open || text, video || [ un: daughter-sea]

[seaboard]

TO THE CARE OF: any who may be of good constitution and can transport items.

In regards to the procurement of any and all harvested produce that is yet heretofore unaccounted for in tithes. I care not whether it is meat, berry, vegetable, honey or herb. Any amount of salt, flour, vinegar, cloves and cherry leaves if it may be found.

I have no coin, nor is it my concern. I will preserve the food that is brought to me and give it in return to you. Our larders must be as full as they can before the coming winter and summer.

In exchange, I will teach you to cook, preserve your own food, and gut fish.

- Second-Child, Lady Gilia St. Loe, Daughter-Sea, who presides in the Harbouryards.

[ A little pause, and then the video clicks on afterwards. Of one, frazzled Gilia in a run-down kitchen she's repaired as best she can, if badly. But tucked up in her wimple and veil, as ever, in jarring bright clashing colours. Even if the veil is sliding back from her forehead in her work and curls are attempting to spring out in every direction with their inch of freedom - and one rather large bruise across her cheek that has turned a festering yellow-purple colour of healing, and the smear of butter on her chin.

Busy with, apparently, dicing apart turnips with a cleaving knife that goes thud,thud,thud quickly in smooth, heavy slices. Stops to see the thing is on, it was supposed to light up and make irritating sounds, yes, good - and uses that huge knife to gesture to herself briefly in a sweep. ]

I forgot the size of this city, and that you will have not a wit of knowing me from a plank of wood. I am Lady Gilia. I am out at dawn fishing, but I should be back by mid morn. [ A pause. ] ... If there was peppercorn, of a good price, that could be found... it should be better to taste, later, if that expense is not too great to you. But please do not worry on such luxuries if not.

Comments

un: kuruko

[telepathy]

are you going to dry it out to last that long?
why not wait and gather more later?

[seaboard]

I can do that, yes.

It may be impossible. Snows can prevent people from leaving their houses for days, if not weeks, at times. Even if it is possible to leave, nothing is growing, not until at least spring, and even then...

These cities have no space to grow much yourself. We'd be relying on what is brought in, which will not be until mid to late spring if we are lucky.

[telepathy]

whats snow

[seaboard]

[ Ah, well. ]

I suppose... think of it like... rain, that has turned to little cold petals, as it cools, it turns solid. That then freezes everything else it touches, and can build up into piles so high you cannot walk through it.

And yes, it will freeze you too, leeches the heat out of your bones.

[telepathy]

[ they have a different word, among the clans, for the white tipped mountains. but that word doesn't matter — she understands now. ]

the only rain where i come from falls during the summer

@EIVOR

[ulfrkysst]

To the Lady Gilia St. Loe, Second-Child, Daughter-Sea, regarding the preserving and cooking of provisions for the winter:

I am gladdened to know there is at least one woman among the Restless who is learned in such matters. I will help you. It is not a task for one person.

Written in the district of Serene, Stygia.
Eivor of the Raven Clan.

[seaboard]

[ Ah! A fellow sensible person! Eivor you're going to end up being her favourite person at this rate. ]

Eivor of the Raven Clan,

I would be most glad of your help, how ever that you may be best able to give it. I fear my fingers will turn to shrivelled and dry as bark soon, the rate I must work.

[ Salting food like this does nothing for one's skin, least of all. ]

Whenever you are in the Harbour, please call upon me. Though do not feel I would only wish to see you for such things, I am glad for any company.

[ulfrkysst]

Lady Gilia:

I shall be well pleased to pay you a visit. It is too easy to keep to oneself in this realm, where we do not have our friends and family.

[seaboard]

Just so. So many people and yet...

I have no business feeling lonely, certainly, but I feel numbness in my tongue when I try.

un: songbird

[windsongs]

[ Mom did you serious just post a formal letter of intent? ]

do you have somewhere to store everything?
and I don't necessarily have anything I can contribute right now, but I can go to the markets and see what they've got
what should I look for? what keeps best?

[ She considers coming up with a flowery sign off but decides against it. ]

[seaboard]

There are shelves, cupboards, and one sturdy table here. I wish that I had more, a proper cellar and larder, but this is the room that I could find...

I suppose cabbage is always safest, but turnip, carrot, peas, squash, these are also do well. But vinegar - any kind of sour wine, and salt, is always deeply, deeply important.

[windsongs]

salt and vinegar might be a little spendy but I can see what I can do!
I'd be interested to learn about what you do with everything too

we've got stuff that lets you keep things fresh and cool for longer so I'm not really used to having to preserve stuff
it's a good thing you're here to make sure all of us know about this kind of stuff Gilia! ❤️

[seaboard]

That does sound strange. Have you never been snowed in? Unable to pass paths and roads because of ice or snow melt flooding?

un: graham

[this_ismydesign]

I am capable of drying my own fish and meats, but the preservation of fruits and vegetables always eluded me.

I do not require the lessons, but would be willing to fetch and carry in exchanged for the ready products?

[seaboard]

That is more than enough, I would be glad for it. Bring what you can find, and I shall do what I can to help keep it for you.

[this_ismydesign]

Thank you. [ In many ways he can be a very simple man. ]

Is there anything you are running particularly low on, that I should prioritize?

[seaboard]

... Meat. A good cut of mutton, or goat, or cow, any of the like. Something red.

( un: mellifa | text )

[somatosensory]

How have you found the water here?
When it's not raging, of course.

[seaboard]

Calmer, now, certainly.

The bay is... well, it shows its use by many, many people.

[ The water is dirty, she means, but politely. ]

But it has good fishing, and it is kind to its inhabitants, in its way.

[somatosensory]

It's a big city.

( not quite on a par with the capital of his own home, but close enough. )

I didn't know cherry leaves could be used in something like this.

[seaboard]

The biggest I have ever been in, for certain.

[ A little happy hum. ]

They can, yes, they add a good texture in the preserving, later, to eat.

video.

[deushexmachina]

I'll see what I can rummage up, [his brow knit, concerned, his attention caught. He knew her name now.] I should've been on the lookout earlier. Salt might be easier to come by through my hand, it's a compound... easily broken down.

[seaboard]

[ She clearly has to think a moment. Frowning to understand what exactly he means. ]

Oh! You mean to withdraw it from water. Yes, of course. I can bring up sea-water easily, if you need it.

[deushexmachina]

[She's already awed him, it's not a leap when he thinks (and consequently speaks aloud):] With magic, right? You can summon sea-water that way?

[Absolutely shameless in his fixation, he has enough grave to recover momentarily,] But yes, precisely. I'm more than happy to get that started for you. I can do salt.

[seaboard]

Yes, yes with 'magic'. I can draw up any kind of water, should it be needed, but sea-water seems it may be best.

[ But she is laughing, a little, how dreadfully sweet he seems. It's almost enough to fluster if she hadn't been in practice to keep her smile only slight. ] Whenever you are free yourself to the task, I shall be ready and waiting.