#because the only thing stronger than superglue is trauma-bonding

[sarahshoots1st]

Oil and Water

Navani stared at the Towerlight sphere, and she felt compelled to correct one thing.

"Oil and water aren't opposites."

"Of course they are," Raboniel said. "This is a central tenant of philosophy. They cannot mix, but must remain ever separated."

"Just because something doesn't mix, doesn't make them opposite," Navani said. "Sand and water don't mix either, and you wouldn't call them opposites. That's beside the point. Oil and water can mix, if you have an emulsifier."

"I do not know this word."

"It's a kind of binding agent, Ancient One," Navani said, standing. If her things were still in here ... yes, over at the side of the room she found a crate, holding simple materials for experiments.

She made up a vial with some oil and water, adding some stumpweight sap extract as a simple emulsifier. She shook the resulting solution, and it handed it to Raboniel. The Fused took it, and held it up, waiting for the oil and water to separate. But of course they didn't.

"Oil and water mix in nature all the time," Navani said. "Sow's milk has fat suspended in it, for example."

"I ... have accepted ancient philosophy as fact for too long, I see," Raboniel said. "I call myself a scholar, but today I feel a fool."

"Everyone has holes in their knowledge. There is no shame in ignorance. In any case, oil and water aren't opposites."

Rhythm of War, Chapter 61: Oil and Water

[Picture ID: Caitlyn stands in the rain, asking "what about us?" Vi looks briefly over her shoulder, looking forlorn. "Oil and water," she says, sounding resigned, "wasn't meant to be."]