[ Y'shtola walks towards the little cart, getting to work on organizing what's needed for the tea as the water already in the kettle comes to a boil. ]
Your circumstances don't allow you to? Must you truly be so careful at home?
For quite some time, I've been exclusively drinking the Velvet Dream I developed to keep nightmares at bay. My sense of taste has...developed strangely.
[Experiencing regular food here has in fact been somewhat novel.]
Because of my Forte, my tongue is often restless. [It traces her lower lip subconsciously as she speaks about it.] The potion has highly effective sedative and analgesic properties.
Somewhat. Because of the lack of detectable frequencies here...or perhaps because I've lost the ability to interact with them at all...much of the irritation is gone. Food has regained some of its natural taste, though I won't be putting any of my usual "seasonings" on anything any time soon.
[hot girl tummy problems was enough for her to learn.]
My sleep had also improved until recently. I should be grateful for such gifts when they come, shouldn't I?
It's accompanied by some... unfortunate side effects.
[She gestures toward the balcony area of the sitting room, beyond which sits the [setting.]]
And by being brought here. Which is not a slight against my present company, here or elsewhere in the realm. I'm treating my summons as an opportunity in disguise. Very, very disguised.
I'm sorry to say I sometimes long for a peaceful, quiet little life in the open air under the sun. My idea of a reprieve might be a bit more relaxing.
[This...might be?...the greatest difference between them of all. Not that she doesn't enjoy stimulating her mind, but there is something in Cantarella that yearns for stillness and sunshine, even know that sun will only shine for a brief while.]
Yet if this is another threat to be kept at bay so it doesn't drown Rinascita, anything I can do to dam it here is worth the stay.
[ She smiles, just a little, as she pours hot water over the tea in both of their cups. ]
More of your resolve.
[ That is something they share, but their biggest difference truly lies in the way they (metaphorically) see things. ]
Your idea of a reprieve is certainly different to my own. [ She hums, soft. ] Uncovering a great, ancient mystery would be my own. One that is not life-threatening or requires quick study, of course.
It's hardly so rigorous, but there are centuries of ancient tomes and records of the Fisalia family housed in the depths beneath Porto-Veno. I find many of them impenetrable and have never been able to decipher their true relevance or meaning.
[Read: This will be important in later patches, so we need an Evil Horse reason for her to not be able to interpret them right now.]
...But they would likely fail to measure up to any of your standards. [Also read: She's no intention of putting this intellectually curious cat woman's life at risk.] Perhaps once they can be safely archived.
Yet you intrigue me nevertheless. Ancient tomes and records on a star I have never been to, tucked away in the depths and unable to be safely archived...
You're not going to stop until you stick your nose into something dangerous.
[It's not really a question; Cantarella says it with a little more edge than that. It might even be a warning, implicitly lurking like a shadow beneath the shoreline that will catch a ship off guard.]
What is it that they say about curiosity? [She is, in the end, going to have to touch on the cat ears.]
[Maybe it's just that Sage is completely unhesitating in this. She doesn't flinch at all, even when Cantarella has already dangled perhaps a little more than should be safe of the Fisalia's dark and myriad secrets. Cantarella looks at her again, like she's trying to read something that never stirs.]
And yet you would need a guide if you wanted to plunge into the depths, no matter what is driving your curiosity. But you should never follow a stranger to such places.
[Though the way Cantarella says it, mulling and flat, already establishes that she doesn't feel that way and isn't about to spend the time singing and dancing her way through pretending they are. There's a hollow shadow at the back of her mind that wonders if the uncanny familiarity of the world around them has forced them closer than they should be, or if she has simply opened a door.]
[ Ah, that's right. She adopted the moniker of "Sage" and had left it at that. She really did grow too used to using an alternate name back on the First that it's left her with terrible habits. ]
[Of course, as she has when being introduced to any of the researchers once they meet again in person, Cantarella gives her a polite curtsey.]
That's better. Might as well conduct things in the proper order. Cantarella Fisalia, Matriarch of Porto-Veno Castle... and your future guide within its walls, should you ever choose to visit.
I have a great deal to look forward to once we leave this place behind us.
[Never mind all that lays between them and that escape and all that lays between her and a peaceful life. Cantarella knows that doubt will make her easier to pry and tries to neither epress nor feel it.]
Now... what can I learn about you that I could get from a toy doll?
[Presumably this will be all small talk so enrichment can be pursued elsewhere, but...it is a nice segue.]
And not strangers, I'd guess, since Thancred seemed interested in your whereabouts.
[And had gotten soundly piled on for it, on occasion. He'd handled it very well, considering he'd also said he knew nothing of what was going on here. Those are nosier questions to be asked in more detail later. For now...]
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Your circumstances don't allow you to? Must you truly be so careful at home?
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[Experiencing regular food here has in fact been somewhat novel.]
Because of my Forte, my tongue is often restless. [It traces her lower lip subconsciously as she speaks about it.] The potion has highly effective sedative and analgesic properties.
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Restless you say... do warm drinks ease it somewhat?
[ And how bad must those nightmares be, if she's always drinking that potion? ]
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[hot girl tummy problems was enough for her to learn.]
My sleep had also improved until recently. I should be grateful for such gifts when they come, shouldn't I?
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[ Being able to enjoy food again and being able to finally attain some rest… what more could someone want?
But… ]
Are you, though?
[ Having to ask means there are some conflicting feelings there, after all. ]
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[She gestures toward the balcony area of the sitting room, beyond which sits the [setting.]]
And by being brought here. Which is not a slight against my present company, here or elsewhere in the realm. I'm treating my summons as an opportunity in disguise. Very, very disguised.
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[ Have to look at the bright side of things, after all. ]
Or... a reprieve from the goings on of home, though I imagine this does not make for much of a reprieve.
[ The storms, the pain, the transformations... all of it is chaotic. ]
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[This...might be?...the greatest difference between them of all. Not that she doesn't enjoy stimulating her mind, but there is something in Cantarella that yearns for stillness and sunshine, even know that sun will only shine for a brief while.]
Yet if this is another threat to be kept at bay so it doesn't drown Rinascita, anything I can do to dam it here is worth the stay.
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More of your resolve.
[ That is something they share, but their biggest difference truly lies in the way they (metaphorically) see things. ]
Your idea of a reprieve is certainly different to my own. [ She hums, soft. ] Uncovering a great, ancient mystery would be my own. One that is not life-threatening or requires quick study, of course.
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[Read: This will be important in later patches, so we need an Evil Horse reason for her to not be able to interpret them right now.]
...But they would likely fail to measure up to any of your standards. [Also read: She's no intention of putting this intellectually curious cat woman's life at risk.] Perhaps once they can be safely archived.
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[ Liiiike..... she's very into the idea. ]
I daresay I should like to uncover their secrets.
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[It's not really a question; Cantarella says it with a little more edge than that. It might even be a warning, implicitly lurking like a shadow beneath the shoreline that will catch a ship off guard.]
What is it that they say about curiosity? [She is, in the end, going to have to touch on the cat ears.]
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Oh, a similar thing they say about nine lives, I presume.
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And yet you would need a guide if you wanted to plunge into the depths, no matter what is driving your curiosity. But you should never follow a stranger to such places.
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Is this your way of offering to guide me?
[ After all, they aren't strangers. ]
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[Though the way Cantarella says it, mulling and flat, already establishes that she doesn't feel that way and isn't about to spend the time singing and dancing her way through pretending they are. There's a hollow shadow at the back of her mind that wonders if the uncanny familiarity of the world around them has forced them closer than they should be, or if she has simply opened a door.]
But I haven't had the pleasure of introductions.
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Y'shtola Rhul.
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That's better. Might as well conduct things in the proper order. Cantarella Fisalia, Matriarch of Porto-Veno Castle... and your future guide within its walls, should you ever choose to visit.
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I daresay you know well that I will, Matriarch.
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[Never mind all that lays between them and that escape and all that lays between her and a peaceful life. Cantarella knows that doubt will make her easier to pry and tries to neither epress nor feel it.]
Now... what can I learn about you that I could get from a toy doll?
[Presumably this will be all small talk so enrichment can be pursued elsewhere, but...it is a nice segue.]
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There is a lot that lies ahead, but at least conversations like this can be a reminder that there's something that lies beyond the obstacles. ]
What is it you wish to know? I have much I could tell you, after all.
[ But she'll go ahead and offer something... ]
Thancred, Urianger, and I all hail from the same star.
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And not strangers, I'd guess, since Thancred seemed interested in your whereabouts.
[And had gotten soundly piled on for it, on occasion. He'd handled it very well, considering he'd also said he knew nothing of what was going on here. Those are nosier questions to be asked in more detail later. For now...]
What star is that?
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Etheirys. We three have a storied history of working under the same organizations for years.
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i was gonna say something evil about exarch but i have censored myself from all evil cat comments
i can say something heinous about him in your stead
yeah rake that cat over the goals
he's ..............
you can't bring yourself to do it
I fear what I will say