Dionysus Avery & Aurelia go into the Sisters?

Aurelia To Avery, when the party splits, "Will Avery come to my home?"

Avery yes. Avery glamours a bandana first. he blushes a bit and nods. "If Miss Aurelia would like, I'd be honored."

• Aurelia goes there with him.
• Avery walks with Aurelia.

Dionysus It is as you recall, late in the evening, a small lamp burns outside as Lita, Wicker, Rinn, & your mother sit on the porch, knitting. You sense Wicker & your mother before you reach the house.

• Aurelia approaches slowly, to allow time for recognition.
• Avery follows her lead.

Dionysus Your mother remains seated, but smiles. Wicker stands, grinning broadly, as you arrive. The other two smile as you approach. Then, Wicker frowns, "He's asleep..."

• Avery offers the ladies a short, respectful bow in greeting, wondering who's being spoken of.

Dionysus Rinn smiles at Wicker in a confused, amused way, but says, "Welcome home, Aurelia."

• Aurelia smiles at them all, then starts forward to hug her mother. At Wicker's assertion, she tilts her head slightly, then shakes it. "He feels of dreams, always."

Dionysus Lita smiles.

Dionysus Valara stands after a moment & whispers, "My daughter."

Dionysus She holds out her arms, as if to embrace.

Dionysus Wicker stares at Avery.

• Aurelia embraces.

Dionysus Her embrace is vigorous.

• Avery then realizes he's being spoken of and offers a rather self-conscious, wry smile.

Dionysus "You've come home?"

Dionysus Valara asks.

Aurelia "The Colour seeks an engineer below... Until they find him, I am home..."

Dionysus She smiles, "Well, I will enjoy you while I can."

Dionysus She smiles her broken smile.

• Avery smiles at that, happy to see Aurelia with her family.
• Aurelia smiles faintly back, then looks away and hugs her aunts in turn.

Dionysus They each hug back, though Wicker is a little distracted. Lita asks in a whisper to Aurelia, "Is this your young man?"

Dionysus Wicker looks sharply at Aurelia after a moment, then smiles. "I'll tell Gurda, Cherry, & Poly, & we'll have a family dinner, shall we?"

Dionysus Rinn says, "I already told them."

• Aurelia blushes a touch. "He is Avery. He is also the Colour's wind."
• Avery blushes faintly at that.

Dionysus Valara says, in a near whisper, "Let's go inside."

Dionysus And she leads the way

• Aurelia nods wordlessly, looks at Avery, and follows.
• Avery follows at a respectful distance unless someone indicates he shouldn't - Aurela did invite him, but he recalls how nervous her mother seemed the last time they came through here, and he doesn't want to rock the boat any.

Dionysus Valara goes inside & sits in a comfortable chair. Rinn sets about in the kitchen, & Lita takes Avery's hand. "Tell me all about yourself, young man."

Dionysus Wicker stands next to Aurelia & puts a hand on her shoulder.

Dionysus She smiles.

Dionysus Lita leads Avery to a seat on the couch.

• Avery smiles a bit wryly and gets led. "There's...really not much to tell. I'm a musician, playing the pennywhistle. Guitar sometimes, too." he hesitates a moment, as though trying to figure out how to say something.
• Aurelia leans her cheek briefly against her Aunt's hand, and watches Avery and Lita.

Dionysus Wicker leads Aurelia to a seat, putting her arm around her.

• Aurelia sits as guided.

Dionysus Kashaji sits down just outside the door, & Valara glances at him curiously, but turns to Avery,.

• Avery glances over at them for a moment, then takes a breath. "I...I'm faery, too. I guess that's why I feel...of dreams, as Miss Aurelia said." he likes that idea, though it sounds kind of odd to him. "But I only found that out recently. Really, I'm just a musician from Maraddon."

Dionysus Rinn stops her rustling about & stares, & Lita smiles politely, but her face can't hide her disbelief. Wicker looks curiously, & Valara looks pensieve. Valara says, "Gurda's here. Wicker, get the door." And Wicker gets up to do so.

• Aurelia looks towards the door, then stands again.

Dionysus She lets in a greater dwarven woman carrying a basket of bread.

• Avery looks over as well, purely out of habit as he can't really see anything.

Dionysus "Welcome back, chickadee!" She booms as she enters.

• Aurelia smiles and steps forward to hug, if the basket allows.

Dionysus She hands the basket to Wicker & hugs.

Dionysus Her hug is powerful.

Dionysus Polyhymnia walks in without knocking, leaping into hugging Aurelia immediately.

Dionysus Cherry comes next, quietly, slowly, not entirely recovered from her ordeal. She looks a little younger than she did those months ago, though.

Dionysus Rinn says, "Avery, can you cook?"

• Aurelia hugs back, smiling nearly the closest she's ever come to brightly.

Dionysus Cherry hugs after thoe two finish.

Avery "I...haven't tried recently, but yes, a few things."

Dionysus Gurda marches into the kitchen, "Get in here, boy stranger, & learn."

• Aurelia again hugs back happily.

Dionysus Cherry is frail & light.

Dionysus She feels weary.

• Avery grins a little and gets up. "Yes ma'am." he follows her.

Dionysus Gurda & Rinn start directing you as to preparation of certain vegetables, carefully guiding your hands

Dionysus Valara says, "Aurelia met my old friend. He... sent a letter."

• Avery pays attention, focusing on the movements and instructions.
• Aurelia looks at her mother and murmurs, "Kansallus..."

Dionysus Wicker looks at Valara & says, "Yes..."

Dionysus "I am glad you met him," Valara says.

Aurelia "He was kind."

Dionysus Wicker sits down. Avery, Gurda tells you to stir something gently for five minutes & guides your hands to it.

Dionysus Valara says, "His letter said he... He was going to find my heart again."

• Avery nods and does as instructed.

Aurelia After a further moment unsure what to say, "His heart cares for you."

Dionysus She nods, "Did I ever mention our... our first voyage together?"

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus "It was... long ago. I was... I had less sense, then. Less sense. I fought. I could fight, you know, & I..." She stops, looks down, "Wicker, where's my guitar?"

Dionysus Wicker stares a moment, then says, "I'm not sure."

Dionysus Rinn says telepathically to Aurelia alone, "It was destroyed ages ago, but it would break her heart all over again to hear it."

Dionysus Rinn interjects, "It was left at my place, Valara."

Dionysus Valara looks downcast, "Oh..."

• Aurelia looks at Wicker, then Rinn, then Wicker again.

Aurelia Did Avery bring his?

Avery ...yeah, why not?

• Aurelia stands and goes to the kitchen's doorway.
• Avery is stirring whatever Gurda set him to stirring. he looks over, feeling her approach.

Aurelia "Will you allow my mother the playing of your guitar..?"

• Avery is surprised she asked. "I didn't know she played...of course."

Dionysus Rinn says, "Valara, the boy will lend you his guitar..."

Dionysus Valara stands & looks to Avery, animated happiness waving off of her.

• Aurelia finds it, and brings it to Valara.

Dionysus She takes it, sits down, & strums.

• Avery is smiling. he nods, and then listens.
• Aurelia sits down again, glancing briefly at her bag, and listens.

Dionysus She plays a short, sweet lullabye, then stops, embarrassed, "I'm not so good as I once was."

Avery "It was lovely."

• Aurelia asks quietly, "Play again?"

Dionysus She smiles at Avery, then to Aurelia, "Of... of course."

Dionysus It's better this time, a jaunty instrumental clearly from the sea.

• Aurelia smiles.

Dionysus As it comes to an end, she smiles, "That's... an old one."

• Avery grins a little, though a good portion of his attention is still on his current task.
• Aurelia looks again at her bag, and goes into it for her oboe.

Dionysus You hear gasps as you bring out the Gift.

Dionysus Lita says, "That's... beautiful."

• Aurelia keeps her eyes on her hands as she assembles it.

Dionysus Cherry feels intense awe.

• Avery grins outright when Aurelia pulls out the Oboe, waiting to hear her play it - and their reactions to hearing it.

Aurelia How is Valara responding?

Dionysus Curiosity

Dionysus Valara says, "You will play?"

• Aurelia begins a counterpoint to the piece that Valara was playing, with the main theme left pointedly out.

Dionysus Valara picks up on it in a moment, & begins to play.

• Avery enjoys the music.
• Avery would like to play as well, but doesn't want to leave off his task. his smile widens, hearing the singing.

Dionysus Avery, Gurda takes the bowl from you & nudges you. Cherry is singing, Valara is playing, & Aurelia, with her Gift, is making the world of music come alive.

• Aurelia reaches the song's natural conclusion, and ignores it.
• Avery gives her a wry smile and draws his pennywhistle, playing harmony to Aurelia's melody.

Dionysus Avery, Valara, & Cherry start to get tired long before the song's effects are reached, Aurelia. Do you... aide them? You sense, as you play, that the Oboe's power to extend their endurance can reach out to them.

Aurelia Yes.

Dionysus Lovely. Avery, you feel like you can play forever all of a sudden.

Dionysus Do any of you stop before Aurelia does?

Dionysus Err, do you?

Dionysus The other two don't.

• Avery does not.
• Aurelia doesn't.

Dionysus Gurda, Lita, & Rinn eventually sit down & just listen, leaving dinner to wait in the oven. Wicker paces for a while, then gives up & listens.

Dionysus After six hours of straight playing, Aurelia, you feel something within your mother shatter, some morsel of agony, & she stops, bursting into tears of relief.

Dionysus Cherry's voice then jumps, reaching a new octave, & her voice, though you know not how, is restored to her once proud, youthful strength.

• Aurelia stops abruptly.
• Avery does as well, surprised.
• Aurelia puts the oboe aside and moves to hug her mother.
• Avery doesn't know what happened, but considering what happened to Cherry's voice it must have been good. he lowers his pennywhistle, sliding it back into its sheath.

Dionysus Valara huigs back, "I... feel like I've been in a very dark dream for so long."

Dionysus Gurda clears her throat, "Dinner's ready. You all must be famished." And you are. And tired.

• Aurelia nods without moving from her mother until Valara does so first.
• Avery nods, that realization just hitting him.

Dionysus Gurda takes dinner out & Rinn sets the table.

Dionysus Lita & Wicker help Valara & Aurelia to seats, & Poly helps Avery to one.

• Avery thanks her.

Dionysus Dinner is delicious, a game stew with pheasant.

• Aurelia eats delicately, smiling faintly the while.

Dionysus Valara eats slowly but a lot.

• Avery enjoys the meal, and the atmosphere.

Dionysus After it is over, Valara is falling asleep in her chair, as is Cherry. The others start to clear up. Gurda says, "Mister Avery will stay at my place, & Aurelia, your old room is, of course, the way you left it." Wicker says, "I'll stay here, if that's okay?" Valara nods, sleepily.

Avery "Thank you for your hospitality."

• Aurelia smiles at Avery and touches his shoulder, then moves to help her mother to bed.

Dionysus "Our pleasure."

• Avery returns the smile.

Dionysus You go to Gurda's, Avery?

Avery I do.

Dionysus Aurelia, Valara falls asleep as soon as she hits the bed.

Dionysus Avery, Gurda says on the way to her place, "What, young man, are your intentions?"

• Aurelia then returns downstairs to help with cleanup.
• Avery blinks, caught offguard and a bit confused. "Intentions?"

Aurelia Or to help Cherry if she needs it, then cleanup.

Dionysus Chery is alseep on the couch.

Dionysus Gurda nods, "What are your intentions?"

Dionysus Wicker says to Aurelia, "That was... miraculous."

• Aurelia smiles a touch, feeling embarassed pleasure.

Dionysus Rinn agrees, "Over twenty years, we tried everything... One song..."

Aurelia "Kansallus..."

Avery "I...we're bandmates, Miss Aurelia and me...I don't...well...I want to protect her, if I can. She can take care of herself, I know that, but...I promised her mother, the last time we came this way, that I would...and I want to. She...she means a lot to me." he's faintly pink by the end.

Dionysus "My old eyes saw more than 'means a lot to me' going on, I thought."

Dionysus Polyhymnia says, "Kansallus... That man was trouble, wasn't he? But he made her happy."

Aurelia "Is he good?"

Dionysus "Good? At what?"

• Avery colors a bit more. "...I...well...yes...I mean..." he's decidedly awkward about it. "I...I love her...she's beautiful...she taught me how to see that...beauty, I mean..."

Aurelia "Is... his purpose good?"

Dionysus Gurda sighs, "Let me just put it this way. If you hurt her, I will put an iron spike through your heart, & faerie or not faerie, that will be the end of it. Understand?"

Dionysus Polyhymnia looks confused, "What purpose do you mean? With Valara?"

• Avery nods. "Yes ma'am. though I hope you'll believe me when I say that I would never do so intentionally...and unintentionally as well, if it can be avoided."

Dionysus "You'd better hope so. I don't take 'it was an accident' as any sort of answer."

• Aurelia tries to find the right words for the question. "His path? Is he good?"
• Avery nods.

Dionysus Polyhymnia frowns, "Let me tell you what I know about him, shall I?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus "He was a reever... like your mother. Long ago. And they were lovers. They were pirates, but they were... They never took it seriously. They rarely killed, & they spent more time making music than fighting anyone. But they were still pirates. Then, Hornet Rust came along & things got bad for them. When Valara was... hurt, she left. Kansallus stayed for a lot of reasons, I think, partly to keep anyone from going after your mother,

Dionysus partly because... He wasn't ready to leave the sea.

• Aurelia nods again, listening.

Dionysus "I heard later he was a musician. He played with Bartleby the Rogue for a while, as the Two Rogues, & they... Well, they were happy-go-lucky, like Kansallus always was. He was indominatable. His happiness was infectious. That's what Valara loved about him. He might even have been celebration faithful, for all I know.

Dionysus "But he never could come here. He was afraid she'd... Well, he'd heard how she was, you know. He wrote a few letters, but we only let her see them recently, when he wrote his last letter. We knew how much she hurt. She missed him, but... She also feared he'd not understand.

Dionysus "His last letter showed... maturity we did not expect. And insight. Understanding. But... He is determined, on some course he didn't explain, except to say it would make Valara happy in the end. That's what I know of him."

Aurelia "He gave the Oboe's map to me..."

Dionysus Polyhymnia looks intrigued, "Perhaps he... knew. But... His letter seemed to say more."

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus "He's got some other quest. I do not think him evil, Aurelia, but he is... Perhaps he is not as mature as he should be. He is not one to settle, or wasn't."

• Aurelia nods yet again.

Dionysus Polyhymnia has nothing more to add.

Dionysus Lita finishes clearing up, then says she's going to turn in.

Dionysus Wicker puts her hand on your shoulder, "Aurelia, you should sleep."

• Aurelia looks up at Wicker and nods, then goes to show Kashaji to her room.

Dionysus Wicker stares a moment, surprised you let him in, then shrugs & goes to sleep in the guest room. Polyhymnia lets herself out.

• Aurelia falls asleep petting Kashaji.
• Avery sleeps as well, wherever he's put.

Dionysus Gurda shows you to her guest room & then goes to sleep herself.

Dionysus I think you two sleep for a good while.

---

Dionysus You both wake late on the following day. Use of the Oboe apparently for so long drained you.

• Aurelia cleans and dresses.

Dionysus Valara is downstairs, going through some old boxes you've never seen her open

• Aurelia pauses at the foot of the stairs to watch curiously.

Dionysus Her hair is pinned back in a way you've never seen her wear it

Dionysus And she's not feeling any pain

• Avery gets cleaned up as he can and almost forgets to glamour on the bandana - as I assume it goes away when he sleeps.
• Aurelia smiles a bit, pleased.

Dionysus It does.

Dionysus Gurda says, "You're finally up, laddie. Grab this basket & help me bring food over to Valara's."

• Avery nods and does as told.

Dionysus Avery arrives shortly after you get up, Aurelia, with Gurda & fresh bread.

Dionysus Wicker is there, helping Valara go through her past.

• Aurelia looks towards them when they arrive, and smiles again.
• Avery offers Aurelia a smile, and everyone there a nod/bow of greeting.

Dionysus Valara says, "I... forgot about this entirely." She holds up a strange looking cross, one like a tuning fork crossed with a cross. A music holy symbol.

Aurelia Neat.

Avery I highly approve.

• Aurelia watches Valara.

Dionysus She puts it down carefully, & Wicker smiles. "And here's... your old sword." She holds up a rusted cutlass. Valara laughs, "Go put that by the fireplace. I'll use it as a poker."

• Avery can't help but smile, listening to the goings-on.

Dionysus Wicker puts it by the fire & nods to Avery

Dionysus Valara looks to Avery. "You feel asleep. You really do. It's amazing."

• Avery blushes a little. "I've been told that faeries came from the Father of Dreams..." he says, by way of explanation. he doesn't fully understand it himself.

Dionysus "Don't be embarrassed. It's not a bad thing."

• Avery grins wryly, the now pleased blush deepening a little. he nods a bit in response.

Dionysus "Aurelia, you & Avery should set the table. Gurda's brought food."

• Aurelia smiles a bit, watching.
• Aurelia nods and moves to do so.
• Avery does as well.

Dionysus Gurda gets the food out, this time it's quail casserole.

Dionysus The other aunts arrive shortly, & commence to dinner, but this time, Valara suggests they do what they used to do, when they were kids, & take turns saying prayers before dinner.

Dionysus The others agree, & look to you two.

• Avery cocks his head. it's not a custom he's used to, but he likes the idea.
• Avery nods.

Dionysus Valara takes Aurelia's hand. "It's okay, dear. You don't have to."

• Aurelia squeezes the hand thankfully, and nods a little.

Dionysus Wicker smiles, "It's all right, Aurelia. We can skip it, if it makes you uncomfortable."

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus "You don't mind if we do, then, dear?" Wicker asks. Valara feels profound sympathy for you.

Dionysus No, empathy.

• Aurelia shakes her head again.

Dionysus Wicker smiles, "Thank you. I'lll. I'll start?" Valara nods, & Wicker begins a prayer to the Father of Healing, asking that this food repair the damage of the day's efforts.

• Avery bows his head respectfully.

Dionysus She taps Polyhymnia, who prays to the Mother of Vision for her blessing on the culinary arts practiced here, that the repast be taken as the great work that it is.

• Aurelia bows her head as well, listening.
• Avery can't help a smile, thinking of Aurelia during this prayer.

Dionysus Gurda prays to the Father of Order that he might bless the meal as right & proper & send it to fuel you for the works ahead. Rinn prays to the Mother of Life that this meal sustain & give you vigor. Cherry prays to the Mother of Music that your prayers be heard. Lita prays to the Mother of Love that the love felt here grows ever stronger. And Valara prays to the Mother of Music that the songs sung tonight will match that of any s

Dionysus ongs sung before... Then she taps Avery

Dionysus Tell your prayer, then you'll hear the knock

Dionysus Avery?

• Avery hesitates, not sure how to start, then just speaks as he feels. "Mother of Familes, keep this family always in your sight, looking after them as you do all your children, and bless this meal that it might always keep them together, no matter what distance separates its members."
• Aurelia looks up at Avery and smiles a touch, then bows her head again.