video; un: beaumains

[beaumains]

[ When the camera first turns on, it's a pretty blinding white as the light levels adjust to all the snow and sunlight about. It takes a moment, but eventually the picture becomes clear and the lens turns to Gareth, who gives a bright smile and wave before setting the camera up on a nearby post to point at what she'd been doing. ]

Let's see... Hello all! Sir Gareth of Orkney here, and, well, I hope the weather's not being too much of a bother. Usually it snows much later in winter, where I'm from, so this all came as a surprise for me, too...

[ Now that the work of plowing down the snow to more reasonable levels outside of the home she shared with Kadoc was done, Gareth had set about something else, standing aside to gesture at two snowy sculptures of vaguely familiar figures. ]

Ah, it probably needs some work, right?

[ Snow sculpting, even with Elemental magic, was harder than it looked. ]

Well, all snow aside, I'm also trying out some new scone recipes, and nothing warms the blood like good scones, a beer, and a fire to sit beside! I've got all three, here, if you want a chance to put up your feet for a bit!

Comments

Video / un; Chasseur

[resistetmords]

You know me I'd love to try some of your new recipes, Gareth!

[beaumains]

I've got a cranberry and white chocolate one that I think you'd enjoy!

[resistetmords]

I'm sure they're delicious! Especially the cranberry one. Oh! Would you like me to bring anything over then?

Like some hot chocolate or mulled wine or beer~?

[beaumains]

I've plenty of beer and chocolate to make hot coco with, so why not the wine?

[resistetmords]

Some spiced wine then! I'll be over as soon as I'm able to!

video; un: dellacacy

[sos_pilot]

[ Seeing Gareth up and about with a big smile on her face just warms Della's heart. ]

Count me in, Teach! And once we're all warmed up, I'd also be more than happy to totally destroy you in a snowball fight.

[beaumains]

Ah, that's quite a feat you're setting yourself up for, you know. I may not be an Archer class, but my arm's still quite good!

[sos_pilot]

There's only one way to find out - after we eat, we battle! You may be my teach, but I promise no mercy!

[beaumains]

And the honor of a knight is to meet any challenge at their utmost! To hold back would be unchivalrous, so expect my at my fullest!

[sos_pilot]

Now I'm getting really fired up! At this rate, I'll be melting the snow all around me due to sheer excitement!

video | un: maruchan

[fujimaru]

Those are cute!

[ She knows those two faces! Even if they might not translate perfectly to snow, she has the power of familiarity with both Gareth and the inspirations in question. ]

I always like food, but I wanna see those up close, too.

[beaumains]

You're always welcome at our place, Master!

[ She nods, enthusiastically. ]

By all means, stop by and stuff your face!

[fujimaru]

You don't have to tell me twice!

[ She's already getting up, still holding her phone, looking for a coat. ]

I could be there in ten minutes. Is that okay?

[beaumains]

Sure thing! I'll make sure to have some cider out for you, too!

[ Since she knew Ritsuka didn't drink. Or couldn't drink. One of those. ]

[fujimaru]

You're the best!

[ She's never going to say no to food and drink! She gives a little wave when she cuts the call, but true to her word, in about ten minutes, there she is, trotting up towards that townhouse. She's got the usual Arctic mystic code on, but in concession to blending in, she's also got a coat and leggings on in addition.

When she sees Gareth, she starts to wave. ]

Heyyy! Let me see your work first!

action

[impostorsyndrome]

[This cheater roommate can just pop out of the townhouse to see them in person, ha! Kadoc had spent enough time snowed in at work this month, struggling to keep the situation tenable for the animals at the shelter—he was lucky to have his familiar's help with that, along with the other employees—that being at home for once feels like a serious blessing. He'd already known on a subconscious level that his home here actually feels homey, for the first time in a long time for him, but now that knowledge is at the front of his brain. Please, let him enjoy cozy blankets and home cooking and spending time doing nothing but making snowmen.

This had been cute, and he'd needed to come out and see for himself. The first is familiar, of course. The second . . . right, he's seen that face . . . ]

That's . . . Mordred, isn't it? Damn, I can't believe you managed to make it recognizable enough that I can tell.

[He trudges over through the snow. Speaking of his familiar, Kovalyov is slung around Kadoc's neck, but drops off quickly into the snow to burrow around. Ice snake. Gotta love 'em.]

[beaumains]

[ Kovalyov got some distance into the powder before suddenly finding a mound that was exceptionally startled by the serpent's presence; Stoirm having dug herself a little hole to rest in and popping out like a pup the moment the snake touched her snout. She made a fussy noise, as if scolding Kovalyov. Gareth, for her part, nearly barrelled over laughing at the exchange. ]

Oh, oh my goodness!

[ She'd get to the comment on her sculpture in a bit, sure! ]

[impostorsyndrome]

[CUTE . . . Kovalyov doesn't tend to spend that much time at home with Kadoc, though he has been a bit more recently, after the tragedy of Celliwig and Lestari. Still, he mostly keeps to Kadoc's room when he is around, lazing around in corners or hiding in or under the bed, and doesn't socialize much. This is the first time Kadoc's gotten to watch him . . . play? Is this playing? It at least looks very silly when the hydra suddenly topples over in the snow, playing dead like a hognose snake.]

—I didn't even know he did that.

[beaumains]

I don't think Stoirm did either! [ Gareth was still giggling, holding her face to try and get the rest of her laughs out before she could turn her attention back to the snow sculptures. After a few breaths (and making certain Stoirm didn't crash into the snow sculptures in her attempt kick some snow onto Kovalyov) ... ]

Around Imbolc time, when I was a little girl, that's when it'd start snowing in Orkney. I made it a sort of tradition to myself to do snow sculptures then. Dragons, warriors, the sort of things a girl infatuated with stories of knights would make, of course.

And, as always, I'd make one of Gawain.

[impostorsyndrome]

[Kovalyov is being thoroughly buried in the snow by now, which suits him just fine; Kadoc grins and turns away, leaving them to it, to get a better look at the snowmen. Even though he has gloves on, he shoves his hands into his pockets, hunching up pleasantly against the cold. It's actually novel for him at this point to be in a country that's Normal Cold in the winter, after Antarctica and then his Lostbelt. He'd forgotten the feeling of his nose being—just chilly.]

Imbolc . . . St. Brigid's Day, right? I don't know that much about it, but I've heard of it. So you've been practicing this all that time, and now you've got magic to play around with too. No wonder it's so recognizable.

[For a snowman. Gawain doesn't look ready to step right out of the snow and slap a hand on Kadoc's back or anything like that, but still . . . his presence is undeniable.]

Video | UN: koko1010

[scriptwriter]

I don't mind having snow, but this is a little too much! Can't Mother Nature hold back a bit if it wants to drop a wad of snow on us?

[Since Gareth was eating the optimism, Kotarou felt like he didn't have to force it as much on his end. He realized that he was making more cynical complaints lately. Well, it's easier whenever you had someone who was more genuine with positivity whenever he was more of a pessimist.]

Well, I definitely know the guy on the right... But who's the knight on the left?

[beaumains]

[ He could let his pessimism shine (or anti-shine) as he wished, it certainly wasn't going to dull Gareth's disposition. She lived with Kadoc, after all. She was used to it. ]

That's Mordred! We're half-siblings, by our mother, but I consider them blood just as strong.

[scriptwriter]

This family tree gets crazier and crazier, but I think I get it. Bonds are important, no matter how related you are!

[Kotarou was never super close with his family, but he was glad that Gareth had a place to belong. It made sense since she was a magnetic person.]

So what's the story about how she became a knight? Going from the modeling of her armor, she looks kinda... Uh, what's the word that I'm looking for? [A pause and a snap of his fingers.] Wild!

[beaumains]

Well, that's...

[ A story that she felt like she had no right telling, one wrought with a certain pain, the very thing that shattered the Round Table and lead to the downfall of Camelot, of her King, of her brothers, and herself. Truths that made one's throat tighten, but didn't fully eclipse her will to be a good sister to Mordred in their new lives as heroic spirits serving under Ritsuka. ]

... A long story. Not a particularly happy one, either. But I do love them, as their sister...

[scriptwriter]

What's with you knights and your gloomy stories? Heroes are supposed to be singing songs about love, hope, friendship and all of that optimistic noise!

[Despite liking heroes, Kotarou never considered himself to be one. It'd be a nice goal to shoot for, but he knew that he was too selfish and greedy to be one of those. (On the surface at least!) Plus he's failed way too many times in the past to consider himself to be anyone to look up to... Seeing Gareth looking a bit downcast gets a rather sarcastic glare from him.]

Well, I guess since I've got nothing better to do... I've got no choice to be show up at your place! I don't want to be holed up where I'm at forever. You don't have any other company asides Fish Eyes, right?

[In his own way, Kotarou doesn't want her to be depressed by her lonesome out here in the snow. So that's why he's offering to come over to her place...]