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video, un:charon

Good evening, all. I think this is what is termed a 'bandwagon.' However, as I imagine we will all be busy dead, dying, or in the process of resurrecting soon, I thought I had better commit before October.

I'm opening a bakery and sweets shop.

[Lysithea pans the camera to a table that is covered with pans filled with dozens of buns, cakes, and confections of different colors. It really looks extremely well done. One would imagine that Lysithea applies herself with the same intensity to any task she undertakes.]

Everything will be sourced from traditional Fódlan desserts, passed down through family histories and collected by hand in this book. I've realized that if I'm not the one who makes these treats, I'm... never going to taste them again. So I thought I should share.

[The view changes to an enormous tome currently open to a page titled Saghert and Cream in script prominently displaying a luscious picture of some kind of fruit and cream concoction. It really looks like this was drawn by hand.]

I'm baking from my room for now. If you want anything here, you can drop by or I'll bring it over. If you want delivery, you've got to get at least a dozen, because frankly, I'm not running all over town to give you one sweet bun. I'll open a proper location when it's not Death Month.

...Thanks.

[She signs off after a moment's awkward hesitation, as if she's not sure what to do next.]

[video pt 2, ten minutes later]

It's -- me again. Upon further reflection, I have no idea how to run a business, at all, apart from the portion where you confidently declare it in public.

I would... appreciate advice.

And help. If you are willing to be paid in cake.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Oh, wow. Oh wow. Wu is a little emotional. A lot emotional. Was this because of him? Because of what he said? Did he influence Lysithea of all people, who's so sure of herself? So sure of her path?

Well, no need to rub it in, Wu. He's just excited for her! ]

Lysithea! This is amazing. I'll buy twenty of your cakes!

I don't know much about running a business, but do you know who does? Asami! You could ask her for advice, she ran the most successful company in Republic City.

H-Hello, Wu.

[Besides the single small catch in her voice, Lysithea makes an attempt not to betray any particular emotion. It's somehow very embarrassing to be earnest. All the more so when Wu knows exactly how this came about.]

Asami is a friend from your world? I don't think I've had the pleasure of speaking with her yet. Was she a part of the whole 'Team Avatar' thing?

And -- did you say twenty?

I should caution that they probably won't taste very good after a week, even cooled. Not that it's any of my business how many you eat. But just in case it's relevant.

Hi, Lysithea!

[ He won't bring it up. He's just happy that he could help her come up with the idea. It makes him warm and happy that he's had such an impact on her. ]

Yeah, Asami's great! She is, her and Korra and Mako and Bolin. They're Team Avatar, saving the world!

[ He laughs brightly ]

They're not all for me. My project's almost ready, too! I'd love to have your cakes at my grand opening! Although, I suppose twenty is a lot for one person to make. How many is feasible? Or maybe one giant cake!

Oh!

For the Raccoon Room?!

[Somehow, this surprises her. He trusts her work enough to present it at his grand opening?]

I -- would be honored to cater for your reception. These mini cakes are easy to bake - you just divide up the batter for a normal cake into portions. If you want something more suitable for a large event, I can see what I can do with my remaining materials.

When is your opening?

Yes! The Raccoon Room's grand opening, it's going to be the biggest event in this town!

[ That he knows of, at least. He has unwavering faith in you, Lysithea!! ]

Oh, I'm not totally sure yet? I was thinking we could open on Halloween, you know? The spooky holiday that they like to celebrate on Earth? I've never celebrated it, but it sounds really fun!

Um... unless October is horrible, of course.

October will definitely be horrible.

But that's exactly why you should have a great celebration on the last day. [Lysithea nods solemnly.] If at all feasible. It will be something to look forward to as we bide our time through the dark weeks.

If I'm... alive, I'll have a thematic cake ready for you on Halloween. It will need to be pumpkin, of course.

[Lysithea reaches for her Encyclopedia and flips through the pages thoughtfully.]

Perhaps a few adjustments to this recipe for Galatean sponge cake...

We have to believe that we will be alive! I don't want to die again, and I'm sure you don't either. Pledge to each other to stay out of trouble?

[ A vain hope, perhaps, but a guy's got to try! ]

Oh, is pumpkin a Halloween thing? That sounds delicious! And I'm sure if you're making it, it'll be amazing.

I really should learn more about Halloween if I'm throwing a Halloween party....

...Oh, that's right.

[She looks at him through the video with slight surprise.]

I forgot. You came... afterwards, didn't you? Because October was my second month there, and you were... in winter. Yes, I remember - we took a chilly walk to the library.

Well, October was terrible, you can take that from me. This place just... has the aesthetic of Deerington October all the time. I don't know what that means. People are very much into frightening things in October - and pumpkins - and candy.

The candy is the only decent part.

Pumpkins and candy don't sounds so scary...

Mako told me about it, too. It sounded awful. I'm, I'm very glad that I missed it, I hope that it isn't so bad here! But if it is, well. We'll get through it. Together. Like we got through everything else.

[ Like big worms and the dream breaking and stuff like that. They got this. ]

I know! I feel like I've been here, or here and Deerington, for forever. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Yes - somehow in my memories, you're there even when I know you hadn't yet appeared in Deerington. It's one of those mental errors... it feels like you've been here with me from the start.

[Lysithea gives a faint shrug.]

October was especially dangerous. Particularly mentally. I believe that's what we'll need to be most concerned with.

Have you heard much about this 'corruption' business?

Somehow, I feel the same way!

[ He laughs weakly. It's impossible. Right? ]

Right, okay. Mental fortitude! I can do that. I can be mentally strong! It's, supposedly it's part of my whole blood thing. That I can help other people, so I can do that!

Um... no? Not very much. What is it?

It is?

[Not that she doesn't think Wu is mentally strong, it's just... she hadn't thought it was his particular forte or anything.]

I haven't the slightest idea what my blood is supposed to do for me. ...It just made me very paranoid all this month.

But... yes, corruption appears to be their word for describing a kind of insanity. People here seem to lose their mental fortitude much more frequently - it can manifest in many different ways, but basically... any strong mental blow can push people over the edge easily.

Yes, I-- think so? Mine, well. I think it's my blood, since I got here I've been able to feel people's feelings, and share my memories with them. It's very disconcerting, but I heard that people like me, we can help others, because of our ability to be empathetic.

Ah...

[ That sounds scary, and a lot like what would happen to people in Deerington. He frowns a little ]

Are you worried about that happening? [ To you? ]

Hm. ...That makes sense. I don't know if the blood is always in line with the personality, but you've always striven to create spaces where people can feel comfortable.

[That being the case...]

So either I'll get the power of weaponizing cake or the power of speed-reading.

[She sort of already has the latter.]

I'm worried - in a general sense. I imagine we'll all experience it at some point here. I went perfectly mad in Deerington more than once.

To be honest, I wonder if that's what happened to me on that river.

Thank you, Lysithea. That means a lot. I hope I can keep doing that with the Raccoon Room!

The river-- wasn't great.

[ He shakes his head though, frowning a little ]

It wasn't just you! I experienced, um, some strange things on the river.

If you do feel like things aren't going great, you can always call me, okay? I know you're very self-sufficient and can take care of yourself, but sometimes we all need a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk to.

I think the purpose was to get us to talk about those things. ...Which I did. I am now strongly inclined to never talk about any of those things ever again.

[this is what you get for trying to meddle, trench!!]

But... thank you, Wu. The issue was more -- it was impossible to reach anyone on an alternate dimension corpse-blood river. I don't mind disclosing some of my feelings on occasion if it... comes up normally.

I was convinced we were done with the whole forced moral lessons bit.

...yes it does have that in common with Deerington, doesn't it? Maybe it's the brand of torment from the Pthumerians, and Julia, ah. Simply channeled it.

[ It makes sense, sort of. He hasn't really thought about it, not in that meta way. Well, thanks, Lysithea. He has more to think about now! ]

I completely understand. Being coerced to talk about things is underhanded, and while perhaps it leads to some growth, it would be better if we were able to come to that place on our own.

...Well, that would be annoying.

[Lysithea mutters, somehow not having considered the possibility that Julia was simply channeling her inner Pthumerian.]

There's a point of diminishing returns on self-growth when it involves a river of corpses, I think. Either way...

Do you think they're going to continue with this kind of thing? I thought we were supposed to have surpassed Deerington to come to a... reborn world. A place that we built.

I... am afraid that it seems like yes, they may. The, ah, river? The ravens reflected one of the Pthumerians, Never Mind. So it would stand that it was his doing.

[ He shakes his head slightly ]

Perhaps they want to make sure that we're becoming better people? Since we've been given so much. New life, new power, a new home...

He's mine.

[Lysithea sighs deeply.]

I've been to see him. He says cryptic things like, "why is it important for you to know the reason?" or "why do you think?" when I ask him about it, then I get huffy, then he starts to tell me a story about ancient Pthumeria and shoos me out for his next appointment.

I'm already satisfied with my personal growth, to be honest.

What do you mean, "yours?"

[ Wu hasn't figured out much about the Pthumerians, being too busy putting together a whole theater ]

You know, maybe we don't have to always be growing, right? Can't we just be satisfied with where we are for a while?

Oh. I mean... He's my Patron.

[Lysithea pauses.]

He told me directly, so I suppose I don't know if that title applies to anyone else here. I mostly just assumed we would all have Patrons. He didn't explain it too well.

Perhaps because it's his school, and the school is...

[Lysithea is to school as apples are to pie.]

I concur. Moreover, I think this is a fairly important personal step for me, but I didn't need a river of blood for it to happen.

Are you going to the school here? I haven't looked too much at it, I've been so wrapped up in the Raccoon Room... I suppose I could finish my degree! But I bet the credits don't come over, do they? Since, you know, I went to school in a different world.

[ And redoing those years of classes? No, thanks! ]

To be satisfied? Yeah! That has to be a good thing, right? You're so driven, you always seem to want to be better, maybe it's a good thing that you're okay with where you are. I think you're pretty amazing.

Oh, not exactly -- I couldn't be a baker and study magic and have a full courseload. But the school isn't like that, exactly, from what I gather. Anyone can drop in for any lectures that they please. Or teach any lectures that they please.

I just spend a lot of time browsing the stacks.

And, ah. [She flushes, slightly.] Thanks, Wu. I was just grumbling, but I'm sure there's still room for self-improvment.

I'm... impressed at what you're doing, you know.

Oh, wow! I'll check it out, then. I haven't gone to a lecture in... four years? Boy, it's been so long! But I suppose history classes here won't be the same, will them?

[ He flushes too, grinning brightly ]

Oh, thank you! I really hope it goes well. If you know anyone who likes to perform, send them my way! Or you, if you do.

[ He squints at her ]

Do you?

video, un:charon

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