Open: Takes a lot of medicine to make it through the wintertime

[vineleaves]

The first day of Dark was difficult enough to get through. When the situation didn't improve after a few days, however, Dionysus really began to worry. That the house would stop cooperating when it comes to creating food at the same time his own powers of generation have become so severely diminished... it doesn't sit easy with him.

He is grateful that he still has some powers, but he's been finding it difficult to produce grapes or wine (or any related products) of any quality, whereas before it came to him like breathing. But he considers it his duty to do what he can to offset the dwindling supplies, so every day he spends a few hours creating what he can: grapes, raisins, cartons of grape juice, and of course, bottles of wine, before diligently distributing it to the various kitchens and eating-places in the house. Wherever he thinks people may go to look for something to eat. Should anyone need him, he shouldn't be too difficult to locate.

Comments

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad had gotten out of the habit of making Magnus lunch while they were sharing a room, but now that Magnus is Outside Guy again he's trying to get back to doing it regularly. It makes him feel marginally less weighted down to have things that must be done, and this Lent has been so difficult that the purpose is even more important.

The kitchens, however, are not being forthcoming. He's moved on to the third one by the time he encounters Dionysus. It's his turn to take Dro for the day, and so he appears in the doorway, a slight, pale young person of not-immediately-obvious gender, trailed by a teenage griffin whose wings are finally starting to look halfway respectable.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus notices a stranger out of the corner of his eye, and turns to say hello, but only gets as far as "He--" when he notices "A griffin?!" And it's like he just won the lottery, with how excited he is. "Oh my goodness, what a beautiful darling!"

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad feels a tiny gleam of pride. Drosera does look good now that her flight feathers are coming in; the tuft of her lion's tail is thick and soft (when it's Galahad's turn, he brushes her hind end) and her tails are sharp.

Drosera clacks her bill at Dionysus in a way that Galahad knows from experience means she's begging, and he goes to the fridge to see if this time he'll get the usual raw meat. He does not.

[vineleaves]

"Ohh you're just the sweetest dear, aren't you? Oh yes, and so ferocious too!" Dionysus continues baby talk at the griffin while holding his hand up to be sniffed, like one might do with a puppy. "What's her name?" he asks the human, returning to his normal speaking voice for the question.

[onthewillowsthere]

Gravely, "Her name is Her Most Gracious Majesty and Royal Betaloned Beakiness, Glorious Princess Drosera Dinosaur Hungry Baby Kitty McBirdface Magnahad the Fluffy-Pawed of Shed Kingdom, First of her Name and Cutest in all the Worlds."

[kadewest]

Kade is poking through the kitchens wondering where all the hot chocolate stuff has gone when he runs into someone new. "Oh, hey," he says, with a nod. "I don't believe we've met."

[vineleaves]

"Hello!" Dionysus responds cheerfully, setting a large basket down on the counter. "No, I don't think we've been properly introduced yet. I am Dionysus, god of Drama, would you care for some grapes?" He motions to the fruit in the basket.

[kadewest]

"Sure, why not," says Kade, helping himself to a small bunch. "I'm Kade. Kade West. What World you come from, Dionysus, god of Drama?"

[vineleaves]

"Kade! Yes! I've been told you are the man to turn to should I need help with clothing!" Today he is wearing a yellow peplos with a deep purple sash around his waist. He realizes he's failing in his mission to change up his style now that he's living in the mansion. Old habits die hard. "But as for your question, ah. Earth? 2024. I'm not from a play if that's what you're asking, though there have been several written about me."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji is in an unfortunately irritable mood. By his reckoning, spring should be just beginning; there should be signs of life poking through the frost, all the green and beautiful reminders of renewal that have always characterized the end of winter in Gusu. Instead, there is -- apparently -- Dark. Wei Ying is sleeping poorly. Lan Wangji finds himself compelled to walk the halls of the mansion at night, taunted and lured by flickering uneasiness plucking at his spiritual senses before it vanishes as untraceably as it came. He can make do with little sleep, and he won't need to eat for several more days as long as he continues to draw on his golden core, but that is certainly not the case for everyone.

He has managed to find some of his cooking staples and relocate them appropriately, but not all. When he steps into the kitchen he typically uses, however, with plans of inventorying the contents and making a plan about it, he is startled to find it occupied. This kitchen does not actually belong to him, he reminds himself, and as such he dips into his usual respectful and formal bow, hands together and sleeves draping.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus smiles cheerfully and bows back at the newcomer. "Hello!"

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji rises from that bow, as expressionless as ever, and tucks his hands together neatly behind his back. "My name is Lan Wangji," he offers. This is a habit he developed a month or two into his time here.

[vineleaves]

“I’m Dionysus, god of Drama, nice to meet you! I’ve only been here a few weeks — gosh, maybe it’s been over a month now? It’s hard to keep track. The double moon situation throws me off, too. Anyway, I’m still running into housemates I’ve not met yet! You’d think I would know everyone by now but that’s clearly not the case! How long have you been here yourself?”

[ravkanwitch]

Nina noticed the slow advance of Dark fairly early on and cursed herself for becoming too reliant on the food and drink provided by the mansion. She's never seen much use in alcohol -- but she does enjoy food, particularly sweets. She can go without. She's gone on minimal rations in Fjerda, when she was undercover as a lowly factory worker. Does she want to? No.

A few days into Dark, Nina walks into the one of the rooms he's in, picking up a carton of grape juice with a small smile. "Dionysus?" She says, both in greeting and in question. "Is this you?"

[vineleaves]

"Nina my darling! Hello!" He gives her a friendly embrace as a greeting. "You've caught me!"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina hugs him back. "I know it's only been a few days into Dark, according to the calendar, but are you doing alright?"

[vineleaves]

"Oh, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!" He's all smiles. Maybe suspiciously so. Maybe he's just like that though, who knows. "How are you holding up though, my dear?"

[recognizance]

Murderbot has been spending a lot of its time -- let's say patrolling; that sounds less pathetic than "pacing endlessly while fretting". It pauses, though, when it comes across a human it hasn't actually met before.

It stands in the doorway for a moment, bemused. "What are you doing?"

[vineleaves]

Dionysus was in fact singing to himself¹ while stocking the kitchen with his daily round of groceries. He stops when he hears the voice, and looks up.

"It's from West Side Story."

1. It sounds a little different coming from Dionysus.

[recognizance]

It blinks at him -- a tall, broad, androgynous figure, too nonplussed at the moment to look very intimidating. "The fruit juice?"

[vineleaves]

"Oh! That. Did you want some? I thought, since the mansion isn't being very giving this month, that I would make some. In case anyone wants it."

He realizes this isn't very helpful.

"I am Dionysus, god of Drama. And Wine."

[untamedantinous]

Enjolras has been pacing the house, the past few days. He hasn't quite run out of his small stash of coffee, but it is always useful to see what, if anything, exists in the kitchens these days. (He had also managed to get his hands on some flour and yeast before Dark truly began, and so has a small loaf of bread in hand. It is not the best, but it is serviceable.) As he moves to place it in the nearest kitchen he pauses, seeing it is already occupied.

"Ah. Hello."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus turns and smiles warmly. "Enjolras! Hello! How have you been, it's been ages since we last ran into one another!" Not since the party, he thinks.

[untamedantinous]

He nods, and sets his bread down on the table quietly. “As well as anyone is at this time, I suppose.” There is a beat. “Thank you for the wine, and —ah, everything.”

[vineleaves]

"Of course! It was no problem at all!" He gestures to the basket of items he was currently stocking kitchens with. "Care for any of this?"