TDM #1

[thequietmods]

The ice isn't the only thing cracking right now. Spring storms can be violent, and the thunder is strong enough to reverberate in your chest. Outside of the chilly cave, a torrential downpour makes it nearly impossible to leave the cave and get your bearings. However, through the weather, and past the giant things that seem to be moving in the weather, something large looms in the distance.

The rain and the moving things make it hard to be sure, and you can't even see the horizon line, so it's either a very large body of water, some sort of man-made structure off in the distance, or both. Until the storm clears, no one can be sure which it is.

1. Someone, though, their voice just barely echoing off the walls, seems to be coming up with theories. Is it you? Do you think this is a waste of time?

2. Are you trying to go out into the hostile weather, risks be damned? Is it because you don't care? Do you think you can survive it?

3. Being trapped in a cave full of people stuck in pillars of ice is weird, isn't it? Isn't it even weirder that you used to be in one and now you're not? Are you going to help the others trapped in the ice? It should be warned that trying to break someone out when they're not awake to help will shatter the pillar, and the person inside.

4. As the storm clears up, night has fallen. Thunder booms in the distance and the sound of insects and wild animals picks up. Wolves howl in the darkness. Is now the time to make a move, or are you going to stay in this uncomfortable, but untouched, shelter?

Comments

[71lines]

That sure is a White Girl. Maybe she doesn't have much color because she's not doing a whole lot? Maybe she's a-

-no. Since when do ghosts have stomachs that growl? "It's nothing fancy," she apologizes, dishing out a bowl stored in her scrolls. "Just a bit of cabbage stew. But it's better than nothing." Cabbage, carrot, and chicken broth. It's about as simple as her recipes come, but it should still be filling. And warming.

She holds it out to the White Girl, trusting that her stomach will guide her even if her eyes don't seem to open any.

[tuckedinyoureyes]

There's a long moment where her closed-eye gaze just seems to observe Tenten, carefully, instead of moving to accept the bowl.

Then, in a shift of white on white on white, she unknots herself from her huddled posture and scoots closer to the proffered bowl. Close enough to grab it, if she feels like it, which she evidently doesn't, given that she makes no move to do so, yet.

Another appraising look-without-looking, then a light snort. "... ninja. Hm."

Finally, she lifts one hand - raising one pale finger and passing it, raised, past her own unopened gaze before gently, daintily resting it against the surface of the soup. The broth barely ripples, but ripple it does, then again. Then she removes her finger, holds it up in front of her.

White makes an affirmative noise, then lowers her hand - to take the bowl, gratefully now, though not too gratefully, given she cradles it close like she expects to have to fight - well, someone, who isn't here, and isn't coming - off from trying to also share in the food. Tenten can see the sagging of her shoulders, both from released tension and ... nostalgic disappointment?! ... that settles around her when she realizes her own reflexive gesture was for nothing.

A white mouth twists in a self-recriminatory frown. Then she remembers she ought to speak, and offers, awkwardly: "... ninja poison. And you're only human."

The way she says that, it almost sounds like an insult. ... but a pitying one, nonetheless.

[71lines]

Tenten fights not to roll her eyes at the prodding. Right, a poison test. As if she'd try to assassinate someone she'd just met. Granted, she has, but that was for a paycheck. Straight up offering poisoned soup to someone she'd just met? Please.

"If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't spend twenty minutes preparing soup for everyone first," she points out. "Ninja, yes. Poison, no. And you're right, I'm not a ninja animal or anything like that." She folds her arms over her chest and arches an eyebrow. "Not exactly used to a free meal, are you?"

She sounds... almost pitying, there.

[tuckedinyoureyes]

White just gives Tenten a long, level look that lasts longer than it reasonably should - most people would be managing to provide a response beyond that by now.

Of course, most people aren't literally so white it's the only thing you can reasonably be expected to remember about their appearance, or able to manage this without ever opening their eyes, so.

Her face curls up, at last. It's almost a smile. "'Free' is ... for those with nothing to fear from another."