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

[lyrelyre]

Ooh, a tough choice.

[She taps her cheek, thinking for one whole second.]

Flowers!

[oren]

Alright.

[Oren gets to work by getting a tall glass and filling it with ice and then sparkling water. Next in goes a bright red rose syrup, some lemon juice and a twist of it's peel to decorate the rim.

Iona works on the food in the back as Oren presents Lyra's drink to her.]

Sparkling rose lemonade. Not too sweet. Can readjust.

[lyrelyre]

[She takes it, holding it up to appreciate the color first.]

Wow, Oren. How long have you been doing this? I'm impressed.

[And she hasn't even had a sip yet!]

You should work the bar at our place sometime.

[oren]

Since before Iona was born.

[Lotta time to practice, what else can he say?]

Bartender.

[He repeats it after her and it's in a somewhat questioning tone.]

Who usually makes drinks? At your place.

[lyrelyre]

[She swirls her drink with her straw, taking a sip (it’s good!) and considering the question.]

Well, no one’s going to go out of their way to mix drinks for everyone unless they’re in a really good mood.

[Or looking to get pretty plastered.]

But Morgan’s not half bad at it.

1/2

[oren]

I'm probably better.

[oren.........]

[infusion]

Haha! Oren, you're such a competitive weirdo!

[Iona's laughter emits from the kitchen and she emerges with a grilled panini sandwich (chicken, pesto, sundried tomatoes) and serves it to Lyra.]

Here you go! A nice lunch to go with your sparkling lemonade. [Speaking of drinks...]

We're thinking of adding some light cocktail and wine options for the cafe! Just as a change of pace. So if you're interested that's something to keep in mind!

[ever the cheerful businesswoman]

[lyrelyre]

[She laughs at Oren's reaction.]

Maybe we'll have to put that to the test one day! A drink-off. A... bartender-off? Oh, I'd love to see that.

[He can only imagine it. Morgan versus Oren. How funny.

She offers a thanks to Iona when she brings her the panini, remarking on how good it smells. But naturally, she perks up at the mention of wine, too.]

Careful. I could be here every night if you start offering wine.

[infusion]

I guess as long as... Well. Yeah. Who knows when huh?

[Iona looks at Oren thoughtfully as he moves to the other side to take care of some other customers (who are totally not glancing Lyra's way whenever she speaks, nope).]

As long as Oren doesn't mind and if he wants to do that himself.

[Most of Oren's independent action was never... For just himself.]

He doesn't really have fun in the normal way, just saying.

[lyrelyre]

[She's used to the stares. She's learned to shrug them off, or ignore them outright at this point.]

He doesn't?

[To Oren:]

You don't? And what do you count as fun, Oren? Hopefully our little fishing stint was interesting to you, at least.

[infusion]

[Iona whips her head back to look at Lyra with surprise.]

Fishing? He did that with you?

[Oren stays silent as if he refuses to talk about it. The witch puts her hands on her hips narrowing her eyes at him.]

Oh, so now you get to be stubborn? Boooo.

[lyrelyre]

[Oh? Cute. Lyra sips her straw again, the fullness of her lips curving all the while upwards.]

He did. Just for the one fish, though.

[Is she divulging State Secrets? How funny. Oren's silence is telling.]

I'm sure he was just being a gentleman, humoring the nice lady.

[infusion]

[She turns away from pouting at Oren and returns to being absorbed in a particular thought. While she lets Lyra enjoy the fare they've served to her and waits for Oren to return to the kitchen.

When he's gone, the witch brings up in a rather kind and grateful voice:]

Thank you, actually.

[lyrelyre]

[She's taken the time to enjoy her panini in the interim, and the tail-end of the conversation has nearly already flitted away from her mind, having thought little of it. But then, Iona speaks, and her brows knit a little questioningly.]

...For what?

[infusion]

For inviting him to do fishing! Even if it didn't take that long from what it sounds like.

[The witch has her fingers intertwined together, looking somewhat doubtful of herself on whether she should continue.]

Oren is... Well, you know he's a golem, but he has extremely strong sentience. He's self-aware, he can take in stimuli and react accordingly. He has actual opinions on everything and everyone.

It probably sounds silly to you, but I do want him to be happy and enjoy himself.

[lyrelyre]

So he’s a very special golem.

[That seems to be the implication, anyway.]

Why would that be silly? If he’s sentient, and your friend, it makes sense you’d want him to be happy.

He’s welcome to fish anytime he stops by, if that helps.

[infusion]

[Stop by huh? That means Oren was doing an independent visit on his own... What for even? Iona puts a pin on that for now since she's focusing on Lyra.]

Ah, I'm glad you get it. Oren's just rigid and wants to stick to his role. I guess that just comes with being as old as he is.

But you know, he seems nice to you... He is nice, right? Not like disregarding or being indifferent?

[This is strangely important to Iona... And if Berna knew about this, she would find it significant too.]

[lyrelyre]

[Lyra thinks that since she’s seeming to double-check this, that it must be some kind of significant. She doesn’t know Oren well enough to say one way or another of it is, of course. She just thought he was stoic, though not unapproachable.]

Not to me, at least. He even gave me cookies before he left. Is that not a thing he does?

1/2

[infusion]

[Something in Iona's expression brightens when Lyra asks her question. The act of giving cookies as a random act of kindness may not register with anyone else as significant.

But when it's Oren? Iona is amazed and happier than one can imagine.

Oren can be kind and polite to others. But it always comes with the caveat of, "Because Berna and Iona like them too." It had even taken Oren a long time to make Iona a priority equal to Berna due to his unnatural loyalty to the witch that went beyond his golem make.

They both wanted Oren to have bonds with others. He had done so much for them, gave so much of himself that they didn't want him to cage himself up.

Iona just smiles at Lyra and giggles.]

Not very often! But that's what makes it better.

[Oren emerges from hiding in the kitchen and Iona takes the tray of food from him.]

I'll take this Oren! You catch up with her!

[oren]

[But before the witch leaves, she reaches out to aggressively back pat Oren to the point where he wasn't as sturdy as he was, he'd keel over. The golem blinks as she skips away with the tray and then slowly makes his way over to Lyra.]

How is everything?

[pretending his witch isn't a huge weirdo, yup]

[lyrelyre]

[Must be quite an accomplishment for him, then. Lyra smiles brightly as Iona goes, and it remains on her face as Oren draws closer.]

Everything's great. [If he means the food. But if he means her-] Otherwise, you know. Just been keeping busy. Kinda of like you, I guess.

[oren]

[Oren nods.]

I see.

[Golem of few words as usual... But he does quickly snap his head to stare down some guys who were still trying to get a look at Lyra. What a funny guy he is, that Oren. They hurriedly look away again, and one of them just goes out the door.]

If anyone bothers, call. Probably me. Iona overzealous.

[lyrelyre]

[Her brows cinch together and she lets out a melodic laugh. (Probably not making it any easier for the people around her.)]

Are you worried? [Yeah, she caught that staredown he gave a few guys with wandering eyes.] Don't worry, I can take care of myself. And besides... that happens all the time. You get used to it.

I just... act like they're not even there.

[damn, ice cold]

[oren]

[Unlike Iona or even Berna who want to read the stories of the people in their lives, Oren doesn't pry open tightly closed books. And with such a cold and indifferent response, he can somewhat tell that there is a story that isn't his to even ask about.

And yet he wonders.

And for the creature housed inside this human-shaped shell, there is something akin to melancholy for this beguiling girl who takes this uncomfortable attention and uses it as power.

Oren just nods.]

Alright. [He takes a step back.]

Enjoy.

[lyrelyre]

[It's proof of how used to it she is; how she treats this constant attention like it barely registers on her radar. It used to be unwanted, but now it's just reality. No, more than that: it's a weapon to be used against others, her leg-up on life. Her usefulness in her group, empowering, giving her a sense of control that she had once lost.

But Oren doesn't ask, so she doesn't say. She just smiles at him gently.]

Okay. Thanks for the offer, anyway. It was sweet of you.