that's not what we usually mean by 'dance with death'

[cherryblooded]

[That certainly did happen. Cherryblod's not the type of person who will judge one person's value as being more than another's, so he can't say whether it was better or worse than the first week. It came as less of a shock, maybe, but even so...

It's not the kind of thing people usually want to go through alone.

So, after he spends some time in the kitchen preparing (with assistance from Bruce), he'll slip some personalized notes under everyone's doors.]

[Name],
If you'd prefer to spend this time alone, that's fine.
If you'd prefer not to, I've made some food and set it out in the dining hall.
Even if you're just hungry and would rather not talk, feel free to come take some.
But if you'd like the company, we're here for you.
-Cherryblod

[Those arriving in the dining hall will find an assortment of food - a fair number of sandwiches and other, actual meal-like options since most people missed a meal or two, but also a goodly number of desserts. There's tea, as well as coffee for those who favor it.]

Comments

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod, as per usual, is spending much of his time in the kitchen making more food, though he does duck out now and then to check up on everyone. If you catch his attention, he'll probably start with:]

Is there something in particular I can make for you?

[He has a wide repertoire. Try him.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Grats, you actually managed to catch her. Sigrun's halfway out with a knife in hand, blinking a few times before shrugging.]

Unless you can conjure some ale, no. Though I guess I can take a tea for headaches if you have one.

[cherryblooded]

Ginger tea it is.

[He won't comment on the knife.]

I'll bring you some when it's ready.

[captainobnoxious]

Okay, sure. Thanks.

[She can hang out here then. No problem. Just fiddling with a knife is fine.]

[cherryblooded]

[And shortly thereafter, Cherryblod returns to her with a... larger than usual cup of ginger tea. Regular cup-size cup.]

Here you are. Thought you'd prefer this kind of cup.

[captainobnoxious]

[It's no stein, but it'll do.]

I do! It's much nicer. [And holds more! Look at that, nice. She'll take a grateful sip, though tea still isn't her cup of tea.] Not bad either, I guess. How does tea do so much?

[cherryblooded]

It's the different kinds of herbs you can put into it. Some are good for headaches, some are good for sore muscles... It's versatile.

[captainobnoxious]

Still a bunch of leaves to me.

[Sip.]

I got some sweet smelling tea from the vending machine. I think it's cinnamon? I'll drop it off at your room when I go back that way later.

[happysweets]

Just tea with a lot of sugar...

[ She's not one for coffee, and she needs to indulge her sweet tooth somehow because she's not quite in the mood to eat after, well, everything. ]

[cherryblooded]

Coming right up.

[He's not usually the type to dump a lot of sugar in his tea, but if that's her preference, he'll give her plenty.

One cup of tea, plus sugar.]

Here you are, Miss Misa.

[happysweets]

Thank you, Cherry...

[ She has to wait for it to cool off a bit, so... ]

And thank you for doing all of this, too. Misa-Misa's sorry she couldn't be a bigger help, but...

[cherryblooded]

Nothing to worry about. Some of us get hit harder than others, that's all.

[bloodisthicker]

...hm. Well, I don't know about anybody else, but I'm feeling pretty hungry for some pork buns. Though, would you be familiar with those?

[On the one hand, Cherryblod seems like a pretty worldly guy. On the other hand... how would he actually get access to pork?]

[cherryblooded]

Naturally. I've traveled far enough from the sea to eat anything typical.

...Pork buns do take some time to make, or at least the recipes I know take a few hours to do properly...

[bloodisthicker]

Hmmm... they'd probably be better for another day, then. I can definitely live without them, but they seem like they'd be very good comfort food.

...though, is it normal for... say, fish and such to travel on land every so often where you're from?

[cherryblooded]

It's not uncommon, no. Familiars can do a lot of traveling, and even people like me who aren't familiars can get wanderlust now and then.

[bloodisthicker]

...

Are you tired of getting asked about familiars? Because if you don't want to be asked about a concept that's really common to your world that no one else seems to be familiar with, I completely understand.

[cherryblooded]

No, not at all. Ask away.

[Not too many people have asked all that many questions about that part, actually.]

[bloodisthicker]

Oh, well, good. What is a familiar, then?

[amygdalae]

I think I should be the one asking you that.

[You've been spending a lot of time here, Cherryblod. Let Bruce handle this now.]

[cherryblooded]

I'm fine, really.

[No, let him pretend everything is perfectly okay.]

[amygdalae]

[Cherryblod...]

There's no harm in taking a break. I can handle things for a while.

[cherryblooded]

...Well, if you insist on being so kind, it'd be rude of me not to accept.

[amygdalae]

It's only fair after all the times you helped everyone else.

[He gives a small smile and gently pries away whatever Cherryblod is holding, then attempts to direct him somewhere to sit down and take that break that he clearly needs.]

[cherryblooded]

[Alright, alright. He has a seat at one of the dining hall's tables.]

I'm really alright, you know.