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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Michael Leunig. The Curly Pyjama Letters.

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Lunise's nervous tension could not last forever with Meesei so close. Meesei found her lean reciprocated with Lunise's arm wrapping gently around her waist. Meanwhile, Lunise participated in scant moments in the conversation while the meal was cooking. Mostly, she had to be addressed directly. On only two occasions did she give unprompted comments.

When Ahnasha offered moon sugar, Lunise paused in thought for long enough to give away that her Elsweyran cultural experience had been a thorough one; she had clearly taken it before. She responded slowly and carefully. "I do not think that would be responsible of me this night." She pulled a strangely kind smile. "Thank you."

Lunise had been careful with her wine as well. Almost everyone in the pack was at least on their way to tipsy while she had barely taken in a glass worth.
@Kho So, in my university, I have to complete a number of courses to complete my degree and graduate. Each of these courses typically lasts one semester and focuses on one subject area (with some variation). While many of the courses are hard requirements (core courses), the rest are electives from which you can choose if they are being run that semester.

While I thought I would be graduating by the end of the month, I miscounted the number of electives I had yet to complete and I am stuck with one remaining. Normally, this close to graduating, you can find a workaround. I have no such luck, so I'm stuck for another semester.

Now, you normally take more than one course per semester. Studying full time usually has you undertaking three or four courses at once. Part time study is usually one or two courses. Some people with too much time and mental stability/illness overload their courses and take five or more per semester.

What BBeast means by underloading is the opposite. I will only be taking one course, so I will be doing less than usual.

That's the general idea. It can be different between Australian tertiary education establishments.
I tasted a good dose of piss in my cereal this morning. It turns out I am short one course from graduating my degree. After several hours of exhausting all options on the phone, looks like it's one more semester for me, woooo...
Lunise remained twisted to keep an eye on Leaps. Her eyes glanced quickly to Kaleeth, but not long enough to divert her close watch of the beast behind her.

Leaps turned his head on Meesei's hand and let his mouth fall ajar. He usually communicated where he wanted to be pat by the pack in such a way. The pet-like behaviour did nothing to waver Lunise's uncertain stare.

"You can give him a rub if you like," Janius suggested. "If he didn't like you, you would know it by now."

Curling her lips, Lunise shook her head. "I would rather not," she declared flatly. "Thank you."
While Lunise knew of Leaps-On-Elves' existence, she had previously no reason to interact with the creature. Now, with it curious, and with Lunise not exactly knowing of its namesake, her back went as stiff as a board. Slowly, with a blank, if uncertain expression, she rotated her head and shoulders until she spied the creature out of one eye.

"I trust your wamasu is not...aggressive?" Lunise asked.

A small blue spell swirled into existence in Lunise's right hand. Meesei recognised it as the beginning of a ward. It was friendlier than a bound spear but still telling of her anxiety.

Fendros answered. "He is just greeting you. He might lick you."
Lunise returned Meesei's kiss without a blink. Those in the pack still doubtful of their relationship were shaken by their perceptions. It was as real as the sand they sat upon. Rhazii was especially surprised; he had never seen two women kiss like a couple before.

With a "hmph," Lunise finally addressed Meesei once Ahnasha was done. "Your pack could go mad if they do not learn how to serve meals to be more interesting, Meesei. All I have advised are simple techniques." Her eyes went to the bags of food and hidden glass vessels. "Besides, what shall be cooked is entirely dependent on what you have brought us."

"Indeed," Janius added. A grin crept onto his lips. "It sounds like you brought some bottles as well. Do you plan to spoil us tonight, Meesei?"
The question posed to Sabine was an interesting conundrum for her to work out. Thankfully, her recent practice instructing Fendros how to redirect heat and magic with wards inspired a thread of thought that brought her to a solution. It was not exactly telekinesis that served the purpose, but a strangely shaped ward.

It was not a sure solution. Fortunately, Lunise was nothing if not magically experienced. She instructed Sabine in a rather bossy manner how to manifest a ward to serve as an oven that would be efficient enough to sustain through. Sabine, thankfully, was fascinated enough by Lunise's insight that the Altmer's condescending tone did not bother her.

All the same, the more time consuming process was the main course. To that, Lunise took the same tone towards Ahnasha. Bossy, yet insightful.

"You must remember to be abundant with the ground peppercorns. But not too much, or else it will overpower the meat," Lunise explained with a raised finger. "Enough to fill your palm once is enough for this serving size. And do not feel remiss about getting the pepper caught in your fur. The people of Rimmen have no trouble getting it off without sneezing. I should also hope you are civilised enough not to lick the spices off your hand while cooking..." Lunise looked up and caught Meesei eye. Her expression suddenly softened. A mix of realisation at how she was sounding and the passive affection she held.

"Welcome back, Meesei," Janius said with a wave. "You are just in time for Ahnasha to be trained as master chef."
After turning her eyes up to listen to the others, Lunise found herself looking down and around at the utensils the pack had to cook with.

"I am no chef, though I feel I must say...to start cooking as they do in Rimmen would require other tools." Lunise gestured in a horizontal circle. "They bake flat breads in bulbous clay wood ovens. That much is a staple; families would grind flour to make them fresh every morning. It made a pleasant smell to walk down the street." Lunise spoke as a matters of fact, rather close to her professional demeanour, though less condescending. "Other than that, most cooked dishes were stewed in shallow clay bowls over fires. Often they were covered with a conical lid to catch escaping moisture. The only dish I can boast to have mastered is a lamb dish, cut into morsels and spiced and cooked in a sauce until almost dry." She blinked nervously. "Although I have not prepared it in some time, perhaps, if you were to do something similar, there is merit in serving such spiced meat dishes with a chilled sour cream."

"Sour cream?" Rhazii asked, lifting his upper lip. "I have never heard of that before. Why would anyone eat cream that is sour?"

Fendros laughed. "Don't be so hasty, little one, you haven't even tried it. You might end up liking it." No pause was given to the fact that Rhazii was taller than Fendros now. "What do you think, Ahna?" Fendros asked, turning his head.
Lunise paused to peer at the fire. Her hand clutched her other thumb on her lap, her grip tightened very slightly. "Rimmen is larger than an Argonian tribe," she said flatly. "There was not any family with me there." Some sentimentality crept through. "There were friends."

Another gap in the conversation began. Fendros broke it. "Why don't you tell us about them?"

Lunise's eyes leapt up and down. "Well...there was one family that helped me get to know Rimmen's culture. One Saucra, a Suthay-raht guard was delegated the task. I shared dinners with his family often. They were nervous at first, but they grew comfortable with my presence. I watched as Saucra met his wife, Mia. And I watched his children, Sudi and Laubrosha grow up into fine adults; a guard and court mage respectively. And I saw Saucra achieve the rank of captain." Lunise was lost reminiscing. She didn't realise the smile as it came to her lips. "I always remember the wedding. With the number of Khajiit there, all determined to celebrate and dance. It was the first time I felt belonging in Rimmen."
Now unchallenged in her tone, Lunise settled into it. "Walking into Rimmen for the first time, well before you were born, showed a city that had no respect for the Dominion and pretended that the Mane was still in supreme power. Even Imperial rule was light handed. This allowed an undercurrent of subversive crime to thrive until it was cracked down upon. You see, the Aldmeri Dominion has always been pursuant of reviving the golden age of Aldmeri rule, before the secession of different Mer groups, to restore that system of governance in modern Tamriel. I shall not pretend that Altmer are the ones to rule, though mistakes were made in the past that can be made up for. For one, slavery is not a sustainable system, nor is monarchy." Lunise angled her head. "But I digress. What you find in integrated Dominion cities, Ahnasha, is consistent rule of law, a spirit of contribution and prosperity, and a confidence in the local government."

Rather than get drawn into a conversation about politics and Lunise's career, Fendros tried to cut through into what Ahnasha was more likely asking about. "Is there anything you like about Rimmen personally?" he asked. "I understand it was your job, but it was also your home, you said."

This, once again, made Lunise silent and off-balance. She looked at Fendros for a few seconds, before blinking a few times and averting her eyes. "There are things, of course. I prefer the meals, the tea. The festivals there are lively and colourful. And the communities within are generous." She sounded too stilted to go into the details of any particular point.
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