SpaceEel

Do you think Caine greets them as friends? Do you think Pomni and Ragatha turn to each other with gazes that indicate that they're glad the new person came in now and not before?

Do you think that if the new person is scared, Pomni takes it upon herself to figure out what's wrong? That Zooble or Kinger offer advice, or Gangle distraction, even though they don't know if they can lose anyone anymore. They don't want to risk it.

Do you think that tours of the circus grounds are group-led now? That everyone agrees to go out and show them all of the adventures? That they talk about memories, of when they thought it wouldn't get better?

My friend @spaceeel just did a bookbinding of Nothing's Wrong When Nothing's True!! It looks so good!!!

Like look at this!!!

Special thanks to my top commenters, MizMystery03, bsideheart and @nyctophilicnovelist, but everyone else who commented has a special place in my heart. You made it all worth it.

The Rodeo Rule: you only have to do it for the first time once.

The Rohan Rule: if you are at a social function full of new people and you want to be liked, find someone doing important work like setup or food prep and offer to help.

The Tutorial Mode Rule: to navigate an unfamiliar situation where you fear you will mess up an interaction, preface the interaction by mentioning that you've never done this before, and let them know if you have a specific concern or question.

The Rocket Science Rule: most new things you want to try seem very complicated but are simple when taken step by step.

The [X] Will Remember That Rule: if you need to make small talk with the same person on a regular basis, try to save one fact or current event in their life from a given conversation and bring it up next time you talk.

-ancient roman posca: water, red or white wine vinegar, honey, salt, herbs (coriander, mint, thyme)

-switchel: water, ginger, vinegar, sweetener, lemon, salt

-ayran: yogurt, water, salt, mint