vallo

Who: Edwin and Nikolai
What: Edwin decides to try cooking for Nikolai. Nikolai decides to help. It goes poorly.
When: Last month
Where: Sutton Cottage
Rating: PG

( I think it’s very sweet that you nearly did a war crime trying to make my favorite dish. )

This aurora is truly spectacular. I've never seen anything like it. My world has auroras, though rarely in England, but I don't believe they typically last for long, and to have them caused by magic such as this would truly be unheard of.

I'll be making a study of them for the next couple of weeks, I think, and will be happy for any resources anyone might have on the phenomena, especially if anyone has any experience with such a thing in their own worlds.

I've been here in Vallo over a year now - I've fought your monsters, I've befriended my own, I've made new friends, I've lost old ones, I've received new memories, and sold a truly impressive amount of smut (you're welcome, Caleb), and I think - maybe - I might have half a chance to actually stay here. Oh, optimism - I'll admit it's a fun hat to wear, but difficult to truly rally behind, isn't it? We've all lost loved ones, here. It's a cut that stings, week in and week out. We've little power here. No control.

And yet I think the alternative - to have no hope, to live without aim - it may be the most intelligent option, but certainly not the most satisfying. I could never deny myself a light to sail home to once I've found one, foolish though it might be (yes, Edwin, that's you. Very poetic, yes? I hope you're properly besotted). We find ourselves in a strange, cruel, beautiful world, don't we friends?

And so, a year later, both heavier and lighter than before - to many more, and many more.

[ Filtered to Edwin ]

All that said: how do you feel about my potentially risking my neck from time to time? I'm considering doing the part-time Defense Squad, now that I'm certain that my monster will cause us no harm. I promise to be extremely dashing.

Alright Vallo, back me up here. When you're twins, there's no such thing as an older sibling or a younger sibling because you're twins. The whole point is that you're the same age, right?

[ Filtered to Chastity's Nook employees ]

Are we planning on doing that mystery book promotion this year again for the love holiday? "Blind date with a book"? I can get started on that; I've done a fair bit of reading in the last year. Funny what not running about for your life and country at all hours can engender.

[ Filtered to Edwin ]

That kinky series with all the ropes you pretend you don't pour over has a new one out next week.

[ /Filter ]

Sorry to those of you who literally went to hell his past week. Rather glad this bout passed me over, to be honest. Do I, like many of you, feel crushing guilt for something that has come to pass in my life? Yes. Do I wish to relieve it in a perpetual cycle? I do not. May I recommend a cup of tea and a visit to Chastity's Nook for some high quality literary distraction recommended by extremely handsome and charming book seller? Caleb, never say I don't put in an effort.

Living away from Ravka as long as I have has made me weak. Quite ready for spring, all things said and done.

Who: Edwin and Nikolai
When: December (backdated)
Where: Edwin's apartment
What: It turns out critical thinking about one's future is kind of important in a relationship!

( I think I would have liked to have met you when you were a child. )

[ Filtered to Caleb ]

If, by chance, we had a customer absolutely determined to sell off their-- one moment, let me count -- twenty-three book set and counting of incredibly unlikely self-published erotica that has not been proofread to anyone's sexual satisfaction in your store, what would you suggest for a kind, yet firm dismissal that holds the dual boundaries of "no thanks" and "yikes" effectively?

Thanks boss! (Saints, I love not being the boss.)

[ /Filter ]

My first winter in Vallo! What do I need to know? Feel free to embellish; I'm not going to know the difference and I'm not going to research to check.

Anybody know anything about trains and train tracks? Thinking about making a big Polar Express across the barns and I can dream that shit but I don't want to fuck up my farm.

( FRIENDS AND FAMILY FILTER (MAJOR GREYWAREN SPOILERS) )

So little "gifts" are a thing here? I hope that's the case, otherwise this thing followed me here.

( SFW Image under Cut )

This whole situation is giving me flashbacks to situations in my world that I never thought I'd see again, and I'm not having a good time.

The salon will, obviously, be staying closed until we see daylight again.

Filter: Nikolai and David

It would be really great if Alina Starkov decided to show up in this universe right about now. Nikolai, how goes that beacon for the forest?

I have spent the last seventy-two hours¹ refining additional elements² on the car³, and I am now comfortable in saying this: Viktor⁴, I trash talk you⁵.


1. This exceeds my usual limits of going without sleep. I find I'm uncertain where I live now⁶
2. Finding a balance of burst speed and sustained speed is exciting work. I've done similar before, but only for extremely utilitarian reasons and life-or-death stakes. Playing with it, knowing that even should I fail, the only lasting consequence will be to my pride⁷, is fun I've not gotten to have previously. I like it.
3. For the Great Vallo Race
4. Others may also consider themselves trash-talked if they wish. My confidence in my work is absolute.
5. I have read about the trash talk and I understand it is meant to be a good-natured sort of adversarial communication between friends. If I am doing it incorrectly, please advise so I may adjust my approach accordingly. These things do not come easily for me, but I do find that with study and occasional corrections from those who understand people, I can improve.
6. Genya, my love, if you would be so kind as to give me a hand at the shop, I would appreciate it.
7. Everyone should applaud my wife for being as brave and gracious as she is beautiful, because after considering the matter she has elected to withhold any objection to my taking the passenger seat while Nikolai drives our creation.

( Read more... )

[Private to Nikolai]

I thought I might check in. You've not been stricken with this latest bit of Vallo madness, have you?

( Read more... )

WHO: David Kostyk and Nikolai Lantsov
WHAT: David and Nikolai talk shop (specifically Nikolai's Lighthouse Project) and Their Dark Past
WHEN: Last week sometime
WHERE: David's office at the DOA science department
WARNINGS: Spoilers for King of Scars

( If you hate it, I'll cry. )

[ Filtered to Edwin ]

I want you to know how very close I came to getting one of those brass bands to follow you about playing the birthday song.

[ /Filter ]

[ Filtered to David & Genya ]

Genya, I apologize in advance but I have a need of your husband: I've got an idea for a project, and delightfully enough, it's not something that will end in horrors and accusations of war crimes!

[ /Filter ]

I'm trying to win an argument with someone and...weirdest porn category you've found? Go.

Genya told me I need to write a proper introduction. So
1. Give name and origin
2. Apologize for previous entry
3. Explain relations/establish self
4. Announce desire for employment
5. Establish experience
6. Salutation
7. Insert footnotes

Hello. I am David Kostyk, and I have learned that "where is your nitroglycerine?" is not a traditional greeting in this world. I've also learned that the problem I needed nitroglycerine to solve is no longer a problem¹.

I'm Genya Safin²'s husband, a friend and colleague of Nikolai Lantsov³, a Grisha Fabrikator⁴, and a recent transplant to Vallo. Since everyone with power isn't automatically drafted into an army here, I'm now looking for a lab position. I've been employed as a scientist, engineer, and general problem solver since childhood. My previous experience is primarily in weapons development, but I would prefer to turn my skills toward something that will actually improve the world rather than destroy it. I would appreciate any help that can be offered in seeking such employment. Thank you.



¹I would still like to be able to explode things for testing purposes. Where one problem is solved, another tends to appear.
²Grisha Tailor⁵, most beautiful woman in any universe, titanium spine, much more likeable than me
³engineer
⁴Grisha Fabrikators, also called Materialki, come in two types: Durasts and Alkemi. Durasts are capable of manipulating solid matter down to its tiniest forms, using the mind and often aided by gestures for focus
⁵Tailors are Grisha capable of manipulating living matter who use their gifts to change people's appearances. Genya is the best of them.

This is most certainly not October weather. And I'm pretty sure the last thing I remember, I was still in my apartment.

Don't tell me all my things were given away.

Is there anyone around who still remembers a Genya Safin hanging around?

I know many of you are concerned over the current state of things, but rest assured that things should be set to rights shortly. To keep all of you updated: Gansey and I have been able to pinpoint what went wrong with the original spell, and have helped Pixie reverse the spell in Thor. We're currently trying to find a solution to have the reversal spell work on a mass scale, but I'm relatively confident that we'll be able to have it figured in short order.

Thank you all for your patience.