isleofavalon | OPEN: catch-all for April

🧙 WHO: Meiniang and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests but also anything and everything!
🕒 WHEN: During the beautiful month of April
🗺️ WHERE: Anywhere and everywhere
⚠️ WARNINGS: Probably none, but subject to change if anything crops up

General April Shenanigans
i. The Survival Option
[Living as a concubine for many years didn't exactly prepare you to live life on your own, and having to learn to draw her own bath, get her own food was definitely an experience. Made much easier, of course, with the various magical conveniences like running water and electricity.

And made easier still because her first thought when seeing all of it was wondering how it worked, why it worked. That took up time in her day that would have been spent in bed with the covers pulled up and a book she'd only really be reading half-heartedly. Having to learn how to live one's life anew made it easier to try and forget the life she'd had.

The emperor's death feels simultaneously like yesterday and yet like too long ago so she stubbornly keeps the white silk flower in her hair though the pure white clothing she'd worn was impractical and for all that she had to grieve, she'd also been thoroughly spoiled by Rui An and the luxury of the Imperial Palace. So plain clothes it is.

Do you...]

A. Find her at breakfast, 8am
[Learning to wake up this early is hard for a concubine that usually woke up whenever she wanted, but it was either this or go hungry and Meiniang had never liked that feeling. Though she does find herself longing for some plain buns, or even noodles as she eats her cold fruit, chasing it with warm tea and frowning as she does so.]

...I can see how this would be refreshing in the height of summer, but to eat it like this now when it's so wet outside feels odd. [It's definitely why she's already on her third cup of tea at this point.]

B. Find her standing at the top of the stairs
[This would usually be the time when Rui An comes to bring her an umbrella. And also to tell her not to go out. But on her own, Meiniang takes one look at the water then proceeds to pull the bottom hem of her robe up a little so she can actually tie it tight and wade into the water.

She knows more than one of the emperor's other concubines would be raising their eyebrows at her, probably outright saying that was exactly what they'd expect from her of all people but none of them are here. In the end, it's once again just her.

If you're at all hesitant, she turns to you and offers a hand.] Do you need help?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not at all! If you're cooking for one, it's no different than cooking for two, but with the added benefit of some good company!

[He laughs and heads into the inn, making his way towards the kitchen.]

So, what suits your tastes this morning? I usually make some eggs and sausage after my morning training but that might be a bit heavy for you. I can make you some nice hot oatmeal with fruit? That'll warm you up.

Then I'll have to try my best to be good company. [She follows along with a smile, absolutely intending to be useful at not just make him do all the work.]

I'm not picky, anything is fine. [And also again, he's the one who offered to help her with this so she's definitely not going to be picky!]
I've never had oatmeal before but I'm happy to try it if that is what you suggest. What is it? [She's lived mostly in the south all her life but wheat and oats were becoming increasingly popular in the palace. Maybe that's what it is? Since her breakfast was usually rice porridge or thick noodles in soup she imagines that oatmeal must be something similar.

And fruit is an always food as far as she's concerned.]

Heh, don't try too hard now. You're fine as you are.

But, if you've never had oatmeal before, it's perfect for wet, cool mornings. I'll whip you up a bowl!

[He gets to work, and like a gentleman, he serves her up first; a nice piping hot bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon swirled throughout and topped with slices of bananas and some blueberries. It's not runny at all and nice and creamy.]

[He sets a spoon out for her as he dries his hands.]

Eat up! Let me know what you think!

[His words do make her smile but she'll still make an attempt.

Even if said attempt is her finding table settings and laying everything out while he makes her oatmeal! Luckily she's been here long enough that she knows what utensils look like now, setting out a fork and knife for him then putting the spoon she got out back so she can use the one he got for her instead.]

Thank you. [She takes a moment to breathe in the warm scent of cinnamon, noting with a smile that this spice and the banana, at least, are both things she recognizes. The blueberries are new, but no less intriguing.]

It smells wonderful. [And a taste makes her smile brighten as she savours the warmth of the oatmeal and the creaminess of it on her tongue.] I've never had cinnamon in something sweet before, but it's good like this. And what are these?

[She holds up a blueberry on her spoon to show him before putting it into her mouth as well. A berry, like she guessed, tasting bright and sweet.]

Oh those? Those are blueberries. I'm kinda partial to them.

[He gestures to his hair.]

A nickname from when I was a kid. But, I'm glad you like it all the same.

Can I get you something to drink?

Blueberries. [It's certainly succinct to call them that, she thinks. Placing her spoon down at the mention of him as a kid though...]

You don't have to get me anything to drink, you haven't even gotten your own breakfast yet. [But she smiles at him anyway, letting him continue with his preparations before she speaks again.]

....We've met before in a dream, right? Darin.

[He was about to head back into the kitchen to get his meal started (and to bring her a drink anyway) when she addresses the elephant in the room.]

...You realized it too, huh. That we've met. Somehow.

Yes.

[There's no mistaking that blue hair.]

You were a child in that dream though. In a burning house.

Ah...

[Darin's tone grows considerably more somber.]

Yeah. That...was my home. When I lost my family.

...I'm sorry for your loss. [If only the dream had allowed her to change something, anything even if she knows it's nothing but wishful thinking on her part. No one can change the past.

She's still glad though that the child she'd helped, the child he'd been had survived and been saved. A part of her wants to know what happened, whether he knew who was responsible while another part worries that perhaps he didn't, perhaps asking would only dig at old wounds.]

...I'm sensing you have a lot of questions.

It's alright. That was almost twenty years ago. And I'm pretty well-adjusted if I do say so myself~

[Debatable.]

You can ask. I don't take offense.

[She does have a lot of questions and while he says he's here to answer them, she still hesitates a little.]

...Did you ever find out who did it?

Oh, I know who did it.

I doubt you'd believe me if I told you, though.

If I'm asking you, I think I'd be inclined to trust what you have to say, don't you think so?

[But, of course, whether or not he'd talk to her is up to him though!]

[He takes a moment to consider before finally answering.]

...Celestials. Angels, rather.

They wanted me and my family wiped out. No witnesses.

[She finds it believable, especially when her idea of celestials were ascended mortals organized in a strict bureaucracy. People made mistakes and so did celestials. Just as they were capable of mercy and justice, they were also capable of being thoughtlessly cruel.]

...I see. Did you find out why?

I know why. I've known ever since I was a child.

[He sighs.]

It...has something to do with my lineage. The circumstances regarding mine and my twin brother's birth.

[Meiniang can't help imagining it might be the same kind of superstitious nonsense that had everyone out to kill her back home.]

...What could be so serious that they'd try to kill children?

OPEN: catch-all for April

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