Personification Life, the Universe, & Everything [IC]

[Monfrox]

Brit had been through a lot. She didn't really know it though, but she knew the others had too. It was that knowledge that led her to trivialize her own trauma and hardships. If others have suffered too, then what's so special about what I've gone through? It wasn't healthy to think like that, but she never wanted to feel like a burden to people. It was one of the worst feelings ever to her. She wanted to be able to bear her own cross. But sometimes, she needed help. She knew that much. She held her head in her hands, remembering all the events that had passed. Right down to the day in the triage where she tried in vain to help people she should've already been helping. She didn't have herself all the way collected yet, so it was easy to see that she too was holding back tears. She could only manage a single phrase for Willow right now.

"I didn't mean to hurt anybody..." She said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

[Giovenith]

"You didn't."

He reached over and hugged her tight.

"Maybe it's time we all get some help."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Holiday Feast

---

---

As Sandy and Amanda paused to take their slices and try them out, Meritari listened to Mon explain that while they would've liked to make holiday feasts a constant tradition, circumstances had forced them to stop organizing them for some time. She nodded along, wondering what those circumstances might've been but opting not to ask about them.

"Oh, I would've loved to see the first of these feasts. It must have been a very lively occasion." She stated, wondering if there had been more attendees to the feast back then, as opposed to now, with only her, the two cooks and the Belas there. "Unfortunately I... well, I was probably still living my old life back then." She guessed. Truth be told, she couldn't really know whether she existed back then, whatever 'back then' was; time was a confusing thing even before adding alternate dimensions into the mix.

The Kemetian turned back to Sandy and Amanda as they offered their thoughts on the bread. "Ah yes, different grain. I think your people call it emmer?" She told the scholar. Amanda was a lot more laconic and Meritari didn't know what to make of her response until Sandy explained what she meant, and nodded. "I'd love to try them sometime." She replied, before glancing at the lawyer. "Be sure to remind him." She added playfully.

[Monfrox]

Brit sucked in air, and with it a lot of her sorrow. She internalized it for now as she put and arm around Willow. She missed home more than anything right now. An escape was always readily available back home, but now she had nowhere to go. Help was definitely needed for these wounds that had been reopened. But much like an infection, the guilt had laid underneath and now needed to be cleaned out as the wound was sterilized, allowing it to heal up properly this time. If not, it would've killed her sooner or later down the road.

"I'm hungry..." She stated.

[Holy Lykos]

Sterling blinked, and sniffed the air. "I think I do smell food, actually. Maybe there's some sort of food day going on upstairs?" The pony offered. "And of course, we'll be here to help, Brit, whenever you need it. What else are friends for?" He smiled up at her, before gesturing with his head for the door.

"How about we get food? My hunger's catching up with me too, I don't think whatever we ate in there actually counts as 'food'."


Holiday Feast

"I LOVE holiday celebrations!" came a sudden shout from the door to the dining room. Sigtrygg, the giant of a norseman, had apparently just arrived, only a bit late. "Sorry, I couldn't find myself a goat." As if it explained much. The norseman strode in pulling a wagon behind him with the most notable item being a human-portable keg, about five gallons and made of wood in an old style.

"But! I brought what I could remember of my family's cooking on Aland, and more importantly:" He picked up the keg and set it down on a free space in one of the tables, before patting it. "Mead. Celebrations aren't celebratory yet without some mead, in my mind. I also brought some roasts and fish, nothing fancy. I'm not too much of a cook by trade, but it would be rude to arrive without something."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Dax was clearly offended by her words, intentions notwithstanding.

"I am not uneducated, madam. I do not ask you to gasp at my revelations, for I know that you do not care. Even with what you say, there are still people out there, in fact, I'd wager a majority of mankind, that still believe in meaning and in direction. I do not know what you are or what you come from, and I care as much as you do about my 'findings', but society, back at home, was built on such constructs. The very questioning of the current constructs, let alone the existence of the constructs themselves, is a very dangerous slope. In our history, people fought and fought, since the last 200 years, with weapons that could destroy cities just like that along with the blood of their own youth, to what the constructs would be. In your universe, sure, people don't care, but in mine, people do. People like me, back at home, we're classed as alcoholics who sleep in their own filth, sobbing until they die." He said, his blood boiling and his stuttering mostly gone as his anger began to overtake him.

"I care not for what is out there, whether god or star, because that is for a scientist to answer. I am no scientist. Yes, I know about science, but I am not a scientist. The scientist describes the world, the philosopher asks him about it. I do not intend to flatter myself, but rather get to the answers of life." He said, firmly slamming the metaphorical book onto the table.

"But.." He then continued, breathing in as his voice became calmer.

"I have no qualms about joining you here. I am help, as that has been my life's mission above all. Despite all my talk of this world of sadness - and my world back home is full of it, with the liars ruling the world and honest men dying in the streets with nothing more than rats in their stomach and the bare ground as their bed - my purpose was always to make it better. I am bitter, I am scarred. But that does not mean I....." He stopped, his breaths becoming deeper, louder and heavier.

"It does not mean I will give up. Just because I think the world is meaningless and there is no hope for me, and that there is monsters and men both ready to stab me, it does not mean I will surrender. I have will. I have strength. And I have life." He finished, taking a final breath, as his voice became calmer yet more encouraging.

"Let me tell you a poem I once wrote.." He spoke, recollecting the words from his mind.

"Even if I come to the lowest depths of the Earth.." Dax began, his words echoing throughout.
"Even if I see death himself in the eye." He continued..
"Even if I were not to live another day."
"Even if I were to feel the pain going through me as I die."
"I shall fight everything, through the wind and rain."
"For no scoundrel nor thief can stop me."
"For I am their bane."
"I shall halt them in their paths, slit their throats like soup."
"In this life, in a never ending loop."
"Perhaps there is no right and wrong."
"But I still carry this sword long."
"Because even if I die tomorrow."
"Upon the stark rows."
"I carry my sword upon me, and kneel to my last breath."
"Because I shall fight for glory, in both life and death."


"Not very good, huh? I just did it when I was bored one day, so.." He replied, ending the poem.

[Giovenith]

"Yeah, let's get something," Willow smiled and nudged Brit up with his head and back to get her to stand up. "Eat more, sleep more, care more. That's a good recipe."

The feast they came upon as still rather small, smaller still with the absent Giovenith and Dex. Willow felt perplexed at this, but assumed that everyone must have been away on their own missions. He noted his roommate's cupcakes displayed nearby.

"Sit here," he gestured to a table with a smile. "Do you want to get your own plate, or should I get it while you sit?"

[Northwest Slobovia]

Holiday Feast

The Kemetian turned back to Sandy and Amanda as they offered their thoughts on the bread. "Ah yes, different grain. I think your people call it emmer?"

Sandy cocked his head at the word. “Yes, of course, that would be it! Almost, uh, lost in our time. It's... mostly known from Classical works.”

"Be sure to remind him." She added playfully.

“Not on your life!” Sandy cut in before Amanda could start to think of a reply. “Breakfast tomorrow!”

Amanda's objection was lost in the commotion at the dining room door.

[Sigtrygg] picked up the keg and set it down on a free space in one of the tables, before patting it. "Mead. Celebrations aren't celebratory yet without some mead, in my mind. I also brought some roasts and fish, nothing fancy. I'm not too much of a cook by trade, but it would be rude to arrive without something."

By the time Amanda could be heard again – heard politely, a former prosecuting attorney could make herself heard if she wanted – tomorrow's breakfast was forgotten in the arrive of more of tonight's dinner. “Well! This is turning into old-fashioned potluck!” She seemed charmed by the thought.

“Hello! Sigurd, was it? My apologies; it's been a while.” Then, turning to her husband, she added softly, “He's the man I mentioned, the one from another past.”

That drew Sandy's intrigued glance as he tried to place the Viking. But his gaze was torn away by yet more arrivals. “Hello, Willow, Brit. It's been...” His gaze fell as his brow furrowed. “...years. Wow, yes... two, almost three years, Galli time.”

[Holy Lykos]

"SigTRYGG, Sigurd is my uncle." An obvious joke from the currently jovial norseman. "It is no trouble, ma'am." He held a hand to her chest and bowed. "You do seem to be the hosts, it is only fair for me to provide what I can too."

It would be fair to remember, the culture Sigtrygg was from was often considered very honorable. especially during feasts. Hospitality, and honoring it, was often a religious proscription. They were huge events, for the rough northern lands. The almost childlike exuberance on his face said as much. "May I ask, then, what has all been brought to the feast?"


Sterling Venture would trot himself in as well. "Oh! Hello, non-paper Sandy. Pleasant to see you again." He nodded, sitting down near Brit for now.

[Giovenith]

Giovenith stared at him patiently until he was done.

"I've never been good at poetry, so I can't tell," she answered. "I'm more a visual artist. I understood enough to take that as a yes though, so..."

Dex suddenly reappeared in the middle of the swimming pool. This time he was not protected from the wetness or depth of the water, but he was back home in the Building. The young woman climbed out, nice and dry, before offering a hand to lift him out.

"Let's go get you some real food."

[Monfrox]

Feast

"They were rather lively, and also rather interesting. Quite the experience, but something about just having a nice sit down meal is better than such a crazy time we used to have." Mon replied, sitting down.

She and Lidev looked to see the two ponies walk in with someone who seemed really familiar for some odd reason. Brit took a deep breath and put on a brave face. To go to a social function right after nightmarish dream sequence; calling it "emotional whiplash" was being generous. She faked a smile and looked down at Willow.

"Guess I'll have to learn fast about how to stand back up again." She said to him before walking forward and grabbing a plate for herself.

Brit sat down next to Sterling with a plate full of corn casserole, honey ham, and other staples. The first bites were heaven and reminded her of similar gatherings she would have at home. It was needed. Very much needed. She looked around and noticed Sandy, talking to her about the last time she saw him. A small pang ran through her as she remembered their "conversation" after that day. She didn't let it show, though.

"Years? Well uh...I suppose time flies."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"The irony is that I would rather prefer beer or wine as of now, but of course." He replied.

He grabbed her hand, ready to get some food and/or alcohol.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Holiday Feast

"SigTRYGG, Sigurd is my uncle." […] "You do seem to be the hosts, it is only fair for me to provide what I can too." […] "May I ask, then, what has all been brought to the feast?"

Amanda's curls bobbed as she nodded. “Sigtrygg, right, yes! We're... some of the hosts.” She directed the Norseman's gaze to the Froxians, using both hands to make a polite welcoming gesture. “They did most of the cooking.

“And the menu is superabundant! We have two kinds of meat, two kinds of poultry, hot and cold side dishes, breads, and biscuits. They're mostly things from our cultures, but Meritari provided bread from hers. There's also a variety of desserts: Giovenith brought cupcakes, MB has some sort of frozen treats, and we made a pecan pie, something my family likes. Also gingerbread men. Alcohol: we have enough wine and hard liquor for an army! If there's something you want to drink that you don't see, Sandy may be able to provide it as well.” She pointed out the dishes and people as she named them, in case Sigtrygg (or anyone else) wasn't familiar with them.

Her gesture and gaze ended up at the grape seedling, on a small table with extra bottles of booze. “Oh!” She turned back to the Viking. “Sandy and I thanked our gods for the food. If that's customary for you, please by all means, follow your traditions.”

Sterling Venture would trot himself in as well. "Oh! Hello, non-paper Sandy. Pleasant to see you again."

“Good evening, Sterling... uh, 'non-paper Sandy'?” The very much flesh and blood Sandy looked puzzled. “You were talking to Ford? Um, in the library? That's... unusual; even I don't see him very often.”

[Giovenith]

It had been a while since Willow had seen the Bela couple, though it didn't feel like it, especially what with their brief adventure with Ford. He smiled and nodded politely.

"It's so nice of you to continue this feast tradition," he said. "Sadly, a lot of us just haven't had the time for it. And yeah, we ran into Ford on a little... escapade. Nice guy."

It didn't surprise him that Sandy and Sterling had apparently been getting together when he wasn't around. In fact, he rather liked the idea. Magicians ought to stick together, he supposed. His eyes flicked back to Brit, and he cleared his throat.

"So... do you remember anything about what happened in that place, or is it just not something you can, or wanna, talk about?"

He noted Giovenith and a new guy (Dex) reemerging in the doorway.

"What do you like better?" she turned to Dex with a serious expression. "Dinosaur shaped, or rocket ship shaped?"

[Monfrox]

Brit swallowed a quite bite of ham and washed it down with a drink before replying to Willow.

"I don't think now would be a good time, but yeah I can vaguely remember what happened. I kinda wish I didn't, though." She sighed to herself before returning to her meal.

Mon and Lidev had both begun to eat as well.

"We try to keep up but sometimes things get in the way. Like my little one back home." Mon said. "She's with her "auntie" right now. Good girl."

"I didn't know you-"

"Girl, please. Not at the table." Mon quickly cut Lidev off, remembering the company they were in the presence of. "And besides, it's more complicated than that."

"Right."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"Does that refer to cake, madam? I'd personally rather like some wine right now, but if I must choose between the two options (despite my thoughts of them being quite childish) it would be the one which tasted more sugary. Although, to be frank, if I must be compelled to eat cake, I'd very much rather have a rum cake, thank you very much." Dax replied, as his alcoholism got to him, along with seeing an opportunity for a joke. He laughed after saying the last sentence, hoping everyone else would join in.

[Giovenith]

"I understand."

There was a moment of silence as Willow turned to his own plate, all vegetarian options obviously. It should have been awkward, but instead the silence felt needed, a moment to emotionally breathe without the pressure to put on a strong face.

After that moment though, he looked up again. "I have to go back to Equestria soon. Modern day, obviously. Not forever, but... I'm not going to be here twenty-four seven, I can't be. That doesn't mean I won't be here for you, but we need to move forward with our lives if we want to get better."

He folded his ears briefly and looked down, thinking about the difficulties that would be facing him in his country. Where to even begin explaining everything to his parents? Where to begin contacting them in the first place? After a moment, Willow looked up again.

"You could come with me," he said. "You don't have to, but it's a good place there, it's nothing like what you saw back then. It's safe, happy. You could be taken care of for a while. Ponies will help with that sort of thing, we're a proactive sort. You don't have to sit here and be alone."


"No, actually," Giovenith said, lifting up two bowls. "Macaroni and cheese shapes. Don't know if you can mix rum with that."

[Monfrox]

Brit sighed and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. She went into deep thought. So far, opening up was so very uncharacteristic of her. Normally she would shut people out. Friends and family, shunned from her life to leave her to her own devices. She wanted it that way, but now she was starting to see how self-destructive that could be. In the past her issues were always minuscule so she could get over them simply by taking some time to be alone, but this...this was on a whole other level. A brief flash of that day made her wince and put her hand over her eyes. This was certainly beyond her.

But then, what about Willow? Surely he had his own difficulties and yet he still wanted to help her. He reminded her of how she was. Always wanting to help others instead of herself. He offered a hand, and what had that got her? A nightmarish trip to the inner depth of her mind's despair and trauma and...wait, was this coming out right? Surely he had no control over that, but then again it needed to happen. It was never just a "one and done" thing, too. She would need to continue down this road to see herself better at the end. She looked over at the little sweater-wearing beatnik, taking a moment to reflect how unlike her he was.

"Well...I'm not sure how that could work out. But, if you need to go then I understand. We're overdue for a vacation anyway." She sighed, and then put her hand on his head ad offered him a small, genuine smile.

[Giovenith]

"Well, it won't be entirely a vacation for me," said Willow, giving a side-smile. "I'll need to get to work on rebuilding everything. My house and most of my things were probably sold off with how long I've been gone, so I'll have to move back in with my parents for a while. I'll have to start networking and painting like crazy if I want to continue my career. And according to Sterling, there's a lot to catch up on in recent events, maybe too much... it might be better if I leave Ponyville to focus on myself once I get my own place again. I've already got one world to worry about the fate of. Before all that though, I'll definitely need time to reflect."

Under normal circumstances, it would all seem overwhelming. But considering everything he'd been through in such quick succession, it seemed like a breath of fresh air in comparison. Willow could have used some mundane problems to deal with for once.

"By the way, I wanted to say I'm sorry," he mentioned, scraping his remaining food into a little pile. "For annoying you in the past. If it ever happens again, you can go ahead and tell me, I won't be offended."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"You could pour it in." Dax suggested, nervously shaking with bulging eyes as his alcoholism began to truly tick against him.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Holiday Feast

Sandy's expression changed from bafflement to concern and then worry as Brit and Willow talked. He didn't catch everything over Amanda describing dinner to Sigtrygg, but what he got was enough to leave him with deeply furrowed brows and a sad look. “Oooh, boy! So... you guys did something with Ford, aaand it went... badly, very badly. Ummm.” He lapsed into silence. Half-muttering, he added, “I suppose I'll find out from Ford tonight.”

Amanda, meanwhile, noticed Giovenith returning with the new Resident. She excused herself, got out her phone just long enough to send a message, dabbed her lips with her napkin, and got up from the table to go meet him.

Her long skirt swished as she hurried over to Dax and Giovenith, and she started speaking with a teasing sing-song, the way one might talk to a naughty but clever child. “Gio-ven-ith! You shouldn't make off with our new Resident before we can all meet him.” Then, to Dax, in a hearty voice. “I'm Amanda Bela, Demens' Towers legal counsel. Welcome to the Building! Mister... how do you say your name?” It was an old hostess' gambit, but it usually worked well enough. Amanda extended her hand for Dax to shake.

Just then, the dining room door swung open, and a German-looking man entered, wearing a long, grey trenchcoat. He was carrying something in his cupped hands as he approaced Dax, Giovenith, and Amanda: a small, bright yellow suckerfish.

Amanda explained as the trenchcoated man offered it to Dax. “It's a Babelfish. It lets you understand any spoken language. We all have them, and you'll need them to chat with some of the other Residents. You stick it in your ear.” She brushed her curls aside enough for Dax to glimpse just the tiniest bit of a yellow fish-tail in her ear canal.

[Monfrox]

Brit gave Sandy a tense neutral expression. Her heart was in a very complicated place right now, and she explicitly remembered Sandy talking to her after her glorious fuck up. He maybe could've stood to be a bit nicer about the whole thing considering what had happened. Oh sure, people had died and that was always the worst case, but when an F-14 pilot accidentally commits fratricide the last thing they want to do is berate him for it because he's already feeling like the worst person on the planet. But she didn't tell him because she didn't think it appropriate of herself. Instead, she looked back to Willow and ruffled his hair with her hand.

"You don't have to be sorry, man. It's fine."

[Giovenith]

Willow smiled and nodded at Brit before turning around to see Sandy.

"It was tense," he said, with a sad smile. "But we'll be fine. We've all been through a lot lately, but we're focusing on moving forward."


Giovenith looked back and forth between Dax and Amanda. "I was explaining our living situation to him," she said, flatly. There wasn't a lot of enthusiasm in her demeanor, at contrast with her cheerful looks.

[Northwest Slobovia]

"It was tense," he said, with a sad smile. "But we'll be fine. We've all been through a lot lately, but we're focusing on moving forward."

"Which means you'll be leaving." Sandy's gaze fell; his expression wasn't far behind. I can't say I know Willow all that well, and yet his departure is ... distressing. There are few Residents... few who would understand, and now there'll be fewer.

After several long seconds of brooding silence, a gleam crept into Sandy's eyes, and he looked back up at Willow. He started tentatively. "Does your society tolerate... visitors? Tourists? Like me, um, human. Sterling described parts of your world... it's nothing like ours. Could we have an extended goodbye when you leave, see your home, your world?"

[Giovenith]

Willow raised an eye at Sandy's expression, but felt like he understood it in part: the people of this Building only had each other to rely on in many ways, and that web of support was stretched thin enough as it was.

"We're fine with anyone who wants to visit, assuming they come in peace and all," he said. "But to be honest, nopony else there has seen humans before, as far as I know. They'd still be pretty surprised by your appearance. If you want to come though, I would appreciate it... I'm not sure what I'll find there after being gone for so long."