if i'm far from home (brother i will hear you call)

[necromanswers]

[The following mass message goes out to everyone in town this morning with no warning at all to the relevant parties who work at the cafe (sorry, folks).]

Taako's gone back to Faerun.

Affurgato's closed for a while.

[She does hesitate, just for a moment. Considers saying more, but... nope. That's all the public gets from her today. Back to the blanket nest with her. She might respond, but no promises she'll be pleasant conversation.

True to her word, the cafe Affurgato is locked and temporarily closed, and will remain so for a while.]

Comments

[necromanswers]

Mm... if nothing else, we've still got each other.

[For now, is that ever-present worry. She doesn't want to be alone again, and the thought leaves her frozen. All the more reason to take this idea seriously.]

[shroudedsecrets]

We do.

[ Even if the worry isn't voiced, it's certainly there for them both, as she offers another gentle squeeze of her hand. ]

You taught me that.

[necromanswers]

Aww, and you remembered. Am I a good teacher? Can I shove that in my old professors' faces one day?

[It's... an attempt. To lighten the mood a little. Look, she's trying.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ It takes her a moment's pause to grasp the joke for what it is, the change in tone, as she snuggles in closer. ]

Best one I know. They'll just have to establish a brand new school in your honor.

[necromanswers]

So long as they don't expect me to actually teach. I'd probably get into legal trouble for destroying too many students.

[Which... may or may not be a literal estimate.]

[shroudedsecrets]

Not at all. You would just make a... special appearance ever so often, keep them on their toes between your travels.

[ So they don't dare forget her, even if they aren't reliant upon her. That hits a little close, though. ]

[necromanswers]

That sounds more like something Taako would do. [She says it before she realizes it, burrowing a little deeper. It takes a few seconds, but she continues.] Wouldn't want to steal his thunder.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Ah. Her ears flick back in a wince. This was meant to be more light-hearted, not take them back in that direction. ]

You're not stealing his thunder, you're inspiring it.

[necromanswers]

...Yeah. We were good at that.

[Inspiring one another, pushing and pulling and... just twin things.

She feels another twist of unease begin to unravel her calm, and she closes her eyes, forcing herself to breathe.]

I'm... gonna need some time. If that wasn't obvious.

[shroudedsecrets]

Lup...

[ But she knows. The weight of it is there, every time she refers to her brother in the past tense just because he is no longer present. Perhaps... thinking of a way to keep the memory of him present might help ground her...? But even that might be too much to suggest, right here at the cusp of vulnerability, when even the idea of him might still be too much. ]

Rest. We will get through... together.

[necromanswers]

Right... thanks.

[She closes her eyes, forcing herself towards a trance; she doesn't trust her mind to treat her kindly should she sleep right now. Before she drifts, though, she murmurs,]

You'll be here?

[It's an empty request, she knows. No promise in the world could keep them here if the forces that brought them in chose to steal them away. Still... she needs to hear it. The truth can fuck off for a while.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ And there it is. All she can but do is offer a reassuring squeeze, the promise far deeper than anything these gods might try and do. ]

Rest, Lup. I will be here.

[necromanswers]

[Lup hesitates a few moments more, then nods and settles into her trance, slumping as if asleep immediately. She won't move for a while, as long as Honerva doesn't- it's warm and safe here, and there's bliss away from consciousness.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Honerva watches, eyes soft as Lup shifts to trance, but mind ever heavy before settling into a more comfortable position herself, trying to will herself over to some sort of rest so as not to disturb her, focusing on the present.

She's right where she needs to be. ]