The Yuletide Festival [Event] [Open]

[Rex Draco]

Sin wasn't the type of person who felt it was necessary to trade gratuitous pleasantries. He wasn't fond of chatting about the weather as, where he was from, it was always quite balmy and hot. Traveling he's come to learn that each biome had its own system that you had to simply get used to. It wasn't much of a topic of discussion unless it regarded one's survival. As for hollow praises, that was something Sin hated more than anything else. Empty laudations were inaccurate recognitions of a person's prowess that only served to inflate ego with a false sense of self. It didn't paint an accurate picture of the type of person you were and emboldened the incompetence of the one slinging them as they had no valid endorsements towards you as an individual that they needed to make things up or embellish them!

So when Sin praised Malon's work he did so with the understanding that he was not wont to create such a detailed work of art. For the bird to be able to accurately recreate locations they have seen on a map with reproductions of its people laid out with a cartographer's accuracy, he had to have some sort of artisan's training or, at the very least, some skill he had studied years to master. He wasn't sure why one would choose to train to become good at sculpting, but crafters were just as needed as swordsmasters, yes? In any case the Zora would motion his hand at the finished snowperson, or in Malon's case, snowcommunity.

"Let's go." He wanted to eat before the stalls closed.

He had sheathed his blade and made sure to tuck the scabbard beneath his cloak. Though he felt quite warm beneath the folds of his cozy hood, the Zora still closed the front, which had a simple antler button on the extending strap. He pulled it over his bare chest, the lighter markings a far cry from the deep russet of his tendrils and arms. Holding up his webbed hand he motioned towards the bird to follow. He wouldn't have him dawdle. It didn't take long for the Zora to find his way back to the food stalls. He followed his sense of smell, which was surprisingly good for a fish. Living on land improved on one ability or another, but left him with detriments in other classes of skills that were seemingly natural to Zora. He wasn't a very fast swimmer, but his physical strength on land was above average of his kind.

He soon arrived at Micah's stall with the bird in tow. He was drawn to this stall in particular because, even at a distance, he could see the size of the rock roasts from down the way. Such massive hunks of food had to be delicious. The way they glowed a deep, sizzling red was beyond explanation. He was drawn to the bright, smoky, red big pieces of what looked like meat. But he didn't know what it was! They were not anything he's ever tried. The Zora gripped his webbed hand into a fist and growled deep in his throat. He looked over to Malon.

"I want this," He pointed to the Rock Roast. "What will you have?" Maybe the bird would let him have a bite of it.

It wasn't that he didn't have the funds to pay for more food, but he had to be careful with his spending. He found himself in a pickle the last time he stopped in town and spend most of his rupees on food. He'd not do it again. 

[Emily]

Such was the state of the snow-individual contest. By this point, most of the pieces were complete, with some scattering contestants putting final touches. One group had left to procure vital nutrients (or minerals, in one case) while another coalesced around a wilted dandy designer, preparing for a hike toward a wounded creature in dire need of medical assistance. Just as the attention of those gathered began to turn from their projects toward their fainting fashionista, a peal of triumphant laughter echoed across the snowy expanse.

Art by MiidniightSuun on DeviantArt

"Success at last!" King Sidon didn't often shout. He was, despite his stature and position, a relatively even-keeled fellow. There were already whispers around Zora's Domain that his royal moniker should be 'the wise', though a small-yet-dedicated contingent kept pushing for 'the unreasonably charismatic'. Despite the fame and widespread popularity, however, Sidon kept swimming upstream, pushing against the tide of mandate to truly prove himself as the best. And in no way did he push himself harder than when representing his people. "Behold," he exclaimed, still behind his veil of ice, "my entry!"

The wall of ice came down as he spoke, revealing what he had been working on this entire time. A life-sized, meticulously-crafted snow sculpture of Mipha stood, watching over a second sculpture, this one of Sidon as a baby. The snow-youth looked up at his older sister with awe, eyes large and somehow shining despite the medium. Despite being a statue made of snow, the piece had suggestions of texture, no doubt enhanced by Sidon's powerful water magic. Mipha's bright blue champion sash appeared dappled, suggesting cloth, while her silver jewellery had been smoothed and partially melted to refreeze into ice. The tips of her fingers rested under snow-Sidon's chin, her eyes full of love.

The king's retinue of elder Zora, who had been in the secret chamber alongside him, were unanimously wiping the tears from their eyes. Though this one homage was but a drop in the ocean of statues and memorials to the departed princess, everyone involved had known her, at least to some extent.

Including Link and Queen Zelda, who had been walking through the space throughout the competition, offering compliments and comments where appropriate. Sidon smiled at them as they arrived at his sculpture, flexing one arm. "I understand, my friends, that bringing my sister into this isn't fair, but I wasn't truly in the competition anyway. One cannot be both an impartial judge and a competitor, after all!"

"It's a beautiful tribute, Sidon," Zelda said, tenderly touching the Zora king's arm. She took a moment to look at the statue, she and Link both standing silently. Their backs to the crowd, those gathered could only guess at their feelings. After a moment, she turned to the rest of the competitors at this point and raised her voice to properly project. "Attention everyone! The judging will begin soon. Please put the finishing touches on your snow-individuals!"


(One more round before we move on to the judging! If you haven't finished your snow-individual, now's the time!)

[Chaosome]

Malon had of course heard the commotion as someone rushed in, suddenly stammering out something out about someone getting run over and bleeding and... It was hard to keep up. Man, here he thought that he talked fast sometimes! The Rito was about to leap into action and offer help himself, but between the lack of panic on the faces of Lady CiCi or others that stepped over to assist, an extra pair of wings wouldn't be required today. Good, good. If things were terribly terrible they'd have already hurried off in two shakes. Still, it would be the right thing to-

Before the bird's train continued along the track, Sin's voice cut in. A simple and to the point request. Well, less a request and more like a statement. It was becoming very clear that this Zora was very food motivated. Or impatient. Maybe both! "Huh? Ah, yeah! Just a second, right behind you." Malon chirped as he fetched a little piece of parchment to sign his name on and have stuck nearby to his work, just in case he wasn't back before the judges came through! So to as he followed a few paces behind Sin would he pause for a moment to give Lady CiCi and the crowd a polite wave and a nod. "Sounds like you lot have whatever's going on under control, but if you need another pair of wings, I'll be over at the food stalls just come and grab me!" with a little grin he'd nod and scurry off to catch back up with Sin. Who knows if there'd be anything left if he let the big guy get there first!

As he arrived but a few steps behind Sin, the bird glanced around him to look at the offered wares. Was that rock roast? He'd seen Goron cuisine a time or two, and while he was pretty sure that it'd be inedible for him, he did have to admit it looked pretty good! Would Sin be able to eat it? With those chompers, maybe... Malon stepped around from behind Sin to get a look at what all there was on offer. "Hmm, I might go for the mushrooms." he'd say, rubbing his chin with a wing before looking over to the Goron shopkeep with a smile. "What would the chef recommend? I'm open to trying new things. I'll take care to not chip my beak either, no worries!"

[LuckyBlackCat]

Micah had been discreetly scraping out the salt stuffing from the mushrooms with a spoon, the snow melting where he discarded the crystalline slop on the ground, when two new customers arrived.

"Oh! W-Welcome!" Placing a desalinated mushroom back on the tray with a shivering hand, he looked up at the duo, his mouth twitching into a nervous smile. The big burly one clad in a red cloak, with his fish scales and webbed hands, had to be a Zora from what he'd heard about the aquatic people. The other, a silver-feathered avian figure, was likewise one of the few Rito he'd ever met. Even if Hylians didn't like heavily salted food, did people of other races have a taste for it?

As the Zora clenched a fist and gave a low, rumbling growl, Micah braced himself for a snarky comment or several, but the request took him by surprise. "The rock roast? You like rock roasts too?" he asked, just to be sure. Did Zora eat rocks just as easily as Gorons could? In the same way that Gorons needed them to maintain their sturdy bodies, did Zora consume them to keep their scales tough? Or did this guy, at least? He was earth-coloured, after all. And his teeth, reminiscent of a Like Like's fangs, certainly looked sharp enough.

"Uh, here!" With a gravelly crack, Micah broke a small piece from the corner of a rock roast. While he could still feel the fading warmth from its having been heated over a fire for a considerable length of time, it had cooled enough in the frosty air that a non-Goron would be able to comfortably touch it - or at least, he hoped. "Why don't you try a little first and tell me what you think? M-Mind your teeth though, it's rather crusty."

His insided squirmed with uncertainty, adding to his shivers. There was every chance he'd offend the customer - the guy would know better than anyone what he could and couldn't eat - and yet it could be the case that, just as Micah had never seen many of the meals on display at the various stalls, this man had never seen a rock roast before. He'd regarded them with curiosity in those dark eyes. And Micah wasn't going to be responsible for getting anyone sick.

The Rito, on the other hand, eyed the mushrooms as he asked for recommendations. "That, uh..." Micah's eyes swept over the tray. "That depends how much salt you like on your sunshrooms. S-Some people find the ones at the front a little intense." As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew it was far from a good sales pitch, especially compared to the way the neighbouring vendors played up the best points of their wares with unwavering enthusiasm. "Either way though, they'll keep you warm!"

Which he wasn't exactly doing the best job of displaying, shudders wracking his body under the many layers, the warming effect of the sunshrooms a far cry from the volcanic environment he'd known his entire life. And did the Rito even mind the cold, with all those feathers? Weren't most Rito from chilly mountainous areas? Or was that a stereotype?

If he wasn't careful, he was going to dig himself deeper than a Zonaite miner in the Depths, wasn't he?

[El]

Never turn your back.

Gao should've known better. But between his frayed nerves, his desperation to escape quickly and simply in trusting the comforts of civilisation, he'd let down his guard. Not once did the Hylian ping as a threat. She'd appeared as simply a flustered but compassionate young woman - harmless. Clearly he'd miscalculated.

Never trust a book by its cover.

As age-old proverbs and life-lessons by the carriage-load flooded Gao's mind - every scathing word and smug sharp letter pricking at his conscience - a sigh breathed heavy and thick from his lips. He tried to keep it quiet but the sag of his broad shoulders was still obvious.

'I know I can't force you to do anything', eh? The Sheikah looked down at his frozen legs, the feet and tensed calves captured in mid-stride. Looking ridiculous aside it was very apparent from just a brief, small shuffle of a struggle that it'd take a LOT to break out of these - if it was even possible. The ice was incredibly thick, not just caging his legs but locking them in frozen stone. This wasn't just a sheet of frost he could shake off, or a pair of extra weights he could drag stubbornly into the horizon - she wasn't messing around.

Honestly, if his own comfort wasn't on the line here Gao would've been thoroughly impressed by her abilities: it was one thing to summon strong magic, but to be able to wield it with such accuracy and speed...? WITHOUT hurting him too? He didn't know much about magic, but surely this little lady was a prodigy in the making. ...Or he'd vastly underestimated every mage out there and needed to study up on it pronto.

Regardless, she seized the opportunity of her own making, making sure to drill in her own opinions on the whole matter and scold him into submission. He had a lot of things to say in response to her own presumptions - a wry sort of humour quietly twisting his lips - but Gao knew it all came from a good place, and they were very logical assumptions to make. Correcting her would've just been unnecessarily obnoxious. And if he didn't need to share more information, he wouldn't. He felt vulnerable enough.

Smoothing down his raised hackles and chewing back a disgruntled growl, the Sheikah instead found himself simply sighing again. The defeat was apparent, despite his efforts to smile through it. "Not sure I can accept that argument," He quipped in response to her statement about reimbursement. His eyes flashed back up at the trail the duo had sped down, remembering the glitters of magic and unusual ice formations he'd glimpsed before. "If you're capable of such impressive feats as these, it's clear that I misstepped by jumping in to begin with." The words were elevated to a melodic rhythm, attempting a humorous tone to mask the true depths of his feelings on the matter and make light of them all but-... even Gao heard how transparent it was. The mask was thin, a frail veneer that merely added gloss to his deflated ego and utter dread let alone attempt to hide it entirely.

Gao raised a hand and attempted to massage out the furrows he felt gather at the bridge of his nose. In truth, he did consider - multiple times in those few moments - summoning as much violent strength as he could to brute force his way to freedom, but the wiser part of him knew that'd be incredibly dramatic for no reason - an overreaction. He didn't want to scare the young woman. Plus escalating the situation wouldn't actually bring him any true comfort in the long run: even if he did break free and she didn't counter with some other - perhaps more painful - spell, he knew he'd regret trampling all over her blatantly earnest goodwill now that it'd gotten to this point.

So he bit back another sigh. If he had a tail it'd surely be tucked between his legs at this point; he was suddenly reminded of an old neighbour's dog whenever he got dragged off to the vet, whining and yowling through the sandy streets. Gao had always felt sympathy for the creature, but now that emotion deepened into something closer to empathy.

A laugh rumbled up the scholar's throat, "Understood, ma'am." He acquiesced. The last of the tension in his muscles eased, deflating in surrender. But with an embarrassed quirk of his lips he turned to the young woman and added, "...But perhaps I could ask you a favour?

"Would you mind wiping this blood off my face? I er-... feel like I probably used the wrong hand, and this isn't usually the look I go for in my facepaint." The chuckle deepened into sonorous, more genuine thrums. He'd perhaps have to bend down in order for her to do so comfortably, but he didn't mind that extra bit of effort.

[Sav'saaba]

If someone would remark about the ruddy glow resurfacing on her face, Mabel would most definitely blame the chilly temperature as the cause, and not her feeling suddenly self-conscious after being complimented on her spell slinging by the handsome stranger.

Praise that was not very deserved of, though. Mabel had just been lucky to have her mom, a skilled mage, be her mentor, as well as the opportunity to dedicate herself to something to which she had a smidge of innate aptitude for. She would have wanted to tell Gao so and how she still couldn't quite control the intensity of her spells as well as she should, but that would probably be more than a little disconcerting to him, having unwillingly been made the mark of her magic.

So, this bloke wasn't incredibly cross with her for what she had done? In fact, he seemed quite amiable, a good sport all around, though Mabel couldn't quite escape the impression there was a tension to that smile he presented her.

"Never mind. My twin and I should have been more careful. That could have gone really wrong with someone less..." Yes, that was the word, "athletic!"
Ergo the entirety of Hateno's population, livestock included, because that had been one  impressive leap – and likewise shoulders, now that they were a little less covered by clothing to ward against the biting cold.

Siiigh.

Mabel had been about to warn Gao as his bloodied hand reached up to massage the keystone of his face, but she was too slow, and she watched his fingertips leave reddish smudges where they touched.

If she minded wiping it off for him. Ha! That was like asking if mr. Pruce minded the rapturous jingle of rupees landing in the register.

"No one needs to know it's not actually the blood of your enemies," she joked in reply with a chuckle. "Allow me," Mabel said as she drew in closer and reached up to cup Gao's jaw in one hand, handkerchief at the ready in the other, and she set to wiping off the blemishes on his brow with a still clean corner of the cloth, taking care not to remove the grey facepaint against the warm tone of his skin.

It was reminiscent of what some of the subspecies of 'blin sported, wasn't it?
It was an unordinary look for someone to have, but then again nothing about this guy was ordinary.
'Tis the season, she contemplated as she briefly recalled the weirdo at the East Wind from the day before. As she did, she accidentally brushed a finger across the ridge of scar tissue across Gao's brow.
That must have been a massive laceration, Mabel wondered, a flicker of a frown accompanying the thought, but then she sharply refocused her attention elsewhere, aware she had overstepped boundaries enough already.

"There, that's better!" she said when she had successfully removed the stains, and she put the handkerchief away until she could throw it in the wash.

"I hope I didn't hurt you with my spell, and I'm glad you decided to wait for someone after all." And not at all because she really left him no other option.

"Here. I'm plenty warm, and seeing how you're a little, uh, incapacitated right now, you'll go cold more quickly. My brother can mend any rips or tears for you." she said as she shrugged out of his donated furs and draped them over his shoulders to the best of her abilities, being a good deal shorter than her hulking hostage.

Naydra, that ice really was something now that she took a close look at it. Why did it always get away from her as much as it did, especially when she would cast multiple times in short succession?

Mabel would have to release the man of his confinement at some point, but that would break her solemn vow to the mayor of not using fire spells so near the village. That is, had she even been able to, so soon after wielding ice magic. Without having a proper cool-down —although warm-up would make more sense in this context-, she could not switch between conjuring the two dissonant elements.

Maybe Alyson was already back in town, like she was every year for the Yuletide festival? She'd know what to do, skilled as she was with whatever tool she got her hands on.

Someone was coming up the road now.

[AmJanky]

It wasn't the first time that day that Ashley was wondering what happened just now.

And then there were Ciel's calming words, the coat around his shoulders, her hand making yet another attempt to fix his hair.  Alyson came running to offer candies. And two others he had no names for inquiring if help was needed.

To make matters worse, Prince Sidon revealed his entry and signified the end of the snow-sculpture contest. And there he was amidst it all making a ruckus in people's plans. He would just bury himself in snow now and call it a day.

Damn it, that hadn't not been the intention at all, nor had collapsing on the spot, but there was nothing more he could do about it now. He hadn't even really seen it. Just the thought of the vile crimson fluid dripping down the man's neck had been enough to set him off. And just the thought sent shivers down his spine anew.

"I'm fine." Though he still didn't sound it. He took Ciel's help up, but didn't dare lean on her too much. Not because he feared she would be frail, but because he was. "Thank you." He said meekly.

If he could've heard Ciel's remark of being her favourite artist he'd have melted on the spot. For all the haughtiness that Ashley put on display whenever he went out for anything, he really wasn't all that great with all the attention it garnered him. It still made him feel self conscious, especially when anything put him off kilter. And whenever that happened he just wanted to disappear and make a silent retreat to just be on his own. Take a walk.

The man who had been hurt... Wasn't he going up the mountain? Alone? Away from the festivities? Towards a place where Ashley knew was empty as soon as Mabel and he had zoomed past it. "Oh gosh..." Ashley mumbled. They had interfered with a walk. The pain of the realization showed on his face while he let out a groan. "Oof... And he apologized too..."

"I am a doctor."

The words felt like they had reverberated through the empty space in his head for a good while before colliding all in one spot and ringing coherently. Right, that was the most important thing to react to right now. It came from one of the two people he had no names for. And it wasn't the Zora saying that. But, by all the dragons that roamed the sky, was she gorgeous! Luminescent spots framing her with a soft light.

When he looked up at who did say the words, he looked into the cutest ginger face he had ever seen. The timbre of her voice signifying that she was confident, but she didn't look much older than him.

"I'm fine," He repeated, a little more sure, but unsure all the same, "they're at Zelkoa pond, he's with my sister. I'm - uh - I don't... want to join you... I can't... I don't want to.. see the... I don't like blood."

[Emily]

For a moment, Ariadne worried at how she might appear to the rest of the people gathered. To her eyes, the poor man who had run down the hill had collapsed not from wounds, but from exhaustion and relief. That was a very common reaction, to 'survive' a stressful moment and have your legs give out on you only at that moment. And given his very clear level of stress, she hadn't seen any reason to bother him, especially if there was someone with serious wounds further up the hill in need of attention. And she was rewarded for that thought in the end, which came as a big relief- she'd hate for her first heroic medicine moment to be sullied by ignoring something that was actually a big deal.

Ashley responded to her with another entirely reasonable and relatable feeling. "I'm fine, they're at Zelkoa pond, he's with my sister. I'm - uh - I don't... want to join you... I can't... I don't want to.. see the... I don't like blood."

She grinned at him and said "Don't worry about it. I'm sure we can find our way there. Feeling faint or upset when you see blood is a very common thing, and nothing to feel ashamed about. Those honey candies should help you get your legs back under you."

She stood back up from her crouch and looked over to Claria. "I know they're about to announce a winner, so if you want to stay that's alright. But if you'd like to come along, we should get moving."

It was an easy enough jog to the inn, where Ariadne grabbed her bag off the bed and came back out. Though she did grab a mug of hot cocoa that had just been made, sipping it during the walk up the hill. The competition didn't matter to her too much; she had mostly entered just to make sure Claria wasn't too shy or embarrassed. Despite the Zora's sometimes gruff exterior, she had a lot of self-consciousness that seemed to stem from shame, so having a friend to do things alongside her was no doubt helpful to combatting that. There was no way in hell Ariadne was going to win, but she wouldn't have held it against Claria to stay back and check; her snow-statue was extremely cool and had a good chance of winning.

Trudging up a hill in the snow was nothing new for the doctor, and she had half-finished the cup by the time Mabel came into view. And...

"GAO?!" Ariadne exclaimed, a smile too wide for her face breaking out as she resumed a jog the rest of the way.

[Rex Draco]

The Zora had never had Rock Roast before, but he has heard stories of Goron having unique gastronomy when compared to Hylian and Rito. Zora certainly had a strange compilation of dietary requirements, but that was likely a result of their environment. Did the Goron's mountain homes also restrict them from a varied diet? It wasn't until Sin climbed down from the monastery did he come face to face with cereal. Apparently Hylians harvested the small sprouts that formed on the sheathes of grass and created rice, which was used in riceballs. Insofar they have been the best Hylian cuisine had to offer. But now he had the chance to partake in food unique to Gorons. So what did they eat up there in the fiery mountains named after Death?

He accepted the Rock Roast and would lay the requisite amount of rupee on the counter. He took notice of the Goron's strange behavior. The man looked terrified. Was he stricken by Sin's aura? That was most likely. He would try to reel it in and be less threatening in appearance. The tendrils on the sides of his head seemed to slide back over his shoulders, the poisonous tips of tentacles seemingly hiding from view. Once he had the Rock Roast in his grasp he looked to Malon as he clapped his hand on the counter's surface. He pulled his lips back in a feral looking grin that was most akin to a shark grinning.   

"What do they say before eating during celebrations? Kenpy? Old middle toad? Sears?" He wasn't sure but he raised the roast before biting into it.

But the bite was anything but successful. When his fangs made contact with the stony substance one would have worried if his tooth had chipped with the soft click that sounded from the connection between his mouth and the roast. Sin pulled his head back and turned his expression into a stupefied twist. He hadn't expected the result. His fishy brows furrowed before he lowered the roast. But in the stead of giving in, the Zora plunged back in, but this time with greater force and ferocity. With a gnashing crunch the shark-toothed predator managed to tear into the side of the Rock Roast and bit into his wintery treat. Pulling back with a mouthful of roast the Zora gladly chomped down on his crispy treat. He seemed quite satisfied, despite the difficulty of the first bite. He looked towards Malon and held out the roast.

"Want a bite?" Of course he was expecting a taste of Malon's treat in return... that's how things were done, right?

[Chaosome]

Noticing the Goron's shivering, Malon chimed in again. "Little chilly for you out here too huh? Not a big cold fan myself." he said with a soft chuckle as he looked the mushrooms over. Some of them seemed to be absolutely drowned in salt. Which for a Goron likely wasn't an issue at all! That much probably was just enough to add a little bit of seasoning to a dish. But for others out there? Proooobably a bit too much! Jugs of water or headaches at least he was sure. In either case, it was clear this guy was doing his best with the knowledge he had. He wasn't able to judge how good of a cook he was, after all he was no Goron Chef. He could be a master at the art there for all he knew. But it was clear to Malon that he was still a bit green when dealing with others.

"I'll take some from the back then if that's alright, double order!" Malon pointed out some of the less salt smothered shrooms while Sin meanwhile began his fight with the sample chunk of rock roast "Close enough!" he said with a little nod to Sin, raising an imaginary glass in cheers to the Zora before turning his attention to the shopkeep again. "Y'know, besides just going good on food, salt's great at preserving foods too." the bird began by way of small talk, and potentially helping give the poor guy some pointers. "Curing, not like, medical curing. It helps keep meets and fish and veggies fresh for longer. Plus some meats end up tasting a whole lot better once they've been cured!" the Rito paused and rubbed the back of his head. "But sorry, there I go rambling about stuff you probably already know about. You're a chef after all. Speaking of, while I'm not expert, I know a couple of recipes if you'd be willing to swap some knowledge!" Malon grinned when he was handed his mushrooms. Laying out the rupees for him and for Sin's meal, the bird would pop one back with a little flick of a thumb. They were... still pretty damn salty, but he could handle it.

Glancing over again to Sin when the man offered a bite of that rock roast... and how he had somehow managed to actually tear into it. Goddesses know how... "Ah I'm good, but thanks! You can have some of my mushrooms though if you'd like." he'd hand over the second order of mushrooms to the ravenous fish. Maybe these would keep him from chipping a tooth or devouring the poor Goron's entire stock. For now at least.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Micah's expression distorted into a grimace. He hadn't expected the Zora to grab the entire rock roast instead of trying the sample first, and right away it was clear this guy had never eaten stone before. The mineral held firm under his fangs, causing him to pull back and stare in surprise. "Uh... if you're having trouble, I-I can swap it for something else!" Micah offered.

The Zora, however, wasn't giving up. He gnawed and tugged at the roast so hard that Micah feared for his teeth, until with a crunch, a chunk of the crust came free. It was with a look of satisfaction that the customer chewed on the mouthful, but Micah's brow remained furrowed. If this guy didn't usually eat rocks, would he be able to digest them? "This... isn't the kind of thing you've had before, is it?" Micah gestured to the other tray. "Are you sure you w-wouldn't prefer a mushroom? It's just... Rocks aren't suitable for everyone."

The Rito, the much more talkative one of the duo, gave some friendly advice about the culinary uses of salt once he'd asked for some sunshrooms. "Thanks, I've heard of that technique for meat and fish," Micah replied, "but what kinds of vegetables? It's, uh... T-To be honest, it's mostly rocks I have experience with." While admitting to his lack of expertise wasn't going to earn him any popularity with customers, his interaction with the Zora had already made his limited knowledge of the world outside of Death Mountain painfully obvious. At least the Rito was being polite about it. "Recipes would be great though!" He returned the customer's grin with a timid smile as he exchanged mushrooms for rupees.

Unsurprisingly, the Rito turned down his friend's offer of a rock roast chunk, holding out the mushrooms to share. Micah could only hope the Zora would prefer the sunshrooms, and avoid giving himself a chipped tooth or severe case of indigestion.


The snowindividual competition Claria had fretted so much over suddenly seemed unimportant. Looking back over at Ariadne, she nodded. There'd be no point in sticking around - she trusted Ariadne's judgement that the young man would be fine, and she doubted her replica of the ancient statue would win her the contest amongst the more whimsical and imaginative creations. As impressive as King Sidon the Unreasonably Charismatic's sculpture of his departed sister was, she'd be able to fully appreciate it after this, and she was sure he and the other judges would understand if not everyone stayed for the announcement of the winner. Sin and Malon, after all, were nowhere to be seen.

Once Ariadne had grabbed her belongings and a mug of hot cocoa from the inn, it was a quick hike up the hill before the duo came into view - a young Hylian woman with hair the same teal shade as her brother's, and a burly, fur-clad man Claria recognised at once. As did Ariadne, a massive grin spreading over her face as she sped up her pace and called out his name.

"Gao?" Claria hurried to the wildman's side. She should have guessed - who else would block the path of a wayward sledge? She wasn't sure whether to chide him or praise him. "Well this is quite the impromptu reunion," she commented instead. Glancing at the thick ice encasing his legs, she stepped aside to give him and Ariadne plenty of space. She could only guess he'd made a bid for escape in an attempt not to worry the siblings, making the use of magic necessary - classic Gao. As blood trickled down the back of his neck, Claria drew in a breath of frosty air through her teeth.

"That looks nasty. You're in luck though, Ariadne's learned a lot from her apprenticeship," she reassured him. Her friend would be all too eager to demonstrate said skills.


Zelkoa Pond. It came as no surprise to Alyson, considering that was where the twins' sledding misadventures usually ended up - sometimes even literally in the pond. She gave Ashley a comforting smile. "That's fine, take it easy. The doctor here will sort this out in no time."

With that, she jogged alongside the group to the inn where the medic fetched her bag - and a mug of steaming cocoa - before they made the trek up the hill. Alyson's eyes widened. As the sturdy ice around the patient's legs indicated, Mabel had needed to restrain him from making a getaway, and for good reason. Even from a distance, that looked like one gruesome wound, judging by the blood smeared over his forehead and down the bridge of his nose. At least, until Mabel dabbed the red streaks from his face, revealing there WAS no cut, not on his head anyway. Instead, the blood dripped down his neck.

"Hey there! Using ice in medical treatment is one thing, but that's quite something else," Alyson chuckled as she sprinted over, hoping to lighten the mood. Which the doctor was already doing a good job of, the enthusiasm on her face brightening further as she yelled out his name - Gao. Huh, it was a small kingdom after all. Not only did this girl know him, so did Claria. And now Alyson thought about it, she was certain she recognised his distinctive Bokoblin-styled face paint from somewhere herself. It took a moment to dawn on her - Castle Town, several months ago, where he'd picked up on her occupation as a Hudson Construction worker with just one look.

Now, for all his friendliness and good cheer, he bore the defeated look of a caged bear. Either he'd put up a struggle, or Mabel's ice magic had gotten away from her again. If the latter was the case, Alyson could relate, precision and control being notoriously difficult aspects of elemental magic. She wouldn't blame her fellow mage if she decided to quip back about that time she'd inadvertently blown several apples off of a tree, and one of them had conked Mabel on the head.

"Don't ya worry!" She crouched by Gao's frozen feet. "Construction's more my thing than demolition, but I'll get you out of there." Taking a hammer from her toolbelt, she started chipping away little chunks of the ice with small, precise movements. This wasn't exactly something she could rush, she couldn't get too vigorous about this lest the impacts or the splintering ice hurt him, but it would make it easier for him to wriggle free at least - while giving Ariadne time to treat his wound.

[El]

The blood of his enemies, eh? A bewildered laugh escaped Gao. It wasn't that he was unaccustomed to such talk, but to hear it from such a young, pretty lady? The violence of her humour took him off guard, though he supposed living through a Calamity or two was bound to toughen anyone's skin. She really was a bundle of surprises, wasn't she?

Nonetheless she acquiesced to his request and set about cleaning up his face. Though Gao had leaned down so that she'd have easier access, he flinched briefly at the unexpected touch of her other hand - a hand which delicately cupped his jaw. Firm, but compassionate. Swallowing back the urge to awkwardly clear his throat, the Sheikah carefully averted his eyes: pretending that it was for the sake of HER comfort while she laboured away in such intimate proximity, when in truth it was more for his own.

He wasn't used to this. None of it really. It had been a long, long time since anyone had successfully managed to wrangle him for his own good. Usually he didn't hang around long enough for people to care or try this hard. And on the occasion that he did cross paths with such a selflessly compassionate individual, he usually succeeded in evading the worst of their 'wrath'. Even those back in Lurelin he'd learned to keep at arm's length over the past few years, for various reasons of safety - his own included.

As his heart churned over this peculiar curdle of discomfort and contentment, the young woman's pleasant, doting touches sadly came to an end only for her to swiftly return his furs. She remarked on offering the item a mend - on top of everything else - but it was the very least of Gao's worries: honestly, he hadn't even thought about it until just then.

"You're very insistent about not letting me play the transient, cool hero." The Sheikah quipped with humoured chagrin. A split second too late his wonky smile slanted even steeper, belatedly realising his subtly 'cloaked' pun: the insulating heat of his returned attire staving off the winter frost. "Or at least allowing a man to run off with his tail between his legs so he can pretend his pride is still intact." He then admitted. The chuckle that followed it was warm with appeased defeat.

There were worse defeats to suffer though, he silently remarked, and it was a good job he was readily coming to terms with his embarrassment because it wasn't over yet. Nope. His withering pride had more cringing and tossing and turning to do, deep in the pits of his twisting stomach when he realised that the faces that were ascending the hill weren't just any ol' strangers. It wasn't just ONE familiar face either. It wasn't even two. Nope. Even the third he recognised! Whatever deity he had angered they were certainly set on putting him in his place. Cringing through a firm-lipped smile, Gao felt the shame begin to burn at his ears.

It was tough to stay stuck in the mires of a good old fashioned sulk when Ariadne came charging at him with such blatant excitement however. He honestly hadn't expected such an exuberant greeting after all this time - he wouldn't have blamed her for forgetting him entirely really - and yet her joy was infectious. Gao's smile deepened into something more sincere.

"That looks nasty." Claria winced after taking in his-... state. In comparison she was holding up well, her usual stern and stalwart nature appearing to have mellowed somewhat amidst the festive atmosphere downhill. ...The festival he'd pulled her from. Eugh. She especially deserved a break: she never seemed to take enough of them. "You're in luck though, Ariadne's learned a lot from her apprenticeship."

"Oh I'm sure it looks worse than it actually is." The scholar assured with a flippant laugh and a wave of a hand. The wrong hand. It was always the wrong hand. Cringing, he coiled back up the bloodied fist and tucked it back at his side. "Blood always makes things look very dramatic, even without our scenic backdrop to contrast against.

"Regardless-" He continued, clearing his throat as he turned to her charge, "I'm happy to be your latest patient, Miss Ariadne! ......Or maybe I shouldn't say that sort of thing to a doctor, thinking about it." A flinch of stinging memories assailed him then; for all the great work those of her ilk did in healing folks, they sure knew how to be fierce when you said or did something out of line. Honestly, sometimes Gao half-feared doctors more than he did a hangry Lynel.

"I like the new look though," He remarked, noting the shift in her aesthetic from the last - and first - time they'd met. It was clear she was looking more comfortable and confident in herself: even added in a few fresh piercings! "It suits you well."

It was about that time, amidst all this genial chatter, when Gao remembered he was still literally frozen in place. The third familiar face - a Hudson lass, wasn't it? From back in Castle Town? - cracked a joke at his fresh pair of boots before setting to work in actually cracking them open. His immediate reaction was gratitude. ...Which was then briefly replaced by confusion. A quick glance up in the colourful mage's direction quickly clued him in on what he needed to know though.

Ah. Aha. She couldn't - currently? EVER?! - actually reverse her magic, could she...?

"Much appreciated, Miss." Gao thanked, down at the zealous worker already crouched at his feet. It was true - had always been true - but he felt the weight of his gratitude with a tenfold sincerity now that the severity of his situation had kicked in. Yet, despite it all, another rumbling laugh danced in his throat. "If there's anything I can do to make my Rescue Squad's work any easier, let me know." That Ashley fellow had really collected the capable crowd, hadn't he?

------

Under Ciel's doting nursing, Ashley had quickly found his feet. She noted how a stain of shame had coloured his cheeks, no sooner than his own fleeting flushed exertion had departed. She drew back, just a touch, so as to not smother him with her mothering, and in those same moments their company fled to attend to the true emergency.

So he was uncomfortable around blood? ...For a second too long Ciel pondered how much that must've hindered his earlier career. Surely there had been more than just one errant prick of a needle, no? ...Unless it was more that VAST quantities of blood unsettled him. Oh dear. That didn't bode well for the man on the mountain did it?

...

Oh, nevermind, she didn't care enough about him.

The excitement of a stranger and his dramatic tales aside, making sure her favoured artist rediscovered his comfort was of far greater concern to her. Quickly, Ciel regretted pulling away. So she immediately remedied that mistake: grasping his upper arm in both of hers so she could snuggle up affectionately against his shoulder. Alas, she had to spare a hand in order to 'speak'!

Come, darling!
Let us grab a warming drink,
And watch the rest of this grand show.

Indeed it'd be a horrid shame to miss much more of it! Even without her adorable brother taking part, there was much to admire and ogle at: even the famous King Sidon himself had just unveiled a masterpiece! It sounded like the judging was soon to commence too, and she had to hear how that'd go now that she wasn't needed elsewhere.

...Unless you'd prefer somewhere quieter?

Ciel quickly penned in addition, the glowing inquiry hovering in legible distance before them while she walked Ashley outside the arena of attention. It took a little more work to keep the text floating as so - moving it in rhythm with their own strides - but it was worth the extra effort.

[Emily]

Seeing Gao had really taken her back. The last time Ariadne had seen the monster researcher, she had only just set out from home, excited about getting to her apprenticeship in the Domain, but frustrated at every turn by her father's overbearing attitude. She had said some things she was embarrassed about, had certainly put herself into unnecessary danger a time or two, and had probably stressed Gao and the shaman guy... unfortunately she didn't remember his name, but she had probably stressed them both out quite a lot. Once she'd started travelling with Claria, things had calmed down quite a lot.

Gao certainly seemed as verbose as he had been before, which was nice to see. She had often hoped he was doing well. "Blood always makes things look very dramatic, even without our scenic backdrop to contrast against. Regardless- I'm happy to be your latest patient, Miss Ariadne! ......Or maybe I shouldn't say that sort of thing to a doctor, thinking about it."

She laughed, circling around behind him to sit her bag on the snow and get a good look at the wound in question. Sure enough, while it was a pretty rough laceration, somewhat wet from melted snow and dirty - like all of his clothes- no doubt from falling on the ground, it wasn't anything life-threatening. "Fair point. I know we're supposed to hope we never see each other in a professional context like this, but I'm happy to see you. It's been a few months, hasn't it?"

As she spoke, Ariadne retrieved a small cloth and a bottle of alcohol from her bag. This would certainly sting, but if she kept talking to him, he would be much less likely to notice when it happened. Fortunately, he made it easier for her. "I like the new look though, it suits you well."

"Thanks so much, I can't imagine where I got inspiration from." She soaked part of the cloth with alcohol from the bottle. "Deepest apologies, this will sting." As she dabbed at the area to remove the blood and any contaminants from the wound, she kept talking. "I don't suppose you ever saw whatsisname, the guy who was stuck in the spooky tree, again? We didn't when we went east."

There it was, a bit too small to be a gash but a bit too large to be called a cut. She never knew how to refer to these things, but then again it wasn't necessary when you weren't in a proper hospital environment. There would be no paperwork over this visit. As it was cleaned, the wound oozed a little more blood, but was showing signs of slowing down even now. That was good.

She hovered a hand over it, took a breath, closed her eyes, and released it. Reaching out to the lessons she'd learned from her teachers, Ariadne pushed her willpower into the wound, mentally picturing the torn skin and capillaries. The wound wasn't deep enough to hit any major arteries or veins, and should be an easy fix. Those gathered would see a slight glow between Ariadne's hand and Gao's wound, but if they had been able to see through it they would notice strands of skin stitching themselves back together, a learned understanding of anatomy and physiology coming together with the magic basics she had picked up from the Zora to create healing magic.

Ariadne pulled back, placing a hand on the back of her own neck, and picked up her bag. "There we go, all better!"

[Rex Draco]

Malon seemed quite comfortable amidst his conversation with the jittery Goron. In fact all of the times the sand-scaled Zora had come across the frosty albatross was in the company of a small group, chirping away as if it were a vice. Sin had a strict upbringing that strongly pushed their youth away from such things. It was believed that even the smallest vice had the power to ruin a prosperous man's life. Though the ardents to the arts of Ke Húm hadn't much in the way of material wealth, they had a fountain of ancient knowledge that decorated their halls with a rich history. He has heard stories concerning the First Sword that had nearly ended the cult before It was able to spread due to his attachment to alcohol and the beds of the ladies of the night.

Malon's vice, from what Sin has seen, was attention. Wherever the bird went they seemed to easily draw the attention of Others. And while such a skill could be useful, having too much focus on the self could become a detriment. At least that's how Sin had been taught. The art of Ke Húm required humility so the Zora was never on to brag or show off intentionally. His only goal was to reach — Oh, look, mushroom. As soon as Malon presented the mushroom skewer the Zora did not take a moment's hesitation and took a bite of the steamy, salty snack! In the stead of taking hold of the stick he lowered himself to the bird's height and took a bite straight off the skewer!

"Ho?" He chewed, and chewed some more. "These are good." Was that what this meat was called? Rocks? "The Rock meat too."

It was much easier to bite into the mushrooms, but they were soft and a bit spongy! As for the sample, it was far from forgotten. After swallowing his bite of mushroom he took a chunk out of the smaller sample as if he was comparing the gourmet bits of meat-like treats. Yes, yes. This was perfect. He looked up towards Micah, the Zora focusing his gaze deep within the Goron's.

"I am going to climb the mountain. How many of these can I buy with this?" He clapped down a paltry sum of rupee, likely all that remained to his name. "As many of your tough meats." They weren't quite meat, but in a way he wasn't incorrect either. "I am going to attempt to climb to the top of the mountain as tribute to Naydra and these will serve as a good offering." They were, after all, delicious.

[Chaosome]

Malon beamed brightly and withdrew a quill and some parchment from a pocket of his cloak, quickly jotting down a couple of different recipes he'd learned over time, including one for a nice, soft airy bread with a crisp and golden crust that was topped with herbs, oil, tomatoes, garlic, and cheese. "Some of them might sound a little bit intimidating, but once you get the hang of them, they're not too bad." he'd say, sliding the paper over to Micah. "Onions, garlic, some kinds of squash are best cured if you're going to store them for long periods. While for meats and fish it's for both imparting flavour and preserving, for veggie's it's more about the latter."

Nodding he'd glance over and blink as Sin leaned down and bit the mushrooms from the skewer rather than just. Take them. 'He's one odd guppy...' the bird thought to himself as he let out a little chuckle, moving the now empty and bite marked skewer into his other wing so the fish had better access to the rest. "That's a pretty long climb, be sure to pack enough warm close and spicy foods to keep you toasty. Don't wanna end up a Zorasicle." Malon offered before turning his attention to Micah again. "I'll cover whatever his rupees don't. Tis the season after all."