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

[recognizance]

It takes a full three seconds to process this. In a place that already hosts angels, demons, dragons (a dragon) and wizards, Murderbot supposes a deity is not that surprising, but still. If one showed up, the last place it would have expected to find them is stocking the refrigerator.

"You can do that," not quite a question. And, with sincere respect: "That's a really good idea."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank you, it’s not much, but I’m happy to help. If my aunt were here we might be able to get a vegetable or two, which would be nice, but some fruit is better than nothing I suppose.”

[recognizance]

"It's a lot better than nothing." Its habitually flat affect masks the fact that, from Murderbot, this is effusive praise. (Doesn't fruit juice have, like, important stuff in it? It pays as little attention as possible to human biology, but it's pretty sure it's heard that somewhere.) "Have you talked to Susan?"

[vineleaves]

"About this? No. I did see she's involved in storing alcohol, perhaps I ought to." It's just that he's pretty sure Susan doesn't like him, so he's hesitant.

[recognizance]

"She likes organizing stuff. And she's the only other human I know of who's doing something about this Dark bullshit." It moves, slowly and carefully, across the room to examine the goods. "Do you just... magic this stuff somehow?"

[vineleaves]

"Basically, yeah." He holds out his hands, vines appear and disappear, and when it's done there's a small, individual-size jar of grape preserves. He looks at it, dismayed. It was supposed to be bigger. He sets it down on the counter.

[recognizance]

It catches the expression, despite not having looked directly at Dionysus this whole time. "What's wrong?"

[vineleaves]

"Should've been more," he says, gesturing with his hands the size of jar he was intending on making. "Sorry, not to bog you down with my own issues or anything, but I think whatever's affecting the house -- the season, or whatever it is -- is doing the same to me too. Not to as drastic a degree, of course, but well. I'm usually better."

[recognizance]

There are several things it wants to say, despite the fact that this conversation is already longer than it can ordinarily tolerate. It wants its own humans, its own crappy galaxy, things it understands. It doesn't know how to tell this forlorn god-human that his little jars of nutrient goop are the least depressing thing it's seen in days. It keeps thinking of the shipful of indentured workers and how little it could do for them.

It steadfastly doesn't think of dark, silent tunnels or rows of empty cubicles.

Finally, after nearly thirty seconds, it says quietly, "It matters that you're trying, though."

[vineleaves]

"Thank you, that means a lot-- ah, sorry, I don't think I caught your name."

[recognizance]

This is never not going to feel weird, is it? Oh well. "SecUnit."

[vineleaves]

Weird name. "It's been wonderful to meet you, SecUnit." He means that genuinely and completely.

[recognizance]

"You, too." Equally sincere. Since that seems like the end of the conversation, it turns to go, but pauses in the doorway to ask, "What's The West Side Story?"

[vineleaves]

He brightens up. "It's a musical! From 1957. It's based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but updated to be set in modern New York. Modern for when it was written, actually, it's typically considered a period piece now that some decades have passed. Jerome Roberts and Arthur Laurents, but the music is by Bernstein and lyrics are by Sondheim. It was his broadway debut, actually! Bernstein offered him to split their 4% of the royalties evenly, but Sondheim refused and only accepted 1%, which he later regretted, the poor dear. At the time he just wanted recognition. The show features the Jets and the Sharks, two rival gangs. Tony, a member of the Jets, meets Maria, the younger sister of Bernardo of the Sharks, at a dance and they fall in love. You can see how this relates back to Romeo and Juliet, I'm sure. Don't tell Mercutio any of this if you see him, by the way, please? Anyway, speaking of, the two gangs have a big fight, because as we all know teenagers make the absolute wisest of decisions in life. Some of the characters get killed, Tony gets killed, but then it deviates from the source material a little in that Maria is still alive at the end, good for her. It's a really powerful show, it has been revived a bunch of times and they made a couple of movies too. If you ever get a chance to see it you definitely should! Even just listening to one of the cast albums is a delight."

[recognizance]

Romeo and Juliet doesn't ring a bell either, and to be honest the whole thing doesn't sound like Murderbot's idea of a great time -- adolescent humans dying for stupid reasons is among its least favorite plot points -- but it's not lying when it says, "If I ever get the chance, I will."

For one thing, it's so desperate for new shows at this point it'd watch almost anything. Besides, Dionysus is so enthusiastic that there must be something in it. Also, Maria was the one in the song, and it was a pretty good song.

[vineleaves]

"Wonderful! Let me know if you ever want any other theatre recommendations! It's a little difficult to introduce someone to a musical here, I have yet to find anything that can play a cast album and just reading the book without having the music there means you miss out on half of it, but I've got quite a collection of scripts for plays that aren't musicals I could lend out if you want to read any of them. I mean, I stole them out of the library so I guess I wouldn't really be lending them, they're not mine, but you know what I mean."

[recognizance]

It nods; then, remembering: "There is some kind of music player that reads from storage discs. I don't know where they put it after the talent show."

[vineleaves]

Okay first off there was a talent show??? And nobody invited him??? Nevermind it was likely before he arrived, that sounds like fun and it should definitely happen again. “Like a cd?” He holds his hands out in a circle to show the approximate size of a cd.

[recognizance]

"A little bigger than that. Nina would probably know."

[vineleaves]

"Probably a record then? Thank you for the heads up! I'll have to see if I can find it!"

[recognizance]

It nods again. "Good luck." And vanishes into the hallway.