Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

Riona Cousland | OTA

[bryces_pup]

A. Retail Therapy


[Time to stock up. With no cook on board anymore, the meals have gotten a bit lackluster. The lure of fresh food and meals served to her entice Riona out of her holed up misery and out onto the planet. Her appearance is half-assed at best, but at least she's out and about.

The world reminds her of home. Well, more than the last two stops did, anyway. The cottages and lack of technology are familiar. The merchants hollering out their wares, the scent of burning candles, the sad lack of running water... it screams so much of Thedas. Despite her state of mind, she finds herself relaxing more as she wanders the streets, going from stall to stall. She'll pick up some foodstuffs, but damn if she isn't also looking at some clothes and baubles.

So one will find her, either with a basket of food or perhaps with some dresses and other clothes slung over her arm. However, despite the very friendly and open nature of the culture, she'll likely have to be approached to strike up a conversation. The young queen has been far more withdrawn and quiet as of late, and it only seems to worsen.]



B. Beach Bum

[Ocean.

It's one of the first places she visits. The rocky shores are so similar to the ones found north of Highever. Though the landscape and world are totally different, if she closes her eyes and pretends, she'll be back home.

Maker, but she feels so tired. And she knows it shows.

Her toes dig into the sand as she steps up towards the water line. The waves lap at her feet. The water is surprisingly warm; she's used to the more bitter temperatures of the Waking Sea. Still, it feels the same and smells the same. Arms wrapped around her, she stands there silently, letting the water soak her feet and let the noise of the surf drown out everything.]



C. A Hesitant Archer

[Riona mentally admits her shame to how long it's been since she'd held a bow and arrow.

But it's hard to hunt game any other way. Her mother's lessons fight being brought back into memory; it's been years, after all, and she always had more skill with a sword. So, she swallows her pride and does a bit of practicing out in the forest. After a day or two of that, she goes out and hunts in return for payment.

Perhaps one will discover her practicing, her shots growing more sure with each passing hour as it finally comes back to her. Or maybe even out in the wilderness, hunting elusive game. Just watch out for whizzing arrows.]


D. Wanderlust

[The road calls to her still. The time spent trapped on a ship has brought it back in full force, so Riona sets out and about, exploring the forest and that volcano. She hopes it'll help with her mood. And great things can be gained when one explores with no intention in mind. Feel free to join her, though again, don't be surprised if she's less chatty than usual.]



E. Wildcard

[For everything else. The fluff slugs, the carnival, or anything else, have at it!]

c.

[summerschild]

[Bran watches her from a few yards away, his eyes wide with admiration and something close to want - it's been so long since he was able to hold a bow, atop his beloved horse. Dancer lies dead in the ruins of Winterfell, and he imagines that his bow burned as well. But watching Riona, he's taken right back to the day Robb sat him atop his new saddle, and gave him back his freedom.]

You're a good archer.

[bryces_pup]

[The soft voice of Bran surprises her. She almost drops her arrow in surprise, not having heard him approach. She turns and when she sees him, offers a small smile.]

Thank you. It's been quite some time since I used one. My mother would chastise me if she were here to see me.

[summerschild]

Your mother taught you?

[Bran looks impressed by this.]

[bryces_pup]

She did. My father taught me how to use a sword and shield. I spent more time on that than my other lessons, and my mother used to quite indignant about it. So, I told her I would learn how to use a bow and arrow as well, like her. [her lips quirk to the side.] The offer placated her a bit.

Ocean

[apurrstate]

[He'd decided on a walk along the beach himself. It was getting later in the day and he'd been drawn in by the peacefulness of it.

The corner of his mouth twitched up as he remembered a blase comment made to Jon about how he'd rather be lounging on a beach than healing the ungrateful masses as they'd made their way to the Iskaulit. Now here he was, helping the health of the fairly grateful masses and even sort of enjoying himself.

Maker save him from himself.

Riona cast a familiar and lonely figure against the back-drop of the ocean and it tore through Anders' thoughts. His heart hurt to see her. It didn't take a healer to see her pain and he still cared a great deal for her. He couldn't leave her like that.

Anders approached his commander quietly, reaching into a small bag he'd gotten to replace the fact his new clothes didn't have the pockets his robes did, and pulled out a delicately wrapped sweet bun. As he came to her side, he held the bun out to her but didn't reach for her so she wouldn't startle too badly if she hadn't noticed his approach.]

You look like you could use a little company.

[If she looked at him, she might notice the small orange kitten perched on his shoulder that seemed to be amusing itself with a feather Anders had tied to his shoulder.]

[bryces_pup]

[The crunch of his feet in the sand alerts her when he draws near. Blinking, she looks away from the ocean and towards him, offering a tired smile.]

I suppose. It certainly can't hurt.

[She takes the sweet bun with a nod of thanks, holding it in her hands for the moment, not yet wanting to take a bite.

And of course she notices the cat. An eyebrow raises at the sight.]

Ser Pounce-a-lot's squire?

[apurrstate]

[Anders beams like the sun has com out and plucks the kitten off his shoulder to hold up. He couldn't be more proud.]

Not a squire, no, the genuine artifact. Commander, I present to you your most adorable recruit, Ser-Pounce-a-lot!

[He turns the kitten to face him and bumps noses with the kitten who playfully bats at the hair in his face.]

Aren't you the cutest little Warden-kitty? Yes you are!

[He's not even embarrassed, he just looks back to her like it was normal.]

It was the strangest thing, I was holding hands with Captain Kirk at a tree and then I had a kitten in my pocket. Apparently, what they say about that thing is true.

[bryces_pup]

[Well, there was no denying he was pretty damn cute.]

Oh, I don't know. I think Oghren would give him a run for his money. [Said dryly. And she's just... not gonna comment on the baby-talk to the kitty]

Then that thing is being kinder to us than Atroma's ever been. Hmm.

[She'd heard the rumors about this tree, like so many others here had. With proof in front of her now, perhaps it's time she seriously consider grabbing Leliana or a shipmate and taking a trip to it. What it could give her, she didn't know, but she had to try.]

I'm happy for you. He seems a little sweet thing. You must have missed him terribly. [Her words echo her own pain and what she misses, but she doubts a tree will be able to fix any of that.]

B

[save_the_souls]

[Allen had also been at the beach, practicing his fishing skills to make sure they hadn't gotten too rusty from the few times he done it. Luckily for him, he finally managed to catch enough for dinner for the crew. Now, it's a matter of cooking it. Which...begs one question.]

[So while he starts trying to build a fire, he'll consult Riona]

Hey Riona! Do you know if you take the scales off before or after you cook the fish?

[They're screwed.]

[bryces_pup]

[...Allen the fuck are you doing]

Er, before. And you need to de-bone the fish before you cook it.

[To be fair, she only knows this because of her time spent on the road. Pre-Blight? She'd have hardly known herself.]

[save_the_souls]

[Making you dinner!!!]

Oh! Right! Of course I'd de-bone it...!

[........From his tone, he may be trying to remember how the hell you're supposed to de-bone an animal]

[bryces_pup]

...

[Allen]

Mmmhmm. And you have the proper knife to do so I take it?

[She suspects she knows the answer.]

beach!

[scrubscrub]

Miss Riona, Miss Riona!!

[DID YOU EXPECT COMPANY?!

Well, you're getting it! Koala rushes over happily, holding what appears to be the closest thing to a crab creature that this world has; don't worry, it's probably okay! Its claws are safely snapping away from her!]

Look — there's so many living things here!

And the ocean isn't sick; isn't it wonderful??

[bryces_pup]

[Riona almost jumps, having been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Koala coming over.

She fixes a smile in place and looks over at her - and immediately her eyes widen a bit at the creature the little girl is holding.]

Careful with that, Koala. He looks a bit miffed.

[She tilts her head.]

A sick ocean? Is that what you have back home?

[scrubscrub]

Ah, I suppose I would be a bit miffed, too.

[She very carefully puts the creature back down toward the waters, muttering little earnest apologies. Really, she just wanted to show Miss Riona the wildlife! I come in peace!]

My ocean wasn't sick, no. But the ocean on the, um, the toxic moon before - it wasn't very fun to wander the beaches there.

[bryces_pup]

[And Miss Riona does not want poor Koala's fingers to get pinched, or worse.]

Ah, that's right. The place was rather sickly and fetid. I hope whatever was done to their machines will help the poor place.

[She glances at the ocean, and listens to the waves for a moment.] Does it make you a little homesick, too?

[steeledskin]

[ -- they happen to be looking at dresses at the same time. one shop next to the other, and when they both depart their respective doorways their paths practically cross. sansa rather likes riona, and so she's quick to smile. quick to greet. ]

-- Have you found anything you like? [ her own arms are empty. ]

[bryces_pup]

[Despite her own mental state, Riona can't help but smile back. She's certainly seen plenty of Sansa during their time between worlds, but there's a novelty to running into her outside, on the planet.]

Not quite. I never really regarded myself as having too much of a particular taste, but the clothes here seem too plain, even for me. I take it you've had no luck either?

[steeledskin]

[ they are too common, she thinks. but she doesn't say it. moons and moons among the fleet have taught her how unwelcome those comments can be -- that people look at her like she's rude when she refers to the stark delineation between high-born and low-born.

but riona gives her a patch of earth upon which she might frame her opinion. ] None. I haven't found a scrap of silk. Or jacquard.

[bryces_pup]

To be expected I suppose, considering their environment and wealth. Or lack thereof.

[A few dresses would have been nice, but she'll have to settle for just picking up some more tunics and breeches, it seems.]

What are two ladies to do which such a small selection? It's almost a travesty. [She teases purely; they are the outsiders here.]

c.

[nugqueen]

[Leliana watches her practicing and can't help but make a soft 'tsk' sound when she sees some minor errors. Hey she is a bard, alright and Archery is kind of her bread and butter.]

Relax your shoulders your you'll pull a muscle. You're trying to get the arrow to move with you.

[She knows Riona knows what she's doing and she knows that she's rusty, but she likes being able to pick on her a little bit.]

[bryces_pup]

[The bard gets a half-hearted glare from the queen. She's tempted to send an arrow flying over Leliana's head for good measure, but decides against it. Her luck's been rotten lately; the last thing she needs is to somehow kill her friend by accident.]

You sound like my mother.

[Don't mind her crankiness, Lels.]

[nugqueen]

I wonder if that's a compliment or not.

[Then again she does have that 'mother' like tone on occasion. She'd never get any work done otherwise.]

What brought on the need to practice? Feeling a bit rusty?

[bryces_pup]

Depends on the circumstances.

[In this case... not so much.]

You could say that. I wanted to try hunting for the locals in exchange for payment, since they don't use the coin the fleet uses. But that's hard to do with a sword.