OPEN: catch-all for April

[ladyemperor]

🧙 WHO: Meiniang and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests but also anything and everything!
🕒 WHEN: During the beautiful month of April
🗺️ WHERE: Anywhere and everywhere
⚠️ WARNINGS: Probably none, but subject to change if anything crops up


General April Shenanigans
i. The Survival Option
[Living as a concubine for many years didn't exactly prepare you to live life on your own, and having to learn to draw her own bath, get her own food was definitely an experience. Made much easier, of course, with the various magical conveniences like running water and electricity.

And made easier still because her first thought when seeing all of it was wondering how it worked, why it worked. That took up time in her day that would have been spent in bed with the covers pulled up and a book she'd only really be reading half-heartedly. Having to learn how to live one's life anew made it easier to try and forget the life she'd had.

The emperor's death feels simultaneously like yesterday and yet like too long ago so she stubbornly keeps the white silk flower in her hair though the pure white clothing she'd worn was impractical and for all that she had to grieve, she'd also been thoroughly spoiled by Rui An and the luxury of the Imperial Palace. So plain clothes it is.

Do you...]

A. Find her at breakfast, 8am
[Learning to wake up this early is hard for a concubine that usually woke up whenever she wanted, but it was either this or go hungry and Meiniang had never liked that feeling. Though she does find herself longing for some plain buns, or even noodles as she eats her cold fruit, chasing it with warm tea and frowning as she does so.]

...I can see how this would be refreshing in the height of summer, but to eat it like this now when it's so wet outside feels odd. [It's definitely why she's already on her third cup of tea at this point.]

B. Find her standing at the top of the stairs
[This would usually be the time when Rui An comes to bring her an umbrella. And also to tell her not to go out. But on her own, Meiniang takes one look at the water then proceeds to pull the bottom hem of her robe up a little so she can actually tie it tight and wade into the water.

She knows more than one of the emperor's other concubines would be raising their eyebrows at her, probably outright saying that was exactly what they'd expect from her of all people but none of them are here. In the end, it's once again just her.

If you're at all hesitant, she turns to you and offers a hand.] Do you need help?

Comments

A

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin often woke up at sunrise to train, so by the time breakfast rolled around, he was good and hungry.]

[Something about the woman eating fruit pinged him as familiar, and so he approached her with a smile.]

Are you maybe in the market for something that'll warm you up?

[ladyemperor]

[The hair in that shade of blue is definitely familiar though this person does seem a good deal older than the child from her dream. Then again... perhaps that had been his dream she'd connected to?

She smiles back.]

I am. Did you have something you could suggest?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, I usually use one of the inn's kitchens when I come back from training. If you'd like something hot, I can whip up something for you!

[ladyemperor]

[Her expression brightens up a little upon hearing that.]

I'd appreciate it, you're sure it isn't too much trouble?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Not at all! If you're cooking for one, it's no different than cooking for two, but with the added benefit of some good company!

[He laughs and heads into the inn, making his way towards the kitchen.]

So, what suits your tastes this morning? I usually make some eggs and sausage after my morning training but that might be a bit heavy for you. I can make you some nice hot oatmeal with fruit? That'll warm you up.

[ladyemperor]

Then I'll have to try my best to be good company. [She follows along with a smile, absolutely intending to be useful at not just make him do all the work.]

I'm not picky, anything is fine. [And also again, he's the one who offered to help her with this so she's definitely not going to be picky!]
I've never had oatmeal before but I'm happy to try it if that is what you suggest. What is it? [She's lived mostly in the south all her life but wheat and oats were becoming increasingly popular in the palace. Maybe that's what it is? Since her breakfast was usually rice porridge or thick noodles in soup she imagines that oatmeal must be something similar.

And fruit is an always food as far as she's concerned.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Heh, don't try too hard now. You're fine as you are.

But, if you've never had oatmeal before, it's perfect for wet, cool mornings. I'll whip you up a bowl!

[He gets to work, and like a gentleman, he serves her up first; a nice piping hot bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon swirled throughout and topped with slices of bananas and some blueberries. It's not runny at all and nice and creamy.]

[He sets a spoon out for her as he dries his hands.]

Eat up! Let me know what you think!

closed to Walter

[ladyemperor]

[Meiniang wasn't completely oblivious to what food looks like, having been relegated to working at the laundry once as a young concubine for punishment. No fancy dishes then for a little nobody who had only one friend that had not fared much better than she had.

But even knowing what food looks like before it becomes food doesn't prepare her for the bustle of the shops and all the vegetables and fruit that she doesn't recognize.

So when she sees someone who seems to know what they're doing, she's leaning over to look at a red fruit she's never seen before, reaching out a hand to gently touch the outside of it. There was really only one way to figure out if something was edible.]

One, please.

[Never mind that right now the contents of her basket consisted entirely of single items, one small block of cheese, something she thinks must be bread but is browner than any bread she's ever eaten, one of what she thinks is a pear but is in a shape she's never seen.]

Slinking in late...

[angel_of_death]

[Walter is buying for a household of three, so his basket is naturally on the fuller side. Wheat noodles for all the soups his friend makes, and things like flour, butter, and packets of baker's yeast. He has a few different cheeses, too -- one large block golden-orange in colour, another a creamy white, and a third, smaller block with blue veining.

He's looking over the apples with a discerning eye. It's far from the usual season for apples -- only a few varieties will keep in storage until the month of April. Bramley's Seedling apples are the standard for cooking; he wonders if he can find any that are still good at this time of year. There are two others he is looking for; May Queen and Winter King. Yet, he doesn't see any marked as Winter King, as the old name has fallen out of use after the apple was renamed "Winston" at the end of the Second World War.

It is as he searches for the missing Winter King label that he catches sight of the lady next to him. Her clothing immediately draws his attention; it seems reminiscent to the style his friends are fond of. Her features, too, show traces of far eastern lineage, though of what people, his western eyes are not trained enough to discern. Still, he has the feeling that she might come from the same region.

The next thing he notices is her basket. One of everything.]

...Trying new things?

[His voice is young -- not as high as a child, but yet unbroken by the progression of adolescence into adulthood. He is but fifteen years of age, and a little behind in physical development in that regard, though he appears healthy enough, if on the shorter side.]

[ladyemperor]

[Apples were never so red back home and not often at this time of the year for them either. Then again, she supposes there's a lot she doesn't know about agriculture. Ask her about peonies or gardens and she might have been able to tell you a bit more.

The person addressing her though seems to be more knowledgeable than she is. Or at least to be shopping with a plan in mind. Her eyes scan the contents of his basket quickly to see noodles and flour, the rest of the contents though are a bit of a mystery.

She smiles at him though, seeing as he seems friendly enough. That and she's always had a bit of soft spot for those younger than her.]

Yes. There are many things here different from home so I thought I should at least know what I like and don't like. [Her smile becomes a little self-deprecating as she pays for her apple.] I'm not much of a cook, you see.

[But she's also not picky either so it all balances out, hopefully?]

And you? Purchasing things for your family?

[angel_of_death]

[The boy listens. Though reserved, he is attentive, taking in her words and thinking over them. If she isn't accustomed to cooking, he thinks, apples suited to fresh eating are probably the better thing to start off with for her.

So wrapped up in this thought process is he that, when she asks him if he is buying for his family, the question takes him completely off-guard. He tenses, the movement abrupt, his fingers wrapping, white-knuckled, around the handle of the basket he carries on one arm. His throat tightens without a sound.

For the span of three seconds, he is as still as a statue. Then, he breathes in — deep, measured — exhaling softly after.

His expression is more distant — more guarded — but his limbs relax.]

......No. They've been gone a long time.

[ladyemperor]

[Meiniang can probably credit the other concubines, credit Xu Hui for the fact that she notices the pause, the sudden tension in his hand as he goes completely still.

He's hiding something, isn't he? It may have been a long time ago but clearly it still affected him. It's the concubines that she's thinking of as she frowns, straightening up and tucking her own purchases closer to her before speaking.]

...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed. [It's been years since Meiniang has seen her own family, she expected she never would again. As for the emperor, Xu Hui...]

[angel_of_death]

[The boy, in response, shakes his head slightly, shoulders shrugging.]

I suppose I look enough like the locals that it was bound to happen sooner or later.

[The legend of Avalon was directly connected to his country, after all.]

I live with friends here.

[ladyemperor]

[At the very least she doesn't seem to have offended him, she thinks. Meiniang lets her shoulders relax slightly, tucking the basket closer to herself while making a mental note to be more careful with her words in the future.]

I think there are enough of us here that aren't local though? [Her smile is more self-deprecating than anything. She made a mistake and she's willing to own to that.]

So you're shopping for your friends, then. They're very lucky.

B

[mayoninofukucho]

[If Meiniang were all decked out in her concubine get-up Hijikata would be far more alarmed to see a lady of such standing wade into the flood water, but as it is he doesn't bat much of an eye. They all need to still go out to take care of essential errands after all. Regardless, he beelines towards her from the other end of the still-dry corridor when he sees her go down.]

You shouldn't go out like this, you'll probably get sick. They've got waders they'll lend out to us. Best call the reception and wait until someone brings a pair to your room.

[ladyemperor]

[Unfortunately concubine get-up is for actual concubines. At this point she's no longer sure she is with the death of the emperor and all. Still, there's something kind of refreshing to her about just living here quietly, being able to just be her own person, to choose her own path.

She pauses, one foot about to step into the water when she hears someone addressing her.]

Waders? [She looks back down at the water then up to him.] That does sound like a good idea. How do you call for them?

[At least she's retreated this time, meaning to go over and talk to him instead.]

[mayoninofukucho]

Good question. They had to move the reception, so it's not the usual phone number. Let's find out.

[He leads the way to the bulletin board that's been installed on the floor they're on to inform the residents of the latest changes and developments.]

Ah, they're in Room 202. I guess we can just go there instead of calling. Out of curiosity, where do you want to go? If it's just the supermarket I can run that errand for you, I've got to buy groceries too.

[ladyemperor]

Room 202... [At the very least she knows where that is having wandered about around the place in her spare time.]

I was thinking of going out for groceries but I couldn't ask you to do that for me. [He is, after all, not Rui An and it doesn't feel right to ask a stranger to do her bidding when she's capable of doing it herself.]

But if you would give me some company, I would not say no to that.

[mayoninofukucho]

Well, if you insist on braving the rain too, then let's do that.

[He's not about to argue over it with her, all the more since there's no telling when the downpours will stop and he won't be around all the time to help her out. The people of Camelot are going to need a lot of support, and as a policeman Hijikata will provide as much as he can (unless a crime happens, then that'll take priority).

The hotel employees at the temporary reception provide them with waders, raincoats and umbrellas, so within a few minutes they're about as waterproof as it gets. Hijikata looks up at the dark grey sky as they head out, murky water sloshing around their rubber-protected thighs.]

We should've gone to the Elphame traders and bought that umbrella spell that keeps you dry. I bet they're all sold out now, though. Have you been there before?

[He got the feeling that she's a new arrival, not least because she asked him to keep her company. Most people seem to form connections pretty soon after arriving here, especially now that they're all stuck at home together, so it stands to reason that she hasn't had many opportunities to do so yet.]

[ladyemperor]

If you were going to risk a cold on my behalf, I feel like it's only fair if I'm willing to do the same myself, right?

[The rain gear gets a once-over from her, noting the difference between umbrellas here and the umbrellas they'd had at home. The rest of it is pretty self-explanatory though and even if the fit of it is odd, not having wet feet because of all this water is worth all the rubber she's currently wearing. The waders might be squeaking a bit as she turns this way and that, unable to keep the smile off her face at how strange she must look.]

An umbrella spell did sound like a good idea but no one could have predicted all this. As for me, no... I haven't gone out much. I didn't really want to celebrate anything but it has also been difficult to just stay in my own room.

[It's much easier to mourn when Rui An brought her meals and made sure she ate.]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

What's it like where you're from?

[As they queue up at the register it occurs to him that Meiniang probably doesn't have much Gold, being both new and, given the rains, without much opportunity to generate income, so he simple puts both their hauls together and pays for everything.]

Anyway, don't worry too much about the differences. Just take it one thing at a time. But I can also fill you in on some stuff.

[As he speaks he heads towards the exit where they'll once more have to cross the ramp and then brave the flood water on their way back to the hotel.]

[ladyemperor]

Oh-

[She means to stop him from paying for everything after having helped her carry it too but she definitely doesn't have much gold and while she could sell some of her belongings... it still doesn't feel quite right to do so.]

...Thank you. [So instead she chooses to be grateful.] As soon as I can I will pay you back. I promise.

[But she will quicken her footsteps to follow him to the exit. She remembers the way they'd used the light to make a shield and keep water off. Maybe she could do that too. With that thought in her mind, a golden dragon with five toes on each foot comes slipping out through the rain, happy as a clam. Or happy as a dragon that has always been strongly associated with water and weather and loves the rain. It's still small but winds itself around Meiniang's shoulders as she reaches out to stop Hijikata from taking a step out into the rain.

She would answer his question about her home soon enough even though all she can really tell him about is the imperial palace, but for now:]

Can I try something? If they can use the shield to hold water back, I think I could also try to use it to keep us a bit drier.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata handwaves Meiniang's offer to repay him. Even a man like him has this much sense of chivalry!! As the dragon appears he looks it over curiously. Now this is a splendid familiar (or, well, that's what he assumes it to be)! It certainly fits Meiniang, pretty as it is.]

I see your companion was looking for you. Sorry, little guy, I didn't know.

[Or maybe it's a little girl? Anyway, it's reassuring to see that apparently the dragon is looking out for its presumed bond partner rather than leaving her to fend for herself. At Meiniang's suggestion Hijikata nods, wondering if she has something like a floating umbrella shield in mind. If so that might just work out with light magic, after all it has no weight.]

Sure, why not? Just take care to not overdo it. Maintaining spells needs some energy.

[ladyemperor]

I called her here, actually. [The dragon, Jing'er, is more at home exploring the waterways and lakes most of the time. The moment she needs her though, Jing'er is always there and returns Hijikata's curious look with a tilt of her small golden head, the tiny antlers catching the light from the store they were still in.]

And I'll be careful, I know my limits. After all, I can't have someone I've just met worrying about me, right? That's no way to start a friendship. [She thinks of an umbrella first, shaping the shield like one, sloping on all sides so the water will run off and that's what shimmers into existence just above the door. Raindrops bounce off the light as she takes her first step out to test it, only smiling back at him once she's sure that it isn't leaking.]

Well?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Cute... cute!! He kind of wants to hold Jing'er, but he's an adult and can control himself. So he turns his focus to Meiniang's magic test instead. Honestly, this shield looks really good, much better than he expected from a novice.]

Wow! Good work, this is fantastic. A seasoned professional couldn't have done it better!

[He joins her under the glowing umbrella and inspects it from below. Sure enough it's a proper hardlight construction, weightless yet protective.]

Let's see if it'll float along with us.

[Isn't he lucky, getting to walk under a magic umbrella with such a kind and pretty woman? That's what people may think seeing them make their way back to the hotel, at least, despite their unstylish waders.]