is this darkness of the dawn and your friends are gone

[bogwife]

[Everything keeps happening so much and the only real constants are death and parties.

Zerinda takes the initiative to plan things this time, with Della helping her deliver the invitations either being slipped under doors again.]



[It gives everyone an hour or two to settle down from the investigation and trial. By 6 on the dot the tables in the lounge are packed with miscellaneous vending machine snacks, a large pot of a thick and warm white stew, a plate stacked with biscuits and cupcakes. So many cupcakes. Mira has been coping well with her stress.

There's also several bottles of wine, hot coffee and hot chocolate waiting for anyone thirsty.

Welcome to the party, ya'll.]

Comments

[philoxenia]

[ ... huh. She lapses into a thoughtful silence for a few moments. ]

I'd never considered that. Me... I've always felt more safe when I'm alone. At least... until coming here.

[mouflon]

I can't really blame you for that. [ Rin tries to smile, but there is a little bitterness in it. ] It's all a matter of whether or not you have allies you trust. I've been on my own few months now, so it's not like this was a new adjustment for me or anything.

[philoxenia]

[ She doesn't miss that bitterness, at least partially... and even this is getting a little much. So. After a beat or two.... It's not the smoothest transition, but. ]

... Did you ever think you'd have such unlikely allies? Like an actual gemstone, and a duck... I'd never have been able to predict that.

[mouflon]

[ Honestly, thank god. Don't worry, Rin appreciates it. ]

I can only think of one that'd be more unlikely. Though, hey. Jewel magecraft is one of my specialties, so when you think about it, gemstones have always been my allies.

[philoxenia]

[ Thank god they're on the same page. She does perk up, though. ]

Jewel magecraft? Now I'm very interested.

[mouflon]

[ She would have swerved the topic if it had gone any further!! Though, in her case, it probably would have just involved asking Mira to come up with a new one anyway. ]

There's a lot I could explain about it, though I'm only really capable of the more basic forms of it. There's not really enough magical energy left on my Earth to do anything too complex.

The short version is that I use gemstones like a storage device. A body can only produce so much magical energy at once, but if you store a little bit every day, eventually you have a lot more than you'd normally be able to use in one burst.

[philoxenia]

[ Entirely fair! Enough Of That, after all. She listens, though, and nods. ]

Is it something you'd use in a pinch, then?

[mouflon]

It's not necessarily just for emergencies, but you have to be sure of your choice, yeah. Once you've used up the energy stored there, you've used it up, and your savings are back to zero.