Interregnum - Soaking it up

[opius]

Alastair yawned quietly as the hot water did it's work, loosening muscles and relaxing the senses. The folks konane described sounded to him like fair weather friends and acquaintances at best. He thought a while more before tilting his head back.

"Preemptive apologies, huh. Hopefully this crew has the stomach to put up with our antics." With a laugh he submerged for a short while and brushed the hot water through his hair.

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin nodded in agreement to Jaeger's sentiments and remained otherwise silent as he soaked. He looked as though he may fall asleep in the water up until Alastair chose to speak.

Immediately following Alastair's remark he laughed loud enough to still be heard as laughing to Alastair when he dunked his head under the water. It took him about 7 seconds to get it all out before he could breathe enough to speak. "I wouldn't call it preemptive apologies, but it's also not entirely wrong."

"I see that as more putting our best foot forward and inviting them a chance to see us as we are. Because as things stand they're going to see a lot more of the business side of us."

He looked to Konane. "And your cooking is definitely among the best things that our group produces." He took a quick dip under the water just to wet his whole head before surfacing again.

[uberwulfx]

Jaeger couldn't help but smile (more) at the robustness of Taliesin's laughter. "Then they should know that we work hard, we play hard, and we eat hardily. When next we soak, we will perhaps have twice or thrice the number of people in the water, assuming all are okay with our lack of care for modesty."

That brought to mind again the absent Sae and Klinkle. The former was likely busy brewing, as she seemed to enjoy being left alone to do the important work in the background. The latter was likely doing the same, but in respect to the occupying troops and ship they were to be acquiring. Would it have been safe to assume that Mirrai was now of their number? She seemed much too shy to join them, but perhaps in time she would warm up to the idea of at least soaking with the ladies separately.

"How is Mirrai doing, Taliesin?" Jaeger once more turned his attention to the elf, this time sitting up. "I've not spoken much to her, something I should remedy. Is she adjusting well enough to the idea of being with us, without Telemon?"

[CautionCat]

Konane smiled, and lifted herself up to her shoulders above the water, enjoying the warmth. Her hair clung to her now, long as it was.
"I love to cook, and if you do what you love, you get very good with it."

Konane glanced to Alastair, still smiling. "It is more of a welcome. We treat them to a good meal, and show that we are good people."

[opius]

Alastair wriggled his pinky into his left ear as he went about lightly scrubbing himself. "Love what you do and you'll never work a day, they say. Nice sentiment, but my shoulders would argue that work is still work..."

It seemed the consensus was that things were on a good footing, generally. He shifted to look from Konane to Jaeger as the question of Mirrai was brought up. He felt the need to follow up.

"I was a little surprised to hear she wanted to come along. She seemed pretty... Adverse to interacting with the forsaken initially. You think that's got to do with those questions she's trying to get answers to?"

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin smiled softyl at the interactions going around. He became quite alert when Jaeger mentioned Mirrai. He looked at first to see if she was near, but still she was nowhere to be seen. He turned back in time to hear Alastair asking about Mirrai as well.

"Mirrai seems to be doing well." He said in response to Jaeger. "She is oddly prepared for our style of living currently." He looked toward Alastair and paused to think.

"I assume you'd be adverse to coming face to face with Fenderbarrin if you were told that he blew up the Lyceum and actively tried killing the other ... Professors? as well as innocents." He offered as a possible analog. It wasn't going to be perfect, but he hoped the familiarity helped.

[uberwulfx]

(pass)

[CautionCat]

Konane just blinked at Taliesin. That was... Quite the explanation. She looked to Alastair to see what his reaction would be.

[opius]

Alastair was gobsmacked by the analogy. When he finally *did* come out of the processing phase and attempted to make sense of it a few moments later, he sank a little in the water and turned his gaze skyward.

He was caught off guard for sure, but it was clear gears were turning after the interruption. Those nearby were familiar enough to know when he was treating the facts like a puzzle, and this was one of those moments.

"... So it's like that, then..." He pursed his lips, went to speak, paused, and opted not to for a few more moments.

"I wonder if she'll ever open up and give us the full story. I don't... Know if we can really help, but I'd like to try."

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin shrugged in the water. "What she shares is up to her. I'm not pushing."

He sank a little as he continued. "She happened upon Telemon as she left where she had been. Her intent from that moment aligns with our current path. I would like her to continue on with us as we go on. But I don't know how things are going to go as we continue."

[uberwulfx]

"I wondered how exactly she and Telemon found each other," he mused quietly. "Yet another opportunity lost."

Jaeger sank in the water, doing his best to submerge himself. However, his current place dictated that his nose and all above were still visible. He contented himself with blowing bubbles, something he would never have done outside of current company.

[CautionCat]

"Another to win over with a hearty meal." Konane smiled, and shrugged some.
"She must trust us enough if she wants to be with us. Some people take time to open up."

She tilted her head some, and sighed a little. "If it was not for Sae running into the woods when we crashed, when you and Alastair were taken, I would not have changed. Who knows how long it would have taken for me to show you all."

[opius]

Alastair cocked a brow, still staring upwards at nothing in particular. "Nothing quite like a life or death situation to bring people together." He sat up a little, arms spread against the rocks behind his shoulders.

"... Let's hope we can get her to open up with something a little less dire."

[§~Samwise~§]

Taliesin closed his eyes upon mention of Sae. He didn't dwell on the thought and instead pushed through.

"She's opening up. But it takes time. And there is a lot for her to get accustomed to on top of what we're doing." He opened his eyes and looked over to Konane. "I don't doubt that your cooking combined with some well planned words could get a little more out."

He wanted to say more, but he dipped his lips below water and looked between the others.

[uberwulfx]

Blub, blub, blub--