INBOX | TEXT/VOICE/VIDEO

[aladyofqualityswords]

"You have reached in the inbox of-- oh, um, Katherine-- please leave your message at the tone."

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[aladyofqualityswords]

[Katherine steps back and out of range as the fight ends, more instinct than anything else, but she grins when he speaks.]

Thank you very much! [She sheathes her blade for the moment- she'll tend to it once they're done here, but it seems like there might be more to talk about.]

I could adjust to night work if need be, but if I could start with day work then I would appreciate it. And I believe I would like to work full time? [She's not quite sure what the exact difference is but.]

sob i'm so sorry i've been dead tired this week

[aladyofqualityswords]

Tinya, it is good to hear from you! I have been well, I managed to get a job recently, but I certainly still have time for lessons whenever you are available.

No worries, 'tis the season after all!

[unphase]

You, too! And, ooooh, what kind of job? [and she breathes a sigh of relief] I'm glad to hear it. I've been practicing what I can on my own, but there's nothing like a partner.

Xmas Gift

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Katherine's gift from Tim will be delivered by courier; a red-headed speedster who will make sure that it's signed for before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Inside will be her very own bicycle helmet in her favourite colour and matching motorbike jacket.

[aladyofqualityswords]

I'm doing security at the Haven now. [She enjoys it, though really most of the time she's not quite sure what she's there for.]

I absolutely understand. When do you want to meet up?

[unphase]

Security? Very nice! [to prevent bad people from getting in?]

How about the Center ballet studio. The wall of mirrors helps, I think. And after 5pm, that's when I'm off at Plumage.

Gift Delivery

[chrisisofaith]

[Either left at their home or given in person, Chris leaves a present for the few people he's connected with.

A small package tied with a raven card as signature, along with the gift itself is a small note and a plain black votive candle.]

City's got some other holiday on, but back home it's about time for Candleglow. You exchange presents to share in the year's wealth with people who you hope have wealth in the coming year. It's also a ceremony where everyone in the Moonsea lights a candle at the turn of the year and either sits with their loved ones until it burns out or sets it to sail in the Moonsea all around the shores.

I'll be at the beach at midnight when the year turns, you're welcome to come burn it with me or set sail in the tidepool or just keep it for yourself. No pressure or judgement either way.

Never told you but I have a twin sister back home. You remind me of her. Thanks for being my friend.

-C.S.

[Katharine's gift is a leather jacket and matching gloves.]

Gift

[cygnetsignet]

[ For new years, Katherine will get a swan notebook along with a card with a note. ]

Katherine, my dear,

I hope you are doing well, and can start the new year off strongly. I am managing well and can't wait to catch up with you.

Diane

[aladyofqualityswords]

Alright, I'll meet you then!

[And so she shall! Having a Dominant makes it easier for her to get clothes, as does having a job, so she's wearing something a bit more akin to workout clothes this time.]

[aladyofqualityswords]

[She will send Tim a picture her wearing the both of them- it's impossible to see the grin under the helmet, but it's there. (He will also get some chocolates from her come New Years.)]

Thank you, these are wonderful!

[aladyofqualityswords]

[Katherine doesn't reply to the message via the network, instead opting to meet Chris at midnight on the beach. She is absolutely wearing her new jacket- she's unused to the material being used like this, but it's surprisingly warm.

She smiles as she seems him, bumping up a little against him. She's not sure how to address the end part of the note, thinking that if he'd wanted to talk more about it he would have said it to her in person, but... she wants him to know that she cares about him very deeply too.]

Is there a significance to the candles? [They don't really do anything like this in the City, just bonfires for the new year.]

[chrisisofaith]

[He's got a small set up by the tidepool, a stick stuck in the sand that's casting light illuminates a thin piece of wood near the deepest pool he could find and a candle sitting on it already.

She bumps into him and he smiles and puts an arm around her waist. She looks good in the jacket. Good.]

Yeah...something about burning away the negatives of the year before and leaving a clean slate for the next. That's why it's black, I guess. For the impurities or...something.

Thanks for coming.

[aladyofqualityswords]

[She reaches up to drape her arm across his shoulders, completing the hug.]

A see. We do a bonfire for Last Night and I think it's the same kind of idea... except bigger.

[Maybe they just have more 'impurities.' Who knows.

Katherine gives his shoulder a little squeeze.] Of course. Why wouldn't I?

[unphase]

[when Katherine arrives, she'll find Tinya in a leotard and ballet skirt, doing stretches to limber herself up at the barre. when she hears Katherine enter, she immediately abandons what she'd been doing and goes over to greet her]

Hi! I'm so glad to see you again! I've been doing my best to keep in practice, but there's only so much one can do alone, you know?

Backdated to the Winter Solstice

[unphase]

[for the Winter Solstice, Katherine will receive a brooch of two crossed swords, each hilt covered in jewels and a note reading, "Hope this Winter Solstices finds you well and happy, from Tinya!]

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

[The fact that she replied is enough for Tim to know that she's smiling under there. He can't help but smile at the photo as well]

We'll put them to good use in the new year.

[chrisisofaith]

A bonfire would likely be easier than little candle-boats.

[They could put it on top of the clocktower.

Of course, there were jokes to be made about the city being it's own bonfire right now, but those would be in very poor taste. He squeezed her side again and pulled away to kneel and light his candle with a pass of his hand over it.]

Cause you could be elsewhere with other people, doing more exiting things than setting a candle to burn. I appreciate you're not, that you're here, but you had options.

[aladyofqualityswords]

[Katherine nods vigorously.] I know. That's part of why I was so worried about finding people to spar with when I got here.

[She can't imagine how downhill her skills would have gone if she'd stopped having sparring partners.] How have you been?

[aladyofqualityswords]

[On New Year's Eve Tinya gets a return note and a box of nice chocolates.]

It seems there are many different holidays this time of year. Thank you for the brooch; it is lovely! I hope you have a joyous Last Night.

[aladyofqualityswords]

They can be surprisingly hard to get started, depending on the size.

[She bends down next to hers; she has to produce a matchbox and it takes her a few tries, but hers lights up as well.]

I suppose. But... I would rather be here.

[Chris is pretty easily her dearest friend in this place, and probably the best person she could think of to welcome the new year with.]

[chrisisofaith]

[He thinks, for a moment, about just lighting it for her, but decides against it...only partially because he gets mild amusement out of her attempts to use the match.]

Well, I thank you for it.

[He's quiet a moment, watching the flames dance in the candles before pushing the little raft of wood out into the water.]

You read the note, so...you know... [Another pause, a struggle as the words are there in his mind, but his mouth still has trouble forming the sounds needed and that little habit of his was only worse for the subject matter.]

She's dead. My sister. Rhyt. You're not...replacing her, nothing and no one can, but I won't pretend being around you doesn't feel a bit like being home or having her near.

I-I hope that's not too strange.

[aladyofqualityswords]

Oh-- I'm sorry.

[It's certainly a more potentially fraught sentiment than she would have thought, knowing that, but... it doesn't really change anything.]

No, I don't think it's strange. [If anything, this is not exactly the first time someone may have seen her in such a way. Though even if he saw something of his sister, of her mother, in her, Alec certainly reacted entirely differently about it.] I can't exactly relate, I've never been very close with my brothers and you're not much like either of them, but...

[She reaches out to take his hand, squeeze it gently in hers.] ...you are my dearest friend in this place. And no one can replace you or that, either.

[unphase]

[she nods in agreement] That makes sense. But I hope that teaching others does as well as regular practice with someone who's your equal?

[she sounds and looks sad] I've--been better. I lost both of my boyfriends. Jo, at least, I'm sure to see again because we're from the same world. Hunk? Lost to me. Forever. That's been...hard to cope with.

[unphase]

You're welcome! And if you mean New Year's...I helped a friend. That by itself brings me joy.

[aladyofqualityswords]

It's different, but still good, yes. [Having both really is ideal.

Katherine's expression immediately softens, reaching out to rest a hand on Tinya's shoulder.] Oh no... I'm so sorry. [It's probably better for them not to be here, in this city, but Katherine can think of several connections she would mourn all the same if she was pulled away without notice.]