[open/mingle] a light in the darkness

[orphne]

Who: any and everyone!
Where: astralin's farmhouse
What: mingle log for post-blackout!
Warnings: y'all tell me, please be good and don't break the house :(

If she hadn't been at the party, Kotone wouldn't have even known about the extent of the blackout. Sure, it's inconvenient, considering a lot of the lights are electric, and the fridge is, of course, powered by electricity as well, but the farmhouse she'd taken over from Astralin is an older and more traditional building. The main heat sources are the fireplaces strategically placed throughout the building -- a large one in the living space, a smaller one in the kitchen along with a wood-burning stove, and another large central one upstairs to help heat the bedrooms -- and the geothermal hot springs on the land. With the cold weather and snow on the ground, it's easy to take the food from the fridge and leave it outside in a locked box away from wild animals, but aside from the inconvenience of resorting to the candles and lanterns that were stockpiled in the basement, the farmhouse itself survives relatively unscathed!

Therefore, not long after the blast, Kotone sends a video message over the (charm) network inviting anyone who wants to take shelter from the cold, or even just cook some food, to come to Astralin's farmhouse on the edge of town for as long as they want or need.

She won't even make anyone help out on the farm. Probably!

1. Rural Snapshot
Power might go out, but life on the farm doesn't stop for something like that! The old wood stoves in the barn need to be cleaned up and made ready for use to keep the animals warm, and the animals still need to be taken care of. Goats, sheep, cows, chickens (a particularly big and brave one has the tiniest leather collar and a tag that says her name is "Scramble," and her friends Benedict and Sunny aren't far behind. They are Not For Eating (though their eggs are!))

Kotone won't make anyone help her with the farm chores of cleaning the barn, feeding the animals, or generally keeping things up and running, but she definitely won't turn down the help, either, giving pointers so the new folk don't completely muck it up (sometimes literally).

With the snow and general chill, there's not much to do with the crops themselves. Everyone is safe from the fields for now!

2. Potluck and BYOB (chef's recommendation: hot cocoa)
The farmhouse is not the inn -- Kotone has some food prepped and stored, with preserves from the fall harvest one of the key features, but it's not meant to feed the whole town. Thus, Kotone's going to request that anyone coming to stay at the farmhouse bring either raw ingredients or something they've made to share with any other hapless souls. Feel free to use the kitchen to cook, or get some help from someone else with cooking!

The wood-burning stove in the kitchen is perfect for heating up cocoa or wine, and there's room to get close with someone in front of any of the fireplaces. Like, it's encouraged to get close. It's a big farmhouse, but not that big. Make a friend! Share some warmth! The couches are cozy and comfortable, and if someone dozes off, well, Kotone won't be the one waking anyone up.

If someone would prefer to sleep in a bed, there are some bedrooms upstairs! One is, of course, sharing the room with plants. They're benign, normal plants, from potted flowers to hanging vines, but they are everywhere. Kotone herself doesn't have much of a green thumb other than keeping the plants watered and in view of sunlight, but the plants themselves seem to be flourishing throughout the farmhouse either way. It's almost as if someone (Astralin) had used magic to keep them growing strong and healthy, even indoors.

Oh, and speaking of sharing, again, the farmhouse isn't the inn. Expect to be sharing a space with someone else. Maybe a few people! Cozy up and make a new friend. It's better than freezing to death, right?

3. Hot Springs Episode
There are natural hot springs on the farmland that have been developed to mimic a Japanese onsen in places. The air might be cold and dark, but there are candles and lanterns around the springs to light it, and the water is nice and warm, perfect for those chill nights.

There are rules posted -- namely, clean yourself before going to soak -- and while there are separate bathing spaces for genders, Kotone doesn't really care too much about mixed bathing as long as everyone is respectful about it. Others may not be so casual about it, though, so one has to venture across at their own risk!

[ooc: This is a mingle! Feel free to use these prompts as inspiration or make your own. The only request I have is not to completely destroy the farmhouse or harm the animals -- anything else, go wild!]

Comments

[melnik]

That sounds very convenient. [ Especially considering it lasts so long. But— ] You can run out? I didn't know magic was a finite resource.

[ That part seems to really baffle him, a thoughtful hand raising to rest over mouth and chin. Though it's no wonder how hard it is to grasp the rules of magic when everyone with powers tells you a different story. ]

[threadmage]

[ Sandry gives a nod. ]

At least I can. I call on magic that exists in the world already, but it takes energy to do that. It's sort of like exercising! If you do too much you get tired and wobbly, but when you rest you can recover and do more again.

[melnik]

That makes sense.

[ Well, it makes as much as sense as describing magic could for a guy like him. Hence why it's said with some hesitancy. ]

You know, I never would have believed that magic was real one week ago. But there's a big difference between seeing things you can't explain and having people conjure literal energy from nothing right before your eyes. One of them I can't argue with.

[threadmage]

Is there no magic where you're from? [ That seems to be somewhat common here, actually. ] There's lots of things here that I don't understand. I've never heard of "electricity" before.

[melnik]

No magic, just a number of scary stories people like to repeat to each other. [ Some of which he has mixed feelings on, but overall, the implication is that they're nonsense. ] Electricity I know. It isn't as commonplace as it used to be, but most stations have at least found a way to keep the lights on.

[ But it's not the worst thing to hear about all the different skillsets. ]

It seems there's a lot we could teach each other.

[threadmage]

Oh absolutely! I love learning new things, and I have a lot to learn here. If this goes on much longer I can teach people how to make oil lamps, though we would need a way to make lamps for the oil... Oh I bet Toph could make some lamps if we need! Have you met Toph?

[ Sandry is about to sing her praises. ]

[melnik]

[ He smiles at that mention. She told him earthbending wasn't thought of as magic, but he's a bit too uncultured to really understand the difference, so those two fit right in with each other as far as he's concerned. ]

Yes, actually. You're right. I'm sure that wouldn't pose a problem for her if she'd be willing to.

[ Last he saw her, she was busy with her own project. ]

I'm sure you could braid the wicks. How about the oil?

[threadmage]

Oh the oil is very simple, we can use plant based oils that I've seen here already. We do need to make sure we don't use up all the oil, but if this goes on too much longer I can draw up basic plans for an olive oil press if there's olives here, and I know how to make boiled linseed or flax oil. I'm sure we could figure it out!

[ Being from a place without electricity is coming in handy right now! ]

[melnik]

I'm impressed! Where did you learn all of this?

[ Maybe not everyone in her world is capable of magic, so they need to make do. He doesn't know. But it's pretty remarkable nonetheless. ]

[threadmage]

[ It is indeed the case that most people don't have magic. ]

That's how things are back home! Very few people can create light with magic, and while there's light crystals they're very expensive so most people can't afford them. Some people use animal fat for their lights but we always use oils at home. Do you only have electricity lights where you're from?

[melnik]

The place where I came from is divided into many underground stations. So much of the grid has been damaged that there isn't much electricity left outside of the hubs where people are living. Some people craft oil lamps using animal fat, just like you said. We have pig farms, but vegetable oil is not easy to come by. Others have created devices that harness pneumatic energy to power a small generator by hand. Those of us that frequent the surface get a lot of use out of that.

[threadmage]

[ That all sounds very interesting to Sandry. She likes hearing about people's homes. ]

Could you explain what "pneumatic" is? I haven't heard of it before. And by "the surface" do you mean that you live underground?

[melnik]

Yes... well, I used to. My daughter and I had to leave about a year ago. It's a long story.

[ Anyway. She meant it when she said she loved to learn! He's happy to oblige. ]

Pneumatic energy is energy powered by pressurized air. I'm not an engineer. But essentially, compressed air is moved through the mechanism by pumping a lever until it creates enough pressure to generate energy. We also used it to create weapons. Very useful since it doesn't require electricity to recharge.

[threadmage]

[ Sandry doesn't like fighting, though she did have to deal with pirates one summer. That was quite enough for her! ]

Do you have to use weapons often?

[melnik]

[ He nods, but in lieu of expanding too much on a topic he can't imagine she would like, he tries to keep it general. ]

It's necessary for protection. I command a unit known as the Spartan Order. On the surface, we have faced all kinds of hostile creatures. And in the Metro... well, we have always aimed to offer aid to those who need our help.

[threadmage]

[ Hostile creatures sounds terrible. Sandry doesn't have much reference for such things, her world is quite peaceful on any given day. ]

What kind of aid do you provide in the Metro? Is that the place you live?

[melnik]

Yes, it's the place we left. [ For a while there, he was sure he'd be going back, but even if he hadn't come to Aldrip, he's not so sure anymore. ]

The Order is one of the only neutral groups in the Metro. We try not to become involved with the politics of the other factions, but innocent people are caught up in their disputes all the time and many of them need our help. Resources are very scarce and some stations are under constant threat from mutants and other beasts. Since lots of our men are trained to go to the surface, we're the best for the job when it comes to scavenging and taking the beasts out. Those seeking help from Hansa — Metro's strongest trading alliance — are often turned down.

[threadmage]

[ Sandry gives the tiniest frown. That sounds like a very difficult way to live. Far from the peaceful life she had at Winding Circle or even at the citadel. She wishes she could do something to help, but... ]

Do you want me to teach you how to make vegetable oils? Would that be helpful? Boiled linseed is quite easy.

[melnik]

[ There's little to be done about it, especially now that he's here. The suggestion, on the other hand, is a welcome one and he softens. ]

Yes... I'd like that. What is your name, by the way?

[threadmage]

Oh! Of course. I'm Sandrilene fa Toren, but please call me Sandry. What's yours?

[ Knowing names will help her find him later. ]

[melnik]

[ Ah, it seems like they both have a nickname. ]

I am Colonel Mel'nikov, but everyone calls me Miller. Your resourcefulness is sure to be a help to everyone, Sandry.

[threadmage]

[ Sandry smiles brightly. ]

It's nice to meet you, Miller! I'm just glad I can help.