“Hey, Stevie!” says Bert as he enters The Jaunty Mug coffee shop.

Thursday night rolls around again, and I look forward to this group of youngsters as they trickle into the cafe. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen them. Aislynn, the group’s healer, was not present the last time they were here because of a hit-and-run driver.

“Hello, Bert,” replies my avatar, Stevie. “How’s life?”

“Getting better every day, my friend,” Bert grins at him as he heads to their usual table in the back.

Over the next half hour, the rest of the group arrives, orders their usual drinks, and set up their respective places at the game table. The door opens one more time, and Aislynn steps through, pushing a walker. She maneuvers through tables and makes her way to the back.

“Hi, Stevie,” she says as she passes by the counter.

Stevie comes around and gives her a gentle hug.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispers in her ear. The words are more than words, and the hug is more than a hug, of course. They are a blessing to aid the girl’s healing.

It is the night of the Solstice, and the group is here to celebrate the world’s rebirth in both ‘verses. This is their fifth year of celebrating together.

Mac spots her first.

“Aislynn!”

The rest of the group turns, and soon, Aislynn is relieved of her pack while Mac escorts her to their corner, pushing tables and chairs out of her way. Stevie brings her a specialty drink, and the group catches up, not having seen each other in weeks.
“They released me this morning,” says Aislynn with her characteristic lopsided grin. “I thought I’d surprise you, this being the Solstice and all.”
The group settles in and begins their session. I extend time in the Mug; the evening having already slipped into night. They don’t notice as the coffee shop morphs into a seedy tavern, also called The Jaunty Mug.

“Katra,” said Grok, “did your gods grant us a boon?”

“Of course, Grok.” The cleric looked up at the barbarian with a grin. “Don’t they always?” It was an old joke between them. She turned to the rest of the group.

“What have you learned while I was meditating?”

“I hung out in the Weeping Whale listening for gossip,” began Samson, their rogue.
“The dockmaster says another shipment disappeared without a trace.”

“That makes three in as many days,” said Portia. Turning to Dreyah, she asked, “did you learn anything?”

“Indeed,” said Dreyah, taking a sip of Elven wine. “According to the alchemist, a knowledgeable person can use the ingredients to brew a potent poison and its antidote. Clever, really.”

“How does that work, exactly?” asked Grok, a puzzled look on his tusked face.

“According to Master Headley, the proportions of each ingredient and the infusion process play a role. I’m no alchemist, so I couldn’t understand all of what he said.”

“I learned a little in training,” said Katra, “but not enough to replicate either a poison or its antidote without instruction.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” said Dreyah. “Master Headley puzzled over it himself.”

“So, which lead do we follow?” asked Portia.

The hours slip by, and the group barely notices. I let them spend as much time on the other side of the portal as they want and need to heal from the last few weeks of worry for their friend. When they are ready, the tavern once more morphs into a coffee shop.

“Wow!” says Chuck, looking at his watch. “We got a lot accomplished tonight.”

Aislynn looks up at the clock.

“I could swear we were playing longer than four hours,” she says.

“It only seemed longer,” says Chuck. “It’s the shortest day of the year.”

“Yeah,” says Yvonne, donning her coat and shrugging her pack over her shoulders. “Sessions always feel longer when we play here. Ever notice that?”

“It’s just ‘cause we don’t get interrupted as much,” says Mac.

“No,” says Sandra, “she’s right. We get so much more done when we play here.”

“Whatever,” says Aislynn, hugging her companions. “I just know that I needed tonight more than any of you know. I feel so much better than when I got here.”

They troop out, holding the door for Aislynn as she hobbles behind the walker. I notice she’s standing straighter, and not limping as much as when she arrived. As Stevie says goodbye and locks the door, I thank him for providing the specialty healing drink to Aislynn.