tricksyvixie | [contact post]

[wandering out onto the stage. how does one find a producer when there's not a performance on...]

Heyyyyy, Dixie. You here? I brought drinks.

[holding up a bottle of soju (expensive) and two cups]

[he becomes aware of a faint sweet pleasant smell in the air, like jasmine and baked goods, a few seconds before she strolls out. her pipe’s in her hand but unlit; he can see scales still on her hands but they seem a lot patchier and less evident than they were during the subway trip]

If it isn’t one of my favourite boys! To what do I owe the pleasure, Sparrow-my-dear?

Just wanted to say hi. Not falling down anymore, are you?

Nope! C’mon, come backstage for a second. Is Mr. Sam still having a case of the wobbles?

[beckons him]

[sure, he'll follow her]

Nah, he was back on his feet last I saw him.

[it seems like a fairly ordinary backstage area, deserted at the moment, but just offstage there’s a little table set up with a chair and a bowl of what looks like unusually spice-seasoned popcorn. she snaps her fingers, and a second chair appears for him]

Good, good. I can give you more snacks for Cirrus when you head back, that should maybe mollify his feelings a little.

[setting down the cups and cracking open the bottle of soju]

Well, he's definitely not gonna say no to more.

It’s no skin off my nose, I like cooking.

[she’ll let him pour, delicately breathing in the smell of the booze before she drinks it]

[he is pouring a moderate amount. a "let's sit around and chill" sort of amount.]

Homemade snacks? Maybe I should eat unlabeled drugs more often if this is what Sam's getting out of it.

[she is sipping leisurely, yeah! happy to sit and shoot the shit]

Oh, they’re not just for him. Y’all made a good impression on little old me, of course I wouldn’t leave any of Cirrus out ☆

[taking a seat with his own cup]

Oh, good. I'd hate to think we left a bad one.

[laughs]

Were you worried about it? I’m not like the Dame, you know.

No offense, but we don't really know what any of you are like.

Well, you know we’re all the type to choose to run performances. It takes a certain kind of personality.

That, or some very specific motivation. What do you fuckers get out of running performances, anyway? Aside from watching us all lose our shit.

The losing your shit part doesn’t really matter to all of us. I think enough of us have taken a turn you can see we all get a kick outta something different about our performances.

[she’s quiet for a little bit, looking down into her drink; her ears have slanted back into her hair]

There’s some things Producers can’t talk about direct, dearest bird. But I’ll say it as close as I can.

If you felt backed into a real shithole, where all you could do was either keep sinking deeper in the pit or grab a rope made out of barbed wire, what would you pick?

Well, when you put it like that... Grab the rope.

That’s what I did.

[tips her cup up and drains it to the dregs]

And some Producers did it because they like the blood when the metal digs into someone’s hands, and some did it just to be out of there, and some did it out of some misguided attempt at grabbing someone else’s hand next time, and some did it for no reason I can figure out at all, because they’re weird.

We can do a little more for it now, sure. Don’t ever start thinking we’re that much different from you, though.

[reaching over to refill her cup]

Gotta say, it sure doesn't look that way from the stage.

That’s stage magic, love! In more ways than one. Thanks.

You're welcome.

[inclines her head a little]

Question: if you could get anything out of this mess and noise, what would you want?

This isn’t a trick.

I'd settle for getting back to Port Manteau in one piece and still having a fucking job when I do.

Edited 2024-11-15 03:11 (UTC)

[considers this one]

And if you couldn’t have that?

Well, where does not having either of those things leave me? Trapped on this fucking hell boat forever?

…

It probably won’t come to that.

Which means it's still on the table.

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t before. So it shouldn’t be this time either.

What do you mean before?

[she chews her lip, visibly considering how to answer that one]

…you’re not being shown the history as a lark, love.

Yeah, I heard about the windmills. Were you around for that?

I’m not an Astrologist.

Sure, but I heard they were tying all kinds of people to those fucking windmills.

If you see my dramatic backstory it’ll be somewhere else.

Do I get any hints, or should I just keep an eye out?

You’ll probably smell something before you see me.

…

[for a moment it looks like she’ll say more, but she just frowns, ears flattening back]

That’s all.

Smell, huh. Interesting.

[sitting back and taking a sip from his cup]

...So what kinda snacks did you make us, anyway? Not more fucking nuts, I hope.

[that gets a smile out of her again]

You more of a chewy snacks guy or a crunchy snacks guy?

Gotta be crunchy. Can't speak for anyone else but I don't have a sweet tooth worth shit, either.

Try these, then.

[slides a plate of assorted senbei towards him then! some are salty or shrimpy, some are more neutral with fruitier flavors like yuzu. where did she get them from dwbi]

[listen, he's in no position to question the provenance of free snacks when he doesn't want to cook and the lounge is still only serving appetizers]

You made these?

[The stage is not really a location Valerian cares for or enjoys frequenting, all things considered. But there is a fox there he's noticed on occasion. And that is why he's wandering there now, too.

His hope is to find her. But if she is not present, he'll sit down on the edge of the stage and wait a while in case she appears again. And if she doesn't after a couple of hours, he will leave a note addressed to her.]

[at first there’s no one! there’s just a faint sweet smell in the air as he waits, like lingering jasmine or something else light and floral

then suddenly it thickens, at the same moment a pair of hands drops on his shoulders from behind]

Boo!

[He startles immediately. His tail and ears poof out, fur standing on end. ]

WAH-!

[A hand to his chest.]

M...Miss Dixie you definitely surprised me.

You were looking kinda down, kit. Were you waiting for me?

I was actually. Looking for you, I mean-

I apologize for bothering you. No one asked me to come. But I did, because I am a little worried about a friend. And so... I had hoped that maybe there might be an off chance that you can help, or would have some advice at the very least.

Oh yeah?

[slithers down into a sit next to him]

Doesn’t hurt to ask, so ask away.

Is there a way to protect one's self from the Dame?

[ . . . ]

A friend of mine told me that she recently approached him. It may have been on a whim, or it may have been because she has taken a special interest in him. I really cannot know, but it made me anxious regardless.

I realize... that you are unlikely to hinder another producer's games. And I am not asking you to. I mean solely outside of them. I know that she is very strong, quick, and that her fangs produce a venom that causes a hallucinogenic effect.

And... unfortunately, this friend has a very poor track record of valuing himself.

I wish to safeguard him. Or provide him with a charm of protection. Is there any such thing or method? And if so... what would the price be...?

Ah, Dame. So attractive, so sharp ☆

[she mulls over it for a bit, chin in her hands and tail swishing behind her, the sweet light smell of jasmine heavy on the stage around them]

My, you don’t bring the easy things to my door, do you? This one’s a bit of a conundrum for me.

I think…I can tell you I won’t intervene in this right now. But I can also tell you to keep an eye on the situation. If it seems to be getting worse between her and this friend of yours, come back to me and I’ll put my sticky little paw in the game.

[She very well could have told him he was foolish for asking to begin with, so he accepts that answer and nods, attempting to pay attention to the scents that surround her, considering last time. ]

. . . Thank you. I realize it is perhaps unreasonable, but I also did not know where else to turn.

[She seems incredibly powerful, after all.]

So I thought, I may as well ask. At worst, I would face a rejection.

. . . Probably.

[chuckles]

Producers are Producers for a reason.

[what part of what he said did that address exactly…? yes.]

[Which part of that-- ]

Actually, this was not why I asked to meet, but after speaking with the Showmaster recently, I was somewhat curious about the producers.

She very casually asked a couple of my companions if they would like to become producers, themselves. And when I told her that I did not wish to participate in the productions anymore, she told me that she could free us.

[ . . . . . . . He tilts his head.]

Were you once like the rest of us, Miss Dixie?

I took an offer from the Showmaster a long time ago.

How long are you bound for...?

[puts a finger up to her lips like

shhhhh]

Ah--

[He thinks for a moment.]

. . . Are you unable to speak of various subjects out here? Are you able to within the cabins...?

[tilts her head a little bit, ear flicking in curiosity]

That’s not ringing a bell for me, little love.

[He tilts his head not really understanding the answer, either.]

I just wondered if being out here in the open makes you more guarded with your words because it is unsafe to speak.

And since the Showmaster and others are unable to enter the cabins, it made me wonder if those locations are more comfortable for you.

Me, in Acidia’s house…?

[her ear flicks again]

No, I think not. Maybe when we’re better acquainted. But I appreciate the concern!

We do not bite or anything. Everyone there is quite friendly, you know. But I understand. It was only a thought.

[an amused little puff of air]

I believe you, kit. But Acidia’s as much kill as cure, and y’all are understandably salty. I’ll wait until I can be sure the collective hackles will be down.

. . . That is fair enough. Even just for their own comfort at the moment.

[Inviting a producer in after they just died horrifically might leave some guards up. Ears perking, however, his tail sways behind him playfully.]

What family does that make you from, Miss Dixie? I would much rather claim you than that doctor. Those plants you recommended before proved very useful.

[giggles behind her hand]

Why don’t you take a guess?

I am not so good at guessing games. I do not know many of the other families back home due to my circumstances.

Mmm...

[He is seriously considering this though.]

Perhaps... Cirrus? I am presently leaning between them and Eonia.

Neither ♥ So there’s a clue for you.

Nnng...

How much do you care about shoes?

[It's not a serious question but maybe it is.]

[kicks her feeties up for observation (scandalous)

they’re in cute forest green mary janes, with abstract peacock designs embroidered up the sides in gold thread]

I believe they look quite lovely and elegant. But I suppose that question would have only worked if I knew anything about fashion, to begin with.

[Kicking his own up which is a stylish but practical shoe with a bit of a heel for added height.]

Yours are probably better for running around, love.

Why do you ask? Does it matter so much what soil I grew from?

[He shakes his head.]

No, in the end, I think it matters very little. There have been individuals within Acidia that I would not want any sort of contact with, and individuals I have recently met in other families that have been endlessly kind. And I am learning from them every day.

I love Acidia, but that does not diminish my feelings for family and friends elsewhere.

That’s a smart way to think of it. Family isn’t everything.

The families are like...

[What is a term that Hyacinth might use...?]

Guilds? A place of refuge where others all have some sort of commonality with you. But in order to exist in the world, you have to intermingle with others, too, and travel beyond it.

Well now, some people don’t grow beyond the confines of the vessel at all, too. There’s all kinds.

You ever think about leaving yours, kit?

I have never genuinely considered it. My father's health is poor, so my desire is to study hard and help find a cure someday.

[. . . Even though his immediate family disapproves of some of his methods. He tips his head back in thought.]

But it is not as though I have never wondered what it would be like in a different family. Or where I think I would fit in the most. Perhaps the Holy Order...?

I feel the Arias are very dazzling, but I am not sure that I have any talents that would lend toward Siren's Melodies very well, even though I admire their talents. I can play a couple of instruments, but since I am not even supposed to watch television back home, they would probably all find me too traditional.

You can always branch out. Who you are now isn’t definitive of who you become in the future.

That makes me think of those strange visions.

Hmmm?

The strange items we receive upon winning.

. . . . . . Although truthfully it did not really feel like winning last time.

[The worst win ever actually.]

They are... quite strange. It is almost like looking into a past life. Or an alternative reality. Though I have never really believed in those sorts of things before.

Well, you’re seeing them now, so they rather do have to be believed in some way.

What do you think of them?

I am mostly confused...? "I" do not even have the exact same appearance in some of them. In some of them, I do not have my beautiful tail and ears, or my wings. Yet in another I still did...?

And the contents are simply ridiculous. In one, the individual meant to be "me" held a funeral for themselves. I am not even sure how I was supposed to respond to seeing that one.

…maybe the morbid comedy was the point??

P-Perhaps...? The 'me' inside the vision thought they were dead but was accidentally still walking around among the living. 'I' bought a casket and everything. Everyone spoke at the funeral, and 'I' gave a speech, before I closed myself inside the casket and started playing music on my phone.

. . . His phone. Whoever it really is within the vision's phone.

[

pffffft]

Right...?? It is so embarrassing. I have so much secondhand embarrassment due to the shared appearance.

Aw. It’s kinda cute, though?

At least it appeared he had many friends who indulged him regardless. The other visions were silly, but much less... that.

I have a few of those vision items stored still, but I have not used them yet.

Well, better confused or exasperated than scared, mm?

Fortunately, there is nothing so frightening in them. This place is a million times more terrifying than whatever is going on for the fellow in those.

Let’s hope it stays so, hmm? Better the monster you know, et cetera.

That is true. There is already so much to worry about, the visions are the last thing on my mind, anyway.

Regardless-

[He lifts a hand up to his chest.]

Thank you for taking some time to speak with me today, Miss Dixie.

Aaaaanytime, kit. I’m always happy to chat.

I do not wish to steal up too much of your time, though. But should you ever need me for anything at all, I hope you will seek me out.

Oh...! And One last thing before we part.

Oh? Lay it on me.

[He stands up, tail proudly swaying behind him and fluffed up.]

Do you notice anything different?

[—laughs, clapping her hands together]

You used it?

Indeed! I had Snow help me find the plants, and both him and Hycinth agreed to help with the ingredients.

[He's SO PROUD of his tail. Please admire his tail!!]

Beautiful work, little love. A real improvement! I hope you enjoyed yourself ☆

The search was half the fun. It was like those treasure hunts I have heard told before.

They’re a little bit of a specialty.

See, you would fit right in with Acidia.

Oh... or perhaps you meant the treasure hunts and not the plants themselves? In which case those are still fun too. We certainly enjoy working our minds.

. . . Except for Nettle.

That little man? He rotates the gears in his noggin more than you think. It takes a certain amount of brains to act like a know-nothing and still get stuff done.

I do think he is much cleverer than he claims. But he professes to hate such things. It is always such a disappointment since I have been assigned as his tutor at school.

I am always so very excited to show him my notes and teach him something new! But he always appears as though he would rather be anywhere else but there.

[SAD]

You can lead a horse—or hyena—to water, but he’s gonna do what he wants. Good of you to try, though!

Perhaps someday he will have a change of heart. In the meantime, I appreciate his skills and survival instinct.

[ . . . . . . . Not that they have done a very good job of that so far. But they're working on it.]

Stay keen at finding the silver lining, little love. It’s good for you.

I hope that means you are and shall continue to do the same.

I’m talented at finding plenty of things.

You good for now?

For now, I am. Thank you again. I pray that nothing comes to the point of needing your help with the situation. But I feel reassured knowing there is a back-up plan in place.

[Following Val's map!]

Dixie?

[it leads him to a wall in the indoor gardens covered with thick hanging vines…?]

[Would he be able to recognize these as a particular type of hanging vine or nah.]

[let’s say bougainvillea but a variant without thorns]

[...Tries brushing them aside to see if there's a hidden door?]

[sure is!]

[In he goes!]

Diiiiiiiixiiiiiiiiie?

[he walks into a—

well, it kind of reminds him of the ‘natural’ side of Bellinali’s workshop, the way all the plants in the area seems grown and arranged to specific purpose. but it’s also all coming out of a dirt floor, or out of dirt embankments, or supported along some slim trees that grow out through an open roof. this workshop has nothing built in it at all except said roof and the walls enclosing it.

Dixie is sort of reclining on a low branch that looks too thin to hold her, in a plain t-shirt and loose pants like she’s about to head to the gym. she’s smoking her pipe.]

What’s up, buttercup?

[He is immediately distracted by Dixie's place, rip.]

Whoa- this is a nice place you've got! Is this your personal room, or just a private garden?

It’s my hangout spot ☆

Lucky!

[He clearly wants to stick around and admire the plants, but he tears his gaze away to face her properly.]

Anyway, the real reason I came here was to see if you had time for a date a little later? I need some time to prepare everything, so I didn't want to assume you'd be free.

You can assume I’m relatively free when I’m not directing on the stage, love! No need to be overpolite.

But someone else might want to have an audience with you! ...Or it could be when you're in the middle of your own thing.

[Given she does look ready to go exercising and all.]

But all that aside - meet me in the lounge in about an hour, then?

[sits up, twirling the pipe around her fingers]

Sounds~ good!

[Bowing!]

I'll see you then~♪

[And at the appointed time and place, he will in fact be waiting at a table that's already all set up with dishes, drinks, and of course, food.]

[she shows up without the smokes and in sort of light party casual, a loose lavender cardigan over a blue sundress. her tail does a lil wag and her ears perk at the smell of the food]

Oh? Oh???

[It's a plate of creamy pasta mixed with a colorful selection of herbs - most of which are moderately poisonous and/or hallucinogenic. His own plate is notably far less exciting, with the boring, regular greens to accompany the meal.

He will be good and pull out her chair for her and everything.]

You're looking lovely today, miss Dixie ♪

If you’re gonna go to all this effort for little old me, the least I could do is dress up a little!

[sits ELEGANTLY like a LADY]

Used poison a little too strong for your ownsome to handle?

IIIII don't really have a tolerance, so I'm afraid sharing a dish was never meant to be.

[She saw him when he inhaled a bit of smoke!! That said, he'll seat himself across from her.]

I wanted to make sure it would be something you could enjoy, at least.

Well! Appreciate it.

[spreads a napkin over her lap]

It’s not that hard to build the tolerance, though. If you ever wanted to, it’s better to start at your age, when the body’s got a little growing left to do, but not too much.

Is that when you started? Though I don't really plan on casually eating that kind of stuff, myself.

[Settling down with a napkin as well!]

Nah, I just know stuff about stuff. I started at a rough time in my life, you could say, like most people do. But I’ll point out your stomach’s as immortal as the rest of you!

[makes a curious gesture over her plate, perhaps her way of saying grace, before trying a bite]

Ehhh, it just doesn't sound like much fun?

[Noticing that gesture, though.]

Was that a prayer?

Something like that!

[digging in with enthusiasm]

And, hmm, I get it? You don’t have to. But it’s more fun pushing the limits than you might think—for me, anyway.

Only something like that...?

[But he'll begin to dig in, too.]

I just don't want to feel sick if I can avoid it.

I don’t like praying anymore, but sometimes old habits die hard.

And I forgot people get sick…

Who did you pray to, before?

The gods.

[takes another sedate bite, savoring it]

Like the legends?

[waggles a finger]

Ah-ah-ah! If they were exactly the same thing you wouldn’t need two terms at all.

Then who...? Did those gods ever have names?

I don’t~ remember. And I don’t care.

Ehhh, forgot already?

Why would I want to remember unpleasant things?

You say that, but I keep getting more and more horrible things to remember forever.

[blinks at him owlishly over her plate]

Throw them in the ocean before they give you depression?

-Wait, you can do that? Like, on purpose?

I haven’t been on the ocean before, but you could try? They’re not superglued to you, are they?

No, but they are in my mind, which is hard to extract things from, historically.

[Nom.]

Oh you took them already. You already have the depression. I understand now.

That was maybe a mistake?

Why'd you have to put it like that...

And I mean, it's partially the visions, partially the Performances.

It’s what you’re telling me!

[she is maybe listing in her seat a little as she eats All This Poison, but she doesn’t seem in danger of falling out of it and her speech is clear]

Anyway, that’s not new. But all my suggestions for depression that’s already in your head are ‘drugs,’ sooooooo I’m not sure they’re going to be the most helpful to you? I think there’s also ‘counseling,’ but hell if I know who offers that anymore.

What was it that made you get started on all those drugs, anyway?

Oh, I think it was probably going so mad that if I looked at the world through clear eyes a moment longer I was going to chew off all of my own limbs and then see if I really could go off and corrupt a dynasty.

Maybe? It’s very fuzzy at this point.

Wait.

Corrupt who??? And how????

I don’t remember, I took too many drugs.

Damn. That sounds like quite the story.

I know, right?

Anyway, though. I didn’t want to remember clearly, so I made that happen instead of waiting. “It’s okay to use anaesthetics if that’s all that’s reliably available to you.” I still remember telling myself that much.

[Hmmm...]

Do you really think that us learning more about the selves we see in the visions is that important, then? If you prefer to forget all the bad stuff, yourself.

This is going to sound a little like a weasel answer, but I think the choices you make about what to learn and not learn are important.

After all, I had to learn before I could pick what to blur and unlearn, hm? A screen is not the same as an absence.

Edited 2025-01-06 07:24 (UTC)

-Ah, so when you said we'd be thanking you later, it's because we could test the waters for what to expect from our visions without having to actually take them?

[her tail flicks]

I wanted to be a little bit kind.

[Oh... setting down his fork.]

...

...

Well, I guess today's the day I thank you for it, then.

That Performance... it's what made me decide to stop taking them. The visions, I mean.

You’re welcome, but thank yourself also, yes? It is your choice to stop, and give yourself time to heal.

After that Performance? ...It wasn't that hard of a decision anymore.

[...]

Did all the Producers receive visions like that, too? ...Did any of them finish the "story" those visions tell?

“Did they finish the story…”

That’s not for me to tell. And I suspect if you asked us of our own experiences, we’d all have different answers.

Visions won’t be an unknown concept, though.

Then, what about you? Did you finish the story from your visions? Or did you stop?

[the sweet smell of asphodel fills his nose, making him dizzy. his vision doubles. he can see two of her—then four—then eight—]

Sorry, can we talk about something else?

[Ugh, dizzy again... He tries very hard not to sway too much in his seat.]

-If you don't want to talk about something... you just have to say so.

I know how to stop prying.

Oh—hm? Ah, I’m being naughty, aren’t I? Old bad habits, ‘scuse me.

[the smell fades, and his vision restores itself, fairly quickly.]

[SIGHING.]

Give me a little credit, please. I'm curious, but I'm not doing this just so I can pump you for info.

You're probably my favorite Producer. Sure, it'd be nice to learn anything helpful, but I also just want to learn more about you, you know?

Is there a meaningful difference? I am me am Dixie am Producer for the Limelight Stage. My history, visions I might or might not have seen, what I like, what I dislike, the acts I did or did not perform, what I value and disdain…that’s ’me.’ And it’s also ‘information you’re seeking.’

[a soft undrugged breath out, though her tail is flicking a little, agitated]

I’m sorry, I am. It’s just difficult to separate those sepals, little love.

There's different kinds of information though, aren't there? Like things that are easy to share, and things that you have to keep close to the chest.

[Headtilt.]

Is that not how it is for you?

Edited 2025-01-10 05:53 (UTC)

[makes a little face]

Probably not? I dunno.

Try asking me five questions you think are the first kind and I’ll tell you how easy they really are to answer.

Hmm...

What's your favorite color?

[—laughs]

Okay, that one’s really softball. Red.

Favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

[opens her mouth

hesitates]

Very complicated. There are two answers, and they are misaligned.

Eh- wait, really?!

I told you it was rough…

Okay, okay, how about... favorite animal?

Easy one! Foxes ☆

Least favorite food?

A little difficult, but…

Peppermint…?

Eh, that's difficult too?

[Geeze, uh...]

What time of day do you prefer...?

Well, this one’s just the normal kind of tricky. I’m a nocturnal girl, but! So often it’s better to garden during the day.

I'll take normal tricky!

Let's see... what about favorite genre of music?

[her mouth curls…

instead of answering verbally, she snaps her fingers; there’s a brief snatch of eerie, instrumental music in the air]

...Whoa, spooky.

How did you do that, anyway? Or is that a secret?

Not really. I’ve got Blessings just like you, love.

And yours is... background music?

Let’s just call it…calling things, shall we?

Everyone's Blessings are so mysterious compared to mine...

If yours are obvious, it might be because you knew exactly what you wanted.

Ehhh, is that how it works?

Sometimes, sure!

Really makes ya think about the ones who have messed-up ones, eh?

Why, do you think of yours as messed up?

Nah, mine are just…vehicles. They’re only messed up when I choose to use them in ways that’re messed up.

But some people have Blessings where the only use they have is being messed up, messing others up. That’s the kind I meant.

I guess that's true... But it's something they can choose to use or not too, right? I can't really fault them for having the Blessings in the first place.

Can’t you? They don’t always just sprout like weeds on the wind, y’know. You can decide what you want your Blessing to be.

-Really? I've never been able to do that.

Do you like your Blessings?

Yeah, but I know people who don't like their own.

Oh, same.

[lightly]

You’re lucky, then. They came easy, and they were ideal for you.

I've always been pretty fortunate, it's true. But it does make me wish I could help out my friends with theirs...

That’s admirable of you. Alas, though! Some things are for folks to fix themselves.

Knowing there's a problem but not being able to do anything about it... The worst kind of scenario.

[cackles a little]

That depends how big the problem is, mm? There’s so many things one can’t fix in the world, one simply can’t put them all on the same level.

It should be fine to let them know, though, right?

That you’d help if you could? Why not? Even if you can’t help them with that maybe they’ll remember the words about something else. Even if they don’t, you’re not worse off.

Not just that, but that they decide what their Blessing is.

That should be fine.

Then I'll have to let them know.

[Polishing off his pasta.]

I don't suppose I've exhausted my goodwill when it comes to questions yet, have I?

You’ve been polite and you know more of my limits now, so, you’re fine to ask a bit more.

Like I've said, if you don't want to answer, you can just tell me no!

But... I guess I'm curious what Family, if any you used to belong to? Or if there's another Nom de Plum you like to go by or anything.

[she takes the last bite of pasta, leaving her plate mostly clean]

I suppose there’s no harm in one of those questions, is there?

My full Producer’s nom de plume is ‘Dicentra.’

...A beautiful flower, and a poisonous one to boot. I can see why you'd take a name like that.

It’s cute. I like it. Maybe I’d use the whole thing if I picked it myself.

I left Acidia a long time before I became a Producer.

You didn't pick it out?

[Huh!]

I thought you must have been a part of the Family before... that recipe for the dreamless sleep tea was from you, wasn't it?

You can take the girl out of the Apothecaries, but you can’t take the apothecary out of the girl, what can I say?

Now I wanna know why you left, buuuut that's probably too invasive, huh?

Another Family’s work ended up interesting me enough to go there instead, that’s all.

Is that Family a secret?

They don’t exist anymore.

...Were those the storytellers...?

[shakes her head]

I don’t have the eyes, do I?

That's true. ...But does that mean you've been around long enough to see them fall?

I don’t remember.

Ahh, that's too bad.

Well... what was the Family you moved to known for? ...If you remember, and if it's okay to ask.

[she just smiles.]

Got it, got it! Sorry!

I guess that also means you aren't interested in coming back to the Apothecaries either, though... that's too bad.

I think it would've been fun, having you as a senior to learn from.

For good or ill, I’m a Producer now, love. We might have sympathy or antipathy for our old Families, but we’ve all stepped into another role.

Doesn’t mean we’re all inaccessible, of course! Or we wouldn’t be talking now. But you can’t grow this particular flower backwards.

[Lightly, with a hint of a laugh:]

If I take you out on another date, can I earn enough points to trade in for some more recipes?

You don’t need to take me out on the town for that, though I won’t refuse another date. A price is built into my recipes naturally.

-Eh, you really don't mind it?

Ninety percent of the trouble is in making them, not giving them. It’s easy to not mind.

In that case, I may have to ask you for more tips later.

I’ll be waiting ☆

But before I leave - any feedback on the food? I'm always down to try something new.

Deeelicious. You could probably have spiced it up a little more, but I know how it is when you can’t taste-test half of everything.

Yeeeeah, I wasn't sure how they'd taste with all the poisonous herbs... I'll try to add more for you next time!

[she doesn’t quite lean over the table and kiss his cheek, but she flicks her fingertips a little and one of the little fire foxes wisps out to do it instead]

Eheh! Well, if there’s a next time, I’ll look forward to it.

[Aww. Cute!]

You don't trust me to stick to my word?

Your word’s as good as you want to make it, love. I don’t want to bind you to it when I don’t need to.

Hehehe, fair enough!

I can clean up here, so don't let me keep you.

[Probably leaving a plate that was once full of various poisonous herbs unattended would be bad.]

Thanks again! I had a lovely time.

[she snaps her fingers and vanishes.

left on her chair is a tiny packet of seeds for, you guessed it, bleeding heart flowers]

[He'll come take a look, smiling in amusement when he sees what was left behind. He'll pocket them for now and plant them in the Acidia Apothecary later.]

[ approaching the stage looking for Acidia's (second) favorite fox ]

[out of the corner of his eye, he thinks he sees a huge shadow pass over the back wall of the stage for a moment

but when he looks straight-on, it’s gone.

no one is sitting on the stage just now.

what does he do?]

[ calls out, deadpan ]

I'll have you know I'm blessed by the salt god. Jumpscare me and you'll regret it.

Waaaaah, that’ll teach me ☆

[between one blink and the next Dixie is simply reclined sideways across one of the theatre seats, her feet up]

What can I do you for, brave little jacinth?

[ lips twitching ]

Not bad, miss.

Just a quick question. You've done the whole shebang with the visions, right? Memories, whatever.

Gosh…maybe? I’m an old woman, and it was a long time ago.

Why do you ask?

[ double takes at the old woman part but yk. after everything else it kinda checks out ]

Have you ever had one malfunction? Like, show you a partial view of someone else's life, instead of "yours"?

[;D

cheerfully]

I wouldn’t call that a malfunction, lad!

[ riled, ]

The last one didn't even feel like a person.

[waggles her cute fox ears]

Don’t be speciesist.

[ has he managed to engage someone even more annoying than Aster ]

Okay. Okay, fine.

What would you call it.

[has he?]

“I think they belong to you,” wasn’t that what you were told? So if you take that at face value then the statement is as it is: it belongs to you.

“The smallest rock upon the mountain can cultivate to a higher form or be corrupted to a lower, as can the beast on the prowl, as can man in all his folly”; why shouldn’t that be true?

Are you quoting the B*ble at me.

Yuck, no.

Okay, good, 'cause you were gonna lose at least 10 admiration points if you were.

My guy isn't a rock or a beast or whatever. He's... a minor superhero, I guess. Baby Legend. Spends his life beating up giant robots with his friends. Has fun doing it.

But the last one? I didn't even get a real vision. It was just a whole load of nothing. No scene, no dialog. Just someone's absence of emotions, and the desire for everything to stay the same. It wasn't... new, to whoever it was. It wasn't just a status effect, like that whole thing with Daphne.

It doesn't make sense.

[shrugs]

Sounds awfully like a rock to me, my man. Maybe he was trying out being a basalt for a while. You ever try to talk to one of those? Booooooring.

Like, boring because they don't respond, or because their personalities are boring?

Yes.

[ resisting the urge to facepalm ]

Can't say I've tried.

You haven’t, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t. You see?

I see. It still doesn't make sense, but I think I get your point.

Just think about all the fucked-up shit that happens in written legends, yes? Then apply that to your situation. Then do as you will with the information.

I’m a producer, not a Showmaster, and we are all different. I’m a creature of bargain and opinion and hunger. But my opinion is that you shouldn’t forget that this is theoretically a legend of “you.”

Edited 2025-01-06 06:08 (UTC)

...

[ sighs, taking a seat ]

I've thought about turning my emotions off before. Briefly, before I knew it was possible. But nobody that cares about me wants that. I don't want that. Even if I'd found a way, I wouldn't have gone through with it.

He's the same. He has as much to lose as I do, maybe more... and he's not a coward like I am.

[ this is incorrect but how would he know from his current sample size ]

But let's say some fucked-up legend shit happens to him. He goes through with it, or has it done to him against his will. I still don't know what I'm supposed to do with that. If I'm supposed to think, "not having emotions sucks"... then, I mean, yeah. Duh. I knew that already.

[pulls her pipe out of where it was wedged in the seat beside her…it’s not lit but she taps the stem of it against her lips, humming]

Do you see your visions as a lesson for you to learn from?

I don't know.

[ frowns, considering for a moment ]

I've been lucky. None of mine have been traumatic, so... honestly? I've been using them as a way to decompress, especially after performances. Which sounds reckless, but I really did think my guy was just some sci-fi action hero that had his shit together. He does the whole life and death thing a lot. Better than I do.

So I guess... yeah, I've been trying to mimic his together-ness, but as a subconscious thing?

So do you actually want to learn something from this one, or are you just disappointed that it wasn’t sufficient entertainment and decompression?

Little of column A, little of column B.

Ah. Well. Unfortunately when it is the story of a continuous point of view, and it does not care about appearing perfect to a future reader, you’re going to get imperfections no matter what.

What, like a rough draft?

[blinks]

No, like a life?

We're. Both talking about reincarnation, right. Legends of past lives and all that.

Eeeeeeeeehhhhhhh…

[waggles both hands and her pipe in the air uncertainly]

[ ugh ]

You said continuous. So that counters the multiple alternate timelines theory, but not the multiple past lives theory.

Does it actually counter either? Maybe your guy lived an extra wild life. I sure don’t know.

...This isn't the wildest thing I've heard of. It's weird for me, but some of my friends are getting straight up multiversal shenanigans. Isekai level stuff. Alternate performances, multiple alternate families, missing features, added features...

[fingerguns]

Variety is the spice of life!

Does anything, like, bother you.

Yes, and that’s why I am constantly intoxicated!

You know what. I respect it.

[laughs]

I’m just me. If you talk to other producers, you’ll get other opinions of varying levels of respectability, if that is what you are looking for.

Good luck with your basalt man puzzle.

[ huffs, standing back up ]

Yeah, thanks. Have a good evening, miss.

[contact post]

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