perfectmatch | week four

[ No..... Not the sneeves so they don't sneeze...... Odile will put them on his snakes if he allows, otherwise fine do it yourself big guy.

... ]

How do you fair in the cold, Messmer?

[ Honestly, the wind is going right through her, so she's very much tucking her scarf as best she can for warmth. ]

[ as a matter of fact, he's never actually been out in the snow before this - he's seen it on the tops of mountains, sure, and cast by mages on occasion, but his time was spent entirely in the temperate grasslands of Leyndell and the marshes of Liurnia before he got shipped off to war. This is... novel! He's squinting up at the frosted trees in bemusement.

Sadly, Messmer won't let Odile handle his snakes - he helps them put the little sleeves on themselves, although their effectiveness is somewhat limited. They seem happier to just stay snuggled up very close to Messmer himself, and for good reason: ]

I feel it not. Flame hath made a home in my blood since I were born - a curse, yet here doth it serve me well enough.

[ he's been a fire wizard the whole time and just never mentioned it... although she got to see him burn part of the walkway before. ]

[ She did... She thought he was connected to fire in some bigger way, and that certainly explains it. Home in his blood. This should make making a snowman...

...

Interesting...

While snow's not a novel concept to her -- Ka Bue has its wintry seasons -- it's not her favorite season by far. Hard to get around in, terrible to take books into, only nice thing about it is getting comfy with three blankets, hot tea, and a roaring fire. In her opinion. Odile shivers, blowing clouds out in her exhale, and shakes her head. ]

If only we were all so lucky. [ A little wry, there. ] I believe we're both a little too old, truthfully, but... would you like to make a snowbird before we begin on our task?

Snowbird?

[ he (or, rather, the snakes) peer at her inquisitively. He's never heard this in his life. The only birds that make their homes in the snow he knows are wretched, awful things, twisted by the rot, and he can only hope Odile's referring to something entirely separate. ]

Please excuse the juvenile display.

[ ...

She's going to fall back into the snow, arms out and feet splayed the same. It's best shown, because explaining it wouldn't make it seem fun, and with some long drags of only her arms in the snow -- she holds out one hand for him to take. ]

If you would be so good, Messmer. It's important to keep the imprint as pristine as possible.

[ It's literally just like making a snow angel except there's no gown made with the legs, just the feet making the fanned tail of the bird. ]

[ juvenile, indeed. He wouldn't expect Odile to get up to this kind of thing! He watches with some bewilderment as she wiggles around on the ground for a while, although he offers her his hand when she reaches up. Still a prince, despite everything... ]

... Such activities ill-suited seem for cold weather. [ now she's got snow on her? ] What didst thou accomplish by this?

[ Messmer doesn't get it. ]

[ If he knew her secret, he might expect it a little better. She helps herself up, brushing the snow off her back and hair with regret plain in her frown. Much too old for this... ]

You and yours must be able to see it better from such a high vantage point, but I realize it must have looked strange to see in action.

[ Let her... step around the imprint gently, gesturing with her hand. ]

Wings, and then a tail down below. Rudimentary as it is... it resembles something alike to a bird, does it not? Snowbird.

[ oh, the impression in the snow... ]

So it does.

[ and... she expects him to do this as well? It feels more than a little silly. Then again, at this point, he doesn't know why he's even bothering to try protecting his pride. She already went first, anyway.

After a moment of contemplation, he sighs, then takes a step away to ensure he has enough space before crouching down and falling back into the snow. The cold isn't more than a minty tingle on his skin, thanks to the curse of fire, but one of his serpents lets out a hiss of displeasure at being suddenly put in contact with the snow. Messmer ignores this and proceeds to make a (very big, yet somehow still half-assed) snowbird, copying Odile's motions with a vague look of chagrin. ]

[ ... She is not going to get him up as smoothly as he got her up, she's realizing, but regardless Odile is holding out both her hands for him and breathing out a quick Craft as she grounds her feet.

There is only the odd, crisp scent of wet rock left lingering in the wake of it, and Odile won't be toppled if Messmer accepts the help. It will still be hard. But she won't topple. ]

Now we have a robin and an albatross. Silly as it is, this is a common activity that many participate in when it snows. I thought it would be worthwhile to have you experience it as well.

[ he doesn't get up immediately, instead laying there for an extra second or two. There is something peaceful about the winter air, and, for just that brief instant, he thinks about how ridiculous his life has become these past few weeks. What a fool he's been - in several different ways, up to and including making a snowbird on the ground.

But he has a few more days of foolishness to get through, so he pulls himself to his feet. Even though Odile went through extra trouble to offer it, Messmer doesn't take her help - not out of pride, but because he can't imagine she'd be able to pull his weight. ]

I see mine unfamiliarity with snow thou hast easily divined, [ he replies, patting snow off his cloak while his offended serpents burrow back underneath it. ]

[ It's fine, she wouldn't have assumed he would think she could -- but the offer was an offer and she pulls her feet from their grounding with a small tug of her heel. All that's left behind is some deep footprints... ]

I didn't think one ruled by fire -- unwilling or not -- would have much in the way of it, no. It's too bad there's no lake about, ice skating is yet another activity popularized in the winter...

[ No, all they have is -- as the staff gestures -- is making a snowman, and Odile is wondering how long they can put that off for. Somehow worse than making a snowbird... but they gotta. ]

Oh well. Another time, perhaps. [ ... ] You seemed rather at ease in the snow, if you'd like to lay on your side in it. I can handle the first leg of our construction project.

[ That way, his snakes wouldn't be as effected by the cold... Sitting would bother one, and laying on his back bothers both, but just the serpentless side might work. ]

[ she's thinking about this a lot harder than he is. Case in point: her offer earns little more than a blank look. ]

So I am bid to lay on the ground while thou art burdened with all work, [ he replies dryly, slowly shaking his head. ] O lightless one. Dost thou truly think so lowly of me?

[ if he knew what a snowman was or how to build one, he'd start now just to make a point... but he doesn't, so he simply folds his arms. ]

Thou makest such claims, yet thy little hands tremble with cold already.

week four | dates

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ok NOW who's keeping secrets ms odile

she is always keeping secrets 😉

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