is crazy. I guess they're used to dressing for the weather, but if I had to deal with this every year, I'd move.
[Probably.]
Alright— you've got options. You want me to hoist you up, or you wanna go piggyback?
[Ladies' choice!]
no subject
[She loves her Blue Lion classmates, but none of them seem to be okay. Even the ones who are relatively normal take things way, way too seriously to be healthy.]
Let's do piggyback. That way you can have your hands free if we need you to.
[She's strong enough to hang on if he needs to punch a fairy or something!]
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[That's something they can definitely agree on— even the mildest of the Blue Lions? Not okay.
Really, next time they have the opportunity, the two of them should take them out, convince some of them to loosen up. Goddess knows they need it.
He grins, beckoning for her to come closer before bending at the knee, putting himself at appropriate mount-level.]
You got it! Hop on!
[They used to do this all the time, no big deal.]
no subject
But that's an issue for future them. Presently, the issue of her getting buried in the snow is easily solved as she hops onto his back and holds onto him. As he hoists her up, she realizes that this has the added benefit of her getting to leech his body heat as the continue into the frigid realm of these nymphs. It's always nice when things work out like this.]
You're the best, Baltie. This is much better than trying to walk through snow that's almost as tall as I am.
[Which is only slightly an exaggeration. It was getting pretty deep for her.]
no subject
[He's always glad to lend her aid in whatever way he can, and if his strength and build can come in handy, he's glad to offer them! He hooks both of his hands beneath her knees to gently tug them forward so she can wrap them around his waist, beginning to trudge forward through the path he'd already partially carved for them with his own legs.]
Get your arms around my neck, okay? I don't want you falling off.
[And— really, it's kind of nice, having her there. She's warm, for one, but there's something comforting about having her this close, familiar.]
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[That would mean landing in the snow, which would be the worst. It's wet and cold!]
Lead the way, my noble steed! We have winter nymphs to negotiate with.
[...what's a little casual dehumanization between friends, amirite?]
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[They both know exactly where she'll end up if she doesn't hold tight, but that doesn't stop him from making sure his own grip is secure before he continues to venture forward. They still have a ways to go, but they're getting there.
Although—]
The horse talk is okay, just don't go naming me something stupid.
['Baltie' is just fine, thanks.]
Hey, and keep lookout while you're up there, alright?
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[Give her a few, she'll surely come up with some kind of stupid horse name to give him. Equine King of Grappling, perhaps?]
I'll be your eyes in the sky, though. As much as I can with all the snow blowing around, at--
[She isn't able to finish her sentence before an icy arrow flies past her head. It would seem they've finally been spotted by the nymphs.]
Hey, watch where you're shooting!!
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Well. Maybe that would be okay.]
Just give it a— shoot!
[Shot? Someone is definitely shooting at them, and he raises an arm to knock the next incoming arrow aside before it can strike either of them, hitting the shaft of it with his bracer.
Great, just great.]
Hey, come on! We're just here to talk! That any way to welcome a guest?! We brought snacks!
no subject
[The nymphs--or, at least the few that are now visible in the trees around them--seem to pause in response to this new information. They murmur among themselves for a bit, and Hilda relaxes. Surely, they're debating accepting the offer. Food is always a welcomed gift, right? They may just be able to get the conversation started and succeed in this plan of theirs after all.
After several moments one of them screeches, "NO SNACKS!" as a volley of dozens of tiny arrows of ice descend upon the pair at once.
So much for diplomacy. :( ]
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[No snacks?! Balthus would never turn his nose up at free food— but there isn't a lot of time to argue the nymphs' ideology before those arrows come raining down. They're small, but still sharp, and a few actually manage to stick into the arm of his jacket as he makes a sweeping gesture to knock them away.]
Alright, I'm really gettin' tired of this... we come in peace! Why's that so hard to understand? We're freezing our asses off out here, we just wanted to see if we could compromise!
[Apparently, that's not on the table.]
Hilda, you got anything?