Wolf Recruitment

The temperature hasn't really moved in the last few days from that 'near freezing' cold. It's still comfortable enough right now, if one wears a thick longcoat, or if one has fur or the like. But the humans moving around at the docks are clearly keeping themselves busy in order to keep their bodies warm. The Undine who are assisting are having less trouble with this, but that's because they're used to colder waters.

Standing at a fence, Cyrus is looking over the going-ons like he has been doing for a few days now. Picking the right merchant ship to set sail on is important, as far as he is concerned. He's invited Sassaral to come on over, so he could ask her something. From what he can tell, Mikage probably already talked to her about some of this - though he's not sure.

Either way, it's best he give the darling wolflady a proper invitation for the adventure he intends to embark on.

    It's no skin off of Sassaral's back to make the journey to Carmina Gadelica to meet up with Cyrus, undoubtedly to discuss Plans. So into the port the little wolf woman wanders, clad in a thick, cozy robe with her hair left long, loose and thick. This affords to her ears -- laid back a bit closer to her scalp -- a bit of warmth and cover from the cold. Everyone she passes -- be them fellow Adventurers or Landers -- is given a kind greeting. This is received in a variety of ways: mostly friendly, sometimes arrogantly and occasionally even ignored. It takes all kinds to play here.

    ANYWAY as she pads on-site and scans the area, it doesn't take long for Sassaral to pick Cyrus out of the happenings. A little smile and she's moving closer, tail swaying behind her body as she weaves and ducks around the various busy bodies. It takes mere minutes and suddenly, the felinoid Cait Sith isn't standing by his lonesome. "Hello Cyrus," Greets Sassy in her kind, singsong way. "I hope you weren't waiting on me for too long. I got here as quickly as I could."

"No, I wasn't waiting too long." The snow leopard Cait Sith answers her with a smile, motioning a hand to the side as he motions to the ships. "Sorry to ask you to meet up all the way here. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer the more traditional approach of talking to people face to face." He remarks to her with a warm look on his face. His butt is settled on the wood of the railing overlooking the lower sections of the harbor.

He gets off of the railing as she gets close enough, and he does a polite Japanese bow for a moment, before touching his hands to his sides. "Hope you didn't rush too quickly." He adds, before noting; "So, I've been thinking of traveling around the Yamato region. Being stuck here is great and all, but it's a bit overcrowded with the Scale Emblem and Olympus Alliance folk everywhere. And I really want to see more of this world, now that it's changed. Who knows what is out there after all. And I was hoping you and Mikage would join me for a tour around the place."

    Golden eyes follow the man's gesturing hand to look upon the ships, and immediately Sassaral knows what this could mean. She recalls her conversation with Mikage in the wilds, not too long ago. A quick little glance back 'round to Cyrus.... did the two of them talk, hopefully make up? Time enough to ask, because Cyrus has something on his mind. A couple more steps bring Sassaral into proper conversational proximity and the bow brings a little smile to her face. Perhaps one more clue as to who the player is behind the Adventurer.... local? Maybe the crossed paths in the streets and Sassy has no way of knowing... but that's a Long Shot. Now they're here.

    "Quickly, but not terribly quick. It truly isn't an issue." Sassy hastens to reassure again, and something in her tone and body language speaks of this being absolute truth. She silences to listen, tail swaying gently all-the-while, before her lips quirk into an easy smile. "Miki told me a bit.... we had a good talk a few days ago. I am quite interested.... I am so used to being in one spot, doing the same thing.... so why not change it up a little? I haven't been with a party before so... definitely, count me in." Just like that.. no humming, no hawwing... Sassaral is on board. She moves to the railing and leans against it, alongside Cyrus's previous loitering spot. She watches the ships, auburn hair fluttering in the cool wind. "Have you and Mikage spoken? I understand you both had some things to work out. Will she be coming?" Asked hopefully.

Cyrus smiles as the wolf-lady so easily answers with a yes. It certainly was a different kind of interaction than he'd had with Mikage. But that was probably a good thing. A party needs a difference of personalities, otherwise things will surely get dull far too quickly. "I'm glad to hear it." His face brightening at the revalation. He then glances back at the boats - the ones Sassaral is looking at.

He turns around with her and settles in at her side, elbows on the railing. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. Mikage and me spoke. I think things are worked out for now. And she seems to want to come - as long as we get some kind of mount at some point while we're out at the Ninetails Dominion." So he explains.

    Simple indeed... Sassaral trusts the pair of them, easy as that. Some would call that naivety but truly it's just her nature, in-game and out. Or it //was//, before Life happened and they all got stuck. The little wolf is one of those players who pours as much of her essential, 'good' self into her avatar as possible. Her gentle features brighten, "Mikage had given me a payload of meat, when we spoke and discussed everything. I've spiced it and dried it out over a campfire... I'm trying to keep things as basic and raw as possible and //maybe// I'll get some feasible jerky out of the deal.. it'll take another day or so until I know---" Blink, blush. "Aw.. sorry, I'm rambling..."

    Sassaral //really// likes cooking.

    Aware of Cyrus moving to lean back in against the railing alongside her, Sassy looks up at him... there is an obvious sigh of relief. "I am //glad//.... I'm glad you both talked. I was worried, when she and I met last and she filled me in a bit..." She does not expand upon Miki's //specific// words because that means disregarding her confidence, "It was all one big misunderstanding... so I think if we all just watch one another's boundaries and work together, we'll do great." Sassy offers sunnily, then tilts her head at mention of a mount. Large lupine ears perk over the crown of her hair, "Really? That could be useful, especially if we accumulate more inventory. So... when are we going?"

"No no, it's fine." The youth remarks, raising his hand. "Honestly, it makes me kind of nostalgic to hear you talk about things like that. I had a friend who's dad was a butcher. I know - not exactly a job most people want to talk about. But he made the best Jerky. He would sometimes bring some of it for lunch. Super weird - Jerky for lunch. But there he was. And the stuff was delicious. Can't wait to taste it." He seems to presume she's looking to share, based on her personality.

"If you need any herbs along with that, I /do/ have some skill at finding the right herbs in this world. I could help you find seasoning and the like." He explains before closing his eyes for a moment and letting out this long pleased sigh. The wind in his face, the sound of people around him. Not too quite, not too loud.

"Yep." He then answers in regards to the misunderstanding. "By the way, I'll give you ten gold if you find out her Were Fang species and tell me." He then adds with a grin.

"Hmm." He then pushes up. "When are we going? Whenever you and Mikage both have your schedule clear for a bit really. I think I've found the right ship to take."

    The hymnist listens to Cyrus's recollection of his friend's father, the product he made.. her lips pull into an earnest smile, "Is that so? Honestly to be a butcher is good, honest work... I loved cooking .. I mean, outside of this. I was one of my favorite things to do... my father //loved// trying the things that I made. He was a bit of a health nut... jerky was a go-to for his snacks and..." Blink, she blushes again. Too Familiar; too touchy a topic. Suddenly Sassy veers away from that hot button topic and back into something more relaxed and simple. "Jerky for lunch isn't too terrible... if I have it my way, we will be rolling in it, for the trip." She admits as she scritches an ear with a pinkie. "Of course you can taste it... I need opinions." Sassy confirms Cyrus's presumption!

    Ears twitch and perk and eyes brighten, "//Would// you? That would be grand. I meant it when I told Miki that if you were all to provide supplies, I could make something of them.. I-I mean, it's not //expected//. I will do a lot of my own legwork but much of the fun is making something of unexpected ingredients. So please, if you find anything..." She trails off, studies the other youth's profile as he sighs happily. Sassaral knows when to not fill a silence with too much chatter.

    A couple of moments as the water sighs, and Sassy addresses Cyrus's bet with an ear twitch, "That could be tricky... I've been mulling it over in my head but I have a feeling it's a... maybe a no-fly-zone for now. I think if she gets more comfortable with us, we could find out gradually." Offered with a sweet look. She pushes back from the railing when Cyrus does, and Sassaral nods quickly, "I can go anytime. I... ah.. kinda came here, prepared." Keener!

"Honestly, I am just glad to have a cook on my team. What with the information coming out that we can make real food thanks to people like you who didn't think 'cooking is for chumps'. Back when I specced this guy, I was all in on the Alchemy thing. Still locked into that of course. I never thought that cooking would be useful as a thing." He shakes his head, bemused at this discovery that of all things, Food would become so incredibly important.

"I'll gladly give you opinions on food if you keep me fed. And probably give you big dopey smiles for it too." He tells her, clearly having picked up on her shift of topic, and not going back in on her dad and being a health nut.

His tail flicks for a moment. Just the tip. A lazy non-irritated flick.

"Hmmm. Maybe. Heh... a no-fly-zone. She does have wings on that tattoo. But that really doesn't narrow things down that much. She could be a Dire Shoebill for all I know." He muses. "Or a Dire Penguin." As he says this, he flaps his arms out and in for a moment. "We'll see." He notes.

"Oh, you came prepared? Well... I think there's a tiny inn here at the place we could sleep at if you're looking for a way to not have to travel another eight or so hours back to Alne."

    "Dopey smiles?" Sassy headtilts in a //very// canid way, but she clearly doesn't look or sound offended. In fact, she laughs. "Pah.. sometimes I forget how I carry myself. It's just so typical now... I worry about it being overbearing sometimes. But if it... helps morale, I guess the dopey smiles can go a long way." They seem to have worked with Mikage, too! She listens thoughtfully as they segue briefly into 'specs' and Sassy smiles ruefully, "I was //this// close," She lifts a hand, pinches two slender fingers together to indicate a small measurement, "To going for a Jeweler route... and whatever else that could have opened up. It just didn't //feel// right.." She looks back to the ships and belts out a staccato of singsong laughter, "Plus I'm //not// a saleswoman... I'd have to //sell// what I make and it's just not me.."

    A little sigh, and ears cock //again// at talk of speculation on Miki's 'type'. "A dire //penguin//...? Don't you be telling her that, she'll have you head-over-heels into the water down there!" More laughter, she presses a hand to her lips. It's all in good fun. "Yeah, I have all of my things here... which isn't //much//. I left it at the inn in question, as a matter of fact!"

"Oh no, they will be my Dopey smiles. You just get to see them on my face. I probably don't look it, but I became a bit of a foodie when I moved to Tokyo." He explains to Sassaral. "You're fine." He then adds, motioning his hand. "Nothing wrong with someone being a bit motherly. Pretty sure folk need it, since so few adults are stuck in here." He assumes that, based on the kind of people this game normally attracts. He shifts his posture, leaning onto his left foot while putting his right knee between the fence slats. "I actually enjoy selling things. It's why I'm in Grandeur." He notes.

He then looks towards her. "Hah! Yeah, she probably would." He notes. "I honestly have no idea what she might be." He shakes his head. "People seemed to really go for those Dire types most of the time. Not too many proper monster types."

    //Blush//! Sassaral laughs outright, "Oh Goodness, I misunderstood... I'm a bit scatter-brained, I think it's because I'm actually quiet excited." Said meaningfully; granted, //she// can grin kinda dopey too, depending upon what is amusing her. She feels dopey right //now//! But it's not a bad thing... her expression sobers some. Motherly? Is that how she behaves? Not a bad thing... she had a good role model. //Had//. Will she ever see her mother again?

    Inwardly, Sassaral hopes the delicate, sweet Japanese woman whom she calls 'Mama' is doing ok.. coping. First the loss of her husband and now her only daughter being locked into limbo. Sassaral hastily squashes that doldrum flat. "Well, if the world needs more Mamas, I can fill that role some.. sometimes I find myself wondering about who is who... I wonder if we even met before, Out There." Her slang for the real world... Sassaral is obviously very open with her place in the world outside of the game and sharing bits and pieces. So Many Questions for Cyrus and Mikage both... but easy does it.

    Her golden eyes twinkle with mirth, "I am well and truly of Moon Tree. I think we all comprise a fine blend...." A beat, "As for Miki.. if I'm to guess.... she's not felinoid. I think if she were, Rama would be standoffish...?"

"No worries." He raises his hand awkwardly, so she doesn't feel too bad about the misunderstanding. He then nods his head just a little. "It probably does. Just don't go spreading that around too far now." He remarks with a bit smirk. "They'll end up kidnapping you or something." He suggests. "Hmm, out there? I mean, maybe. But Tokyo's a big place. And Japan even bigger." He remarks to her.

"Hrrmm." He makes a sound for a moment, touching his chin and tapping it a few times, before he suggest; "Well, probably not felinoid, no. I don't think there's any winged monster felines. But then, I could be wrong. I didn't play the old game, and usually stayed at the tower. So I am not familiar with all the monster species out there. I could make a list if I wanted to. But - ooph, would that be a long one." He remarks.

    She gives him a sweet smile, "I'm a bit naive where Tokyo is concerned.... I was barely there a year, when I got involved with this game... //this// game. I did not play the old one." Sassaral admits, not feeling too awkward about it. "My mother is Japanese so I'm half. Things happened and both she and I moved to the city. It..... scared me some. I wasn't exactly in the best mindset so I couldn't explore it. So.. you never know." Sassaral smile softens some, one ear twitching and pivoting to follow the sound of an Undine nearby, working the docks. She watches this random player for a moment, her tail stopping momentarily before once again resuming it's ponderous swaying.

    A little laugh, "It could be a side-project for you, in the times between... I mean, we'll be on the water or trails with a lot of time to kill, when we're not being productive. You could be an archivist, create your own bestiary." Sassy muses in her gentle way, "But it //is// a big undertaking." She sure as heck doesn't have the resolve for it!

    "If there is anything else that I can do to help prepare, please don't be shy and let me know."

"Did you end up Hikikomori, or just a general anxiety about the place?" Cyrus asks, before raising his hand. "Sorry, no, that's rude. I should not ask things like that." The youth runs his hand through his hair a moment later. "Tokyo was overwhelming when I got there too. But for me, it was a change of scenery and getting away from some bad history. So for me, I guess I saw the place as a fresh start."

He turns to look where Sassaral is looking. "See someone you recognize?" He asks, before she continues to talk. "A side-project? I mean, I guess so. Not sure I want to become an archivist though." He adds, letting out a little laughter. Almost as if the player already played one of those, once upon a time.

"But creating a bestiary could be fun, I suppose." He taps the fence a few times to get her attention, and then begins to move towards the Inn's direction. "I'll let you know. For now, how about this." He taps on his menu as he walks, and then flicks her a small pouch of coins. "Money for the inn."

    The little wolf does not seem bothered by so personal a question, "Hikikomori.... I guess so? There was a point where I did not want to leave the house. It was a shock... a sudden, profound look at where one portion of my heritage came from. Mama tried to temper it for me, some... little outings, but I kept withdrawing. It.. could be anxiety but hikikomori fits the bill. Before everything, I was always good at making friends. It was never a problem." Sassaral admits easily, she must be comfortable with Cyrus to admit to the notion of her being a recluse before falling into the game.

    "I think //this//, for however long, is my fresh start." Sassaral indicates the surroundings with a nonspecific gesture to the docks. She blushes a bit, "I'm sorry if I was rude.. I was listening to you. I just find the Undine type to be.. really fascinating to look at. They have such pretty designs." Sassaral admits, before she pushes away from the railing and turns her back to the scene below, facing Cyrus completely. This is when she finds herself with a pouch of... coins!?

    "I.." It's rude to turn down a good deed, "Thank you. I will pay you back with beef jerky." Sassy offers with a smile, pressing the pouch of coins to her chest. "I look forward to travelling with you. We'll all have a lot of fun."

The youth nods his head, continueing to watch with her. "I guess you are in a better place now - out here in this world. I'm glad you're managing to cope. I guess this is a lot more like being outside of the cities." He offers to her. The Marina is after all, a lot smaller. And the buildings look far older than modern day Japan.

He looks aside to her as she catches up - while he slows down a little bit. "Oh, I get it. The Undine are fascinating designs." He admits. "Love the Salamanders too. Those neat scales." He touches near his cheeks. "And the tails tend to be neat. Though some of those Undine are really strange and monsterous looking." He adds onto that.

"So no worries. Plenty of things in this world to get distracted by. I won't take offense to something like that." He adds, before stepping into the warm insides of the inn. "I'll be waiting for that gift of Jerky then. And I'll see if I can't contact Mikage."