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

[matchbreaker]

[ It is terrifying, it feels like a betrayal, almost. Like those fetid corpses they left behind in England and France will be looking upon her, judging. She can hear the bells already, ringing deep in her mind.

But ...

The hug breaks, finally. And she considers reaching out to brush Hanyuu's hair, thinks better of it, and then scots back to the bed. And she...

She can do this, right? She- ]

Let's be friends until then.

[oyashiromama]

[She smiles back, instantly.]

I would very much like that.

[matchbreaker]

G...ood.

[ . . . What does she do now ]

[oyashiromama]

[You're the one who invited her in-

A few moments of silence.]

You know. I thought you were asking me here for other reasons. Like if you were feeling somewhat faint.

[For a blood pick-me-up, basically.]

[matchbreaker]

[ doot doot.

She's glad for the topic change ]

After all that stress?! Eating high quality blood like yours would be to rich, I might actually get wrinkles!

[ But even as she said that her fangs exposed a little ]

[oyashiromama]

[She's got you, don't worry.]

Well, we wouldn't want that. [...and she pulls up her hakama jacket collar, just a little more.] Is that how it works, though, too much stress ages you?

[matchbreaker]

Oh yeah. [ A beat, and she crosses her legs on the bed. ] Well, sort of. You need to keep fed and hydrated or you'll start to dry up, but if you have too much of it or it's too rich, you don't age as gracefully, or at least that's what the old stories say. When you can live for as long as we do, it doe pay to maintain your looks. This one poor boy Elsman Reegan, he just ended up with a jar head and a receded hairline.

[ She shakes her head out of a haughty "I'm better than this guy" sort of pity ]

As for stress? That'll age anyone, even you and yours, right?

[oyashiromama]

[She winces. That sounds unsightly... Though, she has to think for a moment.]

Hmm... Sort of? The Ryuun don't- ...or, didn't age as noticeably. When I was...aah, somewhere around twenty, I looked like this. Still, decades later, I looked like this when I died, despite fighting most of that time.

[matchbreaker]

Oh, really? That's lucky. [ She smiles, even, and while she is a little jealous, well. ] Vampires kill and die like any other creature, but as long as they work for it, they can last a lot longer.

[ Something that just ages and stops, huh. ]