video, un:charon

[notimeforfailure]

[Lysithea appears on the screen in front of a doorway painted mint green, looking grim, but resolute. Her arm is in a sling and she has obvious scars and cuts across her face and neck, but at the very least, she is in one piece. She couldn't say the same for some of her friends.]

I am one day late.

I am pleased to announce...

[And here she makes a gesture with her good hand, and it becomes clear that this is a recording through the eyes of her Omen. The bird flaps back a few feet to reveal a recently renovated building that looks, if not grand, at least, well... intact.]

The grand opening of the Patisserie Lysitherie. Located in the Willful Machine, [address here], five minutes' walk from the closest Lamp Friend.

[Lysithea steps inside and her Omen follows to showcase part of the interior.]

...I'm sure I've prattled on about my business long enough, so I won't bore you with more details. Just know that our trade rates are exceedingly reasonable, and we seek to procure only the finest ingredients from the docks. It is winter, of course, so temper your expectations accordingly. Additionally, all purchases will come with a package of Weeping Wafers, our first in-house concoction. The taste is nutty and earthy with hints of nutmeg and almond. It's delicate - and not excessively sweet.

Most importantly, it is made with raw, diced Weepers.

After the... occurrences of the previous month, I imagine we could all benefit from their magic. If you seek mental stability, come by and we're happy to provide you with free samples. Don't take too many, though - I don't know what the effects are if you overdose.

...Well, that's all. Thank you for your business.

[...It is evident that Lysithea has no idea how to end this. After a moment, she looks around awkwardly and then dips her head as if in a bow before the transmission cuts.]

[action, ota, at the Patisserie]
[Lysithea will be manning the sweets shop during business hours. Her employees are welcome to join her when they're free - she could use some extra help, given her dislocated wrist. Drop by to sample normal baked goods, Weeper products, or simply strike up a conversation.

On slow days, Lysithea can be found eating her Weeping Wafers and fingering what appears to be an old research journal of some sort.]

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

Hm. Yeah, that shoulder does pop in and out real easy.

[And he does recall a lot of stringy bits around the wrist, but the thought makes him realize that he's headed down sort of a dark conversational path.]

Well, I'm glad you're recovering well. I actually wanted to talk to you about getting some small cakes to feed people while they look at clothes over at my place. I know that's not the usual tailor experience, but I think small cakes usually improve things.

[onerthes]

One more in a laundry list of horrors to see. [She sighed a little and smiled.] It was bad, but I can safely say I've seen worse.

But I think I managed to avoid some of the worst of it.

[Well, she saw some of that with psychometry, but shhhh]

[danserai]

[ ahiru, true to her word, comes bustling in with a big smile. she takes in all the sights with an awed expression that cannot be faked. ]

Wooow.

Action

[survivalthroughhate]

[Look who wandered into the shop. One Sith Lord who was currently decked out in a very chic-looking fur coat that he'd acquired in November, a souvenir of uncharacteristically performing a good deed for someone. Look, it's cold out, and he needs something to keep himself warm. He gets right to the point, speaking in that whisper-soft tone that Maul usually has.]

What would you suggest for someone who just enjoys eating a large amount of food? I think she likes everything but carrots.

[notimeforfailure]

[Not somebody she was anticipating to walk through the doors. Lysithea blinks, closes the journal, and tucks it in under the counter. She resists the temptation to suggest that Maul immediately consume the entire basket of Weeping Wafer samples.

Although he did seem significantly more stable here in Trench than he ever had in Deerington.]

Well, if she likes everything, there's probably no wrong answer.

You can do the sampler package. Pick up one of those boxes over there and fill it with any twelve assorted goods that you'd like.

Who is it for?

[She asks, assuming at this point that she knows the majority of the Sleepers here even if only by word of mouth.]

[notimeforfailure]

Erm.

[Lysithea will not comment on the relative ease of dislocations re: comparing parts of the squishy human body.]

Small cakes improve everything. I wholeheartedly agree. ...Though I might be concerned your customers will get crumbs and frosting on your nice clothes.

Congratulations on your store - I saw your announcement earlier last month, though I was a bit preoccupied.

[being kidnapped, etc.]

[notimeforfailure]

I'm glad. I ... wouldn't wish that on anyone here.

[That's all Lysithea cares to say about the specifics. She imagines she had seen most of the worst and more.]

To think that it was November that betrayed us this time. Perhaps we should have our guards up at all times of the year.

[notimeforfailure]

Luz...

[Lysithea herself picks up one of the cinnamon wafers and chews thoughtfully.]

You don't have to explain anything. It would be highly unusual if you were sleeping and behaving as if nothing has happened. I've seen a lot of death in my time -- but not even I can be fully numb to the horrors of what happened in that tower.

I'm sorry I couldn't spare you the worst of it.

[notimeforfailure]

Oh, certainly. I can show you some of my favorites from Fodlan as well.

My real trouble is that there's no Noa fruit here... But I suppose one can't have everything.

[notimeforfailure]

Good afternoon, Ahiru.

[Lysithea waves cheerily with her good arm and beckons her to enter. The excitement on the girl's face inspires a bright smile on Lysithea's own.]

What do you think? Anything stand out you'd like to try?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz ate quietly, then looked up at Lysithea].

No one could spare anyone else of things like that. The Zealots just took us as they could get us. I wish they hadn't nabbed me more than once, and I can't even pretend that I'm not changed by all of it, but...I'm glad you were there.

I'm just sorry that you had to see all of that stuff too.

[onerthes]

Well, it's never a bad idea to have our guards up, Lysithea. There's always danger. But it seems that October is... well...

We're not in a child's nightmare anymore. It's a place, a place with monsters. We need to learn how it actually works, yes?

[royalfling]

I don't think anything ever really runs smoothly, at the start, at least. But you have a business! A whole bakery. That's so amazing. I'll have to come by, um. You know, if it's not too scary out there.

[ It's always too scary out there, but you know ]

Ah, for Mako. But having them for the Raccoon Room is probably a good idea, too!

[vibing]

Wait, hey-- [ Not the mushrooms! He's being petulant about it, resisting acknowledging that anything is wrong at all. ] I already had some. I'm fine.

[ Lies. ]

I really think I got it this time. I found some apple gels, on those ships, so I can test it. Here.

[ The old distraction tactic. He hopes it'll work, holding out a little plate with a few yellow gels on it ]

[danserai]

Good afternoon.

[ she gives a little bow before glancing at the display. there is so much food here . . . ]

Uhm, what would you recommend?

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah. I know it was a bit of a weird time, but...I figured it almost always will be.

[If he waited until there wasn't some awful shit going down around Trench to make his announcement and open his shop, he'd probably be waiting for quite some time. As to the rest - he just grins.]

If they mess up the clothes, I guess they'll just have to buy more~.

[deadboywalking]

[He'll get there! First things first.]

Okay. Was it -- something that happened because of... [Will waves a vague hand, meant to encompass all the nonsense they encounter on a monthly basis.]

[notimeforfailure]

Hm...

Well, that depends. What flavors are you fond of? Do you like things with jam - or cream? Chocolate? Flavors saturated with sweetness or edged more lightly with fruit or nuts or herbs?

[danserai]

Oh, uhmmm those all sound good . . .

Maybe jam? I'll try that first.

[notimeforfailure]

[Lysithea smiles a bit bleakly as she moves around the counter and pulls up a chair nearby for Luz.]

Stop being so thoughtful, Luz. I'm the one who lives in a war, remember? This is... I hate to say it, but I've seen far more dead bodies in a room. Just... not like that.

It is... much more concerning for me that you went through that. And you're... fourteen.

[That's a guess.]

What are you thinking now, Luz? ...Not about me. Be a bit selfish.

[notimeforfailure]

Not a nightmare, no.

[She frowns.]

Though - is the essence any different at its core? Certainly, it strikes me that having squid bodies reforming every time we die is equally bizarre as existing in a nightmare.

It appears that in some way, those crazed lunatics believe that it 'works' by draining us of blood.

[notimeforfailure]

Yes.

[That was probably to be expected.]

...It's very minor, all things considered. It could be much more severe. The Blood Ministers believe that it will heal naturally in a few weeks' time.

You needn't worry, Will.

Were you spared from it?

[notimeforfailure]

Liar.

[Lysithea scowls as she rummages under the desk for a whole mushroom, carrying it by its stalk as she approaches Yuri. He'd better keep his mouth closed if he doesn't want her sticking anything in it.]

Oh, alright. Let me see. What, you just found someone selling them? I wonder what sort of lands they're coming from.

[Probably their own worlds, somehow, knowing the way Trench and Deerington tended to work. Lysithea picks up a little squishy gel and pops it in her mouth.

Could it be described as 'good'?]

[notimeforfailure]

For Mako?

[Lysithea clearly finds this surprising. Mako's outward facade of strength and resilience is generally very convincing.

Then again, it's not as if anybody was immune to the effects of corruption. She was popping these once daily.]

What happened? You two weren't taken to the... [she doesn't even know how to describe it] events of November, were you?

[notimeforfailure]

Imagine.

Both of us small business owners. We've come a ways from avoiding giant squids falling from the sky, no?

[Lysithea is probably teasing.]

Well, let's talk business, then. I have a contract with another Sleeper-run establishments and a few tentative agreements with Trenchian shops. Generally speaking, people ask for supplies on a weekly basis while their payments range from anything from a portion of their own income to offering free merchandise to myself and my employees.

What do you care to trade?