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]

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?

[cherryblooded]

A familiar is a person contracted to a witch or a sorcerer. They're basically subordinates, and in exchange for their service their witch can lend them a great deal of power, as well as provide them with other benefits.

[bloodisthicker]

Oh, I see. That would make a lot of sense, since... witches and sorcerers are basically powerful magic users, aren't they?

[...they've been mentioned a few times in books he's paged through with a little context, so....]

So it's only natural they'd use their abilities to provide a few perks with the job.

[cherryblooded]

Basically. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties.