i'll wait, so show me why you're strong

[ravagers]

[ Generally, people need time to cope and gather themselves after a... thing... like that. Unfortunately, that's not how Vanille sees it. Her thing is avoid, and once she gets out of that hellhole that's the courtroom, she makes her way to the supplies closet, then to the library. She spends some time setting up things, pushing things aside to make room. Once she's finished, and she's met up with the Party Brigade, she makes enough invitations for everyone. She slips them under everyone's doors, or hands them out if she sees someone walking around.



Inside the library, there are candles set up to provide some soft, comforting lighting. There are pots of tea, courtesy of Mercy, pancakes made by Viktor, and books (picked out by Estelle, of course) laid out on the surrounding tables. The others have provided their own touches, and Vanille's even managed to make something: sugar cookies, which are actually very good. They're flavored lightly with all sorts of flavors--not all in the same cookie, okay--and each plate is marked with whatever flavor she's put in them.

After a successful trial, it's healthy to indulge, right? Let's mingle. ]

Comments

[iamthatsea]

Some, yeah. It... calmed me down, at least.

[ "Calming down" is like 99% of why she meditates ever. ]

[oyashiromama]

Then I'm glad for you.

[...uh. what now, she...]

If...aah... you need to talk about what we saw...

[iamthatsea]

It... looked like a Varelsi. Or at least, how the Varelsi have been described to me. But... just one of them on its own doesn't make sense.

[ She sighs. ]

But then, none of this makes sense.

[oyashiromama]

[She gently shakes her head.]

It really doesn't. I've seen nothing that could resemble whatever that was, but...what are those you mentioned? The Varelsi.

[iamthatsea]

The reason I know at least one other dimension exists. They don't usually eat... people... or so I am told, but they do eat stars.

[oyashiromama]

...Oh. Something so big that... [Well.] Then, I am...relieved it is likely not one of those.

[iamthatsea]

No it's... they swarm the stars. But I don't know as much about them as someone from a more populated planet would.

[ Yet. ]

Yeah. We need to keep an eye out, I guess. But for now all we can do is pick ourselves up and mourn the dead. And here I am without any of the Tea of Mourning.

[ BECAUSE SURELY THAT'S A THING EVERYONE HAS? RIGHT?? ]

[oyashiromama]

The Tea of...Mourning...?

[APPARENTLY NOT, NO.]

I am not familiar...

[iamthatsea]

Oh, uh... when someone dies, we steep ourselves in the Tea of Mourning. I suppose... that's probably a strange tradition, compared to people who live on land.

[oyashiromama]

You steep...yourselves in- oh. ...Yes, it isn't something I'd do myself.

[I JUST REALIZED RIGHT NOW THAT SHE MEANS THEY GO IN THE TEA THEMSELVES AND YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME ABOUT THIS FOR MONTHS]

[iamthatsea]

[ BATTLEBORN IS A REALLY SILLY CANON ]

I mean we don't... boil the water or anything! And it only works if you can stay underwater for a while, I wouldn't expect anyone else to...

[ She sighs. ]

You could also drink it, technically. That would probably be closer to a dry land tradition.

[oyashiromama]

[well, okay, but-]

Is...there any way you could get an approximation of it here? Concoct something in the kitchen?

[iamthatsea]

[ She ponders that for a second. ]

Maybe? I'm not exactly used to mixing it myself, but I might be able to at least approximate the taste.

[oyashiromama]

...there's little I could do to, but...I could assist you in that, if you need it. Or...if you would like company.

[iamthatsea]

[ A smile. ]

Company would be nice.