it's the solstice

[arclightning]

Who: Mako, Wu, & close CR
What: They might be in a different world, but the solstice is the solstice, and that means it's time to feed everyone you care about, if you're Mako
When: Night of December 21st
Where: Mako and Wu's loft above the Raccoon Room

Content warnings: Sadness from potential memory-share stuff, homesickness, mentions of Mako and Bo's dead parents

© TESSISAMESS

If you have close CR with Mako or Wu, in the days leading up to the Winter Solstice—December 21st—you may have gotten a small text invite in your inbox. A few simple lines inviting you to the Raccoon Room on the night of the 21st for dinner "because it's the solstice." Normally the Raccoon Room is closed early in the week, but on the 21st they've opened it up.

They're actually having people over in the loft above the Raccoon Room, and their living space is decked out in lanterns and candles to keep out the long darkness. Snow falls quietly outside, but in here it's warm and it smells like ginger and pepper. Wu's put on a few scratchy records in the background. Here and there, Winter Mournings are hung, not quite out of reach. It's very easy to accidentally or purposefully touch one.

If anyone comes in early enough, Mako is still at the counter with his sleeves rolled up, rolling dumplings, covered in rice flour. Maybe help him cook? He's looking better than he was early in the month: his skin is the correct pallor without that odd gray cast, and there's no smoke rolling off his body, so that... has to be good!

For the later arrivals, Mako's made dinner, which means hot tangyuan in gingery broth, an entire bowl of mushroom noodles for sharing, and a simmering pot of broth for people to cook things in, as well as a lot of a tangy sauce that Mako gets kind of cagey about when people try. Sit down, enjoy some hot pot! It's a time to be together, after all.

[ ooc: tag around, top-level, have a good time! ]

Comments

[droptheious]

[That grin does help a little- it eases a tiny sliver of tension in his shoulders. Worrying Fern is the last thing he wants, even if he knows it's inevitable. ]

It is a relief that...something is happening, I guess? Though...hah, I wouldn't be that hopeful. It's not relieved that much pressure.

[laminae]

But it's still something! Aaaand Wu gave me - [He is pulling cookies out of his pockets. Pocket cookies.] - snacks! Have one!

[He is a little too eager in shoving them all into Varian's hands. Eat them please.]

[droptheious]

[Wow, a little pushy with the cookies there, boyfriendo. He blinks down at the pocket cookies-opening his mouth to question why Fern was keeping them in his pocket, before snapping his jaw shut. No. Don't ask. He knows he won't like the answer.

Carefully he raises one, brushing the pocket lint off it, before lowering his bandana to take a bite. It's not an easy achievement with the fangs, but he's trying his best here. He chews it, before swallowing.]

Okay. So. That was a cookie.

[laminae]

[It's fine it's totally normal pocket cookies that don't have anything to do with corruption at all!! Fern is just going to be watching very carefully as Varian takes a bite, it's all perfectly normal.]

Um. Yup. [Sure is a cookie.]

You feel any different?

[droptheious]

[He's already raising another cookie to his mouth when Fern asks him that and stops dead. He glances at the cookie, then at Fern. ]

...Why? Is it supposed to make me feel different?

[laminae]

Maaaaybe?

[Fern shifts his weight from foot to foot anxiously. He isn't too concerned about explaining the cookies, he's worried about them not having any kind of effect.]

Wu said they're, um. Anti-corruption cookies. [And he slumps.] I'm not sure that's actually a thing, though. I think his goat got got.

[droptheious]

What?

[He definitely isn't eating any more cookies. His hand drops, confusion crossing his features.]

So- so you just gave them to me without even telling me what they were first?

[Like drugged the guards once with truth serum, so it really does feel like karma's come calling. Logically he knows Fern's doing it out of a desperate attempt to help him, and he's trying to keep his voice level- though there's certainly a hurt, annoyed waver to it. A solid mixture of the corruption and the coldblood irritability slipping through.]

Why didn't you just tell me? I would have eaten them. I trust you. You- you didn't have to lie about it.

[laminae]

[Yep, Fern is realizing very quickly that he messed up here. He rans a hand through his hair anxiously, slumping.]

I didn't lie! I just - didn't explain them.

[It's totally a different thing, okay. And he follows that up fast, stumbling over his words, the mounting dread of oh great he screwed up and now Varian is going to get worse crowding his mind.]

I was worried you wouldn't eat them. Or - or if you knew they maybe wouldn't work. I don't know, I'm just... I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm doing and I'm worried about you, and - and.

[Aaand that feels like a whole lot of excuses. He just sighs.]

I'm sorry.

[droptheious]

Omitting the truth is just as bad, Fern.

[That came out far more snappish than he intended, and he instantly regrets it. He exhales sharply, rubbing his face with his hand. ]

I know...I know why you're doing it. Sorry I snapped. I'm not angry at you. I- I know you're only trying to help.

[He understand that Fern is desperate, trying anything. He looks down at the cookies in his hand his brow furrowed.]

I just- I'm scared too. [He can admit that much.] I...don't know how to fix it.

[laminae]

[Fern winces at that. Partly because Varian is right, this isn't really any different than lying, but mostly because his tone is so unusual for him that Fern isn't sure what to do, here. He isn't used to hearing his boyfriend snap at him, and it makes him feel worse.

It doesn't help much when Varian apologizes. Yeah, he's trying to help, but he's doing a terrible job of it.]

I don't, either. [He looks down at the cookies, too.] I don't think those things are gonna help, though.

[Definitely not now. They'll probably just make things worse.]

[droptheious]

[He catches the wince and guilt twists his his stomach. He shouldn't have snapped, none of this is Fern's fault. None of this is Fern's fault. He takes a deep, shaky breath, letting it out closing his eyes and trying to calm down. Trying to ignore the amber that's started to appear around the loft space.

Quietly and frightened, he puts a voice to something that's been worrying him for weeks. ]

I...I don't know if anything is gonna help. I've tried so much and it just... it eases it for a little while and then it just comes back. I don't know what else to do about it.

[laminae]

[Even though they're in the middle of a party and this probably isn't the most appropriate place for it, hearing that frightened, lost tone from Varian pushes Fern over the edge. Forgetting about the whole cookie fiasco he steps closer, pulling the other boy into a tight hug. It's all he can think to do in the moment, offer up a bit of physical comfort even though it isn't going to solve anything.]

We'll keep finding things to try and try 'em. I'm not gonna give up on you, and I'm not gonna let you give up on you.

[droptheious]

[It might not be the appropriate place for it, but Varian desperately appreciates the hug. He clings tightly to his boyfriend, trying to even out his breathing before it gets too out of control. He really does feel like he's teetering over a terrible void- he's been feeling it all month- and knowing Fern isn't planning on letting him fall means so much. ]

Thank you. [It's murmured quietly, into the crook of Fern's neck as he goes through his little internal calming mantra. Breathe in and out. Safe.] I...I know you won't. I really appreciate that. And...and you. I appreciate you.

[laminae]

[The clinging is enough to confirm to Fern that the hug was very much needed, and as he holds Varian he reaches up to run a hand through his hair.]

I know. And I know you're going through so, so much right now. You gotta know I'm not taking any of this personally, okay? [The irritation and the snapping, he means. Just little bumps in the road that don't even matter.]

[droptheious]

[The hug was desperately needed, and Fern's hand brushing through his hair elicits a shaky breath out of him as he tries to find some calm. He's been desperately worried he's been hurting his boyfriend with this- by snapping and pushing him further and further away. To know he's not is comforting beyond measure.

He clings just a little bit tighter. ]

Really? [His voice is so soft and scared.] You-you know I don't mean it, right? I...I'd never try to hurt you on purpose. I'm-I'm not trying to hurt you on purpose.

[laminae]

[Since the party doesn't seem to be helping a ton, Fern is hoping the hug at least can stave of any more corruption for the rest of the night. But... realistically, he isn't sure it'll be enough.]

'Course I know that! I'm never, ever gonna doubt you for a second, V. I know you love me. [He smiles, a little awkwardly.] You care more about me than I care about me, and I know that's never gonna change.

[droptheious]

[At least it seems to be putting a stop-pin in it getting worse- a temporary reprieve. It's about as much as Varian can hope for right now. He gives his boyfriend a gentle squeeze. ]

Of course I love you. [And he's glad Fern knows that- that he can be confident in saying that.] And you're right it's not gonna change. Not-not ever. [He lets out a slow, shaky breath. ] But thank you, for understanding. I couldn't handle any of this without you.

[laminae]

[Varian not sinking deeper into his despair offers Fern a sliver of encouragement, and he'll take it.]

Then it's a good thing you're stuck with me, huh? [His tone is a little lighter, teasing.] C'mon, let's go check out the lanterns. Wu and Mako got a whole tradition like Corona where they send them up into the air at the end of the night, and he said we could have two to do it.

[droptheious]

[Despite everything, that comment gets a soft little laugh out of him. ]

I count my blessings every day.

[And even if he says it like it's a joke, he definitely does. He shifts to rest his forehead against Fern's for a moment, just...breathing. Before smiling and finally releasing him. ]

Okay. That sounds like a great idea. Let's do it.

[laminae]

[Aw geez, that is incredibly sappy on Varian's part, and it causes a blush to rise up in Fern's cheeks. He leans in a little to the forehead thing, for a few moments just letting himself be happy here and now (a sprig of cherry blossom blooming in his hair), before pulling back and nodding.]

Cool. C'mon.

[And without letting go of his boyfriend's hand he'll lead him over to the lanterns.]