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."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is delighted. "A very noble name for a very noble lady!" He stands and addresses the human properly. "Nice to meet you, by the way. I am Dionysus, god of Drama. Used to have some griffins myself, though I confess it has been quite a while since then."

[onthewillowsthere]

"Galahad, my lord." It's been a long time since he used a title with anyone except Janet, but he doesn't know what the proper way to address a god who isn't his God is and his time at Camelot taught him that most important people like my lord. "Does she look right?" He and Magnus still haven't discovered any objective resources on proper griffin development, and the fact that Dionysus has practical experience makes him noteworthy.

[vineleaves]

Galahad. Of course. The whole round table is here.

"Oh, she's lovely! I'm sure she would have let you know if something was wrong." Dionysus turns some of his attention back to Drosera, with the goal of getting her permission for pets. "How old is she, do you know?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"We found her on the twelfth of January at the start of Ordinary Time. She was a chick then." Dro is looking intently at Dionysus and demanding food (hungry baby!!!!!!!!) but Galahad doesn't understand her and it's possible Dionysus doesn't either.

[vineleaves]

“Oh I know my dear, I know! But I don’t have anything for you right now, I’m so sorry, you can’t have these,” he motions to the grapes, “they might hurt your little tummy and then what would we do?” He pets her head affectionately before addressing Galahad once more.

“What have you been able to feed her?”

[onthewillowsthere]

"Raw meat and fish."

[vineleaves]

“That’s good!” Then, with a forelorn look toward the fridge, “May be a little harder to come by these days though, unfortunately.”

[onthewillowsthere]

"What happened? The kitchens are wrong." His gaze, unwavering and somewhat unsettling, has fixed on Dionysus, as if he has answers.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is used to all eyes on him — it’s honestly his preferred way to be — so the intensity of Galahad’s look doesn’t much bother him. What does bother him is the subject matter at hand.

“The current theory is, I believe, that it is tied to the shifting season. According to the calendar we are now in ‘Dark’, which I guess is different from ‘winter’ in that the mansion is no longer … providing. I’m suspecting that all magic tied to production is, ah, dampened.”

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad frowns minutely. "Do you feel differently?"

[vineleaves]

"About it being tied to Dark? I certainly hope that's the reason, it would make things a lot easier in the long run. I just... also want to be prepared, should that turn out not to be the case." He's carefully trying not to think about the fact that his powers are diminished as well.

[onthewillowsthere]

That not what he means, and as always it frustrates him not to be understood. "Are your feelings different?" he tries. "Now. Are you sad?" He signs sad as well, a reflex.

[vineleaves]

He catches that and responds, do you prefer sign?

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad's eyes widen minutely. You speak? Yes, easier.

[vineleaves]

'I speak everything.' Oh! 'My name's Dionysus.' he repeats, showing what the sign word for himself is.

[onthewillowsthere]

It's a good name-sign, with its swingy, playful y. Claudius has talked about Dionysus, and how kind and personable he was, how pleasant, and how he admired the photographs of Danding and Xiaoxue and clearly appreciated them ("And he's agreed to officiate," Claudius had said, giving Galahad that look that means he doesn't want to admit how much Galahad's answer means to him; Galahad, who knows perfectly well that no Christian priest would ever agree to marry them, had just answered, "Good," and watched as Claudius clapped briskly and said, "Excellent, that's settled."). He's pleased to know that he can bring the name-sign back to Claudius tonight, a new and precious piece of information.

My name is Galahad, signing G-flower-choice.

[vineleaves]

'Beautiful name!'

[onthewillowsthere]

M-a-g-n-u-s Magnus made it for me, first fingerspelling and then using Magnus' name-sign. He taught me to sign.

[vineleaves]

Ahhhh. That explains the ASL. 'That was very kind of him.'

[onthewillowsthere]

He's my best friend. He looks over at Drosera, who has found a dropped raisin and is batting it around the kitchen. D-r-o is our daughter.