🌹 OPEN

[recluserose]

WHO: Amelia Steinbeck (recluserose) and Others
WHERE: Throughout the hotel.
WHEN: October 25th-26this, varying times of the day.
WHAT: Acclimating to the hotel and floor explorations.
WARNINGS: N/A for now, also prompts in comments.



(X)

Comments

[recluserose]

That's what book lamps are for.

[And glasses.]

Oh, floor three? I've been there before. Thank you for the offer.

[She'll put a pin on that... While Henry works to make coffee, some small talk isn't unwarranted.]

Henry, are you from the States by any chance?

[Not a West coast accent from him that's for sure.]

[vecna]

I see.

[He says, in a way that sounds politely dubious while yes, noting that she still needs glasses despite her book lamps. But he won't bring it up.

Eventually, he's got the coffee gurgling and brewing in the maker. The scent fills the cafeteria, and there's nothing to do now other than... wait. So he does, turning to face her, and clasping his hands behind his back; he's not the sort to lean on the counter.]

I am. [He very much has an American accent, after all, but he supposes that means little when multiple worlds are at play in this hotel.] I'm from Indiana.

[Kind......of.]

So you're from the US, too?

[recluserose]

[And the funny thing about Amelia is that she could either a) Use magic to improve her eyesight or b) Wear contacts. But the former she doesn't like physically modifying herself and the latter, eye contacts are itchy. She's a fussy witch.]

Indiana, huh? I haven't been to that state yet... I'm from California, the southern part of it in fact.

[vecna]

Well, I’ve never been to California before, either. But I’m sure someday I’ll visit.

[Someday, he’ll just be everywhere on his version of normal reality again—]

There’s definitely more to do there than small town Indiana, anyway.

[recluserose]

There's something for everyone there and we don't have snow except in the mountains.

[Amelia prefers to live in California precisely because there's no snow in the winter.]

So if you don't like the cities and large populations there's the California redwood trees, Napa Valley... Oh.

[She snaps her fingers.]

Poppy fields. That is, if you like flowers.

[vecna]

[He likes the cold, actually, even if he has no real opinion on snow itself. But there's no point in bringing that up right now.]

Who doesn't like flowers?

[Says Henry Creel, neutral on flowers, too.]

It sounds to me like you have plenty of vacationing spots in California alone. So why this hotel?

[recluserose]

The same reason as anyone else here. There's something in it for me as long as I stay here.

[There's a pause and she shifts to tug the blanket closer around her shoulders.]

That's what I remember agreeing to anyway. Wishes are tricky. Any magickind worth their salt wouldn't accept a premise like that at face value.

[vecna]

[His smile twitches.]

I suppose you're right. That's definitely why I'm here, too.

[Plus it's been a nice little... escape from the usual vista of vines, storm, and cold, untouched earth.]

So you're saying that you don't trust it completely?

[recluserose]

Correct.

[It may be because of the conflict her tangled desires cause in her heart when she goes over them with a fine-tooth comb. She's thought things over more than twice, perhaps over a hundred times, maybe even more. The outcome should be favorable, and life-changing. But she's learned to be suspicious and no matter how much optimism she sprinkles in, it is for naught.]

The stipulation sounds simple enough but as a matter of principle, I always practice caution when it comes to supernatural matters such as these.

[She sighs and makes a glance at the coffee to see if it's done.]

But that's how these kinds of circumstances are; they're never going to be clear from the start.

[vecna]

[The coffee's nearly done! Just a little more percolating and then he can pour them both their mugs.]

Well. I agree with you.

[He shrugs a little.]

Something like this isn't to be trusted at the start. In fact, I think it's only a matter of time before we might get to see glimpses behind the curtain; if there's a real reason behind us being brought here, we'll see it soon.

[Henry's a pragmatic sort. But he's also ambitious, opportunistic-]

But it's all a matter of weighing risk versus reward. And a wish is a very, very enticing reward.

[recluserose]

[Amelia looks back at Henry, studying him a little more carefully.]

Are you already set on what your wish is going to be by any chance?

[It's an innocuous enough question, one that was directed to her a while ago.]

[vecna]

[ :) ]

Yes. I think so.

[And now, he turns to retrieve the pot of coffee, ready to go!]

I've spent a lot of time traveling and found myself in a bit of a... pickle recently. ["Pickle" is an interesting word to use for being stuck in a hell dimension for seven years, transformed into a tentacle monster.

He pours the coffee in both mugs.] To put it simply, I'm stuck, and I want to go back home.

[recluserose]

[ :/ ]

... I see.

[Based on years of teaching and having to deal with her instructor, Amelia has gained some intuition on when someone is being purposefully vague or not. Should she choose to pursue a specific answer, she predicts running into a wall sooner than later.]

For the time being, you're fine with being here I hope? It's better than being stuck against your will.

[Doesn't she know it.]

[vecna]

[He chuckles lightly.]

It is better, in a lot of ways. [There's absolutely no getting around that, but-] But in the end, I'm still trapped. I'm still technically stuck, aren't I, if I can't go wherever I please when I leave this place?

[Just an extension of a prison; but the hotel is nice, at least!

He puts her mug on the counter and scoots it closer to her. The coffee's fresh and steaming hot.

It's also... really... really strong. Possibly a little too bitter. But maybe she's fine with that?]

1/2

[recluserose]

[Amelia accepts the mug of coffee. She takes a tentative sip and there's no change in expression as she contemplates it.]

... Hm.

[It's... Rather difficult to tell what she thinks based on her face alone.]

[recluserose]

[Just one more sip just to make sure!! And then she snaps her fingers.]

Hold on.

[The witch moves to the other end of the room with her mug where there are several materials provided to add to coffee, even an ice machine! She grabs two tumblers, fills them with ice, and sets them down. To her coffee, she adds, maple syrup, oat milk, a touch of cinnamon, and the smallest pinch of powdered cardamom. With a coffee stirrer, she mixes vigorously until the very dark coffee turns paler, and the fragrance less bitter and more aromatic.

There's another taste sip with a spoon, a shrug, and then she pours half of her new coffee concoction into one tumbler and then the other.

Finally, Amelia returns and holds one newly made iced and spiced oat milk coffee to Henry.]

Here. Try this. Give it a bit of shake if you need to.

[And with all that extraness done, she finally settles down, leaning against the counter and enjoys her morning coffee.]

[vecna]

[That is so many extra steps for coffee, he thinks. But he waits patiently, all the same, watching until she returns.

He takes the coffee and gives it... a little shake, as she said.]

What... is it?

[He will take a sip, but he wants to Know.]

[recluserose]

Spiced oat milk coffee over ice. I prefer iced coffee rather than hot though some mornings are exceptions.

[She slowly takes a drink and savors the additional flavors she's added to make it work with the overly strong and bitter brew Henry made.]

I used maple syrup instead of white sugar; it's easier to dissolve and has a more subtle and gentle sweetness. Whole milk might have worked better in order to cancel out the bitterness but I like the flavor of oat milk.

[She looks at Henry to see how he takes to it.]

The coffee you brewed wasn't really to my taste but I didn't want to spurn your work. So I added and decided to share.

[vecna]

[Oh, well. He supposes he'll try, and he does, taking a sip.

It's surprisingly good; she'll see the way his brows raise over the rim of his mug.]

...I like it.

[And he does. His bar for food quality is hideously low.]

Thanks. But if you didn't like my coffee, you could have just said so.

[recluserose]

Yes, that's what I could have done. Normally, that's what would happen.

[She readjusts her glasses as she takes another sip from her own cup.]

But you went through the trouble of making me something, so I decided to go through the trouble of making it better so that you could learn what a good iced coffee can taste like.

That's a much better deal than saying I dislike it and leaving it at that.

[Amelia raises her cup to him as if to make a mock 'cheers.']

[vecna]

[He quirks his brow at her. What a strange woman, with a strange sensibility for someone else's efforts.]

That's thoughtful of you. But I wouldn't have been offended, either way.

[Still, he raises his glass in a half-hearted "toast", then takes another sip.]

My palate's just not what it used to be.

[recluserose]

Well, then that's good to know for next time when I fully intend to offend you.

[He's seen several contradictory sides to this woman already. Cranky, but willing to apologize and admit fault. Stubborn, but yielding. Gruff, but kind and puts in effort to share something nice like a good iced coffee when she could have just kept it all for herself.

It's been a productive morning.]

You'll be able to try out a lot of new foods and drinks then. That's something to look forward to. A small thing, but something nonetheless.

[vecna]

[She's blunt, isn't she? And yet she tries to be accommodating for those around her; he suspects only those who show a modicum of politeness and reason, which Henry is at least good at wearing neatly, like a second skin.]

That's true. [His voice lilts. It's not something he came here for, to be truly excited about, and he doesn't even need to eat or drink anymore like he once used to. But the idea of trying something new is, he must begrudgingly admit, compelling.]

The small things are what will get us through this strange vacation, I think. Tell me, do you have any recommendations? You visited a few places already, I assume.

[recluserose]

[Amelia thinks for a second. Then looks at Henry and says one word:]

Noodles.

[vecna]

[Noodles, huh.]

Just noodles, or...?