IoF Stories: Dec '23, Cocoa | Laugom, (Tatlitli)

IoF Adventure December 2023

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Laugom, being a nomad, considered the South Ridge Range no more out of his way than any other place on any map. Tatlitli, however, considered anyplace on land to be out of her way. Thus, the argument.

 

"Just for a little while, mate. Work your fins, see the sights, have some of the best hot chocolate in the world, and you'll be back on your way before you even want to go." Laugom did a little twirl through the winter-chilled water, looping around his smaller companion.

 

Tatlitli continued to protest, nevermind that their spiraling conversation was drawing ever closer to the surface and the shore. "I'm not built for land, and neither are you, you big jellyskull."

 

"Pshaw, there's nothing I can't do. Worst comes to worst, I'll just carry you."

 

At this, Tatlitli snorted. "You may be three times my size, but trying to pull or carry things around over land is an exercise in frustration, believe you me!"

 

"Oh, I know. Worse than dragging something along through the water." Laugom shook his parcel in demonstration. Attaching great bulky packages to himself always made his spots itch, but it was the only way to bring his best trophies out to show off and occasionally exchange for exotic snacks or nice tailbands. Hot chocolate was one exotic snack he just had to have - and everybody knew the udin were crazy for those sunken baubles from human ships.

 

"Now that's just being ridiculous. Pulling through the water is easy."

 

Laugom saw a golden opportunity, and took it without hesitation. "Oh? Well, if you're so good at it, why don't you take this along then?"

 

Tatlitli saw exactly what Laugom was trying, and rolled her whole head and glowing angler bulb along with it, but huffed. "Give it here then, jellyskull."

 

Tatlitli carefully pulled the crudely-woven kelp-rope off of Laugom's nose-horn, and hooked it over one of her tusks to pull it alone. She seemed totally unbothered by the way it swerved about and bumped against her neck and shoulder.

 

Laugom had foisted off his burden just in time. His flippers carved into the soft sand of the beach, and when he lifted his head, he breached the surface and blinked at the merry lights of a celebration in progress. The distant lights of udin villagery shone on the mountain slopes, but the beach was pocked with booths and stands, milling with celebrating dragons.

 

"Ahoy there!" he called out, and responses came back in kind. Without hesitation or worry, Laugom proceeded to beach himself. He pushed and shoved with his hind paws to turn his stern about, and looked back to see Tatlitli in tow, carefully dragging Laugom's parcel across the wet sand.

 

"Not too cold, is it?" asked Laugom.

 

Tatlitli chuffed. "This is downright tropical. Ask me again when the beach is a glacier and the snow is tall enough to swallow you."

 

"Excellent!" Unfazed, Laugom twisted about and began an awkward but determined half-gallop up the beach, towards the booths where the hot chocolate was to be had. He could practically taste it already, perfectly spiced and gloriously hot!

 

Tatlitli advanced at a far slower pace, being smaller, chunkier, and parcel-laden. Laugom wasn't concerned about leaving his companion behind - that just meant their order would be ready as soon as she finally arrived! As soon as he found the right booth... aha!

 

"Good afternoon, mate!" he said to the udin behind the booth. "Two hot chocolates, please!"

 

"Gold, or?"

 

"My unquestionably powerful and incalculably stubborn companion is bringing something for you now - you take shipwreck baubles, yes? Of course you do, of course indeed. I've got something really special for you - an entire human necklace, itty bitty chain and all! With the little metal bit, those - oh, what is the name? Pocket? Locket, that's exactly it, well said, mate. And - here's Tatlitli!"

 

Tatlitli dragged herself through the snow, nosed the parcel forwards, and collapsed into a muddy heap of grumpiness. Laugom waved the boothkeeper on, and soon those nimble udin paws had extracted the grimy but remarkably intact locket from Laugom's sack of bragging props.

 

"Lovely!" judged the boothkeeper. "Yes, this will do very nicely. Thank you! Two hot chocolates coming right up, and feel free to come back for a refill, my friends!"

 

"Aha!" Laugom threw a grin at Tatlitli. "See that, mate? Once again, my discerning eye, my deft handling, and my astute marketing strategies have led to victory!"

 

"Whatever, jellyskull."

 

Tatlitli's tune didn't change, even after the hot chocolate was dispensed. The udin boothkeeper kindly provided their drinks in wide bowls that did not require opposable thumbs to drink from, placed into the depressions of carved wooden stumps so that the heat wouldn't be leeched away by the snow. 

 

Laugom drank with great enthusiasm, grinning as the spicy drink warmed him from the inside out, warding off the cold even better than blubber could.

 

Tatlitli took careful, reserved sips, dragging her tongue across her numerous teeth as she considered the flavor. "This is some strange stuff," she decided.

 

"But good!"

 

"It's not fish."

 

"Bah!" Laugom lifted one hind leg to prod Tatlitli's flank - gently, of course. Third of his size as she was, he could probably have picked her up and tossed her back into the sea if he had the limbs for throwing. "You don't know a good thing when you've been given it, you uncultured glacier barbarian."

 

Tatlitli grunted. "Think of it as, more for you." She leaned over and shoved her nose into a patch of clean snow, washing out the taste of the best drink in the world.

 

So Laugom had himself four bowls of hot chocolate, while Tatlitli rolled about in the snow to relieve her drying skin, and eventually discovered sushi.