(no subject)

[sunbaked_baker]

(OOM: Somehow the longest day only got longer.)


Rae isn't really dressed for a pseudo-Scottish February as she steps out of the bar, heading for the lake shore. Her loose, scoop-necked t-shirt stays well away from the burns on her neck and on her hands. It keeps from hurting her injuries but it doesn't do much against the cold. Her shorts leave most of her legs bare to the chill, and her sneakers aren't the best for walking in what's left of the winter's snow and mud.

It doesn't matter much, however. The cold is actually rather soothing against the angry red burns, shiny with ointment, even if it makes her shiver. Rae knows the cold is a temporary inconvenience, in any case. She is headed towards the Caribbean inlet, where her attire will be entirely appropriate.

It is absolute coincidence that the sky above the lake, which had been the very picture of a grey, sullen February sky when she stepped out of the door, soon clears into blue wreathed in bright sunlight. It is still a winter's sun, however, and gives more light than warmth, but it is sunlight all the same.

Rae settles on the warm sand, closing her eyes and letting the sun shine down on her, on her burned neck and hands. Helping her heal.

Comments

[archmagetrust]

Khadgar has a new spell he wants to experiment with which is better done outside than in the bar. It's still rather chill out, though, except for that odd spot along one side the lake. He's not sure how the magic here pulls that off but he appreciates it just the same.

He blinks across the last bit of muddy ground to try and spare the edges of his robes, unexpectedly ending up within sight of Rae. "Oh! Excuse me, I didn't realize anyone was here."

[sunbaked_baker]

Despite how it might have looked, Sunshine had absolutely not been dozing off in the warm sunlight of the Caribbean inlet. Absolutely not.

Maybe a little.

Rae opens her eyes, taking in the site of the mage - because there's no doubt that this is a mage, though of what kind Rae's Dark Sight cannot tell her - and offers a slight smile. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't exactly announcing my presence."

"It's a good place when one gets sick of winter well before spring arrives."

[archmagetrust]

The mages of Azeroth only deal in arcane energy, if that means anything to her, and arcane is the magic of Order.

Khadgar laughs a little, smiling. "I can see why! It is like this all the time, then?"

He can tell she has magic about her as well but he's not sure how to classify it. But that's not at all unusual for Milliways.

[sunbaked_baker]

She at least does not sense any ill-will in the strange magic-handler. That is generally enough to be going on with, in Milliways where all magic is strange magic. Her own magic-handling ability is inherent in her blood, and that power is actively drawing strength from the sun as it shines down upon them, the source of its power. There is something like a ward - or an anti-ward, something that draws rather than prevents - set into her skin and hair. It glimmers, like a faint golden web of light. She also has magic-imbued items about her person, her sunlight-imbued pocketknife and the ring in her pockets.

"Generally year-round," Rae replies. "It's pleasant even in the depths of winter. Good for getting out when being surrounded by four walls feels a little too much like... well, being surrounded."

[archmagetrust]

It's unclear how the sun fits into Azerothean magic. The tauren paladins put their faith in a sun god, which would make it holy magic, but the druids have nature spells named after the sun. And the sun itself is a star, which is arcane fueled.

So he's not really sure what he's sensing but it's neither fel, shadow, nor necromantic in nature and so he's unconcerned by it.

"I can understand the walls feeling too close." He wonders if this has anything to do with her wounds. "I am Khadgar of Azeroth," he adds with a slight bow.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae smiles, returning the bow by slightly bending at the waist rather than ducking her head, which would require some movement her neck would definitely not appreciate. "Nice to meet you, Khadgar of Azeroth. I'm Rae - Rae Seddon - of Independencia."

"What do you do in Azeroth, if I may ask?"

[archmagetrust]

"Well met, Rae." He smiles easily.

"I serve as an archmage on the Council of Six, the ruling body of the Kirin Tor of the mage city-state of Dalaran." Perhaps he should have given his full title, he thinks with some amusement.

"I'm currently working on the world of Draenor, however. May I ask what you do?"

[sunbaked_baker]

His importance, and the fact that apparently travel between worlds is a known thing, makes her grin at the juxtaposition of their answers.

"I'm a baker," she says, grinning wryly. "At my step-father's coffeehouse."

[archmagetrust]

"Oh?" He seems delighted. "Of just bread or do you make pastries as well?"

Mages love sweets.

[sunbaked_baker]

She chuckles, though it is a very light chuckle, as though she is cautious of harming her throat or neck with anything too strenuous.

"I make many kinds of bread, but my favorites among my inventions are my pastries, yes," she smiles. "Cinnamon rolls are my specialty; Cinnamon Rolls As Big As Your Head. I make them every morning."

Or did, when her hands weren't covered in slowly healing burns.

[archmagetrust]

"Mmmm." Khadgar closes his eyes at the thought of them. "That sounds lovely."

He looks at her, grinning again.

"Most mages can conjure pastries but those made by bakers are almost always better."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Of course a baker's pastries are better," Rae grins back. "It's got all the time and effort, skill and patience that went into making it."

And is greater than the sum of its parts.

"Most people in my world wouldn't like the idea of magic near their food, though. Warding their homes and vehicles, being used to their benefit, yes, but not near food or drink."

[archmagetrust]

Khadgar looks confused.

"Why would magic near food be of no benefit? And do you not make potions on your world?"

[runningred]

Jay's coming in from his run and spots Rae on the beach.

"Hey you. Whoa, you okay?"

[sunbaked_baker]

She absolutely hadn't been about to doze off in the sunlight, Jay. Honest truth. Not at all about to doze off.

Yup.

She opens her eyes, and smiles upon seeing Jay. "Hey you. I'll be okay. Still healing in the meantime. The slow way, to avoid too many questions."

Because while it hasn't been nearly as long since she saw him as since he saw her, Rae is still absolutely glad to see him. "I hear it's been a while."

[runningred]

Jay comes over to perch on a rock nearby, starting some stretches. "As long as you're going to be okay." He won't push if she doesn't want to talk.

"Been a couple of months for me. I've been in and out of Hong Kong."

[sunbaked_baker]

"My situation is actually a lot better than it looks," she says, with a wry smile. "Though I've apparently missed over half a year here while I was in my world for... a day."

A long, harrowing day, but still just a day.

"How's Hong Kong treating you?"

[runningred]

"Shitty day, clearly." He chuckles, leaning over to bump very gently against her shoulder.

"Hong Kong is an interesting challenge."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Real shitty day," she agrees with a slight chuckle, bumping her shoulder against his in response. "But not nearly as hellishly shitty as it could have been, so I'll call it a win."

"What kind of challenge is it offering?"

[runningred]

"Every one you walk away from." Jay nods, settling back to sunbath with her. "Really glad to have you back."

"Still dismantling a triad drug ring. It's taking longer than I'd like but I'm doing my best to make sure they don't spring back up."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Glad to be back." Rae leans on his shoulder, careful not to move her neck too much to make it protest. Even how much she relaxes when in the zone while baking can't touch how much more she is relaxed when out in the strong sunlight, doing nothing at all.

"Better to go less quickly and more thoroughly than the other way around, I suppose, though I understand wanting to be through with it."

[runningred]

He takes a deep breath, just enjoying her company. "Hey, the little drones were born while you were away."

[sunbaked_baker]

Her expression brightens into possibly the first full, true smile she's had since she got back. "Oh Jay, that's fantastic! How is everyone? Are they doing well?"

[runningred]

He pulls out his phone to show her photos. "Princess, the alpha female, has some problems but we're working to help her with that. I guess it's the Drone equivalent of a birth defect. Gav and I had to operate in her the day they were born and she'll need more help yet but for now she's taking time to get stronger first."

"The boys are Goggle and Pocket."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Princess, Goggle and Pocket..." Rae pores over the photos, smiling softly at them though concern lines her face as Jay explains Princess' difficulties. "I hope she grows well. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but if I can help in any way... The other drones must've been fearful, for the female of the trio to be at risk in that way."