(Open)Spring into the Night

[Seraphina]

There was a more understanding nod, “I’ve found that to be the truth as of late. As I’ve, well, grown, the Fairest part of me has become more vocal. It’s been a struggle to deal with to be honest.” Because it didn’t feel like…her. Would it eat her up? Maybe, but there were things she never wanted to speak. "How do you, or did you, deal with those feelings?" or urges?

“Ah, gotcha. I tend to stay local, and that’s probably because of my responsibilities. I feel like I need to remain close just in case.” And with picking up the Director position, even more so. “I’m actually a little jealous of that, being able to just pack a bag and go for days. That has to be so freeing! Is it?” did she sometimes feel like she was back in her cage? Sometimes. “Speaking of pictures, I still would like to display the ones you take some time.”

[Vincent Black]

"I would love to get you some pictures eventually. I just have to get some prints made." Vincent then contemplated her question, "The feelings never really go away, I found out when they became too loud to ignore that is when I had to head back to a more natural place." Vincent said with a pause, "Then a close friend of mine gave me some advice that has stuck with me. We have to remember we are not totally human anymore, and with that we have to stop trying to live as humans. So once I embraced my new nature it became a lot easier to push back the feelings until I could deal with it in a healthier way. And once the internal beast was released from its cage more often it became a lot easier to live with."

[Seraphina]

The nod was brief, “Well, just let me know when you do and I’ll make an announcement about a viewing or something. I can plan a whole night around it with themed drinks and snacks.” A cosmos themed tea and coffee would be fun!

She listened, “I was never really in touch with my Fairest side, it wasn’t something I really let define me or decide how I act. But over time, the past couple years, it’s getting a stronger voice, and it’s not a voice I like.” It had never felt like…her. A sad chuckle, “Rhodes was more in touch with his Fairest side, and he noticed it coming out more and more with me.” She wished she still had him to talk to. Though he’d probably tell her to embrace it.

“I could do that, I could give in to what it says,” pausing, “but what it says just are not me. Not things I feel like I truly believe or want to say. Not how I want to act and present myself. So it’s been an interesting ride to say the least.” And one she would have to find a way to deal with.

Laughing, “Wow, this got heavy, I’m sorry.” And she truly was, she didn’t want to have heavy conversations right now. Or ever again. “Lighter topic!” surely, she could come up with something, “Oh! Ever try blue butterfly pea flower tea before? I’m thinking of bringing it back for the warmer months, people went crazy for the way it can change colors.” It was a good seller.

[Vincent Black]

Vincent listened intently as she talked about not being able to fully embrace her fairest side. "I am not sure about your experience but I know mine was not all that great, especially when I was a servant to a Fairest as well. Not totally sure if you have noticed but not all of my tattoos are ink, and that took me a lot longer to embrace and I have not embraced it as much as my Beast side." He really wanted to tell her why but he was not quite sure how she would take his past.

At the change of subject he was a bit shocked, "No I have never had a color changing tea before. It sounds interesting. The most exciting tea I have ever had was using jimsonweed otherwise known as nightshade. My friend had us drink it to help us get closer to our time in the hedges so we can understand our other side. All I can say is if you are not prepared the hallucination can quickly take over."

[Seraphina]

A bitter chuckle as she took a sip of her coffee, “I can’t name a single person I’ve met in my years that had a great experience. And if they say they did have one, they are either lying, or one of Them in disguise.” Screwed either way in her opinion. Shaking her head, “I don’t usually notice things like tattoos, sorry.” They were there on people, but never stood out to her.

Standing with a grin, “Then you are in for a treat!” heading behind the counter and moving things around, “I started selling it last summer, and it was a huge hit!” she says behind her shoulder, glass clanking before she walks back over. True to what she said, the liquid in the clear cups was bluish in color, and she places them on the table. “Now, when you add an acidic element to it, like lemon,” motioning to one beside the cup, “it will change to a purple color.” She sounded quite excited about this, and picks up the purple one. “You can also balance to the colors to get both in the glass.” A slight shrug, “Not a flavor everyone really likes, but the lemon and a bit of sugar sweetens it up.” She rather enjoyed the woody earthy flavor.

At the talk of, what she assumed was drugs, she just lightly nods. “Not really my thing, but if you think it helped you, I’m happy for you.” Count her out.

[Vincent Black]

Vincent laughs at Seraphina last remark, "The tea was given to me by a medicine man, he believed in therapy but knew that certain herbs helped one to confront their trauma. It is very similar to a therapist giving a patient MDMA to help them with their trauma."

Vincent then grabs his tea and takes a drink "Thanks for this it is refreshing."

[Seraphina]

A bitter sounding chuckle, “Him and Rhodes would get along very well. Rhodes was all about facing your trauma and fears. It was something we didn’t see eye to eye on, well, in regards to my own trauma and fears. But he respected how I choose to handle it, and helped if I asked.” So it worked. But she still hadn’t faced her past head on yet, the nightmares were still there. Though being stronger with Oneiromancy helped. “Not sure I would support using drugs for such things, but, to each their own.” Maybe that was her past talking. “I am able to help others in the Dreamscape with things like therapy if they wanted.” Sure, physical healing was her thing, but she could also heal the mind. Or destroy it.

Her eyes brighten, “You like it?” clearly excited by this, “I make all kinds of drinks with it! Everything from warm tea, to frozen drinks. Oh! And this amazing, to die for pie! It looks more like jello, but it’s very good!”

[Vincent Black]

Vincent laughs at the giddiness as Seraphina talks about what she makes with the flower. "I will definitely need to try a piece of that pie next time you make it." It is hard not to want to say anything that may not sound overly flirtatious especially so soon after her loss. "Any other interesting herbs or flowers that you can tell me about? I can see that it is really something that interests you."

[Seraphina]

“I’ll let you know when it comes in.” then realizing how she made it sound, she laughs, “Oh, I don’t actually make the pie myself, trust me, you don’t want me making things in a kitchen.” Laughing, “I just tell them the idea and they make it happen.” It was true, she found the idea online and had the bakers she used make it. “I stick with teas and coffees.” Hard to screw those up or burn a building down. “Once it gets warm enough, I usually have a day set aside where I run specials with the flower, they’re usually busy, but I’ll try and set some aside in case you can’t make it.” She’d done it before, set a pie aside to share with the Freehold.

His question was a surprising one, not something she had really thought about, “Huh, I can’t think of any off the top of my head. Any herbs I’m interested in are the ones I recently started growing myself for teas. I don’t have much of a green thumb, so I don’t really getting into flowers or herbs too much. It is an interest of mine, just the numerous things you can do with them, from teas and foods even medicine. But there is a brew I’ve been debating attempting to make, one to help with my healing abilities, an anesthetic of sorts.” But it had been proven difficult to get the materials. Then there was momentous task of actually brewing it. It would be expensive and time consuming. And quite frankly, no one had really needed her healing gifts as of late.

“But what about you? Any interests outside photography?”

[Vincent Black]

Vincent a little embarrassed, "I am sorry I thought you made them. I mean your teas and coffees are great, I apologize. But it is good that you were able to find someone that is able to be able to bring your vision to life." Vincent then contemplated her last question; "Well I like to hunt when I was with my former group, but it has been a while since I have done so. I would really like to do that again, maybe do an extreme challenge where I can try to survive 21 days or so in the wilderness. Get back to nature for a bit. But you and some other friends I have made here have made me less likely to grab my bugout bag and disappear. I would also like to take up maybe even cooking, I used to run a smoker and would smoke all our meat from hunts so they would last longer."