The Yuletide Festival [Event] [Open]

[Emily]

Ariadne gave an awkward cough of a laugh at Claria's response. She hadn't considered that some people would compare the magical lighting of the village to the Zora's luminescent biology. Or, at least, she wouldn't have thought to compare them. Perhaps that was strange, actually- Claria was the first Zora she had seen, and though the bioluminescent trait wasn't a common one among other Zora, it had been planted in Ariadne's mind as a completely normal element of what Zora could look like. Perhaps, even if these other people had seen Zora for longer than she had, her close proximity to the Domain these last months had made her a lot more comfortable around and understanding of their culture?

It was something to ruminate on, at any rate.

"I'm sorry you're getting those sorts of comments. I can run interference for you for the rest of the night if it helps," she replied, looking around before returning her gaze to Claria. It was strange, having a friend and being in this sort of situation. She had only passing interactions with people her own age as their parents had passed through back at the Stable, but suddenly there were so many people she wasn't related to at Zora's Domain, and she was still getting used to the shift in social dynamics and expectations. But offering to defend someone's honour seemed alright at least.

Her thoughts, as they had several times in the past few months, turned toward the scars. She had attempted to apply herself extra diligently to her studies in hopes of finding a way to heal that sort of thing, but hadn't come to anything yet. And of course she hadn't- Claria lived among the Zora, the best healers in the world, the ones teaching Ariadne. If she hadn't found someone capable of healing the scars, it was either because that wasn't something the Zora were able to do, or because she didn't feel it was a necessary thing to do. And yet, Ariadne had been reading supplemental texts and working on developing new techniques. It was a slow process, but she thought she was getting close to... something, anyway. Probably not what she was looking for, but something she wasn't expecting.

Malon's comment caught Ariadne off-guard, her seemingly coming to the realisation that she had walked into something that was actively developing, not necessarily a blank slate. But hey, it seemed he was paying for everyone to get something to eat, nothing wrong with that! She smiled at him, "Cheers."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Alyson and her fellow volunteer had almost reached the end of their designated rooftop path when a slight hiccup arose. Specifically, a broken light on one of the ropes, conspicuous among the gleaming orange and blue crystals that marked this particular string as being of classic Sheikah design. The Zora wasted no time in taking the rope down, only for a young and visibly distressed girl on the balcony to stare and ask why.

As the Zora explained his reason for removing the lights, Alyson nodded, giving the girl a comforting smile. "They'll be good as new and back up again in no time!" she added, securing her last length of rope before following the other two along the snow-speckled wooden walkway.

The Zora's intimidating appearance and surly quietness belied how good he proved to be with children, successfully soothing the girl by walking her back into the inn, pouring a glass of water for her and patting her on the head. What a kind guy under that gruff exterior.

"Aw, that was really sweet of you," she commented as they headed out of the inn, back towards the town proper where Purah had set up her workshop. "By the way, my name's Alyson, what's yours?"


Oh. The Rito hadn't been trying to charm his way past Lady CiCi after all? Claria cringed inwardly as, with a crimson blush showing through his pale feathers, the guy set about making amends by giving the shopkeeper what must have been the bulk of his money so that she, CiCi and Ariadne could have as much of the food as they wanted.

Listening to Malon's subsequent profuse apology and introduction, Claria sighed. Malon seemed genuinely mortified, and she hadn't helped the situation at all. "It's alright. I'm Claria, and it looks like I'm the one who owes you an apology for getting the wrong idea," she reassured him. "Honestly, you didn't have to do that for us."

Luckily, Lady CiCi turned out quick to forgive him, heading back, giving him a warm smile and a gentle kiss on the cheek before making a much calmer exit. The corners of Claria's lips rose ever so slightly. That was that resolved - aside from the fact that Malon had probably gone broke just now, or close to it. She took a step towards the back of the crowd. If she'd be getting free salmon flatbreads, it would only be fair to give Malon some of them.

As she waited, Ariadne offered to act as a buffer between her and the Yuletide lighting jokes. Claria gave the softest hint of a chuckle - Ariadne had a way of putting her at ease, much more than most people did. "Thank you, but ehh, it could be worse." Leaning down, her expression growing solemn once more, she lowered her voice so that only Ariadne would hear. "It's, you know... a change, at least."

Ariadne, having spent the past few months in Zora's Domain, would know what she meant by that. As annoying as it was to get compared to Yuletide decorations, better that people focused on her luminescence than on her injuries. Despite going out of her way to conceal her scars and misshapen gills whenever possible, she'd only been able to hide them from Ariadne for so long. Between the awkwardness and pity many people expressed around her, the way she struggled to keep up with other Zora, and the Hylian's medical apprenticeship, it had been inevitable.

And yet her friend didn't view her any differently, didn't define her by her health issues, or treat her like some fragile coral figurine that had to be kept away from the world lest it shatter. That was a surprising and pleasant change. In fact, Ariadne had been pushing herself to find a way to heal the damage, or at least reduce it to some extent. Which... Claria knew she couldn't get her hopes up. The medics, skilled as they were, had only been able to do so much for such severe shock wounds as hers, and she'd spent years afterwards trying various treatments. She supposed she couldn't complain, as lucky to be alive as she was, but it was still kind of Ariadne to try. She just hoped the apprentice wasn't burning herself out.

Well, at least this festival would give Ariadne a chance to rest, so long as nobody slipped on the ice, or got a bad stomachache from the massive amount of food.

"Anyway." Straightening her back, Claria glanced towards the ever-whitening expanse where the competition would be taking place the next day. "Looking forward to the contest? Not that taking part is my kind of thing, of course. I just plan to watch."

[Emily]

Though it lasted for some time longer, the night market gradually drew to a close. First it was the parents taking their children off to bed. Next, the couples holding hands as they walked from stall to stall retired to warmer locations. Eventually, the night was left to those groups gathered around fires, either inside the inns or pubs, keeping the cold at bay with the warmth of drinks and company. The sound of their laughter and the percussive hum of their voices lulled those in adjacent rooms into a comforted sleep. The longest night of the year was almost done by the time the groups dispersed, wishing each other well as they stumbled merrily toward their own beds. Hateno slept peacefully.

The snowfall ended just before dawn, as the sky behind it turned indigo, then a deep malice red that painted the clouds in pink and lavender. As it transitioned to a triumphant Hylia gold, Zelda emerged from her house. She wasn't alone; many people emerged with the dawn, congregating to the Great Ton Pu Inn or the newly built pub for breakfast. Zelda, clad in her long white and gold coat, walked between the different groups, giving them fond greetings and chatting with them for a time. Her presence raised their spirits, as it always seemed to. Travellers from across Hyrule greeted their queen with wide smiles and gifts.

There had been a time, before and during the Upheaval, where Zelda's closest advisors had strongly recommended a security detail. She was a major public figure, and a ruler on top of that, it was only a matter of time until something happened to her. Zelda had pushed back, pointing out that her unguarded presence, or at most with Link accompanying her, showed trust in the citizens of Hyrule. She had been proven correct: after working alongside her citizens to rebuild Hyrule Castle Town, she had won over their loyalty. It was common wisdom that the Yiga had been eradicated, or if not fully eradicated at least pushed fully into the Depths.

The door to Zelda's house opened once again approximately an hour after dawn. From it emerged Link, stretching and squinting in the light reflecting off the snow. The sky was now a bright, frosted blue, strings of marshmallow-like clouds floating lazily by. The last Champion met with Sidon and Yona along the main thoroughfare, chatting with them for a few minutes. Afterward, he ducked into the Ton Pu Inn to meet with Riju. They could be heard laughing about something from the previous night. They had all seen such changes, the utter transformation of a world. It was almost hard to imagine these were the same people who had worked together to defeat the Demon King. Even more difficult to think about for the Hylians gathered, Link and Zelda had lived in a Hyrule before the Calamity. The things they had witnessed, to still be able to stand among them and laugh.

Disparate groups eventually found their way together, Link finding Zelda, Tulin, and Purah as they talked about the day's events. They all stood next to a large field cordoned off for the snow-individual event. Surrounding the village's school, the event space would allow snowpeople to greet the kids once classes resumed after the festival. Naydra lazily swam through the air above them, unaware of the goings-on beneath them. As they dipped in and out of the clouds, almost playful in their disinterest, the dragon caught the attention of those on the ground. Naydra had once been considered a dark omen in this part of the world, but that had changed since the dragon had been cleansed during the Calamity. 

"Hello everyone!" Zelda exclaimed, waving the crowd beginning to gather over to where she stood. "If you're interested in the Snowindividual Competition, come on over here." Not everyone would be here, and that was expected. Many people were attending the festival for their own reasons: the market, the pub, the company. "Please, don't be shy. I'm overjoyed to see all of you. We've all been working hard this year, and now it's time to do something fun. There are no rules. Take a position in the field next to us, and in a few moments we'll begin. King Sidon will be taking part in the competition, later Link and I will be coming around and judging. I stress again, there are no guidelines. You are free to make your individual look however you want, and to employ whatever techniques you think are appropriate. You can help one another, or take each others' designs as inspiration.

"I look forward to seeing what you make." She gave them a large smile and allowed people, for the first time, into the space. The snow was several centimetres thick, nice and fresh. And there was plenty of space for everyone to use as much snow as they'd like for their specific crafting project. 


((Are you entering the competition? Don't worry if you're only just realising you want to, there were no signups! Simply describe how your character found a spot and begin designing the snowindividual. Like Zelda said, there are no rules, you're free to use whatever technique or design you want. Do you have magic? Use it!))

[LuckyBlackCat]

"See ya! And Merry Yuletide!"

With a wave to her parents, who stood at the doorway of their home, Alyson headed out. Her cloak fluttered in the breeze, open to reveal the Cece brand, skyshroom-blue mushroom print sweater she'd received as a gift from her dad. She'd never particularly cared for keeping up with the latest trends, due to fashion having been far from a priority while growing up during fraught times, but it was fun to wear something goofy for the holidays.

She strolled down the street, past the stalls beginning to bustle with activity, her steps lively against the crisp snow. It had thickened overnight from a fine powder to a gleaming white blanket, and there'd be plenty for the contestants to work with. While woodworking and engineering were more her forte than snowperson-building, she keenly awaited seeing what others would create.

Cupping a winterwing butterfly drone in her hands, she recharged its sigils, her fingers tingling as the pale blue-green glow of the symbols brightened. Once she'd checked it over for any maintenance issues, she released it back into the air, where it flapped and bobbed around on little gusts. She did the same with each drone she'd set up the previous day, eventually reaching the expanse by the school where the contest would take place, and where the Queen herself stood, announcing its terms.

Alyson resisted the urge to bow her head. Part of her still felt she should act formal, but she'd learned long ago that Queen Zelda didn't expect that of the common folk, preferring that they treat her as they would anyone else. Still, it was difficult not to regard someone who'd done so much for the kingdom with awe.

As the Queen gestured for the contestants to start, Alyson gave them an encouraging grin. "Best of luck everyone!"


Claria had said she wouldn't be taking part. She'd never planned to. But here she was, standing by the snowfield at Ariadne's insistence.

Trust Ariadne to pick up that maybe, just maybe, she'd been slightly curious about participating. And Claria wasn't going to let her friend down, especially as someone who believed in keeping her word. Even though it meant she'd arrived unprepared, with little idea of how on Hylia's green earth she'd go about this. In front of King Sidon, Queen Zelda, Link, and the other sages, no less. Even Naydra had made an appearance, floating through the air overhead. The dragon deity paid no attention to the goings-on below, but the presence of such a majestic figure did nothing to ease the pressure.

And in all likelihood, the other participants would have far more experience with this kind of thing. Yes, as children, Claria and her peers had challenged each other to create intricate sand sculptures. Snow, however, wasn't something she'd worked with. It would be so, so easy to make a complete and utter fool of herself.

Ugh. Ruminating on these early morning thoughts would waste precious time. Squaring her shoulders in an attempt to look more confident than she felt, she took a thin stone slab from her belt pouch, on which she'd roughly engraved an object of Depths study from various angles. A statue. With one arm raised and a stone grasped in its hand, it resembled no being she'd seen before. The figure's huge muscular body contrasted with its small head, long-snouted and beady-eyed. A Zonai, was the survey team's best guess. Not that there was any way to know for sure, but it seemed likely.

She strode into the crafting space, crouched, and began packing snow together to form the pedestal. The figure would obviously have to be much smaller than the one she'd seen in the Depths, with thicker legs and a wider waist so it wouldn't collapse under its own weight, and would need to be built around some sticks for support. Still, Purah, Robbie, Josha and the rest of the research team would recognise it - assuming she pulled this off. She cursed under her breath as one of the spikes broke off of the base. This stuff was crispier, less malleable, and tougher to work with than she'd expected.

She'd have to approach this from a different angle. With a sigh, she gathered some fallen branches and arranged them on what would be the pedestal before heaping snow around them. Once she'd formed a shapeless but sturdy lump, she drew her sword and began whittling away chunks. Slowly, the figure began to take shape.

This couldn't be too different to etching on stone - could it?

[Chaosome]

Malon awkwardly shuffled when he noticed Ciel had turned to face him. Perhaps he had already lost that chance at a first impression. It was always a shame that, sometimes you just can't salva- Oh? She was approaching him? He really hoped that there wasn't a slap coming his way, he had been rather rude but with the chill in the air it'd sting double! But no sting came, rather a gentle touch to his hand. The Rito raised his head and blinked at the warm smile from the woman, his own returning to his face as he felt the weight of guilt lifting off his shoulders. Thank goodness! It'd be awful to ruin someone's Yuletide so easily and so early! And no slap either!

That sudden little peck to his cheek though certainly re-doubled the colour in his cheeks though, feathers ruffling as he blinked in surprise and let out an embarrassed chuckle. Rubbing that cheek gently he'd give a little 'wave' with the flatbread in his hand as Ciel once more began to depart. "M-Merry Yuletide to you as well, miss!" he'd chirp out as she left, his chipper smile turning back to the Zora, who introduced herself as Claria, and her companion. "Oh don't sweat it! I can't blame you!" he said waving a wing dismissively before putting it on his hip as he continued. "Random bird swooping past you, throwing out compliments, then rushing over for snacks? As for the costs, don't worry a bit about that either I make enough to get by, and what's the Yuletide season for if not a little bit of seasonal splurging eh?" Malon gave a little thumbs up and a nod. "Don't let me keep you from enjoying catching up with your friend though, but feel free to say hello if you see me around during the festivities!" he had already wasted their precious time with that silly misunderstanding. And there was sure to be more to see before the day was over, so with another little bow, and a bite to his flatbread, the bird would skitter off as quickly as he had originally came.


============


The first day came and went like a whirlwind it felt like, and it wasn't even the start of the festivities! But what a beautiful day it was for festivities. The Rito had actually been an early riser for once and had been nestled on the roof of the Ton Pu Inn to watch the glorious sunrise that had decided to bless the village this morning. The way the light glistened on the untrodden snow... He could understand why people lived all the way out in Hebra... He could do without the cold though. But that didn't seem to terribly bother the townsfolk and visitors as the early morning moved on, people hustling and bustling to get to their stalls to open them — or be the first for some fresh morning breakfast in some cases — Malon himself had a nice breakfast at the Inn or he'd have been among them!


For now though he was content to people watch. Waving occasionally as a passerby or another spotted him lounging by the chimney. It wasn't until he had spotted Link meandering into the Inn that the bird perked up. That likely meant that Zelda herself was out and about, which meant the highlight of the morning was going to be starting soon. Malon stood up and stretched, patting down his cloak he'd nod to himself as he ran through a mental checklist of the tools he brought along for the job. Everything was accounted for! Now it was just a matter of playing the waiting game...


Which fortunately would prove to be sooner rather than later. When Malon spotted a crowd beginning to gather not far off, the bird quickly and quietly swooped his way over, slipping into the crowd and casually making his way toward the front as Zelda began her greeting and speech. It always impressed him how effortlessly she seemed to handle the crowds. Her kind demeanor and earnest heart left little wonder as to why the people loved her so much. As she explained the rules, or well lack there of, Malon glanced around the crowd looking for any familiar faces that he'd be up against. A big part of him hoped that the tall dark and grumpy looking Zora he kept spotting would be here, broody guys were always creative, he'd LOVE to see what he could make! So long a Purah hadn't worked the poor guy to death...


As soon as the crowd finally began moving into, Malon quickly scurried in as well, finding a nice wide open spot off a little ways to begin. Step One was simple, a large mound of snow being pushed and stacked and shaped. He required a nice flat table of sorts with which to begin, and so he patted and dusted and shaped the edges of the mound until he was happy with the general shape. With a nod of his head and a grin on his beak the bird shifted his cloak and with a flourish revealed a second underneath. Normally the numerous pockets of Razor Down held dozens of kunai used to mete out justice — and to be sure a couple pockets did still hold them — instead it was lined with numerous tools normally seen used for sculpting or gem cutting and other intricate work. All begged or borrowed from willing artisans in Kakariko for this just this occasion! Withdrawing a couple tools from one pocket and from another a map of Hyrule, Malon rolled a shoulder and leaned over the snowy table and set about Step Two...

[El]

A nose, small but swollen red, perked out from between two long curtains of lush fur and feathered lace. The fibres tickled his face with every misted breath, but such sweet sensations were not the cause of his furrowed brow, pinched as it was over his wide and gleaming eyes. No, the child had far greater concerns you see. Why the thought almost made him tear up, the tension in his throat travelling down to twist his stomach into anxious knots.

Just the night before he had assailed his family with confident exuberance, displaying all of his sketches like a crazed inventor showcasing his greatest achievements. Meticulous plans had been scribbled into every inch of spare parchment, the crowded annotations bunched up against a plethora of coloured crayons he'd used to identify the different aspects of his designs. He had been so proud. He had been so excited he'd barely even slept last night, his head abuzz with impatient eagerness while a sugar-rush from all the festive snacks refused to abate. But now that he was actually here...

What hubris. How silly he now felt! It was pathetic really.

A small whine squeaked behind his pursed lips despite his best efforts to NOT give voice to his anxieties. Subconsciously - out of instinctive reflex - he huddled deeper into the abyssal warmth of his older sister's grand mantle, the security she bolstered his spirit with strengthened by the small squeeze she gave his shoulders. She stood over him, behind him, like some sort of regal Rito protecting her most prized egg against a snowstorm, wings folded to encase his tiny frame.

"I-I-... I don't think-..." The young boy drew in a deep breath, but it was too late: the rest of the sentence was lost. As his terrified stare swept over the well-prepared adult contestants while they set to work and the royal lineup of heroes who stood by, 'judging' and comfortably confident, he felt so very small - and so very inadequate. He hadn't thought to bring his own tools... and whatever that pretty Zora warrior was creating it was like nothing he'd ever seen before! It was far more creative than what he'd managed to scribble... "Ngh."

Then he heard it, a voice as clear and light as a spring breeze, chiming directly into the centre of his tangled, spiralling thoughts,

I spy with my little eyes, a cute little brat overthinking.

Arthur pouted, puffing out a petulant huff. "It doesn't count as overthinking if I'm RIGHT about it."

Does it even really matter?

"Huh? Wha-... what do you MEAN does it even really matter?!!" He hissed below his breath, tugging on the insulated furs draped around him as he scowled up at Ciel. "Are we not seeing the same things?!"

To his baffled irritation the young woman simply smiled and gave a blasé shrug, utterly comfortable in her own skin and the situation at hand. He was about to give her another scathing retort so that she'd finally see some sense when-

If you let this opportunity go, you'll regret it.

That gave him pause. She was right, though he'd never admit it. With angered shame colouring his cheeks he averted his eyes once more and chewed at his tongue.

Hmm~ well, I guess I could just steal one of your designs and do it myself.

"You WOULDN'T!!!" Arthur hissed, aghast. How quickly that remark had snapped back his attention! Ciel tried - and failed - to hold back her laughter, only to raise a challenging eyebrow.

Oooh, I'm very good at stealing credit, I'll have you know. And with you frozen to the spot like that it'd be even easier.

"EUGH! Fine."

And so out the chick finally went, fleeing his nest with a puffed up chest and a face all red. His heart thundered in his ears, his fists balled tight, but the competitive determination his sister had lit at his behind kept him marching onwards to a spare spot on the cordoned-off field. Ciel wasn't far behind though, of course, but Arthur made no efforts to dismiss her either - her presence at his back a greater comfort that he'd ever say out loud. He'd put her to work! Like the assistant she promised she'd be!

"I'm going to make a Blupee!" He announced to her, his small gloved hands already gathering up snow. This time it was Ciel's turn to pause, the surprise evident on her face.

Why?

"Well, they give out rupees right?"

...Or steal and eat them.

"They GIVE OUT rupees, right?"

Right.

He ignored her giggle and completely insincere agreement, clearing his throat to continue, "Well, they're basically a symbol of good fortune. So what better way to herald in a new year! And it's right outside the school too, so all the kids will be blessed by it when they finish classes."

...That's cute. But wouldn't something like a dragon have been more appropriate?

In tangent both of their gazes lifted up to the clouded skies, catching the last of Nayda's glorious form as their tail disappeared into heights too great to see. Briefly, Arthur paused, his busied hands coming to halt. He appeared to seriously consider Ciel's input but in the end he simply shook his head, "I like Blupees better."

Ciel had no quips to sting him with that time. She fell into a rare, bashful silence: a quiet hope in her heart that the warmth in her cheeks could be passed off as the result of cold exposure.

And so, together they packed snow, two diligent workers unified towards one goal. The Blupee was shaping up to be... rather rotund but Ciel insisted she liked this 'creative direction' better and it'd prove to be more stable too - as Arthur wanted the rabbit to be stood on its hind legs. The laurels would prove to be difficult to imitate however. They had found some branches nearby which were long and slender enough to form the basis of the ears, but so many trees around these parts had long lost their leaves - or simply weren't a suitable shape.

Hmn, but I guess I could use a spot of magic. A few petal-blobs of light to decorate them with won't be too much of a problem, though it won't last for long.

"Let's save that touch until last then," Arthur nodded. How incredibly cute he now looked! Now that his confidence was back and his regular assertive attitude had regained its momentum: Ciel suspected he'd completely forgotten about their VIP audience. But that was most definitely for the best - she would not remind him of it, despite her usual teasing tendencies.

But I have to warn you, the magic won't come cheap.

Aha~! And there was her other favourite expression: the boy's face scrunched up in helpless annoyance. She couldn't keep a straight face at that, her ploy quickly shattering into a chiming laugh of satisfied delight.



(OoC note: Just to clarify, all of Ciel's 'dialogue' here is directly inside of Arthur's mind. To everyone else it probably looks like he's talking to himself. UNLESS-! there are any other young (pre-teen) kids nearby: they'd be able to hear Ciel too.)

[LuckyBlackCat]

"S-Salt grilled snacks!"

Micah sat hunched at his stall, shivering, bundled up in so many layers he was sure he looked ridiculous. Those furs and fleeces he'd needed to buy the previous day had cost him most of his rupees, and strained against his rocky physique as there'd been few options available in his size, but the sheer cold here was something else, and this "snow" stuff would take some getting used to. A layer of damp white crystals clustered on the ground, a source of joy for those who took part in the sculpting contest, but he didn't get the appeal. He'd broken a shard of transparent mineral off of a tree branch earlier, "ice" as people called it, out of curiosity about what it would taste like, only to find it entirely bland - and to earn some odd stares.

Sunshrooms helped, even if they were neither as appetising nor as nutritious as rocks, but experiencing the different environments of Hyrule was proving jarring, to say the least.

"Salt grilled rock roasts!" he called out through chattering teeth. "Salt grilled s-sunshrooms!" A few fellow Gorons had quite literally rolled up earlier for the ever-popular volcanic rocks, but his wares would need to appeal to a wide customer base here in Hateno Village. At least he'd finally learned how to cook mushrooms without turning them into shrivelled, blackened lumps, and considering the decor, what was better loved here than fungi?

He glanced around at the other sellers, who confidently displayed their products. His father always said the best way to learn was via hands-on experience, yet a feeling grew in the pit of his stomach that learning how these people drew customers so effortlessly would take a while.

"Sunshrooms?"

Micah's lips quirked up in a nervous, hopeful smile at the customer, a grey-haired Hylian who eyed his wares with ambivalence. "G-good way to keep w-warm in this weather!" He cringed, shoulders hunching. Way to sell their warming properties, as clearly unaccustomed to such a new, bitter cold environment as he was.

The customer raised an eyebrow. "Well, can't say we get many of those around these parts. I'll give one a try."

Leaning forward a little too eagerly and nearly knocking the table over, Micah handed him a mushroom and accepted the rupees. He clenched his fists in his lap as the customer took a bite, waiting for the moment of truth.

The Hylian stopped chewing, his expression contorting into a grimace, his face turning various shades of red. Micah's shoulders slumped as the customer grabbed a napkin and spat the mouthful out into it.

"This," the man fumed, jabbing a finger at the rest of the mushroom, "is NOT salt-grilled sunshroom. It's salt vaguely infused with sunshroom, that's what it is." He pulled a waterskin from his belt pouch and downed the entire contents. "I'm going to be as parched as the Gerudo Desert all day just from that one bite!"

"S-Sorry!" Micah rubbed the back of his neck. "Eheheh... I take it this means you're not supposed to stuff them with salt?"

The customer's blank stare said it all. "I want my money back. Now."

Wordlessly, Micah gave the rupees back over. Once the disgruntled customer had stormed off, he sighed and cast a despondent look over the oversalted mushrooms, wondering what to do with them. "Goro..." At least they'd keep him warm if he ate them later. For a given value of warm.

[Rex Draco]

Sin | Hateno| Arc III
____________________

Alyson's words baffled him. Sweet? He wasn't some confectionery treat so why should his actions be equated to such? The dark-scaled Zora turned to face the woman. His webbed feet barely sunk against the shallow snows when he pivoted which put into perspective his immense height, which only served to intimidate thanks to his broad build. He looked down at Alyson with his deep ruby eyes. His purples were further contrasted thanks to his black sclera. The dark pits were said to be a result of a curse amidst their bloodline, which bound them to forever wander the earth with no expanse of sea to call home and no length of river to claim as their territory.

That was something he was hoping to change in the near future, but for now he had to focus on his pilgrimage.

The fantastical phantasm that was Purah, who fancied popping up, seemingly out of nowhere, had dragged him into work and he was not wont to put aside a challenge. That woman's tasks were not something he'd deem simple or impossible. It was the kind of challenge he has been told by his kin to be on the lookout for. To stand stalwart in the face of a challenge was the defining facet of a Ujua's tenacity. He shook his head, her introduction an unnecessary one. He was sure he would never see the woman again because he had assured himself that he would remain in the mountain until he received his prophetic vision and transcended. But still there was nothing wrong with returning the gesture because someone needed to remember his name were he to ascend.

He gave Alyson a nod, accepting her name.

"I'm Sinnie Nex Ujua XIII. I was named after my ancestor who was a powerful magician." Alas though he had received his great~grandfather's name he had not been able to manifest any sort of magical powers. It was a legacy Sin was unsure he'd be able to live up to. "But my clan calls me Sindra. Sin may be easier for you to remember." He thought a moment before continuing. "You worked hard. I have seen few Hylian take on such challenges more designed for Rito." Requiring them to climb up so high onto precarious perches it was a given that such a task was better left to the birds. "I need to rest before my journey tomorrow, so after we return these lights for repair to Mistress Purah, we can hang them and I shall depart."

And he would do just that. He didn't abandon Alyson midway through and completed the task. From there he would depart and catch a room at the inn.

Come the next morning ~

Sin woke early in the morning in order to wash up ahead of the crowd. The inn was quite crowded on account of the festival and there would be many requesting washing basins. The Zora had requested a bucket of water for the morning and proceeded to wet down his scales and scrub out any its of linen lint that got caught between his rougher spots which protruded out creating a rather thick, natural armor, though it was mostly concentrated around his shoulders, knees, and elbows.

He pulled up his red sarouel and tied them off with a thick, gold colored sash that wound woven with numerous threads. It was a fine piece of textile and one of the many hand-me-downs that Sin owned. The other was his Red Snail cloak that had been in his family for generations. They say that the sorcerer king had used an enchanted cloak to slay an ancient tyrant that held a small up-and-coming duchy hostage as the current monarchy and chose to do nothing about it. Though his cloak was far from the original it did help him stay moist on long journeys and cool.

Then there was his sheath which was made of the finest leather. It is said to be made of the skin of a giant creature that could no longer be found on the land, but its worth as an heirloom mattered far more to the Sin. The sash was a gift from his mother. It was the cloth he was swaddled in and wore as an extension of his clans' colors. The Lyall wore gold and red, whilst the ever elusive Ujua wore blue and black. Once dressed he made his way out of the inn with a tasty riceball in hand. He wasn't able to partake in the stalls the night before as much of the time was spent adding to the sparkling decorations and repairing the damaged sections. Today he would make full use of his free time today.

"S-Salt grilled snacks!"

He would hear the cries of justice! But as he prepared to follow the voice of the vendor the Zora slowed to a stop. Licking clean the grains of rice from his palm, Zora noticed that a crowd had gathered. Joining the mob he would hear as Zelda began her speech. Sin was raised to hold doubt towards the ruling class. Kings and Queens did little but spread false hope and churned out flimsy promises in order to satisfy the nobility. It was hardly in his interest to take any claims she made seriously. She spoke of the competition to create sculptures from snow, but Sin had other plans. He would rove the stalls and sample as much as he could from the various vendors. It wasn't until he ran out of crumbs on his fingers that the Zora's attention turned up towards the young royal. She detailed the terms of the competition, but none of It seemed enticing. Why should he partake in such an act? It seemed a childish endeavor.

"Who would want to prance around in the snow to sculpt?" He placed his hand over the hilt of his sword, the weapon softly clicking against its restrictions.

His dark eyes drifted from the orating princess. The deep grey clouds above looked to become parted by a whorl of movement. The fish began to open and close his mouth as if he was drowning on land. The sight was grand, downright implausible. Away from the mountain? Here? Far above the Hylian royal, enshrouded in a halo of icy, grey clouds that created a silver halo over their pearlescent scales, was the holy vision of the ancient dragon Naydra.

"I stress again, there are no guidelines. You are free to make your individual look however you want, and to employ whatever techniques you think are appropriate..."

Her words reverberated between his earholes. His tendrils began to snake around, the red tips brushing along his chin, cheers, and along neck. Though his expression was pinched down in a fierce scowl his muscles twitched with excitement. It was a sign! It had to be! The Zora had planned to climb the mountain and make his way to the ancient spring to meditate until he was given a sign from the ancient god.

But the sign came to him! He must build!

Once the princess' speech was over, the Zora took his place. He started by piling snow up in one spot, splitting it between soft snow and packed snow. Once everything was in place the cultist began to build his mound. At first blush the pike looked like nothing more than a cairn. It was tall and had a conical shape, but It was otherape a formless shape that didn't reflect a person, but looked more akin to a LikeLike. Once he completed his monument of snow, a pile that was as tall as a Hylian, he stepped back from his creation.

That was when the true spectacle began.

He took hold of his blade's hilt with one hand and the scabbard with the other. Parting his legs at shoulder width the Zora pulled his arms back before drawing his blade in a flash. The sound of metal cutting across the air rang from the sheath was followed by the dull pulse of impacts as Sin began to slice into the mound of snow. It was like a blizzard raged. Sin hacked away at the snowpack until it was a mutilated slush. Once complete he sheathed his weapon and dove towards the remaining pile. Webbed hands shaped the snow until it started taking form. Once satisfied the Zora once again removed his sword and began to shape the now serpentine coil of snow.

Intricate scales were cut into the body of the serpent, Ridges were shaped into the horns and Zora letters were drawn into the snow, in a circular fashion, around its base. Once done Sin stepped away with his arms crossed over his chest in satisfaction. What was left behind was the detailed figure of Naydra as seen by the cultists. A long, serpent-like dragon with long horns like ice crystals and scales as jagged as any Sea Zora's. The god-beast's forearms were perched atop a pedestal and around the base of the altar of snow were Zora letters which spelled out the beast's sacred name.

N A Y D R A

[El]

"Wow. What a twat."

The snarl seethed through the merry atmosphere, thrumming with unrestrained vitriol. It wasn't an emotion which often affected Gao's voice - accustomed as it was to warmth - but once it did, it growled, the usually comforting gravel adding an even more threatening, feral quality to the insult.

He did not care for the old man's attitude. Nor did his wizened age play a factor in excusing him from judgement: unlike perhaps the majority of his Sheikah brethren, Gao was not raised under the roof of tradition where elders were respected through every fault and sin, but in a house where respect was mutual. "Tch, you'd think an old fart would've learned some manners by now."

Crunching snow below foot, the scholar finished his approach and set down an enormous wooden tankard before the shivering Goron. It steamed, the fragrance of its spices as hot as the liquid no doubt was. "Goron spiced cider, fresh off the fire." Gao explained, reigning in his perturbed temper to throw the chef a smile. "It'll warm you up from the inside."

In truth, Gao didn't want to be here. He SHOULDN'T be here.

Once word had reached him of the Yuletide festivities, he had made it his personal mission to avoid Hateno for as long as possible until he was sure they'd all been wrapped up, packed away and the crowds dispersed. Events like this set him on edge. They were uncomfortable - for a myriad of reasons. The memories they dredged up didn't help the 'good vibes' either.

BUT- as was his common fault, Gao had been suckered into some work that had brought him here anyway. A familiar face at the Dueling Peaks Stable needed some assistance in getting some emergency, last-minute stock up to the village but one of the hired hands had damaged their back en-route. Gao happened to be there, was soon spotted, and the pay was good - too good.

He'd arrived earlier this morning with the rest of the wagon, just in time for the unloaded cargo to reach its desperate recipients. If things had gone to plan - as if they ever did - the Sheikah would've slipped out just in time to miss all of this-... This. But the owner of the Great Ton Pu Inn INSISTED that he stay the night - free of charge! He'd already received his remuneration, but an oddly very flustered, blushing Prima was adamant that it didn't properly convey her gratitude in saving her from some close calls.

Gao was bad at saying 'No'. (Especially when the persistence came from such a genuine place - fluffy beds on offer or not.) He was arguably even worse at staying cooped up indoors, so when he spotted the lonely Goron sat at his stall shivering all over, his itchy feet finally found a destination that didn't fill him with discomfort. Being able to stand off to the side somewhere was better than wandering aimlessly amidst smothering crowds.

"Say," Gao piped up, casting his eyes across the cook's wares. If he could count the amount of times a Goron had made him salivate over rock, he'd probably be rich by now. Alas, his teeth were feeble and his stomach even more frail apparently. The sunshrooms though...? "If you don't mind some unsolicited advice from a nosey stranger, I'd recommend pulverising the 'shrooms up into a soup."

After a brief rummage around in his own set of furs, he produced some rupees that he left on the counter - exchanging them for one of the mushrooms. Despite the earlier man's visibly repugnant reaction, Gao took a large bite of the delicacy and took his time to chew through it. The thought on his face was evident - you could see the cogs turning. Yes, his throat was burning. Yes, there was no moisture left in his mouth. But it wasn't really that far off from eating a raw stock cube if you thought about it.

A hard swallow later and a coarse clear of his throat, Gao continued, voice croaking and cracking at first, "B-bringing- ack. BRINGING Sunshrooms here is actually an ingenious idea. I'd bet rupees a good soup of them would sell well, especially if you portion them into cups. All the better if you can acquire some cream and tomatoes: harmonious flavours aside, even just one of the two will help offset the amount of salt and make it more palatable for our sensitive tongues." He laughed a little at that, forever envious of a Goron's constitution as he was.

"Oh, right! I'm Gao." The Sheikah threw Micah a toothy grin. "Just in case you need a name to curse at later."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Micah, already on edge from the customer's verbal lashing, startled at a growling voice. He stared over at the approaching newcomer, a surly-faced man who looked to be either Hylian or Sheikah, with war paint in Bokoblin marking-like patterns on his forehead above red eyes. Despite the feral air he gave off, he proved much friendlier than the old man, his scowl softening into a smile as he presented a huge, steaming tankard from which emanated a familiar spicy scent.

"Oh wow, thank you!" The tankard warmed Micah's hands as he grasped it, and he took a large swig while the Goron spiced cider was still piping hot, hence at its best. A taste of the seasoning reminiscent of home was exactly what he needed right now, as was the warmth radiating in his belly, staving off the winter chill. For all the comfort it gave him, however, he wondered whether he deserved this stranger's kindness - could he really blame a customer for getting mad that their purchase had proven inedible? Not for the first time, he wondered if he'd made a mistake by setting out.

Placing the tankard down, he leaned forward and listened to the culinary advice. Relief rose through him at the thought that the salt-packed sunshrooms may be salvageable. "Mushroom soup? Is that popular around here?"

He had yet to understand, though. He'd heard that heavily salted meats and fish were a thing in most Hyrulean societies, the process apparently being a means of preservation, yet now it turned out people didn't like their vegetables and fungi prepared the same way? All these cultural norms were confusing, to say the least.

His eyes widened as, unexpectedly, the stranger placed some rupees on the table and took one of the mushrooms. "A-Are you sure?" Wincing, Micah watched as the guy subjected himself to the culinary disaster, clearly having trouble with it judging by the slowness of his chewing, the way he visibly fought to keep from grimacing, his spluttering afterwards as he explained what would complement (or rather, redeem) its flavour in a soup.

"That bad, huh?" Micah gave a nervous rictus of a smile. "Y-You don't have to pretend otherwise. Thanks for the advice though!"

A soft chuckle left his lips, accompanied by a puff of mist, as the stranger introduced himself in case Micah would need someone to blame for any later cooking mishaps - not that he actually would blame Gao. "Nice to meet you, Gao! My name's Micah," he replied.

"Hmm..." He tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed. "How do you go about mashing up mushrooms for soup? Do you use a hammer?" That being the standard way to make rock croutons for lava soup, was it the same for other ingredients?

[Sav'saaba]

Wasn't her twin a sight for sore eyes! Not one single strand of that teal hair of his sat askew, and down to the last detail of different studs of traditional Yuletide colours in his ears, his outfit was perfectly coordinated, making him look every bit the beau of the Yuletide ball.

Eat your heart out, Cece. Fungi are so last season.

Mabel's expression lit up, bright as the lights that had been strung up around the village, and she tried her darndest not to break out in a smile at the surge of pride she experienced for him and this splendid attire, as her twin might interpret that as the mockery she was wont to subject him to whenever he fancied himself outrageously avant-garde instead of the oh so understated remarkably avant-garde which he had opted for today. A little restraint went a long way, to her non-fashionista layman's sensibilities.

"I take you are having a good time." she observed and nodded at the drinks as she moved towards her brother to clasp her hands around the offered glass. It felt like it wasn't too long ago that they weren't really supposed to have anything even slightly adjacent of a Noble Pursuit, much less the actual thing with just some added spices.
Not that Ashley had ever cared.

"Mr. Pruce let me off early for some reason. I think he came down with something, he looked really pale." She'd have to check in on him in the morning, what with his family being out of town.
"Let's go, I wanna see that patron of yours," she smiled and briefly squeezed his hand in thanks.







"I told you, as long as it's still attached to your scalp, your hair looks fiiihiiine!" she wailed from the bottom of the stairs in exasperation, her mittens clutching onto the toboggan she had dug out of storage and the fur mantle on her shoulders tickling her nose.

There came no answer apart from a non-descript hum that could either mean 'just a moment' or 'help I'm being smothered by brain-eating chuchus' and everything in between,  and the muffled sounds of hair products being squeezed from containers, the clink of a comb being put down on the edge of the washbasin and picked up again and again, all chaperoned by the sound of the tap turning on and off at intervals, but maybe she did not hear it as much as simply imagine it; she had been a miffed spectator to his grooming routine many times before as she awaited her turn to use the bathroom mirror to put on her make-up.

"Come on, we're going to miss everything if we don't get going now! Even mom and dad are already out there and they had that entire bottle of wine at dinner last night!"

If he and his stoopid hair weren't down in another fifteen minutes, she was going to go on ahead without him.





Turns out, Mabel made true on the threat. Ashley would be able to track her down once he deemed his coif presentable to the general public, Hateno being anything but the sprawling metropolis that Castle Town was supposed to have been once.

The wind was always present here, up on this hill overlooking the village that was nestled at its foot. At her back the Ancient Tech lab stood shuttered and silent, and old man Robbie had not been around in a while, out on some expedition or other.

No explosions for a fortnight to start you upright in your bed had its perks, she found.

The toboggan was left abandoned in the snow a little ways from her, and she drew her legs closer to her core to rest her chin on her knees, her arms linking around them.
The distant peak of Mount Lanayru bathed in the sunlight at this hour. Could you see the lab from its summit, and if so maybe even the village?

Sledding by yourself wasn't quite as fun, not when you are used to always having a partner in crime around from before you were even able to walk properly or string intelligible words together.

A pictograph of the twins as toddlers sitting on a sled during a Yuletide long past, their smiling faces with fat cheeks ruddy from the winter cold despite their mom having bundled them up in fur-lined coats so thick it was simply impossible for the babes to let their arms down all the way to rest at their sides, had been displayed on their mom's nightdesk for as long as she could remember.

"Hey."

A hand was put on her crown.

"Hey," she greeted, not looking up at who was mussing her hair,  "If I did that to you, you'd bite my head off," she scoffed as she got up and brushed the snow off her butt.

[Chaosome]

Malon was quiet thankful for how cooperative the snow was being. The light bit of sun let it melt just a little when worked with, but the cold let it freeze back right away. If only clay could be so easy! The other upside would be not having to pick dried clay out of his feathers for hours after this! With a proud little grin to himself, the Rito stepped back to look over his work so far. The plain square table had been carefully etched into a snowy simulacra of a map of Hyrule, complete with bits of topography and everything! Wiping his brow he'd take a moment to slip the tools away and breathe for a moment, having a little stroll to look around at the friendly competition thus far, and perhaps pick up on some extra ideas to help his work pop!

It seemed that everyone was putting their everything into it thus far! Which was great to see, it meant the people were really taking the festive feelings to heart... That or they were all really super competitive and wanted to win win win. Likely a mix, but that was fine, it just served to show the bonds between the disparate peoples of Hyrule were going strong. As his stroll continued he'd spot the Zora gal from yesterday, Claria, hard at work on her own project. The bird gave a polite smile and a chipper wave as he came by. He hadn't considered bladework as an option for this, but it was pretty brilliant! Had he not already committed to an idea already, he'd have taken that as inspiration to be sure. "Coming along nicely, Claria!" he'd chirp as he moved along. It was high focus work, he knew, so he didn't feel right just stopping to chatter but at the same time he couldn't let such hard work go uncommented on!

As he stroll continued another familiar face caught his eye, the other lovely young woman he'd accidentally, and thankfully only briefly, slighted yesterday. Miss... Oh... Oh bother he hadn't gotten her name in the midst of all that kerfuffle. She seemed busy too, however, helping out the young lad by her with a rather impressive likeness of a Blupee. He'd have to inquire later, it wouldn't be polite to interrupt with that. For now he offered the two a smile and a wave as he passed by. "Great Blupee so far you two! I'm gonna have to step up my game it seems!" Malon nodded and continued on with the pep still in his step. Winning would be tough for sure and as much as he would like to win, winning wasn't really the point of this. Not for him at least. Even if he wasn't holding full on conversations with the many contestants, it was still a bonding moment between everyone here whether they realized it or not. It was a competition, sure, but they were all working together towards a common goal. Bringing smiles to the town.

The bird's meandering continued to be rewarded it seemed, as lo and behold, there was tall dark and frowny himself! Truth be told he hadn't been holding his breath that the Zora would show up, but he was glad to see that his theory was right! It looked like he too had opted for bladework as his main source of sculptwork... Was it a Zora thing? He'd have to keep an eye out on Prince Sidon's work when he got started. Whatever the case, Malon gave out an impressed whistle as he made his way by the be-saroueled Zora. "Very impressive! You really captured their likeness, I bet she'd be proud!" he commented as he wandered by, entirely unaware how big an ego boost that might just be for the culty Zora.

After a few more moments of wandering and with renewed fervor, Malon rolled a shoulder and made his way back over to his base. The competition was fierce, but he'd not be swayed from his course! Step Three would begin with him gathering up small bits of snow, it was one of the easiest steps. Small snowpeople in varying states of build were placed at key spots along the map. One near Rito Village, another near Hyrule, and a third near the Zora Domain. The bird pulled a small satchel from his cloak and poured it over the fourth snowperson he started work on. Ash. As he molded the snow it eventually took on a dark grey appearance, and with a small carving tool he would give it a craggy, rocky looking texture before setting it near Goron Village. A fifth snowperson was deposited in the mountain region of the Gerudo Desert, its little face turned towards the direction of Gerudo Town. In fact upon observation each of the little snowpeople were facing towards the respective homes of the peoples who lived there.

"And now the real hard part begins..." Malon mused aloud as he withdrew several tools along with some pictures and pieces of parchment before kneeling down to the snow, taking small bits and pieces he would begin quickly carving towards Step Four...

[El]

Gao's lips parted, only for them to seal again. Would Hylia forgive him for being reminded of his monsterkin...?

Something about the way Micah made his inquiry brought back memories of a very-... chaotic, slimy nature. The sort which didn't just stick with you because of their shock value or hilarity, but because they were quite literally STUCK on you. For days. Gao had tried to teach 'blins how to cook before: something more complex than just a spitroast. ...A hammer had also been involved.

A small, but warm, laugh chortled up Gao's throat. He had a sneaking suspicion there was a larger issue here past just being heavy-handed with some seasoning. But he wasn't going to demean the Goron's intelligence for it: 'every winner was once a beginner'. Besides, if the appetising colour and scent of his rock roasts were anything to go off, Micah clearly had his culinary potential.

"Y'know what?" The Sheikah began, a bemused but delighted quality to his voice which made it ring brighter than it had in a while. "If you're ever in the Faron region, I recommend you go and check out Lurelin Village. We're very proud of our food there - and for good reason too!" A cocky gleam widened his grin.

"Let them know a familiar brat by the name of Gao Lynn sent you their way and I'm sure they'll be even more accommodating. It's a great place to study up on some non-Goron cuisine if you're up to the challenge." Who knows, maybe they'd even cross paths again there? Though Gao was reluctant to give voice to that possibility, given how rarely he visited his hometown in recent years. There was no need to get a Goron's hopes up, only to dash them. Especially one who seemed so humble and down to earth: not many people - especially chefs! - took kindly to the unqualified opinions of a stranger.

"To actually answer your question though, yeah, sure you could use a hammer - BUT be careful with your strength! And keep the contents properly contained. Mushrooms are already very delicate raw, but like most vegetables or fruits they soften even further after being cooked." Unless you cook them into a state of charcoal, but Gao omitted that technicality out of fear of overcomplicating things. "Pulverising them will take very little effort, especially with a Goron's power. Personally I'd very finely dice them with a knife first though - a few small chunks here and there give the teeth a little something to munch on."

The Sheikah realised he was beginning to waffle though, decades' worth of experience and knowledge all too eagerly bubbling up - and boiling over - once he got to actually heating that particular pot. Gao had never fancied himself a chef of any sort, but being raised in a restaurant and then having to so often cook for yourself out in the wilds, had ingrained in the man an odd sort of pride and comfortable excitement about food that he'd never be truly rid of - no matter how many salted rabbit steaks he'd existed off. But, that brief moment of self-awareness was all his senses needed to acknowledge the growing hubbub of their surroundings: the nearby snowperson competition was really kicking off, an excited murmur collecting an ever growing crowd behind him.

Flinching back a frown, Gao turned back to Micah. His smile was a little sadder now, the almost childlike joy which had lit up his eyes only moments prior now doused by something much more sober. "I should really get going though, mate. I'll probably be away from Hateno all day but if you need me - or fancy sharing a late night drink - I'll be at the Great Ton Pu Inn later."

Where exactly he would be-...? Ngh, he hadn't decided. Just away. Preferably somewhere higher, wider, where he could feel the wind in his hair and breathe in some crisp mountain frost.

[AmJanky]

Ashley

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here by herself?"
"Got stood up by her stoopid brother."
"He looks immaculate, though." He spoke with his fingers splayed to his chest, playing up the haughtiness. When he noticed the little mocking grin she always bore when he got too cocky, he changed his tone. "What, as if you didn't flirt with the mirror in that gorgeous little number on you." Gesturing at all of that silver glistening fur around her shoulders. Glad to see his rummaging around in their mother's closet had inspired her.

If there was any way for his hair to move in the crisp breeze, it would. But it was so glued into place to make sure it wouldn't look too windswept by the time they would get down the mountain. It was tradition, by now, that they would try to get down from the laboratory into the village in one fell swoop, Ashley steering and Mable making the bends curve with her ice magic.

Last year's attempt they'd almost gotten there, only to veer off course at the second to last hairpin turn the trail made down the hills. And after a bumpy ride ended up in Zelkoa Pond. Or rather ended at the fireplace shivering but content with blankets around them and hot cacao in their hands, already making plans to better their record for next year.

Did their parents get mad? Absolutely yes. Was that going to make them stop? Absolutely no. The only way was to make it downhill at least once, they were nothing if not more determined.

"You ready?"
"We sleigh, honey!"

Ashley pushed the first few steps before getting on behind his sister, she passed him the reins and got to work making the first icey curve down the round path leading to the lab. They left it behind them quick enough, the ice still sparkling with energy as they picked up speed, through the trees onto the second curve. Hoping to Hylia that there wasn't going to be anyone making their way up the mountain.

[LuckyBlackCat]

At Gao's rumbling laugh - a warm, friendly one, but even so - Micah inwardly shuddered. From the sound of it, the answer to his culinary inquiry was no.

However, he brightened up at Gao's travel advice. A village in the Faron area, where people took pride in their cuisine and could help him hone his skills. "Lurelin Village? I've never been to Faron before, but it sounds like a good place to head next!" If he remembered correctly from maps, the province was right next to Necluda, so the journey shouldn't take too long. "Thanks for the suggestion!"

A sharp gust of wind made him shiver and pull his many cloaks tighter, the fabrics snagging on the rocks that covered his back and shoulders. Taking another gulp of hot mulled cider, he hoped Faron would be warmer than Necluda at this time of year.

He gripped the tankard for warmth as he listened to Gao's rather enthusiastic pro-tips, the fact that the man hailed from Lurelin most likely explaining that level of passion. So it technically WAS possible to use a hammer for mushrooms like he did for rocks, but... "Eheheh, I'm going to guess that isn't the conventional method? And... W-wait, you mean most fruits and vegetables aren't supposed to go crunchy? Aww..." His thick eyebrows drooped. He made a mental note to ask the other chefs here what the best way to make non-mineral soup was - and hopefully not get laughed out of the kitchen.

Something about the snowperson competition in the distance made Gao's excitement at food talk fizzle out, his expression growing far more solemn as his attention shifted towards it for a second. Micah crinkled his brow in concern, wondering at the reason for the sudden change in demeanour, but Gao took that moment to say his farewell, and let him know he'd be hanging out at the inn that evening.

"Alright, I'll drop by later!" With a wave of his large hand, Micah returned the smile. "And again, thanks!"