Winter Wonderland [Event]

[voidtreckermods]

”Good Morning passengers. Today is day Twenty Four of the month of Catfish. You may wish to look out of the window.”

As passengers wake in their beds they will indeed notice something different about the light. If they look out of the window, instead of the ever changing void they will see white slopes of mountains, flakes of snow alling down around them and frost covered trees zipping past the windows. If they glance at the ICP on the table they will see a message.

Investigating the dressing cart they will find the drawers and cupboards unlocked once again. However, instead of the fantasy-esque clothing of world #25768 they will find thick winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. There are heavy fur lined boots and even some ice skates.

Entering the garden carriage they will see that the glass dome of the roof has opened, leaving the carriage exposed to a bright blue sky. Any nonsense of the past few weeks has vanished, leaving the carriage pristine. Not that that is easy to notice as it is covered in a thick layer of snow. The paths are clearer, a light dusting of snow but easy to talk through. Around the paths the drifts are high, perfect for snowman building or a snowball fight.

The streams and the pond in the centre are solid ice. Anyone brave enough to try to find the ice holds their weight for ice skating.

And the ICP message was correct. There is hot chocolate in the stores.

Comments

[marriedanidiot]

She bobs a polite curtsy. "A star shines on the hour of our meeting, Ple Two. I am Nerdanel."

[pleple]

That's... poetic. "Nerdanel. A pleasure."

[marriedanidiot]

She smiles and gestures.

"Well then! Shall we brave the ice? I don't see skates, but perhaps we can find some in the dressing cart."

[pleple]

"Lead the way?" ...so that you can help her put them on?

[marriedanidiot]

"Of course!" She'll help Ple select a pair that fit, and show her how to tie them so as to be firm, but not too tight.

"Alright, ready to try? I warn again, is has been a long time since I did this myself!"

[pleple]

Ple Two can normally dress herself without trouble, but her hands are, of course, a bit small. Like the rest of her.

"I'll probably feel better that way anyways." Her purpose revealed.

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel laughs merrily.

"Well then! We can fall over together. Shall we?"

Nerdanel's balance is normally impeccable. But of course, ice is sliperry, and they are on skates. She fully excepts there to be at least one fall.

[pleple]

"The best way to fall." Ple Two follows along, looking out at the ice. It's... ice, and they are wearing knives on their feet to make a mockery of the forces of nature.

Wonderful.

[marriedanidiot]

They wobble their way slowly onto the ice.

"From memory... try not to lift your foot too far, only push." Nerdanel is wobbling alarmingly but has yet to fall. Yet.

[pleple]

Ple Two is not used to not being in control, and it takes a lot of willpower to not freak out the moment one foot decides to drift even slightly too far - so just sort of gently drifts, then stops on the ice.

"...is it bad if I stop?"

[marriedanidiot]

"I don't think so?"

She hasn't fallen yet, so Nerdanel hestitantly tries to push off, only to stop when she wobbles alarmingly.

"Oh dear" She laughs. "This is much harder than I remember."

[pleple]

A little slow turn of her leg should be fine, then - but neither of them are doing a very good job of this, and she's starting to feel a little embarrassed. "It's not entirely... intuitive..."

[marriedanidiot]

"It is not." Nerdanel agrees, making sure to keep her weight forward as she takes a half step and manages to glide a little.

"But... I think... if we take it... slow...."

[pleple]

A little alternating doesn't... get her gliding at all like she'd expected, and it's getting frustrating. She just wants to go! This shouldn't be so hard! "Stupid..."

Muttering under her breath, she swings her leg for a little more motion, which just immediately leads to her foot flying out from under her - arms pinwheeling through the air, she yelps and falls right onto her rear, sliding gently.

[marriedanidiot]

"Oh!" Nerdanel gasps, and makes the fatal mistake of reaching for Ple2, resulting in her overbalancing and falling herself, although she manages to catch herself on her hands.

"Oh dear." She laughs wryly. "You are not hurt?"

[pleple]

"...no." She covers her face and sighs. "I hope not too many people are watching." This is dumb. She can't give up, but this feels so silly.

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel shuffles over awkwardly and offers her a hand up.

"I think everyone else is either having too much fun to notice or in equal strife! Here. Let's try again. Maybe if we hold on to each other?"

[pleple]

"I-I hope so." She needs to look cool to almost everyone still! A motherly woman like Nerdanel is probably good at keeping secrets.

Ple Two takes the offered hand.

[marriedanidiot]

"Let's see if I can manage to pull you up without us both falling! On three, if you push, I'll pull. Ready? One... two..."

[pleple]

"I'm ready... ...three!" Ple Two gives herself a little push up - and hopefully doesn't topple Nerdanel on the way.

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel braces herself - all those long-years working with stone and steel have made her strong, but ice is treacherous, as she knows well. Still - on three she pulls, and Ple Two pushes and they wobble to their feet together, clinging, and Nerdanel laughs.

"There!"

[pleple]

That's a fair bit of strength in those hands, those arms - it's reassuring as it helps her up and Ple Two ends up quite steady on the ice again, after a moment.

"...better. Much better." She takes her time adjusting her footing. "...thank you."

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel adjusts as well, slowly letting go once both of them seem to be stable.

"You're welcome. Shall we try again?"

[pleple]

"That... is how one learns, isn't it?" Trying and failing, and trying and failing... this is not a skill that was 'programmed' into her, after all.

[marriedanidiot]

"One step at a time." She agrees and starts to shift her feet again, slowly. Half-steps as she pushes off, keeping her weight forwards.