deercountry | February Shoveling Party [Closed]

February Shoveling Party [Closed]

Who: Gaia and Yoichi Shigaraki
What: Clearing the snow-covered doors and paths around Gaia's home
When: Early February (Off-shoot of Network Thread)
Where: Feed (Gaia and Nara'a's home)

It's as Gaia promised. The walk from the Waystation Lamp to her home in Feed is not too much more than thirty minutes in regular weather. It may be somewhat more given the conditions of the road but at least a Coldblood won't feel the frosty tempratures. The naked branches of the Trenchwood have blocked the worst of the snowfall and winds for that stretch of the road; it gets much worse the further into Feed one gets, though some people have been out and trying to at least carve a path along the main road. The threat of wild creatures and monsters may vary but it's probably better to be traveling during the day whichever way it goes. Hopefully Yoichi remembered to securely seal away the smells of the food he's bringing.

Gaia promised to put out a lantern and even though it is day, it'll be gloomy enough that a warmly glowing source of light under the eaves of a porch will stand out, especially as it is the only fixture without icicles and snow clinging to it. The house is a snug, rectangular building with what looks like a second story and an attic. Snow is on the roof but it's not piled up; telling that the occupants are smart enough not to let too much weight build up and cause disaster. But the latest storm had winds and as she mentioned there are heavy drifts against the door and nearly up to the windows on the first floor. It looks like someone departed early before the snow fall had stopped, for that track is pretty filled in. There's little other detail to be had; a simple a-frame off to the side seems to be for the occasional visitor with a horse (or other similar sized mount) and beyond the large main yard there is also a small pasture behind the house affording an open view of most approaches to the home.

Some of the front facing windows have their shutters open, likely another sign for Yoichi to take that he's come to the right place. Whether or not it's easy to see inside, Gaia will be found at one of those windows, chair pulled up, a shawl around her shoulders and looking out occasionally for signs of anyone coming up the road.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It.. takes time for Yoichi to get where he's going.

Packing up, that had been easy! Finding a shovel hadn't been too hard either, but actually getting to Gaia's home through fresh snow takes time, and he's still not good at that 'stamina' thing. While he is slow, his progress is relentless. And when he does finally reach what seems to be the right location by the gleam of light in the eaves of the porch and the shape of someone at the window, sets his pack in the snow and begins the equally arduous task of digging a path.

To his credit, he doesn't actually ever stop, but he's by no means making rapid progress. A gaunt, pale spectre in oversized clothes digging away in the bleak whiteness of all the snow could make an eerie sight, but she's already encountered that particular sight before. And zombies probably don't dig.

Nor do they come with gamboling little monsters that seem more interested in playing in the snow than actually doing anything else, chasing shovelfuls tossed aside or pursuing a rolling snowball or scooting around on its belly. Some kind of hydra, it seems, but awfully small.

He said he'd come dig her out and apparently he's going to do JUST THAT.

To be honest, Gaia had been feeling a little guilty and thinking of calling or going out to make sure Yoichi was actually fine. Not just because of her first impression of his skin-and-bones figure under all those furs, but because it really was dangerous to be travelling out there. And it was taking quite a bit of time because of the snow on top of that.

Imagine her surprise when, just as she's thinking she'd been patient enough on the grounds of 'giving him a chance to prove himself and not embarass him by calling frequently' and was about to message him through the Omni, there's a figure struggling on up to the place where road and path to her door. She smiles in relief.

Not that she'd admit it. Also Gaia then realizes that Yoichi just started right in to the work and... it's not like she planned for that! Take a break first! Besides she was going to help, right? The figure disappears from the window with haste. There's some clattering from inside the house, the sound of a curious dog 'woof' and soon the door opens inward to reveal Gaia. The betta-shaped Omen swims out into open air easily. There's a brindle furred dog waiting at her side rather than trying to shove past.

She's got a shovel in hand. She eyes the little hydra gamboling around in the snow for a minute before focusing on the zombie-like figure.

"You didn't have to start right away you know!" she calls over. Even if it does make a sort of sense to just get it done right off the bat. "You didn't get attacked, did you?"

Well she's going to start right in. After using the shovel to get the stiff drift off the front porch, she steps out and then turns to the dog. "Come out, Uri. He's a friend. So go explore." While her words might be a bit more like sentences, they have the firmness one might give a trained dog orders with. And they've been together a year so it's been adapted to. Released, the dog begins to bound into the snowy yard. He's definitely going to make a path toward Yoichi and the strange tiny hydra to familiarize himself with them.

Meanwhile Gaia begins to work on her side of the path, clearly intending to meet halfway. Or whatever it turns out to be; she's probably got some more strength and stamina, since she didn't just struggle through a snowy woods and to a house in the sticks.

'Fine' is ever so relative when it's Yoichi. He's still moving, so he's probably alright, and while it did take him a long time to actually arrive, he's here now. And what he lacks in endurance or stamina he tends to make up for in stubbornness; while he pauses when the door opens and Gaia calls out, he doesn't pause for long.

Ignore the bits and spatters of dried blue along one sleeve, it's meaningless. "Well I have to get to the door somehow!" Which could mean just wading on through the snow .. or digging and it seems he's chosen digging. "No monster attacks," is the easy agreement though it leaves out a lot. The dog is considered for a long moment before he decides it's not likely to try to eat him and sets back to work.

He's not the fastest shoveler, that's for sure. She'll probably catch up soon enough.

Meanwhile his Omen has realized there's something else in the snow (dog!!!) and promptly buries itself in the snow as best it can with only the tips of nose sticking out, and the occasional flick of tongue. Ambushes work better when there isn't a big snow dent to make your hiding spot obvious, but when the opponent's a dog maybe it'll work.

There will likely be words when Gaia gets close enough to realize what those blue blots are. But with a bit of snowfall and everything being kind of gray as well as all the activity, she isn't going to immediately notice.

It probably won't be long though. Gaia has no problem using her abilities to make the shovel and its contents weigh less as she scoops the snow out of the way and flings it to the side. Arte is quick to swim out of the wake, fanning his fins with a touch of vigor as though to express annoyance. Or maybe it's a reflection of concern on Gaia's part for the struggling young man.

Ambushes do work better when it's not obvious. And Uri is a well-trained dog specifically bred to be clever and quick to identify risks. Yet whether it's because Omens might smell of their masters or simply because there's a smell of something blue (blood?! something else?!) on Yoichi that draws the dog's attention to the young man instead, there will be opportunity.

Wiggling out a dog-shaped snow trough, Uri strains a bit to investigate the new arrival. A tail that's upright (and maybe wagging some because Gaia said it was okay) but will probably still in an alerting manner if he detects something amiss.

It's his own personal stealth mode. He blends in for once! And probably he could try to use his own abilities here but setting fire to everything just melts it and then it'll all be ice which is FAR less shovelable.

But he keeps at it. And it's definitely work that brings up a sweat; whatever patron was looking after him had at least granted him THE best blood type he could hope for. Although he's well on his way to soggy through a mix of that and melty snow, he's not about to freeze to death. Isn't working up a good high heart rate healthy??? But there's a dog and it's an excuse to stop for a minute in his shoveled out path, and wiggle fingers at the approaching canine with unspoken promise of scritch. He's never owned a dog, but he's played with a few.

Except his Omen's alert for the passage of dog and patiently, quietly, tunneling along on a sideways angle towards them, occasionally poking up one head or another to keep a bead on their location. There's no way to tell if it's deliberate or an accident when the small hydra throws itself from the snow in a shower of debris, and is very much short of the intended dog target.

There is definitely a lot of perks to being a Coldblood. Gaia herself has had the occasion to envy it, whether the cold winter months, or the need to wear long sleeved clothing in summer for the sake of skin protection against blood pollution and the like.

Gaia is admittedly relieved that Yoichi pauses. Even if he seems to be plowing through steadily, she's still worried about his condition. So she's not going to interrupt and keeps digging on her end. It won't be long before the two paths connect!

Uri sniffs the extended fingers and wiggles forward through the snow a bit more; allowing for a chance to find a few spots on the brindle-furred head to scritch. Of course he'll still be sniffing with expressed interest but the slow wag of Uri's tail and a certain air of patience suggests this is not the type of dog that's going to suddenly surge forward and try to tackle the slender young man. Probably for the best.

There might be some time for scritches. But as soon as the Omen springs out from the snow in 'ambush', Uri immediately turns around to face the threat. The dog had been somewhat aware of the mini hydra's presence and even now recognizes it as 'with Yoichi', given the young man's smell is on the Omen. But that doesn't mean training and instincts are set aside and keeping a sudden, surprising 'attacker' in sight is something Uri is going to do.

For better or worse it's also a distraction from Yoichi's condition. Uri immediately shoves through the snow to get closer to the Omen's point of impact after the surge from the snow, with a low, throat 'wuff' of noise issued; a canine equivalent to a guard giving a warning against further approach.

No warnings dissuade small hydras; there's nothing the dog could possibly do to actually impede it, and it seems well aware of this fact, dark mottled body burrowing around in the new bit of snow with a flippant toss of short, fat tail. It's still easy to see where the magic creature had gone, as it's leaving a very obvious mole trail as it circles, the low warning noise thoroughly disregarded.

Yoichi would be far more concerned if he wasn't well aware Omens could just puff back into smoke if bothered by something. He watches for a moment and then .. RESUMES SHOVELING. It's taking effort! But soon, there'll be an actual path!

And then clearly it'll be time to work on windows and any possible porches and so on. Instead of the long break he definitely should actually take.

Uri will be tracking that little hydra through the snow, occasionally sticking his nose into the mound in the wake of the Omen to try and sniff, followed by withdrawing and shaking the snow off his muzzle. Distraction! Investigation! But at least there's no following aggression.

It's easy to work up a sweat doing this task (for those without Coldblood certainly), even when Gaia can cheat by lowering the weight. Before it gets to an uncomfortable level, the paths are going to meet and it takes only a few alternating shovels to connect the two tunnels properly.

"There!" Her shovel is stuck in the snow beside the newly formed path. Gaia looks pleased with herself and smiles at Yoichi. This falters slightly when she really gets a good look at him.

"Right. Let's get inside and take a break. You've walked a while and it's not safe to remain outside for too long." Monsters, right? Even if it might seem like she's coming up with a reason Yoichi would settle for (and this is half true), it's still valid.

But clearly they should work on the rest immediately. ....Except Gaia's expression is very much suggesting 'don't even think about porches and windows'.

He's fine. He's endured a lot worse! But he ...certainly looks, and feels, awfully tired. And rather worse for wear. Yoichi's grip on his shovel is a lifeline all its own, giving him something to lean on with a white-knuckled hold, but he certainly looks pleased when the two paths are successfully combined and now Gaia's not so dug in. Exhausted though he may be, with the nagging ache in his chest that told him he better be careful of future coughing fits, the goal has been accomplished!

Victory, even at the cost of effort that might only be mildly tedious to some but is pretty strenuously achieved for him! "Should .. this be finished beforehand? While we have momentum." No. No it shouldn't be, everything else can wait, he might not suffer from the cold but that didn't save him from hunger or weariness or an ongoing nagging desire to fall over.

Although it doesn't look it, the hydra is keeping tabs on the situation AND the dog. The benefits of multiple heads. Its snow trail is slowly heading back in Yoichi's direction though; rest is definitely a very good idea and if further persuading is needed, there's a dog here it can surely somehow put to use.

The concern intensifies. While Gaia would not be one to deny Yoichi the joy in completing a task that, for him, is a great accomplishment, she seems much more concerned about his condition than celebrating. Thoughts of trying to pry the shovel out of his hands are quickly dismissed; mostly because she's worried he'd fall over without it.

"We have a path to the door and road," she says firmly. "The rest can certainly wait while we catch our breath and check the incense and look over what you brought for ingredients. Honestly Yoichi, you look dead on your feet."

She isn't great at being tactful, yet it's clear the frank statement was made from a position of concern.

"I'm not sure what sort of circumstances there were in your own world, but you can and should pace yourself here when you get the chance."

Gaia's eyeing the path they've made. It's probably not really wide enough to have two people walk side by side. But she also notices Uri approaching, following the helpful ~~kiting~~ trail left by the hydra. Yes, the dog will be useful!

"Uri, leave it! Come." The canine breaks off immediately and wades onto the path to answer the girl's command. A few gestures and hand signals are used. The intention is to position Uri against Yoichi's unsupported side, giving him balance between dog and shovel. Arte needs no verbal commuication and comes swimming near. He's showing off his fins and giving the visitor a nice view. Or distraction.

"I've had worse," is the prompt response. "Do you know how long it's been since I was even allowed to be out in the snow? This winter's my first in... a long time." But no, he's definitely tired, and he's not going to actually refuse to find somewhere to sit down soon. "It'll be alright, I could use the exercise. ..I brought an incense stick if you're low."

And some food items! A whole half a crab, and some other assorted things! Honestly it's not a surprise how long it took him to get here, someone else could have made it in a half hour or so, but Yoichi's still on his feet and that is an accomplishment in of itself. Probably a side effect of the boost changed blood gives; while it makes others superhumanly durable, he's skirting the low edges of normal now. With the dog called away, the hydra in the snow contemplates for a moment before hopping delicately onto the path and shaking off clinging bits of white, giving a languid stretch, and hopping after them in the ungainly sort of way an otter might while on land. but it works well enough, and allows for multiple headbutts in the vicinity of Yoichi's knees. Time to go, especially with a dog helpfully right there to fall on if necessary.

"It seems i'm being outvoted." He sounds as amused as tired, but when Yoichi finally acquiesces and heads for Gaia's home, it's still with the care and effort made to downplay his own weariness. He's here to help!!

"It's shoveling snow, not a competition to beat your worst day ever," Gaia counters just as quickly. However she'll quickly shut up as she detects a hint of... well she doesn't know his story but the whole vibe of 'being cooped up somewhere and then freedom' is definitely there.

"Believe me, it'll still be here in an bell- er, hour." Or two. Or three. Take however long you need to rest Yoichi!

Gaia gives the visitor one last look up and down. While the man looks busy being distracted by Omens and canine gathering around him, she'll cast a bit of her power about him to lighten his weight. That should leave him his dignity while decreasing the burden of effort, right? And if he falls it'll certainly be easy for both Uri and herself to catch him.

Let's hope that the feeling of lightness doesn't inspire him to think he's gotten a second wind though.

But other than that she'll walk ahead, keeping an eye out for slick spots but mostly to facilitate getting the door open so the little procession can enter the home. She'd taken time to clear off the porch so at least there's the full width of it to make use of. Her own shovel is stuck in the snow to be retrieved and used later.

Inside is warm! The sort of warm you get with good insulation and possibly circulated heating that isn't relying solely on the fireplaces in the home. The downstairs seems to be largely broken into two rooms leading off the entry hall and there's a staircase leading upstairs. After showing Yoichi where he can put outerwear and shovel, Gaia will open the door on the right, revealing a fairly spacious common area with a cozy fire and various furnishings. Warm and cold might not matter much, but the air promises dry as well.

"I can take the food into the kitchen while I go make some tea. And you can settle down anywhere. Do you want a towel?" For that matter will he need some dry clothes? She can probably find him a spare something from Nara'a's room. They're about the same height!

"There's no competition at all really. After all, this is a choice." He wants to be here! He wants to help! Having a choice in the matter really, REALLY changes the perspective when it comes to exhaustion or pain. "If I didn't want to be here and helping, I wouldn't be, so it's alright." But a rest won't hurt. He has gained much from being a coldblood but the uncanny durability others enjoyed was not part of it.

Chances are good Yoichi notices things are suddenly lighter, it's hard to miss. Does he say a word about it? Nope! There's an etiquette to magic he's still figuring out, and that might not be welcome. "..What are the units of time you're used to? Bell and hour are approximately congruent, but what about the rest?"

And where the heck are people measuring time that way? Maybe it's a clock tower, and like being in London.

His progress is still cautious, be it steps or solid indoor flooring. A stumble would be embarrassing, and collapsing even moreso. He's determined to do neither, though for a moment there is a stifled cough against a sleeve. It takes a moment to get the pack he'd been carrying off and carefully set it down. "I do have a potato. The rest is mostly from shoreline scavenging." Which.. often yields edible results but sometimes... "I, um." DOES he need a towel? "I think if I stay near your fire a bit the damp will dry out."

It might have been considered rude to use magic on Yoichi without his permission. Who knows? Gaia certainly isn't going to bring it up if he isn't and they can carry on their merry way into the house.

"Hm. I'm used to months being called moons," she answers after a moment's thought. "And the actual days of the week and months of the calendar are named different. But they seem to be similar lengths of time at least." Gaia mulls over other measurements she's heard. "Well when it comes to time that's all I can think of really. At least it's measured in a similar fashion and I just had to deal with remembering the names people are used to."

Measurements of temprature, distance and volume? Those are another matter entirely.

Once Yoichi figures out where he's going, Uri will probably find a spot nearby to settle and if allowed, will probably do so next to the young man in some supportive manner, even if this turns out to be a makeshift footwarmer. Arte settles into lazy drifts around the room; the omen is calm and showing Gaia's calm since Yoichi has decided to take a break.

Gaia will go for the pack. There's probably a flicker of trepidation about what's going to end up being in that pack; she's done her fair share of shoreline scavenging herself. But that's not to say nothing within is edible. "Alright. I'll be right back."

'Right back' seems to mean dropping the bag off into the kitchen and getting a kettle heating, going quickly upstairs and getting a couple of towels (and a set of Nara'a's clothes; they're about the same size and don't worry about the odd bit of tailoring in the back to account for a tail) and bringing those back to Yoichi.

"I'll leave you to get yourself sorted for a minute. I don't have much more than tea. Though there's milk and water as well of course. So I hope you don't mind those." She'll linger long enough to get a basic response before leaving Yoichi alone again.

After all if he does wind up changing into dry clothes it's not like she's going to stand around and watch.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February Shoveling Party [Closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject