( open) la pista è come uno specchio d’argento

[totoriel]

Who: OTA parties interested in the Remove the Obstacles! job, with the added bonus of collecting the frozen-to-the-canal toys and donating them to the orphanage for bonus cookies and affection points from the orphans!
When: Before the start of the Flower Festival.
Where: Anywhere in Caissa!
What: Several Heroes take up Stuart's request of taking care of freeing frozen toys from the canals and repairing ice where they can.
Rating: None, will update as becomes necessary.

The canals are used by citizens looking to shave time off their travel through the city during the winter season, skating on anything but thin ice. The troublemakers salting patches of the smoothed ice has turned it into a hazardous endeavor, made all the worse when wooden toys have been frozen to the ice. Of the Heroes who've stepped up to help take care of this clean-up (or perhaps even catch a culprit in action, despite the guard saying they had a plan in place for the very thing) were finding themselves facing a variety of challenges, up to and including...

One: getting out on the ice. The salted patches aren't too slick, but the rest gets slippery, and those who might be borrowing ice skates to speed up their travel times from trouble spot to trouble spot might be facing the biggest challenge yet. Learning how to ice skate! Or walking out, or giving up and sliding on one's rear end to reach the trouble spots. Whatever works! If people are judging you, well, they're probably no one worth listening to anyway, right?

Two: communication over radios is a dream and a wish, but Heroes do have Carriers, and Carriers do have audio capabilities. Trying to coordinate with fellow Heroes over Carrier-audio is more of a challenge than it may seem, especially with so many new to the idea! (And not all Carriers being willing to cooperate...)

Three: there are places where the salt has thinned the ice too much to support added weight... be careful, Heroes, lest you fall right in! Though if you do fall in, can you swim? Or fight off the shock of potential hypothermia? Oh dear, where are the blankets? Victims of thin ice may need to get wrapped up and brought indoors as soon as possible. Heat 'em up! We don't want our Heroes losing fingers or toes!

Four: though once the wooden toys are found, prying them off the ice is a challenge in and of itself. For those Heroes already tapping in to the Pawn rank's limited magical abilities, matchstick level fires can be effectively used... at a cost. Patience and perseverance are key to this method of toy removal, as will purifying and replenishing one's mana. Toriel will insist that everyone should try and salvage both the toy and ice for the sake of donating these toys to the orphanage along the way. Then again, one might try using brute force to pry the toys free... or see about convincing one of the residents who lives near the canals to allow them to borrow pots of hot water to extract toys that way!

Five: all work and no play leaves people grumpy and gives people aches and pains, which means that breaks are a must have, even for the heroes! If that means earnestly learning how to skate, picking impromptu snowball fights, or volunteering to haul a load of salvaged toys to the orphanage for a cookie break is up to each individual. This may not be their city, but wandering the canals, at least they're bound to get to know the layout of Caissa a little better than before!

Comments

[moreasleep]

[The knife was there, just not in his hands. As big as it was, it was not the ideal tool for chipping ice. He looked at his own hand. He knew all about the reduced version of their magic. Trying to get a feel from the plants was like searching through a fog. When he discovered this, he became doubtful about regaining it back. However, he did not want to discuss it with her.]

Perhaps. [He said vaguely and in a way that ended the subject there.

He continued to chip away at the ice. Only the toy's leg remained in ice. He could just cut it off and seal the crack over it, but that would ruin a perfectly good toy. That got him to thinking.]

You're not going to burn the toy, right? [Because fire and wooden toys. That looked like a disaster waiting to happen.]

[totoriel]

[ She allows the subject to drop as well, seeing no point in pressing where one did not need to press. She watches him work, keeping a respectful distance — enough not to be hovering directly overhead. ]

Hm? No, I do not plan on burning any of the toys! I have been gathering them to bring to the orphanage after.

[ She twists around to pull one such toy out of the makeshift satchel looped over one shoulder, resting against the opposite hip. The wooden duck she pulls out has wheels attacked, along with metal wings. It's a little beaten up, but only to those who demanded perfection out of children's toys. ]

I have brought a dozen by already after speaking with their matron. The children made the most delicious cookies they insisted on sharing!

[moreasleep]

[He quickly looked over the wooden duck. It looked in useable condition. She did a good job of extracting it. Even better was her plan on what to do with the toys. He struck the ice twice more and the toy came loose.]

You can bring them what I've got, too.

[He pointed over his shoulder to a… patch of ice. Where was his bag? He looked around and found his carrier nosing it in an attempt to get it open. The animal was large and lean, better suited for warmer climates, which could explain why Rory put his spare coat on her.]

Hey! Bring it here.

[Clearly, this was an invitation to play and the carrier came charging down the ice. Instantly, the canid slipped and collided into him, causing him to fall on his ass. Despite the icy glare Rory gave her, she looked happy to be in the presence of company. After inspecting the newest toy, Rory took the bag from her and held it to Toriel. While he did not have a dozen, there were a handful of toys in good condition to play with.]

This is all I have so far.

[totoriel]

[ Her own carrier was skidding down across the ice, turning in slow circles while he braced his legs and tried slowing down. Fluffy, improbably happy, and much smaller than Rory's carrier, AD went slowly spinning past them all, offering a yip in passing.

Toriel glances his way, quirks up her eyebrows, then breathes out in a huff of a sigh. ]

That dog...

[ Her smile is back in place as she looks to Rory once more. That his own carrier (perhaps? it's rude to presume, but most animal companions the heroes here have had end up being carriers so far) is much better at listening and working with him in this moment doesn't escape her. It's nice to see, much like the sight of the toys he's extracted so far from the ice. ]

Thank you! The children will be delighted.

[ Every individual toy counts and matters in the scheme of things. ]

Though it may be good to introduce ourselves, yes? I am Toriel, from... elsewhere, as are we all. I do not know that specifics matter yet.

[ She waves rather than hold out a hand for shaking. ]

[moreasleep]

[He briefly watched the fluffy white dog. What the hell was wrong with all the animals here?]

I'm Rory. [He said briefly and nodded his head rather than waved. From his bag, he took an old canister and opened it. He poured a small amount of water in the crack of the ice, but did not fill it completely.]

It doesn't matter. We're all here now. [There was an upset tone in his voice, not at her, but rather at the circumstance they were all in.

His carrier made a sound like a lion's roar and a dog's bark, upset that these toys went to Toriel and not her. Rory shooed her away to play with the dog.]

[totoriel]

[ Most of them weren't animal enough. Toriel almost finds them to be remnants of home in the way they are more than they seem. Familiar in other ways is upset at being detained where one did not wish to be, particularly by powers not their own. Frisk had fallen into the Underground, as had the handful of human children before them.

Here they all were, fallen from the skies, and not one of them feels any more at home than Frisk did, regardless of warm welcomes or kind intentions. Toriel can reflect that she did not, at least, demand participation in a war from any of her young charges... but still lost them all in the end. ]

It is nice to meet you, Rory. The circumstances are less than ideal... but if we are here now, then it is here that we must be until we find our ways to our homes.

[ Time spent in discovering pathways back to where they felt they belong. She doesn't respect this recruitment policy; not when it makes exceptions and puts on pedestals so many who have no reason to be so elevated, with little cause, and smaller payout. As far as she's presently aware, at least. ]

[moreasleep]

[He considered his words carefully.]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[This time it was not some false courtesy. He was not sure why she seemed familiar, but he got the sense that she had not annoyed him before. As upsetting the circumstances of their arrivals were, it was some small comfort that at least one here was not completely aggravating.

After checking the ice, he filled the crack the rest of the way. This should freeze over smoothly. He got up and his knees shook as he tried to balance himself.]

Do you see any more toys--

[He slipped. At least the only thing he hurt was his pride.]

[totoriel]

There are a few down the way —

[ She tries to answer his question before she registered him slipping — flame extinguished as she attempts to reach out and help break his fall, if not help prop him up so he doesn't hit the ice hard altogether! ]

Dear goodness! It's slippier than slime out here!

[moreasleep]

[When he saw her reach out, he whipped his arms away from her. He did not want to risk dragging her down on the ice with him. He landed with a thump and quickly set about to get back up again.]

Yeah, slime.

[He got on his hands and feet and pushed himself upright. The momentum sent him slowly gliding backwards and he turned in circles. Seemed he had not quite learned how to stop just yet. Work was easy when he did not have to move. The hardest part of this job was just getting around.]

Which way did you see them? [He asked as if it could distract her from this embarrassing display.]

[totoriel]

[ She lets her hand fall back to her side, looking up the canal, where it curves sharply to the left. There's an intersection just beyond that, one leading toward the outskirts of the city, another leading further into its heart. Her eyes look back to find him in his circling. Part of her smiles, but she tries to keep that inward. People don't like feeling teased or mocked when they're making genuine efforts, and she doesn't want this young man (?) to feel that way. She doesn't know him well enough to have a read on how he'd take a gentle teasing. ]

Further along this way, to the left. Almost as if a child were running home late at night, dropping toys behind them. Which is not the case, but the feeling of picking up after a small one remains. Shall we?

[ Chipper, nodding her head up the canal, she looks for some sort of confirmation from him. AD trots on by, legs splaying and claws digging into the ice every so often when he loses traction, tail wagging, tongue lolling, and looking perpetually pleased with himself as he goes. ]

[moreasleep]

[He had a few words to describe the one responsible for this mess. Child was not one of them; in fact, they were all words that were unsuitable for the work environment. Because of that, he opted to say nothing about it.]

Lead the way.

[His legs wobbled and he waved his arms to regain balance. Finally, he faced the way he wanted to go. Despite the cold, his face felt hot. This had all been quite embarrassing for him. At least Toriel was not laughing at him. Even if she were, it would not have stopped him. As difficult as it this job was, he seemed determined to see it through the day at the very least. He moved slowly, one careful step at a time, pausing only for a moment to watch AD.]

Makes it look so easy.

[He tried to move faster, going about the speed of a scared snail.]

[totoriel]

[ Her eyes move toward her Carrier, cavorting around and pouncing on an imagined shadow on the ice. Or perhaps a real one; fish did survive under frozen surfaces, she's heard. Wouldn't that be curious to see?

At length, having fallen into a complimentary snail's pace, she breathes out in a "ooph" of exertion and rests a hand on her waist. ]

Would you mind helping escort this old lady onward? I believe our next location is not much further than the corner, but it does feel much further.

[ She gives him a soft smile, looking faintly embarrassed. Likewise, she hesitantly offers her arm. Will you help the old goat lady cross the canal, Rory? (...) AD has disappeared around the corner for now. ]

There is much physical training I shall have to endure if I am to keep up with so many young people when we are sent out into the field.

[moreasleep]

[He looked at her paw. What was the meaning of this? She did not look that tired just a moment ago. Nor did she look that old, though admittedly he had no experience gauging the age of goat monsters. She might be up to something. Everyone was.

Yet he could not figure out her motive. Even worse, if she were truthful, what would happen if he did not help her? She could sustain a serious injury. A soldier had already broken his leg on these canals.

After considering this, he finally spoke.] Careful.

[He reached to grasp her wrist, where he could hold her but she could not hold him. It seemed ridiculous to ask him to escort her. He barely knew his way around the ice. At least this way he would be here to catch her if she fell.]

You don't have to put yourself through that. You didn't ask for this.

... ignoring that this is a hug icon IT IS THE SENTIMENT

[totoriel]

[ She'll opt not to mention to anyone that she's presently unable to age, so really, won't show physical signs of it unless she has another child in the future. Details that mean nothing here, particularly not next to the results she was hoping for. With him taking a hold on her, she's able to shuffle along with him, just careful enough to indicate she's aware of and worried about her own stability... but likewise supporting him as they continue walking. He's a very kind young man, she decides. Thoughtful, for all he's likewise wary. ]

I do not believe any of us did, hm? I do not want to see any of us brought like this suffering. I do not want to see the people here suffering, or those they ask us to face. Hiding myself away will solve little in the end. A very brave young child reminded me of that in recent times. They were right to give me the reminder.

[ She smiles, turning her face to Rory. ]

One may forget these things when spending too much time remembering the past and living on their own.

Can't handle this sweet mombeast!

[moreasleep]

[Now that he held her, there was more urgency to keep from falling again. His steps were deliberate and, though he never put much weight on her, the support helped him greatly. Gradually, his strides became longer, more stable.

As she spoke, he grew quiet and grim. Her sentiments were eerily similar to his. He did not want anyone hurt, including her. He wanted her to hide so she could be safe.

She smiled and he did not. His cold stare seemed to be looking beyond her. Would her decision lead to her death? He could not see. Still, he did not need a vision to know it was a bad idea.]

What good would it do if you die out there? [The question came out harsher than he meant. He shook his head. As soon as he asked, he no longer wanted to discuss it.]

Here's one.

[He slowed to a clumsy stop. The wooden toy gun was only slightly embedded in the ice. An easy job; it should not take much to extract. He released her wrist and quietly moved to a nearby toy soldier that looked more difficult to get.]

hasdf she's just so glad he's helping out... and letting her help in turn alsdfj ways to her heart

[totoriel]

[ It's the slow progress she appreciates. People, monster, human, or otherwise, all express themselves differently. Yet Rory is willing to help, and in a sense, be helped. They're not in a great, tenable position, but being willing to do even this much outreach to another in the same place meant they all had a better chance. One person on their own could accomplish great things. People working together? It was powerful. It was potentially what they were facing in Blanc as well as in Noir.

Yet for now, it is in simple things that they connect with each other. ]

So there is! Thank you.

[ She says, waiting for him to move away before she carefully crouches down, keeping her skirt arranged just so. Fire is called again to her fingertip, such a small flame compared to what she was used to back home. Still, the careful applications allow her to weaken the ice where the toy gun had bonded to the surface of the canal. Before too long, she can wiggle it to and fro, then pull it up, leaving a minimal impression on the ice below. AD trots up and leans around her to look at what she's pulled free. She pats his head, then works on brushing the ice off the wooden surface. AD starts to dig at where it'd been, though after a glance down at what he's doing, she ruffles the fur on his head once more.

It's not a perfect way of raking over roughened ice, but he's helping, after his own fashion. ]

I do have to wonder if these are all truly the best of toys for young children.

[ She looks again at the gun in hand, looking small compared to the overall size of her paw. So strange... well, not so strange, but still vaguely unsettling. Guns technically served a purpose, but never within the context of her own world so much. She gives a shake of her head. ]

How is your progress over there?

[ And are there some toys that don't need to make it to the orphanage after all... ]

goat mom is too good for this asshole

[moreasleep]

[The short travel here felt somehow energising to him. He chipped away at the ice with renewed vigour, making short work of it. It also helped to distract him from thinking about what could happen to Toriel in this war.]

I'll take it. It's in good condition.

[He said without looking up. Even if the toy were in poor condition, he knew a few uses for rotted wood. While he did not see anything wrong with giving children a toy gun, he did not see any reason to argue it. They had collected a number of toys for the children to choose from.]

Almost done. There.

[He drove the tool into the ice one last time and the toy soldier came loose. Just as before, he filled in the gap so it would freeze over smoothly. He breathed on his hands one at a time to get warmth back into his fingers. If Toriel had objections to a toy gun, she may have reservations for this toy as well. He held it out for her to see.]

You want to donate this?