Homecoming [Sable, Cherri, Alyson] [Closed]

[LuckyBlackCat]

Sable had never celebrated her birthday?

Alyson's eyebrows rose. Was this part of the cunning and convincing act Sable put on for Misa, or did she truly have yet to experience such a celebration? And if the latter was the case, why? No matter the reason, Alyson and Cherri would put that right at once.

The offer to share the cost was what coaxed tears from Sable's eyes. "I have done nothing to deserve such wonderful friends."

Dabbing at the corner of her own eye, Alyson played along. Not that she had to act much, sunny warmth spreading through her from the comment, even with the crisp mountain breeze in the birdcage of a store. "It's no trouble, really. Hey, what are friends for?" She raised a fist into the air in her best Feyranger-like pose. If the other two were going to dial up the theatrics, so was she. "And no birthday's going uncelebrated while we're around!"

The drama had worked. Not only had Sable earned herself a considerable discount, Misa busied herself fetching and wrapping everything for her too. Holding back a mischievous chuckle, just like it seemed Cherri did judging by the subtle tremble of her shoulders, Alyson reached into a belt pouch for her wallet, ready to chip in. Her fingers brushed against a drawstring bag, containing a little something she'd been planning to give Sable upon her return to the academy. All the better that she could gift it on her friend's actual birthday.

"I suppose... all that leaves is a place to cook? If I recall correctly there is a communal cooking pot somewhere in these lovely nests...?"

"That there is!" Alyson replied, gesturing in its direction. "Just a little further up. What do you two say we should cook first?"

Making a start on feast preparation, however, was not Cherri's immediate priority. Instead, she reminded them once more to take the day slowly with a suggestion of drinks. Of course. This time, Alyson couldn't help the giggle that fluttered free from her lips. "Good call!" She looked back over at Sable. "I'm up for a drink if you are!"

[Emily]

"I'd say... that would come to 43 rupees at full price. So let's round that down to 21 after the discount!"

Sable stood up straight, once more all brightness and good humour. "That's wonderful, thank you so much!" She looked toward Cherri for just a beat, almost as if expecting something, but the thought seemed to just as quickly leave her. Instead, she produced her own rupee wallet, producing a green and two blues to combine with Alyson's blues. The collected gems were traded for well-packaged foodstuffs, which Sable picked up.

"Well..." came Cherri's airy call. "I suppose... all that leaves is a place to cook? If I recall correctly there is a communal cooking pot somewhere in these lovely nests...?"

"That there is!" Alyson replied, gesturing in its direction. "Just a little further up. What do you two say we should cook first?"

Sable shrugged, eyes still aglitter with some mischief or other. "Difficult to say, the batter for the wildberry crepes needs to sit for some time to properly set up, but melting the chocolate would also take some time. I suppose we could do both at the same time, depending on the extent of our cooking space."

"Though I must admit," came the clarion call of laziness, something that truly spoke to her in this of all moments. "The day is still young yet. We need not rush, if we-... well, need to take a little while to collect ourselves and enjoy a beverage or two before any floured labour."

"Good call! I'm up for a drink if you are!"

"Please," Sable responded, "Making things with a buzz is literally my day job."

They travelled, the three of them, to the Swallow's Roost, which had only grown since the blizzard ended. With an indentured child labourer, Cecili had expanded the business- a Rito after Sable's own heart, even if she resented the similarity in their naming conventions- to include a small bar. As the three women took their seats on one side of it, the enterprising Rito crossed the floor to take her place opposite them. "Good afternoon, ladies, what'll you be having today?"

"What's your speciality?"

"Oh, we've got loads of them. Obviously we can do the classics, Noble Pursuits, Necluda Fizzlers, Dry Ices, and the like. But if you're looking for something truly unique, let me suggest the Totori, which is a vodka-based cocktail with some fruit juices. The vodka is actually made here in the village with local Tabantha wheat. There's a freshness you can't get anywhere else.

"Not to mention, I don't know if you heard about this fancy party that happened in Castle Town a few months back, but they had some unique drinks there, and Traysi brought back some for us to reverse engineer, so we've got some experimental things cooking up. If you'd like a try, I have the Fireball, the Winter's Breath, the Tingler, and the Lightning Strike."

A flash in her eye, but Sable gave away nothing. "I heard about that party! I was so curious what they had in there- can I try your Fireball?"

[El]

If Cherri had the energy, she would've clapped in delight. What a pleasurable relief to have such easy company! Beyond just tolerating her, the two ladies instead matched her, a flow of similar wavelengths tangling into pretty braids of mischief and comfortable joy. With such gems for friends she didn't even feel the need to tease, settling instead into her stool at the bar with a blissful sigh of reprieve.

The business acumen of Rito women was clearly underrated. The listed menu and attached descriptions were chirped like poetry, falling soft against Cherri's dozing ears. Rather than invasive or tedious, it all sounded delicious.

"I heard about that party! I was so curious what they had in there- can I try your Fireball?"

The Sheikah giggled.

Oh Traysi. The devious fiend. For all her dubious methods and even more questionable goals, it was difficult not to admire how brilliantly she applied herself. She'd considered more than once propositioning Jirri, nominating the shrewd head journalist as a potentially very useful comrade. Cherri had made herself very much at home amongst Lucky Clover Gazette's own, forging tight friendships and many favourable memories, so she was well situated to build that bridge. To make things even more favourable, the Gazette was now sponsored by Royalty itself.

It was exactly that it was so perfect, that it gave Cherri pause. (Not that it'd stopped her dropping evasive and riddled hints whenever she was graced with Jirri's company.) Besides, committing to such an endeavour would undoubtedly lead to more work.

Ew.

As the rosy barkeep turned her eyes then upon the Sheikah herself, a tune of thought brought Cherri a little more time: her gaze wandering to no place in particular as she strained to regather her thoughts on the present. With a soft, sidewards knock her head fell upon her clutched pillow. It rested there, with another blissful sigh.

Reflected in her wine-red eyes were the snow-draped mountains, glazing the colour with a sheen of frost. "...I'll take the Winter's Breath please, darling." An errant thumb traced the empty space of her dented ring finger. "Extra sweet. With a sugared rim, and a slice of Faron Grassland lemon if you have any at hand, hun."

Odd. Common patron of Sable's bar as she was, the peafowl would know well how uncharacteristic that was of her. Bitters, sours and spice were her favoured palettes. Sweet...? Sweet she almost always avoided.

Yet if Cherri caught a perceptive glance, she'd merely smile. Sweetly. And turn it back to Cecili with a softly-swallowed yawn and an amended disclaimer of caution, "Assuming that's your version of Naydra's Wisdom. It's very sad that I never got to try any of them myself: if I'd known there was going to be a special menu I'd have made an extra effort to attend. Though, woe betide me, I suppose I should've suspected as much hrmn~." The aforementioned yawn bubbled back up then, but transformed mid-flight into the most wistful of sighs. It was a sincere regret. 

[LuckyBlackCat]

It was a short journey to the bar, a relatively new addition to the Swallow's Roost. Taking a seat next to Sable and setting down the heavy basket, Alyson raised her head with a bright smile at Cecili. It had been a while since her last stay at this inn, her work and studies in Castle Town all-consuming as of late, but she'd carved out time. And she'd make the most of it with plenty of activity and odd jobs the relaxing pursuits she'd promised.

Listening as Cecili announced the beverage menu, inspired by a certain glitzy party from a few months ago, she almost gave Sable a surreptitious glance. If only the inkeeper knew. Having inadvertently started a trend, would her friend be flattered or annoyed? Either way, Sable kept her feelings on the matter concealed, feigning ignorance, requesting to try one of the imitation drinks.

These versions probably couldn't compare to the genuine article, but Alyson wasn't about to mention that, at least not in front of Cecili. Besides, she couldn't help wondering about their similarities to and differences from the originals. Did they contain the same ingredients, in the same measures? Did they make use of the same alchemical techniques?

"They sure sound interesting! Hmm, I'll try..." She considered ordering the Lightning Strike, to round out the fiery and frosty choices the other two had made, but another one caught her interest. "I'll try the Tingler. Is it..." She hesitated. She'd been about to ask if it was wind-themed, but that may well have given the game away. "Is it based on any particular element?"

That Farosh's Wind wasn't a drink she'd forget in a hurry. Not only because of its deceptive deliciousness, its sweetness balancing out the tart citrus flavours, but because of the headache she'd woken up with the next day like she'd been hit with a Boulder Breaker, between that and the other drinks at the Ball. Still, something akin to it would be plenty enjoyable if taken slowly and paired with water. There was, after all, work to do after this.

[Emily]

Even as the other two women were ordering their drinks, Cecili had gotten to work making the first one. She was a good bartender, if a bit haphazard with her movements. Sable assessed the figures and measurements; Cecili moved with a practised ease, but paused for just a beat after each pour or mix. She was still looking at her work, overly conscious of where in the cup or shaker she was filling to, instead of feeling the liquid slip through the vessel, the weight of the spoon, the particular heft of a specific amount of ice.

Those little touches came with time, and separated a professional from an artist. And even beyond that, there were little touches of enchanting magic and alchemical interactions that weren't so easy to reverse engineer. The drinks could very well taste remarkably similar, but without the extra magical touches, there was no way they'd be as flashy.

Cecili was a good bartender, but she wasn't even close to Sable's level.

"...I'll take the Winter's Breath please, darling. Extra sweet. With a sugared rim, and a slice of Faron Grassland lemon if you have any at hand, hun."

A strain seemed to appear at the edges of Sable's heretofore blasé attitude. Lines around the eyes, a slight squint. Her head tilted to the side, almost mechanically, but she didn't turn. Instead, she shook her head slightly, placed a wing against her forehead. But quickly reclaimed the previously-held composure and relaxed, sitting straight again.

"Assuming that's your version of Naydra's Wisdom. It's very sad that I never got to try any of them myself: if I'd known there was going to be a special menu I'd have made an extra effort to attend. Though, woe betide me, I suppose I should've suspected as much hrmn~."

This Sable turned at. She gave the classic closed-eye smile of the Rito. Of course she could have- and would have, if either of her companions had asked- served those drinks at The Dragon's Roost. The Beaumonts might be a classic patrician family, nobles with vast swathes of property and power, but they hadn't jealously guarded any of the creations she'd created for their ball. Out of respect, she had made the Blupee a limited-time exclusive, but the dragon series and the Thunderstorm were fair game.

"Maybe they'll invite us to the next one." She said with a little trill of a laugh.

"I'll try..." came Alyson's voice. "I'll try the Tingler. Is it... Is it based on any particular element?"

The Tingler was also a point of interest for Sable. She was glad that the three of them were getting different drinks, so that she could witness the preparation of multiple. When she had been theorycrafting the drinks, manically pacing back and forth across the closed pub in the wee hours of the night, scribbling notes and pouring ideas, Farosh's Wind had been the most difficult to bring together. It had gone through six or seven different iterations, balancing out different fruits and amounts of the juices to create exactly the flavour of yellow-green she wanted. And unfortunately it required some pretty heavy-hitting tequila to provide the proper balance, which caused multiple members of the party to stumble away in the early morning hours.

Cecili moved through the motions as she talked, completing a passable imitation of Dinraal's Flame and setting it before Sable, who herself waited until everyone was served. In response to Alyson's question, the innkeeper seemed to stop and think for a second, in the middle of cutting up a slice of lemon. "Yes," she ultimately settled on. "It's based on that feeling you get when you're nice and warm, and then a cold breeze hits you and makes your whole body tingle."

"Ooh, that makes sense."

[El]

Hrm. So they'd almost ended up with the entire range of Beaumont beverages. It hadn't been intentional on Cherri's part, but the Sheikah wondered if it had been on Alyson's. Though, well, it wasn't unusual for humanity to prefer variety: as much they gravitated towards discovering comforting affinity within their communities, they still strove to establish their own unique identities.

The engineer looked a little concerned about her choice though. Cherri smiled at her hesitation, though nothing made it sparkle quite as beautifully as Sable's scrutinising attention as Cecili worked. It was almost enough to make a lady order the last of the quartet. Almost.

Finally, the journalist set down her pillow proper, resting it against the legs of her stool. Crowned with its golden slice of lemon the frosty cocktail was gently slid into her grasp, a languorous smile gracing the bartender in return. "My, it is pretty. What a darling sparkle."

Stem pinched between her pale fingers she swirled the glass, admiring how the crushed ice caught the light in different angles. Even from this distance she could smell the thick allure of sweetness. Yes, he would've liked this a lot. Gaze softening at its corners, Cherri took a long and thoughtful mouthful. Soothing vanilla waltzed with sharp gasps of mint: a harmonious experience, despite the prickling of her tastebuds. In her opinion it was too sweet, but then she'd never been a good judge of that particular balance.

"Want a sip?" Cherri offered, reclining her chin upon the back of a hand as she offered up the glass to Sable beside her.  "Though, of course, only if I get a sip of yours in return." She giggled with a playful albeit lethargic mischief, making sure the glint in her eyes caught that of Alyson's too. There was nothing in the bar rulebook against sharing, was there?

"Say, I've always been curious, Miss Alyson, about your friendship with our darling Sable here." Cherri went on to purr, eyes narrowing with a keen fondness. Despite the dark circles hanging below them they were undoubtedly observant - to an uncanny degree. "Word is you've helped supply some of her more exotic ingredients from the Skies: an admirably heroic feat, getting all the way up there and all the way back down in one piece! Especially for a Hylian. Have you ever explored the Depths in turn?"

[LuckyBlackCat]

Alyson held back a knowing smile. So this was Cecili's iteration of Farosh's Wind. "Ohh nice! A refreshing drink based on a refreshing breeze! Yep, I'll go with that... and could I also have a tall glass of water along with it?" After thinking over how she'd avoid letting on her suspicions about its alcohol content, she gestured to the basket at the foot of her stool. "It's just that foraging is thirsty work."

If Cecili had begun to catch on, she let no inkling show, returning to her tasks with a nod. Alyson studied the imitation Dinraal's Flame on the bar. While it gleamed a pleasing shade of vermilion with gold flecks, giving off a subtle fragrance of spice, it lacked the fiery, smokey visual effects. Even though Cecili was a fast learner when it came to bartending, Sable probably didn't have to worry about being outcompeted just yet.

In next to no time, the second drink was served, a Winter's Breath that glimmered like snow, although not as brightly as a genuine Naydra's Wisdom would. "My, it is pretty. What a darling sparkle," Cherri commented as she tilted the glass, admiring how the silver tints reflected the sunlight.

"It certainly is!" Alyson agreed. "I can see why those drinks were so memorable!"

Next up was her own, a fizzing lime-garnished beverage the yellow-green shade of spring leaves, with a water glass at its side. Taking the Tingler into her gloved hand, she sipped it with a level of caution. It bore sharper flavours than Farosh's Wind, but the shiver the citrus blend sent through her was no bad thing - it lived up to its name. And the burn in the back of her throat was far less pronounced, indicating a more modest level of tequila. "And taste it too!"

She echoed Cherri's infectious giggle at the offer to share her drink with Sable, in exchange for a sip of the Fireball. Catching her glance, she held out her own beverage. "Either of you want to try some of mine?" She playfully eyed each of the other cocktails. "On one condition, of course."

Cherri proceeded to ask as to her sourcing of ingredients from the skies, as well as any experience in the Depths. "Yep, as someone who builds vehicles among other things, why not make use of them?" she replied, her gaze turning fond as it drifted to the clouds. "There's still so much to discover about those isles - and what we already have has been more than worthwhile!" She nodded to the elemental fruit based cocktails.

"As for the Depths, not yet, but I've heard a little about them from the Zonai Survey Team. They sound pretty exciting, full of ancient ruins and machinery... Even if people say they have to watch out for Gloom. And Yiga activity." She took another sip of her drink. "Have you been there?"

[Emily]

By nature, Sable was not a bitter or cruel person. She had gone through her fair share of hardship across two different lives. She knew the struggle of finding your own voice, of finding the special technique or flourish that set you apart from everyone else also struggling in your field. Of standing out. After she had started up No Harm, No Fowl in Gerudo Town, she had struggled to find drinks to set her apart from Furosa. She did her best to avoid the Noble Pursuit, Furosa's signature drink. While her mother's love of plants had always centred some interest for alchemy, it was also a very useful supplemental skillset on top of bartending.

Cecili had opened this bar within the last year or two. She had some signature drinks, she centred her location- Tabantha and wider Hebra- into her bar and products. She was charming and charismatic and most importantly curious of what was going on elsewhere in the field. It wouldn't take very long for this to be a popular draw for the various communities in the region. And Sable wasn't a competitor, not in any way that mattered. She was in Castle Town, home to a large class of sedentary individuals who would never visit Rito Village.

Still, she watched the work. Cecili was still a bit uncomfortable in the work, especially in front of people. She had practice yet to come that would help her be more of a performer. It would be f Antoine fell to the floor, clutching his side. She gingerly ran across the stage, not quite fast enough to catch him, but lifted his head to her lap. Eyes full of tears, she wailed, lights hot on her face. 'Somebody please help! I couldn't go on without you!'

"My, it is pretty. What a darling sparkle."

Her gaze snapped to Cherri. A bead of sweat trickled down her right temple, though some of her tension seemed to break when she saw the Sheikah taking a sip of a drink. With her customary lethargy, Cherri placed her chin on her hand and returned Sable's gaze. There didn't seem to be any suspicion or question in those red eyes. "Want a sip? Though, of course, only if I get a sip of yours in return."

The Fireball proved to be a touch too spiced for Sable's tastes. As she had touched upon with the potential of chili-infused sweets, Rito weren't able to experience heat in the same way as most denizens of Hyrule. Capsacin immunity was one of their defining characteristics other than the wings and beaks and feathers. But cinnamon was not spiced in the same way. She felt the graininess at the back of her throat, though she knew it was a result only of a practised palate. Most people probably wouldn't notice the difference in taste, which was a credit to Cecili's skill. The major difference was in the presentation. "I like this quite a lot. Here, try it."

She slid the drink toward Cherri, taking a sip of the significantly-too-sweet Winter's Breath. The chill of Tianis's gaze, those ice blue eyes that never seemed to blink. It wasn't bad, as the chill of the mint balanced the sweetness well. And the extra sweetness was obviously due to the extra requests. "That's quite sweet." She looked back to Cecili, eyes bright. "I like the combination of mint with the sweetness. I can imagine this being a favourite."

"Either of you want to try some of mine?" She could have died at the full-on conspiracy going on with her compatriots. They hadn't hesitated for a moment in playing along with her information-gathering scheme. She could have kissed them both, if it were possible with a beak. She almost coughed at taking a taste of the Tingler. There was a tart sourness in her version, of course, but she felt like she had taken an explosive to the face. She pushed backward slightly, eyes squinting. "Woof," she exhaled. "There's so much going on in this drink! That's so interesting, it's like a full explosion of flavour."

The conversation turned to Alyson's fearless exploration of the sky islands in search for exotic ingredients ultimately destined for use in Sable's dastardly concoctions. She listened with a smile in her eyes, sipping thoughtfully on the Fireball as she did so. Spending time here with her friends was kind of nice, she thought. Goron and Rito builders working together to brace the destabilised rock of Dragon Roost as the farmers worked in the fields. She was surrounded by people like her. Other Rito, who kept her tied to her history, to her culture. Neither Cecili nor Misa had asked her about her plumage, assumed things about who she was as a person because of how colourful she was. They didn't ask strange questions about the Rito as if she would know, despite being isolated to Hateno Village her whole life. She could talk about the peculiarities and traditions of Rakzhou and Ouji, she didn't know anything about Rito Village. They'd think you were crazy if you told them about the Rito Matriarch, ruler of a third of Hyrule's skies, of sharing her bed, of being called to a 'greater service'.

Some of that smile left Sable's eyes, but she continued listening. She appreciated the burden being lifted from Alyson's voice as she talked about the things she enjoyed doing. It was a relief to find something that might make her happy.

[El]

To sample not one, but three different drinks - Cherri was being spoiled! Her original intent had been for Sable to be the sole beneficiary of the little plot (satisfying the Rito's curiosity was satiating enough), but if the opportunity presented itself to enjoy them too...? Why not!

Eyes crinkled with delighted pleasure, the Sheikah took turns accepting the offered cocktails: taking care to rotate their respective glass rims so that her lipstick didn't stain a favoured spot. Not that the rosey-haired darling was against sharing an indirect smooch or two, but such things usually required consent. Besides, she'd only just met Alyson. What if she scared her away!

"Goodness!" Cherri gasped, eyes wide as fingertips pressed to her damp lips. They were tingling, a building burn racing down her throat. "An explosion of flavour indeed! How wonderfully bold, but delightfully refreshing." And there she had been, about to doze off. Certainly not anymore! A giggle tremored in Cherri's bosom. In a way the choice suited what she knew of Alyson, though she thought better of saying as much - for now.

Sable's Fireball was of course Cherri's favourite however, and the Sheikah may or may not have devoured a touch too much to be considered polite. She was even reluctant to hand the glass back, doing little to hide the small pout that pulled at her lips as she did so.

"As for the Depths, not yet, but I've heard a little about them from the Zonai Survey Team. They sound pretty exciting, full of ancient ruins and machinery... Even if people say they have to watch out for Gloom. And Yiga activity. Have you been there?"

"Hrmmm~ I have." The journalist admitted, attention drawn to something distant and beyond this plane of time. Once more she reclined upon a hand, the pale fingers of another idly playing with the stem of her returned blue sugar. "It's certainly not a place to venture into lightly, though in my humble opinion it gets a bad rep. It's different, yes, but beautiful in its own fantastical way. Comforting too, really, being blanketed in warm darkness like that. The flora possess an entrancing bioluminescence and the air is gentle and quiet. Sometimes, if you stay especially still, you can catch the trickle of water dripping from the stalactites and the dulled echo of little Frox feet as they forage in clumsy tumbles through the fungi."

Cherri caught herself with another giggle and promptly changed tune. "Whoops." She playfully 'cringed', smile broadening into an indulgent grin. "Maybe that was a little too long of an answer, hrm~."

Then, however, a slightly more serious look passed over her painted features, tightening corners and firming her lips. To the side she leaned, brushing elbows with Sable as she lessened the distance between her and Alyson. The touch was-... warm. And not warm from mere bodyheat. It'd tickle at Sable's feathered nerves, dancing across the skin below in a teasing bleed of growing flow. A gentle tide of comfort was knocking at the doors of the Rito's thoughts, leaking in through the gaps at the windowpanes with a therapeutically fragrant shadow. Darkness was here. And it'd comfort her, soothing her erratic thoughts into a numbed bliss, if she let it in. Though likewise, it'd be very easy for the barkeep to simply pull away: both metaphorically and literally. The Sheikah would not give chase.

"But-!" Cherri piped up, frowning a little at the engineer. She leaned - just a touch - firmer upon Sable's drooped shoulder. "You should heed everyone's warnings! Take care if you do go down there, sweetheart. A bright beam of sunshine like you will attract a lot of admirers.

"Thoooough..." A humming purr of something lyrical - almost teasing - interrupted her lecture and instead curled her lips once more. Now there was a keen mischief glinting in her eyes, a twinkle of awakened passion and curiosity. Cherri abandoned her cocktail altogether, roosting her chin upon the intertwined lattice of her fingers. "I could always read your stars if you're interested in some guidance...? Depths or Skies or otherwise! I didn't start out as the Gazette's divination column for nothing you know~. I'm your lady if your adventurer's compass needs something to point at."

[Emily]

Sable sat in a trendy cafe in the heart of Castle Town. Her table was near a window, the muted chatter of the young and trendy clientele mixing with the pitter-patter of rain on the glass mixing with the muted clip-clop of horses trodding on the cobblestones outside. She rested her chin in one hand, watching the activity outside. There was streetside seating, of course, and some brave souls were sitting out there in the rain, but she couldn't afford to be so frivolous. The troupe's contract with the theatre had stipulations for their public personas. So here she sat, looking sufficiently introspective, the large, round, tinted glasses and stylishly dishevelled red hair giving the effect of being off the clock. But she was still coated in makeup. Her glasses didn't hide dry eyes or dark circles; there were no signs of fatigue or physical wear.

She had always wanted to be an actress. Sable had learned so much about theatre while she was in school. She had attended so many plays, even participated in several as a fledgling. She had envisioned public adoration, want, desire. Her mind still held those childish notions of cheering, applause, and the joy that would come with it. Never had she been told of required activities outside the acting itself. She didn't know about approved codes of conduct, of residency contingent upon very strict rules and behaviours. She had never considered that she might be paired with one of the greatest leads in the history of the art, only to find him to be a repulsive person, knowing that she was good enough to pretend she didn't despise him and being forced to do so for five years.

She didn't realise that she would get everything she had ever wanted, and that it would make her want to die.

'Better than you deserve, monster.'

She closed her eyes, took a breath. There was a bit of a waver to it as she released.

"Miss Sable?"

She looked up, giving her signature, coy smile to the barista standing with a trendy cup on a trendy tray. "Chai latte, one shot of espresso, with just the smallest amount of vanilla?"

"That's right," the woman smiled. She was a beautiful Hylian woman, strong features with thick eyebrows and perfectly large hair. "If you need anything, ask for Tena."

"I will, darling. Promise." She winked over the top of her lenses.

Tena blushed a bit, and quickly walked to the back of the cafe, where Sable could hear her giggling with one of the other employees. She smiled to herself and looked back out the window, sipping at the committee-approved drink. It wasn't that she disliked it, but it was never something she would have drank before moving to Castle Town. She'd had a particular blend of green tea grown outside Symmetry City she would make back in Haven. With just a dab of honey it was more than perfect.

'Too plain,' they had said. 'Stop pretending,' she had said.

She sighed again. The rain obscured the turrets of the distant Hyrule Castle, but she had sat outside often enough to see its towers, its curves, in her memory.

"Who are you and why are you here?" came the cool, caressing tone she had been obsessed with hearing recently. With it came the warm breeze, sea air. Sable turned to see Sable in all her glory, standing atop Dragon Roost with Valoo behind her. A simply-dressed but incredibly imposing figure in traditional islander clothing. Her perfectly-styled ringlets with that one blue flower, those sharp golden eyes. The adorable, simple Rito beak from her version of Hyrule, proudly positioned over a mouth doing its best to not show too much anger.

"Hello beautiful," she countered, taking another sip of her latte. "I'm Qilzaku Sable, " she gestured behind her, "Castle Town's very own."

"Curious," the chieftain responded. With a proper look at her for the first time, Sable was quite impressed. The easy confidence, the authority. Magnificent! "I didn't realise there was another."

"I imagine that, if you looked hard enough, there are more. Surely none so desirable as us, but the two of us come from three separate realities, so it bears to reason that more than just those exist."

"Nonetheless, that doesn't answer why you are here, in my mind."

Sable grinned, stood from her seat, leaving the drink behind. She stepped forward, circled the mountaintop maiden, sizing her up. She leaned in to whisper in her ear. "And what happened to the other, I wonder?"

Sable rounded on her, a glare of very sudden and very aggressive anger. Sable eased backward. "There is no other, I am Sable of Dragon Roost and Sable Atelia of Castle Town."

"Ohoho," her eyes glowed through the tint, a red luminescence making their surroundings seem somewhat less bright. "My heart, I know you do not believe this. I've been watching you for some time. All time, in fact. I heard your cry of anguish from my home here in Castle Town- my Castle Town, that is to say- when your beau was killed." Her smile left her, a genuine expression of sympathy replacing it. "I am sorry, for what it is worth. I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but I do not believe this is so. Regardless, I found you in that moment, and I have been with you ever since."

Her good humour returned as she added. "And ever before!"

The golden Rito deflated. She seemed conflicted, and Sable wished to give her a hug. She refrained, but she did so hate to see the poor thing in such a state. Instead, she delicately concluded with "If it shows my good intentions, I pulled you back through the dreamscape to the Gerudo hospital."

"That was five years ago," Sable replied. "Why have you only appeared now?"

"I haven't!" she exclaimed. "Did Ioras never teach you? There is such power in the dreamscape, you can pass the time however quickly or slowly you wish. You can go forward, you can go backward, you can jump about. Like so." As she said this, the scene outside her cafe window changed. First it showed Rakzhou's shop in Hateno, then the Gem and Enchanting Shop in East Clock Town. Xane glowered through the window, then Komali and Medli.

To prove her point, Sable showed a very specific scene. A back alley in East Clock Town, a tangential, material creature of feathers and eyes and fangs slashing at a Sheikah wielding a bow made of shadow. As the battle ended, the Sheikah lying dead upon the cobblestones, the demon began to dematerialise, only for Sable to appear behind it, embrace the creature, and both disappeared together.

"I do not come to cause you strife or any further bother," she continued, placing her cup on the table and stepping closer once more. "You are my sister, and we can accomplish so much together, no?"

"Why do you keep putting memories into my head of your life?"

"Please forgive me for such things," she purred, placing a hand on the proud Rito's pale cheek. "I have been through pain of my own, and it is difficult to contain all of it within without my own... roost, I believe you would say. This is me, nothing else anymore. My body is gone."

The beautiful Rito paused at that, seemed to weigh her thoughts for a moment. She looked up at Sable with genuine concern in her eyes. Sable felt her heart race, what excitement! Nobody had looked at her with such genuine understanding in so many years. "I'm sorry," Sable replied. "What's going to happen to you?"

The glow returned to her eyes, her smile was slightly too wide for something of flesh and bone. But, in her defence, she was no longer something of flesh and bone. "I have so much to teach you, my love. For those of us with the ability to walk in dreams, our bodies need not cage us. If you are exploring in the dream when your body is killed, you are not. For those without control, of course, they are unable to hold themselves together. But I will persist in whatever form I wish for as long as I wish it. Unless..." she pouted, as fine a pout as she had ever produced. "you forsake me.

"No," she continued after a moment, smile softening. "I can see your feelings. I will stay here, keep everything clean and tidy for you, yes? For now, you should return to your friends. I will do my best to keep my thoughts to myself, I promise. Happy birthday, sweet thing."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Although Alyson would always prefer Sable's drinks in terms of both flavour and visuals, Cecili was no slouch when it came to mixing. Alyson sipped the offered Winter's Breath with its sweet chill of mint, then the Fireball, her eyes going wide at the contrasting spiced kick flaring in her throat. "Speaking of flavour explosions, this one's aptly named! Good stuff! And that Winter's Breath is deliciously minty fresh!"

Taking a drink of water to cleanse her palate, she leaned in, Cherri's description of the unique biosphere in the Depths piquing her interest. "That sounds pretty spectacular! And it's ok, some places are like that, captivating in a way that stays with you. Like the skies, with their golden trees and grasses, their arowana pools... and there's nothing quite like their views of the kingdom spread out below you through the clouds." Her gaze briefly flashed towards Sable. "Plus, of course, those fruits make for some tasty recipes."

For a moment, Sable appeared to have spaced out, something wistful shadowing her expression as her smile dimmed. No wonder, given what she'd revealed about her mother, the bittersweet childhood memories this village must hold for her, what a novelty it was to celebrate a birthday. Did the nervousness have yet to fade? Or had Alyson's and Cherri's presence helped in that regard?

Alyson reached into her belt pouch, yet her attention remained on Cherri, whose playful demeanour returned following her warning as she offered to put her divination skills to use. Although Alyson had never put too much stock in those purposefully-vague sections of the Gazette, she'd heard astrology to be important to many a Sheikah, and a reading would be fun to interpret if nothing else. Besides, who knew, it could point her in a new and exciting direction. "Sure, why not? I wouldn't say no to some sky-related guidance! First, though, now the celebrations have officially started..."

With a lively twinkle lighting her eyes, she pulled out the little drawstring bag, holding it towards Sable. "What's a birthday without a gift?" Inside, Sable would find a handcrafted necklace, its cords loosely braided in the style popular with most Rito. It bore a wooden medallion carved into a many-pointed starlike shape, painted white with yellow-to-green gradients at the tips, as well as the spots where tips would be if it were three-dimensional. A design the bartender would recognise as a Dazzle Fruit. She was, after all, partial to shimmer effects.

[Emily]

Despite history screaming at her to banish the foreign presence in her mind, and despite her own misgivings at the thought of hosting yet another lifetime of memories within her head, partitioned or not, Sable found a sense of warm camaraderie in the strange presence of Sable.

She had been feeling strange all day, between the odd memories, the sense of melancholy and loss, stale grief, for someone she didn't recognise and felt nothing for, and the strange scene at the shop. She might be a performer of sorts, but play-acting in front of a stranger was something beyond her normal life. Her comfort zone was commanding a room, bending attention. Even the bits she did for the Beaumont ball had been exceptionally rehearsed lines and felt incredibly stupid as she was saying them.

All this to say, something had definitely been wrong, and she found the proper opportunity while Cherri and Alyson talked about the Depths to focus on it properly. Once upon a time, she would close her eyes and open them in the Dream, but she had doubled her lifespan since those days and was now capable of keeping her waking body doing something mindless while she focused inward. Her gut told her this other Sable was well-meaning. "Very well," she conceded, allowing her dreamscape to turn back fully into the cafe, "you are welcome here. I'm sorry to hear about your physical form, but if you've seen my history, you know I am capable of clearing my mind once things turn malicious."

"Of course, but you have nothing to worry about from me on this matter." She still came across as perfectly genuine. Either she was, in fact, here to help, or she was too powerful to be threatened by Sable's banishing techniques. So... this would either go well or so badly that there was nothing to gain from worrying about it. As dark shadows began seeping in from outside the cafe, providing a welcoming, soothing presence and making the space around them darker, the red-haired Sable seemed to grow brighter by contrast. Her eyes glowed, her shape became a bit amorphous and liquid, but remained identifiably her.

"Remember this, my sweet thing," came the distorted voice, its melodic accent playing with the strangely hallucinogenic properties of the smoke as her smile seemed to grow wider than her face. "Do not trust the Sheik-ahhhh."

Sable would have questioned this, but her eyes were growing heavy. She stumbled backward, blinked and was back at the bar, her drink slightly less full than she remembered but everything else more or less as she had left it. "You should heed everyone's warnings! Take care if you do go down there, sweetheart. A bright beam of sunshine like you will attract a lot of admirers." Cherri was still talking to Alyson about the Depths, meaning only a matter of seconds had passed. That was good.

Cherri offered to read some manner of fortune for Alyson, catching Sable's attention more than it would have a few moments ago. She wondered why Cherri wasn't supposed to be trusted. Cherri was certainly a strange person- she was difficult to detect on a subconscious level, and she seemed to be strikingly warm despite the chill in the air, she was always tired and seemed to be playing all the time- but nothing about her seemed particularly malicious.

"Sure, why not? I wouldn't say no to some sky-related guidance! First, though, now the celebrations have officially started, what's a birthday without a gift?" Alyson held a little drawstring bag out toward her. Sable couldn't hide her surprise, eyes wide as she wordlessly accepted the bag and pulled it open. Inside, she found a small necklace in the shape of what was undoubtedly-

"A dazzle fruit!" Sable couldn't stop herself from laughing. Now that she had found the source of the strange feelings, she felt her good humour from earlier returning to her. "Oh, this is absolutely delightful, thank you so much."

She placed it over her neck and wore it proudly. "How does it look? No, I know it looks fantastic on me. Cecili, would you be so kind as to make another Fireball for me? And anything else for the two of you? We have some food to make, but what's a day out with friends if we're not properly sated?"