What I want to hear on nights I can't sleep is your voice

[philoxenia]

[ ... Well, that was an absolute shitshow, wasn't it? Instead of dwelling on how she feels about everything that just happened, Mira's channeling that energy into something else--and she has a little bit of help doing it. Zerinda and Ema are here in the bar to make drinks, and Mira's brought in a ton of food that's definitely not healthy for anyone, but screw it, who cares about health right now?

Della's here to pass out invitations, too--they let everyone know there's a gathering in the bar, if they'd rather not be alone.

If you choose not to come, well... Mira's got that taken care of, too. She'll place a little container of cookies and hot cocoa outside your door. Maybe it'll help someone feel a little less alone--at least, that's what she's hoping. ]

Comments

[philoxenia]

You did more than enough, honestly... besides, it was a group effort.

[ She smiles, but it's tired and fades quickly. ]

Besides... you do so much for us, it's only right you get to do a little less for once.

[nothingcanstop]

...I don't know if that's entirely true.

[ It's a little self-deprecating, but not much! ]

This is the first time I've helped with one of these...these things.

[philoxenia]

We couldn't have done it without everyone, you know.

[ She gives Della a gentle nudge. ]

... In any case, you aren't straining yourself, right?

[ Says the one who does that on the regular but uh. It's fine! ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ pot, kettle!!! ]

Me, straining? Oh, no! Not at all, I'm loosey-goosey.

[ WHY IS THAT A SAYING IN DUCKTA you know what it's fine ]

[philoxenia]

[ hypocrisy whomst? ]

I'm glad to hear it... I hope the cocoa is alright. It's warm, at the very least.

[nothingcanstop]

Are you kidding? It's great. You've got a way with the cocoa.

[philoxenia]

I've had plenty of time to practice. I just wish I could get into the kitchen and show you what I can really do.

[nothingcanstop]

I've tried threatening the chef. Won't budge. [ IS SHE JOKING??? ] I'm...pretty hopeless at baking or...anything, though, so it really would be you showing me.

[philoxenia]

[ DELLA......... ]

... W-well, hopefully our mysterious chef will allow it eventually. [ She clears her throat. ] But even so, I'd definitely recruit you to help me. And there might be hope for you yet. I'd make sure of that.

You'd get first dibs on anything I made, anyway.

[nothingcanstop]

Iiii wouldn't be so sure about that. Even before spending some... Uh, being away from home for a long while, I've always had a rough time with it. You should've seen the cake I made my boys for their uh, catch-up Birthdays, Valentines, Christmas, Flag Day, Talk Like A Pirate, Arbor Day, Just Because, et cetera et cetera. ...It deflated.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh dear. ]

W-well, at least the effort was there! I've had plenty of mishaps, myself... Once, I forgot to add eggs to a cake, and that was horrible.

[nothingcanstop]

You...need eggs...?

[ Please- please say you're joking, Della- oh. Oh she's not. ]

[philoxenia]

[ oh

oh no. ]

U-usually, yes... there are ways to make eggless cakes, but... cakes usually end up very dense if you don't add eggs.

[nothingcanstop]

...Then why'd it deflate, if it was dense...?

[ she's really bad at this, okay ]

[philoxenia]

[ god bless her ]

W-well, that can also happen if there's too little or too much moisture, if it's underbaked, or if the oven is the wrong temperature... Baking can go wrong very easily in a lot of different ways.

[nothingcanstop]

...Pro'ly why Beakley's insisted on doing all the cooking since then. And installed a new smoke alarm.