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+---- Thread: when you're in a hurricane (/showthread.php?tid=11306)
when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-11-2025
Everest arrives at the clinic a few minutes before three.
It’s not nerves that have him early—just habit. (Well. Not only habit.) He stands just across the lane, near the same awning as before, his shoulder leaned gently against the post and his satchel slung crosswise across his chest. This one’s lighter than last time. No wine, no blanket. Just a few carefully chosen snacks—dried mango, sugared nuts, and two neatly stacked oat-and-honey bars wrapped in waxed paper.
The day is warm but not oppressive, the coastal breeze a little softer than usual. He’s dressed in short sleeves this time, loose and linen again, with cuffed pants that keep clear of the dust. His fingers drum lightly against the canvas of his satchel in quiet, even intervals—two taps, pause. Two taps, pause.
They’re meant to visit the market today. It’s not an errand, more a reconnaissance mission for his woodworking interest, to touch and study the different species of wood on offer. He’s brought a small leather notebook and a carpenter’s pencil tucked into the spine; he’ll record notes on texture, weight, grain pattern, and—where possible—origin.
When the clinic door finally opens, his gaze flicks up immediately, the taps stopping. His lips curve, subtle but steady. [say]"Hi,"[/say] he says softly, like it’s just for her. [say]"I brought snacks. And a notebook."[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
[say]"Hi,"[/say] Isla chimes brightly as she slips out of the clinic doors, waving goodbye to those left inside and crossing the street to where Ever stands beneath the awning. [say]"Very thoughtful of you. I brought water in case we get too hot standing in the sun, and myself."[/say] Smiling and patting her own small satchel, the Remedy doesn't wait this time before she takes another half step closer and leans up to press a gentle kiss to Ever's cheek.
[say]"You look very dapper,"[/say] she compliments with a smile as she steps back again. For her part, today her golden hair has been braided over her shoulder, and she wears a wide straw hat to accompany her white and floral sundress. [say]"Do you have any stalls or shops in particular that you know you'd like to visit? I made a quick list yesterday in passing by one of the larger marketplaces, but I assumed you would have your own thoughts as well."[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
Everest’s cheek colours beneath the brush of her lips, but he doesn’t flinch. In fact, his hand—still hovering, palm-up—briefly curls around hers once she steps back, grounding himself in the moment like a skyship checking in before takeoff. [say]"Thank you,"[/say] he murmurs, casting a glance downward as if to double-check what he’s wearing before glancing back at her.
He pauses when he fully takes her in—her dress, her braid, the sunlit curve of her hat. A quiet, unspoken smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. [say]"You’re very thoroughly prepared,"[/say] he notes. [say]"And you look like the personification of a botanical field sketch. Mid-bloom."[/say] Which was to say, beautiful.
Then, as if to reset the pace, he carefully releases her hand and retrieves his notebook from the satchel, tucking it under one arm as they begin walking. [say]"There’s a vendor three rows north of the spice aisle who sells offcuts from boat repairs. Mostly Torchline native hardwoods—dense grain, water-worn."[/say] His steps are slow and even beside hers, careful to match pace without needing to watch her feet. [say]"I also want to look at some of the cedar being brought in from the Greatwood. For contrast. I thought we could note touch response, scent, pliability. And maybe rate them one to ten?"[/say]
A brief glance her way—wry, but hopeful. [say]"Unless you think a letter scale would be more helpful?[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
Her cheeks rounding with the force of her smile, Isla gently squeezes Ever's fingers as his hand curls around hers, glancing fleeting down at her own outfit for good measure. [say]"Thank you. It's the company as much as the dress that makes me feel in bloom though, I assure you."[/say] Dropping his hand and stepping back to walk at his pace, she peers curiously at the notebook he produces, wondering whether she ought to take out the folded parchment with her list on it as well.
But Ever already remarks on two of the places she'd written down, and she nods readily. [say]"If you'd like something of a wildcard,"[/say] she adds with a soft chuckle, [say]"there's also a stall that sells driftwood. I thought you could take a look at the end to see how it compares to the others we see."[/say]
And as for the scale, Isla shakes her head instantly at the letter scale. [say]"One to ten is infinitely better,"[/say] she informs him. [say]"That way you can create a median score if needed. And graph out the differences - one wood may be better for one purpose than another, after all."[/say] And no, not even Isla knew she had such strong opinions about numerical scales until now.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
Everest casts her a quick, sidelong look at the comment about feeling in bloom, and for a moment his expression stutters—like a skipped frame in a projection reel—before smoothing into something quietly touched. [say]"That’s...noted,[/say]" he says, voice low with a trace of warmth he doesn’t try to hide. He adjusts his satchel again, more to give his fingers something to do, which won't derail their afternoon completely, than from discomfort.
The mention of driftwood earns a soft hum of consideration. [say]"That’s actually...very intriguing,"[/say] he admits, shifting the notebook slightly so he can jot driftwood into the margin. [say]"It’s already been stress-tested by water and time. Could be useful to study structural fatigue patterns, or how grain density holds after long exposure."[/say] He glances her way again, then down to her sandals as they avoid a knot of stones in the path. [say]"And I can't deny that a part of me,"[/say] he doesn't necessarily say which part, [say]"likes the idea quite a bit."[/say]
Her firm dismissal of the letter scale makes his mouth twitch in approval. [say]"Agreed. Letter scales lack nuance and create arbitrary thresholds. A nine-point spread with a median option gives us stronger data integrity."[/say] A pause. [say]"I may have made laminated scoring cards."[/say] He doesn’t offer to show them. Yet.
Instead, he turns slightly, offering his elbow in a way that’s both polite and slightly tentative. [say]"Shall we start with the Torchline hardwoods?"[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
[say]"I'm glad to hear it."[/say] Isla says with honest warmth, pleased that her suggestion has landed well given that Ever has already self-confessed to having strong instincts when it comes to this new shift of his. And strong instincts can easily translate to strong feelings, in her experience. [say]"Perhaps once you've made your initial observations, we can get a selection of driftwood to compare. Or we can even make our own - that way you can see if there's a difference between, say, cedar that becomes driftwood, to something like pine when it's subject to those conditions."[/say]
Bouncing her eyebrows in approval as he confirms the correct stance on numerical scales, Isla can't help but let a smile sneak across her face, all too willingly linking her arm with Ever's. [say]"Laminated scoring cards,"[/say] she whispers, as if sharing a secret. [say]"You're going to make a girl swoon, Ever."[/say] Giving his arm an affectionate squeeze, she nods and gestures towards where she'd noticed the relevant store the prior afternoon.
Not even a single joke about one particular hardwood that's in Torchline that she'd like to start with. Sigh.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
Everest’s ears go faintly pink at the mention of swooning—at least, he thinks she’s teasing, but the affectionate squeeze that follows seems to neutralize any sting of embarrassment, converting it neatly into a quiet, contented hum. He adjusts their pace so it matches hers exactly, even shifting slightly so their joined arms don’t jostle too much as they walk.
[say]"Controlled degradation comparison,"[/say] he murmurs thoughtfully, as if Isla’s driftwood hypothesis is a riddle he’d like to sit with for a week. [say]"Yes. I’d like to try that. Maybe even do a longitudinal test—place a few samples at different water depths, see how mineral saturation and sun exposure affect them over time."[/say] He pauses, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. [say]"You wouldn’t happen to have a tide chart in that satchel, would you?"[/say] He's only half kidding.
When she gestures toward the storefront, Ever turns neatly with her, letting his gaze sweep the displays outside—thick, sun-warmed cuts of cedar, slices of ironwood stacked like books, polished samples of lighter, decorative woods with rippling grain.
[say]"To be polite, normally I’d ask where you’d like to begin,"[/say] he says, drawing her a half-step closer so she can get a better look, [say]"but this is supposed to be research. So I’ll say...let’s start with the cedar. Just to eliminate early bias."[/say]
His voice lowers as he adds, almost conspiratorially, [SAY]"Do you know what it's like to...really want to sink your teeth into something?"[/say] As an ancient, he had the idea she might.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
[say]"Mm, we could set it up on the shore near to the Northaven,"[/say] she suggests. [say]"Only because that stretch of beach sees less activity from ships than other places we might try. There would be less chance of a mishap with an anchor or rope."[/say] Smiling up at Ever at his question, however serious it might have been, Isla can only softly shake her head. [say]"Afraid I left that one at home. However, I'm sure one of these stalls might have one you can pick up on our travels."[/say] Especially the ones related to boat repair, sailing and other nautical skillsets.
Stepping up to the storefront with Ever and peering at the burnished colours of the stacked wood and the smell of sawdust in the air, while she has no idea about woodworking or carpentry, it doesn't stop her from wanting to embrace the experience. [say]"That seems wise. Did you want to ask for a small sample cut for each one? You could label them, and then you'll have a visual and tactile reference too."[/say]
Glancing up just as Ever's voice lowers, the Remedy stifles a laugh behind her hand. [say]"I absolutely do,"[/say] she whispers. [say]"What if you get an extra sample for yourself? You know, to satisfy your shift."[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
At her mention of the Northaven’s quieter shores, he nods immediately, his free hand already reaching into his satchel to add a mental note with his finger along the inside flap. [say]"Less ship traffic, stable tides, controlled exposure window—yes, that would be ideal."[/say] He glances over the wood again, the ridged grains of one sample catching the light like water rippling across a lakebed, the pull of it blurring away whatever feelings might have tried to surface about the Northaven's proximity to a certain demigod.
Everest turns toward her at that, expression flickering somewhere between intrigued and conspiratorial. [say]"That would fulfill multiple variables,"[/say] he murmurs, as if she’s just handed him the golden blueprint of their entire day. [say]"An objective reference sample for testing. A subjective one to satisfy instinctual urges. And one for sentiment."[/say] His gaze lingers on hers for just a second longer than necessary. [say]"Marked accordingly."[/say]
He doesn’t let go of Isla’s hand as they approach the stall but does flex his fingers gently, a quiet cue in case she wants to step closer or help with the selection. [say]"Three samples,"[/say] he says to the vendor, tone quiet but certain. [say]"Marked cedar A, B, and C, if you could."[/say] Then, to Isla with a softer look, [say]"I’ll need your help deciding which is for science, which is for instinct, and which one I just like because you touched it."[/say] He might be deadpan in delivery, but the slight crook of his mouth suggests he’s very aware of how ridiculous—and ridiculously happy—he sounds.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
[say]"Mm, I thought so too. The small dock would also make it easier for us to go and check samples without needing to wade out into the open water,"[/say] Isla agrees with a thoughtful nod. [say]"Not that I'd be adverse to going on a swimming date with you,"[/say] she adds, giving him a gentle nudge for good measure before her attention turns, once again, back to the wood.
Listening quietly as Ever reasons it out, she does cock her head at the idea of a sentimental sample, the Remedy grinning and stepping up to the stall front along with him to offer a small wave of greeting to the owner. [say]"And if I should touch all of them?"[/say] she jokes, before reaching out to run a finger along the rippled surface of the wood, admiring its sheen and stability.
[say]"I'm surprised you didn't want to mark them 1., 2. and 3."[/say] Smirking back towards Ever, she lowers her voice as the merchant goes to get their samples. [say]"I do prefer letters for individual demarcations, I will admit."[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
Everest pauses, hand hovering over a rich strip of heartwood, his gaze flicking to Isla as she trails a finger down the grain of another sample. [say]"If you touch all of them,"[/say] he begins, genuinely hesitant, [say]"I might have to collect every piece just to maintain comparative accuracy."[/say] There's a moment—just a beat—before her smile registers fully, and he exhales softly through his nose, the corners of his mouth twitching. [say]"Ah. That was a joke."[/say]
He clears his throat and gestures subtly for the vendor to proceed with cutting the samples, slipping a small labelled pouch from his satchel. [say]"I used letters for this system,"[/say] he explains, [say]" because numerals are already assigned to our scoring scale. Duplicating them across methods would have introduced unnecessary cross-reference errors."[/say]
As the vendor moves away, Ever’s fingers skim briefly along Isla’s, his gaze briefly catching hers before drifting thoughtfully toward the ocean beyond the stalls. [say]"You mentioned a swimming date earlier?"[/say] he says, tone shifting slightly, lighter now. [say]"We both have large feline shifts, so theoretically we’d be evenly matched in the water. Though..."[/say] He glances back at her, head tilting. [say]"Do molten tigers have trouble swimming? I imagine your fur’s..."[/say] He frowns. [say]"Would you steam?"[/say]
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-12-2025
[say]"It was a joke,"[/say] Isla confirms gently, grinning to Ever and turning to watch the merchant at work, if for no other reason than because it's always intriguing to watch someone with a completely different skillset utilise it so easily. [say]"But even if it wasn't, I would never do that to you. The one piece I do touch will do for our sampling."[/say] Watching as the aviator removes the pouch from his satchel, Isla takes the opportunity to take the water from her own, offering it to him for a sip.
[say]"Mm, that is a good point. Very astute of you, Mr. Hart,"[/say] she agrees - A, B and C it is. [say]"I suppose as well, since there will only be three of each sample, you don't have to worry about getting too high into the alphabet."[/say] P, Q and R just don't have the same ring to them, she finds.
His fingers drift across her own, and while Ever looks to the ocean, Isla keeps her eyes squarely on his face, content to bask in the ease of the moment - one she never expected, really, to find again. [say]"Hm? Oh, well,"[/say] she says, considering her own shift, [say]"the molten part of my tiger is actually liquid gold. So I imagine it would... solidify, if I were doused with cold water. I daresay I'd sink quite spectacularly too."[/say] Not ideal. But again, also not tested.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Everest - 05-12-2025
Ever accepts the water with a soft "thank you," adjusting the cap with an unconscious level of care before taking a measured sip. He nods once in acknowledgment of her promise not to sabotage his system, though there’s the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth. [say]"Good,"[/say] he murmurs. [say]"I didn’t bring a second satchel."[/say]
Her agreement over the lettering earns a hum of satisfaction. [say]"Exactly. Low-letter classification keeps visual clutter to a minimum. And if we need more than three, we’ll adjust to A-prime, B-prime—though ideally I’d avoid diacritical variants unless the project requires four significant figures."[/say] He says it like it's an inevitability, the same way other people say things like "if it rains, we’ll bring an umbrella."
As she describes her shift, Ever’s brows lift, gaze returning to her with renewed fascination. [say]"Solid gold,"[/say] he echoes, visibly filing that information into some complex mental schema. [say]"I can see how that would get quite heavy. Perhaps we could stick to the shallows?"[/say] If it proved too much of an inconvenience or hazard, he'd let the idea go, but he was interested in seeing if they could make it work.
RE: when you're in a hurricane - Isla - 05-13-2025
Responding with a quiet "you're welcome" and accepting the flask back to take a sip of it as well, Isla scoffs and gestures at the marketplace all around them. [say]"I'm sure we could find you a cart for all of your wood samples, if it comes to it,"[/say] she says with a sunny smile - not that she knows where Ever will put them all.
Quite liking the term visual clutter, it prevents her from reaching out to gleefully pinch his cheeks as he thoroughly nerds out over classifications and variants, Isla instead biting her lip to keep her smile contained and turning back to the merchant and his work. [say]"Mm,"[/say] she agrees of the heavy element of her shift. [say]"Either the shallows, or we will have to wait until I get a shift I can use to swim, perhaps."[/say]
She doesn't know of any when it comes to Ancients, but there's still quite a lot she doesn't know about her race, if she's honest. Smiling politely as the merchant steps over to hand Everest his samples, she glances to them. [say]"So is this where I get to decide which one is C?"[/say] she wonders with a hint of mischief.