2024-12-31 - Cohorts? Crew? Comrades?

Artemisia is on the third floor, where the truly magnificent and strange and oddish of ends lives. The petite blonde finds herself standing in front of a mirror with a peacock feather fan in one hand, elegant and elaborate and very green, and a sparkly necklace that has to be costume with that many baubles dangling from the other. Her blonde hair frames her face in soft, Marilyn waves in preparation for late that night, but she's dressed in a soft pink hoodie, a tennis skirt, and a pair of yellow tights tucked into a pair of black platform Mary Janes. She purses her lips, considering the effect of the necklaces as it sparkles against her fingers. "No one would really know you were fake," she informs it fondly. "You're far too much of a lady for that."

He spends a majority of his days on a ferry, so when Kellin needs something he prefers to shop local, instead of spending even more time on a ferry to get to the mainland. It doesn’t help that with the holidays the ferries are elbow to elbow people. No thanks! So here he is at the employee thrift store, his mission, find a hoodie that doesn’t expose his mid-drift should he lift his arms. Good luck!

“Who’s gonna know?” He quotes the meme that went viral earlier in the year, as he passes where Artemisia is looking at the jewelry. “Well besides me, and who am I gonna tell?”

Artemisia lets out a squeak of surprise when Kellin speaks, then laughs as she catches him pass by. "I dunno. You could have a whole group of cohorts."

Should Kellin feel guilty, at least a little about surprising Arte, as she picked out fashionable accessories for herself? Maybe, but he really doesn’t. Being stealthy isn’t easy for someone with a limp that walks with a cane, but other people’s hyper focus happens.

“Do I look like the type of person who would have cohorts?” As if that type of person would have a certain look or vibe. He looks just like any other normal guy that works in the background at the park. “But seriously, you should get it, would work for New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras festivities.” Says the of so unfashionable ferry captain, wearing his distressed jeans, plaid flannel, with a neutral t-shirt under it.

"Doesn't a Captain usually have cohorts?" Artemisia suggests with a bat of her lashes that is completely displaced by her grin. She sets aside the fan so she can offer him a hand, whichever one he doesn't hold his cane in. She doesn't seem to care a bit for proper nicetities. "Arte. Artemisia if you want to be fancy," she introduces herself, although they've probably run into each other here and there. "Also. I hadn't considered Mardi Gras. I've never been to a Mardi Gras party. That's like January?" February.

Dressed in various shades of black from her leggings, Converse-All Star hightops, and oversized off-black knit sweater with flecks of color in the yarn, the only true accent of color is a deep purple scarf, Lavender arrives to the third floor of the store. Dark eyes look first at Artemisia then to Kellin, back and forth a moment as if she is surprised to see anyone there. Kellin has been here even longer than she, so surely they have run into each other even if only on the ferries. Artemisia might be harder for the ride operator to place, though she may have seen her around from time to time. It's a big park with a lot of employees, anything is possible.

"Hey."

“Crew. Captains have a crew.” Kellin corrects with an amused noise at the question. “I do my best to avoid fancy.” Though he didn’t try to avoid it at the Winter Ball. “Kellin.” He supplies as he politely shakes the offered hand. They are bound to have at least seen each other around on the ferries to and from the islands if not in the tunnels under the park.

“It changes depending on that whole Lent, Easter thing. This year it is the beginning of March, it is usually in February.”

"How's that different?" Artemisia half teases with a puzzled smile, looking truly curious. "Then Arte it is!" She doesn't seem too bothered with fancy herself, never mind the fabulous hair that curls flatteringly around her features. "March. Huh. I was never very good with the whole religious calendar thing," she admits with a tip of her head.

Then, Lavender catches her eye. "Wow. Love the purple scarf," Artemisia says with a smile.

Lavender gets that look on her face that one gets when they think they may be interrupting something. Lowering her head, she heads to one of the displays to look for anything new that might have been added since the last time she visited. Artemesia comments on her scarf though, so she turns and lifts the end of it that hangs in front (the other drapes down her back). "This old thing?" she asks with only the smallest inflection in her voice to indicate it is a question. "Thank you. I got it here actually, about a month ago." She nods toward Artemesia and says, "I like the fan. The necklace isn't quite my style, but it is pretty too." She looks at Kellin and offers, "Cap'n." It might be all she knows him as. "Good to see you on land."

“Intention?” Kellin sounds dubious in his answer though “Cohorts makes it sound like we are going to rob a bank or knock over a liquor store. I have never done one of those things.” And the other is all in the semantics. Would a boat participating in illegal liquor smuggling be considered a store? shrug

“It’s all mythology and folklore to me.” Thinking of it that way makes it much more interesting, to him at least “I can tell you all the Greek pantheon feast days too.” He’s a huge nerd when it comes to mythology and folklore. And not just the Greek and Roman either.

The greeting to Lavendar from Arte pulls his attention to the other woman who has joined them “Hey there.” He greets her in turn. “It can be old and still be nice.” He says of the scarf.

"Yup." Artemisia smiles broadly at Lavender. "The color is lovely on you."

She tips her blonde head a little dubiously at Kellin's answer. "Is comrades better or worse?" Arte quizzes the ship captain. "That's such a funny phrase. I don't know how you'd knock over a building without a bulldozer." She taps her lower lip as she thinks on it for a moment. "I can't say I know much about either of those," she admits honestly.

"Oh, I know," Lavender says to Kellin. "It's just a saying. This old thing..." To the conversation about cohorts, she says, "I don't know. Used to call my group of friends my cohorts. We never did anything too illegal." Her shoulder lifts in a shrug, though she doesn't expound on what illegal things they might have committed.

Nodding her head toward Kellin, she says, "I also like your cane. I don't know if that's an acceptable thing to say, so I hesitated. But, it's a nice cane."

"Thanks," she comments to Artemisia with a nod. "Sometimes I feel it is necessary to contrast the black with something." She thinks for a moment on Arte's observation about knocking buildings over. "Depends what the building is made of, probably. After all, the big bad wolf knocked a few over with just his breath." She lifts a hand and waves it in front of her face, insinuating that the wolf's breath must have been stinky.

"The mythologies are interesting. I always mean to study them more, but haven't yet. I do like mardi gras though." Nodding again to Artemisia, she points out, "the peacock fan would be an amazing accessory for mardi gras."

The whole time she talks her voice remains relatively level, monotone. Her gestures are gentle and slow, and she seems to never smile.

"Comrade versus cohort...that's a hard one. Comrade has more baggage, but definitely sounds more clandestine." Kellin has big words, if we was trying to hide how big of a nerd he is, he is failing big time. "I have seen a station wagon take out a house, and a jeep take out the dining room of a falafel place, so bulldozers, while more effective, aren't necessary to get the job done." apparently he has seen some things.

The comment on his cane from Lavender has him glancing down at him and then back up at her "This old thing?" he gives a half smirk as he echoes her earlier sentiment "And thanks. I would love to say it has a sword hidden in it, but I would be lying. The good ones like that are hella expensive." Kellin then nods at Lavender "Well if you want some book or podcast recommendations to get started..."

"Of a falafel place?" Artemisia looks horrified. That's good food!

Then, she blinks. "Why would you hide a sword is a mobility device?" Someone sit this girl down with some history.

"A lot more baggage," Lavender agrees. When Artemisia is horrified about the falafel place being taken down, Lavender says, "I guess the jeep made a chic patty out of the place." She looks at Kellin then Arte. "You know, because falafel..." She looks between them again.

Lavender points at Kellin at the 'old thing' comment, indicating he is spot on. "Have to say, having a sword in it would be sick as hell. I will definitely ask for some suggestions. You got a phone number?"

"It was a great falafel place." Kellin was horrfied when it happened of course. He was there, apparently, he has since recovered. "It was right outside of Detroit. They never rebuilt it, sadly." the play on words from Lavender does have him giving a huff of amusement "You aren't wrong."

"People who have or rather had, swords in their canes wasn't using them to help them walk." he supplies to Arte. "They were for show, and self defense. Though any cane can be used for self defense. Most canes will break with one or two hits." he lifts his up "Mine is a tactical cane, specially designed for beat downs." why he would need that, who knows, but he has it just in case.

He holds out his phone to Lavender after quickly unlocking it. "Here."

"Huh." Artemisia frowns at the idea of fighting with a cane. "People will always find something weird to hide a weapon in," she says lightly, shaking her blonde head. "Have you gotten into a fight with your cane?"

"RIP Falafel place." Lavender's lips curl slightly downward as she nods solemnly. "You are well remembered by those who ate you."

"Weird, or awesome?" she asks to Artemisia. "I have a little knife that looks like a lipstick tube. Sometimes people get them for self defense. Sometimes just because they are cool and they want to collect them even if they do not plan to ever use them. I could envision you with like, a pretty bodice dagger or something."

Taking Kellin's offered phone in hand, she goes into the contacts to add her information. Once entered, she sends herself a text from his phone. It is just the ⛴ emoji.

“If you think about it just about anything can be a weapon if you are imaginative enough.” Kellin tells Arte “Not a serious fight no. Mostly rough housing with my brothers.” He’s a full grown adult that still rough houses with his siblings. But when it comes to family you are always still a kid at times.

“I vote awesome.” Kellin says slightly raising a hand. “Way back in the Victorian era they made canes that had violins in them. Now that’s weird. The sword makes sense, but a musical instrument.” Little does he know about flutes that hide a dagger.

Taking his phone back, Kellin glances at the outgoing message to Lavender and gives a chuckle.

"I would find much more use out of a hidden piano than a dagger," Artemisia admits with a twinkle in her eye. "If you're a player, the world is your stage and you want to play as much as you can."

"Truth." Lavender nods toward Kellin, agreeing that almost anything can be weaponized. Her eyes look wide at Kellin then. "You fight your brothers with a cane? Brutal." She nods at the vote of awesome. Clearly thinking so as well. "Violins? How even..." She pulls her phone out of a pocket and makes a note to herself to look that up at a later time.

Tilting her head she looks at Artemisia. "If they could make a piano tiny enough to fit in a bodice, that would be awesome. I don't know how you would play it, but I leave that to the artiste."

“And break all the hearts on the way?” Kellin ask of Arte, as a joke, even if that might be true for some players, be that of the stage variety or the other kind.

“It’s two against one, sometimes three.” Dang three brothers, “And I am handicapped.” He gestures to his bum leg, which isn’t straight, the foot angles in a bit more than it should. “I have to take all the advantages I can. I use it mostly in defense, not offense.”

He hmmms at the comment from Lavender, “I don’t think I could make a piano bodice sized, but I could shrink it down a lot.” He’s with co-workers he can talk about magic freely here. It’s a safe space.

"Oh." Artemisia blush a little. "I don't know how many hearts I break."

"I don't know how a piano bodice would work," Artemisia says with a frown, necklace dangling from her fingertips in a glittering arc as she splays her hands against her breast bone. "Maybe like an accordion?" She gestures back and forth with her hands as she stands in front of the mirror. She blinks at Kellin. "You shrink things? How cool."

"Oh." Lavender nods at the explanation Kellin gives about fighting his brothers with his cane. "I mean, still brutal, but seems fair at that point. Mostly in defense. Mostly." Lavender gives him a small wink.

"Girl." A simple statement as Ender turns to look at Artemisia. "Look at you. You could break a thousand hearts in one day." Then, "oh. I meant, a bodice dagger sized piano, but, a bodice piano, like a corset piano would be sick as hell. I bet one of the tailors here could make one even. Maybe not with all the keys, but." The place is magic, after all. Then Kellin is saying he can shrink things and she nods. "Sick. And handy at times I bet."

"I mean, all is fair, right." Kellin lifts a shoulder in a shrug to Lavender before looking between the two of them.

"It would probably be more electric keyboard and less piano." So maybe a tailor and a techie of some sort. "Whose that woman that dances while she plays the violin? You could be like her, only with music clothes." He taps at his chest with one hand, mimicking piano playing.

There is a mod "Makes moving furniture easy."

Artemisia blinks as if confused at Lavender's certain pronouncement. "I don't know about that," she laughs lightly, a hint of a flush to her cheeks. She flaps a long fingered hand. "I'd wear a corset styled to look like piano keys. That'd be peak."

"Lindsey Sterling," Artemisia supplies without missing a beat. "I'm not a terribly good dancer. Alas. I don't know how I'd press the tiny keys but I'm sure it'd be darling."

"Absolutely," she assures Kellin. "Especially when the war is amongst brothers. Historically speaking, it is surprising how often brothers end up on opposite sides." But when Arte balks at the statement Lavender had made, she looks at the blonde with an almost tired expression. "Have you not looked in a mirror recently? Cuz like..." She gestures to Artemisia with a flip of her hand.

"Well, yes, true." Lavender shrugs about the note about the electric keyboard corset. "Piano-esque. Maybe there is a piano setting." Looking toward Arte, she says, "I hope you get one made." She gives a nod then when she mentions Lindsay Stirling as the violinist who dances. "She's kind of rad. Almost made me want to learn how to play."

"Oh shit," she says to Kellin about his talent. "I didn't even think of that. Next time I arrange my room, I'm calling you." It's said matter of factly.

"Or not so surprising if you are a student of history." Kellin isn't, but he does see a lot of that in his own subject of choice, which is technically a type of history. There is a gesture over to the clothing area, where there is a full length mirror "There is a mirror right there." that's the limit on his comments on Arte's appearance.

"That's her. I haven't heard much of her stuff, but I like what I have heard." he looks somewhat amused at Lavender's comment "Almost?" and then he nods at her "As long as I don't have to do any heavy lifting."

A little line furrows Artemisia's brow but she doesn't argue with Lavender, glancing towards the mirror.

"You should learn to play if you're interested. Music is great," Artemisia says cheerfully. "I can send you some if you like," she says to Kellin as to Lindsey Sterling's music.

"Truth." Lavender nods to Kellin. "I'm not a student. I just read some sometimes. So, I still am surprised on occasion." It is hard to imagine Lavender surprised at all, as even-keeled as she seems to be. "No heavy lifting if you can make things tiny. Unless the weight is still the same. That would be a conundrum."

"Music is amazing. I listen to it all the time," she says to Arte before reaching for her phone. Noticing the time, she says, "shit. I gotta run. I meant to jsut pop in before my shift. Catch you two later." And with that, she turns to walk away, waving her phone in the air over her shoulder. "I'm in the directory if you ever want to meet up or whatever."

“I’m always up for good music recs.” He says to Arte. He has listened to enough of Sterling’s stuff to know it is good, but not enough to pick out what is stellar.

“I’m more of a student of mythology and folklore. There is plenty of brother versus brother in that.” SO much family drama in Mythology. Which means science and math isn’t quite in his sphere of knowledge “Can’t say much about mass versus size versus weight. It is lighter though. Not sure where all that excess weight goes.” He really hasn’t thought about it. Later Lavender.” He has her number so contacting her wouldn’t be an issue.

“Are you going to get that?” Kellin gestures to the jewelry that Arte was debating when he interrupted her.

"Okay," Artemisia calls to Lavender with a sweet smile. "I can share some music stuff if you like Sterling. You'd probably love Vitamin String Quartet," she muses, tapping a painted nail against her bottom lip.

She's half-forgotten about the necklace still dangling in her fingers. Artemisia blinks at it and then smiles at Kellin and nods. "Yeah. I think I am. Did you find anything you liked?"

"Vitamin String Quartet?" Kellin echoes the name, amused that a group would call themselves that "Are they an actual quartet? With string instruments?" He is really going to be broadening his musical horizons with Arte's recommendations. Who knows what the chances of his being a full on classical music lover is by the end of the year.

The question has him glancing around the store, before shaking his head "I haven't even looked around yet." he kind of got distracted by the conversation with Arte and Lavender "Guess I should get to it." he gestures to where the men's clothing is "A hoodie isn't going to find and buy itself."

"Mh-hmm," Artemisia hums cheerfully, gently rising an octave. "They are an actual quartet. They do a lot of cover music, if you like Stirling then I definitely think you'll like them," she says with a bop of her blonde head. "They even were featured on Bridgerton! Which like wow. Total dream, you know?" She flutters a little at the idea. Although who knows it it's the show, the actors, of the idea of being a featured musician that appeals to her as she bops on her toes.

"Well, I will leave you to it." She flashes Kellin a little smile. "I recommend blue. It'll look nice with your hair," Artemisia suggests as she glances at him through her lashes. "I should go check out with this before I make off with it in my pocket." There's a wink. Just kidding.