middaeg | There was always shelter [Open!]

Who: All of you!
When: Aguril 23rd
Where: In Haven, specifically the mansion by the dragon boys
What: We all need some chill, time to get some chill.
Warnings: Tea drugs, so much pizza, possible angst, tba

Her announcement said it all; it was going to be some time to chill out and enjoy possibly sleeping or at least resting properly the first time in a week or so. There was the garden that was starting to grow well; there were a few heated rocks and blankets spread out; there was the smell of baked goods and tea in the air, with cups ready.

There were only two rooms that were forbidden, as shown by the ribbon on the doors: Caren's room and...well, looking inside there was a bedroom, and those who were aware before knew who it belonged to.

Otherwise, it's a large mansion with plenty of room to spread around. Flop down with your blankets, pillows, whichever-or use the supplies or cene to make sure that Caren can make a personal pizza.

Else, take a cup and see about taking a chance to calm down and breathe.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her ears stayed pointed backwards, but Kaede held the mug steady between her claws. She was grateful no further questions followed.]

Smells nice.

[Even before the tea was poured--she could smell it from some distance down the road.]

Catmint.

Not quite the same as catnip but...

[She poured the tea with a hum.]

Useful for humans, cats, dogs...likely others that I'm not aware of.

[Kaede snorted a little. Two out of three wasn't bad odds. Or was it four? The bird was probably out as far as reactions went, and the deer was a Maybe. She wasn't a biologist.]

Name's kind of on the nose.

[It did smell minty, and a little sweet. And she felt the beginnings of something in her mind uncoiling, a taut rope losing its tension.

A rope--or a chain.

The Chimera flicked an ear irritably, and took a drink when Caren finished topping up the mug. The tea was a little sweeter than it smelled, and settled comfortably warm in her stomach.]

A little.

[At least Kaede took it and drank some. If anyone needed a mood lifter, it was this chimera beside her right here.]

But I'm told that it works. No alchemy added, just a natural product doing as it does.

[She offered a small shrug, even as she refreshed her own cup.]

[Kaede's tail curled and flicked at the end, shrugging herself.]

It's warm and it's tea. That's what matters.

[She didn't feel anything outside the norm of a warm drink yet, but it'd been all of thirty seconds. It wasn't so hot outside that it was unpleasant; there was a gentle breeze that brushed hedges and eased the crushed flowers out of the Chimera's hair. She stared at one idly, but didn't move to retrieve it.

The tea smelled just as appealing as they did, with the added benefit of being much more civilized than rolling in someone's garden like a stray cat.]

Very true.

[It is nice and warm, and it does help with the mood. It's rather mild, compared to other drugs-if they didn't have parts of cats of them that is. And...it looked like Kaede had been rolling around without the tea.

Good thing she didn't have any live cat nip, or it'd been eaten.]

I might see if I can do some exchanges for actual cat nip sometime. It might be a fun diversion.

[The red-feathered Chimera snorted, looking back up at Caren. Her eyes didn't have quite so much of a harsh light to them this time.]

You make it sound like a controlled substance.

[Maybe it was taking effect. Kaede told one (1) joke.]

For those who have cat traits, it may as well be.

[She's smiling at little. It looks like it's starting to settle in.]

Though I would not snort it. Bad idea.

[It took Kaede a moment to get what Caren meant--she chuckled again, ears twitching with the gesture.]

I don't think you have to worry about me doing that.

[That seemed intensely uncomfortable.

There was a nonzero chance she would eat the leaves in the bottom of her cup when she got there, though.]

How's your garden doing?

[That should have been a thought, not words. But besides a brief frown, Kaede didn't pay it much mind. The concern slipped away into the contented fuzz overtaking her mind.]

Which means you're not foolish.

[She knows a few people who are.

But Kaede, eating some? Oh yeah.]

It's not as bad as it was before-I had a few people help out with the snow incident. So while I'm not as growing a big of a variety that I'd like, it's fine.

There's time.

[The Chimera tilted her cup from side to side, the motion much more interesting than it had been a moment ago.

She huffed, a much more typical sound, and twitched her ears back.]

I'm growing brambles, apparently.

[Or whatever those nasty little spiny weeds were, the ones with thorns that could stick through the thickest of her scaly calluses.]

[Caren was watching too. She seemed to be doing it with her eyes semi closed, but it was fine. Still, hearing the noise, Caren had to smile.]

And here I thought you said Lady Maria was growing sunflowers.

Or do you have your own separate space?

[She would be interested in seeing the little weeds, if only to see if it could be useful or just something to get rid of.]

She is, but elsewhere. Her sunflowers are taller than me already.

[Until vandals happen later, but.

The only thing close to her height was the grass encroaching on Kaede's flowers. Which...admittedly, did make for nice pouncing spots.

Also a bit of a fire hazard. The mansion was largely brick and stone, especially its foundations, but still. Mowing the grass had never been a concern Kaede had considered.]

So still short.

[Caren that's mean.]

Did you want a garden? Just because you can, doesn't mean you need to.

[That earned a huff from the scarlet-feathered Chimera.]

She just planted them a few months ago.

[That was...fast, for plants, wasn't it? Kaede wasn't good at plants. But it seemed significant.]

...I do, just...I'm not good at growing the plants I mean to.

[The poppies and the lilies were under the grass somewhere, still visible, but only if she got close to them.]

The fake cold season might have helped the flowers more then we realize.

[She's thoughtful. Sunflowers...they should have stopped growing by now, but it might be confused with the fake cold snap.]

It takes practice. Knowledge. Has Maria helped you at all?

[Kaede's tail kept swishing, and she kept staring into the bottom of her cup long after she remembered to take a drink from it. Calm fuzzy mental haze, where'd you go.]

...I haven't asked.

[Asking people?? For things???]

...you could.

[She's sleepy baffled. Why no ask Kaede???]

[Because!! It's a People Thing, she's bad at those!!]

...Guess I could.

[It's not like Maria was going to eat her.

Maybe stab her a few times on agreed-upon terms, but no bite.]

You could.

It'd make someone feel useful. They'd be happy to feel useful.

[People things are hard. She gets that. But it's funny to watch Kaede think about it.]

There was always shelter [Open!]

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