Parting Ways

Daina

All through the day Daina had been growing things... fruit mostly but some tasty veggies as well. She'd made what amounted to a small garden in the closest clear space and had been directing warmth to it now and then over the day, gently pushing the plants to produce at a little into the afternoon.
She spends a few hours decorating a clearing that she'd asked the trees to make, vines with 'light flowers' of various colors swing over the branches and fragrant blooms are releasing their scent far enough away not to be overwhelming but close enough that you catch a ghost of their scent here and there. The light flowers are dimmed for the time being. She takes one of the 'house plants' and grows the pole and canopy over the party area, just incase in rains, though Daina and the plants don't think it will.
As the setting is more or less complete she summons a fire around the center pole, the flames not even lapping at the wood of the center pole, dancing with Daina as she encourages the plants to grow and produce fruit. Getting help with gathering and preparing the foods. She goes to make sure that those who can make music will be attending and bringing their instruments!
At last she returns to the prepared area and sets her hands on her hips as she adds a last touch of making some of the butterfly flowers glow and fluttter around the clearing. Humming her excited, nervous song as she whistles for everyone to converge on the clearing with the food, the musicians approach playing softly and slowly and then louder and more lively. Daina turns to greet everyone, petite shadow outlined by the fire behind her.
Her voice intertwines with the music being played. "A feast of good parting and good journeys ahead, we've traveled and lived together for a time but all good things come to an end!" she sighs and puts on a slightly exaggerated face of sadness. A moment later though her face is wreathed in smiles again and she lifts her hands. "We have a last night to enjoy each others company and to give this journey a happy ending, and a lucky start to our further travels. Eat Drink and Make Merry friends and family." As she raises her hands it's clear she's made a place for dancing, feasting and fun, the lights that were dim come up and give them a steady light around the edges of the clearing the fire keeping the center bright and cheery. She backs up and lowers her arms and spreads them in a bow of invitation for them to enter the sacred circle!

Aaren

Aaren cheers and claps excitedly for Daina's enterance speech!
Then she looks at all the new plants and the very nice canopy.

Then she sits down to sing for a little while with the musicans.
Shortly afterward, she gets up and starts finishing her rounds. (Not that that stops her from singing along.)

Slavina

Slavina, for the time being, is content to remain in her spot sitting on the back of the "chow wagon" next to the people tending the food: currently Vytenis, Janin, and Ilvers. Since this is an Occasion she's made herself semi-fancy (for Daina's sake - it's atmospheric after all) with thick garlands of flowers woven around her hair and down her back, and fresh amber beads glittering at throat, breast, and hem.

She drifts into silence for a bit as she checks on the proceedings.

Fate

A cheer goes up at the end of Daina's speech and nobody wastes any time getting into the enclosure. Quickly, one of the gentlemen—a rather young fellow named Apolinaras—steps forward to ask Daina to a dance.

As Kelly turns to invite Esta, she smoothly slides past him before he can say anything and invites Janin, tossing Kelly a playful wink and a teasing smile over her shoulder. Janin lets out a laugh and calls to Kelly, "Don't worry, I'll get you on the next one." With a shrug and a bit of a grin, Kelly goes to ask Dange the guard to join him on the dance floor—and meanwhile, Janin ensures that his presence won't be needed at the "chow wagon" before going off with Esta.

After a moment, another fellow falls into step beside Aaren as she makes her rounds, a bit of a playful song about him. He doesn't say anything, though, just following along, waiting for her to say something about it.

Aaren

Heaalth check please? Healthy except for the looming early onset arthritus and an uncomfortably inicipent anurisum, perhaps?
Also what'sisname

Fate

At this point, would he even have that? Did Aaren heal all the things for all the workers by now? And his name is Ksaveras.

Aaren

... Yeah, you're totally right. Thanks!

Slavina

After assuring herself that everything was going smoothly, Slavina turns back to Vytenis. "Back to civilization, huh? How long do you plan to stay in town?" She asks in Kalba.

Daina

Daina gives a wide smile to the fellow and grabs his hand to tug him towards the dance floor, her own steps already in time with the music. She still wears a big smile as everyone seems to be ready to have fun. She'd start with easy steps and build up to something that's still fun for her partner, only adding flourish now and again, and in such a way that he's included in it. She's listening for any problems though and has gotten Frankie to go on patrol for some of the time and Seedless for the other.

Aaren

Aaren goes about her rounds, sorting out the remains of a bladder infection, tamping down some swelling. After a few minutes she turns to Ksaveras.
"Could you run to my cart and fetch the box of feverweed please?" She to give some to the last lingering edges some dormant nasty cough viris, as she's just said to her patient.
"And some food would be great, if you aren't busy."

Fate

„Just long enough to rest and re-supply," Vytenis replies. „Dropping off some shipments too." He lets out a cough to clear his throat. „No rest for the wicked, eh?"

Apolinaras is... not a good dancer. He doesn't seem to have grown into his body quite yet. But he's very earnest—and in the past six weeks he's stopped accidentally stepping on toes and bumping into people!

Ksaveras looks to Aaren, taken aback, his playfulness fading. „Actually, I was going to ask you to dance with me and my now-youthful knees." He spreads his hands and bows his head to concede to her. „But far be it from me to stop you from doing what you do."

Aaren

"Oh!" Aaren blinks, half shocked and half emabarresed that she didn't notice. "Of course! Thank you. I'm almost finished, and then I would love too!"
She sings her gratitude song, along with her embarrasment, hoping to repair the mistake.

Slavina

Slavina laughs - a dark petunia-petal sound - and tilts her head down just enough to rustle the scent of her garlands into the air. "Wicked?" She teases, "So you've hitched your wagon to our caravan then?" She turns the spit holding the stuffed squirrels a little as they start to singe.

Daina

Daina is quite charmed to see him so into the dance and does her best to help him look good and not mangle any toes. "You've really improved!" she comments as she turns into a spin that moves around him without getting too close. "Soon you'll be dancing at the 'theatre'" she says playfully, performing a bow and en pointe turn on her bare toes.

Fate

A smile returns to Ksaveras and he nods. „Feverweed and food, eh?" he asks.

„I am the caravan," Vytenis retorts, laughing. „Have been since you were barely a twinkle in your mother's eye."

Apolinaras gives Daina a wry half-grin. „Does that mean I've upgraded from 'hopeless' to 'inadequate'?" He watches as she gracefully rises to her toes, then, with a spreading smile, tries to do the same. After he predictably fails (with some stumbling and flailing thrown in the mix) he says, „Holy shit, that's hard!"

Aaren

"Yes, thank you very kindly." Aaren sings her smile and returns to work.

Fate

The older gentleman wastes no time starting off to retrieve Aaren's requested supplies.

Daina

Daina laughs softly "Hopeful to hopefully improved, don't despair" she laughs more mirthfully as she reaches out to try and catch him from actually falling when attempts the move. "Of course it is! You can work on it though if you want, or just have fun!" She's grinning a bit as she does a bit more of a casual and slightly crazy dance, though somehow still pulls it off without looking bad.

Aaren

Aaren is done (except for administering the feverweed) by the time he gets back. She thanks Ksaveras and then sings, pleased with her work, while she eats.

Slavina

"Hmmmm." She turns the spit slowly, more from not really deciding to stop than any master cookery plan. Slavina eyes him thoughtfully. "No, that can't be right... you're far to young to make that kind of claim."

Aaren

"Alright." Aaren sings, once Ksaveras is seated next to her. "I taught you your knee song. Will you teach me a song while I eat?"

Fate

„I'll leave the fancy footwork to the experts," Apolinaras concedes to Daina. Then the first song of the evening ends, and he offers her a deep bow.

At Slavina's comment, Vytenis barks out a laugh. „Okay. There's flattery and then there's bullshit."

Ksaveras's grin returns. „Sure! What kind of song are you feeling like this evening? Local flavor or something more... exotic?"

Aaren

"Qianliguojia!" Aaren sings, with her mouth full, because she'd heard he'd been there and she knows almost nothing about it. "Please."

Daina

Daina smiles and sinks into a low bow before straightening and offering her arm. "want to grab a bite, I need some fuel if I'm going to dance all night" she jests lightly as she waits to see if he'd accept or decide to wander off.

Slavina

"Excuse me. We Liudzi prefer to call it 'fertilizer.'" She jabs a finger for emphasis, then opens her eyes one at a time. "Really though, how old are you, anyways? You can't be much older than my mother."

Fate

The moment Aaren says 'Qianliguojia,' Ksaveras's smile broadens. Then he begins teaching her a bawdy sailor song in an exciting new—and tonal!—language.

„Sure! I like food." says Apolinaras.

Vytenis takes a moment to mentally calculate. „Almost sixty." After another moment he says, „I think 56, 57? You lose track after a while."

Daina

Daina grins to that "me too!" she leads the way to where the food that's cooked or otherwise ready to eat. "Ready for the next leg of your trip?" she questions lightly as she fixes a plate for herself, smiling to those who cooked and giving her thanks with lavish praise of the tastes and recipes.

Aaren

Aaren is extreamly excited. Especailly when she learns about tonal puns, and how the song could be about either walking a horse in a daisy feild or having sex with a prostutue pretending to be your mother—depending on which tones the audience assumes are being used.

Fate

Apolinaras blows out a breath. „I suppose I'd better be, hadn't I?" He shakes his head slightly with a helpless smile as he piles up on his plate. „This is my first time on the road like this and I have to admit it's been a lot more exhausting than I thought."

„Come on! It's like a stroll through the park!" Vytenis says to the young man, his tone a touch too loud and forceful to be genuine. This gets a bashful smile and shrug from Apolinaras.

Slavina

Slavina gives a low whistle. "No kidding? I take it back, gramps. You are older than my mother. By a few years." She stops spinning the squirrel spit when Daina comes over so she'll be able to get some. She holds out a plate of fry-bread to Apolinaras with a small smile, using her free hand to brush her sleeve back out of the way.

Daina

Daina smiles a little. "Find it so tiring before we joined up?" she questions. "Maybe it will be easier once we part ways?" she suggests as she pops a slice of fruit into her maw and regards both Apolinaras and Vytenis, curious of their answers.

Fate

Apolinaras returns Slavina's smile with a rather nervous one of his own, giving her a grateful bob of his head as he takes one loaf of fry-bread and balances it on top of his load of food. Then he sits down across from Daina, resting the plate on a knee.

„You're gonna spill like that," Vytenis warns the boy. Then he says to Slavina, „Yes. I am the—as they say—OG." Then, as Daina offers her hypothesis, he says, „Depends on what you're talking about. Easier to die, sure."

„Before you joined up I had blisters on my blisters," Apolinaras says.

Then a voice murmurs from the shadow in Daina's ear.

Daina

Daina smiles her thanks and trades a piece of squirrel for a handful of dates she piles on Slavina's plate or in her lap.. nearby? She chuckles a little to the chatter and then stiffens up and her face breaks out it to a huge smile and her hair lights afire. "OH YES!" She hops up and sets her food down. Looking around excitedly.

Fate

Apolinaras falls over, his plate spilling all over the ground, and scrambles backward.

Aaren

One of Aaren's stray voices bounces in startlement and starts singing the song of Daina's hair. "What's going on?" She sings, not stopping her other voices in their learning song and their repiton of the song she's learning.

Slavina

Slavina sits down on the edge of the chow wagon, tucking her overskirt up into her belt so it won't drag on the ground. And taking a date from Daina's offering- pile.

"I'm surprised your blisters don't have more layers than a festival cake by now... walking all day and dancing every night?" She shakes her head a little. "Even I'm not that dedicated."

At Daina's exclaimation she stops, and cocks her head, waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Daina

Daina is practically vibrating with excitement and twirls in place, her fiery hair settling in a low glow but still there, small flicks of flame getting left behind as she turns her head and smiles to the others."I've heard guests approaching, smelled 'em.. other travelers" She doesn't say -who- but it's clear she's not at all concerned about their intentions.

Aaren

Aaren stills for a moment, voices ringing on, and then sings, "Excuse me a moment, Ksvaeras," And goes completely silent while she listens. Daina only rarley gets this excited, and Aaren suspects that whoever these guests are, it's quite important.
"Oh." Aaren says. "Um." Aaren says.
"Excuse me just another moment." Aaren says.
Then she starts singing again, turning her voices to the strangers coming from the distance.

Slavina

Ah. Slavina's shoulders.... well, they don't really relax but the tension resettles in a different way. She takes closer note of their surroundings to parse out the omens she sees there: the singing of birds as if it were dawn, the pattern the firelight casts, the clouds covering only the 'wolf eye' stars.
I'd like a mystery + spirit world knowledge ping for where this falls on the scale of DOOM to Yay!

Fate

The energy in the party (and the music itself) screeches to a halt as Daina's hair spontaneously combusts and she seems to neither notice or care about it. There's a long, taut moment, with Janin quietly running around to assure everyone that this is fine, everything is fine, her hair does that from time to time and there is no danger involved.

Then footsteps crunch for a while in the ridge below. A head and shoulders barely crests it. It's a fellow, short-cropped hair the color of sunrays, with golden earrings which flash with daylight as they swing. „Good evening!" His deep voice resounds into the clearing. „We are travelers passing through—we just so happened to hear the wonderful sounds of music and merry-making. Is there room around your campfire for three more?"

Aaren

Aaren takes in a deep breath. She keeps her ears on the 'strangers', wanting despretley to catch glimpses of their songs, but the party needs to keep going. So she turns her voices to the energy of the crowd, and first calming and then bringing back the party feel. (She keeps the volume low enough that Daina can talk over her.)
She reserves one voice to sing to Ksvaeras. "Sorry, I'm back now."

Daina

Dina looks like it's Christmas and she smiles happily. "Always room for more at a celebration!" she does a dancing half running step and comes just short of tackling the 'stranger' "Please, join us, have something to eat!" she makes a sweeping gesture towards the food. Her voice only breaking at the end as she scrubs suspiciously at her cheek.
Distracting herself by peeking around to see who else has arrived, making a serious effort to dampen the flames and then putting them out. She breaths in some calm and exhales her excitement. "I'm Daina.. " she offers with a little grin to Sasha and offering her hand. "What can we call you traveler?"

Slavina

Slavina, somewhat belatedly, joins Aaren's efforts. She stands and offers a hand to Apolinaitas, drawing him out to the dance floor. She glides through the patterns of Aaren's song with him in an easy-to-follow circle dance, sweeping others in as they cross paths until the revelry has resumed its full vigor.

Fate

Vytenis almost responds, but instead holds back to allow Daina to—it's clear she knew these people and this was her party, after all.

„Sashukas," he says, a grin dawning over his face. „Or Uncle, if you like." Then he holds up a finger to forestall her. "Hugs are coming, Dainytė," he says in an achingly familiar language she has not heard in ages. "Hold on." Then he turns, disappears below the ridge again, and then reappears with a woman on either side of him, her hand in his. With his help they're assisted up the ridge (with such ease and grace it almost appears as if he is making them float) before him, and he follows them once they have their footing.

One of the ladies puts a hand over her mouth. The other stares, wide-eyed, and breathes, „Dainytė?"

The tension lifts a little—and with help from the other two demi-goddesses, the party begins to swing again.

Aaren

Aaren keeps her focus split three ways, the crowd, her teacher, and the gods who just walked into the clearing. (Mostly, she's thinking she ought to be used to this by now.) She keeps her tone natural and her smile bright, and sings through the tension of wanting to meet them and not being able to yet.

Slavina

Now that the party is moving under its own momentum, Slavina drifts over to Janin. She murmurs, "He just introduced himself as Sasha." It's a soothing tone to soften the alarm (and to keep Slavina's own feelings from rising to the surface), but she does want to warn her mentor he's in the presence of at least one more god than usual.

Daina

Daina brightens again and her warmth threatens to cause another eruption of flame. She nods her head and her eyes brim once more. "Your new look suits you Uncle Sashukas" she cannot keep from smiling and as he steps back to retrieve his fellow travelers she spins in a fast twirl just needing to express some of what is near bursting inside her.
As she comes to a halt she nods her head and smiles her confirmation. "Aye that's me, but don't tell the bartender that" she jokes though, clearly no bartender is here. She holds her arms out to the trio. "I'm so pleased you've stumbled onto our parting festival, please let me help you find plates and cups!" she looks over her shoulder for help and waves to Slavina and Janin. "Come meet our guests, bring them full cups, something strong if we've got it eh?" Her tone makes sure the words are a request and nothing like an order.

Fate

All three of them are wearing matching amulets, simple but finely crafted.

„I like to dress for the occasion," Sashukas says as he crests the ridge once more, giving Daina a wink. He motions to the speechless woman. „Aušraitė." Then he motions to the wide-eyed woman. „Vakarutė." Then he waits his turn.

The wide-eyed one steps forward, opening her arms up for a hug.
Janin turns toward Slavina, but keeps his eyes on the new arrivals. "Sasha? As in Sasha or Sasha!?"

Slavina

"The latter." Slavina hooks a hand around his elbow and pulls him with her as she goes to fetch the requested food and beverage. She lays out three platter-leaves and three cups, filling them with the nicest bits and mead from the freshly-opened bottle. She flicks her eyes over to Janin as she does so, checking to see how he's doing.

"They're here to visit Daina," she adds, as though it weren't obvious.

Aaren

Once the party is swinging again, Aaren turns more of her voices and her attention to Ksvaeras and the new song, waiting for Daina to get some more time to squee before she goes over to meet the family.

Fate

"He doesn't... look like... ?" Janin doesn't finish his sentiment. He's uncertain, taut, wary, but also very dubious.

Daina

Daina is quick to oblige and gives a warm squeeze. "Thank you for coming!" she greets emphatically overjoyed. "I'm so happy to see you all" she says this quietly but with no less emotion, the feeling of a warm ember that is near to returning to flame.
She'd dole out the hugs to each in turn and chuckles some. "Oh man these must be all the rage.." she admires the amulets remembering them from her siblings.. her lips purse slightly. "they.. aren't just for looks huh?" she's interested but those questions can wait for after singing and dancing and feasting.
Slavina arriving with the requested refreshment "Thank you so much" she says to her with sincerity in her gaze as she grabs Sashukas around the middle.. ish and squeezes again. In the gods language she makes introductions and smiles happily as she boasts of her friends talents a little bit and releases her hold so Sashukas can eat and drink unencumbered. "I think I'm going to explode" she laughs a little as she stays on her feet and bounces or sways to whatever music is playing.

Slavina

Slavina shrugs. Janin's not wrong? "Neither does Daina..." she offers. "Would you carry some of this for me? I'm having a too-few-hands problem..." She grabs two of the three plates (one in a hand and one on an elbow) and balances the drinks on a platter in her other hand.

They make their way over to Daina and the newcomers. She hesitates for a moment and asks in their dialect, "Who likes their meat the crispiest?" The meat had sat a little too long unturned, and some of it was very well done.

Fate

At first Janin stares at Slavina, disbelieving. "O... kay..." His mix of emotions intensifies as he takes a couple things off Slavina's hands, slowly, as if she'll say she was just kidding any minute now.

Vakarutė lets out a surprised "Oooh!" at Daina's vigorous squeeze and then laughs as she tightens her own hug. Aušraitė drops her hand and gives Daina a hug and a kiss on the head for good measure.

Sashukas, however, squares himself for her hug and, once she closes around him, wraps her up nice and tight, lifts her off the ground, and spins around in a couple circles before settling on a squeeze at least as warm as hers.

As Slavina approaches and asks her question, Vakarutė covertly points to Sashukas, cups her other hand over her mouth, and says, "He does." Aušraitė gives Vakarutė a chiding look and a playful shove, then looks to Slavina and says, "I'll take it."

"We'll share," Sashukas amends, still hanging onto Daina.

Vakarutė throws up her hands and lets out a huff too exasperated to be genuine. "You two are impossible!"

Slavina

Slavina hands the burnt-est plate to Sasha and Ausraite, the other plate to Vakarute, and passes out cups of mead. She then relieves Janin of his plate, realizes that if two of them are sharing there's now an extra, and just.... hangs onto it for now.

"Welcome. It's nice to meet you," she says, and adds (partly for Daina's hostessing benefit), "Is there anything else we can get for you?" Slavina positions herself between Janin and the gods - not blocking them off or anything, but providing him a little buffer and an opportunity to back out if he wants to.

Daina

Daina gives a bright laugh as she's swung round and then her feet meet the earth again and she is still grinning. She looks to Slavina and Janin with a bright eye crinkling smile at the playful banter of the gods in their midst. "Well an old married Triad to be sure" she teases. She grins to Slavina and her brow furrows softly as she tilts her head to lean around to peer at Janin and smiling in a gentler way, she sort of nods her head in a c'mere sort of way.

Aaren

Aaren finishes her song, gets a dance from Ksvaeras, and then nonchalanutly walks over to meet the newcomers.

Fate

Kelly, curious, manages to politely extricate himself from his current engagement and also heads over.

"Not at all, thank you," Aušraitė replies to Slavina with a smile as she steps near to Sashukas. Then her eyes flick to the others who are approaching, but she waits quietly.

Janin glances between Daina, Slavina, and the completely normal-looking people in their midst. (Well, perhaps except for the fact that they're all very beautiful people.) He steps around Slavina when invited and... just kinda stands there awkwardly, waiting, unsure of what Daina wants from him.

Sashukas, while waiting on Daina's cue, takes up some of the burnt squirrel, catches Vakarutė's gaze, then holds it up in invitation, grinning. She rolls her eyes and comes over, taking a bite, then tears up some pieces of better-cooked meat with her fingers and places them on his and Aušraitė's plate.

Daina

Daina smiles brightly "You've got to meet Sashukas and his family, you'll never meet a more wonderful person well ... maybe my Momma and Bogulya" she grins with a teasing glance to Sasha. "Still pretty great and his charming wives of course." she gestures and offers names theirs to him and Janin to them of course, introducing him as a wise priest and new but dear friend.

Aaren

Aaren holds out her hand for shaking, singing her welcome and her delight. "Sashukas!" And then, "And, your names?" She looks to the women, since she missed which name went with which woman.
"This is my younger brother, Kelly!" Aaren introduces Kelly, as he comes into the circle.
She speaks in Hometown, since Daina can translate it easily.

Daina

She smiles to Aaren and repeats the greeting and introductions from Aaren and of Kelly introducing them as her brother and sister.

Fate

As Janin is introduced, he offers an uneasy smile and a wave. Sashukas holds his hand out to Janin, though, and Janin shakes it. He turns to introduce Slavina, but then Aaren comes along with her singing and boldness.

"This is my lovely and intelligent younger sister, Vakarutė," Aušraitė replies to Aaren's question, in perfect Hometown, motioning to Vakarutė.

Vakarutė looks up, appearing a little deer-in-torchlights-like. She chews for a bit, then speaks carefully around her mouthful, also in perfect Hometown. "You always catch me when I'm eating!" She chews some more, then swallows, then motions to Aušraitė. "And this is my generous and flawless older sister, Aušraitė." She reaches out to shake Aaren's hand, grinning wryly, and glances towards Kelly. "I hope that straightened things up for you two."

It's not long before all names are given, all hands are shaken, and all languages converge into the one that everyone can understand.

Daina

Daina excuses herself for a few minutes to make sure the party is going on well without her oversite. She'd return to the visitors quickly and seems to soak up their presence like a flower in the desert being watered by a light rain.
She tries not to monopolize their time and ensure they have fun as well. She'd also find her dance partner of earlier to apologize for having scared him, an drink provided to show how sincere she is.
Before they take their leave she finds time to ask Sashukas about the pendants and questions if he might leave these three behind for her and her friends, it seems very wise to have away to seem more unexceptional. She makes it clear she doesn't want to deprive them but if they can get Ahlaam to make them new ones... well she'd appreciate it.

Slavina

After introductions have been made, Slavina keeps up her end of the conversation and covers for Daina while she's checking on things. She is, however, very put-together the way she is around non-family.... warm and delightfully sociable, but with all the care one might expect from a wayfinder interacting with powerful (and much-honored) gods.

Aaren

Aaren has a lot of thing she really wants to know, but these gods are here to see Daina.
So she restrains herself. She sings happily with them for a while, sees if she can finangle a new song or story out of each of them, and then goes back to purusing the party for new songs.
(Her attention at no point wavers from them, since these odd three-quarters real songs no doubt conceal important information.)
(Plus, you gotta keep an eye on them just incase they decide to cause trouble.)

Fate

It's with joy and eagerness that each of the three distinguished guests respond to questions and comments, and converse, and catch up. They make their way to the party perhaps somewhat later than expected, but this fact is not accompanied by any sense of impatience or exasperation.

They stay well into the night, dancing, singing, conversing, and then some, finally leaving just a couple hours before dawn.

Fate

The music plays as if the notes leap and bound and frolic, with the beat thumping a steady heartbeat through the melody.

Sashukas sits on the sidelines, the one consolidated plate of food (with both burnt and unburnt squirrel on it, and then some; and even some desserts found their way to it) resting in his lap. For a while he converses animatedly with Vytenis, who is practically glowing; but then Vytenis reluctantly dismisses himself to go feed the donkeys. Sashukas takes this opportunity to scan around, his cup of mead at his lips. (Aušraitė had been retrieving dessert, but got caught up in a conversation with Ramunas; and Vakarutė is dancing with Janin presently.) Then his eyes settle on Daina. Once he catches her gaze he invites her over with a wave of his hand.

Daina

Daina who had just twirled past someone and startled them at how close she passed paused to apologize. It's enough time for her to cast a glance around the room and of course look to where Sasha and his wives were last seen.
She lifts her head and then excuses herself before walking over and collapsing to sit near Sasha, a tumble downward that for many would be ungraceful and yet for her is like the fall of a finely woven scarf to puddle on the floor. Settling with her legs folded she beams at Sashukas. "Hope you're having fun so far.." shaking her head a little and sending her hair swaying a bit. "Hard to believe you're here" she murmurs though still wearing a faint smile and her hand resting on her knee dips and sways with the music.

Fate

"I am!" Sashukas assures with a bright grin. He pokes a thumb to indicate somewhere outside the dance grounds. "Did you know that Vytenis's 12-year-old granddaughter wrote and sold an opera to the Baltijan National Performance Company?" He lets out a low whistle.

Daina

Daina seems to relax a little more with the assurance and then looks in the general direction of the thumb gesture. Her eyes widening a bit answers his question but for clarity she replies. "I didn't... that sounds.. impressive.. an opera at 12.. .. that's the songs with stories and the really big voices isn't it" she tries to recall. "I'm going to assume the performance company is one of much renown though I can't say I've heard of them. I've got many places to see though and it seems a long road to travel" She smiles faintly I wonder if Aaren knows about this prodigy, I'm sure she'd like to add the songs to her repertoire"

Fate

He nods. "They are." Then he smiles, his brightness fading a little in favor of gentle sympathy. "And you do." He glances around, as if searching for Aaren. "Well, you could tell her now, if you like. I promise I won't be offended." He offers a lightly humored smile to the last statement.

Daina

Daina chuckles a little bit "I'm sure the news will hold till tomorrow. It's even more likely she knows already.. she can be very thorough in her patient examinations" she says with a familial teasing note to her voice.
She smirks faintly and casts a side eye to Sashukas. "You're trying to be rid of me aren't you!?" she proclaims dramatically with a toss of her already dance wild hair. "If you come all this way and don't want to see your poor stranded niece.. " she pauses to see if her dramatics have any effect.

Fate

A slightly melancholic smile spreads over him, followed by a soft exhale. Sashukas's gaze drops, searching the ground a moment. Then he regards Daina. "We all miss you so much, Daina." His smile gets warmer. "Your mumija and Bogulya especially. It's been a hard thing, not being able to be a part of your life. Especially for Mokosits." He shifts his plate to one knee and opens up an arm to Daina in invitation.

Daina

She sort of relaxes her posture and her own sadness shows through as she scoots over to sit next to Sasha and lean against his side, arms around him as much as they can go anyway. ".. are they ok though besides that.. " she perks up a little "I met the twins.. just for a couple of hours really though" she sighs faintly. "How come they can't come visit like this?" she questions, baffled by the situation.

Fate

Sashukas enfolds her and draws her in against him. "Yes, they're doing fairly well, aside from worrying about you and Vievka and Nikukas." His grin grows. "They mentioned they'd met you! You helped them in the Strange Place. Quite a tale, the way they told it." At Daina's last question, he takes a deep breath, considering. "It's not that they can't. It's just that it carries a lot of risks. Your place in this world is... volatile." He regards her again. "Vakarutė, Aušraitė, and I can visit you like this because I..." he pauses uneasily, "can get away with a lot," he admits.

Daina

Daina hmms faintly and then smiles "Oh it was something.. oh .. have you met Gal.. a really lovely plant I had Frankie take to Babushka with the smoking mouth." pause "that is such a mouthful" she tsks and decides to figure out a shorter still reasonable way to differentiate between her babushka.
She sighs a little as he continues and then chuckles a bit. "Well I'm glad you can.. I really miss everyone still.. as long as it's been"she trails off on that and her brow furrows as she takes a breath and sighs softly.

Fate

"I did!" A grin spreads over Sashukas. "She keeps Gal in a hanging macrame plant holder in her room, near the window, where it can get plenty of light." Sashukas gives her a gentle squeeze and a rub on the arm after Daina has another little sad moment.

Daina

Daina smiled brightly to the news of the plants safe new home. "Wonderful" she murmurs reassured on that. "Gal was really clutch that day, I've got so many lovely plant babies now" she giggles a little bit as she glances up. "Have you met Seedless?" she questions as she sits up some. "I made a whole pack of wolves to protect my new home" she sort of ... brags perhaps?

Fate

"Seedless?" He laughs a little. "That's a great name!" He picks a bit of food off the plate. "Yes,I met them on the way in. They're a good berrydog." He raises an eyebrow at her. "Are you being careful with the ecology?" He's taken on a serious, warning tone—too serious to be genuine, but not enough to be entirely a joke.

Daina

Daina huffs softly pretending affront for a moment before smiling of course, at least I try my very best" she allows that she doesn't know for sure it's all good but she hopes so. "That's why they're seedless.. they were a bit too successful at first" she laughs a bit and then perks "oh gosh do you know about the potato we sent to Gingerwolfshligelsteinhausenburgerdorf?" she laughs a bit "it was early days"

Fate

Sashukas stares at her a moment, mouth slightly open. "You still remember her whole—err... that much of her name?"

Daina

Daina pauses "I mean that's her name... " she shrugs a little "what I called her anyway" her eyes widen "oooh did she add more?!" Gasp! "is she married?!

Fate

He chuckles and shakes his head. "No. That's just a small part of her whole name."

Daina

Daina tsks "I got excited... her husband or wife would have to be at least as fun as she is" she pokes Sasha lightly and smiles as she glances over. "Heard anything about the Quest for Lady Baker?"

Fate

"Well..." Sashukas thinks for a moment. "They haven't found her yet. But they did run into Ken—after a brief detour through the area surrounding Tartarus—and he taught Nikukas how to navigate through... ah... Somewhere Else, so that should help."

Daina

Daina smiles happily at the update. "Sounds like progress at least" she says with a little pride in her siblings.
Her brow furrows some as she remembers something and gestures to the necklace around his neck. "They had those as well..is that what's helping you look more .. human?" she questions as she sits up some and tries to peer a bit more closely at it.

Fate

"Yeah—you can touch it but, ah, don't mess with it, please." He takes the amulet between a thumb and forefinger and turns and leans a little towards Daina so that she can see it better. "Sanura made it so that we can move through the world with as few ripples as possible."

Daina

She huhs softly and reaches up to carefully touch it and turn it. "I .. don't suppose you've got extra at home?" she murmurs "I think we've made some ripples as small as our songs are.." she sets it back against his chest and gives it a careful pat to set it back into place.
"I'd ask for all the news but I think we don't have time for that much.. not for that bunch" she says with a mixture of affection and melancholy. "What about you, should you have brought me little ones to meet or even babies?" she once more brightens up and her smile spreads. "You'd have the cutest babies Sashukas.. the cutest giant babies.. maybe it's better for your lady wives you don't" she jests with a little chuckle.

Fate

"I'm sorry, Dainytė, I'm not sure I can get away with giving you divine gifts. That itself is a... rippling sort of action." Sashukas straightens once Daina releases the amulet and offers her an apologetic smile. "Ironic, I know."

Then, at her next question he chuckles. "One day. The rules about procreation in my family are very strict—but Lady Mother Mokosh has taken up my cause and is faithfully petitioning my Lord Father. But as it is now, Aušraitė, Vakarutė, and I have only been married for 14 years. None of us are in any hurry." His grin spreads at her comments about giant babies. "Oh, I'm not so sure about that. I was a very small baby, hardly there. Maybe ask your Babushka one day, when you get back home. She still remembers." He nudges Daina gently. "How about you? Any ambitions to start a family?"

Daina

She sighs a little and nods "right no worries, I don't think we're doing to bad so far" she hums and then grins a little bit "fair enough no need to rush is there" she snorts softly at his question and shakes her head "I was sort of thinking of leaving one of my brothers with a babbin.. but probably best that he didn't accept that" she smiles a little "He is going to be a great dad one day though I'm sure, he's such a sweet heart." She shakes her head again "I'm probably not going to get to settle down for a long time" she murmurs.

Fate

He absorbs this, then says, "I suppose that depends on your definition of 'settling down'." Then he prompts, "Does that bother you?"

Daina

She tilts her head to one side and shrugs a shoulder "sort of maybe but.. eventually I'll get to or ya know... die first but then it will hardly matter" she wrinkles her nose and gives a shake from head down to hips like a pup shaking of water. "Still it won't be a while till this baby is gone" she points to where about she figures the seed is secreted. She's made guesses based on warmth but gods know if she's right.

Fate

Sashukas nods, rubbing Daina's arm again companionably. "I can only imagine how discouraging it must feel to be on hold like this." He sighs. "We all love you very much, bitutė, and can't wait until we all get to see you again." He regards her directly. "And we will get to see you again, one way or another. I don't know how much a comfort that is, but..." He offers her a smile.

Daina

Daina leans over and gives him a squeeze a really warm Daina all out not holding back squeezing hug. "Yeah one way or another!" she smiles "you know it will be once I've gotten our little seed a new home though" she leans back and gives a firm nod, her chin at a stubborn tilt after and her lips in a tight but quite real smile.

Fate

His own smile spreads out into a grin.

And then, Vakarutė approaches. "Mylimoja, you were planning on sharing our niece, weren't you?"

Sashukas looks up to her, giving her the puppy-dog look. "Do I have to?"

Vakarutė shakes her finger. "Oh no, no, no. That may work on Aušraitė, but it doesn't work on me." She gives Daina a look. "Don't get suckered in by this guy." She pauses, reconsidering. "Well, too much, anyway." She regards Daina again, bright and playful. "Surely you'd like to dance for a song or two, jo? Perhaps even with me?"

Daina

Daina smiles as she looks between them and gives a laugh "I can but Sashukas will be hard pressed to live up to the experience" she teases playfully as she hops up and takes Vakarutė by the hand and heading towards the dance floor to have a good time!