i feel the love, and i feel it burn, down this river every turn

[oyashiromama]

[The trial, as usual, was taxing. It's for different reasons every week, but what it all comes down to is there are fewer of them than there were, and that keeps on happening. The note comes, as it always does, earlier than last week, but still with some delay. There's a note slipped under everyone's door. ...One under Gold's door because of course Silver will be staying there, she knows.]

Please come to the dining room, if you would like not to be alone. There will be food, and there will be some cards and board games if you need a distraction.

- Hanyuu & Elda

[True to that, there are a variety of foods. It's nothing too fancy. Rice, grilled fish, eggs in various styles. ...No creampuffs this time, it seems Hanyuu thought that would be a little in poor taste. Also a bunch of fries? ...Really spicy fries, like incredibly so.

On a far table, board games brought from the games room have been left out, along with many decks of cards.]

Comments

[foundfate]

[Well they need to add more every week, so.]

...Yeah. I mean, Varric can't exactly do it right now, and me and Elda did it once, so it makes sense for one of us to do it.

[ravagers]

[ Her face crumples a little at the mention of Varric, so she looks away quickly. He's got enough to worry about, she doesn't want to add to it. ]

Mm-hmm. Got any ideas?

[foundfate]

[He nods.]

Viktor getting married seems like the easiest answer. I...have an idea for Varric, but it's a little personal and I don't know if he would like me writing it. Maybe just something about him being a good and fair ruler instead. And I'm not really sure what Killia should get, beyond 'no more alter egos'.

[ravagers]

I think Varric would like that. He'd be able to use his talent with words to tackle even the most difficult of problems...

[ ah, she's... starting to tear up again. ]

[foundfate]

Ah-

[He is definitely noticing her more emotional side now.]

Um, I, d-do you want to talk about something else maybe? If it's too soon for you.

[ravagers]

[ She wipes at her eyes to make sure she's not crying... and her hand comes away a little wet. ]

C-could we? Er-- Sorry... I'll leave, if you're real busy.

[foundfate]

No, it's okay. There's no time limit on this kind of thing.

[Maybe they should go somewhere else and sit though? So she doesn't have to keep looking at Varric's picture on accident or anything.]

[ravagers]

Alright...

[ She takes in a deep breath. ]

Erm... how about the kitchen? We can make some tea, maybe.

[foundfate]

Sure, that works.

[To the kitchen it is! And he immediately works on preparing some hot water to make tea.]

[ravagers]

[ She decides to take a seat on one of the counters, and... ]

You're really at home in the kitchen, huh?

[foundfate]

Yeah, it's what I do best. Cooking and cleaning, I mean. It's the bulk of my duties at the shop, and since I live alone I do it for myself all the time anyway.

[ravagers]

Hmm... you could use an apron. A real cute one, I bet. I got one from the vending machine way back when, actually... It's got a cat face on it.

[foundfate]

[He's actually seen that one before! And for a moment he just stares, but then he starts laughing. It's genuine laughter too, not painful laughter.]

I forgot about that until just now!

[ravagers]

[ She can't help but giggle a little, too; his laughter's pretty infectious, actually. ]

Do you want it? I don't know if I can go get it now, but... I'd be glad to put it in your hands.

[foundfate]

Seeing as how it's actually mine, I'll gladly take it back.

[Yeah, he. He probably should have mentioned that earlier.]

[ravagers]

Oh! Really?

[ ... haha oops. ]

Then it should definitely make its way back to you. Sorry for keeping it so long...

[foundfate]

It's alright, I never told you. It was actually a birthday gift I got last year, from Himawari.

...er, Himawari is a friend from home.

[ravagers]

I figured as much. So, did this Himawari make it for you?

[foundfate]

Ye-

[He stops himself mid-sentence, and he actually looks sad for a moment. Then he corrects himself.]

No, it's probably store-bought.

[ravagers]

[ Oh... ]

... I'm sorry, if it's painful.

[foundfate]

No, it's...

[He shakes his head.]

It's not something that is a burden to me. But the fact that it's a burden to her, that is upsetting to remember. She deserves better.

[ravagers]

Oh...

[ She won't pry. ]

Well, it's still pretty darn cute. Hey, maybe I could make one, for you to take back to her! With a cute little chocobo on it.

[foundfate]

That does sound like it would be cute, and I bet she would love it, but what's a chocobo?

[ravagers]

Oh! It's a giant bird! You can ride on it, and they come in all sorts of colors. Orihime has a--

[ ... a plush one, signed by Viktor. ]

I forgot... the stuffed one she got out of the vending machine... she had Viktor sign it.

[foundfate]

...oh.

[Well, this has happened in weeks before. They can power right through it and come out okay on the other side.]

Well, she can show it to me then. And I bet it's cute anyway, and Himawari would love it.