THE JARS THAT BLEED BEFORE THEY BREAK.

[glassjar]

Congrats! You've somehow stumbled upon the pocket dimension where five people with questionable morals (some more questionable than others) live and operate. Are you here on business? Do you have an appointment? Or are you here to see a friend? (Come on, don't make us laugh.)

Maybe you're here on accident due to some multiversal, magical, or otherwise supernatural nonsense? It's happened before, it was bound to happen again.

You can wander towards the house, see if anyone's home. Or you can explore the lush grounds, and maybe run across the wolfman groundskeeper who might try to usher you out towards the nearest portal, anyway. The world is your oyster, just try to be a good guest.

Comments

LYRA.

[lyrelyre]

[At least Lyra has more manners, even if her smile is faint when you find her; likely somewhere near the pond, a fishing rod in hand, the line gently strung across the top of the water. She sits atop an old, gnarled tree that's long fallen over.]

The fish are biting today. But they're always biting, so sometimes I wonder: what's the fun in that?

[She laughs, and it's an ethereal sound, made to draw you in.

(Still, she's harmless enough. Probably.)]

If you're here to see the fireworks, you have to wait until it's nighttime.

[Her looks seems to ask: Are you even staying that long?]

After Morgan

[oren]

[Oren looks at Lyra, recognition flickering in his silvery eyes.]

Hello again.

[It's hard to tell the difference but his tone towards her is less curt than when he was talking to Morgan.]

May not stay that long.

[lyrelyre]

[There's something about her demeanor that shifts immediately upon recognization of the golem. Her eyes light up, and she smiles a little wider, dropping the nymphish, inexplicably beguiling persona.]

Oh! I remember you.

[He's hard to forget. Still, she leans in and rests her chin in a palm, her elbow pressed against a knee while she holds onto the fishing rod.]

Uhm, Oren, right?

[oren]

Yes.

[He glances at her fishing rod and then back at Lyra.]

Just visiting. Was about to leave.

[But he's not in a hurry.]

Are you well?

[lyrelyre]

Me? Yeah, I’m okay. The last few days have been kinda slow, though, so I’m looking for ways to kill time around this place.

[She studies him for a second.]

Just visiting? No work? Maybe that’s for the better. If Jake saw you he’d blow a gasket, considering what happened the last time we ran into each other.

[oren]

Brought gifts. For everyone.

[And thus, that will make everything better.]

Gave them to Morgan. Late apology, but better now than never.

[lyrelyre]

Oooh. Presents. Can’t wait to see what you brought.

[She smiles and waves him closer.]

Morgan, huh? Well, that’s… something. I’m sure he’s assigning who gets what as we speak. You got him to come out of hiding, though, so I’m impressed.

[oren]

Good tea. Good wine. Something to fit everyone's taste.

[Oren concedes and moves a few steps closer to stand near Lyra.]

I just waited. A long while. For some maybe.

[lyrelyre]

You sure didn't have to... But I'm glad you did. I call dibs on the wine, no matter what Morgan says.

[She seems happy enough that he's standing closer.]

Patience goes a long way, I guess. I'm glad you got to talk to meet with him eventually. Can I, um, ask what you talked about?

[oren]

[Oren lets out what could be interpreted as a sigh. He answers her anyway.]

Asked what everyone did. Saving in reserve.

[... And as if to soften what he says, the golem adds:]

If really needed. Not any time soon.

[lyrelyre]

[Her lips quirk. Did Morgan wear you out, honey?]

Not anytime soon? You'll make me sad, Oren. What, are we too... sus for you?

[oren]

[Well if Morgan did, Oren wouldn't admit it. He looks at the young woman blankly.]

Delinquent, yes.

[Rude.]

Maybe more. Otherwise, keeping options open.

[And this is for Iona and for Berna. Should there ever be a time when ties fall apart, he'll have learned more, or at least enough to keep them safe.]

diamonds are a girl's best friend

[infusion]

Welcome to the Midnight Grind!

[For Iona, the greeting is instinctive the moment she hears the door open. And just as instinctive is her looking over, eyes bright with anticipation at who she will lock gazes with.

She's standing on a ladder with a chalk marker. This time around the Grind employees will, in fact, attempt a set menu although customers are still allowed to order what they wished as long as the ingredients were available in the back.

Oren is standing below her, one hand around a ladder leg to keep it steady. He also looks over and immediately recognizes the new guest. For Iona, it takes a second and she pauses from writing ("Waffle Burger") to furrow her brow as she tries to file through her memory.]

Hm. Haven't we seen you before?

[lyrelyre]

[Lyra's all bright eyes and a smile when she walks in, removing her oval-shaped sunglasses and letting them rest atop her head as she glances around. Her eyes land, of course, on Iona and Oren first thing.]

Oh, hey there. Wow, Jake didn't bother mentioning how cute this place is.

[And to the golem, she waves:]

Hi Oren!

[Her smile stretches a little wider, and she eases a few steps more into the cafe proper. And then to Iona again, she addresses with a lilting voice, light and pleasant to listen to.]

You don't remember me? What if I said... "urn". Jog your memory?

1/2

[infusion]

[She did have a very nice voice. If Iona's arm didn't tingle slightly, she'd be amazed at how natural it sounded. Of course, more importantly, is the trigger word. Because in a few seconds, Iona's eyes widen and she plops her bottom on a ladder step.]

Aw, fuck!

[oren]

Language.

[Oren helps Iona off the ladder and then he turns to nod in acknowledgment to Lyra.]

Welcome. Have a seat. Will get you started.

[lyrelyre]

[She screws up her face a little at the sight, amused, trying not to laugh out loud at poor Iona's fall.]

Oh, come on. Let a girl say "fuck" if she wants to.

[Lyra, you're not helping.

But she finds a seat near the front, easing both elbows on the table and lacing her fingers together. She rests her chin atop that.]

I'm glad the door showed up for me. I was really getting curious.

[infusion]

[Iona wipes her hands on her jeans looking back and forth between Lyra and Oren. Her golem seems pretty okay with the young woman so... Well, Iona would have been okay with her with or without Oren's input, but his was always telling.]

Um, glad to have you here! Been a while huh?

[Oren has moved to the other side of the counter, already getting her drink started so Iona decides to do business first.]

Would you also like something to eat? I'll make sure it pairs well with whatever he's making.

And uh, we don't have to expect any other company, do we? [crosses fingers, no morgan]

[lyrelyre]

Sure. Whatcha got?

[But at the second question, she angles her head a little, knowing.

Playfully:]

Did you want me to call someone up? Invite them here with us?

1/2

[infusion]

[Iona immediately raises both of her arms to create an exaggerated 'X' motion and shakes her head rapidly.

That would be a no.]

[oren]

[Oren has looked up from his drink making to also shake his head silently at Lyra. In contrast to Iona's rapid shaking, his is slow and it makes for a funny sight.]

[lyrelyre]

Wow. [She laughs, once more an airy yet weirdly ethereal sound.] Okay. Who’s the one we’re trying to avoid then?

[infusion]

I mean, it's not like we'll reject him if he comes in... But we haven't seen Morgan visit again yet.

[Might as well be honest. Iona sighs, shaking her head at herself.]

Sorry. I know we're technically over the Urn Incident and I doubt he cares about it that much. I'm really sorry about that by the way. You probably could have been doing something more fun that night.

[lyrelyre]

I mean, that was definitely a night to remember. But it was work. It’s not like I had plans for anything else that night. I went along because I thought it would be easy.

[She shrugs.]

But it’s okay. Morgan doesn’t really radiate “coffee shop hipster vibes” so I doubt he’d come around that often. [She probably just jinxed them.] I know he’s sometimes off-putting, but he’s not really that bad.

[Or Lyra has a higher threshold of tolerance for the things he sometimes does.]

[infusion]

Mmm. I'll take your word for it then... [For now... Iona takes a deep breath and gives Lyra a friendly smile.]

Anyway, I think it's the perfect time to properly introduce myself to you. [She pats her chest.]

I'm Iona Jacqueline Oakes, owner of the Midnight Grind! And a witch. And Oren's already met you. We're happy to have you here.

[Despite her initial reaction to seeing her, there's no doubt that the sincerity in Iona's words is real.]