sporesprouter | Open Post: Treat

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Open Post: Treat

Now that the latest burst of activity has actually settled into something like calm for a few days, Tress has settled into a temporary project. In fairness, most of the temporary project took place the previous day in the out of the way kitchen that she had previously commandeered small appliances from. But today requires a bit more wandering.

So she is currently in the process of going around various at least semi-frequented common rooms leaving trays of both nut and honey balls and chocolate coconut balls. Next to each room's tray, she sets down a small card that says in careful handwriting, 'It's been a tough week. Help yourself!'

She's not putting a whole lot of fanfare into the process, but she's also not being particularly secretive about it, so she's easy enough to find throughout.

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"Yes," relieved. "I would like that."

She nods. "Then I'll help you. It'll be fun."

"Thank you." A split-second smile.

"You're welcome." She looks down at the tray. "Oh!" She picks it back up and holds it out toward Galahad. "Would you like one?"

"Yes." He reaches out and takes one of the coconut ones. Since Magnus he's gotten much more proactive about trying new foods.

"I hope you like it." She sets the tray back down. "I thought everyone deserved a chance at a treat, after everything that's happened the last few days."

"Oh-- the creatures."

"The zombies, yes. And the truth spell that some people were affected by a little bit before that, too. It's been a lot."

"There was a truth spell?"

She nods. "There was. I don't think it hit me, though¹."

¹ It did. The only real symptom was one little Glorf-bean, though, so she can't be blamed for not noticing.

"I don't think I was affected either. I didn't notice it."

She nods. "Not everyone was. But if you count it on top of the zombies, I think everyone really deserves snacks."

That does seem reasonable. "Do you like teaching people how to make things?"

She's quiet for a moment, thoughtful. "You know, I never really did it much before I got here. But... yes. I think I do. I think it's because I like learning things, so it's also nice to get to see someone else learn something and know I helped them."

Galahad watches her face, as if he could learn something from it (he couldn't. He can barely read anyone's expression), and waits quietly for a little longer. "Your friend isn't here yet. Are you all right?"

Tress sits down in an empty chair and leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She collects her thoughts. "I... We've been apart for longer than this before. Not exactly so long where I couldn't see the next step, though. So it's hard. But I'm also keeping myself occupied, and the people here are kind, so I'm doing better than I would be if I was alone, I think."

He hesitates, and then holds out his hand, palm up, the way he would to Magnus or Shen Yuan.

She smiles faintly and reaches out to take his hand.

Galahad threads their fingers together in silence (wishing, neither for the first nor for the last time, that he were Percival and had Percival's gift for saying the thing most needed).

Sometimes, though, the thing most needed isn't saying anything, it's just being there. Tress stays quiet for a while, their fingers entwined. "Thank you," she eventually says quietly, barely more than a whisper.

He squeezes her hand. "If you need someone to be-- to be quiet with you, or listen-- I'm good at listening."

She squeezes back and nods. "I probably will sometimes. If it's not too much trouble, anyway."

"It's not. I want to."

"Well, then I definitely will. It's nice to just be quiet sometimes."

"It's nice," softly.

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sporesprouter - 2023-11-23 04:58 (UTC) - Expand

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