"Um. Date. Kalimac. Don't know where yet. Clothes. I'm set on jewelry, but I need a dress. Not too skimpy, not for a first date. But something I can fight in if we get jumped. Hair dye. Thinking pink? Has to go with the dress, or vice-versa. Lingerie. Skimpy. Just in case. Seriously just in case, butreally need your feedback on that, because there are other people I can model the dress for, but the lingerie I can pretty much ask you and Shae, and Shae would give me a tactical analysis of their combat utility, Liothonae must have the pheremones of an alley cat, and for the gods' sake woman drag Alaric out on a date while you're still in a city and not out on that arctic ice, I'm babbling."
Kalimac notes but does not comment on Ameiko's surprise. She overlooked his nervousness in asking her to dinner, after all. And to tell the truth, it's not like he's been on a lot of dates recently either.
"Well," Ameiko says, a little awkwardly.
There is a pause.
"Did, did you have anywhere in mind?"
Hrunndalf uses the free time to stock up on cold-weather supplies, and stops by the caravan to drop them off.
This also gives him the opportunity to catch up with Sandru and Koya. He casts Guidance on himself before the encounters so as to make slightly less of a fool of himself.
He brings Koya a small crate with bottles of preserved lemon juice. "Seafarers take that stuff along, to keep their teeth from falling out. I figure we might face a similar dearth of fresh foods on our trek through the ice." Rolling his eyes, he adds, "I think I have something new that needs talking about, if you're up for it, but we'll have time for that later. We're kind of in the middle of something right now. Good guys to save, bad guys to vanquish, the usual."
For Sandru, he brings a boilt-leather cap adorned with cow horns. "You know, so they let into town next time."
Shortly after breakfast (and possibly a few short after-breakfast conversations), Alaric announces: "I'm going to visit the caravan if anyone would like to accompany me. Or escort a poor, defenseless heretic, depending on how you see that."
Mel thinks for a minute. "Do you want to start with the dress or the underthings, first? Because, while some of these places sell both, most of the nice stuff was specialized."
Quieter, "And maybe I should get an outfit... in case, he remembers."
Shortly after breakfast (and possibly a few short after-breakfast conversations), Alaric announces: "I'm going to visit the caravan if anyone would like to accompany me. Or escort a poor, defenseless heretic, depending on how you see that."
Mel waves as she leaves the inn with a 15-yr-old street rat.
Alaric gives Mel one of those sappy longing looks that he must practice.
"Um. No. I really hadn't thought that far ahead." Kalimac tries not to blush in embarrassment. First the tickle attack by Myriana, now this. This is not helping his image as a smooth and debonaire cavalier. "I thought we could ask the folks at the inn for recommendations, though," he adds hopefully.
At times you seem to feel as if you are solely responsible for the defense of the Caravan, rather than that being a shared duty in which everyone is playing a mutual and equal role.
Hrunndalf mulls over Shalelu's advice. "I do feel I should pull more than my own weight in the caravan's protection. It is my calling. You are doing the same. But clearly I must be overreaching at times."
”It may be worth your while to discuss with them ways in which you can dissent with them freely in a manner that reads as more respectful of their opinions, and vice versa. I warn you that you may have to weather some anger first in order to do so.”
"Fair enough. One step at a time." He looks contemplative. "Incidentally, does she like chocolates?"
”But when I do, it is because in my judgment as a military officer of many decades experience, everyone’s lives are in danger unless I do so. When I ordered everyone off the ship, it was to save lives, and I believe that by delaying, you were risking lives, and not just your own. Possibly Kalimac’s translation was at fault, but if it was not, I would request that you at least consider that in the hopefully unlikely event that I say something similar at a later date.”
"Understood. Kalimac is not to blame. Your order was to evacuate the ship, and I tried my best to do that. The fire, or the hail of arrows I brought upon us, could have trapped someone on the ship. Would you have me leave them behind to die? It was my fault." He exhales. "In hindsight, everybody did escape under their own strength, and I did nothing but collect feathers. I should have trusted your assessment."
"I'm wondering, though... what would you have done in my place?"
Rhost looks no less silly wearing Helgarval than he did earlier in the day. "Fynn first? Before he becomes rubble?"
soundslike a plan, Spivey agrees.
Kalimac nods. "Fynn."
"Works for me," says Ameiko.
Ameiko will be getting an almost identical question around the same time.
She considers. "Someting music-related might be good. Especially if you can find something exotic or unfamiliar to her."
"Also, multiple orgasms."
Rhost looks no less silly wearing Helgarval than he did earlier in the day. "Fynn first? Before he becomes rubble?"
soundslike a plan, Spivey agrees.
Kalimac nods. "Fynn."
"Works for me," says Ameiko.
"Ditto."
"Nah," Rhost grins back. "Whenever Alaric pronounces, we miss you."
Rhost's expression turns serious. "We've seen trouble. How are things here?"
He brings Koya a small crate with bottles of preserved lemon juice. "Seafarers take that stuff along, to keep their teeth from falling out. I figure we might face a similar dearth of fresh foods on our trek through the ice."
"Good idea," says Koya. "Scurvey is no one's idea o' fun."
Rolling his eyes, he adds, "I think I have something new that needs talking about, if you're up for it, but we'll have time for that later. We're kind of in the middle of something right now. Good guys to save, bad guys to vanquish, the usual."
"Always happy t' talk. When ya have time though, I s'pose. Have t' say, been kind of boring over on this side o' things. Still, won't complain about good fortune."
"We have address," Rhost says. "Anyone know where it is?"
Mel beams, "I know we were discussing other boots for the crossing, but I figured that before and after." She shrugs. Mel thinks for a minute. "Do you want to start with the dress or the underthings, first? Because, while some of these places sell both, most of the nice stuff was specialized."
"Underthings," Ameiko decides. "No, dress. No, underthings. Yeah. Let's work from the inside out."
Quieter, "And maybe I should get an outfit... in case, he remembers."
She raises an eyebrow.
Alaric, deadpan: "Multiple orgasms? I'd rather get her something out of the ordinary." Beat. "Something musical... that could be perfect, though."
She grins. "They're like chocolate or flowers. No one objects to getting them on any occasion."
If Ameiko has decided on pink for her hair, Mel suggests pink underthings and something that is more subdued in color for the dress.
She raises an eyebrow.
Mel darkens, "Well... I kinda like what we normally do... but clothing becomes... umm... redundant very quickly... normally."
There is a break as Mel comments on some possible selections, "But, he really liked the ... ummm ... corset I picked up in the last town."
Rhost knocks lightly on the door to Melinda and Alaric's room.
"We have address," Rhost says. "Anyone know where it is?"
The lemon juice will cost 1 gp. Increase your Relationship score with Koya by +2
Yay! :)
Not to rush you, but for the record, getting Sandru an "Ulfen disguise" was my idea of an Insult this time around.
For Sandru, he brings a boilt-leather cap adorned with cow horns. "You know, so they let into town next time."
Sandru actually seems tolerably amused by this. "I suppose it would make me fit in better, at that."
"Um. No. I really hadn't thought that far ahead." Kalimac tries not to blush in embarrassment. First the tickle attack by Myriana, now this. This is not helping his image as a smooth and debonaire cavalier. "I thought we could ask the folks at the inn for recommendations, though," he adds hopefully.
"That's a great idea," Ameiko replies. "Maybe we can ask if there's anything fun to do in the area, find a nice restaurant?"
Diplomacy
Rhost knocks lightly on the door to Melinda and Alaric's room.
There is a long pause, just long enough to make Rhost wonder if they are out. Then Mel opens the door with a happy smile, somewhat mint colored.
"Fair enough. One step at a time." He looks contemplative. "Incidentally, does she like chocolates?"
"In truth, I do not know. Our relationship is still quite young. However ... if you are trying to convey to her that you intend to treat her the same way as you do your male colleagues, bringing her chocolates at this time may be ill-advised," Shalelu says.
"I'm wondering, though... what would you have done in my place?"
"Had, for example, Ameiko Kaijitsu ordered me off the ship?"
"I would have gotten off the ship. But then, I acknowledge her as my commander because I trust her judgment implicitly, and I am utterly, utterly sure that she would never issue such an order without being absolutely certain of its necessity."
There is a long pause, just long enough to make Rhost wonder if they are out. Then Mel opens the door with a happy smile, somewhat mint colored.
"Bad time?" Rhost asks.
"For talk," he continues after a short pause.
"Bad time?" Rhost asks.
"For talk," he continues after a short pause.
Mel goes a shade deeper, "Of course not. Whatwouldmakeyouthinkthat?"
"Nah," Rhost grins back. "Whenever Alaric pronounces, we miss you."
Rhost's expression turns serious. "We've seen trouble. How are things here?"
"Borin'," she replies. "I s'pose I shouldn't complain about good fortune, though."
Mel goes a shade deeper, "Of course not. Whatwouldmakeyouthinkthat?"
Alaric relaxes on the bed, a sheepish look on his face. Two books are open and facedown near him. One appears to be a mystery, the other some kind of adventure.
Mel goes a shade deeper, "Of course not. Whatwouldmakeyouthinkthat?"
Rhost shrugs. "Never know." Rhost peers into the room, at the books on the bed. "Might be at the exciting part. Can I come in?"
Rhost shrugs. "Never know." Rhost peers into the room, at the books on the bed. "Might be at the exciting part. Can I come in?"
Mel moves out of the way, she motions to a chair, or the spare bed which has a bunch of oddly shaped packages piled on it.
Mel leads the way to a den of silky, lacy, leathery and possibly furry underthings. At some point, for the fun of it, Mel suggests the chainmail bikini... it is rejected for something more traditionally comfortable. If Ameiko has decided on pink for her hair, Mel suggests pink underthings and something that is more subdued in color for the dress.
Ameiko anxiously asks your opinion on a very wide variety of underthings as she tries them on.
While some members of the party whose beauty is partly supernatural in origin, such as Zaiobe or Spivey, may outshine her to some degree or other, compared to other humanoids ... well, she pretty much has a perfect body.
She seems unconvinced of this, however.
Mel darkens, "Well... I kinda like what we normally do... but clothing becomes... umm... redundant very quickly... normally." There is a break as Mel comments on some possible selections, "But, he really liked the ... ummm ... corset I picked up in the last town."
"I suspect that the quicker it gets ripped off, the more successful a choice it was. The object here is not a runway show. Let's pick up some stuff for you." She begins picking some selections off the shelves.
"We have address," Rhost says. "Anyone know where it is?"
It will help you to realize that asking the desk staff will get you prompt and accurate directions.
And you are off through the streets of the Jade Quarter.
Alaric's smile turns wistful. "I'm sorry if this makes you ill, but... she's just so wonderful. I really do want to get her something perfect. The other, well, yes. Assuming Reta and Zaiobe keep up their incredibly tolerant ways and let us have the wagon to ourselves. But beyond that. I mean, she can have me whenever she wants. It's sad, Ameiko, I'm completely obsessed with the woman. All she has to do is smile, wink, or turn even slightly green and I go all weak in the knees." He sighs. "I'm sorry to throw all of this at you. And it has to be a little weird since you've known her forever and all."
Ameiko grins. "Well. The fact that I've known her forever makes me pretty happy to hear that someone is so in love with her. What with her deserving it."
"Midnight assassination. Pre-dawn swimming. Ninjers -- whatever they are."
Rhost dismisses all of this with a wave of his hand.
"But have you gone shopping?"
At some point when she is in the inn, Mel would like to check if there is a service planned for Jiansa Xi.
Yes, tomorrow at one of the Jade Quarter temples.
Rhost walks into the room, and closes the door behind himself.
Rhost sits in the chair, and turns to Melinda.
"You don't eat most animals. Why?"
"Midnight assassination. Pre-dawn swimming. Ninjers -- whatever they are." Rhost dismisses all of this with a wave of his hand. "But have you gone shopping?"
"I've been sittin' on my fanny, is what I've been doin'."
And when that conversation runs its course, Alaric will seek out Koya. "How's my favorite old coot today? Stopped by because I thought you might like to know what's going on."
"I suspect that the quicker it gets ripped off, the more successful a choice it was. The object here is not a runway show. Let's pick up some stuff for you." She begins picking some selections off the shelves.
Mel looks worried, "Umm.. and very quietly "normally doesn't make it all the way off... is that okay? Or not good?"
After when it comes to dresses, Mel starts in picking wonderful things for Ameiko, and dresses for herself that are just all wrong.
”I tried to tell him why his being both overbearing and overprotective reads as sexism. But after talking with him, my own impression is that he is a reasonably well-intentioned man who is not ... the brightest of our group. He does not understand why his words provoke anger so he responds with anger in turn. But I do not know. Perhaps I am wrong. I’m not perfect.”
"... and admittedly," she continues, "When wondering how best to convince you that he regards you as an equal on the field of battle, he did ask if he should bring you chocolates. I attempted to disabuse him of that idea."
Mel looks worried, "Umm.. and very quietly "normally doesn't make it all the way off... is that okay? Or not good?"
Ameiko smirks. "I think that's just fine."
After when it comes to dresses, Mel starts in picking wonderful things for Ameiko, and dresses for herself that are just all wrong.
Ameiko starts quietly picking out a completely different set of dresses for you to try on.
At the caravan, Alaric's first stop is to Sandru. "Sandru? The guys and I went out the other night, and I realized as we were leaving that it wasn't all of the guys without you. So, I wanted you to know, that in the future, when we all go out, you're invited. Anyway, as kind of an apology, I got you this. I think we all enjoyed it, but at that point, we were all seeing double, so it's just possible this is swill. In which case I'll make it up to you later." Alaric hands over a clay jug of sake.
"Well, I appreciate that, Alaric. Couldn't have gone out then anyway, but I'll look forward to the next time." He looks at the jug. "So what is this, exactly?"
"Because I choose to take a vow not to. One of the pillars of self-perfection is the purity of the body. Many of the masters are able to sustain themselves on very little. Choosing to not eat meat is a very early step." She smiles, self-deprecating, "Granted, I really shouldn't eat fish, either, but I'm weak willed."
A pause, "Plus, after I stopped, I tried some a year later. It... didn't agree with me anymore."
And when that conversation runs its course, Alaric will seek out Koya. "How's my favorite old coot today? Stopped by because I thought you might like to know what's going on."
"Well, I appreciate that, kind young coot. I was beginnin' t' think you'd all forgetten th' old woman," says Koya.