And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

[neverheardofhim]

[This week, Varric opted to take a page from Vanille’s book. Gathering everyone together after the roller-coaster that the first trial had been proved to be somewhat cathartic for himself. He hoped that it would prove to do the same for the others.]

[He wasn’t alone, of course, having found himself blessed with the most ragtag team of chefs and party-planners. He might have had words for and thoughts on Elda and Kimbley, Mikazuki was welcome company, and he wasn’t about to turn away potential allies, even in a fight as simple as cooking dinner.]

[Once everyone’s set to a task, baking a cake, brewing tea, or stirring stew (the only task Varric could think to assign Elda to), Varric excused himself to his room. His first task was writing up cards, each personally titled and signed by Varric.]

Food in the Library. 5 p.m. Don’t spend the night alone.

[Each note was slid under a door and accompanied by a single rap on the wood.]

[With his tasks completed, Varric returned to the kitchen to put out any potential fires and, with luck, set the food out. A table in the library would be adorned with plenty of tea, cake, pancakes courtesy of Viktor, and stew thanks mostly to Varric (sorry, Elda).]

Comments

[stepout]

[ A mannequin girl stranger, if you want to be technical, but she's happy being considered human, thank you.

...and she'll let her, provided she doesn't unwrap her bandages to pick her skin off. She's been doing that in her idle time anyway, it... looks worse than when Elda last got to see. ]

Of course you don't. [ ... ] I can't say if you'll feel better later on, but I think getting it out is the best thing you can do right now. And I promise I won't tell anyone else.

[matchbreaker]

Good.

[ that's all she can seem to manage. Elda... Elda is suddenly very tired and feels very dry. She chides herself for crying so much and shakes her head. She considers just getting up and leaving, but she doesn't trust her legs yet to not embarrassingly tremble. Instead, the vampire woman continues to poke but not quite peel at the bandages, as if considering taking her skin off ]

You better not.

[stepout]

There's no one I would. [ ...She has people she'd consider friends or at least friendly with, and they still wouldn't hear about this.

It's more than being blackmailed. Elda's a lot to handle, but she's also obviously not as tough as she tries to be. ...That's all. ] You can stay in here as long as you need to.

[matchbreaker]

[ She will.

... She'll also curl up on Chiyuki's bed, sort of cross-legged as she does. And she'll sit there in silence for a while, nodding her thanks to the woman. But after a whole of observing her... ]

So why are you drinking alone?

[stepout]

Alani left me a letter. [ ...she'll reach for it on the desk, playing with the edge of it. ] She asked that I pour one out for her.

...I'll probably do it properly if we find one. [ Or if they're rewarded one, however this works. ] But for now, this'll do.

[matchbreaker]

Could try asking Wordsmith for it, he does "provide for our needs," right?

[stepout]

[ Something in her expression twitches, and she stops playing with the letter. ]

...I don't think a "bar" falls under that, Elda.

[ Also, the Wordsmith's kind of terrible at conversation and communication; she hasn't had a very good time with him the few times she's tried. ]

[matchbreaker]

Tell that to all the middle aged men running out on their wives.

[ HEH HEH HEH.

Fond memories. ]

Well, he's been sweet on me [ No he hadn't ] want me to try?

[stepout]

[ ...She cannot imagine him being sweet on anyone but— ]

If you want. [ ... ] It feels a little too late, but it'd be nice to have something familiar around, too.

[matchbreaker]

Well, then I'll give him an ask later, you don't even need to pay me.

[ LOGIC??? ]

[stepout]

[ ??? ]

What would I have even paid you in?

[matchbreaker]

I don't know, maybe those vending coins? I'm a little parched now and I can't even suck your blood.

[ BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ]

[stepout]

[ WELL SORRY. ]

...You can't even drink water? [ ...That kind of sucks, water's so non-offensive. ] I'm sure you have plenty of suitors who'd be willing to let you bite them anyway.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ]

Actually, yeah, I could. There's no like need for it the same way there is for humans, but it is wet.

[ Drink water, that is. ]

Get me some.

[stepout]

[ What, blood— no, water, okay. ...She'll take one of the spare glasses and go to her bathroom then; there's a sink, Elda can deal with tap water. ]

...It's not really nice to boss me in my own room. [ Her voice is raised a little, echoing out of her bathroom; the door's still open, so. ] Mind saying "please" next time?

[matchbreaker]

[ Petulantly, she immediately replies, ] Yes! You're still a spring chicken compared to me, girl!

[ But there's no bite in it, more just a whine. ]