War of Dragons: Carmina Gadelica

The War's pressure has not led up in the last few weeks, and there's a tension as the group descends into the depths of Carmina Gadelica. With word reaching them of spies trying to infiltrate Fort Ouph recently to undo their attempts of warning the beings beneath the Root City, time has become even more of the essence.

There's an oppressive air as they descend into the depths of this city. Plenty of those here have been beneath the city before. The Sewer system runs large and wide after all, and the occassional Slime or Rat infestation needs to be dealt with in large places such as these. Yet in a ways, the drab depths they descend through appear to fail at staining the King's presence.

Gilgamesh - an old golden armored man with a white beard, and a sword that looks like it might be too heavy to wield by one as old as he - steps with far more force than one would expect. Each step is firm and heavy, like someone still in their adult prime. His brow furrowed as he seems to lead the party through the winding sewer halls, and finally comes to halt before a large wall that seems by all means indistinct from all others.

In previous Root Towns, the Adventurers have had to figure out things themselves. But here, the man touches the bricks in a particular order, before the wall suddenly begins to disappear. It's not like it was a hologram, or like it slides aside. No, the wall just... disappears as if it were never there, yet was physically touched mere moments ago.

It reveals a large winding set of stairs leading down into the depths of the unknown.

"Please, follow me." The King remarks, and begins to lead the way beneath into the winding wide staircase - the make of which seems almost like pale white metalic concrete.

When you're an agile ninja like Kotono, you take whatever route you can. In this case, it means using parkour and acrobatics to arrive as quickly as possible. Whether or not someone might be looking for her is irrelevant right now. Kotono's just in a rush to get to where she needs to get to. Once she's there, she takes a few moments to catch her breath before waiting patiently.

Once Gilgamesh has everyone's attention and guides them on their way, Kotono follows along quickly, eager to find out what's going on here. At the same time, there's something about her facial expression that indicates something isn't exactly right with her.

Clearly, clearly, Sprites needs to have a heart-to-heart with Gilgamesh at some point about whatever cleaner is used to keep that man permanently spotless.

But that point is not today, not now. -Unlike- Gilgamesh, Sprites seems to have an uncommon knack for picking up grime. A spot of grease. A bit of mud. A dribble of some questionable and mercifully unidentified generic sewer glop.

He did at least have the good sense to greet Gilgamesh with a polite nod-bow of sorts prior to the descent into the depths. He then also had the good sense to shut up. And so he follows after, continuing to accumulate...uhh...artistic fashion additions. And probably odors, too. Hey, it's a sewer.

Yeowang has been in the sewers before, but even the rats want no part of this, it seems. She has on tall boots today, because she's not sure what she'll be wading through, and follows Gilgamesh quickly enough, having attempted to note the method of getting in here as best she can. Just in case it's needed later. It seems like a useful thing to know.

She will hustle along, and down the stairs, not wanting to get left behind down here, but remaining alert for hidden watchers and spies. Because you can never be completely sure.

It was without a doubt that Lunaris was here with two reasons on her mind, the first naturally being to help out the war efforts (liberating ice-cream being very high on her to do list), and to gain some more insight into the world she now inhabited, having thought that the world was much less.. Dark than it was quickly turning out to be. In the past few days she had become a little less energetic, a bit quieter as she pieced things together. So perhaps it's no surprise that in this group she speaks very few words as they travel.

A murmur or two escapes her into the quiet tunnels, mental notes, thoughts as they wind down the passageways and a startled blink as the wall simply vanishes. But that wasn't all, with every step she kept a very close eye on Gilgamesh, for whatever reason is unknown. But certainly not unfriendly, just curious. Today her fox doesn't follow by her side, probably deciding not to get their fur dirty or something of the ilk.

Since the first whisperings of lord Gilgamesh possibly taking some action to do more for those who had become Outcasts of Ezzo, Kita had been invested in the outcome. The witch, a refugee herself, had been instrumental in much of the Spriggan resettlement in Aincrad.

Knowing that Gilgamesh was getting personally involved in the task of defending the root town. That which had become the respawn point for so many displaced Adventurers, is more than enough reason for the Witch of Aincrad to come down from the Tower to assist. She is dressed in full gothic black-mage attire. A strange sentient mote of darkness looms just over her shoulder, flickering like fire and looking around with eerie eyes from within the swirling dark smoke.

The young woman is quiet, falling to her more natural introversion in the presence of so many others and certainly walking in the wake of someone like Gilgamesh. However, she does have one hand holding up her sketchbook, the other doing quick sketches of various events, including that of Gilgamesh opening that secret passage.

    The Baroness is here, though if not for the name tag and her trademark curtsey, most would struggle to recognize her, garbed as she is. The Right Clothes have simply outdone themselves.

    They have built a most unusual mixture of fighting uniform, funeral raiment, and wedding dress. At least in form. The colors fit none of these properly, for the veil, cast back over her hair, is a pink so pale it nearly appears white, and the skintight dress is of pure black. The skirts appear ragged, in fact little more than a couple moth-eaten long pieces of flowing, black fabric remain. Under all this is a body suit of pale purple and blue. On either wrist are crude, thick bracelets of some dull metal. With a few links of chain dangling from each, it is clear they were once shackles.

    Her demeanor is calm as ever, her smile relaxed, and her eyes focused ahead. Wake is clearly in something of a mood, for such dramatic garb to appear, but it shows no signs of distracting her as she follows King Gilgamesh into the depths.

Cue flashback ripple.

Time: one week ago. Place: The atelier of the Chain Mail Bikini +1.

Uta is standing on a platform in the T-pose, so that it's far easier Gwen to put some finishing touches on her latest creation, wihch her friend is trying out: a cerimonial white-and-gold healer's robe, in the best fantasy MMORPG tradition, radiating nobility of soul and trust. As stately it gets to look within the Adventurer's current level, it befits Gwen's double strange mood on her progress as a Moonlight Tailor.

"...I finally get to meet a king. I cannot mess this up. I finally get to meet a king. I cannot mess this up...", Uta keeps repeating under her breath, like a mantra. It's unclear if it's to distract herself from all the fashion going on around her or she's really as thrilled, obsessed and terrified at the prospect as she sounds.

"It's my one chance at playing with the big kids. I can't blow this!", she finally exclaims, loud, clenching her fist.

* * *

Time: right now. Place: right here.

Uta stumbles in in her pyjamas -- the kind which look like a kimono, with pants. But it's definitely pyjamas, and menu crafted ones at that. It would be obvious to anyone, Japanese Adventurer or Lander, from the way it's cut; the snoozing-with-nose-bubble pastel slime pattern is merely an additional clue.

As much as Uta is distracted, going around in pyjamas would be too much even for her. But if that was not enough to hint at something being off, she completely ignores any slime that happens to pass by; at most, the little monsters get a mere glance and a passing mutter about their subgenre and likely location of provenience. She seems, however, particularly interested in the rats today, ready to jump at them and poke them with a syringe for experimentation purposes. She also seems to ask if there's going to be violence a bit too enthusiastically, a bit too often. Her... 'piquant aroma' might be camouflaged among the sewers (it's not -that- bad, yet), but the growling of her stomach might raise one eyebrow or two.

There was a time to be a goofball, this was not one of those times. Gwen seems more serious than she normally seems to be as she's joined on this quest. She's seen nothing of Gilgamesh to make her distrust him. He's also done nothing to mess with the Adventurers as well. Which was another point in her book in favour of the king. The root town here has not been a part of a proper kingdom she knew that much and she wondered where this would go. There was only one way, she checks her gear and gets ready aiming to be up near the front so if the King is attacked she can act to protect him. She's in her standard gear for adventuring today none of her alternative outfits. Gwen has however had it cleaned and polished to the point it's fit to go on parade.

"Lead on your Highness."

She kept the Stormwind Shield at the ready as who knows what could be down here.

Even with things starting out well there was always the concern about the Palace Lands. Which was the likely cause of Gwen being so serious today.

The white haired Artificer from the Silver Swords takes a look around to take stock of who is present and who is not. Haru has been coordinating the efforts in the Carmina region and takes it seriously. Serious work first so serious fun later. He make a few notes in the invisible menu before swiping his hand to remove it entirely.

Haru stays near Fuka, Uta, Gwen, and Shiruba. Yes, even Uta with her specific aroma. The cloth wielding Wave Artes user floats a bit between them. He observes protocol, which is to say 'speak only when necessary to' given the level of ceremony and structure in such a large, historical event. A finger rolls along the silver lining of his monocle, observing with ease how Gilgamesh resolves the puzzle. Like he knew the combination already. A glance of his blue eye to Fuka there and an earlier theory discussed on the Alliance chims. His feet move his body forward before the eye sweeps back to the grouping forward. Downward.

Whiskey Sour had spent some time here. The catacombs, and their slow exploration, had been the Plant Hwyaden druid's secondary project from early on, only taking a break to be abducted by assholes. But not the assholes you're thinking of! Thankfully.

"Hello, I'm Whiskey Sour, a support player, please take care of--" She steps through her introduction, before Gilgamesh begins interacting with the wall and simply entering the code, causing the dark-haired girl to snort-sneeze in a choked 'buhik?'.

"-... m-me... Really? You just know the codes, huh?" She composes herself, then, and forces a thin, twitching smile. "It's fine. This'll be a lot easier. Yes, please take care of me."

The establishment of a new proper Kingdom was certainly to be a historical event. Enough to dredge a Loremaster from her other obsessions, at least temporarily. Helps that Shiruba has been staying in the area recently to observe the Gnoll packs, so she doesn't have far to go.

Fortunately she has friends to look after her. By which we mean drag her off to a bath and get some food after finding her passed out sleeping outside the Hunter's Guild building. So when she shows up, she's in proper presentable shape, in her usual wilderness vibe.

"Oh this is going to be something to see," she eagerly follows at Gwen's side, tail swaying with anticipation.

    Though she's already learned much from the exploration of Fort Ouph's lower reaches, Fukaziroh has a strong interest in what's going on beneath Carmina Gadelica too. Partly it's to confirm theories, currently held close to her chest as they're not terribly useful unless confirmed. Partly just to help out in this, one of the most important acts of the current age. Mostly though, she's here because friends are here. Mysteries are cool, but they pale in comparison to dear friends.

    This is her first time meeting the new King, and somehow Fuka resists the temptation to mention how 'Gil' sounds like a weird name for gold, referencing the old man's armour at the same time as hitting up some pop culture. A double win in her books. She's in fact remarkably demure and polite, for now at least. Gilgamesh's actions make it clear to her he's been down here before and, in fact, very likely his creation of this kingdom involved coming to this exact spot recently.

    She also confirms that her friends are here and, well, her friends. That is to say, they're outstanding in their fields. Uta in particular is out standing in a slime-filled sewer, dressed in... "Hey! Interesting adventuring gear!" Fuka observes perkily. "You look ready for anything!"

    Today was a big day for the old man, and despite him and Setsunas having a slightly thin relationship he still respected the man and wanted to help. After all he owed Gilgamesh for all his help. He owed a WHOLE LOT to the old man for all his help. So down into the sewers he has slipped with the rest fo the group.

    Slipping in because given a certain propensity of his when he is in certain moods he isn't exactly the type of guy you want to take home to meet the king. For example in this certain mood not only does he seem to have a bottle of wine strapped to one hand (and the drunk debuff on his inspect), he is also constantly stopping when they see monsters and begins to take time to setup elaborate traps for them. Only to never get to see the result of the trap and having to catch up with the group.

    There is a little doubt when they get to a dead end before and he looks around around, he doesn't say anything though, at least not yet. He didn't want to point out that the old man had lead them to a dead e... to a secret passage that no one else in this group had ever found. Had anyone ever found it, that is hard to say but Setsuna is happy to follow behind the group still.

Wearing a long black cloak with silver trim script Seliana, in human form, follows after Whis as she engages with Gilgamesh. Her long white hair cascading down along her back and swirling kaleidoscopic eyes looking about with curiosity, although there are moments where her gaze focuses in on the golden armoured king.

As the wall suddenly vanishes, she squints in concentration, considering what she has seen. She whispers to her Plant Duck companion Whis, "We might be able to gleam a few things from this.." as she promptly continues to follow after the others as Gilgamesh continues forward.

Kaydon was silent, taking up the back of the formation for the time being. He wasn't expecting to get attacked from behind, especially not with the king here, but it's always good to have a rear guard.

His mind seemed elsewhere. He was so close to finishing his super weapon, he could taste it. But this was, as Shiruba put it, historic. And he didn't want to miss it, despite everything.

He pulls up next to Shiruba after pushing his way forward, and leans down a little bit to whisper to her, "Where do you think this one's going to secretly lead? I hope Disneyland."

There's something tremendously reassuring about having King Gilgamesh guide the way into the very depths of Carmina Gadelica. And simultaneously, there's something... odd about it. After all, they were supposed to be finding these people, right? But if Gilgamesh already knows the way... Did he find it himself, once upon a time? Did he have to come to find the Lynchpin to organize Carmina Gadelica into a Root City? It's... a mystery.

And it would be tremendously rude to ask right now.

The doctor is... unusually clean. Or perhaps, stereotypically clean? He is a doctor, after all. Hygiene is a tremendously important thing for medical care. His hands are imacculate, even though his robes should be, hypothetically, picking up every speck of grime in the sewer.

Oh well! It's fine! Don't worry about it!

"Well, this certainly saves us a considerable amount of time," the doctor observes as the wall just... disappears. "My thanks, your highness. The sooner we find what we're looking for, the better."

The rumors of spies have not gone unnoticed. The doctor has been... looking into them, himself.

    Merek follows along with the party, while he takes the time to pull on his white-black attire. The man nods to people, and looks then to Uta, "You doing alright? You'll find places like this pretty interesting," he will offer, while he takes a drink of water from the flask with him.

    CATS NEED THEIR SLEEP. Mizuki misheard when this was happening and so has arrived in a state much like Uta, cleaner but with fur and excessively long hair displaying additional dishevelment. At least she's wearing a midnight-purple ninja gi IT'S NOT PAJAMAS!

    As the wall just disappears and the inside looks... modern, she blinks sleepily at it, and then looks to Prophylaxis. "Y'know, this reminds me of back when we thought this was a game and expected to find, like, a secret debug room or something..."

    As she goes, Wake attends to each of her companions, looking at them. She pauses when she sees Mizuki, looking unprepared for this event. Who knows what might have happened had Wake noticed what Uta is wearing!

    "We enter the darkness and bring light," she says softly, and abruptly, to Mizuki. A warm glow surrounds her then, growing in strength until it's not far shy of daylight. "And we see how we might assist others and do so."

    In this situation, that assistance involves a brush, apparently. Even as Mizuki moves ahead, Wake almost dances around her, working swiftly and efficiently to banish that disheveled look. The results are rather dramatic. Few alive could have done better in any conditions, much less walking through a sewer.

Toshiro as usual, is trailing along toward the back of the pack. From there, he is able to look out over the pack of adventurers and the heroic Lander that guided them. Many tales had been heard of this figure's character and capability, which would be enough to make one feel secure in this little venture. What was there to fear when being led by none other than King Gilgamesh himself? The oversized Were Fang certainly seemed to feel that way, remaining as relaxed as ever. Fingers idly fiddled with his clothing, ensuring everything was in proper shape before inevitably getting ruined by whatever these catacombs had in store.

Still, the infiltrator couldn't help but mumble to himself as they continued downward. "I swear if there's more of those stinking undead down here..."

Kirara is holding toward the middle of the group, eyes turned in curiosity over the groups surroundings rather than the mass of people themselves. Her shoulders rest loose and easy as she listens idly to the party's chatter, keeping pace despite the thoughtful distance in her eyes. The woman seems lost in consideration, though occasional drift of her focus promises that she's keeping tabs on her surroundings to some degree.

As Whiskey Sour pipes up on the matter of the wall, Gilgamesh rasps his old voice; "It has been a long time since I've been here down within these depths. It surprised me that my old friend was even aware these existed within the depths of the Root Cities." The bearded man declares as they continue down the long and winding stairs.

"Potimas Harrifenas aided me during the Crystal Tower rebellion, but he was not present during the Scrapped Princess War, or the take-over of the Root Towns in Yamato. I do not know how matters with the Alv were resolved on his side, after the Last Battle of the Great War." Gilgamesh explains to the group. Some of which are terms many have not heard of before.

The heavy golden-gleaming armor jingles ever so softly with each step as he descends further. Further into the depths, as they come upon light further down below. Until they step out of a building, and onto the streets of pavement.

It's a sudden culture-shock that feels utterly alien, after having lived for years upon years within the world of Elder Tale Online. Above them, a metalic grate of an overhang. Behind them, a silvren metalic cylinder. Before them, a white crossing that spans multiple directions, connecting five directions across the five crossing roads. But it lacks any cars. There are no people around them. This place is almost /eerily/ quiet.

Turning, atop the metalic cylinder, it simply declares;

.---.  .----.    .----.  
/_   | /  ..  \  /  ..  \  
|   |.  /  \  ..  /  \  .
|   ||  |  '  ||  |  '  |
|   |'  \  /  ''  \  /  '
|   | \  `'  /  \  `'  /  
`---'  `---''    `-'  /
                   /  /
                 ./  '
                 `-''

The King halts at the edge of the road itself, and motions his hand for the others to halt as well. "Do not travel far in this strange land." He warns the group. "This is foreign grounds."

    Merek looks to the place while they all come to it. Then he nods a bit, "It's like the one before, where we were at the Tokyo Tower," he mentions. Then he nods a bit to Uta, "That is what I was mentioning, well... Trying to," he notes. "Though, this is probably like that, an unknown location. Is this a Remnant of the Old World?" he asks to Gilgamesh.

Lunaris listens into the conversation, though without much to offer she just follows along with the group at the guidance of the old hero. Instead of that she gives a small nod to those in the group she recognises, hanging just a little back with them and taking in every inch of this place.. At least until they step onto the pavement and her jaw drops, an odd noise verbalised in her throat before slowly closing it once again, "W-what the heck? Has this.. Are all these places.." Gesturing around at the place that seems almost pulled from the old world.

It takes all of the Cait Sithe's effort to not start dashing around and investigating everything with a good prod or two thrown in for good measure. Despite the warning. Holding back wasn't her skill. Instead she zips over to Haru's group, hoping they shed some illumination on the whole thing, "I-Is this normal? This seems like a huge deal.." Before glancing back to Gilgamesh, eyes shimmering with a thousand and one unasked questions, though apparently she has the sense to bite off the rest.

Wolven ears are erect at attention, taking in everything Gilgamesh says as he reaccounts some of his past with one of the Palace Land rulers. That the two regions did intermingle at some point in the past, even helped with conflicts, only raises more questions of what could of changed in the time since to set the Palace Land on the path they now follow. The only real notion they have is the supposed prophecy that someone told the Queen to get her compliance, but they don't know any details on it.

"Interesting." That's all she has to really say though.

Because stepping out onto the street takes up most of their attention. It's not so much of a shock this time, but as their previous venture into a Root Town's depths had only presented a skyline view, to step out onto an actual modern urban street is different. But any potential feeling of homeiness is quickly lost to how vacant and eerily quiet it is.

Tail twitchs. Expression settles in her usual passive determination. "I think we should heed the King's words, find who it is we need to find, and make our visit short." As much as she would like to explore, there's too many things that could go wrong. They need to take care of the matters at hand.

Looking at the place they've arrived at, Kotono seems a bit awestruck for a moment. Once she regains her composure, she nods to the King and says, "Don't worry, I'll stay very close." She narrows her eyes a little, hoping the others heed those words as well. While she's got her blades at the ready, she doesn't want to use them if it's at all possible.

The opening of the wall did, in fact, manage to briefly pique Uta's interest, although one could suspect that she was more interested to see if the wall that disappeared ended up crushing anyone. She looked disappointed when it didn't.

"I'm already finding this very interesting!", she replies to Merek. She then turns to Mizuki and squints. "What do you mean 'when we thought this was a game'? Do you have some sort of proof that this isn't?" The squinting, now, alternates between Mizuki and Prophylaxis.

"Adventuring gear?", the Spriggan asks Fukaziroh. "What adv-"

Uta looks down.

"Oh. Uhm. Hm."

Pause.

One can see the gears turning in her head, as she, two or three times, gets distracted to look at a passing rat and reaches for her syringe.

"No, no, no. Focus, Uta, Focus! Historical! Historical moment!", she mumbles to herself, placing her hands to the side of her face, as a sort of horse-blinder, to... help herself focus?

And then there's the overhang. Cylinders. Mention of the scrapped princess wars and the Crystal Tower Rebellion. As Uta attempts to innate-Loremaster the structure with the 109 (or the general surroundings), she asks Gilgamesh, "What was the Crystal Tower Rebellion about, your majesty? I've heard of it in the past, but I don't have many details about it."

Yeowang steps out into the depths, and through the exit we're all led through, into a place that looks quite familiar. At the admonition that this is foreign ground, she replies to Gilgamesh, "It -looks- like /home/ to us." And there's the idea that perhaps now we are outside the game and could simply walk home from here. On the other hand, she's wearing her in-game clothes, not her RL clothes, so we're probably -not- out of the game after all.

    Fukaziroh sagenods, looking around like she fully expected all this and it only confirms her wisdom. Inwardly she's freaking just a little, but outwardly she maintains calm. "These seem to be passages to the remnants of the old world." she explains as if she's seen it a hundred times before... instead of just the once. "The world that came before this one, I suppose. I'm not sure if that means OUR world, or if it's a world modeled after ours." she adds. Time travel, easter egg design... who knows?

    She nudges Uta in the side. "More like *hysterical* moment!" she says with a wink to go along with the nudge. Uh... don't mind her.

Kirara blinks her eyes, lashes parting a fraction wider as their surroundings shift with their exit. The wonder to reflect in her eyes is clear, though short-lived. The woman reigns herself in without a word, her expression smoothing as she collects herself to pan a calculative gaze over the crossing. "Is it like what you remember?" she wonders aloud, though her soft voice might easily be overlooked within the cluster of adventuerers.

"It's so quiet, here." The hush of her voice suggests she doesn't want to break the weight of the silence surrounding them.

    Setsuna is following along and is kind of listening in that way that in a couple of weeks he will process what was said in a more meaningful way. For now though he is trying to figure out how to get a wyvern to chase somehow into a sewer to get it stuck.That is until they step outside.

The bottle of half drank wine slips from his hand and shatters as he looks around , the warning of it being a foreign land is met with argument, "This isn't a foreing land this is home." It may be that the effect of the wine or strange mood or just the desperation to be home that causes him to be in denial. Quickly he begins to look around, any way he can figure out how to call home.

The warning to stay together falls on deaf ears as he begins to drift to some of the other buildings to look into them. Maybe if he could just find a phone...

Buh. Robert freezes in his tracks. His eyes widen a touch, tension plays along his jaw-line. It's a curious sort of expression. Wistfulness. Surprise. A distinct undercurrent of resentment if not outright anger. But whatever it is that's got his britches in a knot is quickly suppressed, crammed down into the soles of his boots and out of sight. Part of it is discipline. Part of it is the *thunk* *thunk* *thunk* of collisions as a minor adventurer pileup forms behind him, causing him to lurch forward out into the street proper.

He places his hands on his lips, glances around him, and offers the faintest crinkle of his nose and twist of his lips. 'Sorry', the helpless shrug of his shoulders seems to say, coupled with a self-deprecating smile.

"Looks familiar," he comments in response to Kirara once the minor snafu has been resolved. "Real familiar. Can't remember where though. Ring any bells?"

"So Harrifenas was a native of Yamato before he migrated across the sea?" Prophylaxis asks, taking step after step down the spiralling stair. "What compelled him to depart before the Scrapped Princess War? Do you... think perhaps that the Alvs 'got' to him, somehow? If the Palace Landers are capable of controlling the will of others through those crowns, then surely the Alvs would have even more sophisticated methods..."

Nevermind that the Scrapped Princess War is itself a knotted, tangled mess of mystery and intrigue. "Did you find this place during the take-over of the Root Towns during the war...?" He asks, before...

The pavement. The city. The empty street. Prophylaxis sucks in a breath of recognition. Even if, seeing it this way, it all feels so... alien. "This is... This is Shibuya," Prophylaxis says, staring up at that unmistakable cylindrical structure. "King Gilgamesh, this place is not alien to us."

"This place... I don't know if it's a reconstruction, but it... is a place in our world. Shibuya. This place is called Shibuya." He rubs slowly at his eyes. "...But there are no people. This place should be a bustling metropolis. But it's empty..."

He shakes his head slowly. "...It can't be our home, can it?"

Toshiro is keeping pretty casual for the most part through this little trip. Even as he quietly complains and dreads the presence of more rotting corpses flinging themselves at him, he manages to maintain his relaxed smile all the while. But the moment they step out and are greeted by the familiar paved roads and the towering structure before them, his jaw drops. Eyes widen slightly as he looks around, hands slowly curling into fists at the sight. "No way. This is..."

A hand reaches up to rest on his forehead as his jaw clamps shut, a few slow deep breaths dragging him back down to reality as the shock of the sight starts to fade. Shoulders relax and lips purse as he lets out a low whistle, his hands moving to instead rest on his hips. "This is...not what I expected. Those devs must've really wanted to yank us around, huh?"

Walking, walking, walking. Whis's steps are silent compared to the grand tromps of Gilgamesh. Whiskey Sour had learned to walk these halls with a natural care, because the walk was one of anxious, rote-less learning. A moving enigma that wholly demanded the mind's care.

"Then this was here... before?" Whis asks, to the deluge of proper nouns that she tries to make proper mental note of and file away.

Her words fail her, seeking the history of a dungeon struck moot by seeing the history of another place open up before her, and feeling the foreign-ness of pavement after years of finding connection to a living world.

"I'm going to repeat myself." She bubbles lightly, clearing her throat. "This was here before? It feels like a sick joke, now. It's not funny."

Haru looks right at place around here. Something he might Compose if he were to put song to picture. Perhaps a game or two. He places a hand to his ear, cupping it. A tap of the foot. He wouldn't forget a place like this. It has its own life to it, even if it is buried deep underground. A deep breath as he drifts like a ghost onward with the group, distracted by the antics of many without averting his gaze. "Remnants of the Old World," he echos, a term they recently learned about. "Shibuya," the man informs Robert, pointing up to the 109 as the landmark. "We are at the Crossing." The finger goes down to the many crosswalks there.

Haru heeds the word of the King, but in a large scavenger hunt, he decides 'not going far' is to check in on the stands there. The shops. He peers into the windows a moment with a sense of odd nostalgia before going to the 109 building. The goal is still to find the 'Kuni' as soon as it is feasible.

Gwen says "Well it ain't one now still it will be enlightening to see what's down here. While we assist the King in founding his nation."

Gwen can't help but laugh at Kaydon's joke. Though she says nothing more on that she does look over to Shiruba for a moment.

"Well this is going to be an adventure worth telling stories about, I bet. I doubt it Toshiro, there were no monsters in the last one like this. Puzzles and traps. No monsters though and ... my god Gods, Uta...."

She looks to Baroness Wake for a moment but then turns her gaze to Whiskey Sour for a moment.

"If things do get dicey, use me for cover it's my job."

She takes note of what King Gilgamesh says to Whiskey Sour and the rest of the party.

Gwen goes wide-eyed at where they are.

"Wait is this the crossing I think it is?!"

The king's warning keeps Gwen from even thinking of going too far.

"I know this place, I have been to this place before I arrived in Yamato."

Gwen thinks about her last outing to Shibuya.

"How is part of Earth ... here?!"

It takes Gwen a moment to settle down, spying Uta's state she sighs. She's got to do something about this and will move to pick up Uta carefully.

"I'll not go far but I need to do something."

With Uta in tow she'll vanish for a moment, there might be sounds from Uta of distress but when the pair returns Uta's in proper healer nurse gear and has a Sandwich in her mouth.

Gwen's looking pretty pleased as she rejoins the party.

(OOC Done with Uta's consent and urging)

Following down the steps, Kita continues to take everything in, trying to make note of anything in particular that stands out about the event. It's likely that she'll end up making full sketches should anything of importance occur.

Her eyes widen as they step out onto a street. Pushing her glasses upon her nose, she tries her best to take in everything. "It's quiet." She murmurs, and the little mote of darkness next to her bobs in agreement.

Her attention turns to Gilgamesh, nodding her head at the warning and making sure to stay close to the others.

    Mizuki just looks blearily confused at Wake as she starts incanting. "Hey, you don't have to..." She grumps for the first few seconds, but once it gets through her sleepy brain that she's not being scolded for shabby appearance but someone is trying to make her look nice, she just looks confused... huh. Wha? No one's ever cared about her looking pretty before. She stops walking for a bit to let Wake work, ears blushing.

    Finally after the Baroness is done, she casts some ice on the wall to check her reflection and stares, wide-eyed and mouth agape, turning her head and body slightly. It's been almost a year since her hair was last brushed out to look good for Halloween. Suddenly she has a desire to...

    Mizuki reaches up with one hand behind her head, under her hair, and does the Homura hair-flick and then can't stop grinning as she giggles to herself. She does that a few more times for good measure, grinning the whole time, the tip of her tail flicking back and forth excitedly, and then suddenly remembers she's in the middle of a dungeon and people are watching, ears blushing more.

    She turns to Wake, "U-uhm, thanks. I... I didn't have time to get ready, but..." She looks away awkwardly, ears splayed, "Y-you didn't have to go through all that trouble for me, I'm not..." She trails off, not sure how to finish that sentence. Eventually she adds, "Thank you, though. It looks... nice." Then she realizes that sounds insincere and repeats, "Really it does! I just, um, I'm not used to that sort of thing. Thanks."

    As they continue down the stairs, she keeps checking her reflection in one of her daggers, nearly stumbling a couple of times before resignedly sheathing it again.

    And then there is... pavement?! "Is this asphalt?!" The catgirl looks around in wide-eyed wonder, kneeling to feel the surface, then briefly shifting to human to feel with skin. "It's rougher, almost like sandpaper... although it has been awhile..." She stands up and shifts back.

    At the King's words, she gives him a curious look. "Why? What's down here?"

Walking out into this image of a world long remembered Seliana's eyebrows raise as she looks around at a scene seemingly from another world. A city beneath a city. She smirks as Gilgamesh mentions it as 'foreign grounds'.

She briefly looks up at the 109 high above before more closely looking around the area. A smirk still present on her lips as she seems to be looking for something in the area, eyes moving this way and that. Despite her distraction she seems to be remaining close to the others.

The smirks shifts into a slight frown as the conversation for Whis continues, and Seliana moves a little closer to the Plant Duck alchemist. "Shadows. These are shadows." She is fairly brief, the comment seeming to be a bit more clipped than may be often expected.

    Wake bows her head to Mizuki. "Beauty should be revealed, dear. There is no need to thank me. I merely make clear the blessings you have been given. I do not create them." Slowly she turns away and moves on, into the cityscape ahead.

    "The dream before," Wake intones. She steps ahead, through much of the group, nearly even with Gilgamesh, but stops a pace behind, a few feet to his right side. "It is dangerous to linger too long in dreams, King Gilgamesh. Yet even in this forsaken place, there is beauty."

    Light now dances around her, pale and gentle. She adds nothing further and her expression reveals no particular interest in this place.

"A pretty good recreation. Like the one of Tokyo Tower." Kaydon says, as he finally admires the area they have found themselves in, "They called this a fragment of the Old World." He looks around at the otehrs, those who weren't there the last time, who hadn't seen this kind of thing first hand before.

"Be careful. We're not out of the game, despite how it looks." Which should be obvious since all of them are still in their expected forms, "Hey Gilgamesh, do you know who we're looking for? I mean I assume you do since you lead us down here, but what should we be on the look out for?"

"This is indeed a Remnant of the Old World."

An answer comes to Merek's question, though it does not come from Gilgamesh. Instead, it comes from an old gentleman before them. He's a bit lanky, with a bit of a greying goatee-style beard, and a well groomed area of beard around his lips. His well styled grey hair lays across his head, as the man steps forward from a cafeteria nearby. He's also got silver fox ears coming from the top of his head.

He's wearing a black undershirt, with a pin-striped grey apron over this. There's a serious firmness to his expression.

When Uta asks about the Crystal Tower Rebellion, Gilgamesh raises his finger to pause Uta's thought for a moment.

The gentleman before them remarks; "If you would follow me." Before turning, a thick bushy silver tail swaying as the man moves - heading back into his cafe.

Barrista (I)

Gilgamesh begins to move, and then answers Uta; "The Crystal Rebellion was centuries ago. It was an attempt to destroy the most accursed being in this realm. One of the few beings even stronger than the Alv themselves." He motions one hand calmly as he explains this, though his other seems to squeeze to a ball. "Artosh."

By the sound of it, something that ended up failing.

To Prophylaxis, Gilgamesh answers; "No, Harrifenas originally is from the Baal Lands. I think he's from around Orth, originally. And I do not believe that the Alv got to him. If anything, it would be the Scrapped Princesses." He suggests, though who knows if he has all the information needed there. "The Alv were never that subtle about anything they did."

Still, Prophylaxis gets a nod from Gilgamesh as he speaks on finding this place when taking over the Root Town from the Alv. Though; "That was after the Great War, after the death of Helba and Apeiron during the Last Battle."

"This place has not changed much, in all these years." Gilgamesh then proposes to the being who 'Inspects' as named Barrista.

Stepping into the small cafe, there's just enough room for the Adventurers. "Please, take a moment, sit down." The Barrista offers to the crew coming inside, and pulls out various mugs, and begins to pour them all a coffee. He seems to glance along all of them, and stats selecting the perfect blend, sugar, and amount of milk. Those who don't like coffee, are poured chocolate milk, and the Barrista takes his time to put the cups on the various tables where people might get seated. For those who do not get seated, he leaves the drinks on the counter.

"Have you finally decided?" The Barrista then asks Gilgamesh.

Shibuya, eh? Haru gets a thoughtful nod, his surroundings a careless once-over. It is a moment of zen, a poetic stroll through memories past. A stroll that takes him by Wake on his way into the shop. He murmurs something to her, sotto-voce, then proceeds to shamelessly head over to the Plant Hwyaden folks--Seliana and Whiskey--just as though he'd always belonged there. Does he? No. Never met either of 'em. But faking it is half the battle, right?

"Tastes real enough," he comments approvingly, having snagged a mug of chocolate milk and sipped from it without so much as an inspect. "What do you mean by shadows?"

Kotono never was big on coffee honestly. Then again, she's swift enough as is, so does she really need to be any more fast?

Taking a mug of chocolate milk politely, Kotono takes a sip. After savoring the nice, chocolate taste, she listens intently but doesn't say anything for the time being. She's as good a listener as she is a good talker, so there's not much to miss out on.

    Fuka is rather amused at the reactions of the first-timers here, as if her one experience with this sort of thing gives her the benefit of some seniority or at least perspective. It helps that she still thinks of this whole world as a game, though not necessarily a computer game, and no less real for being so. Maybe she does have the benefit of some perspective at that... or perhaps it's merely self-deception.

    She's still a little baffled by some of what's going on, though when she sees the name of the silver-fox-guy she stifles a giggle. "Hey H." she remarks. "First Gyaru, now... yeah, feels like someone's messing with us, don't you think?" she remarks. Still, she finds it amusing and it helps to make her feel paradoxically at home even as this is a seriously bizarre thing within a game.

    She does accept coffee however. Because of course she does! And even gets to have it loaded down with plenty of milk and even more sugar! YUM!

    (To Wake, Mizuki replies, "I-I'm not... beautiful... but it's nice of you to say so...")

    Mizuki happened to be looking down when they stepped out, but as she looks up to speak to Gilgamesh she sees, and stares, looking around in an entirely different kind of wonder. The others explain somewhat. "This is... Japan?! Shibuya?!" She touches the side of the building they just walked out of. "...God, it's been years... I was kind of excited to see Japan, you know? After New Years, once I settled in, I was going to go see places... ya gotta see Akihabara once, right? Heheh... did you say there's a Tokyo Tower down here?"

    She turns to the others. "Wait, did you say 'old world'? What does that mean? ...Does this mean America is under FM World too?!"

    Words are flung around as they walk into a cafe. "Did he say 'Orth'? What's that?"

    And then she's sat down and served coffee. In the window she can see the reflection of her goddamn game avatar sitting in a japanese cafe; her mind, unprompted, pictures this as a scene from a manga or something, kemono artstyle and all.

    Have they decided?

    She looks at the barista. "Ah... I feel like I should get some cake or ice cream or something... that's what you do in this situation, right?" Which situation exactly is that?! "Do you have those?"

Lunaris somehow mixes being very excited with being confused and overly nervous at this place, sure she expected that there would be a few odd areas like little secrets implemented, but it being quiet this in her face.. That was a bit too much. Even odder is the Barrista that appears as they enter the cafe, that really sent her reeling for a moment. After she recovers a bit her eyes narrow at the gentleman, something striking her as a bit odd, "Why do -you- call this the Old World?" There just was an odd ring to that and she couldn't hold that curiousity back any longer.

Though the chocolate milk placates her, sipping rather cheerfully as her tail sways. Sure, it wasn't the real-real world, perhaps she was rather glad for that, not at all seeming out of sorts. In fact she seems rather at ease suddenly, finding a place to settle if just for the moment.

    Setsuna turns and stares at Kaydon, there is a bit of rage in his eyes, "THIS IS NOT THE GAME! This is the real world, and just because you new worlders don't want to go home doesn't mean you get to deny the truth." There is quite a bit of anger in his voice and any of the medically trained people may recognize that he is in some heavy denial.

     This of course happens before the Barista shows up and seems to confirm what Kaydon and Merek were saying to be true. Setsuna seems to get a moment of clarity if only to be able to see the in game elements still. His grip on things still seem to be slipping as he follows behind to sit at the counter unsure of so much.

He puts in an order for black coffee when he sees the phone, " You have a phone?! Can I borrow it ? I need to call someone." Again that desperation is in his voice.

One of the buildings that Haru was looking at before returning was indeed the Hachiko Cafe. (Or Cafe of mention). He listens to the lore about the past. There are several interesting notes. People that were there. What they did. What they are doing now. It is all things he pockets away without losing sight of the fact they finally have a chance to sit down at the cafe.

He motions for Uta and Fuka to join him, along with an empty seat for a fourth that wants to. A finger taps the side of his monocle, appraising the entity with the I flag. That makes three very different types of Kuni. He already knows what he wants to order. A Cafe au Lait, BLT Sandwich, and a Chocolate Chunk Scone.

"I think it isnt a cooincidence," Haru tells Fuka, "they seem like fixtures of the old world. Things that make up the cultural DNA. When you think of the Old World and you see one of those three, it would evoke a sort of 'seems like home'. Doesnt it? Fits being the Fragments of the Old World." He gets his order and sips the drink first. "What I don't understand is if this is a replica of the Old World inserted here, as a sort of management plane, or if..." he lowers his cup, "its more dire." He sets his cup down. One blue eye is set to GIlga, "How did you know where the entrance to this was, if I may be so bold? An old friend, they knew of it? Written down somewhere or in Memory. Or a means to find them?" Haru checks his chims and functions to see which ones work. Same as before, it seems. He hums, deciding to Appraise the food in front of him to see what it says.

Kirara centers her gaze toward Prophylaxis at his proclamation. Her attention holds toward him a moment as she nods her head, offering some unspoken agreement with his assessment of the surprising familiarity of the cityscape laid out around them. Despite her familiarity, she's heeding the king's advice well, holding to the middle of the flock as she strains her ears for any hint of life within the seeming skeleton of a district.

Gwen's words see the antlered woman's eyes turn to watch her, head tilting faintly as she breaks away from the safety of the little army they've gathered. With her disappearance, her gaze is left to wander once more, though Kaydon's glance manages to catch her attention as he refers to the area as a 'fragment.' His warning earns an appreciative smile, the calm of her expression warming as the curl of her lips sees a friendly pinch at the corner of her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind," she promises, a mild touch of humor brightening her tone.

The fox-eared stranger draws Kirara's gaze with ease, and with her smile still etched on her features, she dips her head in greeting, showing no hesitation in moving to follow The Barrista's direction. She takes a seat for herself somewhere near the center of the room, pausing for a brief moment to lift a hand to her temple as a brief flicker of pain sees her eyes narrow a fraction. When the pain fades, she lets her hand drop, smile brightening as she nods her thanks for her drink.

It's staying in her hands for now. She'll enjoy the warmth of the cup against her fingers rather than go straight for a sip. Her focus trails toward Setsuna at the outburst, but she fails to speak up.

As someone who has not traveled far and wide within Yamato or beyond, the fact that such places as this exist comes as more than a surprise. It feels a bit too much like home, though a phantom version of home if there was one. Her eyes dart towards the unfamiliar voice, settling on the silver fox with a slight widening of her eyes and a curious expression.

As they enter the cafe, she seems wary of eating or drinking what is offered, though she does accept the cup if nothing else. Her eyes go back to Gilgamesh, taking notes in the margins as she continues to doodle rough sketches. Some of the raised voices cause that mote of darkness to flare up, giving angry expressions towards some of those present before hiding behind her shoulder.

"Shh." She prompts the creature, or... whatever it is. Then, looking around, she offers in a quieter voice than many might be used to, "I don't understand how any of this is here..."

    Merek does look to the old man, while he thinks about it, "What... Is Artosh?" he asks, then he nods a bit, following along and watching the place. "I have a lot of questions, though I would probably take the whole day really would I want to ask."

    Fuka nods to Haru's reasoning. In many ways he's better at this sort of thing than she is, certainly more attentive while she tends towards flights of fancy. His words make sense, and his questions are interesting, giving her ideas.

    She continues listening with half an ear, eager to hear what he might learn of this, but she pats his arm absently as she moves off to interfere in Setsuna's argument with Kaydon. Well, not interfere, not exactly. Just insert herself casually. "What makes you think this must be our old world, instead of something crafted into a game? If this is a game, it's realistic enough we can't tell the difference, so how can you claim this as proof?" she asks, her voice light and nowhere near as challenging as her words.

Toshiro suddenly grows quiet as the other figure appears, the fins on the side of his head twitching a bit as his golden gaze locks on to the silver fox. It seemed like a lot of useful information was being given through all the chattering of adventurers. His expression shifts slightly, smile shrinking a bit into something softer as they follow the strange barista into the cafe. The towering man was forced to duck through the doorway of the cafe, as Japan wasn't exactly known for being accommodating to people of his unusual height.

Gentle gaze shifts over to Setsuna and his cries of desperation, a soft breath slipping out of his nostrils. "What a mess." He softly mutters to himself before looking down to the drinks being presented to them. He takes one at random, holding it in his hand as he scans the room to see what his fellow adventurers are getting up to. Yet at the same time, he always makes sure to keep an eye on this strange Barista figure.

    A new person, a curtsey, an introduction. But only as Wake. She follows in silence, once this is achieved. She is here as a witness.

    Only after sitting, observing her drink, judging its meaning and curious familiarity, and recognizing a strangeness in this place, does she at last speak. She has a question or three to ask.

    "You have been here for ages. What can you tell me of the Goddesses? What is the meaning of a Kingdom? By whose hand was this concept forged?"

Listless and wobbling for reasons other than sleeplessness, the tired-eyed Whis is led into a coffee shop after her mild entrance breakdown with an arm around Seliana for support.

"Pavement and streetsigns and billboards and asphalt, paint with a factory taste and metal in familiar shapes, and I feel like I need shoes again for the first time in years. I forgot what this felt like. To be disgusted by the ground beneath me."

'Shadows. These are shadows.' Comforts Seliana.
Rob leans in to ask her, while Whis stunnedly takes a cup of black coffee and the scent hits her.

Bitter. "It's not real. It feels fake, here." Whis answers Rob cryptically. "A figment of something apart. Or the insult of something we thought we lost and are reminded by."

To Gilgamesh - to the Barrista, Whis looks seekingly to the silver fox (figurative) and Silver Fox (literal).

"If he takes over - if he becomes King here, what happens to us? Even if it's necessary, are we agreeing to something? What are the terms, here? The this-for-that. If you hesitated before, why?"

Setsuna's anger is...Understandable to Kaydon. So the were fang gnoll doesn't say anything in response. Instead he steps up to the counter and looks at the Barista for a moment, "I have a feeling you can't answer the questions we all have for you." He says, as he takes one of the offered coffess, and takes a drink. Tastes real enough.

"But maybe you can answer some, at least." He glances at Setsuna and some of the other Scale folks for a second, "I know I personally would love to know why these remnants are the way they are. I mean they're very carefully crafted, but I know game devs tend to love putting in easter eggs or hidden areas players can't access."

Yeowang hrms as the Barrista appears, and will follow everyone into the coffee shop, taking the offered seat and looking around curiously. The conversation is interesting, she's basically ignored the lore of the world to her disadvantage thus far in the game, relying on others to explain the details to her, but it seems there are more details coming out now. She takes in what she can, but will need the background explained to her slowly.

She enters the coffee shop with everyone, and will accept the coffee after taking a seat, pausing to wince at a moment of headache due to her exposed cosmosphere, and she puts a hand down to straighten her skirts before she recalls she's wearing pants, and it wasn't a bit of leg that was exposed. It's the game being strange again. She looks carefully at the barrista as he works, not drinking the coffee, just letting it steam in the cup in her hand.

Gwen will enter the cafe wary she's not used to the modern world anymore. It feels strange, almost alien. The thoughts of the place she's from not so much given it was rural, but a big city like this? It feels just wrong to her now. She pauses for a moment looking at the man as he mentions Helba is dead.

"Dead? Helba rescued many of us from a glitched boss in the tower some months ago. Or is the current one a successor bearing the old one's name?"

Gwen will happily accept the coffee as she goes to get coffee from the counter. She'll take a moment, closing her eyes before she drinks it. She then muses for a moment

"Are these formed from the memories we adventures have?"

Walking into the cafe, Seliana looks around at the modern cafe. She hold Whis supportively as enter. Drinks are poured, and Adventurers begin to rest. She helps Whis to find a seat near to the king Gilgamesh, as a spriggan adventurer wanders over with a drink in hand, SpritesHero, chatting amicably.

Seliana smiles over at the Infiltrator replying in a friendly manner. "Shadow? Hmm, is it not like a memory of elsewhere." She tilts her head slightly, "Memory? Maybe maybe not, but perhaps we can find out." She replies, although it seems she is getting distracted as well as her eyes lock on some of the technology behind the counter.

Currently ignoring the drinks in their entirety, she takes a moment to go around behind the counter and start inspecting the various items which seem more technological. "It seems this may be a place we could find references for our own technology, it should help accelerate the research others are looking into considerable." And just as quickly she returns to Whis's side, her attention once again returned to the alchemist.

A lot of people are already asking questions, so Shiruba merely listens for herself for the time being. It's a good thing Gilgamesh seems to know where they need to go, or they could get lost in the streets even with them this empty.

Then they are joined by the elderly fox cait sith, who seems to know they were coming? So naturally he gets an INSPECT, which gives a similar output as Miko did. So he is probably the one they are looking for. Thus best to follow him.

She does tilt her head when the environment around them is again referred to as a 'Remnant' of the Old World. That's still slightly bothersome.

Though for a few moments Shiruba is dealing with a different feeling. A feeling of this, what should be like home, feeling almost... alien. Has she grown that accustomed to Yamato?

Or is it a feeling from her not really wanting to go back to the 'Old World'. Or Old Dream as Wake poetically refers to it as.

She accepts the coffee all too eagerly, taking a drink from it to help get herself situated emotionally again. "I have to ask," she finally speaks up, even if she suspects she won't get much of a clear answer, but questions must be asked. "Why do you refer to this," a gesture of one hand at the world around them, "as a 'Remnant'? A piece of a world most in Yamato don't know exists... or ever existed..."

She trails off, almost regretting asking now. Almost.

As the results to the item appraisal isn't displayed, Haru says it out loud to his tablemates and anyone who overhears, "If this is digital, it has variables, right? So take this." He raises his latte cup to Fuka. "It appraises as a series of question marks made by question marks. Either well beyond my ability to appraise, the function doesnt 'function' correctly here, or there is no value that translates." He takes a deep breath and inhales the coffee. All this serious talk doesnt stop him from ENJOYING the meal. Once in a lifetime chance to relive it.

"Thats the whole thing about 'reality' and illusions, right?" Haru says as he extends out a bit of the chocolate scone for Fuka to nom on, "Does it matter? Reality it me is the thing that continues to exist even if you stop believing in it. You can artifically construct a reality. This is /a/ reality. I dont know if its a scrap of our previous reality, anchored here, possibly the same reality in a different state. Or. Perhaps, a copy of it, placed here to represent a different layer." He notes, "And thats just two theories. I can't prove either, so Im doing the one thing I can do: Enjoying this cafe food. Last chance we'd get to sit down at a cafe together here, no?" A wink of the blue eye.

"Tokyo tower?", Uta asks in the direction of Kaydon, after swallowing the last bit of her sandwich. Mentions of the Old World. Fascinating.

"Is it possible to have an Espresso?" Uta asks. Exotic drinks unlikely to be found in Yamato. Let's see if this person knows what one of those is.

She pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment, as if she had a light headache, then she moves to sit close to Haru (on whose questions she attempts to focus, but she finds hard to, given her current mood), and Fukaziroh, she gives Kotono's drink a sideways glance. "Oh. Hey. Chocolate. I thought we didn't have that in Yamato. There were people looking for it...", and back to Fuka, "Enjoy chocolate while you can. We don't have it in Yamato yet."

To Gwen, she adds, "Indeed. I've heard of people -meeting- Helba recently. So, I gather that she died... and... respawned? Is she an Adventurer, then? Or... something else? One of these... uh... Kunie? Never heard of those. Who or what are Kunie?" She's also very interested in learning about Orth, which can be garnered by the way she looks and nods with interest when someone else had asked that question. Uta turns to Merek. "Artosh? Artosh is something called a Deus. No idea of what that means. All I know is that the 44th Song is called 'Artosh's Anger', and is an expression the Deus' hatred of the non-Alv races." A pause. "It's the one that physically hurt Erufu when it was sung at some... monster nest battle, I think?" She frowns. "Cant' remember which one. Was it the goblins under Mac Anu?" She looks around for confirmation. And sighs. "What would I give to know more about those events... and that song in particular." It is finally her turn to come up with a question fully of her own, as opposed to follow ups. "Speaking of which, do you remember how many years ago those events happened, exactly? The Crystal Tower rebellion? The Last Battle?" A pause. "Oh, and if you know anything of a Cursed Wave, I'd like to know when, exactly, that one happened."

"Oh, by the way...", she mentions, casual. "During the brief headache I had earlier, I saw a brief warning, <<Cosmosphere Exposed>>." She looks around. "Whoever did it, can do that again, whatever it was?" She whips out a syringe. "I need to test this analgesic against headaches, and I need to see how it interacts with breaking the Law of Alba."

    Yeeeesssss.... philosophy while nomming on chocolate. Satisfying on both the spiritual and physical levels. She may not understand everything going on, but that's okay. She's involved, having fun, and hopefully contributing. That hsould be enough. Let those wiser than her solve the bigger mysteries.

    She is, in fact, QUITE interested in the chocolate, but wise enough to know that even if it's available in this fragment of the Old World, it doesn't mean she'd be able to productively ask for a source for it. No, she can enjoy it now and let the future happen later without obsessing over it. "We're not IN Yamato, Uta." Fuka explains patiently. She's not sure where they are, but she's pretty sure that while this is part of their current world, it's detached from their server. The chim nonsense and everything else makes that clear enough even if she doesn't know how.

Prophylaxis visibly rankles at the notion that their life in the 'old' world was somehow... a dream. "How many of us have left family behind in that 'dream...?'" The doctor shakes his head slowly. "...But nevermind that."

The subject is sore, and the situation is far too... inappropriate for that kind of discussion.

And besides, an unfamiliar voice shocks him out of his reverie before it can continue. "A... Remnant of the Old World? What do you mean 'Remnant of the Old World...?' What happened to it?" There's a sense of... trepidation in his voice. As if he fears what the answer might be.

"Artosh-- the previous master of the Tower? Does this have anything to do with... Winged, humanoid creatures...? I..." He flicks his hand, a crystal materializes in his palm. "...Have come across some of their remnants." It disappears back into his inventory a moment later. "I've heard of Orth before, but not the... Baal lands. So he's from there...? Do you know where they are, relative to Yamato, King Gilgamesh?"

"Apeiron and Helba... The King of Light. The Queen of Darkness. Is that right? I know someone with a blade said to belong to the former. And the crowns are, of course, bespoke." But...

'Artosh's Anger. The 44th Song.' "The Beast...?" The doctor's brow furrows. So many connections being made in his mine, so many-- tenuous, delicate, fragile. Are they truth or falsehood? The doctor needs a cup of coffee to process all of this.

And he gets one, of course. Even if it comes with a Cosmosphere Exposure. The doctor quirks a brow at Uta's comment, then sips slowly at his cup. "Barista. We have more dire news as well. I know not if King Gilgamesh has informed you, but there are others. Those of the Palace Lands, bearing the Crowns of Domination, forged by Queen Helba. They've already used one on the Old Man of Mac Anu, seizing control over the Root Town. You... should be very careful. I don't know if you can leave this place, but-- is there aught we can do to help protect you?"

    Mizuki switches to her town outfit. No need to be a ninja for coffee. Then she overhears Uta. "Wait, there's *chocolate*? Can I get some too?!"

    And then it seems there are non-stop revelations. "Did you say 'cosmosphere exposed'??" Mizuki transforms to human, and draws a dagger, and holds it pinched in her fingers, close to the point, clearly about to prick her arm to see if she bleeds.

    Aaany moment now. It's the logical thing to do, right? It'll only hurt a little. If this was a tabletop RPG she'd be saying 'I find something sharp and prick myself to see if I bleed.' no sweat, easy, anyone can do it, right?

    She doesn't want to do it.

    She looks at the hand holding the dagger. "Geeze. My hand is still tingling a bit from the pavement. Why'd they make it so rough...?"

    Eventually, if no one stops her, she presses the tip of the knife enough to make a very tiny prick on her arm.

Haru lets go a contented sigh as he noms on a BLT, moving to the coffee and then sweets. It is a savory to bitter to sweet rotation. The rich kid in him is so content right now after so long without these simple pleasures. "Ahhh. Add two more to the theory board. One that this is a construct of what is left of when Adventurers die, given shape to an administrative or management layer. The other I didn't really catch beyond a shared dreamstate." Just terms to help him understand it better in full techno nerd. These are things he grew up with. They are familiar mental constructs. "This is really good stuff," he finishes his meal rotation with a monch of the desert. "It is not Yamato, Uta," Haru agrees with Fuka. "Though you may want to keep an eye out for any music playing. I haven't heard any, yet, but this would be a whole new place to look for them, no?" No shortage of Adventure through the looking glass, Alice. He orders more sweets. Pocky. Yes please.

"I have. Thanks to these people, and the other leaders of Yamato." Gilgamesh answers the Barrista, and quiets for a moment, letting the Adventurers speak. It seems he understands their excitement and surprise at everything around them. They are saying this is 'their' old world - which is surprising in its own way. To Gilgamesh, this in its own is all a huge culture shock as it is. So he quietly watches those around him.

Setsuna need not order a Black Coffee, he's simply given one by the Barrista, knowing what he wants before he even places that order. Similarly, Uta is given an Espresso even before inquiring.

"You are welcome to use the phone." The Barrista remarks, "But it won't do you any good." He motions to it, before adding; "And please, no fighting in this place. If I must take drastic measures, I will." The silver fox of a man very politely remarks to both him and Kaydon.

To Merek, Gilgamesh remarks; "Artosh is an Old Deus." He expresses to him. "The last remaining one, kindred to the Alv."

Baroness Wake asks many questions, only some of which are addressed by the Barrista; "A Kingdom is a zone of influence. An... organizational entity that expresses a certain power over its populace and domain. Most importantly, it defines officially the leader of a Root Town - and thus the control over its functions."

Joining this conversation with the question of Whiskey Sour's origin, the Barrista notes; "With this, the ones who remain unorganized will become organized. All of those known as 'Outcasts' will become members of this Kingdom. Thus providing its protection over the unprotected."

Gilgamesh then joins in; "I hesitated before, because the political situation has been... tense for a long time now in Yamato. When you returned - the Adventurers - things changed. Focus turned upon you, and the expansion of the Kingdoms you permitted by your mere presence. Political tensions have eased in favor of collaboration. Especially now with the Palace Land invasion." He expresses. "Before this, were I to have become an official King of a Kingdom, it would have represented a military organization. I have a reputation amongst many, due to my age and skill. Were the King Gilgamesh to join the political landscape of Yamato, tensions would surely have turned to war."

He doesn't address Haru's question for the time being. But presumably it was all part of the hostile take-over.

The Barrista instead addresses Shiruba; "It is a Remnant because that is what it is named. The meaning of it is something the Alv only know of." He motions his hand as if opening a menu in the same way the Adventurers do, but it is visible to everyone else. A glowing hologram similar to their own menus, floating over the Cash Register. He then glances to Mizuki and nods. He steps over behind the glass of the refridgerated display case, and pulls out a few chocolate cakes, some eclairs, and offers them to be taken by the Adventurers.

Uta tries to get an army of questions in, and Gilgamesh raises his hand. "The last battle occurred... I believe fifty or a hundred years before the Princess War truly began. Shortly before the take-over of the Root Towns." He expresses to her. "The years have kind of... started to mix together, I fear. But the Helba I speak of is one of the Alv. Also known as the Queen of Darkness. Counterpart to Apeiron, King of Light."

To Prophylaxis, Gilgamesh notes; "I mean... depending on how far you wish to travel, it's either to the East or to the West of Yamato. Though you'll likely need Poseidon's guidance if you wish to travel as far as Baal. And I do believe that we are having enough trouble with the Palace Lands." He points out. "And the winged creatures you speak of are the Alv, most likely. I believe they've also been referred to as Flügel once upon a time."

In the meantime, Mizuki is cutting herself with a dagger. The red glow of 'damage' is there once more, along with that 'leaking' of red light, as she momentarily adopts the Bleeding status, before it clears up as her HP regeneration takes over.

"Regardless... I wish to recognize Carmina Gadelica as a Kingdom from here-on out." Gilgamesh slowly rises, and steps towards the Kunie. The Barrista considers the old King for a moment, and glances to the Adventurers, before touching something on that holographic display... and a 'handprint reader' holographic appears before the cash register, on the Credit Card Reader.

"The Realm of Uruk."

As Gilgamesh presses his hand down against the display.

    Merek looks then to the old man, while he nods a bit. "Old Deus?" Then he waits while he watches Gilgamesh, "Does that mean that those of us with no Kingdom to claim will become part of the new Kingdom?" he asks. Then a look to the party and to the old man, "I don't know, what do you think we need to know?" he asks, then he takes a look to the display.

Kaydon grins at Uta, for a moment, "Last one of these we did, they were living in a replica of the observation deck in Tokyo Tower. Great view." He hmms faintly, "That one had cars and planes and stuff moving around though. This one feels almost dead by comparison."

As both the Barista and Gilgamesh do their best to answer questions, Kaydon hmms faintly, "So I'm not gonna be an Outcast anymore?" He wonders about that. He picked Outcast originally because he didn't want to be part of a kingdom, but then again there's a lot more outcasts now than there were before thanks to the fall of Ezzo. So there's more than just his own feelings to think about when it comes to this.

He does speak up to the Barista though, "I don't suppose you can at least give us the secret to growing cocoa plants before we leave, can you? I would literally kill someone for a piece of chocolate cake."

Lunaris nods as her question is answered, even if not to herself and considers it as she rests back in her chair, "So it's just named that. Doesn't give us much to work with, all depends on what the people who made the place thought or believed." With that she makes a couple of mental notes before joining in and ordering a small cake. They probably didn't have ice-cream here. Shame they didn't go to a desert place instead. That said she lifts her half-drunk milk and tries to see if she can put it in her inventory before retrieving it once again. After all, weird artifacts from the Remnants probably could be useful, right?

Leaning over the back of her seat and giving Haru's group a small smile, "Think without something to prove it your stuck! Though you asked how people found these places. If they're all like this then.. Well, there's things you can detect in this place that probably wont be in ETO.. Signals and such? If it's that realistic." With that she dips back to dig in gleefully to her cheesecake. It really was quite good. Then offhandedly, with a rather full mouth she asks, "What would expose a cosmosphere exactly..?"

The mention of songs arouses her attention once again, though remains quiet as she listens.

Toshiro eyes his own drink for a few moments, though chooses to leave it untouched in favor of examining the adventurers around him. As the Barista speaks, the Were Fang takes a moment to Inspect him, a curious look appearing in his eye as the man goes on. There was so much to learn here, so much information to absorb. And then the king stepped forward, interacting with the menu that this mysterious figure had manifested. The fins on his head twitch once more as he moves to lean against the counter, practically having to double over to bring his arms down to the surface. The tip of his finned tail flicks to one side.

Finally, he would speak up with his own question toward the Barista. "Pardon my asking, friend. But...who are you, exactly? And why do you have the authority to allow our fine king here to establish a new kingdom? I feel like it's safe to assume you're a bit more than a simple man serving coffee."

So the Alv at the very least had some awareness of the 'Old World', the world the Adventurers come from? Or just picked what sounded good and mysterious for a name. Or do the Alv represent something like the programmers behind Elder Tale? They seem to fill a similar space of being creators and shapers of the world. How deep that connection goes, there really isn't a way to measure.

"Answers tend to beget more questions here, but I've learned to accept that as a way things are. Can't have everything be easy. Or we wouldn't have reason to venture and expand our horizons." She gives a nod to Barrista. "Thank you, for sharing with us, and the snacks." At this point she's just going to enjoy her coffee and cake, while watching history be made for the Outcasts.

She does give Kaydon a light elbow to the side the though. "What? Afraid you won't be able to continue claiming your mercenary status?" she teases.

The usually talkative Kotono has said very little while she was here. It's not that she's not an anti-social person, she just hasn't had much to say. Between sipping her chocolate milk and listening to what is said, the Spriggan is keeping herself quiet today. She's not ignoring anything, she's just got nothing to say.

SpritesHero is still drinking from his chocolate milk, though it would appear that trying to keep track of the many conversations around him is beinning to take its toll. He looks just a tad neurotic, just a smidge frazzled. And he may or may not be observed to lift his eyes towards the ceiling, muttering something about Notepad.

And then it's back to Seliana and Whiskey, though in truth he tunes his interaction to be more casual. Hopefully less intrusive. "Tastes real enough to me," he reflects, after another sip. Rich, creamy. Even that little bit of foam he removes from his lips with the exploring pink tip of his tongue. "Feels real." A delicate sniff. "Smells real." A suspicious glance that turns on the barista, which relents quickly enough. "Process even seems right. What's clueing you in on it being shadows?" Any further questions are held. They look rather busy with their more time-sensitive tech-scan.

Kirara , coffee in hand, searches over the room as the drink of choice seems to differ from one person to another, ears tuned toward the strange explanations offered them. Her fingers circle a bit tighter around her cup as she considers, focus drifting toward the cafe's window to watch the unmoving world on the other side. It's hard not to notice that the scent wafting from the coffee just happens to be her favorite. Her smile seems lost, a contemplative line overtaking its curve as she muses over the unexpected turn of events.

"I'm more curious how you knew my favorite drink," she admits, eyes turning to rest gentle toward the kindly barista. "The warning I got was a kind of scary," she admits, brows pinching faintly as a frown finds its way to her lips. "Is it really safe for us to be here?"

    Setsuna doesn't hear the warning about the phone not working, he reaches over and grabs the phone and begins dialing the moment he hears a dial tone. He has to check himself muttering the 10 digit number allowed as he presses the corresponding buttons. Finally finishing and brings the phone eagerly to his ear.

     A ladies voice can be heard for anyone listening and then Setsuna begins to talk over her, "Tomoko? Tomoko it's me, Seiji, tell Koichi that I am so sorry for... " He trails off, realizing the voice is not the voice of his Ex. In fact as he pulls the phone back from his ear everyone can hear the repeating message being provided by a very polite woman, "We are sorry we cannot connect your call at this time. Please try again later."

     Setting the phone on the counter down, the recording still playing over and over. Setsuna looks dejectedly at the black coffee infront of him and sips it before taking a deep breath and gathering himself.

     The coffee brings some clarity and he realizes he will need to apologize to the King another day at another time. Probably also needs to apologize to Kaydon, Taking a few more slow breaths he looks at the Barista, "Thank you for the opportunity to use the phone and the coffee." Taking another sip he continues to work on gathering himself for now.

ZA slice of carrot cake is set next to Wake's drink; she draws deeper into herself. The answers are heart, but they suddenly less important. She hears something. Conversations buzz around her. She hears plans for the weekend. She sees flickers of couples, like ghosts, from the corner of her eyes. Real enough to her. She is wrapped in the dream before.

    The fork is lifted.

    "Itadakimasu!"

    Her voice seems a strange sound to her ears. The excitement in it. The sincerity. A taste of the cake follows. A drink of the coffee-taken black-and another bite. It settles her into a place in time and a memory. A perfect tear falls.

There are many questions being asked, yet Kita's mind can't seem to actually focus on them for very long. She's already doodling again in the margins of the page, drawing out what looks to be various designs that have nothing to do with this moment in time. It is almost as if inspiration has struck and she just needs to get ideas down. Below the doodles, however, she does write the words: 'Realm of Uruk'.

While others seem to be enjoying their drinks and sweets, she is too preoccupied for that. "A Kingdom, a new home for a many." She murmurs to herself, brows slightly drawn as she bites at her lower lip, seeming even more intent on her task.

For those who know enough to check, she is certainly under the influence of a 'Strange Mood' at the moment, which might explain why she isn't quite acting as herself. The Imp looks up, glancing between Gilgamesh and the Barista, taking a moment to sketch out their stances, their outfits, and any details she might need later. But she seems to not really be focusing on that. No, she just seems to keep murmuring to herself.

    Switching from Haru-fed chocolate to other cakes, Fuka continues in hedonistic bliss. Unlike Haru she sticks with the sweets, not digressing into savorys. It's how she rolls. Sure, savorys are nice and all, but CAKE! She does agree though. "Really good!"

    Fortunately she's not entirely lost. Despite cake she's actually attentive to the philosophy and historic events taking place, but content to observe them for now while she enjoys herself. "Luna... I don't think we're in Carmel Gateaux at all. Or anywhere near it." she suggests. "The entrance was a portal. We could be on the moon for all I know. I don't think any signals from this place would be detectable in Yamato, not unless the portal was open." she notes. "This is attached to Yamato, to that root city... but I'm given to understand it's not a part of it. Guardians, for example, don't see or protect against things here. Which is why we're all supposed to be really polite!"

    Which, of course, Fuka is being. Why, she's even drinking coffee with her pinky extended!

Haru's blue eye settles on Gilgamesh as he doesn't get an answer. The King had been here before, but before that time he /found/ this place. How? Haru either didn't ask it clearly enough or wasn't getting a response either way. With this much chaos in the small cafe, its safe to assume thats just another whiff on the knowledge bat. He looks at the cup. Two whiffs with the failed Appraisal. He nibbles on his sconce. However ten out of ten food. He sticks to baseless theories, "Knowing your order before asking for it is skilled omakase." Nibble. "It also means a read on all our profiles." Swallow. "Or maybe it doesn't." The Artificer places a hand on the table. He has had his fill of food and anything more is overdulging. That is to say he continues to indulge and splurge on the sweets and coffee from there on out.

"The Realm of Uruk," the white haired Artificer states with a raise of his coffee cup. Politics. History. Chocolate. An eye flicks to Luna's commentary. "Without something to prove it you know your next step is to prove it or disprove it. Thats just science, Luna, you are never stuck when you know your next step in the scientific method," he replies dryly to the insinuation. A hand taps impatiently on the table. "I'm going for a walk before we leave or are ejected. I picked up everything I can from this place. There are a few things outside the cafe I want to take a look at." He pays(?) his bill before pushing himself out from the cafe table. Its a small place, lingering longer than you should is just poor form.

    Mizuki really thought that would fully hurt and bleed. It almost would have made *more* sense here. She laughs in relief as instead the normal game thing happens, and sheaths the knife, leaving her jacket off.

    The black short-sleeved shirt and slacks look entirely in-place here, though the boots are a slightly odd choice for city wear.

    Mizuki is served: Chocolate milk and something like strawberry shortcake. Well, more of a sponge cake here. She sips the milk and *savors* it. She cuts a little bite of cake with her fork and eats it. A couple bites in, her gaze strays to the window again, and she sees: A greyish-white-haired (shiny and perfectly-cared-for thanks to Wake) young woman eating cake with her friends and associates in a Japanese café. A curious impulse strikes her to take a selfie and she reaches for a phone holster that hasn't been there in a long time.

    Gilgamesh mentions the Flügel. Mizuki turns to Prophylaxis and observes, "'Flügel' is a word that, um, whatsername, the construct, Schwarz-something, kept using..."

    "...Wait, did someone say the Barista is the old man in charge of the root town?" She turns the other way just in time to see the hand reader appear and the King make his proclamation. Uruk... that sure *sounds* like a name from Earth myth.

Gilgamesh and the Barrista both answer Whis's questions in their own turn, but they don't add new information - they simply confirm her theories. Whiskey Sour gives Baroness Wake a meaningful look, and smiles an I-Told-You-So weary smile, and then returns to the Silver Foxes to nod, slowly, with a bob of her chin that sprawls dark hair perilously close to her coffee--

But she's used to her own motions. Rob carries on, and she warms to the conversation for something to speak to, as she leans on Seliana's support.

"The world felt good. Feels good. To me, under my feet, in my hands. And this place feels... off, now. Even if it's so familiar, like a shadow I'm seeing. I never noticed how rough pavement was. I thought it was smooth, normal, and now it's sandpaper to skin."

She shrugs. "Shadows of a life we're not living any more." Her voice falls, and she lifts her dark brew to her lips and lingers with the steam under her nose, curling around into the recesses of her eyes.

"I forgot how good this was, though." Whis decides, looking up to the Barrista. "Do you give lessons? I wouldn't mind learning, if I'm going to live in a kingdom instead of being 'Outcast'. I don't mind wearing colors if they feel right."

There's so much going on, it's a lot for Yeowang to take in. She watches it all quietly, trying to keep track of everything going on all at once. People exploring the menu, people asking interesting questions, and, oh! A phone. She will rise from her chair and stand behind Setsuna for her turn to use it. Still paying attention to as much of everything as she can, she will wait for her turn to call out. If could work, the game's on a computer, and computers conrtol phone networks anymore, so it's /possible/. This being a wildly non-technical guess based on hope more than understanding.

But then Setsuna gets the unable-to-connect message, and she sighs. "Try another number, just in case?" she asks, and will take the phone from the counter, hang up, and try one herself. Well, one number not connecting could be this line or the destination being down. Two bad tries means this line's not connected. "What's the point of a line that's not connected?" she wonders aloud, then hrms, hangs up and dials "0". Maybe there's an operator? Otherwise, why's the prop even operational?

"I did say Cosmosphere Exposed. It was very brief. It came and went," she remarks, casual. "It was-"

Uta's eyes sparkle with excitement at the sight of Mizuki attempting to stab herself with her dagger. She cuts mid-sentence and grabs her syringe, ready to inject.

She hesitates. She glances towards the Barrista. Right. No fighting. And surprise jabs might be misinterpreted.

"That'll be the control group," Uta rattles out, gesturing at the arm she's just pierced. "Let me know when you're done, so I can-" she turns towards the Barrista, and raises her voice slightly, "WITH YOUR PERMISSION", back to Mizuki, "-inject this other arm with a-" lower volume, said faster, like those warning and side effects at the end of commercials for prescriptions, "-n experimental-", back to normal volume and speed, "-painkiller. If it works, it's going to be -big-!"

She notices the floating menu. "Just... -what- are you?", Uta asks the Barrista. "A Lander? An Adventurer like us? An Alv?"

Back at Kaydon. "Replica? How are you sure that's a replica and not the real thing?" She shifts her eyes towards Mizuki and Prophylaxis. "Oooh, speaking of which. How do you know that this is not a game? And if it is not a game, then -what- is it?"

Uta happens to catch Setsuna's conversation on the phone. She looks at Setsuna. Her look turns to compassion. She looks at Setsuna. At her syringe. At Setsuna. At her syringe.

She hangs her head and sighs. "I fear that there's pains that are beyond this..."

"Are all the Spriggans in Tolbana getting a home? A proper home? One they won't be kicked out of or something like that?", she asks Kita, wings springing up as her interest is piqued. And then -Fukaziroh-'s comments get her interest. "Wait, wait, just a moment...", she says, and opens her menu to check the location information of her friends in her friend list.

And if it's somehow possible to menu-interact with the Barrista -- send a friend invite or anything.

To Mizuki: "Fluegel, Alv... different names for the same thing. Fluegel is German for 'wing(s)'. Probably called that because they're winged beings."

Far to the East or the West. Prophylaxis' brow furrows. "...Europe, then...? It can't be North America... Unless it's Africa? But that doesn't make sense either... No, it's got to be Europe. Then Orth is over there, and the 'other worlds' that the invaders have talked about... Are actually part of /this/ world. So what the blazes are they going on about...?" The doctor mutters, but as he takes a sip of that coffee, he suddenly perks up (ears and all). "This... this is..."

Are... are there tears in his eyes? Mistiness in his gaze!? "This is the best cup of coffee I've had in years...!" And there is cake! The perfect cake! A slice of rich, chocolate mousse cake topped with a rippling layer of whipped cream and chocolate chips!

It's heavenly. Prophylaxis emits a sound that only certain animals can hear as he munches down a tiny chunk of cake, carefully savoring each bite. It's almost enough to distract him from the monumental change transpiring before them.

...But not enough to fail to notice Setsuna's... Heartbreak.

"Tomoko, Koichi..." Prophylaxis murmurs, crestfallen again. That's right, this is just a reminder of all that they've lost.

All that they must... somehow, reclaim.

"I am glad that you think so highly of us, King Gilgamesh," the doctor intones, "Flügel... Yes, I think so. So was Artosh their... Deus? Their 'god?' Did he also have control over the Machina?" Beat. "Incidentally, the Tear of Ice has been eliminated. But the tower quickly... reclaimed her. We don't know where she went to afterwards."

The Realm of Uruk is forged. Prophylaxis leans back and sighs, "...Poseidon, God of the Sea, huh? Mmn..."

If Orth and Baal are part of this world, then... Why do those foreign heroes think that each climb is somehow destroying their world? With each climb, with each floor conquered, are they... destabilizing this world in general? Or is it something else. Someone else, trying to deceive them into not climbing the tower. The doctor massages his brow before taking another long draw of his drink.

"...What /are/ the Scrapped Princesses, really...?" He asks of the air, more than anyone in particular.

But he stays and listens, because this is history in the making. And he still needs to hear the Barista's response to the... potential security issues.

Seliana watches the interaction between Gilgamesh and the Barrista closely. As Gilgamesh places his hand on what seems like a handprint, her eyes narrow but she is focused on the Barrista. Her eyes already glowing eyes flare with a briefly increased intensity, and then her eyebrows raise and eyes widening somewhat larger.

She blinks a couple times, her attention again returning to those nearby. She smiles at Whis before turning her head to SpritesHero and conversation. "This area seems to be a Remnant." She hums in thought. "It has been some time.. but if I recall this.. universe has a kind of lore. The 'merging' of worlds." She uses air quotes as if she doesn't truly believe it literally. "Or was it the travelers moving between worlds?" She questions herself. "Travelers - as the name suggests - travel. They call us their children. Perhaps you are familiar with them?" She questions.

As Whis mentions how good the drink is Seliana looks a little more closely, and yet she doesn't seem to seek out one for herself. In a quiet voice she comments to the Plant Duck alchemist, "I would like to understand more of what that barrista is. They hold power to grant kingdoms."

There's a beat. Prophylaxis' eyes trace towards the King again. "...Pardon for asking, your highness-- I can understand why you didn't organize Carmina Gadelica into a true kingdom until recently, but... Why did you not do so in ages past, when the Root Towns were first taken?"

    Mizuki pulls her arm *away* from Uta slightly. "Not now. You can try it later, when we're back on the surface."

    How do you know this isn't a game? Mizuki shrugs and shakes her head. "I don't know anymore." And then she smiles knowingly, with a hint of mischief and sadness, "But I *do* know, that if you didn't eat sweet things at a café before, this is your chance. Don't you want to try some?" She'll even offer a bite of her cake, but suggests that Uta order her own after that.

    Spriggans getting a home? "Huh... does Tolbana count as part of Carmina Gadelica...?"

Gwen has to wonder why the King waited so long it's true however as Prohylaxis asks about that. Her cheesecake arrives and she'll start to eat it with a look of bliss on her face. This may get her an idea for a mood. Cheese cake the people of Yamato would deserve such bliss. "This cake is so good."

Uta wallows in the wonders of espresso. Close eyes. Feel the jolt of energy.

Just what one needed: caffeinated Uta in a Fey Mood.

"This is a really good one," Uta remarks, putting the small cup back onto the little dish. She sighs, satisfied, and then turns and blinks to Mizuki, "Uh... no, to be honest, I have not considered cake. Why would I-"

Groooooooowl. GROOOOOOOOOOOWL. Growl.

Gurgle.

Uta looks down at the Ravenous Beast of the Deeps that Craves Devouring, which didn't seem to be appeased by your Puny Iman Sandwich.

With a resigned sigh she says, "...okay, okay, I'll try a bit. But just because you offer it. After that I'll have to go back to work on the anesthetics", she says, a glance cast sideways to the syringe, as she attempts to pick up and eat a bit of the offered dessert. She stops for the briefest moment, to comment, "I don't think Tolbana counts as part of Carmina Gadelica. That's in Aincrad. It's just that, as far as I know, a lot of the Spriggan refugees that live there are currently Outcasts. I was wondering if they'll become citizens of Uruk."

That's the last thing she says before chugging down some cake.

Kaydon motions to his still gnoll form as he looks back at Uta, "Because I don't look like this in the real world." He says, with a faint laugh, before he goes back to his coffee, "As much as maybe I wish I did."

Haru makes his way towards the door. To Proph's question he offers an assumption, "When a military leader takes office of a land during peace times it is seen as aggression. When it is at times of war, it is seen as bastion. Possibly." Beneath the mask, the Artificer does not trust easily. "Its all timing and optics, politics," he says, not speaking to anyone on his way out with a little jingle. Shibuya. A kind of it, at least. An underground version of it, maybe. He doesn't know for sure so it is time to spend his remaining minutes running what experiments he can. His first venture is to go to one of the leaves and see if they can be plucked from them. Appraised. Pocketed. He checks around for a newspaper or store calendar. Hours of operation. Anything that would clue him into what /this/ Shibuya thinks is day and time.

The Barrista does not answer Kaydon on the topic of cacao beans. It doesn't look like he intends to allow the Adventurers to depart with anything from the Remnants of the Old World either. Aside from the food and drinks in their stomach. "Please make sure to return the silverware and dishes to my counter when done. I will ensure it gets washed." He instead remarks.

Then to Toshiro's question, the man explains; "I am a Kunie. Our purpose is to administrate important locations in the world such as these. My particular job is to administrate the Root Town itself, and to define its ruler. Originally, the Alv were in charge of these Root Towns, and thus their 'Kingdoms'. Now, I am honored to finally re-establish this place as a Kingdom administrative zone."

The Barrista then notes; "It is my job to know what you like to drink. As such, I made sure that I knew." In other words, he basically read her mind. Prophylaxis can no doubt explain to her what the Cosmosphere and its protections are.

He then places another coffee before Setsuna, and pulls out a little silver flask. He then pours a bit of 'the good stuff' into the coffee, and then puts his finger to his lips. As if asking him not to 'tell anyone'. Of course, everyone could see if they were paying attention.

Then, there's this sudden 'pulse' that fills the chamber, as King Gilgamesh finishes making his announcement. And those present within the chamber suddenly have a little notification pop up, if they are Outcasts:

< You have been Assigned to the Realm of Uruk Kingdom >

Followed by them suddenly getting access to its Chimlink systems!

Though it's still not working down here.

The Barrista smiles at Gilgamesh. "Now they finally have cause to call you a King. I do hope you are careful with your new responsibilities and power." He remarks. Gilgamesh in turn touches his chest and makes for a small bow.

"Thank you." He answers. "I will honor this responsibility." Before rising again and turns to the Adventurers.

"Let us depart. I do not know if this place is like the Lost Grounds, but we should not linger here for long." The King pushes. But when he sees some of them practically to tears getting to eat this food, he relents a bit and notes; "When... you are done drinking and eating."

The Barrista unfortunately shakes his head. "Sorry, I cannot permit much more intrusion into this World. Especially if they tale is true that some are after my life. I will have to make preparations to protect my own life and freedom."

When Yeowang calls '0' on the Phone, it just hangs... then connects. And when Yeowang speaks, she hears her voice on the other side. In the meantime, Uta finds that the current location is ???????.

Gilgamesh continues to speak to Prophylaxis for a bit; "The Tear of Ice was reclaimed when I fought it as well. I tore out the main source of its power before it could." He remarks. "As for Artosh... it's not a 'God' per-se. Not in the way that the Three are. As for the Scrapped Princesses... I suppose you could call them Demons from beyond this World. I fear that the Alv were the last to truly know their origin and true nature." He doesn't go further into the matter of why he didn't orignally turn it into a Kingdom, but the look he gives Prophylaxis suggests the answer was the same.

The Barrista does not reply to Seliana, and neither does Gilgamesh go into the topic of the Traveler very far. But at least he remarks; "That is a tale only for the Travelers to speak on. But as you may have theorized by now - they are Deus that have come to Alba's surface."

"This has been very enlightening." So to be a Kingdom there has to be one of these 'Kunie' to be the operating center of it. Huh. So many things the Alvs left with little explaination.

Pause.

"Can I get another coffee and cheese cake before we go?" A final request born between her usual appetite and her current lack of eating regularly. Plus the coffee is just that darn good.

    The emotion takes some time for Wake to move past. She doesn't want to. This memory is important, and it rarely is so strong. The scent and taste are what is so meaningful. That it should be only here, only this time, only makes it more poignant. But she is blessed, because for her, the memories come back far more frequently than most.

    After a time, Wake is ready to ask a question that is revealing. Perhaps dangerously so, considering what King Gilgamesh has explained. Politics are dangerous, indeed.

    "Barrista, is one of your kin stationed near Eas? Are any of your people lost? Could they come to dwell there?"

    Setsuna listens, and sips his coffee slowly as he listens to the Kunie explain what there role in all this is. Between the cold water of life , the coffee, and simply everything happening around him he is able to grasp some clarity. "Does the Aincrad Tower have a Kunie?" The question asked as if it was just a random thought he had.

     Once they are all done he stands and out of habit places some coins on the counter. It appears to be more out muscle memory and habit then actually thinking about. This could even be seen by the amount he left almost seeming random, a few silvers for a single cup of coffee. However it was a damn good cup.

Kita's pencil pauses as the notification pops up before her eyes. She lets out a soft breath, the little mote of darkness beside her spinning around her head once before settling by her shoulder again. It is the first time she has seen a Kingdom show on her character stats since... well, since the Bandit King had expelled them from Ezzo.

She reaches out and taps the notification, then looks down at the various designs that she has been drawing. This seems to only spur on her need to finish them. A new Kingdom deserves a banner to unite themselves under. Something to call their own and represent them as a people.

Uta's question gets only a moment of her attention, "Yes. I think this is exactly what it means." Having advocated for the Spriggan refugees for so long, she knows that this is likely to bring some relief to many. They would know that there is someone who would fight for them and their interests, besides the Adventurers of Scale Emblem.

Yeowang frowns as the phone connects to itself when calling the operator. Seems it's completely a prop phone on a prop network. Why the designers made a prop phone network with prop messages is puzzling, but so, so much of this game confuses her. But now things are completed, the Kunie is warned, and we're being sent out. She will take a last look around, then depart with the others. Not much else she can do here.

'Demons from another world.' Prophylaxis closes his eyes again and slowly exhales through his nose. Those names... The names that appeared once before. What are they, really? What is 'Skeith,' and why can someone call upon its power? The doctor nods slowly after a moment, taking another bite of his cake.

"I see. Then we're still in the dark. Still, if they're not gods, then we must be able to fight against them." Gilgamesh explains the situation with the Tear of Ice. The Doctor nods, "She was missing her power core when we fought her, and we removed some of her limbs before she was reclaimed. So hopefully, the next time she appears, we'll be more equipped to deal with her... And her ilk. I'm certain we'll likely see the other Three sooner or later." For better or for worse. "I might need to speak with you later, your Highness. The other Machina... It would do us well to know more about them, if you're willing to share."

"I know we're on a tight clock, but I feel I should ask," Prophylaxis turns to the Barista, still savoring his coffee and cake. "There are Chaos Gates throughout the tower, and a massive city with one on its fifth floor. Could there be... other Kunie, beneath those locations as well? Or are the Chaos Gates not necessarily... tied to Root Towns? Also... Are we really not allowed to take anything from here? Not even a recipe if we're the ones to write it down? Because the cake and coffee are /really/ good."

Beat.

"Lost... Lost Grounds? Those..." The doctor's eyes widen. "/Those/ got carried through too? Nnngh. Fragment-- they really brought a lot over, didn't they...?"

    Kaydon says that. Mizuki looks at him, and then looks down at the table soberly. "Mm."

    Mizuki's a little taken aback at how enthusiastically Uta goes for the cake. She wasn't offering *that* much...! Oh well. Mizuki'll get to try one of the chocolate ones too then.

    Part of Japan becoming an 'administrative zone' or the like sounds ominous. Anime really *has* rotted her brain...

    To know what she likes to drink? Mizuki looks at the Barrista excitedly, "Can I get sweet iced tea?? I haven't had it in forever! Maybe some Dr. Pepper?"

    She looks curiously at Gilgamesh. "Why... what are the lost grounds? Why is it dangerous to tarry here?" Then she remembers who she's speaking to and adds, "Your highness."

"Wouldn't say I'm familiar with them per se," Robert replies to Seliana, after giving Whiskey a rather odd look indeed, coupled by an intent once-over. "I've heard -of- them, much along the lines of..." His head tips in the Barrista's direction. "But that's about it. Couldn't possibly guess as to why we are their children."

With that, Robert drops to one knee, and is just about to begin unlacing his boot when something stops him. It's probably the thought of Gilgamesh's paternal disapproval. Or the general sense of imminent embarrassment. Whatever the cause, Robert mercifully does -not- start violating any "No shoes, no shirt, no service" clauses, and instead simply steps towards the door. At which point he begins poking at the pavement, experimentally, with an outstretched finger. His gaze lifts in contemplation. Poke poke.

An afterthought. "Who would seek your life, and why?" he asks of the Barrista.

Toshiro nods slowly as the Barrista explains the situation, slowly swirling the untouched drink in his hand all the while. "I see...That sounds like a lot of responsibility. As well as a rather lonely role to fill down here. Though I guess it's the perfect place for a man to remain in hiding." He offers the silver fox a friendly smile before setting his drink down on the counter, gently sliding it away from himself. With that he stands up straight, letting out a soft groan as he bends backward to stretch his muscles. "It's a shame we can't stay. I would have loved to get a chance to look around this lovely realm of yours."

With a shrug, Toshi stuffed away his remaining questions. Instead he focuses on the newly appointed king, gently bowing his head toward the seasoned old Lander. "Congratulations, your highness. I'm sure that the realm will be well looked after in your care." A hand moved to gently slide the pumpkin spice late that was once in his hand across the counter toward the king. "Why not take a moment to celebrate before we depart?"

Lunaris shrugs at Fuka's reply, giving a rather wan smile, "Have to experiment before I know! Mostly just bumbling around in the dark currently. But.. Too much of this world has code, if there's code then there's ways to find things is all. Just need to know how." A wince crossing her face at the talk, something she wasn't keen on talking about? Whatever, she brushes over that, shifting up to standing and sipping away at her drink as everyone is poised to move, "Either way. Nice to have a taste of.. Not-quite-home."

The talk of Lost Grounds were certainly fascinating, whatever they were. Lost things were usually cool, and same with dangerous places. That was true gamer logic, the best thing being in such places. So it held her fascination. Plus as a tamer she was somewhat invested in interesting monsters. Part of the job. The response from Haru getting a quirk of her eyebrow, before paying attention to the newly coronated king, giving her head an incline of respect, before starting to scan the cafe for anything that looks particularly useful.

Gwen while enjoying her food she'll listen, she savours every bite of the cake. Same for every sip of the coffee as she listens. She watches as the Kingdom is formally formed and she smiles.

"Congratulation your highness. I'm glad you honoured me with the invitation to this."

She notes to King Gilgamesh as his kingdom is properly founded.

"The worlds going to be a bit more interesting and if you need my aid you just need to contact me."

She gets her time is short here as she finishes her meal, she'll return the dishes and such. She looks to Wake as she asks the Barista a very important question. If that could be done...that could change the political game.

"Even Gods can bleed, I do wonder if I might ask Barista can the Chaos Gates be ... brought back into function?"

Kirara nods her head to The Barrista's reply, a thankful smile resting half-anxious at her lips as she wills away the frown that had rest there only a moment ago. The understanding seems to make her a bit uneasy, the relaxed posture of her shoulders breaking for a moment as she gives a single-shouldered roll of discomfort. Withdrawing her gaze from the Kunie, she rests her eyes to the defeated Setsuna, strength finding the line of her smile in hopes of granting them some assurance.

She still hasn't touched her coffee, and as the King suggests they hurry to make their leave, she finds her attention centered in the direction of his voice. With all the chatter picking up, Kirara resigns herself to silence, a curious gaze searching the King's expression as Mizuki mirrors one of the questions circling in her own mind.

Haru finishes his task just outside of the cafe. Five leaves. One notched with a dagger from his inventory, one notched with a rock from this world. Three untouched. Assuming they dont get immortal object errors, he takes them and the small rock for more experimentation outside of the Nowhere Space. He steps back to the cafe like it is a rowdy party still going strong. He looks to Fuka and lets her know, "I'll be by the exit." He swipes a box of pocky to monch on while waiting, giving the motion to 'on their tab' to the Barista. With that the Enchanter makes his way to where they once came. A little more quiet than it once was.

Seliana listens with interest about what it is the Kunie is and their role in the world. She tilts her head in thought at the information. Then looking to SpritesHero she comments, "They claim to have named the races themselves. Moving from dying world to dying world, if I recall correctly what I was told from another guild member. Perhaps you'd like to learn more some time?" She asks the spriggan questioningly.

As Gilgamesh comments on the conversation about the Travelers Seliana gives a little start and swivels her head to face the golden king once more. She gives a small grin, her teeth just barely showing, as the rainbow of colors continues to swirl in her eyes. "You are very knowledgeable, your majesty." She sounds a bit hesitant at the title, it doesn't sound natural, but she is making at attempt at politeness. "Would you happen to know who or what The Morrigan is as well?" her grin growing a little further. "Is she also some Deus?"

Then looking to Whis, who she seems to be rather close with making an obvious effort to be nearby, "It seems that our time is running out here in this 'Remnant'. We were also warned from staying long by Indieglut Lugh, one of the other remnants."

"Congrats, your highness." Kaydon says, as he raises his mug of cafe mocha to Gilgamesh, taking note of the new chimlink. Welp, he supposes he'll need to update his resume now that he has a kingdom to put on it. He finishes off his drink and passes the cup back. Shame about the lack of chocolate, they'll still need to sort it out up top apparently.

"That's a good question Gwen. If we could figure out how to get them back online it would help immensely." He pauses and sighs for a second, "I wonder...If the Palace Lands has had contact with Baal yet. I would assume the two regions would butt up against one another. We never made it far enough west to find out."

"Kita?" Uta asks, abruptly, turning to the Imp. "Think you can sketch a sky map with the positions of the main constellations, the Moon, if visible, and the planets? Very quickly? I think we might be able to show that to someone familiar with astronomy, like Estelle, and get a ballpark on -when- Earth would have such a sky."

Gilgamesh mentions taking a power core while fighting the Tear of ice. King Gilgamesh was involved in the Crystal Tower Rebellion. Could it be that...

Realization strikes.

"Wait, you mean -this- thing?" Uta asks, pointing at a smooth, mechanical-looking necklace she's wearing. "You took this from the Tear of Ice?"

A pause. More frowning. "Speaking of which. -Where- is the Crystal tower right now? Has it been relocated? Squished under Aincrad? Destroyed? On display in a museum, where it belongs?", Uta asks, before she notices that Haru pulls out a dagger.
    he healer's eyes glint.

"Are you going to stab yourself with that? Uh? Someone else? Me? I'll take me. As long as there's stabbing. And pain."

    Hearing that they have to leave very soon now and that they can't take anything with them, Fuka groans in disappointment but doesn't protest. Instead she begins shoving food into her mouth like a squirrel, entirely unproductively in fact, spoiling the enjoyment. But then, that's her sort of thing. Consequences be damned.

Haru only had the dagger out brief enough to notch the leaf. He looks to Uta, "No Uta," he says flatly, "not stabbing you. Its an experiment on object durability to test a theory on access and reality."

It just so happens that Uta already has Kita's attention in the moment that she asks for that particular favor. Otherwise, the girl may very well have gone back to her near-obsessive design work. In fact, the entire page in front of her seems to be filled with various doodles and sketches as if she were trying to capture a national emblem or flag design for the new Realm of Uruk.

"The sky?" Kita seems momentarily confused, but then gives a nod, stepping out to try to get a better view. "I can certainly try, though I'm no astronomer. I'll jot down a general layout of what I can see." So, she gets to doing just that. Mote, on the other hand, keeps bobbing around her head, looking as if it were not happy about being here.

The Barrista's declination leaves Whiskey Sour with a little smile, though Seliana fills in why. She was told, but she didn't believe it was so literal. "Alright then. It's hard to teach people on the run, I understand."

A nostalgic way of thinking, from a world that didn't just resemble a coffee shop but simply had them. 'The world isn't passively changing me'. Now, it actively did, with alerts in her head.

And then Rob gives her a weird look, and the dark-haired girl gives him a tired, unimpressed look. "What, something wrong?" She asks, direct and blunt.

Ah, but before going -- "You've been very gracious. May I request another cup of coffee?" She lifts her empty cup to the Barrista.

"It's not every day you're present at a coronation that doesn't suck, it seems. A little somber, but..."

Whis gives a heart-hands gesture to King Gilgamesh. "Nice venue, my king. Very classy afterparty. Commends for you."

The Barrista notes; "I do believe all Root Towns still have a Kunie each. But beyond those Kunie, I do not know what other locations have administrative zones such as that." He explains to the group at large, shaking his head ever so slightly before he moves over to a bowl and begins to hand-grind with mortar and pestle for some new grounds.

To Kita's words, Gilgamesh finally nods his head; "Though we have limited housing, we will take in those we can house. Alne remains to be the Place Promised to the Travelers - but I am certain we can aid in some way."

He doesn't answer on the topic of why the Lost Grounds are dangerous. He may simply not know or what they truly are. Similarly, the Barrista does not speak on the topic of the Chaos Gates.

At the question about The Morrigan, Gilgamesh raises his head, then shakes it. "I've heard the term only recently." He admits, before looking to Uta as she raises Kein-Eintrag. "Hmm..." Squinting. "No, it was more like a gem." He answers her. "Each of the four had one. I removed each and every one. It was allowing them to enhance their magic further - and create some kind of 'physical' Light. As for the Crystal Tower... Aincrad stands in its place now."

The Barrista then pats his coffee machine; "Sorry, I am out of coffee grounds to make any of you further drinks. I do believe it is time for you all to go, so I can prepare for what may be coming my way." He pushes, and moves around the counter to flip the OPEN sign to CLOSED, and holds the door open, giving people a knowing look.

Gilgamesh is one of the first ones out.

SpritesHero piles out shortly thereafter, having nimbly scooted aside the moment folks started heading for the door. Wouldn't do to be caught blocking yet -another- entrance, after all.

Not that he goes far. He simply stands to one side, hand opening and closing, brow furrowed in thought. At length he glances back up at Whiskey. "It feels like no...it feels like I think it used to feel," he begins, and hastily amends. "I don't -think- it is so different." Another rather odd look. Or, to be more precise, an odd look directed towards her feet, but it's more curious than anything else.

Seliana's offer is returned with a grateful nod. "I'd love to learn more sometime, when you are free," he confirms, hand lifting to tappity-tap at the air in front of him. "Much obliged." A friend request, no doubt.

    Wake finishes her meal, places her dishes where directed, and curtseys to the Barrista.

    "Gochisousama-deshita!" The familiar words feel more meaningful here, but tt is time to leave.

Gwen takes note of what's been said and what has note she smiles. "Thank you for the wonderful treat." She'll end up turning to leave shortly after Gilgamesh does so.

Kirara lifts herself from her seat as The Barrista comments that it's time for them to. She steps to deliver her untouched coffee to the counter before turning to follow Gilgamesh, a smile of gratitude offered toward the fox-eared Kunie as she grants him a quiet "Thanks" for his courtesy. Rather than hold to the middle of the pack, she seems to be pulling to be among the first to exit the building as the King makes his exit.

Her gaze flicks back as she moves to step through the doorway, but before she can take a final look at the familiar surroundings of the coffee shop she directs her attention forward - denying herself that final glimpse.

Toshiro eyes his drink for a moment as Gilgamesh leaves it behind. There is a moment of pause before a heavy sigh escapes his maw, shoulders drooping as he snatches the cup up himself. Finally, he allowed himself to enjoy the pumpkin spice late that had been initially offered up to him. His head tilted back, eyes closing as he quickly chugged the whole thing down. Once it's all down he lets out a breath of relief, as if a burden was suddenly lifted from his shoulders. The empty cup is set on the counter as the were fang draws a thumb across his lips to wipe them clean. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, my friend. Stay safe down here."

With a respectful nod, he would make his way toward the exit. As they go, he places a hand on Wake's back, giving her a gentle pat. "Gochisousama Deshita, my friend. Let's go." He wasn't too familiar with the woman, but it's difficult to ignore how much this environment had so clearly influenced her.

With the announcement and being already on her feet, Lunaris is soon heading out along with the new King. For a moment she totters on her feet, turning to face the Barista and giving a little flourishing bow, "Thanks for the reminder of what we left! Good luck with whatever comes next!" With that she offers a wave and darts out, head aswim with a thousand and one things to think about and consider, it really was a lot for the newbie to say the least. With that she's out, shoving her hands against her belt to try and stop them wandering, all too much here was tempting to 'borrow' but best behaviour and all that, really.

"That's curious," Uta frowns, not noticing that King Gilgamesh is gone by now. "The inspection text for this item says that 'This device, pilfered from one of the Four during the Crystal Rebellion, was once the defense core of one of them. It was integrated into the center of a smooth mechanical looking necklace that lays flush to the wearer's body, and can reinforce one's defensive implements with a thin barrier.'" More silence. "See, even 'The Four', which I believe are... uh... four... Machina? Anyway -- I hadn't mentioned the Four before, and they came up."

"Oh. Oh. How bad of me! I have forgotten to ask -the- most important question!" Uta inhales, deeply, hesitates... and finally finds the courage to ask, "...Now that Uruk is a proper kingdom, do I need special permissions and compliance measures to keep naming my organization the 'Royal Society for the Appreciation and Study of Gelatinous Creatures?'" Twirling her fingers, she looks down and away. "I've kinda been relying on the grey area about the status of the term 'Royal' before..."

When she looks up and sideways, well - surprise! Gilgamesh is gone.

"Uuuuuuuuh...."

Stunned silence.

"I suppose it's back to stabbing people with me...", she says, pulling out her syringe again, and squirting a little bit of liquid out.

Grooooooooooowl.

"After more cake. Where's the cake?", she asks, looking at Mizuki's plate. "The cake is gone. Why is the cake gone?", she looks up, and asks in mild panic.

Growl.

"...But why is the cake gone?" she wimpers.

Haru was already out and checking the areas outside the Cafe when the sign flips to close. He notices that Fuka didn't join, but one cannot compare with that which is sweet chocolate and cakes. The Artificer had his own things to check out. When the group is heading back enmasse, he takes one of the leafs out and puts it in his hand as he leaves back to the sewers from wence they came. Stepping on the other side he opens his hand, noticing nothing is there. "That would have been too easy," he notes, going on ahead. Things to do. Mysteries to solve. Accessories to craft. Adventure, ho!

Seliana's grin falters slightly as it appears not every mystery will so easily be revealed, but it still transforms into a smile as she gives Gilgamesh a nod. "Thank you, your highness." Another title, another attempt. Then quickly continuing she raises her hand pretending as if she were holding a glass in a toast, "Congratulations on your new kingdom, King Gilgamesh!"

Then the golden king is out the door. The cafe is closed, and the Adventurers are starting to stream out. She nods to SpritesHero and makes a few gestures in the air seemingly on her menu. "Until then." And she smiles.

Seliana seems to remain close to Whis, who likely doesn't need any support at this point, though she seems content with the situation. As the begin to leave Seliana looks around once more with a whisper on her breath, "I wonder.." and a slight smirk starts to form on her lips.

Prophylaxis nods and finishes up the rest of his cake. It's a mournful consumption, but one that he etches firmly into his brain. A reminder of pastries that once were, of pastries yet to come once more. "Thank you for all your help," the Doctor tells the Kunie, before packing in his gear and making to follow after Gilgamesh's withdrawal. "Best of luck. Please, if there is a way you can reach out, do not hesitate to do so. We will do all we can to keep you safe."

However that might be done.

For now... He will have to redouble the effort to capture and detain spies. If they can find any, then they will be able to strip them of their crowns. From there, who knows what kind of intelligence they might be able to acquire...?

Beat.

"Uta, keep that power core far away from the Tower, if you can help it-- or at least keep a very good eye on it while you're there," Prophylaxis advises. "The last thing we want is to have it restored to one of the Four. At least we know that the others have all been... removed. That's certainly a relief."

"Constellations sometimes features in flags. Stars definitely do. I wonder..." She looks up and away, tapping her lips. "Would stylizing the sky we saw here, the night of its Foundation, be a fitting symbol for the Uruk kingdom? Hmm." Silence. She shakes her head. "I'll leave that for you to decide. You're the artist," she finally concedes. "And it's probably annoying to have people look over your shoulder and tell you how to do your job..."

    Places like this in Aincrad? "But Aincrad is in the sky... what would be there? Open air? Space?"

    A lot of terms are thrown around. Mizuki looks at Prophy. "Wait, are the Scrapped Princesses the machina? I thought they were something else." And then to Uta. "And that came from one??"

    Mizuki is *finishing her second piece of cake and her chocolate milk, dammit.* They go well together. "I'm *finishing* my *meal*. *Why* is it so bad to tarry here?" she repeats. When Uta laments the lack of cake, she cuts the chocolate piece in half and offers half to Uta, making the rest of the meal that much quicker. She'll reluctantly stuff it all in her mouth like a squirrel if more firmly hurried, otherwise she finishes, stands, puts her jacket back on and, after hearing Wake say it, bows to the Kunie. "Gochousama-deshta!" Close enough.

    She is absolutely at least *trying* another door, but she's probably not the first to attempt smashing a window, and sees someone else get the Immortal Object indicator. "...I wonder if there's really anything beyond these windows and doors, or if it's just geometry?"

    Fuka watches Uta trying to handle her obsessive need to study pain, her distraction, her sudden realization as to her lack of cake.

    Fuka, torn, looks down. Looks up. Looks down again. Looks up again. Then, sighing, she lifts a fold of her outfit where she had been attempting to smuggle cake. She knew she'd never be able to remove anything using inventory. That just wouldn't work, due to game logic. But concealing it now, that should be doable! Only her friend needs more cake, and Fuka has never been one to hoard in the face of a friend's need.

    Coming over to tap Uta on the arm, Fuka wordlessly presents the cake.

Kaydon figures that's the last they're going to get out of this guy. More questions than answers, like usual. He rises up from his seat at the counter, and pulls out a gold coin from his inventory before putting it on the counter as a tip. He's American after all.

That being done, he heads towards the exit, thinking about everything that just went down. As soon as he's out of range of the field that blocks chimlinks, however, he sees his light up with all the new chatter, "Wow. Yeah, this is gonna take some explanation for a lot of folks."

Yeowang will depart the coffee shop, taking a look around the famous district of Tokyo. Yeowang's no veteran, but she's been before, and there's a couple stores she thinks might have interesting items. And, well, if it's a city street, she will go into the shop. But, bo dice, it's locked, it seems. Frusutrated, she will kick the door quite hard, but is presented with the flashing <<Immortal Object>> notification. Well, it would have been too easy, snagging something useful from modern Japan. But she had to try, otherwise she wouldn't know. Staring through the glass, a small creature is looking at her and giving her a dirty look. But the door was locked, what could she do? She will head out with the others.

    Mizuki muses, looking around at the city, "Maybe it's here for the end credits sequence. You know, like when you beat Time Cross and it's just, here's a lady walking around Japan singing instead of *anything to do with the plot*, while you're still hoping for some grand explanation of what's going on and more ties with the original game..."

    Mizuki stops for a moment. "Fudge. I accidentally saved the New Game + slot over my save, and I never did finish it and see the good ending. I guess now I never will."

Uta raises an eyebrow at Prophylaxis. "Hmmm. I think we will need to have a chat at what exactly the Four are, why it's important to keep these things away from Aincradp... and maybe other subjects. I'm sure we'll find some time to discuss it during coffee breaks, and it'll make a nice change from ward gossip like who's dating whom, who keeps stealing the Stapling Crystals, or the fairness of parking space for mounts."

And then! A creature! "A chim! That's a chim-chim!", Uta exclaims, excited. It is strange for her to currently get this excited about something that does not tie directly into her Strange Mood -- but as she rushes over to be as close as possible, she navigates her menu, shimmers a lyre into existence, and with the appropriate musical accompaniment, begins to vocalize a song, first a simple note carried by voice, then followed by her best approximation of lyrics in the strange language of the Landers. She appears to be singing at the Chim Chim specifically.

"Until then," Robert responds to Seliana. There's a wave of farewell for the barrister, a quick "Congratulations, sir" for Gilgamesh. And then Robert is off towards the grate, heading back...well, not home. But.

Yeowang is heading away from her failed burglary attempt when Uta rushes over to sing to the chim. She will pause and watch, because often strange and interesting things happen around Uta. And when they try and eat her, she will need help.