(Bonded Hearts) RING if you need me

The pink, red, and white ribbons look vibrant against the obsidian gloss-black building that is Atelier Nox. The Atelier hasn't officially opened yet, pending final touches on the presentation of the display cases and security considerations for the expensive wares. The workship works plenty well, an upgrade from the traveling kit Haru has been using or common guild space. He needs it, too, as the man with the monocle has been pumping out rings with heart-shaped fittings and gems, necklaces, bracelets, and the occasional glass figurine non-stop leading up to the official opening of the Shibuya Shopping event. Bonded Hearts is the busiest season for an Accessory Crafter! Special quests often rise up with highly desirable materials for that highly desirable gift.

Haru's highly desirable gift right now is a good cup of coffea.

The white haired accessory forger steps out into the light. Hiss! The morning light is greeted by his stall, a nice stable and tent that showcases the Bonded Hearts flavored jewelry. A teenaged Lander girl is manning it, Yumi, and waves at him as he steps out, "Mister Haru!" she says, a morning person talking to a night owl, "we already had two sales." Figit. Eyes avert. "And... one theft."

Hand on shoulder, which looks supportive until he uses that to gracefully find a chair and gracefully thwop his face onto the table, "Its going to happen," he muffles onto the hardwood, probably a nice one Shiruba crafted for them, "just report it to the local security when they do their rounds." Small item with high value? Theft is going to happen. They dont have Guardians in Shibuya.

With the permission of Haru, Uta has parked her barrel-shaped traveller's wagon close to Atelier Nox. If the shop has a chime, it would be chiming now, as the musical kung-fu nurse crosses the threshold into this magical realm of wonder and shiny.

So much shiny.

"Oooh, shiny!", exclaims Uta while she looks around, as if for confirming the previous statement. "You did an amazing job at setting up this place, Haru! It's really-"

Pause.

Blink.

She looks at the lander girl taking care of the the place. "Oh. Sorry, I thought this was Atelier Nox. I must be in the wrong shop, miss... uh..." She flicks her menu into existence, taps the option for inspection, "-Yumi." And while she starts to turn to leave, she spots someone talking to the person she just addressed.

"Oh, hi, Haru! You here at miss Yumi's..." What does this shop sell again?! A quick glance is given to the displays. "...ring shop as well? Cool! Keeping an eye on what the business is like, huh? As for me, I came here because-"

A frown, and her mouth pulls and opens sideways in confusion.

"...why did I even come here, again?"

A finely crafted and sturdy table needs a proper chair to accompany it. That also needs to be comfortable if one is going to sit in it for long periods of time at intricate work or dealing with haggling customers.

And it is such a chair that finally arrives, carried by the wolfgirl cait sith that carved it as she wiggles a step and sideways shuffle to get through the shop doorway without bumping the chair or catching her tail in the process. "Sorry the chair took longer," she promptly apologizes. "I had to wait for Gwen to finish sewing the seat cushion."

Haru is outside of his shop with Yumi, head on desk. He raises a hand to Shiruba when the wolfgirl has to navigate these busy Shibuya streets with furniture. "Out here is fine for now," he says, the market stall being outside of his shop since it hasn't opened yet. That one he will drag into the back later. With his noodle arms. That he forgot he had. It'll be amusing later at least.

"My ring shop?" flusters the Lander girl. Hop hop. Look around left right. Right left. Is this what this is? Did Haru-sama give her a shop of her own? This couldn't be. She puts her hands to her face. But it would be nice. A shop of her own. Enough money to buy sweets at Pela's every day. Her head is in the clouds. Haru slooowwwllly rolls his head on the table to one side, showing his monocle and blue eye, "To give my impressionable sales clerk flights of fancy," he tells Uta. Both hands press onto the table and lift himself back up. That was a nice micronap of 2 minutes and thirty seconds. "Are you here to help out with the Bonded Hearts shopping event?" the crafter asks his sister, "With you and Shiruba here, I don't think thieves will consider the stall such an easy mark..." as he looks to Yumi who is swaying at the thought of her self-created alternative reality, "...compared to current attention given." It is a miracle half of his stock hasn't gone missing.

"... Oh, good." Shiruba sets the chair down next to the table. "It was a pain in the tail -- almost literally -- getting it through doors before. I really should set up a shop outside the guild hall." She shrugs after depositing the chair on the ground. "But then again a lot of my extra tools went with us to Seeker's Landing to help maintain the defense walls and such." She had not taken up the Profession for the military applications, but it was useful in such none the less, between fortifications and shipwork. "Hello Uta, Yumi."

Uta diverts what passes for her attention to watch Shiruba's attempts at maneuvering her way in. Once the wolf Cait Sith is finally done, Uta will greet with a "Hi, Shiruba!", then promptly sink into thought. "Have you considered coming up with tricks to make furniture foldable, or assemblable on the spot-" She frowns. "Oh goodness. I can see it. Someone on the European server is re-inventing IKEA as we speak. Woodworking strange mood."

"Did you say... -event-?", Uta asks, her eyes burning up with determination. "YES! YES! YES!", she exclaims, clenching her fists. "Where do I accept? Huh? Where?" She is frantically looking all around, as if for finding some sort of floating dialog window. "I never make it to events, and I am NOT letting this one escape me as well!" A short pause. "...what is this event about anyway? What would I have to do? I- wait." Silence. Wind. Rewind. Fast forward. Run that videotape forward and backwards. "...Oh, we discussed that in the past, yes. Pretty much... basic helping with the shop. Sounds easy enough."

Event! There are people bustling through the Shibuya market streets! Colorful ribbons and flowers! The scent of what can only be described as the color pink in the air. The look of what appears to be slowly killing Haru as the bags under his eyes have bags and neither could get checked into the flight so they were shipped via mail courier to his destination two weeks from now. Benefit: Monocle covers up one eye, half the visible bags. Wisdom lines! The visible eye looks to Yumi, who has evolved into the point where she retires at 25 onto her own island in her head, before reaching over and giving her a poke in the side. It bursts her bubble. "W-What?" she snaps to Haru. Haru points to Uta and Shiruba. "If you are still working," Haru does his best Snape impersonation, "we need two event cards handed out."

Oh dear! Reality is so cruel. Goodbye island made of gold. Yumi goes to the stall table and hands Uta and Shiruba both 'shopping passports' that have little stamps and shop names next to them. "A quest even Landers can accept. Bring us all together," Haru says, having had proposed it during a town meeting and had people with actual Mercantile skills handle the fine details. Shiruba gets a perky 'Hello' from Yumi having gotten over the false reality faster than it takes snow to melt in summer.

"I imagine people will get hurt," Haru say as he stretches his arms upwards, "or sick during events. Not intentional, just event logistics. Allergies. Altercations on the last item in a sale. Stampedees." He drifts over to Shiruba, "Craft Commanding is sort of my thing, so its when priority permits. Murdering Gnolls, exploring the Undine Ruins, maintaining Seeker's Landing. Thats all you and to think you have time to make a Woodworking shop work and the Museum." He hums, looking to Yumi, "Maybe get some help? Adventurers certainly can become job creators for the Land, helping the economy and," he yawns, loudly, boring even himself in this line of talk. Its supposed to be Bonded Hearts! Chocolates. Stupid declarations atop buildings. Naps. Wait, naps? Yup, down Haru goes onto the table again.

Shiruba blinks as she's handed the card, and doesn't entirely process just what happened until Haru has finished his ramble and moved on. To a nap, apparently. Okay. "I do need someone to keep an eye on the Museum when I'm not here, of course. Just because of the value of some of the items on display." She's already aware of this, but Haru pointing it out as a reminder is just Haru doing Haru's job. "And most of the time Woodworking is an on-site affair." The card is saved, however. "I like having a skill that's useful and helpful to others." Pause. "And not just supplying food and materials to others," she ammends. Things she often does with her Hunting and Mercantile abilities, but making something yourself has a different accomplisment feel to it.

Gwen has been hanging around town taking jobs, delivering orders, oddly lots and lots of mundane undergarment and socks. Then again Gwen was driven to make these things after a week of binding her chrest when she first got here. How could she not check up on Haru. She comes in and waves.

"Good morning!"

Oh god Gwen is hyper already.

"Oh Uta! SHIRUBA!"

She grins she also grees Haru's Lander employee with a grin.

"I like the Museum," Uta replies to Shiruba. "And now that Shibuya is free again, I will be more than glad to give it a more in-depth visit as soon as time allows."

Uta studies the card she's handed. Eyes narrowed, finger running along the lines, lips moving to mouth the words reported on the item. "Oh. OH. I can do this! So... I have to purchase an item from each of the shops?", she more mutters to herself than asks Yumi, before looking up. "Seems easy enough!"

One finger is tentatively raised. "And, hey, I was going to have to buy some presents anyway, so, maximization of productivity!"

She looks down. "So, first stop is... is... is... oh, I know this one! Atelier Nox! Piece of cake!"

She spins on one foot, and darts out of the door.

. . .

The same door opens a couple of seconds later, with a chime if so outfitted, and Uta walks back in again. "Hello, Yumi! I've come here for the shopping passport quest!", she smiles. "So, uh, what do you have available for purchase?"

"Oh, hi Gwen!", exclaims Uta with a smile. "Happy Bonded Hearts festival!" And then, rubbing her chin and leaning over (with a mandatory suspicious squint -- a cheerful one), she continues, "say, you look chipper today. Anything especially good happened?"

Shiruba's ears perk at her name... and then she ducks down behind the table and chair. Peeks over the edge. Oh dear goddesses Gwen is here and she's in one of those hyper moods. About the only thing that would of been worse is if it had been Morri.

"Its a festival, Shiruba," Haru says as he seems to be able to talk even when his eyes are closed. 'Resting his eyes' may be more apt. There is a great deal of strain put on them for focusing on small items like rings and jewelry in general. The morning light isnt helping. "Why not take a moment away from all of that and enjoy yourself? Trying to please everyone ends up with nobody pleased, including yourself, and no one is questioning your motives or work ethic." A hand raises up from his table, making a circle, "This is my raid boss, just as you have yours. Last year I made enough to obtain this monocle." Sniff sniff, monocle origin story?! Lore?! "That was before the whole Crown Breaking, Moonlight Goldsmithing, and what not. If anyone gets the desire to be of use to the world we live in, its me," he mms, sitting back up in time to hear Gwen. "Shibuya was taken back in time for this event. My shop is built in time for it. It is enough. Let me delegate out logistics for the day to day things, its in my blood and title." Notably this is before the big PL reveals, though, so thats more a cryptic statement. "Go be a forlorn maiden for a day or whatever it is floats your boat." He'd say 'be human' but that doesnt apply.

"Hi Gwe--," Haru starts but is interupted by Yumi who is already feeding off of Gwen's energy. "Hello and welcome," bow bow, "to the Atelier Nox. Did you know Atelier is a fancy of way of saying Workshop? But we sell all kinds of things here, though most of them are about accessories like..." as Haru just looks to his clerk and notes, "Gwen also does accessories, she is my apprentice in that sense, but otherwise a master in her own right in clothcraft." Yumi gasps! Another accessory forger! Stars in her eyes looking at Gwen before looking to Uta, "Hello Uta!" she chirps. "We have rings, necklaces, and bracelets. A purchase is not required for a stamp, so please take your time. If you tell me a little bit about the special someone you are purchasing you for, I am positive I can help you find the gift right for you!" Ah, thats why Haru hired her, relentless salesmanship with a face that is hard to say 'no' to. Like kicking a puppy, dont do that.

Shiruba shoots Haru a look over the edge of the table from the spot she ducked down. "Who you calling forlorn?!"

Haru is back to resting his one visible blue eye when he gets that look. Eyelids, shield thy Artificer from the rays of ire! He blindly reaches out for Shiruba with his eyes closed. Flop flop. Noodle arm. Eventually going for scritches behind the ear. "No one I can see." Ba dum cha.

"S- special someone?", asks Uta. "Uh- er-" she stutters. She glances over her shoulder. The Gwen. It is there. Hopefully distracted, but, let us face it. Any serious student of Gwenology will be ready to point out that Distracted Gwens are just an old wives' tale without any basis in either respectable literature or experimental evidence, anecdotal or otherwise.

"I... I don't really have a special someone. Not in that sense." Uta finally mutters to Yumi, head bowed down, shoulders hunched, at the lowest volume she can manage. Lest she be overheard by Gwen. Then again, despite Uta's most valiant attempts, this is a tiny shop, so... it's hard to keep conversations from literally anyone currently present within its walls, regardless of specific location.

Uta looks at the puppy. I mean, Yumi. Discomfort at rejecting purchase grows. Can you really leave her hanging like this? Can you, YOU MONSTER?

"But- er- I have... er... friends, I suppose, and- I mean- I'm sure I can find another reason for... purchasing something anyway, right?"

Shiruba leans into the scritching for a moment, her tail audible as it flicks against the floor. Then she stands back up, having gotten over her moment of OHCRAPGWEN. "A special friend doesn't necessarily need to be romantic." Shiruba to the rescue. Sort of. "As long as they are important and meaningful to you. Like Gwen and her family having become my own here."

She pauses, then takes the card back out. "... So this is kind of like a shopping scavenger hunt?" Now it's managed to catch her curiousity a bit. When you think of it as involving hunting and searching.

Gwen is like a shark in the water as she move tio sit down by shirub and grins. 5R
"We should have some fun with it right given eveyrthing that' shappened we need to cut lose somewhat. Right we should have some fun!"

The burning passion that is Yumi, saleswoman of love, is only second to Flonne or the Pendragons. "All the more reason to have such a token at the ready for your mysterious paramore! Out there, waiting to be discovered like the treasure they are," a hand extends out to the open sky in front of the stall. "You'll be out in a field, slaying goblins when, suddenly a root grabs your leg. Oh no!" she evokes, a squeak, "You can't move. The monsters are upon you and you can not escape the oncoming hoarde. You steel yourself for a fight for your life when, what is this in the distance," the saleLander points Uta towards a random point in the street, "Upon a Peko. Gallant and strong, headlong into battle. 'Dont hog all the fun,' the rogue asides to you, joining you in battle to lay low the foul beasts. You think to yourself 'What a jerk' but the way you fight together is so effortless. How is he where you need him to be exactly when you need him to be. It is like he is in your head and you don't know his name." Yumi goes to get a bracelet and walks to Uta, "You expect something just as cheesy next, but he is already on his Peko to find more danger. 'Wait!' you yell, knowing this may be the last time you see him, 'Take this'," as she hands Uta a bracelet with a little round glass bead in the center. "As means of thanks. Knowing that you have a pair yourself and one day you'll be in a town, the bead glowing, and you'll see each other once more."

Yumi holds Uta's hand with both of hers, closing the little trinket within. "And we also sell potions so you tell that jerk who is really boss," she whispers. Leaning back she pats, looking to Shiruba next. Run, run while you still can!

Haru answers the event logistics while his saleswoman is doing her thing. "It is. It gives people a fun scavenger hunt to do and explore Shibuya's many shops. It gives the merchants a chance to market. It gives Shibuya a sense of vibrancy to it. Everyone wins. Bring people together and get new regulars." He rubs the side of his face that keeps laying on the table, "And the stalls along the market road are not just Shibuya local stores, some from Carmina and Alne have setup and we welcome the variety." A deep breath as he exhales, "It is nice to see people more at ease, healing." The town was occupied for a while. It needed some fun back into it to address the anxiety.

"And helps get more people back to Shibuya. Even if it's just to visit and shop. Well done, Haru, well done." Shiruba nods. She'll have to go through some of them herself, even if she doesn't have the romantic needs of gifts. "Yes Gwen. I'd say don't get any crazy ideas, but I know you, it's already too late."

Uta has encountered only one kind of creature that could hold someone spellbound the way Yumi can -- and her interaction with them was mostly trying to counter thier Song powers that would entrance the sailors who were supposed to take Uta's party of Adventurers to the Phantom Colosseum.

Silence. Stunned silence as Uta's left speechless, with her mouth agape.

"...I am going to buy a pair of these just for that story," is all she can say at the end. "As a Bard in this world, and as something kind of like one in the one I come from, that was downright impressive. You should consider a career in-"

Silence. She looks around.

"...sales?", she hazards, timid, realizing too late the hole she's dug herself into. "You'll make a great sales clerk! No, wait, scratch that, you already do!"

And with that, while Uta flicks her menu open to materialize enough coins to make the transaction go through, she calls out to Shiruba and Gwen over her shoulder. "Way ahead of you!", she beams. "While you were lollygagging around here, I already went out and found the first shop on the list!"

Yumi happily rings Uta up for two Bonded Hearts Bracelets. That makes up for the theft earlier, right? Haru looks at her like 'It was fine to begin with' before giving the sleepy eyes back to Shiruba, Uta, and Gwen. "Tourism. Shopping events. Entertainment like the Tournament," he ponders escapism for the escapism, saying, "Panem et circenses. Lumina does similar, I feel."

Gwen has sensed Yumi's eagerness and her energy is infectious.

"I admit I'm also here to hide from my mother. She's caught up in things that keeps her from coming out here. At least I hope it does."

She must keep Yumi from her mother.

She just seems entertained by it.

"Quite the sales lady you are Miss Yumi."

She also looks to Shiruba and says "I wanted to drag you to Pela's later why are you hiding. Flannel is not involved."

The praise makes Yumi as happy as a kitten that has just pounced on a toy. "What about yourself? A special someone in your life that you want to surprise with a gift?" Yumi says. Yes, she phrases it that way. Yes, Haru is in the background, immediately awake as if someone did a Surprise Injection of espresso into his neck and is shaking his head behind Gwen to Yumi with full on 'X' 'X' 'Do not ask that' to his oblivious sales clerk. That is how you summon a Morri. Do you WANT a Morri, Yumi? I assure you, you do not.

Gwen looks at Haru for a moment with an odd look and then back to Yumi. She thinking hard and deep abotu something and Morri could be near by somehow.

Meanwhile outside a Spriggan woman starts for the shop...

"So, uh, how do these work? I really can give them to someone else, and if we happen to be in the general vicinity, they glow? Like, how close? Will they keep glowing and drain my mana if I wear both normally? Do they come with an instruction booklet? I miss instruction booklets. One of those little things from the Old World that- you kind of take for granted until-"

Silence. Realization. Yumi is a Lander.

"...Sorry, er... Instruction Booklets are artifacts from the World we Adventurers. They are complementary items that you get with most products you purchase: little pamphlets enhanced by a Sneaking/Dark spell so that all but the wisest of Adventurers pretty much ignore their existence or downright reject their very advice on a matter of principle. They mostly explain the properties of purchased items and how to use them."

Uta's ears perk at Morri's name... and then she ducks down behind the table and chair. Peeks over the edge. Oh dear goddesses Morri is going to be here-

...Whoa, deja vu.

All of that flies over Yumi's head. She is the spitting image of a floating question mark above her head when Uta asks for those kind of details. The explaination helps! She is about to respond when Uta ducks behind the table. Yumi joins her. "What are we hiding from?"

Meanwhile, Haru looks to Gwen. The Bonded Hearts Bandit could be on her way. She can sense romantic drama like a shark can sense blood from miles away. "Its a location based enchantment that makes it glow within 5 meters. There is enough charge in it to last a year without needing mana put back into it," he informs Uta, "so enough to have a romantic thing to look at during dinner but not enough to GPS track slash stalk someone." He does respect privacy, as a valiant Hacker-citizen-gone-Elder-Tales-in-another-world-oh-god-is-that-Morri?

Gwen looks over at Uta and pauses for a moment at this. Seeing Uta, seeing Shiruba like this? She has a terrible feeling all of a sudden and soon she's trying to hide behind the table. She fails to do so given her towering form. It's rather comic really when the door opens the form of a Spriggan woman in white with a witch hat on and green staff walks in.

"Oh Gwen! Shiruba o/~"

It's Morri and there's no escape she also sets her sights upon Haru...much like a predatotr sizing up prey...

Haru introduces himself to Miss Morri with, "Shenmi, master of illusion." Hand raises, flicking an illusion of a card into one hand.

It looks like Uta picked the worst time to peek over the edge: Morri is looking that way and greeting. "Hi Morri!", Uta greets, with a nervous grin and a little wave of her hand. "Fancy finding you here. How is it going? Nice weather we have, huh?" She looks around. "Oooh, look at all these shiny things!"

It is unclear if Uta is trying to distract Morri, or got distracted by the shinies herself.

    Having recently moved to the Japan-inspired Shibuya, Akizuki Hyuga was taking the time to walk around the town, taking in the sights and sites. Learning where things were would help the self-sufficient farmer/metalsmith navigate the shops with greater ease. Adorned in his armor, and carrying the massive greatshield that was more iconic for his character than the hammer on his hip, he stopped in front of the soon-to-open Atelier. "An Atelier... hmm..."

Uta makes wide eyes at Yumi. "That!", she mouths, silent, and side-eyes to Morri, before returning to grin nervously and greeting the Summoned Menace.

    Hyuga, ever concerned with his social inequities, finally notices the goings-on outside of the building. Setting the greatshield down and leaning it against his left side, he opens his Map window for notations. "Once this place opens, I will need to visit. Might be able to work with the owner on something vis-a-vis Metalworking, Herbology, or even just providing food for work." Seemingly talking to himself, he creates a Waypoint and names it appropriately.

There is a Morri present, a raid-boss caliber Spriggan in the field of love and ship charts. One must approach with care, less be taken to the Church. But Yumi is brave, or innocent, or both. "Hello and welcome!" the teenaged lander human girl says to Hyuga with a bow. She /was/ hiding with Uta behind the stall but takes the Uta boss-taunt as a chance to greet new customers. Or people nearby. "Welcome to the soon-to-be-opened Atelier Nox, home of the Crown Breaking Hero and Crafter that liberated Shibuya!" Embellishment much, such is sales. She motions to the large black glassy building that looks as if it is constructed out of obsidian or highly tinted glass, "Look for your accessory and alchemy needs during our grand open and take a look at our fine Bonded Hearts line for the festival." The stall outside is a nice tent near the entrance to the building. Next to the stall is a large upside down U doorframe, a large O style window with an X frame for the glass, and then a large mobile medical wagon-barrel of a Kung Fu nurse parked there.

Yumi smiles brightly motioning to the display cases on the tables. "We have Bonded Heart Necklaces that are two halves of a whole," she motions to them, demonstrating by holding the half-hearts close to each other until they snap-together as if magnetized, "and bracelets," to which she motions to Uta's purchase of a beaded bracelet with a central bead that glows when close to the other pair. "If you are searching for that surprise to pop onto a special someone, we have rings. And for the rebel in you we have the Broken Crown line." Oops. She shakes her head, "Oops, thats for the Grand Open." She looks to Haru, having gotten ahead of herself. The silver haired Artificer, who introduced himself to Morri as 'Shenmi, Master of Illusion' in an attempt to avoid Morri shenanigans, says, "If people get curious that is fine. I don't want to see people afraid of headwear accessories due to this war."

A distraction! My kingdom for a distraction!

Uta is still glancing around, frantically, for something, -anything- that might divert the Gaze of the Morri from her poor self, until-

"Look, Morri! An anythng!", Uta exclaims, pointing at Hyuga. "I mean, fresh meat! I mean, fresh shipping fodder! I mean, a new person! Hi new person!", Uta exclaims with a wide smile, as full of Hope as the technique Haru developed to break the crown. Sorry, Hyuga, it's an emergency. She'll try to make it up to you later by saving your life when your HP reaches 1 and you need a healer desperately. I mean, she would save your life anyway and ask for nothing in exchange, but- look, Uta isn't exactly a paragon of self-restraint when faced with Morri-level bosses, ok?

It is only now that she realizes that Yumi is already engaging Hyuga. Which, by some strange association of ideas, makes Uta exclaim, "Oh. Oh! Secret alias! Must remember this," following that with flick of her finger that opens her menu. Tongue sticking out, she jots down some quick notes: Shenmi, master of illusion. --> Haru's Alias. Clearly, this is not going to lead to confusion in the future.

    Hyuga observes the... well, /everything/ involved with being greeted. The tall Crusader snickers a little bit at the 'fresh meat' line, but bows slightly. "Good to know. I am Akizuki Hyuga, and I specialize in farmables and herbology for the discerning customer. I'm out today checking out the city, as I am a recent immigrant here. Good to know that there is a business of this type opening here. I may see if I can discuss work with the owner." Hyuga re-grips his massive wrought-metal greatshield in his left hand, easily, as if an old friend. Closing the Map window he had made a notation in, he opens another window to check on his health, and decides to produce a high-quality Apple from a pocket inventory for snacking.

Morri looks at Gwen for a moment.

"Oh having some fun with your Harem mmm Gwen?"

Gwen turns a new shade of red and sputters from where she's hiding behind the table and failing to do so.

"Ha hello Uta! It's good to see you! I had some ideas for a wonderful little themed group of outfits for you all! Shiruba! Haru!"

She looks at Yumi and Hyuga and claps her hands together gleefully.

"Whats this new friends or intrests Gwen?"

GWen now is sputtering unable to speak and trying to hide behind the table even more. Gwen Meanwhile is just suffering total embrassment here a rare things to see given how bold of a person she is.

How curious.

Woden's eyes are slight with wonder as he walks down the street. His silver-grey hair moves and shifts with the breeze. His armor bears the symbol of the Scale Emblem Alliance and the Aincrad Liberation Front. His sword is sheathed and his shield is strapped to his back as those piercing eyes observe his surroundings.

The people. The shops. The celebrations that were already underway.

It warms the heart. Though as Woden approaches, it was hard not to notice the gathering. And...well, his eyes practically glow with joy.

"Hello there." his deep, smooth voice rings out, a hand lifting in a wave.

"Bad, Uta, bad!", the Kung Fu Nurse scolds herself, looking down with a frown. "That's not a way to treat a potential new friend! Employing them as mere Morri Fodder? That's irresponsible, reckless, and completely unlike you! Bad Spriggan! Now you look up and apologize!" She inhales, is about to speak, when Morri explains her ideas. "I'm afraid I'm already booked for whenever the outfits are going to be delivered, but-"

She gestures towards the newly arrived Wotan. "I'm sure -he- can have mine! I'm feeling generous!" She smiles towards him. "Hi, fashion fodder! I MEAN! AGH!" Blush deep red. "Hello, new potential friend I have just met! Uta Furore, Aerialist, Musical Kung-Fu Nurse here!", she rattles out as an introduction.

"Work?", she asks in Hyuga's direction. "You might want to speak with-" Silence. Side-eye to Morri. "...Shenmi, Master of Illusion here," she continues, gesturing towards Haru. See? She learned a thing. "I am here merely as a shop helper and as a medical type person. Nice apple, by the way. Does it-"

Freeze. Eye-twitch. Eye-twitch.

"W-why do I have this sudden urge to distance myself from this fruit?"

    Hyuga looks to Shenmi, alleged Master of Illusion, for clarification on the statement. Then, he looks to Wotan, and appears ready to introduce himself and offer a friendly greeting... before the statement about his apple is uttered. Hyuga turns to regard the person who dared to insult his personally grown, high quality Farming, intensely-cared-for-by-himself apple. "What is wrong with my produce?" He takes a bite. Chewing. No, nothing was wrong that he could detect...

"Absolutely nothing is wrong with it. In fact, that's exactly the thing: it looks -too good-," replies the Spriggan dressed in what resembles a cross between a nurse's uniform and a martial artist's gi. Fidgeting with her fingers, she continues, "I got stuck as a Healer during the Apocalypse. I wasn't one outside the game, but now I am, and... well... I'm starting to worry about that saying involving apples and medical professionals." She gestures towards the apple. "That one looks so good it probably can hold the whole range of occupations from Surgeon General to hospital intern at a distance for a week at the very least."

Morri looks to Woden for a moment smirks.

"Not bad but sorry sir happily married. Now as for my Daughter..."

Gwen is trying to merge with the floor and failing at this point. Gwen takes a deep breath.

Morri just seem amused.

"You act like I'm some kind of Succubus Queen or something here to drain your souls. Sorry happily several decades married here."

She grins widely.

"I wasn't a healer myself before but I embraced it and you kids are smart enough to not stand in the fire..."

Gwen sputters

"Mother why are you here?!"

"Oh, Definitely!", Uta interjects after Morri. "It's among the first rules I was taught as a newbie." Counting on her fingers, she adds: "Never stand in the fire. Never scream 'Leeroy Jenkins!'" She frowns. "Although I'm not sure what the last one is about."

Woden raises a brow.

What a fun crowd. Though what he can't fathom is..why did people think he was flirting? His head slightly tilts as if in amusement, but he clears his throat, chuckling. "No advances offered." he mentions to Morri. "But quite flattered."

He looks at Uta. "Outside and inside the game, medicine is my passion." he laughs. "I was a doctor." he answers to clarify. Yet, here he looks like he punches boulders for shits and giggles.

He smiles at the Leeroy Jenkins comment. "It's an American thing. Meant to be shouted as a battle cry while throwing caution to the wind. The one who started it screamed his own name while forsaking strategy. Now, he's a bit of a legend." he explains.

Though he's introduced to the others, and he smiles. "Woden, nice to meet you all." No titles, no reputation in the game. Just Woden.

"You are a doctor?!"

The shift in Uta's posture is instant and noticeable. Pecking order established. Readjusting postural parameters to appropriately deferential. Etiquette potential, engage!

"It is a honor to meet someone passionate about the healing arts like you, Doctor Woden! As said -- I have had a late start on the subject, but am trying to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. I have been practicing at the Clinic of Tolbana under Doctor Prophylaxis," the Legendary Moonlight Doctor -- he should be pretty famous among the medical community, "and studying his book on real-world medical techniques. Practicing it as well!" Inhale. Hold breath, nervously. "I'm currently providing my Musical, Kung-Fu, and Nursing assistance to this shop. Be ready to assist in case of medical emergencies. Deter theft. And... jingles, I suppose?"

There is a confused frown at the last utterance. She turns to Yumi. "...should we join forces and compose jingles? I haven't thought of that before..."

Haru | Shenmi, master of illusion. Or so he claims. "My flawless impersonation of the store's owner, a one Haru Nox, can speak upon his behalf. It shall be excellent method acting training for me, Shenmi, master of illusions!" His other hand sweeps out, creating an illusion of the bunny, Bao. He considers, "Lets see, the actual Haru would let you know that the topic of business is very welcome, very welcome indeed. In fact business is all that guy, I mean me, Haru Nox, cares about." Man the web of Shenmi-Haru reality layers are starting to blur. "So you came to the right place, Akizuki Hyuga," he thumbs up to them. Though a method actor can't make business deals on behalf of the person they are impersonating.

Yumi waves happily to Morri, "Gwen is interesting! I didn't know she had a harem, though." The salesLander looks to the guardian. "I can see it, though, yup, but Gwen would look super cute with a necklace, don't you think?" Then there is Floor-Gwen flailing, "And a pair of matching bracelets!" Sales. A little wave is given to Woden as well, the little lady handling most of the sales while Haru (Shenmi!) handles... whatever he is doing now. Impersonating a person who is impersonating him.

Morri laughs.

"Ah Lerroy, he was a famous player in a Western old style MMORPG."

Gwen trise up for a moment and she tilts her head.

"Another doctor? Interestion Oh I'm Gwen Pendragon Owner of the Chain Mail Bikini +1."

SHe rises up to her full height.

Morri leans in

"Oh don't worry I got the outfits in my inventory already! no need for any of you to wait..."

"Not everyone is as bold as me let alone you /mother/."

While Haru is busy piling the Layers of Impersonation into a Lasagna of Realities whose ambitious reach is likely to challenge the Goddesses into removing the automatic translation system from the game, somewhere, in the middle of reharsing a number, the real Shenmi, Master of Illusion (and a plethora of other made-up titles) is in the middle of a sneezing fit.

Cornered by the unstoppable force of nature Morri is, Uta takes a moment to meditate. Close eyes. Inhale. Take stock of the current situation. Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a Morri-slide, no escape from reality. She opens her eyes, looks up at the sky and sees-

"I'm just a poor nurse, from a poor family," Uta begins. And then stops. "Wait- why did I say that?" Uta does that thing where she frowns, sinks into thought, and spins her fingers in circles, as if rewinding or fast forwarding a tape. Briefly zipping through the part where she expects Gwen to sing out "Mamma mia, mamma mia, mamma mia let me go!", right into "That Pendragon has an outfit set aside for me", she rewinds eventually rewinds into a section she believes more copacetic.

She looks down at one of her new bracelets, the grape-size gem at her wrist specifically, trying not to think of Morri. Morri looms. Plots. Watches. "Too late, my time has come." Sends shivers down her spine. "Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth." Short silence. "I mean... I have a... very... important... ah... work appointment. Yes, yes. I must absolutely be at a pre-arranged appointment which was definitely agreed in advance. To... uh... help with... ah... the stand of... er... Atelier Nox! Yes! That. Sorry, it's urgent, bye!"

That said, she darts off into the distance.

. . .

And reappears shortly after. "Hi Shenmi, Master of Illusion!", she greets while positively beaming. "See? I didn't get distracted this time, and remembered!"

Silence."Oh, hi, Gwen, Shiruba, Morri, Hyuga, and Doctor Woden! What brings you here today?"

Woden blinks at Gwen, as if curious why she had so much pride in her chain mail bikini. He looks between her and Morri, then. "I take it you two are inseparable. That's always really nice to see." his smile is warm and inviting, regarding the pair with a silent fondness.

Woden turns now to Uta as she seems to stand a little taller and treats him with maximum respect, though it seems to make him chuckle. "I've met him, nice fellow and knowledgeable about the world. He's a talented healer, everything they say he is." he praises Prophylaxis, the legend that he is. He smiles wide. "I see Prophylaxis is well-assisted."

Woden returns Shenmi's little wave.

"I do my best, Doctor Woden," Uta bows. "I hope we will get to work together at some point, I am always eager to learn from more people."

"Like mother, like daughter," Uta explains to Woden. Short silence. "Mother. Daughter," she states, pointing at Morri first, and Gwen next. "Got stuck in this world together. We have to specify, because the age of the Adventurer is not necessarily an indicator of the age of the player..."

Silence. Blink.

"Oh! That reminds me! It's the Bonded Heart Fstival! I have a present for you!", Uta exclaims, and flicks her inventory open. She shimmers a mechanical device into existence, the size of a small suitcase. "Here it is! Your very own Phonograph!" It does, in fact, look like a late XIX or early XX century contraption kind of deal. "It comes with a couple shellac cylinders with the most common Landers' Songs." She operates the controls, and the song known by the Landers as the First Song, i.e. the 'title song' to Elder Tale Online, begins playing. She extends the device to Morri. "Har- I mean, Shenmi, over there, helped build it. I know Gwen asked for one, a while ago. So... a present for the whole Pendragon family!"

Look to Yumi. And back to Morri. "Actually, I think Yumi is right. That necklace would look really good on you."

    Hyuga takes the comment about his apple in stride, and leans on his shield. He takes to observing the quality of displayed items, if there are any, and opts to retreat a bit back into himself in silence... well, a little. "I have amassed quite a few tradeskills that could be of use to an Atelier. Perhaps, after opening season, we could have a discussion about the exchange of goods and services." It was worth a shot. Plus, it would help him break out of his anxious shell.

Haru tips a wave when mentioned. Shenmi-not-Shenmi doing an over the top version of Haru, when it actually Haru, is the kind of mind games one might expect from an Enchanter. "Haru Nox, Breaker of Crowns, Crafter of phonographs, second of his name, Prince of Firebirds," he goes on an extra long list of titles, "is an avid supporter of hunting for Songs. Lamentably he, rather I, am unable to tap into the power of Song, my contributions to the efforts with delicate crafts proves that one and all can support this noble pursuit." The talking comes with a lot of flourishing of his hands as if marketing Haru Nox.

A sharp monocle glints as he notices Hyuga go a bit more silent. Haru has a single purple lens monocle over his right eye. It is so thick that one cannot see the eye beyond and occasionally white lines or text can be seen against the glass. It is a relic, for sure. "That would be most welcome, most welcome indeed. Haru could introduce you to like minded merchants, as well, such as Pela and Shiruba. Haru Nox is a Craft Commander of Silver Sword, which means he deals a lot in goods logistics and trade. To do so he relies heavily on the aspirations of others to ensure that their dreams have a path to become reality. Many of them, such as this fair city here, are only made possible by the shared ambitions of the many based on their personal journey." It is very similar to what Shiruba was saying earlier about making sure people have a place to grow. As much as the two take different approaches to it, the goal is the same, and their diversity is met with trust and respect to achieve some fantastic results. Same as LOONS, which makes information shared instead of cached like an arms race.

Morri grins widely at Uta mentioning the Bonded Heart Festival gets Morri all a twitte and even Gwen perks up at this as she looks at her and then Morri looks to Yumi.

"Hello my dear I think I might have a few outfits that could help with your sales..."

Gwen gets a look of horror but also notes to Uta.

"Everyone forgets I'm a pretty decent merchant myself so I'm game to sell them in my shop."

"Oh Gwen calm down I was thinking something fun, light hearted and perhaps involving Prinnies...Disegea outfits I mean you could pull off a Succubus easily."

The polyphonic harmony of voices pours out from the phonograph, attracting the attention (and curiosity!) of a few Landers. They seem very interested. Uta is oblivious to them, as your average garden variety of Uta is wont to. "Don't sell yourself short, brother! Your contributions have been -crucial- to this endeavour! Oh! Speaking of hunting songs!" Uta carefully places the still operating phonograph on a nearby flat surface (keep your phonograph in a cool and dry place when not in use. Also when in use. I mean, it can take the occasional dungeon, but it will last longer if you take proper care of it. Replace broken or worn out components only with original parts from the Eas Conservatory. Wash separately. Do not Fire-Magic dry).

"O-outfits?", Uta stutters. She turns to Haru, abruptly. "Does the shop have uniforms?" She looks to her new colleague, Yumi. "Does it?", and then back to Morri. "I didn't know the shop had outfits."

And then, a blink. "...What's a Prinny?"

Another pause, longer. "...What's a Disgaea?", she asks, before hazarding, uncertain, "Some sort of ceremony? Region from another server? Fashion style?"

    Hyuga nods. "I would appreciate any and all introductions. I am... trying to overcome anxiety. By force." A grin, and he adjusts his grip on that slab of metal. If that monocle is a proper analysis monocle, the hammer on Hyuga's hip gives off a big ol' ! to relic detection. "I am one hundred percent in favor of sharing knowledge, especially in this place." His free hand... well, his appled hand, indicates the world around them. Speaking of the apple, a healthy CRONCH! is heard as Hyuga takes another bite.

"Excellent!", Uta beams to Hyuga. "I'll make sure to invite you to the next meeting of our Loosely Organized Open Network of Students." She mumbles to herself, "we need a name with a better acronym..."

Her doubts about the compatibility of the fruit with her profession crumble further with the healthy cronch -- in fact, one might suspect she begins to salivate a little. "Oh, hey, nice hammer!", she says, probably trying not to think of tasty, tasty food.