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pumpkinhollow) wrote2000-02-08 08:52 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Bust? [REPRINT]
[Find our plain text version here!]
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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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.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
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!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.
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced. 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.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
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.
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.)
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"It's a big, claw foot tub, and I cleaned it earlier today. And the hot water now lasts for both a short shower and a proper bath." Because she's Japanese. "Good soap and hair products. Also, spoiler: one of your presents is a nicely floral scented bath oil. One of their top sellers among the other ladies here."
Don't worry, Magne. He has the absolute right idea. Which is the only idea now that he knows how long it's been for her. "The downstairs half-bath's plumbing works just fine now, and I've got things to keep me busy, so you can take as long as you'd like without being bothered."
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The little tease about her other gifts that were just waiting for her up there earns an excited little wiggle in place and a glance upward, but she contains herself for now, trying to focus on supper for the time being. She does give him another squeeze and a kiss, her hands both on his jaw and lightly squishing his face as she plants another kiss on his forehead before drawing back again.
"If I fall asleep up there, you can come get me."
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His laugh at the wiggle is muffled by the kiss, and he squeezes back. Even when his cheeks are squished, his joy is bright.
"If that happens, I'll have you know I am a champion of loudly knocking on doors. My brother used to read on the toilet for half an hour, and it'd always make him shriek."
He walks over to the stove, adds some olive oil to the pan, and sets it on a burner before turning it on to high heat. They keep talking as they cook the food, punctuated by moments of laughter and kisses, both stolen and freely given. César works Magne through all the steps, taking equal turns cooking the meal. It feels natural and fun.
Everything goes into one pan. The venison is seared and the vegetables added. The stock made and the saffron soaked ahead of time brings everything to a boil. Less saffron than he'd usually put in, but still enough. The rice is spread in a thin, even layer, and everything simmers to cook until the rice absorbs almost all the liquid. The salmon is added, too, and everything continues on low until the rice is al dente. Another couple minutes at high heat to create a crunchy rice crust on the bottom. Finally, another five minutes, and dinner with plenty of leftovers is served.
It's the first time César's had a proper full meal since he got here. He could almost cry. They get to eat at his dining table in a completely normal moment. Completely ordinary. And it's wonderful.
He loves her.
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It smells divine, and Magne is pleased to dig in when it's done with only a brief pause to put her hands together before absolutely wolfing it down. She has to stop herself when she's started to really get full just to be able to have more for taking to work with her.
"Aaaah [I think I definitely need a nap after this]," she sighs, laying back against the back of her chair, her hands over her stomach. She beams at César across the table, clearly pleased. She stands after a moment to simply languish, intent on helping to clean up after the meal before she headed up to take her bath.
Of course, she pauses to kiss the top of his head in passing before he can stand in kind. RIP your hair.
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César was writing down his family recipes for himself, but he'll make a copy for Magne, too. Watching her eat heartily brings him such great joy. This is why he's going to be a farmer. For Magne... and for everyone else.
He's beaming right back back at her, resting his elbow on the table and his cheek on his loose fingers. "[You're not the only one. I'm definitely headed for a "food coma" soon.]"
When Magne rises, César reaches for his water to finish it off. He doesn't get a chance to look up before she's pressing a kiss to his hair. César bursts into warm, radiating laughter, because that was sneaky.
"[I suppose it's late enough that you can mess with my hair as you please!]"
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He chugs his water (a skill learned because of chugging water) and takes up his plate. The dishes are cleaned and the leftovers are put away. Then there's a relatively quick but promised tour of the place, where he goes over what he still needs to do. She even gets to see the dusty attic with all of its halfway done projects. Three bedrooms, with the master suite César actually took for himself, joking that he's finally spoiling himself a little (it's less a joke than it really should be).
"And here's your present." César opens up one of the many closets and pulls out a literal soapbox, more like a soap crate, grinning wide as he offers it to Magne to open. "I got you a soapbox."
Even from the outside, there's a soft floral scent coming from it. When opened, it becomes obvious why: everything else in the box is surrounded by a bed of pink Japanese magnolia blossoms. They surround a set of two keys, two cat-faced shaped knuckle dusters with pointy ears that fit her hands, and the small vial of bathing oil he had mentioned. Resting against the keys is a business sized card turned vertical, in Japanese tategaki format, that addresses the present to Hikiishi Magne from the Katakana form of Salazar César with a little "Happy Valentine's Day!" in Pumpkin Hollow's native language at the end.
"Mairi taught me how to make them."
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He snaps back to reality and finally does show her his new home, and she comments that she hadn't expected him to go for such a large space when it was only him living in it. But he'd told her a bit about his family and their large home, and the big spaces that he was accustomed to in general, so it seemed appropriate. Her eyebrow arches up as she surveys his unfinished projects, and comments that perhaps he should pick one up and see what kind of progress he can make on it until it's at least done as a prototype. That way he could reduce some of the clutter, and feel a little more accomplished even before he starts trying to do the actual farming thing.
When they stop at the master bedroom and he presents her gift, she stops mid-joke and just holds the box by the handles, blinking, then cracking up.
"You did, you got me a soapbox," she giggles, and moves to put it down on top of a vanity to peek inside and see just what is making that familiar smell. She calms when she sees the splayed branches of flowers around the assorted gifts, smiling even as he brow knits in faint disbelief. She picks up one of the smaller ones to tuck behind her ear, then picks out each thing in turn, the bottle first, which she un-stoppers and takes a brief whiff of. Putting it aside, she then picks up the knuckledusters, chuckling as she fits them onto her hands, curling them into fists just to test how they rest around her knuckles. Now if she can figure out how to magnetize them, she'll be even more of a threat...
The keys only take her a moment to parse what they are, and she looks back at César, eyes a little glossy with the welled tears she doesn't let fall.
"You know, I don't think you'll ever be able to out-do this," she quips, and leans to kiss him.
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The more esoteric projects are still percolating in his head, he says. But he's going to focus on the furniture repair and getting all the home repairs done before farming goes full swing. Which Magne's more than welcome to help with. The idea is to have housing in case people need a place to stay. Roommates maybe, eventually.
He laughs, too. César couldn't help but find a physical manifestation of her joke. A useful, everyday reminder that he always wants to know her opinions. Watching Magne put a branch of flowers behind her ear makes César smile with delight. The scent is to her liking. The knuckledusters fit perfectly. And the keys....
César kisses her back warmly, not drawing attention to the tears she's holding back. "At least not for a little while. And this includes dance lessons for Merrymeet, too. And one last thing, although it's kinda stuck here for now until you have somewhere for it."
He moves to the side and fiddles around with something along the side of the vanity's mirror, and suddenly, light illuminates from behind it. "I put this together from stuff I found on the farm and... took apart and put back together here. Attached the mirror with some spare wood to make it a vanity, then added lights behind the mirror and wired it into the electrical lighting for this room. I can make or get you a nicer one later, but this'll be good enough for you to experiment with any makeup or hairstyles for Merrymeet and beyond. Only lighted vanity in all of Pumpkin Hollow, probably!"
Did he just sneak in another couple of presents? Yes. Including one literally right in front of her face. César's beaming back to her.
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César had done well with his gifts already, she would have been perfectly happy with what he'd given her so far and gushed for the foreseeable future about it all, but then he goes and does her one better, lighting up the mirror and brightening the room around it considerably. She blinks at it, one hand going up to her face as she stares at their reflections, listening to his explanation with a disbelieving little smile forming on her face. She presses her lips together, and reaches out to gently shove his shoulder.
"Now I'm feeling absolutely spoiled," she jokes, beaming at him.
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He moves behind her, wrapping his arms over her shoulders and joining her smiling at the mirror. Which makes him giggle a little. It's very silly and domestic.
In a very quiet whisper of a Spanish-speaking fútbol announcer: "Gooooooooooaaaaal." He snickers at his own joke and kisses her cheek. "I'll be on my bed with a book, so shout if you need anything."
César's already shown her how the shower and bath works as part of the house tour, so she can just get right to it.
cw implied but not explicit sexual activity
With a kiss pressed to his cheek, she carefully, reluctantly pulls back out of his arms, turning to kiss him once more before she goes to collect her belongings for the promised bath.
"You go get comfortable. I'll be out some time in the next eight hours," she jokes, and twiddles her fingers at him in a wave before she heads back toward the bathroom again to see about drawing herself a hot bath while she rinses down.
The privacy is so nice. She can lock the door behind her, and take as long as she likes. She can indulge in the oils and powders and soaps that he'd gotten for her, enjoying her evening to the fullest. And it really takes no time at all for her to be able to do just that, first preparing for the bath, then climbing into it, clean and pleased to just take her time. She hums quietly under her breath as she goes about treating her hair and pinning it up off of her neck, noting not for the first time that it's started to get long enough that she could do just about anything she liked with it. She notes that her body has started to soften with the amount of food that she was now able to eat.
And she notes that now that she has the time, privacy, and the state of mind to enjoy it, that she can let her hands wander.
Water sloshes as her fingers find purchase, one foot propped up on the side of the clawfoot tub. She breathes quiet, but it picks up in increments, peppered with soft curses and breathless groans. She's earned this time to simply see to herself, as far as she's concerned. She's happy to be able to take the time and do it thoroughly.
cw: listening to the implied but not explicit sexual activity
César is reluctant to break away from her, yet eager enough to let her enjoy her bath, and he moves away from the door so she can leave. "I'll check in on you to see how you're doing in nine hours, then."
When she leaves, he switches off the vanity lights, leaves the bedroom door open to hear her easier, and goes to settle on his bed with a couple of books. Magne doesn't need to know one's a farmer's almanac that he's rereading to better understand the local climate, but it isn't long before he takes up his second book, a book of children's stories. Sometimes, that's the best way to understand a culture: to see the stories they teach their children.
César's eyes drift off the page when he hears a noise from the bathroom. A... groan? Why—? Oh. Oh.
For a moment, he's embarrassed to be overhear her, but then his heart lifts. It's almost painful, too, knowing how rare moments like this have been for her. But that's changing from here forward. She'll be able to use his bath whenever she wishes.
He switches back to the almanac, because it feels a little wrong to read children's stories right now. ... also because he needs something exceedingly dry to have any chance of not needing to care for himself. Yup. Definitely flipping through with a bit of desperation to find the driest section he can, here....
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"The water started going cold on me so I figured it was time to actually come out," she jokes as she cracks the door to peek in on him.
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He opens his eyes and smiles up to her naturally, smile brightening when he sees her peeking in; about an hour had passed, if the water was growing cold. "It's an effective way to limit bath time."
César puts his bookmark in, sets the farmer's almanac into the drawer of the nightstand on top of his other book, and closes it. "You look pretty comfortable. And pretty."
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"I think this is probably the cleanest I've been in about a decade," she jokes, twisting the ends of her hair around her fingers then letting it fall away again. It just doesn't retain curls, unfortunately. She glances at the book when he sets it aside, arching an eyebrow at the dry reading material. "Hopefully you didn't get too bored without me..."
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"Just a bit of studying while things are calm." He grins and nudges her with the side of his calf. "If you find a hot tub, let me know." César softens his gaze, and it looks like he could fall asleep right there, he's so relaxed. "And you're welcome to borrow my bath tub whenever you please. I'll keep it clean for you."
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"The closest thing I know of is that hot spring, but it's such a hike to get out there. I'll figure out something better eventually."
She moves to crawl into the open side of the bed and occupy the space left beside César, stretching out and tucking one arm up under the pillows while the other hand comes to rest atop César's chest. "If you don't mind, I think I might like a nap now that I'm warm and comfortable. You don't have to stay here with me if you've got other things to do, but I'd like if you did at least until I fall asleep..."
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"It really is quite unfortunate." He'd love to cuddle with her in one, alone; just cuddle, because no one wants to be the one to mess up a hot spring.
Magne settles next to him and touches his chest. In kind, César reaches out to gently run his hand through her still damp hair. There's a deep, unending peace in his expression.
"Over or under the blankets?" Because of course he's going to take a nap with her.
((OOC: Also just editing this to reflect something I realized from the help channel: it's more that he's compiling notes he got from old newspapers as well as some academic papers. Turns out a Farmer's Almanac is like... a distinctly American thing. LOL. Just a small retcon.))
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"I think under the covers. It still gets chilly at night and if we do more than nap I at least want to be warm and comfortable."
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"This one is empty, if you want to store some spare clothes. And a lot of extra storage elsewhere." He smiles to her over his shoulder as he pulls out his PJs, then heads out.
He comes back a couple of minutes later wearing a simple tunic and long shorts, smiling to Magne as he goes to put his folded day clothes away in a drawer. "Hi."
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"Hello."
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and wrap!