Hartford of House Snowmark - RPLOG
Participants
Date
14/10/477
Log
The great public square is bustling with beings of every description, bundled up in colorful coats and scarves. It is a fine, sunny day, though it is still cold enough that there is no threat of the snow melting. Tents and stalls of every size shape and color fill the plaza and merchants cry out their wares. Amid all the activity is one very confused looking reindeer. Though he has changed race, acquired a new coat of blue fur and a fine new ear piercing, Hartford's distinct skunk pattern and slow, deep voice have not changed. The poor retainer seems to be having some trouble with a clothing merchant.
Cassidy is in attendance today! Arm in arm with Natska, dressed up in one of her fancier dressed, with an additional thick leather jacket and her top hat worn over the little ear stockings that she'd taken to pulling over her tall ears. "What an exciting day!" She says with a happy twitch of her tail before looking over towards Hartford, almost not recognizing him til she remembers his... 'Incident.' "Hartford! Are you okay over there?"
Dressed in her thicker leathers, and wearing her parka and her scarf, Natska's ears perk as she sees the reindeer having some issues. She stares for a moment. "Isn't that..." When Cassidy confirms it for her she smiles and follows Cass over to help out. "Hello!"
Calisiel just happens to be around for the tournament, due to growing tired of the warm weather in Sweetwater, and in turn risking execution for prior banditry in/around Thera'Dor. Wearing heavy, black clothes, a hood, cloth over the face and leaning heavily on her staff, the crow glances around, notices some people she recognizes, assumes they're here for the tournament, approaches them. "Cassidy, Natska. Other guy."
Cythim was also passing hereby, and wasn't quite aware of what was going on, she merely asked around if anything was going on. Having heard then of a tournament, out of curiosity, she went to it, going among the others for the time being.
Hartford turns around when the others approach. "Oh, hello, Lady Cassidy, Miss Natska," he says, breath curling in whisps of steam in the air. The reindeer is not wearing his hand-me-down coat from Brutus today, looks like all that thick, blue fur isn't just for show. His plain street clothes show off his impressive physique and a stark, blues snowflake pattern in his fur sticking just above his collar. "This nice lady," he gestures at the snowy ermine running the stall, "Keeps telling me that I need to represent my house at the tournament in Caldera." He holds up a set of clothing in the Snowmark family colors of blue and white with snowflakes artfully scattered on it. "But she keeps giving me Snowmark stuff instead of Blackback stuff!"
The little ermine titters at Hartford. "Lord Snowmark here is very silly!" she says, "Teasing Lunette like this!" She grins at the others as they come near. "You will travel to the tourney too?" she asks, "Perhaps you are wanting scarves or pennants for cheering on your favorites? Like big Lord Snowmark here?"
Cassidy tilts her head and smiles softly. "Ahh, miss Lunette, I can confirm that this is not a Snowmark. This is Hartford! He is a bodyguard for house Blackback. He simply had a bit of a... Fashion malfunction during one of the Snowmark parties. You know how it goes," she says before giving Natska's arm a little squeeze. "And none for me, thank you! I will be participating myself!"
Natska raises her eyebrows and looks over at Hartford. "Unless Lord Hartford here had more fun with Lord Sasha than we did, and is part of their family now," she adds, smiling at Hartford and giving Cass a small nudge. She turns her smile to Lunette and inclines her head. "Snowhame has been wonderful to us, miss, and I do love the Snowmarks, but we are all from Sweetwater! I myself will be representing the Solacious family, as well."
Calisiel continues to lean heavily on her staff; either tired, or trying to appear old. "Participating, eh? Have fun, I'm just going to watch, yeah. Unless I get bored..." Tends to get bored easily. But, should avoid drawing attention to herself. "...I'll try not to get bored."
Polilitcs and nobles held little priority in her mind, as she wasn't from the same world as they were, and names were only senseful to know knew their signification. As for the tournament... she would be willing to join up, but wasn't willing to say anything as for yet.
Lunette, the shop keeper taps her nose conspiritorially. "Fine, fine," she says, "But you cannot fool Lunette so easily." The little ermine turns away and digs around under a covered table for a minute before returning with a collection of scarves, sashes and pennants in the colors of Sweetwater's noble houses. "It is not often that we have foreigners travel to COMPETE at great Caldera," she says, "It is very far to travel even for us! The caravan will leave tomorrow to reach the great mountain in time."
Hartford finds that while the shopkeeper's attention is off of him for now, he is still holding the bundle of clothes that she foisted on him. "Um," he rumbles, "What should I do with these?"
Cassidy claps her hands together and smiles. "Thank you! And yes, we were in the neighborhood, and... Well. Natska and I do love a good competition! We're not ones to sit on the sidelines and simply watch, oh no! We have to put a good light on the Solacious house!"
"If you do not want them, Hartford, then give them back," Natska explains, then nods at Lunette. "Yes. Other business brought us, but as long as we are here... ..." she trails off and her eyes narrow as she actually registers who else is here. "You." She says, turning her head to look at Calisiel. "Just do not cause a scene."
Calisiel stands up straighter, stretches. "Good luck with that, Cass. Don't screw up; would look bad for both your family and Sweetwater." Something about her tone sounds disinterested; probably due to not being from Sweetwater. "I won't cause any problems. Wouldn't end well. For me, specifically." Looks over to Hartford: "Wear them? Or, give them to me. Can always use more clothes." The crow shrugs; smiling behind the hood and clothe she's using to hide her identity.
Cythim was looking at the others folks present at the place to see who she would be against. But from what she hears, things will probably be not easy as they would have their honor to defend as well as more skill than here. Still... Things could go crazy from what she heard.
"No no no!" Lunette waves off Hartford as he tries to return the clothes, "Is very good luck to give a gift to a fighting Snowmark before Great Caldera! You keep them!"Ignoring Hartford's stammering, she turns and gives a long look to Calisiel. "You are seeming familiar," she says, "We have met before?"
Calisiel is saved from further scrutiny by the arrival of a nee distraction. "Hello friends from Sweetwater!" crows Hugo Snowmark, "Getting ready for the tournament?" He sees Hartford's armload of clothing and grins, slapping the reindeer on the back. "Fighting for the family already, cousin?" he asks jovially.
Cassidy turns to look at Hugo for a moment, brow raising as he regards Hartford as cousin. "Hartford... Just what DID you do that night?" She asks, turning her eyes to the reindeer. "Does Brutus know? And yes, hello over there! We are preparing for the fun times, certainly. It's going to be a very exciting thing! I look forward to seeing how you northerners fight!"
Natska raises an eyebrow, then snickers. "He joined their Brotherhood or whatever it is," she says. "Maybe -we- need a women's only club like that back home..." The jaguar turns, then, examining Lunette's wares and picking over a few things.
Calisiel wasn't going to answer Lunette. Nope. Maybe. Either way, didn't need to. As far as Hartford and his shenanigans went... Has no idea there were any shenanigans. But, from Cassidy's words, picks up on the fact that something happened on some night. "Preeety sure you've seen a northerner fight before, Cass." Shrugs at the thought of a women's only club. "Could be fun, Natska. Possibly."
When the tournament would start already? All they were doing was talking of their position and how they should keep it. But when she heard about the tournament itself, she couldn't be helped but approach, still a safe distances from the nobles as she perked her ears.
Hugo takes one look at Hartford's stricken face and bursts out laughing. "You really don't remember!" he guffaws, "Lord Alexander knighted you into his own family for acts of valor and for drinking cousin Anton under the table!" The puma points out the factal snowflake on the reindeer's chest. "He tried to convince you to go full puma when you went in the magic box," he says, "But this was as far a you would go." Hugo thumps the big reindeer on the back. "Don't worry!" he grins, "Being a Snowmark is great!"
Lunette gives the group a smug look. "See!" she says, "Lunette knows a Snowmark when she sees one! Lord Reindeer Snowmark will do very well in tourney next week with Lunette's clothes!"
Hartford, on the other hand, is dumbstruck. The huge cervine looks from the clothes, to Hugo and Lunette's smiling faces, and then to his friends from Firmament. "Don't tell Mister Brutus!" he finally gasps.
Cassidy stares intensely at Hartford, ears twitching under her hat. "He must know, Hartford... This is... A serious thing, you know. Ah, but maybe he'll let you still be a bodyguard. But you can't keep that kind of thing a secret." Looking up to Natska, she flashes a little grin. "Maybe, maybe! That could be interesting... Classy Lady Society!"
Natska laughs brightly and hops over to Hartford, giving him a quick hug before she steps back and puts an arm around Cassidy again. "You need to tell him, Hartford, but I am sure it will be fine. Look at the Solacious family, they have a couple of Wirefurs working for them. "Will you be competing as well, Hugo?"
Calisiel blinks at the reaction to Hartford's apparent change in allegiance. "No reason to tell whoever this Brutus is. What he won't know, won't hurt him. Unless it does. Then, it's not my fault. Except when it is. And it never is." Shrugs. "Classy ladies? Guess that means I'm out."
More and more talk, at least, until they talked of the Solacious family, which bringed her to get more curious what have been said and about said brutus, which she might have encountered at some point, but without any proper memories of it.
"Of course!" Hugo answers Natska, "I look forward to this every year!" He thumps Hartford again. "Relax, cousin!" he says with a smile, "Your Lord Blackback gave his permission." The puma frowns for a second in thought. "Although," he muses, "based on the rest of you, he may not remember that."
Hartford's panic seems to rise with each comment. "Couldn't we just wait to tell Mister Brutus?" he asks, eyes wide and nostrils flaring, "He can't make me leave! I can't leave!" The reindeer is starting to look like he might do something crazy if someone doesn't calm him down soon.
Natska frowns, then steps back up next to Hartford. She puts a hand on his shoulder, in a hopefully caring, calming gesture. "It is alright, Hartford," she says. "It is alright. Take a deep breath, friend. In through the nose, out through the mouth, relax. Lord Hugo said that Lord Brutus was fine with it, and he is a very trustworthy person. You will be fine."
Calisiel just leans on her staff and watches as Natska tries to comfort the anxious deer. "Uh... Yeah, what she said. It'll be fine~ Everything always is. Even when it isn't." Pulls the cloth up further over her beak. Yawns.
Hartford does as Natska tells him. He is very good at following orders. After a few deep breaths, the wild look seems to have left his eyes and the big reindeer flops down on his butt in the middle of the street, staring down at his new Snowmark regalia. "Relax, Hartford!" Hugo says, patting the newest Snowmark on the head between his antlers, "It will be fine! You'll see!" He gives a grin to all the others. "Why don't I take care of my new cousin for a bit?" he offers, "I will return him in one piece, I promise."
Lunette seems unperterbed by the drama happening in front of her stall and is still doing a brisk business. It seems like nothing can surprise the inhabitants of Snowhame for long when it comes to their beloved noble house.
Natska gives Hugo a small nod. "Of course you will! I wouldn't have worried. Lord Hartford, Lord Hugo, do take care!" She grins then and slips her arm through Cassidy's, turning back to the merchant's displays and picking out a few things in Solacious colors. "Mmm. You are mostly right about that, bird."
Cassidy keeps to Natska's side, letting her eyes wander around the other merchants for a moment before turning her attention back in front of her to peruse with the jaguar. "Hmmm... What kind of accessories, do you think?" She asks of the feline.
Calisiel nods. "When am I ever wrong... Often, actually." Shrugs once more. Glances around at the stalls. Wanders off to look over them. For random-ish things.
Hugo hoists the stunned Hartford up from the ground with a grunt. "Oof!" he snorts, "You are heavier than Uncle Sasha!" The noble puma leads the blue reindeer away for a little heart-to-heart.
Meanwhike, the market is in full swing, smells of delicious food wafting through the air among the cries of cloth and trinket merchants and the general hubbub of the plaza. Looks like you could find most anything, if you knew what you wanted.
Cassidy peers after Hartford for a moment, before leaning back over to smiles at the merchant. "I don't suppose you happen... To have a Solacious tabard, do you? Most of my outfits won't quite work with it, but it would be a lovely thing to have for a future outfit, perhaps!"
