dreamcrystals | S'mores! And a Request

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S'mores! And a Request

Sender: Oriphi
To: All
Subject: S'mores! And a Request

Hello, everyone!

Since there are so many new dreamwalkers who've just arrived, I thought it might be nice to encourage everyone to get together and meet! There is a communal firepit in a clearing just outside of the residential area where I've got a fire going, and I have plenty of supplies to make "s'mores," which I only just learned about recently. (Thank you, Miss Tifa!) If you haven't had this before, please come and try it, it's delicious!

Additionally, I have a request for everyone to please keep an eye out for a few individuals... I realize that this may be in vain since their names did not appear in the directory, but just in case...

Colin
He is a tall, half-elven man with long, dark hair. He is very charismatic and funny and likely to be found busking with his lute somewhere or telling stories!

Aerie
Also tall, but fully an elf, very pretty and intelligent, also with dark hair (but not related to Colin!). She usually has three wolves with her. Extremely competent hunter!

Mellon
Also tall, also fully an elf, he usually does not wear a shirt. He loves to drink and might try to clear out any supply of alcohol... Please do not get into a tavern brawl with him.

Dae
Also tall, and also fully an elf, with white hair and red eyes. He is very good at magic and possibly would want to spar with you! Would likely have an owl familiar with him.

Cibark
Even taller and very very strong! He is a half-orc with green skin and usually wears armor and wields large weapons. He has a very dashing and heroic aura about him!

Sian
Not tall! They usually wear a cloak and a mask. Usually quiet but very sassy. They might be flying around, but they also don't usually remember that they can do that.

[ Ori why are you always surrounded by tall people ]

If at any point in the future you come across anybody who seems to fit these descriptions, please let me know!

(( ooc: Naturally open to these moving into or starting as an action thread! Come get s'mores! Or not. I can't tell you what to do. ))

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[ There really is something special and precious about sharing good food with somebody, and this moment is no different. It's a gesture that has brought her closer to a great many people throughout her life, but especially so in this realm. The smile on her face only grows broader at the sight of Aether enjoying his s'more.

Thankfully, she's managed to chew and swallow her own treat as he thanks her and asks her a question, lest she try to respond with her words all muffled by sticky sweets, so she nods readily and responds, ]

You're very welcome! As for other foods... I really like things like soups and stews. It reminds me a lot of adventuring and cooking food in a little pot over a bonfire... Oh! You know, Thoma showed me how to make miso soup. I think that one's especially good!

[ She is, of course, biased - but Thoma's recipes being good is probably just a universal, inter-dimensional truth at this point. ]

[Hearing that, Aether nods with a smile.]

The miso soup that Thoma makes is definitely one of the best.

[One can really feel the heart put into preparing the meal when they taste Thoma's miso soup. It's just that good and Aether can't imagine anyone would be able to argue with that. Surely, following his recipe, Ori would be able to make something just as great.

But that aside...]

So you're also an adventurer? I've been travelling quite a bit before getting here.

[He knew they'll be good friends.]

[ Hearing that Aether shares the same opinion about that special soup just brightens Ori's smile even more, so much so that the flowers in her hair perk up, unfurling just a bit more as warmth blooms on her cheeks. It had been the first thing that Thoma had ever cooked for her so many months ago, a warm memory of warm soup shared with someone who, back then, was a wonderful new friend from another realm, someone she would have never met outside of this strange crossroads of dreams.

...A lot has changed since then.

Including the fact that Ori readily nods at Aether's question. Diluc, too, had asked her if she was an adventurer when they first met, and she hesitated to answer. "Adventurer" felt like such a grand thing to call herself back then, when she simply felt like dead weight in a troupe of talented adventurers on a quest. But now, she knows that she's ever bit an adventurer as her friends. ]

That's right! I was traveling with the friends I mentioned in my message. We were trying to find a missing princess at first, but now there's, um. A lot more going on. But now this dream self of mine is here... What were you traveling for, Aether?

[A lot more going on? He knows something about that. His journey also turned out to be a lot more than what he thought it would be.

As she asks him about his travels, Aether keeps on a smile, but his eyes seem a little less bright than before.]

I was travelling to find my sister.

[He did say before that he was looking for her. Except, he was looking for her even before arriving here. There was no end of his journey in sight either, but the thought that one day he would be reunited with his sister kept him going.

And now she's even further than she was ever before.]

[ What Aether says hits Ori with a pang of recognition, stronger than she's really anticipating in the moment. She remembers that Aether asked her to look out for his sister, but the fact that his entire journey, up until winding up here, had been in search of her...

They seem to have more in common than she'd thought, but that's when it hits her— Lumine is the Traveler that Diluc and Thoma have spoken so highly about. ]

Wait, so Lumine... Thoma and Diluc have mentioned her before. She was traveling, too...

[ There's a missing piece, here, that she's not quite getting, but perhaps she'll ask one of her partners later. For now, there's a sentiment that she must express to Aether, and it shows in the sympathetic smile that she gives him, something bittersweet and tinged with the pain of recognizing that feeling of wanting to find your family. ]

But I'm sorry that you two were separated in the first place. I was adventuring in hopes of finding my sister, too.

[So Thoma and Diluc spoke of Lumine to others before. This makes Aether smile fondly. He's glad his sister has people that care for her and talk about her travels.]

That's right. They are her friends. [There's something more to his tone, a soft pang of loneliness. Maybe in the ideal world both Aether and Lumine travel through Teyvat and meet all of those wonderful people together. Maybe that world could be the "home" they both long for.

The traveler doesn't explain to Ori that there are two Teyvats out there and the only difference between them seems to be which one of the twins is travelling in search for the other. He doesn't think it's important, not now at least.

...Especially when Ori speaks of her own reasons for journeying.

Aether's eyes widen.]

...I see.

[For the moment he doesn't know what to say, but soon he smiles.]

I hope the two of you will be reunited soon.

[He's never thought they would have this much in common.]

[ Both of them have spoken of her before, and both hold her in very high regard. Ori has been delighted to meet others from Teyvat as a whole, but to meet the brother of someone who is important to Thoma and Diluc feels special - even if she has no idea how complicated this all really is, beneath the surface. It won't even occur to her. She simply thinks that Aether and Lumine must be far apart on the same realm and not... in alternate universes altogether.

She at least senses that there must be something more to this, given his silence, but she doesn't want to ask about it. After all... this topic is difficult for her, too, and much like Aether refrains from explaining the issue of there being two Teyvats, Ori refrains from mentioning that she had found her sister... just that she was very different, and had gone down a path that Ori was horrified to find her on.

(Surely, Aether couldn't relate to that, right?)

In the end, she smiles back at him. ]

And I hope you find Lumine soon, too. Who knows? Maybe she'll get pulled into this realm, as well. And it would be fun because there are already so many of you here! She'd feel right at home.

[It's a shame he doesn't know just how much they have in common, that both their sisters became someone completely different. Aether didn't tell anyone about it. Only Paimon knew about his meeting with Lumine, the Abyss Princess.

He casts those thoughts aside, focusing on the happier possibilities.]

If she ever gets here, I'm sure everyone will be overjoyed to see her. [His smile is soft.] Especially Thoma and Diluc... and Childe probably, too.

[He can imagine Childe asking her to fight him.]

I hope you'll see your sister soon, too.

[ Ah, right, she's still bewildered about the fact that Childe is from Teyvat, too. So he knows Lumine, too... ]

I... I hope so, too. And then all of us can be happy and meet each other's sisters!

[ Despite the fact that she's not quite sure if her reunion with Valphi here would be a happy one. With a sigh, she shakes her head and smiles at Aether again. ]

... So... how did you meet Thoma and Diluc? They've told me that they were far apart back in their world, so you must have really adventured across Teyvat to have met both of them! I'm a little curious to hear what they were like back home.

Exactly.

[That's a happy thought, something to be looking forward to.

At the question, Aether frowns for a moment, before deciding to just tell the truth... omitting a few important things.]

Diluc was a winery owner. He also had a tavern in Mondstadt called "Angel's Share". I met him when I was in the city. You could say I was helping around and then our paths crossed at some point.

[He's really vague, but he's not sure how much Diluc spoke about Lumine's adventures to Ori so he doesn't want to confuse her.]

As for Thoma, I was introduced to him by a friend when I first arrived in Inazuma. He helped me quite a bit.

Edited 2022-03-27 22:19 (UTC)

[ That frown on his face gives her pause for a moment, and in the space of that breath she wonders if there's something wrong. But she listens attentively to what Aether says, all the same, and gives a small smile. ]

Ah, that does sound like them. Diluc told me about Dawn Winery. It must be a beautiful place - have you been there? ANd Thoma told me about how beautiful Inazuma is, too.

[ She sighs a little bit. ]

I have to admit, I wish that I could see those places for myself, too... But that's alright, because now I have you to tell me more about those places, right?

[There's a soft smile blooming on his face as he fondly recalls the time he visited the winery.]

That's right. I've been there many times. And before getting here I was in Inazuma actually.

[He gives her another questioning look, as he continues to wonder why she wishes to see those places that much. Perhaps she's such good friends with both Diluc and Thoma.]

You really like Teyvat, don't you? But, of course. I'll tell you about those places as much as you like.

[ Ah, his question bids her to pause for a moment. Is it strange for her to be so enthusiastic about another's world, she wonders... Her hand rises and scratches the back of her head as she chuckles a little sheepishly. ]

I do, but I have to admit that I'm a little... biased. Thoma and Diluc are both really important to me, so I just want to learn about the places and things that made them both who they are, the ones that I was so lucky to meet here.

[ The warmth that flushes across her face conveys that there's certainly more to her answer than she initially says. ]

And, I'm, um.... their girlfriend?

[ She could stand to say it a little more confidently, but... that's a work in progress. ]

[This revelations definitely catches him off-guard. Aether straightens his back, his eyes are wide.]

You're dating Thoma... and Diluc both?

[Before he can ask something rude like "and they know about this, right?" he stops himself. Ori has been nothing but kind and friendly. She said she cares about Thoma and Diluc both, so Aether has no reason to assume that she's hiding something from them. She even seems shy about admitting to this relationship, so the traveler immediately feels bad. Still, he can't help being protective of his friends, even if those friends don't remember him.]

S-sorry, you surprised me. [He waves his hand a little.] I'm just... trying to understand what is the relationship between the three of you.

[Is it only her dating the two of them or...?]

Edited 2022-04-04 18:57 (UTC)

[ She is... getting a strange sense of deja vu. Although Aether doesn't ask if the two are aware of her dating them both out loud, she feels the unspoken question bubbling beneath the surface, a consequence of a similar reaction from another friend not all too long ago.

And at that reminder, coupled with Aether's apparent confusion, she immediately flusters, the color deepening on her cheeks. Her hands go up as though to dismiss his worries. ]

I-It's okay! I'm not very good at communicating it, so I understand how it might take you by surprise, but, um...

[ Her hands come to rest on her lap, then, as she starts fidgeting with the fabric of her skirt nervously. Somehow, it feels like a big deal to admit all of this to Aether, knowing that he's known both of her partners for some time... ]

We're all together, the three of us. Meaning that, um. I'm with the both of them, and they're together, too. We've all been looking out for each other since we arrived here and met, and... I know it's strange, since I'm not from the same place as all of you, and if we ever leave this place they'll probably forget all about me, but still—

[ She's going to keep rambling if she's not stopped. Please help. ]

[Oh, so... this is how it is.

Aether takes a moment to process this. The idea of Diluc and Thoma dating is somehow strange at first, but the longer he thinks about it, the more it actually makes sense. Thoma holds so much warmth in his heart, while Diluc is undoubtedly kind and protective, too, even if he doesn't show it right away. And then there's Ori - friendly and caring.

...Aether can definitely see what brought them all together. He's happy they have each other.

But that aside--]

Ah, no, no. Don't worry, I understand everything now!

[An awkward smile shows on his face, as the traveler tries to calm poor Ori. She does bring a good point though - that everything in here is but a dream. And dreams tend to disappear from memory once you're awake.]

It's not strange at all. [He smile warmly and he tries to put a gentle hand on her shoulder.] There's nothing wrong about caring for someone and holding them dear for as long as you can. And if they leave, it's not a given that they will forget you or this place.

[ That hand on her shoulder pulls her back into the moment before she can spiral any further or - worse than that - talk Aether's ear off with senseless words spurred on by her insecurities. They've only just met, after all, and she already feels like she's said too much. ]

... Sorry.

[ With a deep breath, she sighs and then shakes her head as if to reset herself. ]

Thanks for understanding, Aether. I'm not the best at explaining it, and you're not the first to be confused. But, in case you're worried—

[ She turns her head to look at him, and in her eyes there's a quiet, but clear certainty as she says, ]

I promise that I'm doing everything I can to make them happy while we're in this dream together.

[When Ori turn to him like that and declares that she does everything she can to keep his friends happy, Aether looks a bit caught off guard, but he soon smiles. She really is a kind person.]

I don't think I can be worried.

[He gives her one more friendly pat on the back before removing his hand.]

You're a good person, Ori. I'm sure the three of you will be happy.

[If both Thoma and Diluc fell in love with her, Aether has no doubt that she's someone exceptional. He's looking forward to getting to know her better.]

[ There's something about hearing Aether's words - as somebody who has been close with Diluc and Thoma long before they ever came to know this strange tiefling from another world, in this realm of dreams - that Ori isn't quite prepared for. It's a wonderful feeling of affirmation, and it makes her want to do her best for her partners all the more. It also makes her want to befriend Aether all the more. ]

That's really sweet of you to say, Aether. Even though we've only just met... I think the same of you. You're a good person.

So if there's anything I can do to help you adjust to life here moving forward, please don't hesitate to ask! You only need to write me. And— I hope it doesn't seem like I'm only being friendly since you're friends with Diluc and Thoma. I genuinely want to get to know and befriend you, so...

[ ~~Congrats Aether you've pulled a 5-star Dendro healer unit~~ ]

[He lightly waves his hand to calm her again.]

It's fine, I understand. And I feel the same. I want to get to know you better not only because you're close to my two friends.

[He understands, he really does.]

So why don't we make more s'mores and talk more about adventuring?

[Isn't that the best way to get to know one another?]

Edited 2022-04-11 12:50 (UTC)

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S'mores! And a Request

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