New World Tea Party

it is a sweltering, cloudy summer evening outside, but it is nice and cool inside Pela's cafe, where the Coolest Cat in ETO sits at a sizable round table. Upon the table is a tea pot, and each chair has a place setting: plate, fork, napkin, and tea cup waiting for tea to be poured into it. Nyanta himself is sipping at the tea, waiting for his guests to arrive. He has not yet partaken of the cakes; it would be rude to have some before anyone else arrived.

    On the way in, Nyanta might have noticed a conspicious and rather large wooden box set up along the street with little bottles and bunnies drawn on the outside.. It's hilarious looking and frankly, kind of sad. Especially since that's exactly where Natsume wiggles out of after chattering with her friends on the chimlink, then politely picks up the box and folds it up neatly to somehow pack away in her backpack. Of course to look at her you'd think she was on cloud nine - and you'd be right. Nothing ever truly keeps the little bun down, unless she's the weakest link in a party or soemthing.

    Still, once her shop is packed away safely, the girl brushes herself off and hops on both feet for a moment to make sure she's got her balance before she turns and heads into Pela's cafe before she waves with a soft chime. "Hello! Sorry I'm late." She probably wasn't late, after all, it was like five steps. "I always love coming here.. The carrot cake is the absolute besssst. Also Miss Pela doesn't get as angry as other businesses if I set up shop nearby."

Nyanta lifts his tea cup (pinky extended) in greeting to the bun girl, "There is no such thing as 'late' to an impurromptu purrty of friends. Please, have a seat, Nyatsume." He gestures to an open chair at the table.

"It is good to see you again, nya. I hope the eve finds you in good health, nya?" He takes a sip of the tea, savoring it a bit before continuing.

"I have had the carrot cake here, and it is indeed lovely, but I meowst admyit that their fish cakes hold a special place in myai heart, nya. That being said, their nyew cheese cakes have found their way into myai soul, and I feel I have taken quite a liking to them, nya."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! I'M LATE I'M LATE I'M LATE!"

Uta screams as she zips through Shibuya, past Atelier Nox, where her traveller's wagon, made of a reconverted large barrel, painted white and fitted as a mobile home, is parked.

Her wings flutter in the wind as she, holding onto her nurse's cap, makes a beeline for the door of the Pelapuff Cafe, slams the door open, and announces, "I'M LATE! PELA, PLEASE! I NEED A SLICE OF TOAST TO PRECARIOUSLY HOLD ONTO WITH MY MOUTH BEFORE I CAN PROPERLY BUMP INTO PEOPLE!"

    Asuna enters with a bit less spring in her step than is usual. There's also no rapier on her hip. She has a downright serious expression. "Pela's got the best cake in the world. This is a big smile guarantee."

    She's walking hand-in-hand with a little girl. The child looks around curiously, but she also moves closer to Asuna shyly. "I do like cake," she replies quietly.

    Spotting Shabiru first, Asuna waves and waits to get her attention. "Two slices of strawberry shortcake, please."

    Of course it is impossible to quite follow the Uta act. Asuna does try to get Uta's attention, waving. "Hi Uta! How are you doing?"

Nyanta smiles as Uta enters unceremoniously with the fanfare of the bell at the door. "How lively it is for late evenying. I hope such excitement transfers to meowrr get together here, don't you, Nyatsume?" His eyes open wide as Asuna enters with the little girl's hand in hers, but makes no comment. Curiousity may have killed the cat, but manners must be followed above all else. "Ah, yes. Fish Cakes are a myust for cats. We cannyawt live without them, nya." He cuts one of his fish cakes in half and sets it at Natsume's place setting for her to try.

Nyanta smiles as Uta enters unceremoniously with the fanfare of the bell at the door. "How lively it is for late evenying. I hope such excitement transfers to meowrr get together here, don't you, Nyatsume?"

His eyes open wide as Asuna enters with the little girl's hand in hers, but makes no comment. Curiousity may have killed the cat, but manners must be followed above all else.

"Ah, yes. Fish Cakes are a myust for cats. We cannyawt live without them, nya." He cuts one of his fish cakes in half and sets it at Natsume's place setting for her to try.

Soujiro Seta pops his head in to Pela's with a few paces behind Asuna in there. He is all big smiles and a hand wave to many. Many, like the small crowd outside of the cafe now that includes a companion of cluck clucks, lovely lander ladies, and one mallard. Are they here to eat sweets? Possibly! Also lured in by the sparkles. "That sounds good, I'll take a slice too," the samurai says in regards to the slice of strawberry shortcake.

When he sees the Sword Saint enter the cafe, Nyanta very nearly breaks decorum (but of course, he doesn't). His smile does open wide to show his fangs quite nicely (glint). "Soujiro Seta. It has been quite some time, has it nyawt?" He takes a sip of his tea (pinky still out) to conceal the increase of joy in his mood.

"Hi! Hello! Working on my daily serendipity practice!", she waves to Asuna. "See, fortuitous random happenstances are no fortuitous random happestances. It takes a lot of work and practice to engineer the perfect dumb luck scenario," she begins to explain. "I have a tight schedule to follow. It starts with: 8:00am, be late for going out-"

"Oh, hi Natsume!", she abruptly exclaims, turning to face Natsume. "Right! The slimes! See, about them..." She flicks her menu into existence, slides and taps a few options, and a thick tome is shimmered into existence from her inventory.

Uta Furore's Encyclopedia of Slimes, for the connoisseur.

She turns to page one, inhales deeply-

And then frowns at Asuna. "Wait a minute, something is not quite right-" She frowns, with an intense look, trying to figure out what's going on there. Something is not right. Something is different.

"Oh, you made a new friend?", Uta asks, finger still on the page, ready to start reading.

And then back to Natsume. "And you seem to have made a new friend as well. A very dapper one, at that."

She bows to Nyanta, in greeting, leaving the option of making the first move towards an introduction to her interlocutors. Which is when Soujiro seta pops in.

    Okay admitedly Nyatsume-er, Natsume (The puns, they are spreading!), is usually more than ready go greet new people, but the cafe is so rapidly filling up with people that she doesn't recognize that when she turns around to greet Seta the girl's eyes kind of spin from the number of people following him. "Oh wow he must be really famous huh..." Then Nyanta says his name and Natsume tilts her head quietly before she curtsey's the same as she did with Asuna. "A pleasure to meet you Soujiro Seta, please, call me Natsume."

    Then she glances back to Nyanta and nods. "Excitement indeed.. I have to admit I wasn't expecting quite so large a gathering but it's nice, all the same.."

    Then she looks back to Uta and smiles. "Ah, yes, this is Nyanta.. He kind of saved my life yesterday after a blunder in my defense left me hanging high and dry... so to speak." She mumbles, then waves her hand. "...Not to make light of his efforts mind you. I've never had such a daring rescue carried out on my behalf, before."

    Natsume's greeting is a bit of a surprise to Asuna. She doesn't curtsey, but she does offer a proper bow. Polite, but not so far as to seem excessively modest. The child watches Asuna closely, then copies her actions in silence.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Natsume. I'm Asuna." There's something of an awkward pause as she does not provide a name for the child just yet. It's... complicated.

    She nods in response to Uta's question, though. "I'm taking care of her." As if that explains it all. She will use this lull to find herself and the child a table to sit at. Out of habit, she makes sure to pick one with room for Soujiro and the entire fanclub.

Miho wants food, wants sugar, she's in town. There's only one place to go for it. That being Pela's place she does not expect to see so many people here, she noticed Asuna and Souji entering before her. She'll attempt to sneak up on them both and go BOO!

Nyanta made sure to request Pela's largest table for the party, as he knew, if Soujiro were to arrive, they would need it for his hangers on. He bows his head to Natsume, "It was only nyatural to come to your aid when you were in nyeed. After all, when I lacked healing abilities for the Lander I had rescued, you nyaturally suppurrted my failings by curing them of their maladies, nya."

He turns to both Uta and Asuna, "As you have heard, I am knyown as Nyanta. I am but a humble adventurer who has just come meowt of retirement. It is myai purrleasure to meet the two of you, all the same."

Nyanta addresses the throng of people who have just entered, "Welcome, everyone, to this little tea party in the grandest myaid cafe in ETO. Please have a seat, and tea will be served. Feel free to order whichever cakes strike your fancy. They are, of course, complemyents of myaiself for today, nya.

Soujiro Seta is famous! The The Sword Saint Soujiro Seta of the Scale Samurais! One can expect training and sparkles where he goes. That feeling when you hug a blanket right out of the dryer while at the same time being nuzzled by animals? The Souji effect. "Nyanta-san, it is good to see you," he says with a warm smile on his face. The two were rather active in the Tea party before the Apoc event. DTP was pretty legendary in itself, if a touch dated by 2 years now. "And please, just Souji. No one calls me by my full name or family name. Its too formal for me," he says.

The attention goes to Natsume next. "Nice to meet you, Natsume," Soujiro sparkles, "call me Souji."

Natsume plops back down on her seat, finally, not noticing MIho sneaking in to ambush Seta and Asuna, before she exhales with a bit of exhaustion. "I gotta say though. I never expected adventuring to be more exhausting than gathering alchemy materials.." She mumbles to no one in particular.

"Maybe I SHOULD go on a small diet..." She says before she immediately picks up a fork to take a large bite of the carrot cake infront of her, before pausing as she hears Seta speaking back to her and looks back over with a slight flush in her cheeks. "I um... Right... Souji. I don't care for formality much, either..." She states before she blushes realizing she just started talking with her mouth full, and quickly looks away with her fork still in her mouth.

    Asuna does not expect a boo. She does not. But it is clear that she is a bit on edge. When that little joke is made, she does not, fortunately, spin and nearly jump into battle. That would be embarrassing. Instead, she stiffens and holds onto her fork a lot more tightly than is necessary.

    The little girl, though, spins around to look at Miho. She's not scared, though. She's curious. She asks, matter-of-factly, "Why did you do that? That seemed very strange. Is this how they greet people where you are from?" Her eyes, a bit large on a child's face, are wide, calm, and lock on to Miho.

"Tea Party?" Uta beams. "There's my serendipity quota for the day!"

The Encyclopedia of Slimes is shimmered out of existence, replaced by a clipboard and a pencil. She checks a box (tongue sticking out for extra intensity), and shimmers the items back into her inventory. "Oh, hi Souji!" Wide smile! How can one not be happy to see Souji arrive? 50% more sparkles.

She also makes sure to check if -this time- the rest of Souji's entourage has any issues with her being friendly towards Souji. Last time she was caught not wearing a hat (an unforgivable social faux pas, for an adventurer! Hats, she's been taught, are Important!), but this time she's certain, positive, -adamant- she's wearing her nurse's cap!

...She pats her head just to make sure.

Phew. It's there.

She bows to Nyanta. "Pleased to meet you, Nyanta. I'm Uta Furore, Aerialist, Musical Kung-Fu Nurse, at your service." She stands up again, and continues, "I am grateful for saving Natsume."

"Oh, Responsibilities. I see," Uta says, having no clue of why Asuna might be so somber. That's unlike her. And even if she was stuck with babysitting someone, that... that's the wrong expression.

She makes a mental note to ask later, and files it away in a corner of her brain, where it is promptly eaten by an imaginary slime.

She then turns towards the little child, and as it is customary, she asks the first question any children is asked to open a conversation:

"Do you like slimes?"

While still looking at the child, she raises one finger towards Natsume. "I have been DESIGNING custom diets for people! I'm sure we can work something out for you!"

Nyanta gives a lighthearted chuckle to Soujiro, setting his tea down, "Of course you and I are on a first nyaime basis, Souji-san. I myeerly wanted to make sure you knyew I remyembered your full name, nya."

He notes Natsume's embarrassment from speaking with her mouthful, and smiles, giving her an assuring pat on the head. "We need not stress on formalities for now, Nyatsume. This is a gathering of friends."

He sends another chuckle Uta's way as she introduces herself, "I see you have quite a few titles, and responsibilities, nya. Might I recommend having some sort of disclaimer at your place of business reassuring patrons of your legitimacy, nya."

Nyanta still keeps an eye on the little one trying not to seem like he is paying attention to her at all while also paying attention to her the most out of everyone here. This is probably his most cat-like action today.

    With her attention drawn in two directions, the little lander girl turns her focus back to Uta. "Slimes are monsters. Momma always said I should stay away from monsters."

    The sentence starts well, with the ghost of a smile on the child's face. But once she finishes her expression kind of.. well, crumples into sadness.

    This rouses Asuna from her tension related to being shocked. The Flash puts an arm around the little girl. A brief glance to Miho, "Hello."

    Then back to the child. Asuna's expression grows worried, uncertain. Then relieved a moment later as the lander girl slowly recoverd.

    "But.. they seem kind of cute."

    She looks around, and focuses at last on Nyanta. Her head tilts, curious. She's openly staring back at the cat.

Nyanta makes a point to look away from the little girl immediately upon eye contact. He waits a couple of seconds, then looks at her from the side of his eye, sipping at his tea. He's not looking at her, though. Nope. Not at all.

"Then I hope we continue to get to know each other, Natsume," sparkles Souji over to Natsume. Bird chirping. Cats playing. Cats pouncing the chirping birds. The usual stuff when Souji is around. Even animals need TRAINING. Annnnd he turns to Uta, "Uta. Great to see you again," as fifty percent more sparkles activates. This causes the landers to start heading inside the cafe, each taking care of their own personal cluck cluck. The mallard is above this, waddling in on their own. Odd choice, duck.

Miho plans thankfully doesn't go too well as Nyanta just distrupts them by getting miho's attention. The cat puns don't seem to be stopping however, she's just going to have to get used to them. she looks to Asuna fdor a moment and she smirks. "Yes, cute but very dangerous when you think about it or say when a cube slime tries to /eat/ you whole." Well it did happen once to her and she's had a thing about taking out slimes the moment she sees them. "So how is everyone doing?"

    Natsume raises an eyebrow at the girl's repsonse about slimes, then pauses before she considers wether to bring up how integral slimes are to her experimental alchemy process... Then slowly waves her hand before what Uta says catches her attention and her face pales. "D..Diet? Who said anything about a diet?! ... Oh right i did. Um.. ...Y.Yeah I could stand to lose a pound... or two...." She mumbles before she stands up, gently packing the rest of the carrot cake infront of her away in her backpack. "...And I plan to get on that right after I finish checking up on that adventurer we rescued, yesterday, and see them to a full recovery. Yes. After that." She nods with affirmation before she pauses. "...Actually, Uta, you're a nurse, I might could use your help examining them.. But I don't want to talk about what we saw here. ...We'll call it patient confidentiality!" Not that Natsume thought it was any real secret and more just.. she didn't want to discuss potentially gross things with so many people enjoying sweets.

Nyanta gives his best cat-like grin at Natsume's weight concerns, "I think your weight should not be something you find yourself concerned about. I can assure you, from personal experience, that you are as light as a feather, Nyatsume."

He nods solemnly at the mention of the Landers' condition. "Ah. Yes, if you need anyee asshisstance with that matter, Nyatsume, let me know. I am at your disposal, nya."

He turns his gaze to Miho, "Ah, welcome, Miho. I, for one, am feeling like the cat's meow with all these furriends at this wonderful tea party, nya. How are you feeling, nya? I nyoticed you were rather angrrry during the battle with Myadam Spider."

    Youthful attention swivels away from very much staring cat to Miho. "I'm not afraid of a slime. Miss Asuna and Master Soujiro will protect me. There's no slime that can beat them!"

    Even if Asuna currently has no weapon. As for The Flash, she seems rather more relaxed as the child clearly has bounced back from that momentary slip.

    And honestly, the shyness seems to be wearing off fast. "Excuse me. I need to talk to someone." She turns her attention solidly on Nyanta at that point. She does her best to walk like Soujiro does. Confident steps, commanding, and finally stopping right in front of the were cat. Then, at the last moment, losing her nerve and offering an uncertain, "Hi, Mr. Cat." Neko-sama, to be precise, translation be damned.

    Asuna puts herself back in her seat, but not fully. Her chair is not drawn close, allowing her, if necessary, to rush in should something go wrong. It's unclear what she'd be fighting with, considering her rapier is missing. Nonetheless, protection mode is clearly activated.

Miho says "There are some creatures that need to be purged and spiders bigger than your hand are one such thing." She shudders at the memory of what they had to deal with." She'll move to sit down and looks over to Asuna for a moment. She looks at the child and grins and will look to Asuna for a moment and the kid. This kid is adorable but she's got an order to place.

No sooner does the little girl finish her sentence than does she miraculously have a plate with a slice of cheese cake on it in her tiny hands, "Good evening, esteemed little girl (Ojo-samya, to be precise, translation be damned). Thank you ever so meowch for attending myai tea purrty, nya. Please myaeke yourself comfurrtable. Shall I purr you some tea, nya?" Nyanta seems perfectly comfortable with interacting with children, perhaps a bit more eager than any have ever perceived Nyanta to be, though even then, it's still within the bounds of etiquette and decorum.

    The sudden direct approach by Asuna causes Natsume to withdraw a bit more again before she smiles softly. "Ah.. well I appreciate the boost in my confidence, but even I can notice that my hips are starting to plump up a bit more than normal... But I'm glad it's not enough to be noticable yet if I have to be carried." She states, then pauses before she checks her menu for a moment before she stands up once more and bows. "Nyanta I hate to grab cake and run but I've got a few more things I need to take care of before the evening rolls over into night time." Natsume adds, deciding to give Nyanta and Asuna the privacy for a talk, before she quickly flicks through her menues to give everyone present a friend invite for her personal chimlink. "But please, if any of you ever need an alchemist, or an amateur party member, please don't hesitate to give me a call.. Or really just to chat, even!" After which, Natsume bows one last time then quickly makes her way back outside and off down the street.

Nyanta bows his head to Natsume on her way out, "Take care, Nyatsume. We shall myeet again someowtime soon over cake, I sussspect, nya." He begins to pour tea for everyone, even the spot that, until recently, Natsume was sitting. Nyanta turns to the little girl and asks, "Would you like to have some tea, esteemed little girl(Ojo-samya)?"

    The child looks down at the cheese cake, then back to Asuna, where a strawberry shortcake is already waiting. She can do math, though. Two cakes are so much better than one.

    "Do grown ups really have tea parties?" she asks suddenly. Her eyes go down to the cake, then back to Asuna, then back to Nyanta. She is thinking about the tea.

    "Tea sounds very good! But you gave me cake, so I should get something for you."

    Which in her mind, means only one thing. Her eyes seek out Souji and she waves for his attention. "Souji-kun! May we have some tea? Mr. Cat gave me cake." She holds it up, proudly. She has procured herself cake! Just like a grown up!

Soujiro Seta is not only a member of the Tea party, he has Tea and brings the Party! When the kiddo asks for tea he takes a break from monching on his own cake to swipe his inventory. "Do you think cake will taste better with tea?" the warm samurai asks. Because nuturing kids is part of the saint's deal! "Lets find out!" And out comes a brewed pot of tea. He carefully pours kiddo a cup and one for himself too. Whats a samurai without one that can't do tea ceremonies?!

A small bit of nostalgia, and perhaps a bit of sadness, momentarily sneaks through the Cool Cat's mask when the little girl rushes over to Soujiro, but it is gone before the girl might take notice. He takes up the cup of tea he had poured for the little miss and drinks it himself, as if that was what he had intended all along. Covering up for any faux pas is the responsibility of the host, after all. "Cakes are always better with tea, nya."

    Asuna, for her part, is quiet through this. Just watching the little lander girl. Her expression varies slightly, but she never seems quite relaxed. The cake, as wonderful as it looks, and as much of a big deal it is to her (Pela is her hero, after all), is not getting her attention.

    Meanwhile, the child takes her tea and says, "I am going to give this to Mr. Cat. I will be back!"

    And so she does. She has to set her cake down carefully, first. Then with incredible focus and a look of determination, she brings the tea over to set down in front of Nyanta. "Souji-kun has great tea! It is very good with cake." Sure, she hasn't actually tried that yet, but she will be putting it to the test shortly. "Thank you for the cake!"

    And she will head back to set down next to Souji again, her attention back on the cheesecake. Though she is giving Asuna a look from time to time. Those looks actually get The Flash to smile reassuringly, even if there is still, to the attentive eye, a hint of stress to be found in that expression.

Nyanta takes the tea from the little one with as much care as he had delivered it. "Thank you for the tea. I see you have gone to great efforts to deliver it to me. In return, shall I also pour you a cup of tea?" He sips from Soujiro's world famous tea. Both of his eyebrows raise, and after he has finished the sip, he smiles. "Mmm. Even Soujiro's worst brew of tea is still delightful."

    The girl looks at Nyanta curiously. "Souji-kun's tea is the best tea," she says softly. "I would like some tea." She sits down, but then realizes something important.

    "Excuse me. I have forgotten my cake."

    Hopping back up, she goes back to collect her cake from where Soujiro was sitting and then returns. A moment later, after several uncertain glances at Asuna, the Flash gets up, gathers yet more cake, and comes over to sit down with them.

    "Are you behaving yourself?" Asuna asks. The child nods quickly. "Mr. Cat and I are going to have tea and cake. Mr. Cat, do you have enough cake?"

Nyanta nods to the little girl while pouring her a cup of tea (brewed by one of Pela's maids and not Nyanta), "I do, nya. And the happy thing about this place is that, if you would like meowre cake, you can meowrely ask, and one of Pela's maids will bring it to you, nya. Isn't that lovely, nya?"

    Asuna grins at Nyanta's persistant feline flourishes. The nyas are making it so hard to focus on extremely serious matters. "You definitely are going all out, aren't you?" She remembers she's with a child and adds, "I mean, with the cake." Of coures she meant the cake. Not the act. The child /likes/ the act.

    "Asuna says Pela is the best baker in the world."

    The little girl will happily call out, "Itadakimasu!" and start to dig in. But there's a problem. Asuna has brought the strawberry shortcake over. And she has the cheesecake here, too. Being a bit less complex than a fully developed Lander, this puzzle requires some processing.

    The solution settled upon by the child is to eat one bite of cheesecake, then one bite of the shortcake. With each broken up by a drink of tea.

    "Thank you for being kind to my... to her." Asuna blinks a few times. Hm. More serious thought then. "It's very polite of you."

Nyanta gives a soft laugh, "It is very easy to be kind: especially when one myakes it so easy and so rewarding to do so. I think that it takes something a bit meowre purraiseworthy to step forward and truly care for another life: especially when that life are so vulnerable, nya." He bows his head briefly, "Some acts are truly meowre worthy of purraise than others, nya."

    "Well, yes, of course." Asuna doesn't know how to react to this kind of compliment. Everything is rather confusing, still. "I mean, it was." Hm. It was what? "Just what felt right."

    The little lander girl sitting with them continues eating slowly from both of the cakes. Sometimes she alternates each bite, sometimes she gets distracted, watching one of the maids and forgets where she was.

And into all this walks Goldenblade, looking rough, and halfway down on HP. She looks around, nods to a few people she knows. "Asuna," she greets. "Seta." Then she notices the cat. "Nyanta! It's been so long since I've seen you!" And she's certainly come a long way since then, he will note. No starter gear for her now!

Nyanta closes his eyes as if pondering, before opening his eyes, looking at the child with a soft expression. "Children are born into a world that seems unreasonyable and crazy to them. No one is asked at birth if they agree to come into the world. Everyone is born that way. Some come to be confurronted with horrors no one, especially children, should be furrced to face... You'll seek to shield her, nya? Or purrhaps asshisst her in recofurring from what she has already felt, nya?"

And so, Goldenblade's appearance penetrates the conversation like a hot katana through cartilege. Nyanta smiles, bowing his head, "Goldenblade. I can scarcely recognyaize you with how you have changed, nya. I do say that your equipmyent has recieved a few upgrrrades since last we myet. How fares your sword arm then, nya?" A glint appears in Nyanta's eyes; something says that, if not for the child, or if not for the setting, his blades would already be drawn. Instead, he takes a sip of tea. "Mmm. Delicious, nya.."

    Asuna looks up when Goldenblade walks in and is on her feet instantly. "What on earth happened? You look.. here!" She fumbles quickly in her inventory and out pop some healing potions. One is quickly pushed into Goldenblade's hands.

    She is looking past her friend to the outside. Asuna's hand settles on her hip. Only to find that the weapon isn't there. On account of her breaking it. Apparently rapiers make for awful prybars.

    The little girl, happily oblivious, turns to look over at Goldenblade. She tilts her head and asks curiously, "Are you okay?"

Goldenblade chuckles to Nyanta and smiles proudly, remembering the lessons she got in the very first days of the game. The one experienced Blade Dancer and the 75-year old noob. She nods about her gear having been upgraded considerably since they knew each other over two years ago. But he will remember that she was a blacksmith, so must have learned that craft, too. As far as her sword arm, she says, "It's doing pretty well. I run the Crescent Academy now, in Carmina Gadelica Marina," she explains, even as she pulls as small flask from her inventory, declining Asuna's trde offer. "I started an Academy where I can train people the way you trained me back in the day," she tells Nyanta.

Goldenblade winds up huffing from the flask and her HP slowly climbs, telling Asuna with a smirk, "You should have seen the other guy." Semms her little flask is up to the task of providing healing. Or, rather, the pure oxygen is like a boost.

Nyanta gives a happy laugh as he sets his tea cup down, "It's good to see that you are still as spurrai as ever, nya. Even I took a catnap from the blade, and I do believe it has taken it's toll on myai swordwork. Purrhaps it is your turn to asshisst me this time, nya." He takes a bite of Pela's newest invention, the cheese cake, and sighs with bliss. "Seeing you has brought good meowmories. Perhaps I could volunteer at this Academy of yours at one point or anyather."

    Asuna gives Goldenblade a critical look. There's inspecting going on, obviously. Only when that health climbs up to at least 80% does she relax.

    "Be more careful! You shouldn't traipse around with half hp." She sounds far more upset than she has cause to be.

    The Flash will turn her attention back to the table, where she sits down next the lander girl. Without further comment, Asuna just starts to devour a clice of strawberry shortcake. She may be grumbling for some reason.

    "It's yummy, just like you said. Pela really makes the best cake in the whole world! Asa, have you really tried it all?"

    Asuna's grumbling stops and her mood just shifts gears immediately. She smiles at the child. "Well... maybe not /every/ cake, but I have been to many places and I always try the cakes."

Goldenblade bows to Nyanta and says, "I'd be glad to have you at the Academy, Nyanta. I don't have any regular students, but I see a steady trickle wanting to learn some of the techniqwues I've developed. I'm passing along what I've learned. I figure that's payback for as much as I've learned, from you and others."

She shrugs dismissively to Asuna and explains, "I would have done it sooner, but it was on cooldown before." Meaning she was even more mangled before that; it must have been a rough fight. She shakes her head, muttering something about kids.

Nyanta smiles broadly, "Everyone has learned what they know from somewhere. Teaching is one of the few cycles that exist which net a positive outcome." He looks to the lander girl eating her cake, "Some, perhaps, are a little young to learn the blade yet." He tops the little girl's tea off (if necessary).

    "I'm going to learn from Asa and Souji-kun and be a samurai someday!" Well, not if Asuna has anything to do with it, admittedly. The Flash would much rather see the girl become a seamstress or work in a cafe. Still, the little Lander can dream.

    She has managed to get about a quarter of the way into the two pieces of cake and she sets her fork down. She waits patiently for Nyanta to fill her cup.

    She will take a drink, but only after she says, "Thank you, Mr. Cat! I can't fill my tea yet. Why are things always so heavy?"

    Asuna turns her attention to Goldenblade's healing. "That thing you used. It healed and it wasn't light-based. Where did you learn to do that?"

Goldenblade is trying to avoid distracting the Lander girl because, as a Legend, the Landers naturally look up to her, but it seems maybe this one is so overawed that she doesn't quite know what to say to her. Goldenblade doesn't press the issue, instead simply chuckling to Nyanta's comment. "Maybe not in this world. Children grow up much faster in these pre-technological societies. They have to."

She hrms to Asuna, and ohs! "Light isn't the only thing that can heal," she explains. "Pharmacy, of course, like Scale's boss-rabbit," she means Proph, of course, but she can't say his name without laughing. In her day, prophylaxis meant a condom. "But the element Water is also associated with healing, and that's what the oxygen bottle uses. It's a bit like a vaporizer."

Nyanta nods to Goldenblade, "That is, sadly, meowre true than one would wish, nya. If only they could have a full childhood to grow and learn, nya." To the little lady he says, "You see, little lady (Ojo-samya), some things have to be big so that they can help the meowst people pawsible. A tiny tea pot wouldn't hold meowch tea, would it, nya?

    Asuna nods thoughtfully to Goldenblade. "That makes sense. Water could be useful for healing. I really need some ways to heal people." She looks at the little girl, making it obvious just what that is about.

    "You are right," the Lander says. She looks crestfallen for several seconds. But, with her tummy full and her thirst and curiosity satisfied (for now), the child can focus on Goldenblade. There's a moment of thought and then the unmistakable glimmer of recognition.

    Without warning, she hops from her chair and races over to Goldenblade. "Goldenblade sensei!! It's you!" She offers a very deep, not so perfect bow. "You know Asa? Do all adventurers know each other?"

Goldenblade smirks as Nyanta, always the teacher, teaches tea to the Lander child. She hrms to Asuna, but says, "You don't really, as long as you stay with a good team. I just carry this," she gestures with the now-expended flask, "For emergencies whan I'm alone. Would you like to learn how to make them?"

She laughs and headpats the child as she gushes, and she says, "Around here, we mostly know each other." Critically, Landers can't Inspect, not for names or anything, and how they get some of the info that players get from Inspect is a mystery to her. But Goldenblade is known to Landers generally, at least when she wears Westelande's badge.

Nyanta nods in agreement to Goldenblade while addressing the girl, "As an adventurer, it is impurrtant to know as many people as you can nyand be friends beclaws being an adventurer is not a safe job. You want to knyow people who will help you when you nyeed it, nya."

    Asuna is quick to nod to Goldenblade's question. "I would, yes. For the same reason. And I have someone more important than me to take care of now." And if she sounds a bit too emphatic in her speech, well, perhaps that can come up during training. She could use more than wave artes training, frankly.

    The more serious conversation goes right over the little girl's head. Instead, she introduces herself to the legendary hero! "My name is.. umm, Asa and Klein call me Taka. I like that." Taka is short for treasure, you see. It's sugary sweet, but with an adorable little girl, it's perhaps forgivable.

    "I'm going to know a lot of people, too! And now I've met Goldenblade! And Mr. Cat, who likes to give me cake and tea. And Souji-kun! And Nurse Slime!"

Goldenblade nods agreement with Nyanta about knowing as many people as you can. "Maybe you can grow up to be a great warrior like Mizufa Trude," she names a Lander general from Westelande. She's GB's direct superior. "She does great things for Westelande." She nods to Asuna about learning how to make the small flasks. "Come by the Academy and I can show you."

She smiles to Taka, and says, "It's nice to meet you, Taka. Be sure to take care in your lessons and you will do well."

Nyanta smiles broadly, snaggletooth shining, "Be good, Little lady Taka (Taka-ojo-samya). And if you do what Asa tells you, I am sure you will become both beautiful and a furmitable warrior just like she is, nya."

    Taka looks up in awe at the suggestion that should be a great warrior. It excites her greatly. She nods quickly to Goldenblade and then to Nyanta, "I will listen! I will be a brave warrior!"

    Meanwhile, Asuna is distinctly uncomfortable with that idea. "Well, we will learn many different things, of course. Exercise is very important, and knowing how to defend yourself is a good idea, too." She gets up to stand behind the child. She strokes Taka's hair with a hand. "But remember, I'm also a cook, and I can teach you how to work with animals and little monsters, too."

    "Are we going to ride Tomoe back home today? I want to!"

Goldenblade smiles to ther child, "There are many brave organizartions that help people. The Guild. The Peko Knights. The various Kingdoms, of course." None of whom are particularly known for their cooking. But she points out, "The world needs doctors as much as butchers. There is work for anyone who will expend effort."

Nyanta nods, "Nyawt to meowntion the fact that we nyeed wonderful people to make cakes for tea parties like Pela-san, nya.

    Everything that Goldenblade says is focused on. It's the power of Legend and it's irresistable to the little girl. And Asuna is grateful for the shift from war and fighting to other things.

    "I'll do be my best to help people," Taka decides. Even if she can't be a samurai, it seems there are other options. Not that she's giving up that dream, though! The five-year-old is sure she'll be a great samurai and fight for everyone like a hero.

    Asuna grins at Nyanta, "And yes, cakes, bread, and pizza are all heroic offerings. Speaking of which.." She leans down, "If we go back to Tolbana now, we can be home in time to get food ready before Klein gets back. And you can help me in the kitchen."

    Taka is excited and laughs, "Yay!" A pause and she asks curiously, "Can we make Tomoe rear up again? It's so funny! Like she's going to give someone a big hug!" A dire red panda will never strike fear into anyone's hearts. Unless they own a fruit cart.

    "Yes, we can do that..."

    Before they leave, Asuna bows again. "Thank you for the conversation, cake, and the tea. And for being so good to my.. to Taka. She had a wonderful time."

    Taka bows as well, then waves goodbye, taking Asuna's hand and half-skipping, half-walking with her.

Goldenblade will wave goodbye to Asuna and Taka, and look for an Inn to sleep for the night. She yawns, but it's late for her. "I'll be heading out also," she declares.

Nyanta sees all his guests off with a smile, making sure each of them get a piece of cheese cake to go. It was a wonderful evening with wonderful friends, both old and new. He had taken a break from adventuring for a while, but now it is time for Nyanta to pick up the sword once again. For the younger generation.

He can provide guidance, as he had before, to the adventurers that need it. His entire life has been to serve... And now, he would do so again.

With that thought, he finishes his tea, pays the bill, and heads out the door to the cafe.

And on to adventure.