Gnolling is Half the Battle

Gnolls. Can't live with them. Can't murder them. Wait, yes you can! They are a healthy source of XP, loot, and safety to the realm! It is even encouraged.

After a good adventure out, Haru invites the party to stop into a Carmina tavern for a drink. He is already keeping a good station over the new realm of Uruk as part of his Alliance responsibilities. It doesn't mean he can't /enjoy/ it there, though. Speaking of enjoyment, he chims out to a few in the area if they want to join those that stick around afterwards for drinks. At first it seems to just be Haru and Curt. A human, a pooka and a... wait there has to be a third for the bar jokes. He is sure one will come along. "That arrow though," Haru says to Curt as he heads on in, "like a little bit to the right and that gnoll alchemist would have been missing a head." He puts his hands together and then expands them like 'exploding watermellon' gesture. The Artificer finds a suitably large table and grabs a seat.

The day's battle may has been difficult, but now the best part of adventuring is here. No, not the loot counting, but that comes in at a very close second. It's the time where strangers who came together for a common goal enjoy the fact they survived and become good friends. Well, sometimes!

Curtana follows in behind the human, blushing in embarrasment as Haru recounts the misaimed spell. "That was one of my strongest spells too. I'm good at controlling elemental spells, but actually using magic in general can be hit or miss with me." The knight pulls back a chair next to Haru and takes a seat himself, and tries to steer the conversation away from his (lack of) magical talents. "As for you, I didn't even know you could pull something from your shadow like that. A cat, right?"

    Always up to enjoy a celebration, even if she hasn't earned it, Fukaziroh makes her way to the tavern Haru suggested. She'd been rather busy earlier or she might have participated in the gnoll hunt. Like him she helps to look after Uruk, though most of her time is spent in Alne rather than the root town. She's grown quite attached to the Eas refugees there after all.

    Perhaps oddly, Fuka's wearing a sword now. Given the sword is almost as long as she is tall, it makes for a very obvious sight with the hilt poking up well over her shoulder and the point all but dragging in the dirt behind her. It's also a rather broad scabbard, curved along the entire length and suggesting a blade a handspan's width from curved edge to spine. If, that is, the scabbard is fully representative of the blade within, which might not actually be the case. Certainly the little sylph doesn't look like the type to swing a long, thick, heavy sword... unless she's compensating for something.

    Spotting Haru she makes a beeline for the group. "HIT OR MISS? HAH!" she cries out in gleeful greeting, obviously having heard the last line. Or second last at least. As to who this newcomer might be, well, hopefully at least Haru knows, given she throws her arms around his neck from behind. Either she knows him or she's about to apply a choke hold. Possibly both.

"And thus Miss Hits on All Things Hot has arrived," Haru says, managing to get the hit/miss and a Fuka-ing in all at the same time while calling himself hot. His vanity concept has increased! A hand is placed over the arms wrapped around him with a pat pat. It could go either way. He wouldn't rule out a good Street Fighter style throw, either. Anything could happen! Yet his one visible blue eye doesnt seem so concerned about it. It'll be fun no matter what. "You've met Fuka, right? Tiny Sylph. Big Axe," as he leans his head back to see that a new weapon has entered the arena, "Oh-ho! Sword is officially minted? I take that back, Curt. Tiny Sylph. Big Sword. Its a trend. She has a type."

The head lulls back into a readonable 'head' position as he hums in a nice thought, "You mean Obsidian Light? That was one of my first custom Wave Artes. They come a lot easier with the inspiration of adventuring, it seems. Wait you meant the summon /method/ from my shadow. Yes. Eve is the cat, though technically she is a Dark sprite, an elemental, so she generally appears from the nearest source and thats my shadow. I've had her the longest of all my summons. Two tails. Two red eyes. One fiesty kitten." A pat pat on the arm around him, "I have a type."

Curtana wasn't aware that he happen to make a pun earlier, but a newcomer to the tavern made sure that it doesn't go unnoticed. He does raise both his eyebrows as Fukaziroh hug-tackles Haru from behind at how familiar she has to be with Haru. Then again, he's only known Haru for only a week now, he's sure the spellslinger has plenty of friends he hasn't met yet.

"Honestly, I can't say I met Fuka before, but I met someone a few days ago who's the same way. Tiny Spriggan, big sword. Almost accidently tossed a boulder on top of me as 'strength training'." Curtana doesn't try to think too mch about how Fuka was introduced as 'Miss Hits on All Things Hot', as that could mean a lot of things.

"Oooh, so that's a custom Arte then? A pretty impressive thing, then. I always liked cats myself, but i'm sure if I try to pet Eve, she would claw my arm pretty good." The Pooka knight would then quickly stand up before taking a bow towards Fuka. "I'm Curtana, pleasure to meet you, miss."

    Fuka scoffs at her introduction, cuffing Haru playfully on the shoulder before leaning down to rest her chin on top of his head. Well, not exactly leaning down to do it. Haru towers over the slight sylph when they both stand, and even when he's seated there's just no way for her to tower over him. She must be up on tiptoes to even be resting her chin on top of his head. "More like HIT all things hot!" she refutes. Not rejecting Haru's claim to hotness, no, just rephrasing it. "I'll have you know there's at least one or two hot people I haven't hit on!"

    Well, more than that. A lot more. Fuka loves innuendo and inappropriate comments, but she's more the type to invite a flirt than to initiate one. But then, that's another story.

    She laughs with delight at Curt's story, either thinking he's joking or finding amusement at the idea of tossing rocks for strength training. "Reminds me of training Songbird to block!" she grins. "Nice to meetcha, Curt! Call me Fuka!" - of course she inspects as Fukaziroh, but that's way too formal for her!

"Oh wait I may have met her," Haru consider as he curls a hand under his chin. A Fuka atop his head. A hand beneath. It would make a good picture for Artisanry. His finger snaps, "Did she go by Viv? I recall running into a mercenary about that description. I owe her a conversation to catch up about the current war and our involvement in it. By our I mean us from Yamato." A big circle is waved in front of him to represent 'all of us'.

There is a bit of a laugh when considering what could happen if someone went to pet Eve. People have tried! "Petting Eve is risking tooth and claw. She is very aloof and mature. Surprisingly protective of me as far as a cat goes." A smile on the young human's face, "You can try, though. Come to think of it, most of my summons are difficult to 'pet'. Rachel would burn you. Won-qu would freeze you. Yumi would shock you. I suppose Terra wouldn't mind, because she rocks." Yes, that is a pun. Terra is a stone golem.

While deep in thought there, Haru closes an eye. He only has one visible eye, so it could be both. The blue eye opens and looks at Fuka, "One or two? How will we ever grow our harem if we don't hit on all of them, Fuka? Im counting on you to reel the hotties in." A pause. He looks to Curt, "Thats all a joke, by the way. The harem thing, not the summon stuff. The summon stuff is real." A hand rubs against the side of his face as he flags down the waitress to order a stout and some finger foods. "Also real is Songbird's strange mood. I really kicked the tar out of her and she was enjoying it last duel." He helpfully translates to Curt, "Which is Uta. Kung Fu Nurse. Really good friend. Runs Slime Labs."

    Mizuki nods as Baroness explains why she doesn't say 'the real world' and something clicks in her head, as she looks awkwardly off to the side, right hand on her left upper arm. "Y-yeah. I wouldn't want someone to say this me isn't 'real'... I, I never thought about it that way before..."

    She looks at Wake as she explains her mission, feeling a little bit... shamed? "You... you're not running in weapons swinging, but clearly you're braver than me..."

    She follows, thinking somberly, as the party makes their way back to town. She switches back to her town outfit and sits awkwardly off to the side at first, not being one for alchohol and just getting some kind of sweet juice she chills with ice magic, listening to the two men talk. A newcomer makes her ears perk up and she looks over with a smile, "Oh, hi!" She blinks at Fuka, and looks at Haru and Curt too.

    "You know, in all the rush to deal with the gnolls... I don't think we were ever introduced, were we? Mizuki. Ninja. Of the Odysseia Knights, although... I haven't been pushing the boundaries and searching for a way out of the game in awhile..."

    She offers a hand to shake Haru and Curt's in turn, she's been introduced to Fuka... right? She can handshake too if she wants. And then Mizuki smiles more. "Clearly, a cat that strikes from shadow is a superior attack! I should know, nya!"

    Wake had stepped away after the exchange with Mizuki. She had an important chim conversation to take care of. No, nothing to do with world-shaking matters. She wanted to talk to her fiancee. Some rituals are more important than anything else.

    A time later, she enters the tavern. She looks around for a bit. It's easy to make out the party. Or gathering. She works her way past other revelers and stands near the table. "Apologies, I had a very important call to take. And a promise to be home after a few drinks."

    She directs a warm smile to Fukaziroh, "I am so happy to see you! I trust you've been well."

Curtana usually does his best to follow up on everyone's full names, especially for an first impression. You need to make sure that you are a respectable person that can be depended on, after all. But in the case of Fukaziroh, he's going to just stick with the nickname. It has nothing to do with the 'z' in her name, not at all.

All of the elemental summons that Haru lists off certainly sounds hands off, except for the last one. "Ah, Terra? Glad to hear that she is pretty down to earth, then...gah!" The knight bonks his forehead softly with a hand. "I need to stop making puns."

The hedge knight is certainly glad to hear the harem is just a joke, but is quick to look for a distraction. It easily comes in the form of Mizuki introducing herself, and Curtana gives her a quick bow. "Just consider me a wandering knight here, though i'm part of Moon Tree here. And...honestly, just know that you can't go full out all the time, Mizuki. Maybe you need a bit of a break or something new to distract you? Cats have to sleep sometime, after all." And the Baroness enters as well, which is the subject to yet another bow from the self-proclaimed knight.

    Mizuki looks away awkwardly at the comment about needing rest, then giggles at the comparison to a cat. "That's true. I do sleep a lot! ...So much better in here, come to think of it..." She furrows her brow and looks thoughtful for a moment. "But I guess it makes sense that a cat would be good at sleeping, right?" She smiles, and looks over at Wake.

    "Oh, you're back!"

    "Puns are a dirty habit." Fuka notes, only briefly deadpan as she says it. "Ever noticed how all of H's summons are girls? He really IS going for a harem." she observes, though she's grinning again. "And yeah, I noticed she was a bit... obsessed. So I asked her to train me in one of her special fighting techniques!" Fuka beams. "We haven't actually been sparring, but she's been pretty happily training me, then applying some rather odd treatments and asking those questions after." Fuka sighs fondly. "She's having fun, that's what counts. And I get to help her! And even suggest she eat something once in a while!"

    Fuka's happy to shake Mizuki's hand, though they have of course met before. Not that Fuka has a problem if Mizuki doesn't remember... she'd been having a bit of a crisis at the time. "Pela does that!" she agrees with Miyuki's assessment of the best catstrike. Then looks suddenly startled as she realizes Wake's there... and Fuka just got caught out in a PDA. Well okay, she has her arms around Haru and is resting her head against his. Not a PDA so much as... okay yeah it's totally a PDA. "Oh hey Auntie!" she grins, though she looks a wee bit sheepish as if she's been caught doing something she probably should feel guilty over. But doesn't, naturally. "Oh yes, I'm well! I didn't even stop eating and bathing while working on Frank!" she claims.

    *Is* it a PDA? Blue cat eyes look a bit nervously between Fuka and Haru as there's talk of harems. "Uta is nice, yes. Glad to hear she's doing well. ...Frank is... you named your sword Frank?"

Haru slowly leans over to Fuka and stage whispers, "Won-qu is not a girl." Though he says nothing about the others which, most definately, are feminine in names. They are also elementals. The Artificer comically leans back up with a grin. "Ay, I summoned my own harem otherwise. That explains why they fight for me. Because to be apart would be too difficult," he says with dramatic closed eye and clenched fist. They open as his drink arrives. A fresh sip of it as he raises his free hand to Wake in a wave. "Pun life is best life." Speaking of life, he remembers something and looks to Fuka, "Eat. Sleep. Bathe. She is getting all of those, right? She is. Good." Sometimes Haru goes between pretensious artisocrat to punster to mother hen all in a single breath. Thats Haru, though.

"Oh hey," Haru accepts the handshake from Mizuki, giving a little bit of a bow in the process for formality's sake, "Haru Nox. Artificer of the Silver Sword, Moonlight Goldsmith, Second of my name, Father of elemental summons, Breaker of Chains." Some of those are true. He gives a short laugh. Frank. Thats so Fuka. "Eve is indeed a smart cat. My constant companion since coming here. You can often find her close by when Im working on accessory forging work or enchanting."

    Fortunately, post conversation with Tae, the affection between Fuka and Haru just brings a wistful expression to the Baroness' face. "I see you.. happy, dear. That is a good thing." Wake directs a look at Haru, studying him closely. She doesn't seem displeased by what she sees.

    Wake doesn't sit. At least not for now. Instead, she asks, "Do you mind if I join you? I will not scold." She laughs softly, wondering just what Fuka expects her to do. That expression speaks volumes.

    Haru barrages Mizuki with titles she will not remember. "Wow. That all sounds really impressive." She looks away. "I don't have any impressive titles... Although... maybe I once did, but, that's all so far away... No one knows the name Mycroft Hellfire here, Engineer of the Well-Tuned Murder Engine... Even in the Black Cloud guild, it's not like I did anything special, I was just some g-- some person."

    She looks at Fuka, remembering the last time they saw eachother. "Ah... y-yeah," she looks away, "I guess you know I've had a lot on my mind lately... it's weird, I bet nobody else thinks about it but now I think about it more and more..."

    And then she looks over at Wake. "Uh... I keep meaning to ask you, by the way, about this whole Beauty Goddess thing... when we're not in the middle of fighting monsters, or visiting some hidden piece of city that calls the nature of the world into question..."

It sounds like this 'kung-fu nurse' certainly is a bit all over the place, and could even be considered one of the quirkest people Curtana has heard about. A lab all about slimes? Just cut them into pixels, leave it at that. "She doesn't eat that often? Geeze...reminds me of when I met a builder trying to get over a dozen tons of metal for a dam. I never seen a Hunger debuff get that deep red before." Sure, he's heard of all the wierd moods his fellow Adventurers get into, but never seen the results of one in person.

Sure, Haru says it's not a harem, but then turns back around and makes a joke like that? "I'm sure it must be difficult being the center of attention like that, but i'm glad to hear you seem to be holding up under all that stress." He does have to raise his eyebrows as Haru lists off all of those impressive-sounding titles though. Haru certainly does get around.

Mizuki brings up a fair point. Since he was already standing up, Curtana walks around the table to pull a chair out for Wake. "I am certainly we would be more than happy to have you join us, madam. And I am curious about the Beauty Goddess as well."

    Fuka has no real sense of shame, but she does have a sense of propriety. There are times and places for all things, and public affection is one of those things some people find inappropriate. Like Mizuki perhaps. So yes Fuka's sheepish, knowing she's being kind of inappropriate, but not actually ashamed. It's not like she minds Wake knowing either. "Oh yes, please! Sit down and tell us about beauty, and please don't just talk about me!" Fuka says cheerfully. "I can talk about myself though, or... YES! FRANK!" she abruptly blurts, putting a hand up and back to pat the hilt of her sword. "You know, like Frankenstein? Or Ben Franklin? Or Frank Zappa?" she asks rapidfire. "Really what else could you call a mighty lightning blade?!"

    Mizuki doesn't look scandalized or astonished at the PDA, just... finding her attention drawn to it but also knowing it's weird to stare.

    Oh hey other topics. "I would have thought, like... Inazuma blade, or rai-something..." Mizuki blinks. "Wait, are you American?? With a name like that, I figured-- oh wait, I'm one to talk, huh..."

    Wake bows her head as the chair is drawn out for her. "You are most kind," she says softly. Settling into the chair, she turns her attention to the request.

    "The Beautiful One," the Baroness begins, "is the goddess of beauty, agriculture," she diverts her eyes to Fuka and Haru, smiling playfully, "-and fertility."

    She seems quite pleased with the topic. "You know, it is rare for adventurers to be sincerely curious about the Goddesses. What questions do you have? I will answer to the best of my ability."

Haru doesn't mind the extra company. He waves Wake on in as Fuka extends the invitation. "Zeus? Raijin? Big Badda Boom?" Haru brainstorms alternative names to Frank, but his tone betrays that he knows the truth. Frank is the only suitable name for such a blade. It shall be etched into history and into the foes that are struck by it. "The Electric Slide'n'Slice?"

The topic of hunger is a serious one. Haru consider, "Food is a pretty important thing, yes. Since I experienced the whole obsession bit myself, you just dont think about it. Its like taking yourself away from breathing. You know its important, but breathing is more important." A head shakes there, "Really something to experience." And not all particularly healthy now that he thinks about it. There is a point and a dumb grin on his face as Curtana calls him out on his 'popularity'. "Life is hard, but I manage." He waggles his eyebrows at that.

    Mizuki looks back to the Baroness. "Oh, um... well... I guess... like, what is the deal with, um, whatever group you're part of? Her... clergy, is that the right word? Most people wouldn't keep making a big deal about that in the middle of an adventure, but... You did. Why? Because you follow the goddess, yes, but why do you?" She tilts her head. "Is it that rare? Why? Oh wait, I guess I barely thought about the gods myself before..."

    Fuka's a bit of an old-school nerd. She's into literature, music, and science. Frank was the perfect name, at least for her. Sure the other names are possible, but not nearly so funny. And more than half the fun is seeing people's expressions when she introduces the blade as Frank!

    She considers Mizuki's suggestions, then waves her hand dismissively. "Those aren't bad names, but they're not GOOD names either!" she claims. Haru's suggestions are along a similar line. "Oooh, storm gods are possible I suppose. How about THOR? Wait no, that's whoever I hit with it. No, I think it's going to be named Frank."

    In truth the blade actually does have a name, should someone inspect it. Possibly a name not given by the creator herself, or at least the inspection name isn't Frank. It is, however, a pun. So maybe she DID actually give it another name and is just messing about by calling it Frank.

    Still, having fun, Fuka listens to Wake's explanations. Pausing her own words, it seems, to take turns while somehow it seems like just natural gaps in conversation. Some actual etiquette at work perhaps? A subtle back-and-forth negotiation? Just experience perhaps, or perhaps just coincidence? It doesn't *seem* like Fuka's doing it deliberately.

"I'm not much of a bladesmith, but considering how huge the blade is and being lightning-based, I honestly would have excepted a name like Raiden. Though I do like the idea of a weapon named after Frankenstein, even if that's the name of the doctor and not his monster..." It had been years since he last read the book, even if it's not his usual kind of story. Perhaps he should visit a library sometime and do a bit of fiction searching.

Curt just shakes his head as he retakes his seat, though he does smirk at Haru joining in on the joke. "I'll just have to take your word on it. I dabble a lot in the creation of items, like weapons or potions, but I never gone that bad before."

Baroness Wake is certainly willing to share info about any of the Three Goddesses, so that's good for curious minds. "Honestly, I am curious if there is any truth to them truly being out in this world. I heard the rumors and know how each one is different from the other."

    The Baroness laughs gently, nodding her head at Mizuki. It's not mocking, but joyful at the questions. She leans forward, clearly interested in all the questions that Mizuki might ask.

    "It's not an organized group, really, at least not in my home. There aren't enough Landers in Eas normally to do much of the kind, and my people are all living in exile, safely in the Tower. For which I owe a debt of gratitude to the Scale Emblem Alliance."

    As for why, she pauses to carefully select the best way to express it. "She believed in me, first. She invested her powers in me. I started to consider what I am meant to do. It came to me suddenly. If I say this place is real, then I have been overlooking something. I am a part of this place. My mission became more clear, somehow. I did not change what I was doing, nor what I will do, but I suddenly understood why and in whose name."

    

"Wait until you start getting in on some of the New World construction projects," Haru offers as he kicks back his stout. Thinking about it is pretty exciting. New World is heavily about developing the current areas in a way that is in tandem with the existing world. Shibuya and Seekers Landing are notables there, even the idea of getting over to the Palace Lands. Also they have lost both of those settlements in the war. For now. "Ahh, but really when you start getting into a groove? Like getting aquaducts in place and how that will help sanitation? Its easy to lose yourself. I looked into standing Enchantments for construction but the path to a /good/ Enchanting project has a lot of dead ends associated. It may be 'magic' but it follows rather strict metalaws." A glance over to Fuka, "Always fun uncovering those, though." Enchanter Liffffeeee.

    Mizuki can't help but give a short, "HA!" and smile when Fukaziroh says that Thor has to be whoever she *hits* with Frank.

    Oh, right. Baroness's kingdom--err, barony... of course she'd ahve to live in exile. "I'm glad you and your people can be safe in the Tower."

    Mizuki listens to the explanation. "Huh." She turns this over in her head. "I guess that's... a good point. Whether someone sees this world or not... *we* are real, and... The idea that we might have a part as more than background characters... Things becoming clear..."

    Mizuki reassembles the sentiment in her head. "So what *are* you doing? Your making of a new kingdom, err, barony? Place? What specifically are you doing with it, and what *is* the why...?"

Curtana does listen to Wake and Mizuki talk about the Beautiful One but doesn't try to jump into the conversation at this point. He has the sense that Mizuki seems to be searching for something, and feels like him joining the conversation could somehow interfer with that search.

Haru brings up the construction projects again, and the humble knight bashfully shakes his head. "I really don't think i'll be much help overall with something like that. I generally know the basics of construction work, and that's mainly from trial and error. I'm sure that if I was involved in a major project like that dam I mentioned, I wouldn't be able to contribute much. Glad to know you have fond memories of the projects you been a part of, though!" He really does seem to be enjoying hearing the others tell their own tales.

    "In the beginning, I sought out and claimed Eas to keep a promise. Tae, my fiancee, once said she'd only marry me in game if I had a castle and I said I would manage that. She was joking, of course, but I took it seriously. That effort took me a considerable amount of time and effort."

    Wake turns to briefly point out to Fuka, "Frank is a very reasonable and proper name." She smiles a bit too innocently, "I had no idea you would aim for such a big weapon." She flicks a glance to Haru, "Do you have any two-handed equipment?"

    Sure she isn't.. the Baroness is far too proper to imply anything inappropriate.

    "The work kept building. I realized that the Landers needed help. You know, I have always liked them and viewed them as beings to be respected. Then I found a few refugees who were still wandering after the fall of Ezzo and some others who simply had no place to go. So I grew closer to them. I love playing with their children. Their laugher is so honest. You know, I won't be having any of my own, so perhaps Landers are my surrogate. I want to build them a marvelous home where they can be safe. And where I can use my gifts to help them grow. To give them the power to dream."

    She adds shortly after, "And for adventurers, too, Eas is a place to achieve dreams. That is why many people in strange moods join us there. To ensure I am clear, my people shelter in the tower, but I defend Eas. Thanks to the other Alliances-especially Scale Emblem's technology-the Palace Landers found my home a pill far too jagged to swallow."

"Thats how it all starts, Curt. Outside of Gee Bee, that amount of skill is fundamental. When you think of the need for installations against naval battles, roads for logistics transports, and shelters for rufugees?" Haru considers, relaxing back against his chair as a wave of the tired starts to come over him. "You'll be as busy as you want to be in that regard. I'm not Yeo though, I stand by the notion of 'everyone pens their own story'. Just know that your skills are no trivial thing." He puts a hand over his mouth to stop a yawn from happening as his head rolls over to Wake and that innuendo. "I have a set of large rocks." A pause, grinning. "Ioun Stones, the things that I use to cast Wave Artes." Wink. Or Blink. Or micronap. Hard to tell when one eye is covered by a monocle that has a thick purple lens.

The yawn happens, "Don't forget that Ry, Yuuki, and I were there whoopin' Shirin's booty during the defense," Haru says, "the guy left his Peko behind. Who would do that?" A rumble. He couldn't ever consider leaving his Peko, Karen, behind. A push out from the chair, "Well, thats it for me. Keep it classy and chim if you need me."

    Mizuki giggles at the recounting of the original reason for taking the castle. "Awww! Not many people could actually take a castle for their love, though! It must be nice, having someone go that far for you!" She blinks and stares into space for a moment. Wait, what?

    Anyway, the Baroness is telling more of the story. She nods, Landers needing help is a motivation everyone who joined this game to live out a fantasy of being a hero can understand!

    "That is very kind of you. I guess it's not as glamorous as being the first to see some long-lost dungeon or far-off place, or slaying a great monster, but... those things don't help the people of Eas."

    Mizuki scratches her head thoughtfully. "Looking at it that way, I guess if I were a Lander I'd rather have *you* around as a hero than any of us..."

    She furrows her brow and stares off into space. That's food for thought.

    Wait, why was she asking all of this again? Her ears blush and she looks back to Wake. "Um... but aside from the heroing... of any type... I wanted to know..." Oh, how can she put this? "What you did the other day... I wanted to know more about... being beautiful?" Oh dear.

    "He's very good with his rocks." Fuka sagenods to Wake. "They are big indeed. And I wield huge weapons with both hands! We compliment each other in battle!" she claims almost entirely innocently. And classily. Almost. "But we're both pretty hot, so when we really get going the sparks really fly!"

    She looks a little disappointed as Haru gets up to leave. "But, H, if I *need* you, should I really just chim?" she asks, not at all entirely innocently. Not with that grin.

Vertina just happens to stroll in after being out doing Adventurer things. Almost immeadiately she spots the feline were fang though and bounds over to grab her in a big hug that's barely short of a tackle. "Mizukichi! It's been a while since I'ver run into you!" Almost literally at the moment.

    Wisteria is returning from some adventure or another and the tall albino girl does herbest to be 'sneaking' when she spots her friends and then swoops in to wrap her arms around Mizuki and Vertina, sandwiching the smaller girl. "Vicious Bun attack!" says the totally human looking tall girl with the bun tattoo on her neck.

Curtana leans back in his seat, a hand cupping his chin in thought. "Those are certainly things that would be very beneficial, especially having better paved roads between other towns. I'm sure that there are others out there that have better knowledge and experience, so makes me worried about trying any major project. I'm more of a supporter instead of a leader." But even has he does try to claim otherwise, he does have to admit that Haru has a point, even if he hasn't seen his handiwork. Speaking of which, Curtana taps a hand on the longsword at his waist. "It has no name unlike Fuka's blade, but my sword here is my own creation. My first one I ever made, several years ago. I just constantly reforge and upgrade it so that it keeps up with me."

Thankfully, Fukaziroh's latest round of innuendo is brought to a swift end by two newcomers. What was it with tackle-hugs with Adventurers? Perhaps it is a question Curtana will never know the answer to.

    "Have fun," Wake says gently. The Baroness turns her attention back to Mizuki.

    "Oh, you want to know about being beautiful? Surely you can teach me as much as I you. You are lovely, dear. I trust you know that."

    She smiles warmly as the group of friends crash into an embrace. "And clearly I am not the only one who can tell." Something dawns on Wake, then. "Or.. oh. Did you mean the makeover thing? That is something I can help with, but I do want to stress the point that how you look is not as important as what is in your heart. That is what being in love has taught me."

    Mizuki's eyes widen as she hears lizardfriend, who has happened upon her asking what SHE seems to think is a very embarassing matter and practically pounces her! "Uhhh..."

    AND THEN WISTERIA IS THERE TOO

    The cat is now in a hug sandwich! "I, uhh, hi girls! I uh..."

> You are lovely, dear.

    The feline were fang's ears turn *bright* red, "I, wh, buh, I uh..." She can only stammer incoherently as she kind of shrinks into the hug between her friends.

Surprise hug! And in turn Vertina gets surprise hugs as well as Wisteria joins in, making her laugh as she gleefully squeezes both. Then looks from Mizuki to Wake and back again. "I don't know what conversation I walked into, but she's right you know. Both about you being pretty and what's in the heart mattering the most."

    Wisteria nuzzles the top of Mizuki's head "Hey Mizukichi, hey Vert." she says sweetly before turning and waving "Not sure about making weapons and stuff, I just craft curses." she says and shrugs "And you know swing my katana about." she sticks her tongue out playfuly.

Curtana leans back slowly and watches Mizuki interacting with the two newcomers, apparently close friends of hers. It's when he's relaxing that a yawn attempts to slip out, and the Pooka has to raise a fist to his mouth to stop it. "Oh, pardon me. I'm more of the straight sword person here, but crafting curses has to be more difficult than just shaping some metal." Standing up and scooting his seat back, Curtana gives another bow towards everyone at the table. "I hope you will pardon me, those fights are starting to catch up to me now."

Making sure that he didn't leave anything behind, Curtana goes to head out to the street and start the age-old hunt: the search for an inn with good beds.

    VERTINA SAYS IT TOO

    Mizuki is overwhelmed! So much so that she can't even self-analyze that these are just compliments, why does she feel this way?!

    And Wisteria is nuzzling her head like she's an actual cat, um... She can't tell if that's adding to it or not! She just, she needs a moment, pressing close to the two which probably reinforces the whole cat thing a little. Eventually she nods at Wake, and manages to get out words, "T-that'd be nice..."

    "Come see me, or send a chimlink," says Wake. "I apologize, but I also need to be on my way. I have to get back to Eas. Tae only recently returned, and there is no way I will be leaving her to alone for long."

    She rises smoothly and glides into her trademark curtsey. "Good evening, my friends. May the Goddesses bless you."

    Having never had a drink, she goes to the bar to offer a tip, at least. This being completed, she makes her way out and into the night. It is not a short journey, but she is quite motivated to make it swiftly as possible.

"You take care too Wake." Having gotten a satisfactory amount of frenhugs in Vertina finally lets go of the two girls. "So, what else have you two been up to lately," she asks while wandering over to the bar. Take the oppritunity to be the one served instead of serving when she has it.

    Wisteria nuzzles and snugs Mizukichi more happily "Have a good day Wake." she says happily, she has a kitty friend to snuggle and Talfren to hang out with so there isn't much need to be sad at just this particular moment.

    Mizuki nods. Watching Wake go out into the night drags her thoughts to the past again -- making that same journey, when whatsername, Reina? The idol girl, respawned at the temple... Mizuki and a bunch of others made the journey to Alne *over night*, accosted by gnolls, to spread the news that respawning was a thing.

    That was also the first time Mizuki got to sleep in a bed here because the inn wasn't in use during the day. That was also when she found out the beds in Alne's inn *suck*.

    Also, she may need an outfit she can curtsey with.

    Mizuki blinks. No longer doublehugged and constantly being complimented, she's able to think again, and respond to Vertina's question. She looks back and forth between Vertina and Wisteria. "Oh... you missed it! We went under Carmina Gadelica and there was... there was a piece of JAPAN there! They said it was Shibuya? There was a cafe, all the other buildings were locked, and the place was deserted except for chim-chims... and the NPC that controls the root town or whatever? I had strawberry cake, and chocolate cake, and chocolate milk! But we couldn't put it in our inventory to share later... oh, you shoulda been there! I'm sorry you weren't." She hugs Wis and Vertina back.

"That's kinda weird." Vertina turns around to lean against the bar after ordering herself a mug of ale. "Why would they make such things look like parts of Japan or Tokyo? Sure, we recognize it, but it doesn't mean a thing to the Landers. Is this some kind of programmer easter egg?"

    Wisteria Hmmmmms "Wait... is that when Sensei Gil was becoming king? When I got my new kingdom notice?" she asks "Maybe it's like with the Tower? It all changed when we got stuck here... Sensei Gil said."

    Mizuki shrugs. "I... guess I was just so distracted, I didn't think about it, but I did hear others posit it might be an easter egg or something..." She nods to Wis, "Yeah, that was when Uruk formed and-- wait." She looks confused. "Why would *your* kingdom change? You're not from Ezzo... OH. You were an Outcast to begin with...?"

Vertina huhs. "That's okay, I forget that she was too. But not anymore, now she's got a proper Kingdom like the rest of us."

    Wisteria smiles a bit wryly "I never bothered with a kingdom." she says and shrugs "And well..." she shrugs "I just always hung out around Alne or got taken places that were pretty. I didn't even play the game remember? I was just chatting." she shrugs her shoulders

    "It doesn't feel like the kingdom really matters... well, aside for possibly being a way for jerks to mind-control us if we die." She frowns.

    At Wisteria reminding that she didn't play the game, Mizuki gives her another hug. "We'll... we'll find a way for you to get home. Just, come visit me sometime after you do, okay?"

"At least all the people that had to leave Ezzo and such have a place to properly call theirs again." Vertina pauses to drink some of her ale. "Wonder why Gil never made his kingdom official before though...?"

    Mizuki looks at Vertina. "Politics. I'm not an expert, but from people talking about it... I guess him making a kingdom before might have been taken as an aggressive act by the other kingdoms?"

    Wisteria nods her head and sighs "I'd never leave you alone Mizukichi." she says and squeezes her friend "So don't worry I'm happy to visit, I just want to be able to see my parents and my friend and well to get into the ring and feel the real effort of a hard faught match... zanshin here is..." she licks her lips "Fighting doesn't feel the same is all."

> I'd never leave you alone Mizukichi.

    Mizuki leans into the hug and nuzzles Wis. IT IS OKAY TO ACT LIKE A CAT SOMETIMES DARNIT.

    She nods at the explanation. "Y-yeah. Realizing... I was just telling those guys from New World, how... thinking I don't wanna go back, kinda... Like before I just sort of assumed I *had* to. But now that I care... It makes it all the more clear how much it matters, for the people who don't want to be *here*."

    She looks away. "Although I guess for me it's less about the world than the body... but it seems really unlikely I'd be able to go back as Mizuki... and even if I did, like. What then? Well, I guess human form wouldn't weird people out..."