Communion | OTA.

[dreamflowers]

[Is it cold in here all of a sudden? No, that's just Jade's first attempt at opening a line of Communion to the people of Springstar. Instead, it ends up going out to whoever is willing to listen as she's still trying to get a handle on this method of communication.

[Her presence is like freezing saltwaters, with the scent of sea and earth.]

Blazes. It still blows my mind that you people use Psionics to talk to each other here.

[As someone who's pretty adept in Psionics herself, it should be normal, but not like this.]

Anyways, in light of the absolute shit timing of my arrival... I need an outlet. By now I think I've learned the streets of this city well enough to navigate my way around. Buuut I'm looking for some obscure, holes-in-the-wall kinda places or favorite establishments to get a drink at and relax.

Don't think I need to explain why.

Also any tips on how to procure a home would be nice. Think I'm starting to get on the nerves of some of the folks living in the barracks... thing.

[Hi Meridian. Sorry you're stuck with this natural disaster of a woman.]

Comments

[dreamflowers]

I see. What kinda "services" are we talking about here? I did mercenary work in my world, but I'm guessing they probably expect more than just daylabor.

[It sounds preferable to simply purchasing a deed from condescending bank pricks, at least.

[His offer surprises her, though.]

You'd open your home up to a stranger like that? [She can't help that she's a cagy person by nature. Has good reason to be.]

[hauntedking]

Participation in the Oracles, work for the city... that sort of thing.

[ A bit more than day labor, yes. There's a pause and then a sort of mental shrug. ]

We are all in this together, are we not? And you are a person, in need of help.

[dreamflowers]

Got it. Makes sense.

[Yuri helped get her foot in the door with lending aid to the orphanages, but she wasn't exactly looking for esteem when she started that, and she still isn't. Mostly because it was less about being magnanimous and more about her guilt for being such a damned coward when she knew people were dying around her, and hid anyway.

[She sighs.]

Yes, well. In my experience, people who seem like they're all working towards the same goal aren't always worthy of trust.

[hauntedking]

...I suppose that's true. But I like to think the best of people until proven otherwise.

[ There's the impression of a wry smile. ]

Maybe that doesn't work out for the best at all times. But it works for me, I think.

[dreamflowers]

Hm.

[Probably better than the response she was dreading. If she heard "trust has to start somewhere" one more time, she'd have screamed.

[For now, she'll just take it for what it is.]

...

What kinda tea and baked goods do you usually have?

[hauntedking]

Most of the tea I have is herbal and I admit that I'm still not all that good at baking... but I do know a place that sells some delicious ones. Although I'm not sure if they're open again after everything...

[dreamflowers]

Can't say I'm much better of a baker, myself. Probably worse, actually.

[It would require having access to an oven, which she rarely had during her time on the streets.]

But if you give me the location of this place, I can check and see if they're still open for you? And maybe bring something over. For tribute, or whatever. [Jesting, of course. Save for the part that she's actually willing to check and see the condition of this bakery.]

[hauntedking]

Of course. I can give you directions. Hopefully they're still operating... and directions to my house, of course.

[ There's a little mental map he sends over - it should be clear enough, hopefully. ]

I'd be happy to have you. Although - I don't think I properly introduced myself. Dimitri Blaiddyd.

[dreamflowers]

Oof. That feels weird.

[She winces, clutching her head a moment. But she "reads" the map well enough and sets out to follow it.]

I'm Jade. I'll get back to you in about an hour or so to see if this place of yours is still intact. [Or if they might need help. She seems to be fixing doors a lot these days, maybe they'll need one as well.]

[hauntedking]

Alright. I'll make sure I have tea waiting.

[ Friendly sort, isn't he? ]

[dreamflowers]

[Quite friendly. Though it does take a little longer than an hour for Jade to swing by, mostly on account of getting distracted, making small talk with the cute baker. But she gets there. Eventually. With a nice little box of goodies within. Whether it's from the exact place Dimitri had specified is to be determined.

[There's a knock on his door, and a chipper chime following:]

Delivery for the Bliddybittydoo residence!

[im sorry]

[hauntedking]

[ Er. There's a moment of silence, the sound of footsteps, and then- ]

Ah. You'd be... Jade?

[ He doesn't have the heart to correct her just yet as he stands in the doorway. ]

Welcome. I see you managed to find your way, at least!

[dreamflowers]

[It's okay, she gets it. She is just Like That.]

I did! Did you know they have date cakes in this world? I do now. It's a pretty good day.

[Goodness, she loves date cakes. Even if they make her mouth itchy so she tries not to think about it too much.]

[hauntedking]

I had known that, but dates don't grow in Faerghus... we're too cold for them, I think.

[ He gestures her inside. ]

Please, come in. Make yourself at home.

[ The interior is cozy; a little sitting room, a dining area, some kind of kitchen, a bedroom... it's nice. ]

[dreamflowers]

Faerghus... Ah.

[Jade says it back like she's trying to remember if she's heard of that place before, maybe saw it on the map of this world. But then she quickly figures it's probably a place specific to wherever Dimitri's from.

[After kicking off the mud from her boots at the door, Jade steps in, scanning the areas to find somewhere she can set down the box of pastries.]

Nice place. Did you get it yourself or via "services rendered"?

[hauntedking]

A little bit of both.

[ Dimitri shrugs and pulls out a seat for her and then steps into the kitchen area to start on the tea. ]

You're a newcomer, aren't you? I don't recall seeing you around before.

[dreamflowers]

[Curious as she is about what "bit of both" entails, Jade can hazard a few guesses, at least. She sits down, her posture relaxed, but she'll do the more polite thing and not prop her foot on the chair or table this time.]

Yeah, I wasn't joking about my shit timing... Came juuust before bodies started dropping. Wish I could say that's a new thing for me, but I used to live in a country that was in a perpetual state of civil war for three decades, so...

[A little closer to home than she'd have liked.]

[hauntedking]

Ah. I... understand that. My own continent has just come out of five years of warfare itself.

[ He returns with a steeping pot and a pair of cups, one of which he sets in front of her. ]

It seems we all have our own troubles to concern us.

[dreamflowers]

Whether it be five years or thirty, it's still too damn long. I never got involved, myself, but I'd seen how much it fucked things up. [She glances down at the cup at the table, fiddling with the handle but not picking it up until the tea is poured.] Funny thing is, the civil war ended some moons after I left, only for the bastards to declare war on the country I took refuge in.

[Actually, that's not funny. That's not funny at all. But sometimes you got to look at the absurdity of your life and wonder how the fuck that even happened.

[Stubbornness, that's how. And a bafflingly lack of foresight.]

Guess even if Meridian wins this thing, that'll be something I'm gonna have to deal with when I go back.

[hauntedking]

...I'm fortunate that my war apparently had the decency to end and not spill over into more bloody continuations. Or so it seemed before I ended up here. I'm sorry to hear of your own troubles...

[ Isn't that always the way? Some people end up with apparent bad luck. Although he supposed so many years of war is far more than simple bad luck. ]

Surely there must be a way to end all that, though.

[dreamflowers]

[Jade shrugs at his expressed sympathy, clearly more blasé about her troubles than she probably should be, given the subject matter.]

Eh. Over the years, I've gotten pretty convinced that conflict is just what people do. Even when things get rough and would be easier if all just came together, there's always some assholes who think they know better than everyone else.

[She rests her chin on the table, placing her chin in her palm.]

Even here, it didn't take very long at all for the fighting to break out. No matter who wins this, it'll only be a matter of time before someone finds something else to fight over. There's never an end to shit like that.

[An eternal Cycle, much like the one she has become very familiar with.]

[hauntedking]

That may be so. But I try to hope for a better future; a better way for all of us. There must be a place somewhere, a future where we don't have to worry about fighting and war...

[ Maybe it's foolish. But it's something he deeply believes in. ]

[dreamflowers]

Can't say I share that same sense of optimism. But that doesn't mean I think people shouldn't at least try.

[It's why, while she mostly agreed with Jespar's philosophies on the futility of altruism, she never tried to discourage Calia's beliefs that she can make the world better. Jade has just seen so much shit to hold much hope for a better future... but not so much so that she's resistant to the possibility of someone proving her wrong.

[In fact, she wants to be wrong. But hey, you can't get hurt if you keep your expectations low.

[Kinda.]

[hauntedking]

If none of us try, then obviously such a future will never come about. A self-fulfilling prophecy if there ever was one.

[ He laughs quietly as he settles into his seat. ]

And even if it's not, what harm is there in trying to make the world a better place?

[dreamflowers]

[A self-fulling prophecy. Jade is quite familiar with those. The track they were on in her world, following the steps of those in the past who failed to save their civilizations from being wiped out, seemed like they were headed for the same fate. But even her attempts to raise questions about it were easily brushed off.

[She studies Dimitri for a moment, her one good eye squinting.]

You fancy yourself an idealist, Mysir Blaiddyd?

[See? She can say it right.]