empatheias: mailbox

[slavecrowned]

Feel free to contact via letter, messenger bird or telepathy.

Comments

or action? action is good?

[markofthesea]

[It feels late.

Y'shtola cannot rightly deem the hour late; a glance through the window as she fills her tea strainer and listens for the kettle reveals 'tis only just finishing sunset.

She isn't one to hum or chatter while she works, unless someone starts the conversation for her; instead she has her mind on the girl in their sitting room, who awaits her share of this tea and, perhaps, some quiet company besides. A sharp whistle shakes her free of further thought and in moments the teapot, cups, a bit of milk, and honey are on a tray in Y'shtola's hands.

The whole arrangement goes on the low table before the sofa, and she sits carefully beside Terra there, pouring her friend's tea first.]

I've not yet sampled this blend myself. If 'tis to your liking, though, obtaining more is easy enough.

nope get out!

[slavecrowned]

[It's been an eventful few days, to be certain, and so Terra is not quite as cheerful as she might have been otherwise— but she smiles warmly all the same when Y'shtola comes into the room, straightening up in her seat in order to reach for her cup once it's been filled. The tea itself is certainly lovely, but more than that, Terra appreciates that teatime offers her the opportunity to simply sit and talk with someone whose company she truly enjoys— a novelty, still.]

Thank you— I'll admit, I don't know much about tea, but I guess that doesn't matter much when I do know what tastes good.

[Her smile turns a little sheepish as she moves to help herself to a spoonful of honey. She may not be an expert, but she's quickly developing a liking for tea as a whole, and sampling the different blends in Y'shtola's collection— it's so much more varied than what had been available to her in Vector, or even during her time in Figaro.]

[markofthesea]

You need know nothing of it at all in order to enjoy it.

[This, in particular, is a new herbal blend from the tea house; 'tis far too late in the evening for a more sturdy black or green, especially if Y'shtola wants anything to do with sleep in the next few hours.

She lifts her cup in both hands, staring into the faint reflection in the curface of her tea.]

We have all had too few chances to gather our strength anew of late, I fear.

[slavecrowned]

You're right about that, thankfully.

[And enjoy it she does, especially when Y'shtola chooses the brew— she seems to have a knack for picking just the right one, while Terra is still steadily learning what she likes.

She takes a sip of her honeyed tea, letting the cup warm her fingers afterwards.]

Things have been pretty chaotic lately... there was Brinndosi, and then Arthur and Alisaie were both hurt, not to mention everything leading up to Merisia losing herself in the first place.

[Terra hadn't been involved in any of that directly, but by all accounts, it had been quite a whirlwind.]

I'm glad everything is quiet now, even if only for a little while.

[markofthesea]

As am I.

[Y'shtola adds nothing to her tea, preferring to savor its flavor components unadorned most of the time. Like Terra, she holds the cup fully with both hands, taking in its warmth for comfort.

The silence that stretches between them is comfortable. Unburdened. Y'shtola allows her thoughts to drift out of the immediate present, and inevitably they go to Arthur, to Alisaie, to Merisia. To the suffering friends who have occupied her worry these last days.

Her gaze shifts sidelong to Terra, then. Brinndosi brought the girl suffering, too, and seeing her friends in pain and peril can't have been a balm to it.]

You've not slept well.

[It is more of a guess than a certainty, but she's heard someone about the house at unusual hours, and one rarely does sleep as one ought while keeping watch over a friend.]

gift!

[continuer]

[ It's Milkshake Day, the day you give a milkshake to a female friend you care about!

Terra's will be professionally delivered, and instead of there being a note, the message is sung by a barbershop quartet. The flavour is good old chocolate, so let's hope it doesn't taste as awkward as this moment is going to be. ]

"There is nothing better
than a friend,
there is nothing better
than a friend
I say, there is nothing - NOTHING -
BEEETTTTERRR
...
unless it's a friend with
CHO-CO-LATE! Yeah!"

[ That's it. The boys move on.

...
For all the effort Jaune put into this, he forgot to give his name to the guys. Enjoy that accidentally anonymous gift, Terra! :') ]

12/25

[selfishsins]

[Merry Christmas Terra! Mind the gift box waiting for you when you step outside today. It's hard to miss with how brightly wrapped it is, with reds, greens and little gold stars covering the whole thing. A large red bow sits on top to complete the festive look.

Inside the box is a scarf folded all nice and neatly, along with a small bag off cookies in lots of different shapes. It's hard to tell since they're not decorated, but they're meant to look like fireballs, swirls of wind, lightning bolts and a few other shapes based on the magic she's seen Terra use.

It's just as well there are some small pots of candy and multicoloured frosting in there so Terra can decorate the cookies however she likes. Last of all is a note in the bottom of the box:]

Tᴇʀʀᴀ

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. Yᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀ sɪɴᴄᴇ I ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ Vᴇʀᴇɴs. Wᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ! I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏᴋɪᴇs. Tʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, sᴀᴅʟʏ I ʟᴏsᴛ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ sᴘᴇʟʟ!

Fᴀʀᴀʜ

12/25

[pinkdevilmunchkin]

[Delivery for Terra! A package wrapped neatly in festive red and blue is left by her front door. The package contains couple of items inside. First is a snowman wool hat, along with it is green scarf with deer prints which also twinkles in response to positive energy.

One other gift is a snowglobe, and surrounding it is a bunch of candies and snacks. There's no note of any kind, but there is a tag which has a drawing of a pink gun, which may obviously indicate who the package is from.]

22/02 Misfire

[selfishsins]

[The last time she tried this she got through to someone else and that was... Baffling. And embarrassing. But it's important she get this message through to the person who needs to hear it! So here Farah is, trying again.]

Hey, listen. I've been thinking a lot since that time you pulled that trick and went inside me without any warning-- I'm not mad or anything! You just took me by surprise... I think I see what you were trying to do now though and I'd like to try again.

[Please be the right person please be the right person please be the right person.]

[slavecrowned]

[Well, at least this time, Farah got a friend? One who's just as confused as any stranger would be, but at least she'll probably be understanding once things are explained...]

Farah...?

[Terra can feel her cheeks burning hot, and there's a distinct feeling of embarrassment that comes across their telepathic link.]

I, ah— was this meant for someone else, maybe?

[DO YOU HAVE A GENTLEMAN FRIEND? Or a ladyfriend, even. Either is fine, but...]

[selfishsins]

Terra?!

[There's a sudden burst of embarrassment coming from her end too, along with a flash of frustration and anger mixed in there too. How could it happen again like this!? Seyfert save her.]

Terra, hey, this was... This was meant for Kor, not you at all! I'm so sorry!

[If Terra could just forget she ever heard this that would be great.]

[slavecrowned]

[Poor Farah— this really isn't her day.]

Kor...? Are you two—

[She cuts herself off. Uh, doing adult things? That's certainly what this sounds like, anyway.]

It's okay, this has been happening all day— I don't think these are working the way they're supposed to, but... um. Is everything okay?

[selfishsins]

We're nothing! Nothing at all.

[Only the slightest bit defensive there but hey, you would be too if already today people thought you were doing the do with someone you definitely are not.]

Everything is fine! Well, it was before all this started happening, sort of anyway... This is two people now that have heard me trying to get in touch with him again.

[Maybe she should give up for now... But she's stubborn and giving up doesn't ever sit well with her.]

misfire!

[pinkdevilmunchkin]

Hmmm. It's been a while. I need to feed P-chan plenty of blood again.

[This is... definitely not intended for anyone.]

[slavecrowned]

[She certainly recognizes the voice, but—]

Blood?!

[That's disconcerting.]

Why are you feeding someone blood?

[pinkdevilmunchkin]

Eh?

[Terra can't see it, but she's slapping her hands over her own mouth like... like it would do anything to help at all. Over this telepathic connection]

T-Terra-san?! How- Why-!! No no no, I'm not feeding anybody blood! I'm so sorry, this wasn't meant for you!

[Or anyone?!]

[slavecrowned]

[She can't see it, but she can sure feel that moment of panic. Thanks, crystals.]

LLENN?

[Despite her insistence, Terra can't help thinking the other girl sounds like she's been caught...]

But you just said you needed to feed P-chan— what's going on?!

voice;

[inklongdry]

[ Arthur has had a few days to stew on this interaction and he is no closer to figuring it out than he was before.

It’s probably around two in the morning when he reaches out through the amulet for the familiar presence of Terra, softy venturing, ]

Terra? Are you awake?

[slavecrowned]

[He's in luck— Terra doesn't sleep all that soundly to begin with, especially when she's alone, and tonight is like so many others in that she's found herself unable to settle in. She's working on a knitting project that she feels like she must have started three times over by now when Arthur's voice gently calls to her— knowing that he, too, often works late into the night, she's well past being surprised by his reaching out to her at such an hour.]

Arthur— yes, I'm here.

[There's a distinct pulse of warmth that accompanies her response; she's glad to hear from him, as she always is, but there's something cautious about his tone that catches her attention.]

Is everything alright?

[inklongdry]

[ That little pulse of warmth that comes through the connection soothes him some, and he can't help but smile to himself. A coil of affection reaches back in response. He's glad he decided to reach out to Terra, not just because of the perspective she might offer, but because hearing her voice always sets him at ease. ]

I was actually wondering if I might be able to ask you for some advice.

[slavecrowned]

[She's a little surprised that he would even ask, because of course she would never hesitate to listen to whatever it was he had to say.]

Of course. Seems like I'm usually the one asking you for advice— but you know I'll do whatever I can.

[Truth be told, she would do anything for him.]

What's going on, love?

backdateeeed

[arcsplainist]

[ The past few weeks have been... eventful, to say the least. Luckily, it's all over—for the most part. There's still plenty of damage left to be repaired, in both the city around them and between people.

Back home, at least, it's fortunately quiet. In an hour where Alphinaud is finally leaving Alisaie alone—most likely because she griped at him to bugger off already—he eventually emerges from his own room and heads down the stairs. Along the way, he has several sheets of paper in one hand, distracted by reading over whatever its contents are. ]

[slavecrowned]

[Though it's been some time now since Gem's influence has faded from her, Terra has taken great pains to make herself scarce around the house— at least in a social sense. Many of her housemates will find that their chores are done before they can get to them, and there's often something freshly-baked (if questionable in appearance) in the kitchen by way of a wordless apology.

Of course, she can't avoid her housemates forever, and she freezes in place as Alphinaud descends the stairs just in time to catch her leaving the kitchen with a feather-duster in hand.]

O-oh— hello.

[She knows she hadn't left him with a very good first impression. They've crossed paths since then, but Terra has made certain to keep those encounters brief, limited.]

[arcsplainist]

[ Very brief; he still couldn't say how she's like without the effects of the fog. Their initial encounter had left him entirely too confused, but eventually the cause of such behavior came to light, and so...

Well, seeing her again in those short moments (in their own living space, of all places) left an odd feeling, but Alphinaud knows better than to fault her for it. She isn't the only one around with guilt on her conscience, and he isn't about to make it worse for her.

This time, though, he hadn't noticed her presence until she speaks up with a meek greeting. Alphinaud is quickly jerked away from his thoughts, pausing mid-step, and lifts his head from the papers to blink dumbly her way. ]

—Ah, Terra, good afternoon. Do excuse me, I had believed the house empty. [ He flicks a quick look at her duster. ] Are you busy cleaning?

[slavecrowned]

[She nods once, drawing in a sharp breath to steel herself. She's faced far more frightening things than this, and yet shame and remorse for her behavior, outside influence and all, still weighs upon her heavily.]

I— yes. I've been trying to get as much done as I can while everyone is busy going about their day. I'm sorry, I thought the house was empty, too— where are you headed? I'll take care not to get in your way.

[She can only imagine what he must think of her.]