* [semi-closed post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan is still struggling, but she's established a little routine, specific to Dark: every morning, she goes to her favorite room - the one with all the rugs - and retrieves several bottles of alcohol. These, she ferries down to the cafe and arranges them on a corner table, where she sits for the next hour or so, passing bottles to anyone who needs a full one, and measures from the bottles to anyone who would prefer just a drink or two. By now, she's got a sense of the regulars, their preferences (though she cannot always accommodate these - it really is the queerest assortment of libations), and how much they require, but she always brings an extra bottle or two just in case.

Today, she's tireder than normal, and moving slowly. Her tea was running low, and so she's rationing it. She's even on the verge of capitulating and getting a cup of coffee to tide herself over.


[Primarily intended for Dionysus and Lan Wangji, but if anyone wants to play out the awkwardness of the daily alcohol retrieval I'm all in!]

Comments

[vineleaves]

"That's very kind of you. I hope everything has been running smoothly? Nobody's giving you a hard time with it or anything, are they?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, no, not at all! I only wish this sort of thing wasn't necessary at all. They didn't ask for me to know their business, in this matter."

[vineleaves]

"Take it as a compliment that they trust you to do something as important as this for them. It's a high honor, I'd say."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan very nearly laughs outright at that. "If you say so," she says, knowing that that's not it at all.

[vineleaves]

"Oh! Do you need anything?" he gestures to the snacks in his basket.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, sure, I'll take some grapes." She pauses for a moment and then ventures, "Are you able to produce other grape-based spirits, then, or is it just the wine?"

[vineleaves]

Dionysus fishes out the grapes and hands them over. "I can make anything primarily grape-based. Some things are more difficult, even under ideal circumstances, but it can be done. Do you have a request?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Stronger things? Brandy and the like. Only if you can, of course, but some of the men prefer liquor to wine."

[vineleaves]

"I can bring some by tomorrow morning. I --" he hesitates. "I trust you've got a good idea on how long the alcohol is going to last for, but have you any estimate on how we're doing with food? I've been, well, worried, to say the least."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"We've got enough alcohol to make it, even if this lasts two weeks longer than people think it will, as long as no-one gets precious about what he drinks. The food is more difficult. Unless we find reliable supplements, it shan't last the rest of the month unless people start eating less, and I'm loathe to be the voice to tell them so."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus has been standing throughout this conversation, but he finally sits. He has to, he feels like he's been punched, because this is exactly what he was worried about but was trying to hold out hope wouldn't happen.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, I rather feel the same way."

[vineleaves]

He remembers to breathe. "Not to question your calculations, but were you including me and the others who don't need to eat in that estimation?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan stares at him. "What? No. You don't need to eat?" She blinks. She'd just assumed... "How many of you are there, do you know?"

[vineleaves]

“I can’t exactly die of starvation. I’m fine. Don’t worry. I believe Crowley and his partner are similar, though I’ve not spoken to them directly about it, I’m just basing that off what I’ve heard.” He hasn’t even ever met the angel at all, actually. “I don’t know if there’s anyone else like us though. But that’s at least a little more food to go around.”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes." Susan runs over some quick numbers in her head. Unfortunately, three people don't extend things very far, but it is a great help. "Perhaps I ought to survey everyone again."

[vineleaves]

“Not a bad idea. Maybe if we put out a survey about it, it would be a gentle way to let everyone realize the situation.”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan sighs. "Or it might panic everyone," she says.

[vineleaves]

“Oh,” he says quietly. “That’s a good point.” He is back to feeling useless and helpless. “You are a — a queen, right? I’m remembering correctly?” She certainly seems like she knows what she’s doing at any rate.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Once, yes."

[vineleaves]

"I can tell. You're very good at this." All of this. Making sure everyone is safe and has what they need, making sure a panic doesn't break out. Everything. "I'm royal on both sides, but it's not like I've ever had to actually rule anything. And they don't exactly give out lessons on this stuff when you're being secretly raised by wood nymphs."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

A smile flashes across Susan's face, here and then gone again. "Dryads are terrible for that sort of thing. They didn't give me lessons either."

[vineleaves]

"Great if you want to learn about outdoorsey stuff, less great if you ever find yourself needing to deal with people. Not to disparage my aunties, of course, I love them all dearly you know."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Terrific dancers, though."

[vineleaves]

“Oh goodness yes! You won’t find a better dancer at Juilliard!” It’s a welcome distraction, thinking about his childhood. It was good… right up until the point when it wasn’t, anymore. He’s not thinking about that part though, just the nice bits.