[ Their sleeping quarters are so changed that Joric almost thinks he's taken a wrong turn somewhere, but it matter little because there are supplies in here and they're going to need them while they're stuck. He studies the cans to see what's in them and looks around for a can opener. Not for the first time he laments the fact that some food is so hard to get at. Sure, it's well preserved but his people had their own preserving methods and it didn't involve locking the food behind metal that needed to be pierced.
He shines his flashlight on a shelf and moves to examine a box that he has no hesitation in opening. The rosy light greets him with such a pull that he reaches out and touches it without hesitation. Part of the storage room seems to melt away, or perhaps some sort of portal opens up because now there's greenery and sunlight pouring into the space. Joric has reverted back to a teenager and suddenly he's carrying a young blonde girl no more than six years old on his back. Another boy that looks close enough to Joric that it's clear they're brothers has stopped ahead of the pair. Looking back, he appears maybe two or three years younger than the teenage Joric, whose hair is in a similar style to his everyday look. His beard is no more than stubble and he's not as muscular as he normally is, but he's just as tall.
"That one?" the younger brother asks, pointing at a flower in full bloom along a hedge row. The girl peeks over Joric's shoulder from where she sits piggyback and nods.
"Yes!"
"All right." He moves to pick it while Joric hitches the girl up higher as she starts to squirm. ]
You're as wriggly as a snake. Do you want carried or accidentally dropped?
[ "Nooo!" The girl squeals out dramatically. "Do not drop me!" ]
Well then stop doing your best to be dropped!
[ Joric laughs at her protests and tightens his hold as their brother returns with the flower. He's holding a whole bunch in his other hand in blues, whites, yellows, and a few pink. ]
All right, let's find a shady spot and I'll make you the crown.
[ The girl cheers and squeezes Joric tight around the neck while the boy laughs at the exaggerated choking sound Joric makes in response. ]
closed to natasha | rose
He shines his flashlight on a shelf and moves to examine a box that he has no hesitation in opening. The rosy light greets him with such a pull that he reaches out and touches it without hesitation. Part of the storage room seems to melt away, or perhaps some sort of portal opens up because now there's greenery and sunlight pouring into the space. Joric has reverted back to a teenager and suddenly he's carrying a young blonde girl no more than six years old on his back. Another boy that looks close enough to Joric that it's clear they're brothers has stopped ahead of the pair. Looking back, he appears maybe two or three years younger than the teenage Joric, whose hair is in a similar style to his everyday look. His beard is no more than stubble and he's not as muscular as he normally is, but he's just as tall.
"That one?" the younger brother asks, pointing at a flower in full bloom along a hedge row. The girl peeks over Joric's shoulder from where she sits piggyback and nods.
"Yes!"
"All right." He moves to pick it while Joric hitches the girl up higher as she starts to squirm. ]
You're as wriggly as a snake. Do you want carried or accidentally dropped?
[ "Nooo!" The girl squeals out dramatically. "Do not drop me!" ]
Well then stop doing your best to be dropped!
[ Joric laughs at her protests and tightens his hold as their brother returns with the flower. He's holding a whole bunch in his other hand in blues, whites, yellows, and a few pink. ]
All right, let's find a shady spot and I'll make you the crown.
[ The girl cheers and squeezes Joric tight around the neck while the boy laughs at the exaggerated choking sound Joric makes in response. ]