this might get a little dumb

[iconoclassist]

[Which is to say, Shirin makes strange life decisions. Perhaps it's because Konstantin took it upon himself to try and make her forest safer for travelers, or perhaps it's because his pants seem like they're fucking vacuum sealed onto him, or maybe she just really likes snakes, but Shirin seems to have decided that how you befriend mortals is to follow them around like a bitchy shadow.

But the upshot is, for the duration of his stay in the woods, she's been an ever-present, helpful, and kind of obnoxiously insistent presence. Whatever it is he finds himself doing today, she's probably not that far...it seems like she's most active doing spirit things at night, anyway. Even so, it's been a couple weeks (word was sent that the children had been sent home safely and are doing well!), and it's probably getting ridiculous.

So, what are you being stalked on, Konstantin?]

Comments

[fieldarcanum]

[Here is the cool as hell thing about what Konstatin's been working on! The travel safety systems he's working on are modular. Some of them are basically campgrounds and non-perishable supplies in bins wildlife can't get into. This one, he was working on for a few hours, is actually a semi-permanent residency, a tiny dome three or four people could hide in; basically occupying a small clearing in the woods that he came across naturally. The parts are airdropped in and he sets them up, very neat.]

[This is fortuitous because he finished this up and some freak storm actually almost crashed his damn helicopter -- weird how a whole stormfront just manifested; and this far north? It's snow and sleet. Now what Konstantin doesn't know is this was from when some asshole spirit kind of fucked weather patterns to summon a storm on his sister and her idiot. He couldn't. He wouldn't even think about it; since he's mostly running around finishing patching seams and holes. At this point he's gotten it wind and weatherproofed.]

[iconoclassist]

[Shirin, or more accurately, Sadalbari, can recognize this storm for what it is, and she can tell who's essence is in this spirit. And she's pissed.

Which means that, when he turns away from patching, the local plantlife starts to rapidly grow up around the shelter. Now, something like this, it's designed for just that, but this is more than that. It's a sudden, immediate, and kind of terrifying sort of leafy reinforcement, a plantlike second layer of protection that forms around the dome, and will probably be absolutely lovely in early spring when it blooms.]

Konstantin!

[That...is not a happy spirit lady coming into the clearing.]

[fieldarcanum]

[He might have just come to the door to try to see her from it? It's designed naturally to be shut down here because it's a shelter, but well. Spirits have to be let in.]

Yes, Shirin?

[iconoclassist]

[At least this time she didn't walk into the clear glass door?]

Either let me in or come out enough I can take you back to my home. Something's very wrong.

[fieldarcanum]

[He opens the door in time to get a blast of wind to the face.]

Do come in. And lock it behind you.

[iconoclassist]

[Oops. Well, she does come in! And locks the door. Those she knows how to use. And then she's finding someplace to sit down. Being soaking wet doesn't really bother her.]

...This storm's not natural.

[fieldarcanum]

It does seem considerably strong.

[He is actually uncharacteristically using the power; not so much for the minimal lights, he seems to know light draws attention in the woods, but, for the heater. Snek haet cold.]

And there no reports of something this prolonged.

[iconoclassist]

[You know who's really warm? Forest spirits.

She sighs some, goes to wring out her hair somewhere it's not soaking sheets, and just...moving over to sit next to him. C'mon, snek, enjoy the heat.]

It doesn't originate here or I'd have killed the bastard, but it's a result of the weather patterns being violently shifted...and not too skillfully, either. I can sense the mana on it, even from all the way up here.

[She sighs out, in anger.] ...But it doesn't make much sense, I'll admit. Haruandanath is a motherfucker, but we had an agreement, and he wouldn't go back on his word.

[fieldarcanum]

You spirits are people of your word. If he swore he wouldn't to you, then why would he then go back on it? What would change his mind so?

[He does seem to naturally inch closer to her.]

...his children, then?

[iconoclassist]

Children...[...Shirin you had to have felt he had new ones. How fucking out of the loop have you been.] Oh, the ones after Liam went and killed Crow and Bravante. Right...

[She tilts her head a little, considering.] ...I don't even know their names. And I'm not talking to that glorified lightbulb...I'll have to ask Bravante's reincarnation, he has to have gotten around to that by now.

[If it hadn't already been made clear, Konstantin may realize exactly how long Shirin's isolated herself out here...]

[fieldarcanum]

[That.... actually makes him laugh a little bit. Like legitimately so.]

You are absolutely ridiculous in your own ways, Shirin. Do you aim to talk to him in person, then?

[iconoclassist]

I have to. I hate radios. Besides, this is a little too important to just make a call for, isn't it?

[Puffing her cheek out.] And who are you calling ridiculous?

[fieldarcanum]

I am calling you ridiculous, and you will do nothing because you know I am completely correct to do so.

[Also because when he grins like that he's noticed she stares a bit.]

[iconoclassist]

[She does. But then she also flicks him in the nose. Gently! But she is not afraid of you, snek.] Calling me ridiculous in my own forest...the nerve of some of you mortals. Maybe I'll just go back to the other side of the shelter and leave you cold, Konstantin?

[fieldarcanum]

Maybe I will tell you to leave my shelter. Besides, you're wearing wet clothes and I have all the blankets.

[He does. There's like four emergency blankets here and they're all his.]

[iconoclassist]

Should I take them off then? [Let's just. Drop that one in the middle of conversation, and see what he does.]

To not get the sheets wet, I mean. Besides, I'm not leaving if you ask, if the weather's been fucked with I need to keep an eye on the first mortal I've let wander around in here in the last...

[...She actually pauses because she needs to count back.] ...107 years?

[fieldarcanum]

I am amazed you haven't. I thought most spirit clothing was made of mana? If it isn't drape it over the heater and get under a blanket. I can't imagine it's comfortable at all, soaked as you are.

[He... actually is willing to give up one of those blankets, then, it seems.]

[iconoclassist]

[She pauses for a moment, and then does as he's told her. Seems her outer layer is real clothing, but the under layer shimmers and then vanishes and, uh, well she's real pretty. And real naked. And coming over to this blanket nest with a sneck in it.]

...You sure? I could do something else to keep me tided over, for the night. You look like you sort of want to die.

[Also, she can't get cold or frostbite or anything like that, she's a forest spirit living in the north, there's a reason she's always fantastically warm.]

[fieldarcanum]

Either take a blanket or join me in here, Shirin. I offer you the choice freely.

[That is to say, the snek is surprisingly even tempered, though he was amazed she banished that under layer and summoned back nothing, given the faint flush and wider eyes.]

[iconoclassist]

[Well the reaction was what she wanted, and she kind of chuckles, but, well. Into the cocoon she's going. And yeah, she's warm and soft and smells amazing. Good job, snek.]

Ah...I think this is a little unfair to you, isn't it?

[fieldarcanum]

[Given the nature of this cocoon she's pretty much stuck on him. He's not complaining about it at all, though.]

In no few ways. How would you care to fix this, then?

[iconoclassist]

I have a few ideas. Need your consent for a couple of 'em.

[She actually laughs, at that, and grins at him.] One of them's as simple as me giving myself clothes again...although given your heartbeat, that might now be enough?

[fieldarcanum]

Well, if you do, I may have to pull you out of them again. But I feel you may enjoy the novelty! After all, this is the first time you've been held by someone in at least a century, isn't it?

[He laughs in return, but is watching her. Sneks sometimes stare a bit intensely.]

I have to wonder why it would be a mortal...

[iconoclassist]

...You know I fought on your side in the War, right? Or...I guess you wouldn't. If they teach it, it'd be Sadalbari, not Shirin.

[Sighing, some, and kind of leaning her head on his shoulder because they're in a cocoon and doing more would require de-cocooning.]

I was never any good at people. And I wasn't too happy with how I was treated...besides, somewhere quiet suits me just fine. Mortals will die if they wander into these woods, and I can't be everywhere to help them...it was safer to keep everyone away.

So what this is all meant to get at is, you're pretty, and I don't care if you're a mortal or not.