* [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

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad picks up one of the packages of kao fu. At least this one is food, to judge by the labeling.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"What is it?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Steamed wheat gluten," he reads.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Fascinating. I understand each of those words individually."

[onthewillowsthere]

"What is gluten?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It's a protein found in grains. It gives bread its chew¹."


¹Could not find a single resource on when gluten was first described as its own entity but I'm assuming that happened before 1950.

[onthewillowsthere]

It sounds to Galahad like alchemy, separating out the parts of things that don't seem possible to separate, divining the essential properties of then. He's pleased that Susan and Claudius have spoken with each other, pleased that Claudius approves of her. It's good for him to have a friend who understands these things.

"We can move these outside onto the landing and search further if you want to."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, I think that's a good idea," says Susan, gathering up more of the spools of tape and then putting them back in the crate as it strikes her it'll be easier to just move that.

[onthewillowsthere]

It's quite easy for him to lift the crate, and he carries it out to the landing of the circling stairs.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan follows, and starts up the next set of stairs. "I'm glad we're doing this," she says, after a moment.

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad glances back curiously.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It's a specific useful action," she clarifies. She hadn't realized just how much she was at a loss without new things to sort out and inventory. This isn't much, but it's something, and it's also a relief to know that their stores might yet be supplemented.

[onthewillowsthere]

That makes perfect sense. He nods. "Yes."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

It's so nice to be understood. Susan gives him a sharp nod in return. She's glad, too, to be getting to know Galahad better. He really is an asset to their community.