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and what about a sweater?
Seeing Mylyna quickly slither over to the fireplace Xeros followed right after, draping himself over the chilled Lamae. Wallace tilts his head before bringing the big coat over and tossing it on part of her tail. "There's a bunch more in the closet." he says as he heads to towards the entryway.
In response to Yelenn Nalada opens her eye just a peek and quietly asks "Thinking about strapping me to a table and investigating, kitten?"
At long last Seranna and Zogith had a working theory that would help explain their suspicions. The Warden, or Nadala as she was truly know, acted as though she was not completely in control of her own thoughts, not truly a master over her memories, and the duo feared that might have meant she was under the control of something more sinister. While the idea that she was trying to carry the memories of her fallen friends wasn’t necessarily reassuring in its own right, it was better than the alternative explanations. For the time being they would let the matter go.
“See Sir Wallace, I told you we’d find them and bring them back.” Seranna boldly proclaimed, as if she were to thank for their return or her involvement had contributed anything at all for that matter. ”But enough about that, we should check on granny upstairs, and after that it’s just a matter of parceling out food and board amongst ourselves.”
"You did!" Wallace happily calls out as he retrieves another coat, possibly more than one by the numerous thumps that come from the closet. An "Uh-oh," is heard before he quickly exists with just a single coat to come put on the Lamae. "Oh, she's still sleeping." he tells Princess Stabbity after.
"Well, all the same it wouldn't hurt to check in." Seranna insisted.
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Yelenn blushes as a grin creeps across her lips. "Uhm...uh..maybe? Not EXACTLY how I would have phrased that but the sentiment isn't far off."
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”Hmm, okay. We just need to be quiet.” Wallace concedes.
Nalada closes her eye again after seeing the Magi’s reaction. ”Good to know. I do still need to reward you for rescuing me, after all.”
"Perfectly quiet. Don't you worry, quiet like a mouse." Seranna assured Wallace before motioning for him to lead the way. She gives a knowing smile to Yelenn as she heads off, deciding that the conversation would go much more smoothly without the small child's presence.
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Yelenn unconsciously bites her lower lip as she considers the possibilities. Shaking her head with a grin she replies, "I very much look forward to that."
Turning to Yasmin she heads toward the kitchen, "Okay, let's see what there is to eat here and get everyone fed."
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Wallace walks over to the stairs on the right heading up to the second floor, turning right into a hallway once he gets up there. Seranna notices there isn’t a hallway on the left side though, but there are stairs going up to the third floor. That are currently blocked by a sofa, a nightstand, and two chairs shoved in front of them. It would be simple enough, if tedious, to move or climb over them.
Going to the first door on the left in the hallway Wallace gently reaches for the doorknob and tries to turn to it. Tries. A confused look passes over his face as he tries again a little more forceful this time, causing the doorknob to slightly rattle. ”It’s locked?” he tells Seranna, obviously not having expected that.
~~~
Nalada’s smirk turns into a satisfied smile. ”I as well, kitten.”
Heading towards the kitchen,
Heading into the kitchen Yazmin spies a door that she guesses would open directly to the wood pile, for use in the giant cast iron stove in the room. Looking throughout she finds all manner of knives and silverware and plating and pans and pots on display, and even spices, and somewhat surprising, stores of food that have a perfectly edible appearance filling the cupboards to the brim.
Bread, fruits, vegetables.
One of the cubpoards is even chilled to the touch, but opening it reveals instead of an ice box a rather deep and dark room with a mist spilling out from it. Skinned animals hang from hooks within.
There’s also a dumbwaiter.
Moving up the stairs Seranna takes care to remain silent as she promised, but took the time to look over the blocked staircase, wondering what the cause for such an action was. It wouldn’t be hard for the others to move everything, but was there a reason it was still there? After pondering on that for a moment she glanced the other direction, checking to see how many rooms were in the hallway. Trying to do the math she knew they would only require a little more than half as many rooms as they had people here so perhaps they would not have to move the furniture at all.
Her concentration was broken when Wallace mentioned that the door was locked, and her and Zogith both moved closer to the door. The outsider had more acute hearing, so she reached out with her mind and listened not with her own, but rather his. Maybe they could hear movement inside, she could be awake or at the very least they could hear her snoring perhaps.
Seranna counts three doors total, two on the wall behind you with the door leading to "Grams" before you and hallway turning to the left and continuing on as well.
Listening at the locked door the couple do not hear any snoring, but they do hear the slightest of movements. A breeze?
Hearing movement, Seranna had cause to modify her earlier statement. Looking back to Wallace she spoke softly, "Sounds like she might be moving around in there. Or at least the window might have blown open."
As cold as it was the person in there surely would have woken up if the latter was the case. Either they were awake or Seranna was doing them a favor by waking them up before they caught a cold. There were other options, but...well better not to bring those up.
"We'll just give a little knock, hm?" She told Wallace before rapping her knuckle on the door, hoping to garner the attention of whoever was inside, still listening for any changes on the other side.
When Seranna mentions a window being open Wallace nods before a confused look crosses his face. "I don't remember seeing any windows.." he quietly says as he thinks.
Leaving his thoughts he nods when she goes to knock.
Nothing. Not even a sound.
Wait. No windows? No windows! That was alarming to say the least. Seranna moved to Wallace’s side, gently attempting to usher him out of the way as concern was beginning to mount that something terrible had gone wrong here. ”Wallace darling, just, step over here with me for a moment. This might be a little loud but don’t you worry okay? Everything is under control.”
Without taking the time to consider the habitual nature of lying, Seranna spoke a little louder to make sure whoever was inside had one last chance to make themselves known, ”If you can hear me in there, we are friends of Wallace’s. We just want to make sure everything is okay... We’re coming in now darling, last chance to let us know you’re alright!”
”Okay...” Wallace says, not convinced but too confused at the moment to question as he’s moved over.
There is pause after Seranna’s announcement, and then. ”Oh?” An elderly simply says beyond the door, before a distinct click is heard from it. ”Sorry, dearie, my hearing’s not what it used to be.” A moment after that the door opens and a woman that easily matches the voice stand before you. Having a healthy gauntess to her she wore simple brown pants and a gray shirt, both aged with her and patched numerous times. ”I see Wallie has made friends.” she says with a smile.
”I told you not to call me that,” Wallace responds in a stage whisper before he puts his face in a pout.
”Sorry, dear.” she responds with a chuckle.
Seranna focused very little on what the woman actually had to say. She looked her up and down as she thought about the lack of footsteps. The first place to start was to look straight down and see if the woman had feet and to make sure they were actually touching the ground. After that she couldn’t help but lean into the room slightly, even if it might have been a minor invasion of personal space. She glanced around inside, searching for any sign of a window or opening to the outside from which the sound of a breeze might have been coming from.
Something was definitely up, but she didn’t want to show her hand right away, so she did what she was best at…she lied…again.
”Sorry to bother you darling, but we just got back from investigating the lower regions and we saw that the front door was open. Best as we can tell, some sort of animal was in the house and I just wanted to make sure that everyone was alright. What with the sounds of a breeze coming from your room I was worried something might have come in through the window, if you have one. I confess I don’t know the layout of the house very well.”
The woman did indeed have feet, and toes, and they were on the ground. She leans back out of the way when Princess Stabbity shoves her head in to snoop. There was also no windows in the room. ”Animal? Like that one?” she asked incredulously while pointing at Zogith. ”There’s no windows in here, least of what I’ve seen.”
Following the two ladies into the kitchen Nalada opens her eyes and begins to look around. "So what's on the menu, kittens?"
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Taking in the expanse of the supplies, Yelenn turns as she hears Nalada's rich voice purring the question, the magus' cheks flushing a bit as she smiles over her shoulder. "Quite a lot apparently, a fully stocked pantry.....which is actually more than a little surprising."
"Oh my." Nalada lets out as she moves over towards the Magus, warmly smiling back at her. "I take it from the state of things this building had been presumably abandoned? But here we have food that is safe and not pillaged. Hopefully it's not poisoned or cursed." she muses.
Going to one of cabinets she simply nods her head after opening it. "It's conjured. Probably won't be the best tasting, but it will at least be filling."
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"That, we can do something about." Yelenn says with a grin, stepping up beside Nalada and reaching into the cabinet to pick up a perfectly preserved apple. Whispering an incantation, she focuses on the fruit for a moment, bringing to mind the most delicious apple she'd ever had, crisp and juicy, perfectly balanced between tart and sweet.
After a moment, she extends her hand, offering the dark elf the first bite with an inviting smile.
”That’s Zogith, he’s no animal. He’s from Karreza’s realm. No, presumably the four-legged variety of beast was in the house, but it doesn’t look like it got into anything. At any rate I’m glad it wasn’t a bother to you or Wallace.” Seranna told her. Her paranoia was getting the better of her again. Before the shipwreck she was not so incredibly suspicious of people…truly this adventure was getting the better of her, she needed a nap in a warm bed.
”Forgive me, I’ve been so caught up in everything that’s been going on, I’ve forgotten my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Seranna Vaelong, and this is my husband, Zogith Vaelong.” She said before offering her hand to the elderly soul.
”A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
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Nalada arches a brow at Yelenn's quip, very curious as to what she was up to. When she starts casting a spell on the apple the Drow's lips tighten into an o of surprise, a silent "Ohhh," escaping along with it.
When the offer is extended with a smile Nalada returns it before placing one hand under the hand Yelenn is using and uses her free one to move her hair to the side as she simultaneously raises the apple while bending forward to slowly take a bit. "Mmmhh," she lets out after an audible crunch is heard. Rising back up she chews for a few seconds before swallowing, bringing a finger to her lips. "My, what an exquisite skill you possess. Juicy, tart, and sweet," she starts, unabashedly stopping just long enough to lick her lip, "It's heartening to know these little wonders of the arcane and their practitioners still exist in this age."
”That’s Zogith, he’s no animal. He’s from Karreza’s realm. No, presumably the four-legged variety of beast was in the house, but it doesn’t look like it got into anything. At any rate I’m glad it wasn’t a bother to you or Wallace.” Seranna told her. Her paranoia was getting the better of her again. Before the shipwreck she was not so incredibly suspicious of people…truly this adventure was getting the better of her, she needed a nap in a warm bed.
”Forgive me, I’ve been so caught up in everything that’s been going on, I’ve forgotten my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Seranna Vaelong, and this is my husband, Zogith Vaelong.” She said before offering her hand to the elderly soul.
”A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
”Ah, well thanks for looking out for me and Wallace, Dearie.” she responds. When Seranna introduces herself and her husband, and then when Zogith greets her the woman’s eyes widen quite a bit. ”Oh hello. Pleased to meet you both, name’s Catherine.” she quickly says while still trying to be polite.
”Soooo he’s an angel? A fish angel?” she adds.
”Thank you Catherine.” Seranna said after the introductions, frowning at the question that followed as this sort of thing always left her perturbed. This was more like what she expected from the others, and thankfully they were far more understanding, ”A celestial aquan actually…”
Deciding it was best to change the subject Zogith asked, ”Were you on the boat as well Catherine?”
"Ah, gotcha," she replies to Serrana's correction. "Uh, yeah, was on'it when it got smashed all to the Hells. Thank the Gods I was able to catch ahold of Wallace in that mess. Wait, weren't you on it too?'
"I'm afraid so...nasty business. But I'm always happy to meet another survivor. You should come down stairs, I believe the others are preparing food, you must be hungry."
"Same here," she says with a friendly smile. "Oh, food? I hadn't even thought about that, too much on my mind. Though when ya get to be my age you don't tend to need as much anyway. What're we having?"
"That's an excellent question. We'll go find out. You are more than welcome to join us, or stay here if you like." She offered.
"That's the comfiest bed I've ever slept in, if I stay around it you'll probably find me asleep again so it's probably best if I leave for a bit," Catherine says with a chuckle.
"After you darling." Seranna motions down the stairs, letting the old woman and Wallace lead the way. She waited until they were far enough they wouldn't notice as she flicked her wrist and focused her energy into the room Catherine had left.
”Come along, Wallie-“ ”Grams!” ”Oh! Sorry, Wallace.” She says while giving a nod to Seranna before heading down after the boy.
Seranna focused on the magic. Attempting to distinguish the true source of the magic. If it was an object or the entire room, and figure out the intensity of the magic at work.
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Yelenn grins, blushing a bit both at the compliment, and the sultry manner in which Nalada both indulges in the apple and savors its juices. Taking a deep breath to.....redirect her thoughts until later, the magus gives a visible little shiver. "You certainly know how to make a girl feel special. Okay, let's get everyone fed, some of us might need the energy later.
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Nalada smirks at the Magi’s reactions. Oh I do, and you will.”
Leaving a smoldering gaze on Yelenn just long enough she then closes her eyes again and her smile softens. ”But pertinently for now, food. Is there any way I can assist in the prep?”
Seranna frowned, exchanging a look with Zogith. The two eventually agreed on a course of action and as the noblewoman went down the stairs Zogith stayed behind to monitor the room from the doorway. He didn't know what he was waiting for or if anything would happen at all, but it was best not to leave it unattended just to be safe.
Meanwhile Seranna rejoined Wallace and Catherine on their journey to the kitchen.
The celestial aquan stares into the empty room with his single eye. Empty and silent.
Wallace hurries off ahead towards the kitchen, while Catherine moves at a steady pace ahead.
Seranna will trail after Catherine, taking her time as she attempts to reconvene with Yelenn somewhere in the kitchen area.
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+1 for serpentine mass, and what about a sweater?
Seeing Mylyna quickly slither over to the fireplace Xeros followed right after, draping himself over the chilled Lamae. Wallace tilts his head before bringing the big coat over and tossing it on part of her tail. "There's a bunch more in the closet." he says as he heads to towards the entryway.
Mylyna had just began to coil up before the fire when she felt Xeros begin to lay atop her. She adjust her coils to wrap around him and then felt Wallace throw a coat over her. She looked at the boy and smiled, "Thanks Wallace, could you keep bringing them please and cover us both up?"
Catherine continues on, Wallace already having sped up after he got off the stairs, only slowing monetarily when she spies Mylyna and Xeros. And Wallace going to retrieve more coats for them. She opens her mouth before shaking her head and heading onward into the kitchen.
”Sure!” Wallace happily says as he heads for the closet, this time managing to drag back two coats, one in each hand, though he had to put one down in order to throw it on top of the Lamae.
"Sure, I figure we probably have a variety in tastes, and with the range of available options, a nice spread would be a good idea," Yelenn says checking out the food stores and directing those with her to begin gathering the elements of a meal.
"I don't really know much about cooking..." says Yasmin as she putters about the kitchen gathering up supplies. "I could chop up some fruit, or boil some water. But I don't know if I could get one of these haunches of meat to cook evenly, or how long to boil vegetables."
Nalada nods. ”I wonder if I’d be lucky enough to find some venison, I have been pushing it, all things considered. And some wine, I’ll be greedy.”
”Me neither, kitten.” she replies to Yasmin. ”I know you take something cold and apply heat until... food.”
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Yelenn chuckles, putting her knowledge to work. "I suppose it's a benefit of the fact that being caretakers of potential world ending artifacts, and ancient weapons, my parents thought it best to have as few servants as possible. So I grew up having at least an idea of how to put together a decent meal."
”Really?” Nalada mentions, her eyes unable to help opening just a bit more, her curiosity piqued.
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Running through all the meals she had had, and missed, as she looked over the various ingredients hidden in the kitchen Yelenn goes about about piling up enough ingredients for everyone and with a bit of magic and fire, once the stove got working, and a slightly disorienting trip into the cooler that seemed to go on and on in search of fish the meal would soon begin.
Glazed salmon with couscous. Asparagus and rosemary potatoes. A smaller cooler hidden inside a cabinet revealed sealed glass bottles of milk and juice. Plates and cutlery proved to be the most difficult to find, since they were seemingly stashed off to the side with no magic involved in their upkeep or containment.
Seranna followed Catherine into the kitchen only to give pause as she witnessed the glorious spread that Yelenn was working on. She bit her lip, she was positively starving at this point, and this would be the first time she’d had an appropriate meal in quite some time. It would have been a tragedy to pull Yelenn away from what she was doing, and yet, she didn’t know how urgent the information she held was. To sit and fill her belly when that knowledge could be crucial just didn’t seem right. She told herself she was just being paranoid, but that was most likely just her stomach talking.
Eventually she decided to err toward caution. So not only did she approach Yelenn she chose to do so as subtly as possible.
“Oh, Yelenn, this looks absolutely wonderful! I just got back from upstairs, the stair case to the third floor is...blocked. But nothing urgent, I wouldn’t want to pull you away from what you are doing.” But of course, Yelenn would pick up from the subtle way she cut her eyes back toward the doorway and faint change of tone that whatever she found upstairs needed to be addressed with more urgency than she was letting on…