S'mores! And a Request

[hearthwarming]

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. ))

Comments

[hearthwarming]

[ Welcome to the Ori Experience, T man. For what it's worth, she's slowly been getting better about her sense of self, but it's hard to break old habits time and again. She would never ask Trahearne - or really anyone for that matter - to take on the task of helping her realize her worth more, but it's a blessing that people choose to help her, and she will always be grateful to her friends for that.

For now, though— ]

Oh... Thanks. I just— it might be too much for people, sometimes. Anyway, we shall!

[ (No one has ever complained about her dreamotion manifestations, actually.)

At his prompting, she makes her way back over to the fire pit and takes a seat before she begins to rummage through her supplies to procure a roasting stick and also a marshmallow, which she skewers onto the end of the stick. Once that is assembled, she holds it out at Trahearne. ]

So, ready to try making a s'more?

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne crouches by her seat - there are a lot of people here, okay - and observes as she assembles the skewers. He graciously takes the stick from her. ]

Yes, thank you!

[ Without waiting for the next instruction, he holds it out over the fire. ] I can't say I'm familiar with "s'more," but this is not my first time roasting marshmallows. [ Pause. He glances back up at her. ] ...That is what we're doing here, correct?

[hearthwarming]

[ She nods enthusiastically as she takes up her own roasting stick and marshmallow and joins him in carefully roasting the confection over the fire. ]

That's right! I've had marshmallows before coming here, too, but another dreamwalker taught me that you can roast these marshmallows and then sandwich it between pieces of chocolate and sweet crackers - and that's a s'more! I think they're really yummy.

[pactmarshal]

Ah-ha, campfire treats! [ He exclaims with a nod, a smile crossing his face. ] They're a delicacy of the people who live far to the north in the cold, snowy mountains in my world. While I was only lucky to have some once, I never would have imagined I'd be having them again here. [ He can hardly contain his excitement at the thought! Is there a norn here in Reverein? ] Do you happen to know where this dreamwalker is from?

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori is someone whose emotions are easily swayed by how others are feeling - especially so in this dream world where emotions tend to have a very tangible effect or manifestation... Trahearne's excitement is contagious, and Ori readily gets swept up in it, too. ]

Oh! So you're familiar with these, then! This does sound like the most perfect treat to have on a snowy mountain.

[ Her smile broadens. ]

I don't know where Miss Tifa is from, exactly, although she did mention something about "karaoke" being a thing where she's from...?

[ Maybe if Trahearne has heard of that, they might be from the same place?? ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne hums in thought. The smile vanishes from his face, but not in a bad way. ]

That doesn't ring a bell for me, unfortunately. Just a coincidence, I suppose. [ Ah well. It was a long shot, anyway. He slowly rotates his marshmallow over the flame, watching as the surface browns. ]

...What is "karaoke"? Did she tell you?

[hearthwarming]

[ Her lips draw into a thin line at Trahearne's realization. As a fellow lone canon warrior dreamwalker, she can understand that hope of finding anything or anyone familiar from home - and the disappointment that often follows when you realize that you're still very much alone in this realm of dreams.

But... that is also why Ori has poured much into the bonds she has formed with people here, and she intends to do the same for Trahearne. Perhaps they'll both feel a little less alone that way! ]

To my understanding... it's when you and a group of people get together and sing along to the same songs. She said something about a 'teevee' and some kind of device that amplifies your voice, too. Oh! And I think it's supposed to happen at a tavern or bar.

[pactmarshal]

[ And Trahearne, genuinely, appreciates the effort, and is doing what he can to give just as much back. ...Even if that means showing up to a party late, but, whatever.

He tilts his head in thought, keeping his eyes on the marshmallow. ]

Most of that sort of singing happens at taverns or bars anyway, does it not? [ His question is partially to himself, partially to Ori to see if she has the same impression. He's not sure what makes it different from the drunken singing at skaalds and quite literally every human get-together - maybe this 'teevee'? Hmm. He shrugs. No matter. He'll find out in time. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ She nods enthusiastically; she does, indeed, share the same impression! Getting to watch people dance and have fun with music were highlights of her earlier adventuring days... it's been some time since then. ]

That's what I thought, too, but I guess it's different somehow... Miss Tifa said the 'teevee' shows you pictures of things while you're singing, I think...?

[ She's under the impression that it's illusory magic of some manner. ]

One of the friends that I wrote about - he's a bard. I think he would like 'karaoke' very much especially since he already does sing.

[pactmarshal]

[ He tilts his head at the mention of pictures. He isn't really sure how that would enhance what the experience already was. Maybe it was like a picturebook reading, except everyone knew the words...?

His attention is pulled from out of his thoughts and to Ori when she brings up her friend. ] Ah, yes! You wrote quite a bit about your friends, didn't you? [ It also reminds him that she may write more about them for him at some point, which is exciting. ] A bard would like an activity that requires everyone to sing along, wouldn't he? [ He thinks for a moment, trying to recall her descriptions in the journal. ] The one with the lute, I take it?

[hearthwarming]

[ She nods enthusiastically at his recognition. Ori had been reasonably certain that most people wouldn't bother to read all that she had written, but here Trahearne is, not only having apparently read her descriptions but also remembering them! She truly appreciates that. ]

Yes! Actually, I started writing about them because of what you and I had talked about before, and then I wondered if I could share it with everyone so they could look out for my friends if they ever arrived here...

[ She has not forgotten about this promise! ]

Colin is an old friend of mine. We knew each other since before we, um, began to adventure together. I ran into him a lot during my time as a mercenary.

[pactmarshal]

That's a wonderful idea. [ It really is - especially if record stayed permanently on the journals, then it could easily be used as a reference to find people. Trahearne briefly considers doing the same, but there's a sinking feeling deep inside of him... Or maybe the possibility seems so distant because the Dream was cut off from him now. Who knows. ]

Colin, yes. [ He repeats the name, solidifying it in his memory. He glances up at her, one of the leaves that serve as his brow quirked higher than the other. That "um" sure added an interesting flavor to her explanation. ] It sounds like you two have quite the interesting history, if anything.

[hearthwarming]

[ At his observation, she offers an uneasy little chuckle, her hand rising to scratch at the back of her head. She truly is an open book, and she knows it. ]

I suppose so...

[ Too bad things are quite complicated between the two of them, now, but at least she doesn't have to deal with it in this realm... for better or for worse. ]

He's definitely the sort of person who's more interesting than they might seem, at first. Which is saying a lot, because I already thought he was quite interesting to begin with.

[pactmarshal]

Well then. [ He gives her a smile. Is it a knowing one? Or a teasing one? It's hard to tell. If "interesting" is how she chooses to describe him, then there must certainly be quite a lot to him. ] I should look forward to meeting Colin, if the opportunity ever arises.

[ He looks back at his marshmallow and sees that it's gotten soft enough that it threatens to slide right off the skewer. He quickly takes it away from the heat and glances back up at Ori. Just because he's had one before doesn't mean he knows what to do next! ]

[hearthwarming]

I think you would like him! He's much more fun to talk to than I am.

[ With his good charisma modifier and all that.

In any case, Ori startles when she sees the state that Trahearne's marshmallow is in, and quickly glances over to see that hers, too, is on the verge of either burning or slipping off. With one hand, she rummages through her supplies to procure some sweet crackers and chocolate. She lets the marshmallow fall onto the piece of chocolate on a cracker and then sandwiches it with the other cracker before she sets the skewer down so she can hand Trahearne his own set of crackers and chocolate. ]

Phew, that was close! Here you go, for your s'mores.

[pactmarshal]

[ There goes another one of those comments, he thinks to himself. This isn't a competition...

But that was not the matter at hand anymore, so he makes no comment. Trahearne watches as Ori puts hers together, mentally taking note as to what to do. So it wasn't all that complicated, after all. He could manage!

He graciously accepts his crackers and chocolate and begins to do just the same, catching the melting marshmallow on the chocolate that sits on the cracker. As he does so, he looks up at her. ]

Don't let me keep you if you have others to attend to. I'm certain I can find another conversation partner. [ He finishes his cracker sandwich and holds it up to her in a "cheers" motion. ] Thank you.