Does anyone here even hunt

[hearsthesea]

Who: SS Huntress and friends, visitors, pet bears, etc.
Broadcast: If desired!
Action: SS Huntress
When: Now!

[New crew! New upgrades! New world! ...And Varric in a coma for the duration of March, which is maybe slightly concerning.

For the other members of the Huntress, though, it should prove to be an interesting month.]

Comments

[hearsthesea]

[It isn't hard to notice the change in Chris's sleeping habits, in both pattern and time. Shirley isn't awake to notice it every time, but once she figures out it's not going to stop anytime soon she approaches him sometime late in the evening with a cup of tea in hand.]

Chris? I don't know if this will help you tonight, but I thought it might be worth trying.

[misconceived]

[ To say Chris is surprised by being approached, much less the offer of help, is an understatement. He kind of stares at her for a long while, partially because he's so tired and partially because not used to being noticed for things he's been trying to hide. Well, not positively noticed anyway. ]

Uh... no, I'm okay. [ Something obviously comes to mind after he says it. ] Have I been bugging you?

[hearsthesea]

No, not at all.

[She shakes her head to emphasize the point, and offers the tea again. Even if it does nothing, she'd rather Chris have it than herself.]

You've been having trouble sleeping, haven't you? Even if I don't know why, I went to look for something that could help in the marketplace.

[misconceived]

[ HE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THE TEA... but he knows the type who will just keep handing it off until it's out of their hands so he just. takes it anyway. Such is life. ]

I don't think tea's going to help in this case. [ He stares into it for a minute, then realizes something at the mention of a marketplace. ] Have you spoken to Dad recently?

[hearsthesea]

Your father? No, I haven't seen him since we came within range of this world. Why?

[He's...probably not looking for tea, is he?]

[misconceived]

[ Chris thinks about it. Really thinks about it. If Cole hasn't spoken to Shirley yet, it's unlikely he will. Chris sighs, shakes his head. ]

Nothing important. Just... we had a fight recently. Don't worry about it.

What kind of tea is this, anyway?

[hearsthesea]

It's chamomile, with lemon and some other herbs. They told me that this was good for relaxation and rest.

[Shirley hopes it's true, in any case. She's also wondering about the fight and debating whether it's a good idea to ask - probably not right now, when she's trying to help him sleep a little more, but maybe later.]

[misconceived]

[ It's such a simple answer. Chris laughs a bit and ducks his head to go with the motion. ]

Yeah, we have that where I'm from, too. Look, I... [ don't understand why you're doing this ] If it's not bugging you, then—?

[hearsthesea]

I know you haven't been sleeping well. That can't be good for your health.

[Is it really that weird to want to help?]

[misconceived]

[ Yes. ]

Oh. That. Uh... it's not that uncommon, really. It's, um... actually—part-demons tend to have a lot of nightmares. You know, battles of conscience and stuff. You shouldn't worry about it.

[hearsthesea]

That's...horrible.

[That's an inherent thing? She wouldn't wish that on anyone.]

Can you do anything about them?

[misconceived]

I mean... kind of? You've probably notice the nights I'm just... not here, right? [ He looks really awkward explaining this but it's probably better that someone on the ship knows. Besides they've probably gotten a few calls already about the errant Huntress captain making his way to the Wonderduck in his sleep. ]

Being around familiar things can help.

[hearsthesea]

It must be hard while you're here, then. Is it better to be with your father?

[Not so many familiar things this far away from home. Family would be the best thing.]

[misconceived]

[ That's an easy question to ask, all things considered, but Chris still looks a bit awkward. Considering the subject of his latest spat of nightmares and all... not to mention the reason for their fight in the first place. ]

Yeah. His magic, really. Like I said, it's just what it is. Worrying about it won't do anything.

[hearsthesea]

I can't just ignore it, either. Would it be easier for you to live with him? I know that I wouldn't mind...

[Wait a minute.]

Um, that isn't to say I don't want you here! But if it would help you, you shouldn't have to stay.

[misconceived]

What? No! I've lived without him for eight years, I—

[ ... did not mean to say that. Having Cole here and with how everyone knows they're related is messing him up. Back home it's harder to forget no one should know these things because he's constantly staring the reminders in their too-young faces. Now he's exhausted, hurt, surrounded by virtual strangers. It's hard to keep his mind straight. ]

—I can do just fine like I am. Really, Shirley.

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley can see he's getting agitated, and she is trying to tread carefully. But she's never gotten anywhere avoiding all the eggshells, either.]

Fine doesn't mean you're happy. And if you're healthier being with your father, then you should be with him. Unless there's a reason...?

[She's gotten enough of "You're not living with Senel?" to know that might be a thing. Personal space: it's complicated.]

[misconceived]

There's a lot of reasons. A lot of complications. Just... a lot that doesn't matter right now, okay?

[ Their fight is one thing. Actually living with Cole again — the idea hurts. Maybe if Atroma had slapped Cole into the Huntress to start with, but now that they've settled into their own places it feels... balanced. Their own spaces, but they can still see each other whenever they want with their magic.

The fact that Cole thinks vanquishing himself might be a better alternative than fighting with Chris at his side makes him doubt even that, though. He doesn't know what to do anymore but, as always, he has nowhere to turn. ]

The tea's giving me an idea, though. I might see if I can make some kind of sleep aid with whatever we find down on that new planet.

[hearsthesea]

[Shirley doesn't really buy that the complications don't matter, but she can more than understand reasons to need the distance. If only it didn't come at the cost of sleep...though if Chris can work on that, it's a solution to this at least.]

Can you? I only know a little about herbs, myself.

[Once again: apothecary training would have come in useful, if only she were Elsa. Studying has helped, but not that much.]

[misconceived]

You could say it's part of the family business.

[ Any witch who doesn't know about brewing potions or the ingredients that go into them isn't a witch worth knowing, really. Even the most basic and weak of witches can do that. Only the strong ones get active powers. ]

I mean, if you want, you could come with me. I'd at least show you what I'm planning on getting. Teaching isn't really my thing, but... [ They're kind of in this lab support thing together. ]

[hearsthesea]

Really? Even that would be helpful, as long as you're all right having me along.

[misconceived]

Sure. Why wouldn't I be? It's just going to be the basic stuff, anyway. Probably nothing too special.

[hearsthesea]

Maybe to you, but I would appreciate the help. I still have a lot to learn.

[misconceived]

If you want to learn something cool, stick around. [ He offers a grin that he doesn't quite feel. His tiredness is rubbing off the edges. ] Sleeping potions are on the lower end of what I can do.

[hearsthesea]

Of course, thank you. When do you have time for that?

[It is kind of late for a shopping trip right now.]