buttsbuttsbuttsmate | Would you like to hear about our lord and savior, Lliira?

Would you like to hear about our lord and savior, Lliira?

[Dated prior to the gnome-influenced dungeon! If anyone has questions about Lliira or wants to have an early morning chat with Naeris, here's the place to ask!]

Naeris began her morning like she did every other: with a gentle rise from her meditative stance and a long stretch with her arms spread wide. She faced the sun with the smile expected of someone who was taught to treat every new day with the joy brought by unending possibilities. There had been a time when Naeris couldn't bring herself to do that, no matter how much her Lliiran upbringing pushed her to do so, and it's only recently that she's found a reason to genuinely smile again.

Five reasons, to be exact.

The small ragtag group is at the forefront of her thoughts as she offers her routine prayers of gratitude and requests for the strength to keep them all safe as they fulfill their own crazy-ass part of the perpetual dance of life. So, you know, normal stuff.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe it says something about Bowen that, despite the fact that she would rather be getting more beauty sleep, the dwarf rouses early each day, with only a little bit of help from Marse. Of course, she's not as thrilled about getting up as her animal companion, who seems to enjoy the morning as much as Naeris (in fact, it might be hearing Naeris up and about that lets him know the day is starting). But Bowen is doing her best to tolerate daybreak anyway, to dutifully rise with the sun so she can make the most out of the daylight hours.

Besides, it makes the bitter campfire coffee taste so much better.

"Mornin'," she mumbles in greeting to Naeris. This is certainly not the first time she's quietly greeted the elf this way, and... let's face it, on most days there's usually not much conversation beyond that. Being coherent at this hour takes a big effort on Bowen's part.

But maybe it's time she started making the effort? The two get along pleasantly, sure, enough that getting one of the friendship bracelets had melted Bowen's heart. But all things considered, how much have they really bonded? Considering that Naeris is the sort of person that Bowen would really like to be close friends with, and they had even fought together in the tournament... just being on 'pleasant' terms actually seemed sort of distant.

And Bowen's first instinct is to question herself — maybe she just needs to try and reach out more with the small talk?

"... so... I wanted to thank ye properly fer the bracelet," she offers as a starting point. Her voice is quieter and more mumble-y than usual. "I get sorta tongue-tied when it comes to gifts, but — it means a lot t'me. Makin' somethin' as pretty as this takes a lotta heart."

It's hard to build strong foundations in the middle of chaos, even for someone with an open heart full of glitter and rainbows. Thankfully, said heart is always ready to strengthen bonds and deepen friendships. Naeris' body language says as much as she finishes her stretches, turns to face Bowen, and looks down to meet her friend's eyes.

So weird, having to look down to speak to somebody. Usually, she has to get on the very tips of her toes.

"You're welcome! I'm glad you like it!"

Where Bowen's voice is low and mumbled, Naeris' is a gentle chirp falling just short of enthusiastic. She's a morning person, but not everyone else is. The worst thing right now would be to wake them all up.

"We make them a lot back home. They're really popular with the kids."

[[OOC: ... so, I had this tag written up at work, and then after seeing the other thread I felt inclined to make some changes. But you know what? This is much, much better.]]

"As gifts? Or did the kids make 'em with the clergy? Because I was gonna say, they remind me a' some things my mum showed me how ta make." With a faint and sheepish grin, she adds, "... not really fer givin' to anyone, though. More because it kept my hands busy, and outta trouble."

She looks away, but only to pour herself a small metal cup of the aforementioned campfire coffee, the early pot she made sure to brew before the campfire was taken over for breakfast prep. Maybe it's bad manners that the dwarf doesn't offer a cup to Naeris, but... well, this is some potent black coffee, and not even particularly good black coffee.

It's not like Bowen's bad at making coffee — in fact, if the ranger has one culinary skill she's proud of, it's brewing a good drink. Whether it's coffee or mulled cider or moonshine, anything hot or cold, from pretty much whatever's available. But since they're so far away from fancy tools and sugar cubes, there's only so much that can be done. Her coffee can be drank without making a constitution save, at least.

... usually. It can usually be drank without a constitution save. Some days, you roll lower than others.

When Bowen takes the first sip, she visibly recoils from it, as if just a drop was enough to make her hair stand on end. And then she lowers the cup and stares at it, as if quietly contemplating over whether this is the most terrible thing she's created.

"I— I'd say these are a lot cuter than anythin' I made, though," she says to keep the conversation going, smiling like she's going to pretend nothing just happened. Even while she casually dumps out the coffee behind her. Let's never speak of this.

Naeris blinks at Bowen's display at the less-than-stellar coffee concoction, but the smile stays spread across her face. She's definitely not going to be partaking in a cup, however. Basic survival instincts tend to win out over the need to be polite, even if barely.

It also makes the conversation about bracelets a welcome distraction.

"The designs depend on what you want to convey. These are for friendship, but you can make bracelets to cheer someone up, or to declare that you're in love with them, or for parents and children... but what's important is that they're about some kind of joy or love."

Yes, please. Let's distract from that as much as possible. Especially since Bowen now needs some other way to wake up — there's not going to be more coffee this morning until someone else makes it. And while that first sip was like a slap to the face, she can still feel the heavy veil of exhaustion pulling her down.

"Sorta like its own language, huh?" She seems curious, though not surprised. With such intricate little patterns? Yes, of course the people weaving them would use it to hide messages. "How's it work, then? Is it the colors that say different things, or the shapes that the threads make, or...?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing that complicated," Naeris clarifies as she points to the bracelet.

Granted, the Mummers would employ parallel tactics from time to time, but the spontaneity and relative simplicity of their missions didn't allow time for intricate weaving. Instead, more efficient symbols would allow them to communicate on the fly and the overarching close-knit culture they share (including personal intervention from Lliira). They've earned their title as the closest that the Lliiran order has to some kind of structure--even if that's not exactly saying much.

"We're pretty straightforward with our emotions. If someone wants to solidify a friendship, then a design would include colors that they feel represents that friendship. If someone wants to take that friendship to the next level, then they'd include some designs that show that, too. What's most important, though, is that these designs don't work as the only message that's sent."

The resident night owl was already up and about, cooking up some bacon or something to go along with the like 900 fucking muffins they'd brought with them. Muffins were good and all, but they were going to get really old really fast if they didn't try to change it up a little. They could idk make sandwiches out of the muffins and the bacon like who knows.

But anyway. Once he sees that Naeris is up, Varis gives her a little wave.

"Morning! You want some bacon? Or like, fifty muffins?"

There was some stuff he'd been wanting to chat with her about, but he figured it was probably best to maybe not to that immediately in the morning. Breakfast first.

Don't knock the potential of bacon-muffin sandwiches. It could be the new fantasy Australian hipster craze. The next avocado toast.

It takes Naeris a moment before she responds to Varis as she finalizes her prayers to Lliira. When she does, though, her smile widens and she trots over to him.

"Good morning!"

She plops down next to him, cross-legged. Everything looks so good...

"Ooh... I'll have a bit of both, if that's okay."

Dude are you kidding I would eat the fuck out of a bacon muffin sandwich. It's like a McGriddle only less dangerous.

He plates her up some bacon and a muffin and passes that shit on over to her hell yes.

"I've got some coffee on too, if you want some. I'm trying out the way Portia made it."

And less likely to be made out of actual styrofoam.

Naeris immediately perks up even more at the mention of Portia's coffee, which was pretty much one of the best things she's had outside of the Lliiran Temple's famous hot chocolate.

"Yes, please!"

She doesn't want to be rude and start eating before Varis, so she waits for him to serve up some coffee and get himself some food before chowing down.

But man, her plate is tempting.

Aw Naeris, you absolute sweetie. Just don't let Marse roll in and sneak off with your bacons while you're waiting.

The good news is she doesn't have to wait long. Varis finishes up the fancy coffee and passes her a mug before settling down with his own breakfast. It is eat time.

"Hey, um. So, I don't wanna bug you while you're eating, but I guess I've got some like. Stuff? That I wanted to ask you about. I mean, if you wanna wait until you're done eating to chat that's cool too. Also how's that coffee? Did it come out okay, or...?"

It's eat time and it's also rambling time, apparently.

When time is limited, it's totally acceptable to combine rambling with eating. It's the only way to get stuff done.

Naeris carefully sips at her coffee while Varis goes on, nodding along once she's had a bit, and the cup is safely in her hands. Once he's finished, she shoots him a wide smile.

"You can ask me anything you want, Varis. Also, the coffee is great! You did a good job."

She takes a bite out of a muffin while she waits for Varis to get his thoughts and questions together, ready to answer."

Five reasons, plus that asshole that's tagging along with all of you.

Speaking of that asshole, Malcer emerges from his tent into the early morning sunlight. He's already dressed, and his hair has been taken down from its dreadlocked style and is instead pulled into a long, dark braid that runs down his back. There isn't a hair out of place, which should be nearly impossible for a guy that just crawled his ass out of a tent in the middle of fantasy Australia rather than a goddamn hair salon. And yet-- behold, this asshole.

"Good morning," he says, and unlike Varis with his Portia coffee, Malcer retrieves a bone china teapot to start making his morning cup. He even has matching cups and saucers to go with it, the fancy little shit. "Are you always up this early?"

Naeris isn’t one to judge someone based on their looks—no matter if they’re presented as unkempt and destitute or fancy and privileged. So, when Malcer exits his tent all made-up and pretty, she doesn’t bat an eye outside of a respectful nod towards his braid game and his fancy china. This is coming from someone who appreciates nice hair and cute things.

As she finishes her dedication to her gratefulness to a new day, Naeris turns around to appropriately address Malcer, all smiles.

“Usually I am. I like to end meditation in time to greet the sun as it rises.”

The way she talks about the sun is like the way someone would talk about an old friend, with fondness and happy memories.

“It’s something us Lliirans do to start the day with joy.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Would you like to hear about our lord and savior, Lliira?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject