(no subject)

[fathoming]

[1: Video]

[Naija is blurry with darkness. The ice on the lake is beautiful, thick and shining to bursting with light that looks like it'll drip into the water at any moment, droplets sinking bright into the depths. But the light is mostly trapped there. Only when she swims up close to it can you really make out her face. She's a little gaunt looking. She sighs.]

Can anyone help me get out of here? The ice has frozen too thick for me to blast through.

[She's humiliated. She's been trying to get through for days like a true metroidvania protagonist, missing her classes.]

[2: Action]

[When they finally fish (har har) her out of there, she looks cold and hungry. Which is not all that surprising, given that she's still wearing the glorified bathing suit that is her normal clothes. She clings to her good samaritan, trying to pull as much body heat from them as possible.]

Comments

[fathoming]

[Grody. Anyway, Naija shakes her head.]

It was only a few days. It's so annoying though...This never happened in my home waters.

[Which has to do with the different freezing points of salt and fresh water.]

I suppose we should both go inside.

[She's not too thrilled about going inside, where it's all dry. But she can always take a bunch of showers. And she should make sure he doesn't faint getting back, at least.]

[thirdarrow]

Yes. There is hot water in the staff kitchen, I can fix up something for you in the meantime.

[ With that, he draws some water from the air and lowers it over Naija's head. The orb is smaller than usual, owing to his shaky concentration, but at least it worked. ]

Shall we?

[fathoming]

You needn't worry about me.

[She gladly sticks her head in though and takes him by the arm, partially to steady him and partially to leach off his body heat.]

[thirdarrow]

[ It's in his nature to worry. He's a doctor.

They make it indoors without much mishap, and the warmth is much needed. ]

I suppose you haven't had anything to eat, had you? What do you usually consume?

[fathoming]

There is very little I won't eat. I like soup, if you have it.

[Her stomach grumbles resonantly, a side effect of her powers.]

Are you alright?

[thirdarrow]

[ There is bound to be some soup in the staff kitchen. If not, he could get out some of the instant canned stuff that he bought the last time he was in town.

He shakes his head a little at her inquiry. ]

Yes. I am. It will wear off in a while.

[fathoming]

If you say so. Please do not faint.

[It seemed the caretaker was himself in need of care. She smiled, grateful for being rescued, and squeezed his shoulder.]

Tell me where the food is and let me make it.

[thirdarrow]

[ As a surgeon, he has the concentration and mental will to keep alert for long periods of time - but psychic backlash from his powers can't be shaken off that easily. He needs to avoid using hydrokinesis for a while, or he might lose control of it.

They arrive at the kitchen without much mishap - he makes a mental note to clean up all the water that Naija has been dripping in the hallways. ]

Only canned things for now, I'm afraid. Unless you're partial to making the soup from scratch?

[fathoming]

[She alas has no idea of the inconvienence she causes.]

I'm quite good at making soup from scratch. Please, rest. It's the least I can do for you getting me out of there.

[She goes through the cabinets with acquisitive glee and if not stopped will soon have the ingredients for a simple, hearty stock laid out.]

[thirdarrow]

[ He cannot argue with her in this case, then. It may also make her feel bad if he insisted on doing everything. ]

Alright. Call me if you need help.

[ He settles himself on one of the benches after pouring out some tea. If something liquid spills, he would catch it with his mind and return it to its proper container, but otherwise he does not interfere. ]

This is my explanation for how she can cook ingredients she stores in her pack in game underwater

[fathoming]

[She picked the garlic up, then remembered how messy things could get on land and put it in a metal salad bowl instead. The rest of the ingredients she put in there too, then picked the bowl up and leaned in to it. There was a haunting note, clear and resonant. The stock ingredients were effectively chopped by her vibration, dissolving into little crumbs. The bowl continued to ring for a few seconds after, gradually dying away. That was all transferred to a sieve, which was placed in a pot set to boil. She then hunted for ingredients, placing them in the same metal bowl, to be chopped in the same way.]

I've always liked cooking. If you're inventive enough you can have a different meal almost every day no matter how boring the ingredients are.

it's a very cool explanation!

[thirdarrow]

[ He watches Naija work her skill, intrigued. Using vibrations to shred items is something also used in medical fields, but applying it to cooking is something he has not yet considered. Not to mention that her singing is beautiful, too. ]

Yes. And food is what keeps us healthy, too. It's important to know how to tailor your diet, and it lets us experiment a little.

[ He himself is a vegetarian with a few allergies, so he's learned that early on. ]