TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Bust? [REPRINT]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette February Issue

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Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

2/8/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ BUST? Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: SEVERE BLIZZARD WARNING

REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

A photo taken of the damage.

ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.

Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.

In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.

AURORA TURNS VIOLENT - MYSTERIOUS BLIZZARD INTERRUPTS CHAOS

By Yorick Aberdeen

An artist's rendition of last year's view.

ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Despite our earlier report, it turns out that this year's annual aurora borealis season did not turn out to be a pleasant or romantic viewing experience. Instead, starry monsters based off of classic constellations have been attacking the town each time the aurora is in the sky! However, due to some extreme blizzards that have been occurring most nights each month since late January, the aurora has been interrupted more nights than not and the monsters intercepted. Still, the Pumpkin Hollow Safety Board would like to remind everyone to take appropriate precautions during inclement weather, and to tread carefully on clear nights as monsters may still be attacking until late February!

HOROSCOPES

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

What do the stars say about you today?

Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.

Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.

Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.

Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.

Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.

Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.

Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?

Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.

Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.

Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.

Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.

Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.

SUNFIRE'S HEARTH

By Yorick Aberdeen

A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.

ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.

An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)

LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION

By Yorick Aberdeen

Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>

LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.

“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]

It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.

FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY

By Yorick Aberdeen

MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.

The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.

“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”

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Further Details...

Aurora

The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.

Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.

Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.

It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.

At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.

And then, the stars begin to fall.

Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.

That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.

Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.

There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.

It simply lunges with intent to kill.

Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]

Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:

• Capricorn: misplaced things, particularly small objects



• Aquarius: zoomies!



• Pisces: intense paranoia



• Aries: Disney princess-like magnetism to local fauna



• Taurus: insatiable perfectionism



• Gemini: reversed truth values; lies come out honest, being honest sounds like a lie.



• Cancer: Pandora-esque curiosity, to the point of personal detriment



• Leo: radiant glow emanating from your person



• Virgo: figurative speech is manifested into the world with its literal meaning



• Libra: a particularly potent desire for revenge



• Scorpio: numbing of emotions (can be counteracted by love potion, partially)



• Sagittarius: incapacitating indecision

(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)

Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water.

The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!

Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]

Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact:

Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy.
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated.

Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.)

Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful.

Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.)

Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now!

Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.

Comments

Magne Hikiishi (Big Sis Mag) | My Hero Academia | Existing player

[sistermagnetic]

Auroras and Snowstorms
Their problems didn't start with her. Far from it. Actually, it could even be said that she had managed to solve some of their existing problems, completely by accident. By creating a different problem.

Magne can be found, therefore, either out at the front lines of Jean's little security force, using her Quirk to yoyo people onto and off of the battlefield and keeping them behind her when they end up injured, reducing casualties exponentially, or else at the Oak & Iron, performing her regular duties as barmaid and bouncer when the occasion requires. Tensions get high sometimes, nobody can really be blamed, she's just there to put someone down hard if she really needs to.

Which is easy, when you're built like someone that's spent their entire life fighting on the street and hauling around a weapon that weighs easily as much as a large man.

Famine and Famine
Magne is used to going without. More than a decade of living lean has made her less likely to care overly much about her hunger, and she'd already been living less than hand to mouth since arriving at the Oak & Iron. She didn't know what she wanted to do with herself outside of having gotten a job there, and it wasn't until very recently that she actually began to consider that there even was something else for her.

Rather than lamenting a lack of food, therefore, she's doing what she can to make sure that anyone coming by the inn has at least something in their bellies, be it in the form of the stone soup that Palmer had gotten together and others were trying to supplement, or more commonly, in the form of beer, ale, liquor, whatever they could feasibly offer.

A heavy mug is placed in front of a new face, its contents steaming.

"Here, on the house. Something to warm you up a little before the next wave."

News and Bulletins
There is a bulletin board in the town center. It has some such delightful missives as a signup for local levy to help bolster the Enforcers' ability to protect the village's non-combatant population, advertisements for some of the newer shops and services that have gone up around town, and most recently, a flier with an attached interest sheet for FIGHT CLUB. This latter is what she'll be inspecting after a few days of having left it up in between bouts of heavy snow. She's bundled up against the cold as much as she can be, and is peering up at it with some satisfaction. Even a couple of names is better than none.

A notepad comes out of a pocket of the long green skirt that flaps against her legs in the wind, and she writes the comments down to be addressed when they actually get this show on the road.

The Wildest Card
Do you want to meet Magne just kind of out and about? Perhaps you were yanked around by her Magnetism during battle and have some questions! Perhaps you've seen her at the Oak, flirting about to keep spirits up! Maybe you've seen her with César when he comes and goes! Whatever the case may be, she is fully available for chatting.

Famine and Famine

[telekinesis_kills]

It takes a moment for him to react. He's been sitting here with his head bowed and eyes closed, because he just needs some time with less sensory input. Then he looks up, and--

"Holy shit, Magne. How the fuck did you get here?"

Listen, he knows about the dying thing -- that one has to die to be offered a place helping out here in Pumpkin Hollow. What he doesn't know is how his friend died.

[[ OOC: meme comm CR go! especially since I'm using a meme comm death to explain Danny's presence, lol ]]

[sistermagnetic]

With the confirmation of exactly who it is that's ended up here in her purview, Magne huffs a soft laugh, and wraps an arm around Danny's shoulders, drawing him in close and pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

"If I tell you that, then you have to tell me how you got here," she replies, that smile still firmly in place even as she tears up just a little bit.

[telekinesis_kills]

Danny takes the opportunity to hug Magne, giving her a squeeze around the waist for a moment.

He sighs, "I was a complete dumbass, grande soeur. Ran my mouth at the wrong time, pissed off a hostile and powerful telekinetic. We got into a fight, and it ended when she punched her telekinetic fist through my chest."

[sistermagnetic]

She makes a soft, frustrated sound at that, ruffling a hand through the vivid fluff of his hair and bending to be able to look him in the face. "I know you know better than that, so I won't harp, but sheesh..."

Shaking her head, Magne takes a moment to drag over a chair and be able to take Danny's hands, thumb running across his knuckles. "I suppose I can't report much better, though. Jin brought along a new contact, the young head of the Shie Hassaikai. He tried to make us be his underlings. I refused, tried to make him leave..." She doesn't know for sure how much Danny knew about Chisaki and his men, or of the Shie Hassaikai in general, but he was always relatively well informed in the rest of the underground goings-on, so hearing about them doesn't seem to be out of the realm of possibility.

[telekinesis_kills]

"Crime bosses are always a mixed bag," says the man dating a guy who is technically a crime boss. "And we've only heard that the Shie Hassaikai was on the downswing. Getting weaker. Not the case anymore, I'm guessing?"

Then, softer, "What happened, hon?"

[sistermagnetic]

"Yeah, apparently the former head was really sick, and the boy wasn't taking it well. When he came to us he was talking about trying to use us like assets under his family, like we would only be tools for his power plays. Tomura... Tomura-kun told him to go home. He didn't move. So I stepped up to drive him out before he got any funny ideas. I didn't see when he'd exposed his hands, and before I know it..." She pauses, her hand coming up over the spot on her left arm that he'd done no more than scratch. "I don't remember anything but feeling my skin ruptured all at once. It was quick, but it was agony."

wildcard

[actuallyawolf]

Ylva, who has been sitting in the back of the Oak & Iron with a mug of ale for some time, has not been able to take her eyes off Magne. Except, of course, direct eye contact might be *rude*, it's rude for *wolves*, because that's a challenge. So she watches out of the corner of her eye, glances away frequently, wondering what she's going to do. She is likely not as subtle about this as she is hoping.

And, eventually, she will march up to Magne looking eager but also very concerned, and she puts on her best smile (which has too many teeth, because she's trying too hard), and asks her question. "Um, hi, are you... trans?"

She says the word like it's still a little unfamiliar for her.

[sistermagnetic]

Ylva, having been taken care of by one of the other (NPC) servers, has had ample opportunity to watch Magne moving around the dining room here, chatting with other patrons and refilling drinks, checking in, occasionally flirting or otherwise keeping spirits up. A warning had been leveled at one of the folks that's obviously feeling the famine more acutely that they would do well to conserve their energy until the food supply could be padded back out again, but overall, it's a pretty peaceful evening.

Magne is, therefore, a little taken aback to be suddenly, maybe somewhat aggressively approached by someone apparently brand new to the island. A pause, with pursed lips and furrowed brow, as she tries to decide how to react to a point-blank question that historically has been a precursor to a fight. But there's a little too much tryhard goodwill in that smile to be confrontational.

"Normally I'd hope someone would ask for my name first," she points out warily. "But, yes. Is there something I can help you with?"

[actuallyawolf]

Ylva, to her credit, is aware that she has fucked up, even if she's not, at the moment, entirely sure how, and to her credit she does look relatively contrite about it.

"I'm Ylva," she says, "and I'm new, and... well, so am I. So."

And she wrings her hands, anxious.

[sistermagnetic]

Magne can sort of glean that there's some missing social cues reading going on, and relaxes a touch. It's much easier to work with within that framework, especially after knowing so many people with similar difficulties.

So her hand plants on her hip, and she eyes Ylva with the ghost of a smile.

"My name's Magne. Some folks call me Big Sis."

[actuallyawolf]

She grins, relieved. "Magne. Big Sis. Magne." And Ylva covers her face for a moment, overwhelmed, but also... still grinning. "You have no idea. Where I was before, well, there were a few of us? But it was mostly going the other way. I don't know why, it just worked out that way."

What does she even say?

"Are people here... okay about it?"

[sistermagnetic]

The immediate relief over the confirmation goes miles toward helping the rest of Magne's tension ease off, and she smiles more broadly.

Then she brightens up, and nods toward the bar. Oh she has things to tell Ylva all about. "Oh honey it is so much more than just okay. I don't even know where to start." She might be just a little bit giddy at getting to relay how good she's had it here, especially to someone else that could use the same kind of support.

At least Ylva's smile looks more natural when she's not trying to force it.

WILDCARD, 2/13 or so, during Magne's daytime shift

[pineapplesalmon]

César runs in out of the cold. He doesn't wipe his feet. He just runs over to Magne. In each hand is a different bone of some dead animal, and he holds them both out to her like they're made of gold.

"Magnetize? Same polarity." He asks with a hopeful grin, unable to get any other words out.

[sistermagnetic]

A good thing that it isn't particularly busy just now, or he might have startled more than just a barfly or two. Magne's caught in the middle of collecting a couple of the inn's soup bowls that have been seeing a lot more use lately, only just managing to set them down with a slight clatter before her hands are then occupied by...bones?

When he tries to explain, or... doesn't, really, she just does as he suggests, radiating pale blue light from her core, and vacillating it between poles when she realizes what he might be asking.

The moment the light stabilizes, one of the fragments absolutely rockets out of her hand, straight through the window nearby, with a small crash and, distantly, a small cry that might sound like it hit a fellow named Wilhelm.

The silence is deafening enough that one might hear the ellipses over Magne's head.

[pineapplesalmon]

It's the mixture of the bone shooting off, the shattering of the window, the yell of someone who wasn't mortally wounded—and the look on Magne's face seals the deal on César losing his shit, suddenly unable to find the ability to breathe.

"Bone! Less mass!" César tries to say more, and just manages to choke out: "Than people—!"

And then the room becomes silent again as César is seized by a fit of laughter so strong that it takes his breath away. César pumps one fist into the air triumphantly while he desperately clings to the back of a chair with the other to remain standing. He doubles over, wheezing.

[sistermagnetic]

First she looks at the remaining fragment in her hand as her Quirk fades, then at César absolutely losing his mind, then at the rest of the room before huffing a soft laugh and lightly swatting his shoulder with the back of her hand.

"I could have told you that! And now I have to pay for a window!"

[pineapplesalmon]

The swat and what she says brings César back to himself for a moment, and he gasps some air with the wide grin. "I'll split for half..."

César looks down at the bone in her hand, then snorts a laugh again. "You winged... the wing bone."

And he starts laughing again, this time loudly, losing his balance, and falling right onto his butt. He'd been halfway there already. He doesn't seem to mind this sequence of events as he leans back on the chair leg, keeping right on laughing without abandon.

[sistermagnetic]

She snorts a laugh and crouches down next to him, shoving on his shoulder. "So what's this about, huh? You have a project going on?"

They'd talked a bit about the oddly subjective nature of her Quirk's effect on certain things, the idea that she might be able to manipulate things if she knows what polarity to try, but this was a hell of a way to figure out it might actually work in vivo.

News and Bulletins

[maskedstarbunny]

Ryja shows up just after Magne does, curious. Every city she's lived in has had some sort of place for fighting, for those who want to show off, or need the feeling, or just enjoy it. One can learn a lot about it from the person who organizes it.

"You would be- Is it Hikiishi Magne, or just Magne? It reminds me of Doman names, somewhat. Either way! I wanted to meet the woman responsible for arranging my favorite pastime."

Ryja has the honor of being nearly as visibly strong as Magne is, though it's somewhat offset by her demeanor and dress. She's also wearing her mask, still a work in progress but getting close to as complete as it will get, for all that it's relatively plain and simple.

[sistermagnetic]

Magne looks up from her notes to take in the source of the new voice. More surprise is expressed at the proper address, than the appearance of the woman talking to her, a simple raising of the brows that softens the perpetual line between them. She smiles brightly at the question.

"Just Magne is fine. I'm assuming that you're Ryja Featherfists?" Just because she's already seen the other two around and has names to put to faces, where this is the first she's actually seeing Ryja herself up close. The mask reminds her of a friend from home. She doesn't give herself time to get wistful before continuing, "I see you're offering to help with injuries after bouts. That's good, I don't want anyone accidentally killing each other in the ring. Attendance would drop dramatically."

[maskedstarbunny]

"I am! And I am glad you are pleased. Sometimes, those who run such things are unconcerned, and then I have to start hitting people as work." There's a playful edge to the tone that does not undercut the truth of it at all, though there's no threat, either. "But it is always a delight to meet others who appreciate a good and well meant fight, as well as someone who can arrange it."

[sistermagnetic]

Magne simply smiles in return to the honestly justified non-threat. She wouldn't want to attend a fight club without knowing that she could get patched up later, and has fixed enough of her own injuries from unfair fights to know that she doesn't want anyone else to have to do the same. "If you didn't opt to help I would have conscripted one of the local docs to be on hand, just in case. I like my fights hard, but deadly is reserves for the people I don't like." Her tone is light, joking, but her history is evidence enough that she is willing to do some unfortunate things to others in service of her agenda.

[maskedstarbunny]

Mutual understanding: Achieved. Ryja doesn't judge. The bulk of her fights were never legal, after all. Even when she had to be more careful in Ishgard. "I intend to have my proper tome ready in time for the thaw. With that, anything that can heal, I can manage as long as I am there." And she would prefer to have a proper astrolabe, but that will be much harder, here.

[sistermagnetic]

"Anything I can do to help you get that set up? The sooner you're at full capability the better it'll be for everyone involved."