Square Talk

Xander
Alne - Main Square

    It is heading into the afternoon here in Alne. People are bustling around in the cold streets and some are even checking out the clothing shop.

One Salamander with dark scales is leaning against the wall, focused on his writing in a journal of some kind. A few pages have been torn out already; Same pages he uses to place notices on boards.

It's hard to say just what Xander might be writing about or found this time, but he seems fairly focused on whatever it is he /is/ writing about.
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

Probably focused enough to not notice the wolfgirl leaning down from the edge of the overhead roof to see what the Salamander is up to. "What'cha doooing Xander?" Nothing unusual here, Shiruba tends to use the rooftops and parkour to avoid the crowded streets during the busier parts of the day.
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander blinks and peers up at the wolf girl above him. He raises a brow gently. "Writing a.... somewhat report regarding the floor 2 boss." He closes the book at that point. "Given the information could be vital to success."

There is a look on his face that says he has more on his mind, but he doesn't say anything. "What about you?" He asks stepping back to get a better look up at Shiruba, using his hand to help block some of the sun. "Enjoying the weather up there on those warm roof tiles?"
Uta
Alne - Main Square



    "It's drugs."

    Uta's voice comes sudden, unexpected, right from behind Xander. How close she's managed to get without being noticed is anybody's guess, but point is, there she is, holding up a transparent vial against the sky, looking at it, still managing that distracted look even while being obviously concentrated on looking at the contents of the vessel. "...this 'Cactus Juice' thing is obviously some sort of liquid drugs."
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander slowly peers over to Uta who is /somehow/ beside him. He just stares at her, his tail flicks. "... Did you... after I--" He growls lowly and points his finger at her in an almost fatherly way, "Damn'it Uta! I told you guys to not drink or get near that shit!"

... Probably even sounds like a dad.
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Also less crowded." Shiruba looks up to wave to Uta, but anything she was going to say in greeting drifts off at the exchange between the two of them. Scoots a little in the opposite direction as Xander goes into a tone of voice she's heard too often from her own very stern father. "Shouldn't both of you know better than to buy stuff from weird acting NPCs running around Tower floors?"
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

Into the conversation, casually as you please, strolls a stranger to most of those here. A white-haired, elven looking gentleman, leading a peko behind him that seems loaded down with traveling gear. "Easy, Moko. I promise I'll get you food as soon as I turn in this quest." The peko continues to preen at Rylen's hair, until the Adventurer pushes his nose away.

He catches just a bit of the conversation, perhaps because of Xander's raised voice drawing his attention towards them. "What shit are we talking about?" He asks, a smile on his features. He does that 'cool guy' lean onto his peko, watching them curiously. "And do I want to know why it has Xander hotter under the collar than the last time I saw him?" That part might be an exaggeration.
Uta
Alne - Main Square

"Drink? /Of course/ I didn't!", Uta exclaims, the vial lowered so she can furrow her brow and stare at Xander right in the eyes. "I just decided to run some pharmaceutical research on it. And, I'd like to point out, pharmaceutical research, not 'pharmaceutical research' in quotes." She looks down at the lowered vial. "...all I could find out is that it is, well, drugs. Apart from that? Books have nothing to say on the subject. Nobody has ever seen anything like this. This, as someone wiser than me put it, is uncharted territory." The glass gets a small flick with a finger, "This is a most peculiar concoction. Its mystery. It baffles and taunts me."

    Shiruba gets a bit of a blank stare. "But the Cactus Juice was available only there. I tried to buy it from more reputable sources, but it appears that there's nowhere else where it can be had..."

    As Rylen makes his entrance, she turns to Xander again. "Oh, friend of yours?", she asks him. She squints at him again, rubbing her chin with her index and thumb. "He reminds me of /something/..." That's right. She says some/thing/, not some/one/. "...but I can't for the life of me figure out what."

    Finally realizing she might be impolite, she snaps out of her brief moment of distraction, and bows politely. "Sorry, I meant... Uta Furore. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Then there /he/ is. That /Pooka/. The Salamander gives him a low look at his last comment. A low growl that also follows. "You could say that..." He rumbles to Uta's question about of Rylen is a friend or not.

Though he does look back to Uta as she explains. "Yeah. I already told you stuff is bad. Thus why to /stay/ away from it. Might as well be puffin' that crazy crap on native american lands that show you your spirit animal..." Beat pause, "Not that I am saying those traditions are /bad/, but you know."

    Then there was a long pause, "I am just going to stop before I dig this grave any deeper, me thinks." Xander turns to peer back up at Shiruba, "I was looking for some actual strong booze with flavor to be honest. I am-- starting to get /really/... really... desperate for a proper ale... or anything honestly."

He doesn't even look at Rylen, just points a clawed finger in his direction, "And don't you add any more shit to the steaming mess already here that I've created."
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Wait wait waaaaait." Shiruba waves her hands up as she sits on the edge of the rooftop. "Hold up. Are you two telling me that this kooky NPC was selling an entirely new item? One that *ahem* alters sensory perceptions like an illegal substance. -AFTER- an update that created even deeper connection between the mind, body and senses?" She cups a hand to her chin. "I mean, along with the trapping us here..."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

Gray eyes settle on the vial that Uta seems to be holding, one brow raised. "Is /that/ what it is. Fascinating." He chuckles good-naturedly, leaning in to get a better look before adding, "We haven't traveled too far into the tower, ourselves. Moko isn't a fan of the stairs." The peko gives an indignant squawk, and stamps one foot, prompting Rylen to raise a hand, scratching the bird's neck-feathers.

Xander's reaction is about what he expects, so Rylen simply offers him a gentle smile before looking to Uta and explaining, "As much as I would like to be, I think our dear Salamander is trying his best to resist my charms." He then slips into a sort of stage-whisper, "Luckily, I'm persistent." He winks in Xander's direction.

At the comment comparing him to 'something', he just raises an eyebrow again, then laughs. Then, his head tilts up towards Shiruba, "There are usually new items on each level of the tower. At least there was before the expansion. Though, admittedly, I can't recall ever hearing about anything with that sort of potency before."

As Xander points at him, he gives a small, playful sound of shock. "I wouldn't dare. Who do you take me for? A handsome rogue rapscallion? Oh wait..." He laughs, then gives a small flourish before bowing before Uta. "It is my absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, m'lady Furore." He pronounces it just as she did. "I am Rylen Corvus, traveling performer and beastmaster. At your service."
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander peers up at Shiruba, "No! Touchie!" He points his finger at her next. "They stuff will make you do something crazy and possibly regrettable!"

Then comes that wink from Rylen and Xander stares at him. Then he watches his whole introduction to Uta. His tail tip twitches gently as, one could swear he scuffed smoke off to the side as he exhaled some air from his mouth.

    The Salamander then crosses his arms over his chest. "... I am only putting up with your nonsense cause I still /owe/ you for your kindness... and I hate owing people anything. Only brings trouble-- Like you." He motions at him as his arms drop by his side. "You are-- confusing-- trouble, with your.." His hand motions in a circle as he tries to find the words. "... flowing hair of... dastardly... ness." Yeah. Xander is losing.
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

Shiruba swats at the finger pointed in her direction. "Try not talking to me like a toddler first," she retorts, and rolls her eyes. "Nor do I want to try it. I heard the rumors of what happened to -some- goofball who did. I just think it's more than a coincidence that something this potent turned up after the update that stranded the entire playerbase in a state that would be able to fully experience-and/or-suffer the effects."

The wolfgirl scoots off the edge of the roof and drops down to the ground, so she can bow appropriately to the Pooka. "Shiruba. Spell Fletcher and explorer." Then pauses to rub her chin as she stands upright again. "I never did assign a surname..."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    At Shiruba's talk about potent drugs followed by "I mean, along with the trapping us here...", Uta replies, "Yes. And now it's /tripping/ us here," then she turns to Rylen again, after he introduces himself. "...that charm... that elegance... those elongated limbs.." She frowns. "just WHAT are you reminding me of, Rylen Corvus -- oh, that's Latin for crow, right? Any reason for that?"

    She looks over her shoulder to Xander. "That is exactly what I wanted to figure out... people have been getting drunk. People have been in altered states of consciousness. Like the smell of an elephant after it has been removed from the room, the question lingers: what has happened to us? Are we still connected to the Dive Gear? Have we been converted to digitized consciousnesses? Have we been somehow reincarnated elsewhere?" She paces about. "If we could find someone who remembers how the Dive Gear works... and possibly prove that now mental alterations beyond the capabilities of the Dive Gear are somehow possible, well, that would shed some light on what /exactly/ has been going on with our brains and/or minds... or at least exclude some possibilities. If we're lucky."

    Xander gets a response to his comment about booze, "I could probably synthesize some alcoholic solution, but... let's just say that if I had to rank adjectives from 'most likely to describe your reaction to the taste' to 'least likely to do so', the term 'ecstatic' would be pretty close to the bottom of the list."

    She pivots on one foot, to go from giving her back to Xander to pointing straight at him. "Which brings me back to the original question I wanted to ask. A very, very, VERY important question." She covers the distance between herself and teh salamander in a few long, confident steps, eyes locked in determination. "...did it taste like soggy crackers, or..."

    Seems like Xander got too distracted so she turns to look at the source of the distraction again. Rylen. "...those graceful features... that suave attractiveness... that long flowing hair of course how could I not have realized it before!", where the last part, having started doubtful and wandering, crescendoes seamlessly into sudden, excited realization.

    Uta trots up to stand side to side to Rylen, and points at him. "Xander! /THIS/ is the kind of avatar I was telling you I thought I got from the random generator! The one that would make me popular with the ladies!"
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Like being a cute kung-fu nurse won't make you popular with both," Shiruba chimes in. "... At least until you start bringing out needles. No one likes needles."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

Getting a closer look at the wolf-girl, Rylen returns her bow with another of his own, with the same sort of easy grace as before. "An equal pleasure, lady Shiruba. A lady of both intelligence as well as beauty and grace." When he rises, she is given another of those gentle smiles from the Pooka.

"Ahh, not many know latin." He casts his gray gaze to Uta, seeming amused. "While I can't say what I remind you of, I can confirm that it does mean Crow. It is a ... totem of a sort, for me." He lightly shifts back the sleeve of his robe, revealing a leather band at his wrist, also emblazoned with a crow. "I also have one as a familiar."

The gruff look from Xander is only met with that same easy-going expression that seems to linger with the Pooka. "Oh, but I'm the best kind of trouble." He rumbles a laugh, his voice low and rich. "Besides, somewhere under all of that growling and grunting, you like me." He holds a thumb and forefinger together, "Just a little..."

When Uta comes to the realization of where that familiarity comes from, he just outright laughs. "I'm not sure if I should be thanking you or apologizing. Perhaps a little of both?" He asks, uncertain, but amused.
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    "I wasn't talking to you like a toddler. Just said no touchie. You know-- Emperor's New Groove?" Xander says be he hrms, "I guess you never seen it? Please tell me you have seen it." He says to Shiruba before releasing a sigh.

Xander then listens to Uta and rubs the bridge of his nose as she goes on about their conscious state and mutters softly, ".. I really don't want to discuss this... or even think about it right now..." Though when she does get to the part that Rylen is what she was /hoping/ to be, well, he did a face-fault, before standing back up straight quickly.

    "Uta! That is not how you become popular with the ladies!" Xander explains before he sighs gently and just lets his arms hang down. "It is more than just looks, you know. A woman likes to have eye candy, just as much as a man does, but it is all about the woman feeling that she is /special/, you know?"

Then the Salamander stands back up. "Also that she just isn't a doll to be carted around, that she is respected on some level, and seen as a /real/ woman. Body and brains. They really love it when you focus on their brain as much as their body." This causes him to give a side glance to Shiruba, "Hopefully no offense." Before he looks back to Uta.

    "Then its about the walk, the way you talk, how you use that knowledge... and each lady is different. Its like- recon. You have to scout out, study, take some notes, do a little light talking, and then you come up with a plan of execution!" Then Xander remembers that Shiruba is /still/ there, which he glances back over to her, "... and please don't hate me."

His attention shifts only for a moment, as Rylen as he compliments Shiruba, "See, right there. Like that." Xander then rubs his forehead as Rylen comments that he likes him a little. "... if I say yes, you will probably never stop that /damn/ smile, if I say /no/, you will keep that damn smile." The Salamander's tail twitches. "I have a report I need to get into the Scale Emblem HQ... So, I am going to go do that and, Rylen?"

    Xander turns to face the Pooka and then tosses a pouch of at least twenty silvers over to him. "Go feed your bird and," He looks away and says lowly, "... the payment back...for.. the table." Before he walks off. Now /that/ is a story.
Uta
Alne - Main Square

"Why would you need to apologize, Mr. Corvus? You did nothing wrong. Maybe it is I who should apologize for not having followed proper etiquette. I can get distracted at times... And, yes, I am one of those rare beasts who did study Latin; started self-taught, but I eventually managed some actual formal training..." she trails off, spaces out, and eventually snaps back to reality with a shiver down her spine.

    "Oooooh, he's a softie this one," she exclaims, exaggerating the chumminess her voice in a comical way. "He's pretty much my dad." She points at herself and Xander, her finger moving quickly between the two. "I'm adopted by the way. The scales and wings should be a dead giveaway."

    She goes red in the face at Shiruba's comment, and after Xander's explanation, she nods a lot, and eventually sighs. "It's a lot of precious information you're giving there, Xander, I'll save it for when we finally get out of the game." She looks around at everyone else. "...life's complicated enough in here, I think I'll keep away from romance to keep things simpler and focus on getting out." She trots up to Shiruba, and with a sideways glance, she asks her (but loud enough that Rylen and possibly Xander can hear as well), "...say, is there something between you and Xander, or..."
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

There might of been a brief blush when Rylen flatters her, but it's quickly gone when Xander kind of ruins the moment with his own ranting. "Being a reference doesn't mean it's less demeaning sounding in some context. That's kind of the joke." Just to show that she did indeed get it, but it's more the way he included it in the conversation after already sounding like he was on a lecture.

"He's not exactly wrong, though. We're an entire package, you shouldn't just focus on the pretty wrapping or the clever contents." Then taps a fingertip to her check. "Though a lot do only have one or the other..."

Which is followed by a flat look at Uta. "I know him as no more than a friend. Don't read so much into things."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

Oh, there is a look on Rylen's face as Xander starts going through his ten-step plan to wooing women. His lips twitch, as if he were trying very hard not to laugh. It isn't so much that he's incorrect on any of the points, simply the way that the Salamander comes across with his rambling series of points. "I find that getting to know a person is the most important part, beyond looks or brains."

He casts a lopsided smile at Shiruba, "It's something I hope to have the opportunity to explore more, given time." Rylen pats the peko, the large bird shaking his feathers once. "I left for Ninetails just after the Apocalypse, so we're relatively new to the island, and to those who make their home here."

Then, he nods to Uta, "Rylen is fine. Admittedly, my appearance is the result of the random generator. Though it did pretty much settle on something close to what I was looking for the first time through." The game seems to be strange like that. "As for the surname, my sister came up with it. She used to memorize the latin names of animals for fun."

He accepts the coins from Xander, "Alright." Since the Salamander seems busy, he doesn't press the matter, and just pockets the coins. "You're going to eat well tonight, my friend." The peko squawks in response.

"Mmhmm." He makes a sound of agreement with Uta, "I know. He just isn't about to let me worm in beneath those scales anytime soon. He has a hard head, that one. I would know, I saw him headbutt a gnome the other night."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta looks between Shiruba and Rylen, and says, "...ok, I kind of, you know, know about the importance of a personal, not to mention holistic and meaningful approach in relationships? Speaking with a literature nerd here?", she eventually says, pointing at herself with a quirked eyebrow. "I was just trying to explain a very specific sentence to Xander, said in a very specific context, which he seems to have gotten wrong long ago..." She turns to Xander again, except that he might no longer be there?. "...and still get wrong. Sometimes I think he underestimates me."

    "As for me, I joined the game just in time for the Apocalypse. You know, big ad campaign and all..."

    "Yeah...", she eventually concludes. "Headbutting a gnome sounds definitely something he'd do."

    "...your sister has interesting hobbies. I'd like to meet her some day or other."

    She then gets all red in the face again, "PURELY FOR DISCUSSING LATIN. Before you get strange ideas. Like you just did."
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Yeah, I can totally see him and a Gnome butting heads. Figuratively and literally." It just sounds like something Xander would do. Just like she has to remind Kaydon he doesn't have to challenge -every-one he meets to a duel just because fighting is one of the things he does best.

It's probably best to just let that line of conversation rest. Other than being an actual girl she doesn't really have a lot of personal experience, her overly stern and sometimes overbearingly annoying parents made sure of that.

"Huh." Shiruba instead replies to Rylen. "I've been back and forth to Ninetails quite a few times now. Surprised I've only run into you now. Or maybe not. It is a really big player base after all."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"Oh?" Rylen seems genuinely curious about what sort of misunderstanding might have spawned the rambling love advice that just spewed forth from Xander. "What exactly did he misunderstand?" The elven man asks, seeming amused by the misunderstanding.

"You seem quite intelligent to me, so I would doubt that you'd have too much trouble attracting partners if you wanted to." Though, that is just a first impression.

He nods once at Shiruba, "I spent a lot of time up in the Peko Army area." Ry thumbs over his shoulder at his mount, who has taken to preening himself underneath one wing. "Moko vanished during the Apocalypse, so I figured if we all went back to our hometowns, maybe animals did, too. So I had to track him down." And steal him back...

"After that, Crescent Moon sent me down this way to check in on some of the newbies who have taken to living here in Alne." He explains. "Long journeys, especially with most of the boats being dedicated to getting people out of Ezzo."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta is as eager as shiruba to change the subject, "Thank you, but luckily, as said, I don't plan to attract anyone anyway. I got a Godhand, and I plan to stick to the whole 'Monk' vibe of it. Go on a journey of self-discovery. Possibly fight a dragon bare-fisted. Or a tiger. Or a tiger-dragon. Something martial-art..sy."

    "...they have a Peko Army? Like..."

    Ripple to mental image.

    Military music in the background, while a platoon of pekos parade in formal uniform, with an officer with the mandatory epaulettes and medals barking order in characteristic Peko sounds. After some rifle-carrying pekos march by, the band comes into view. The instruments are surprisingly modern, but, hey, if someone worries of the accuracy of /that/, let me politely direct them to the army of pekos in uniform.

    Peko-mounted humans, peko cannons, peko (renaissance-style) tanks... buntings... confetti... streamers...

    "...I'd like to see this Peko Army area.", Uta states, staring blankly in the void, oddly enough in teh general direction of Moko.

    "Oh, I've stuck to the newbie areas during the early days. Xander's orders. But I'd like to visit Ninetails..."

    "...and Eastal..."

    "...and... pretty much the whole world. But I'd also like to have a home, and... hm. Well, I'll have to pick one of them. Unless I go for a trailer-..." Blank stare "...-clinic-..." Embarrassed pause. "...-dojo."

    "...with musical instruments in it somehow."

    "...BUT back to more serious topics, Rylen. Uhm... what's the situation in Ezzo? Still bad? Lots of people still need saving?"
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Not to mention no Chaos Gates. Eventually I'm going to have to choose one or the other for most of my time due to how long sailing does, but I've got a lot of friends that have stayed her so far."

During the few moments Uta is staring off in one of her daydreams Shiruba gives Rylen a shrug. "Don't mind her. Like a lot of really smart people she's also a bit of a scatterbrain." Which she eventually comes back from, while still off on another train of thought. Totally typical for Uta.

Shiruba sighs softly, rubbing a hand on her brow. "You can't let Xander decide if you should or shouldn't explore for yourself forever, Uta. No wonder he talks to you like he's your dad or something."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"As you wish, m'lady." There are some situations where Rylen will poke at things when it's needed, and others when it seems best to leave a sleeping dragon lie. "Whatever the case, watching him trying to give love advice is definitely the highlight of my day." With Xander no longer present, he actually lets himself laugh, that boyish smile remaining.

Enough so that when Uta starts to zone out, he does wave a hand briefly in front of her eyes, only to have Shiruba explain a bit about the girl's absentminded quality. "Oh, it's fine. In fact, I think it's endearing."

He leans against his peko, the bird seeming used to this behavior. In fact, Moko simply yawns and stands there, looking around as if bored. "I would say, if you do plan on going exploring, make sure you don't go alone. The further away from the newbie lands you go, the harder the monsters, and you never know when you might stumble into a nest."

This, from a man who went off on his own to reclaim his lost peko. "Still, at least you have someone looking out for you. A lot of people don't have that, which is why I try to mentor when I can for the guild." He reaches up, rubbing a few strands of silver hair between his fingers, "Ezzo? Last I heard they were still running evacuation ships. No change to the barrier or monsters or the terrain bugs. I haven't been there, myself."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    "...I may or may not /always/ listen to what he says, to be fair. I occasionally get ideas, and..."

    Back to looking at Rylen, "...Xander is... well, Xander. But to be fair, I owe him my life. Yes, Rylen, he might be downright annoying at times, but I'm glad someone is taking care of me, after all. I mean, I'm the kind of person who goes out to buy drugs from strange lions ...", she raises her vial to look at it. "...or decides that maybe one can just go and talk with the Goblins, or... you know, such nonsense."

    She sits down on a stone step in front of a door, and props her face up with a hand, the corresponding elbow resting on a knee. "I'm glad I have someone like Xander that isn't as dumb and always comes to rescue my sorry bottom after I launch into one of my stupid plans- wait a minute!" She springs to her feet. "HE DIDN'T TELL ME IF THE CACTUS JUICE TASTED LIKE SOGGY CRACKERS!"
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Don't go out alone is advice I've given as often as taken," Shiruba replies. "Besides, it's more fun having friends to share in the discoveries with!" She nods at that. Then glances up at the sky. She's gotten really good at gauging time based on looking at it over the last few weeks. "I need to double-check when the next ship is heading ove--"

She's interrupted by Uta's outburst, and just sort of flat stares at her. "It was from an Lander, what did you expect? So far the only proper tasting food comes from Adventurers that have figured out Cooking without the menu."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"Aye, that he is." Rylen's voice takes on a softer tone when Uta explains that Xander is Xander. "He doesn't annoy me, though the feeling might not quite be mutual." A smirk play son his lips, followed by a gentle laugh. "He's a good man, though, underneath that scowling, growling exterior." Then, quieter, he adds, "Not sure if he sees that, though."

That train of thought is quickly side-tracked when Uta talks about going to talk to Goblins, "You what?" Stare. "How the heck did you survive that? I've heard goblins are pretty much the most ruthless mobs in the game, especially in large groups. Like... the eating you alive type of horrifying experience."

Then, his gray eyes look over to Shiruba, "They've got boats running a few times a week, but the prices keep going up. I think the Leviathans have most of the Landers scared." He laughs then, "Moko and I are broke, so we're stuck here, at least for a little while."

He strokes at his chin thoughtfully. "I should do an impromptu performance, I'm sure some Adventurers have some spare coin to pay..." He murmurs to himself.
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"Ugh, don't I know it. It's getting harder and harder to pop a few Hunter's Guild quests to afford a trip back." Shiruba pats the quiver on her belt. "At least I don't have to worry about being able to eat. As long as I can hunt something, I know people that can properly prepare it." Then folds her hands behind her head. "I still need to stock up for proper expedition rationing though. People forget a lot more work goes into exploration than just running around to see places because they're there."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta bursts out at Shiruba, "THAT is exactly why it is so important to know its flavor! I've been running experiments, see? I've determined without doubt that taste is a reliable predictor of the way something has been crafted. Which reminds me, gotta thank Gwen -- she really /did/ hand craft my coat. That was very sweet of her."

    "See, the point is- I've asked around. Nobody I've spoken to has been able to help in identifying the pharmacological properties of juice before. It's unknown stuff." She gestures in the general direction of the tower. "If it is from a Lander, one which, if the rumors are true, made its way there after the level was cleared..." She leans over to Shiruba and stares at her intensely. "...that means that a lander can invent and make something never seen before by any other Lander or Adventurer. The implications would be staggering." She spins in place, this time facing Rylen, but looking up and gesticulating as if following some random train of thought... or perhaps delivering a lecture. "...or, alternately, some Adventurer must be behind this, using the Lander as a pusher."

    "Oh! Oh! Busking totally works as a manner of collecting coin. Can confirm. Did it myself. Granted, it was during the recent festivities, but... I'm sure one could earn a respectable amount of cash with the right number." She scratches her chin. "...I should do that again..."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"That's usually how Moko and I get by." A nod is given towards Shiruba, though Rylen doesn't seem to be carrying anything in the way of visible weapons. Instead, he weaves his fingers together, then stretches them out in front of him. "Hunt what we can, trade for the rest. Kyo mostly feeds herself, but I get some seed now and again if I can find a Lander trading it."

As Uta begins spinning in place, gesticulating about the many possibilities of Landers, crafting, and cactus juice, he listens, brows drawing down thoughtfully. "You could try asking him? I imagine the best source of that information is from the man, himself." If you can get a straight answer... "Some of the Landers are smarter than people give them credit, for, though."

He looks between the two, "I traded some work for room and board with a Lander family a few weeks back, and the food they cooked tasted fine. No stale cardboard cracker taste." Which is likely a bit unusual.

When Uta confirms his idea about busking, his grin widens slightly. "If you're up for it, I wouldn't mind sharing the stage. I do balance tricks, acrobatics, juggling, that sort of thing. I'm sure having a male and female duo would double the appeal from an audience perspective."
Shiruba
Alne - Main Square

"You can find a Bard to play for you, there's a few around." Shiruba ohs, and jabs a thumb at Uta. "She is, in fact, but I've only ever really seen her moving around like that so I keep thinking of her more as a dancer and acrobat... Which probably would make a good stage show combination." The wolfgirl smiles at Uta. "Of course she did. She's very passionate about it. The coat is real nice for this time of year, too."

She turns her head to look down the street. "Speaking of whom, I should probably go check in at her shop before I try to make my way to the Marina. See if there's any certain supplies I should keep an eye out for in the Dominion marketplaces."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta is taken by surprise by the offer of sharing the stage. "...I ...guess? I mean...", she says. "...despite having a minor in Bard, I admit I know zilch about the 'business' part of show business. Or... well, the details of the 'show' part. Did some theatre in my time before joining ETO. Traditional Japanese, Western... even Shakespeare in the original. But... people would take care of most of the technical side of things, I just had to, you know, learn my lines and... deliver them with the appropriate timing and showy gestures." A little bit of head scratching. "...hm. Which, I guess, would make this easier? I'd be inclined to assume that juggling involves far fewer lines to deliver."

    "I can totally do music! You shold hear my rendition of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!' for Magical Staff and Mole Skulls!", she jokes. "...but, more seriously, my whole spellcasting system is based on singing, chanting, mausic, and hitting things with a stick, so, I guess I can do that too?"

    She takes some time to process the request of being the female half of a male and female duo, as if figuring out what to reply to that, exactly, was a daunting task in itself. In the end, she offers a smirk, and the words "...double the appeal? Hasn't anyone told you that we ladies don't want to be considered only a pretty package?"

    Tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"Exactly." Rylen reaches up, touching the side of his nose as he nods to Shiruba. "People are more inclined to pay attention when you've got more than one thing to show them. Music as an accompaniment can be amazing to lead an audience. Just the right rising tension at the right moment." The showman in the Pooka is revealing itself as he seems to think about the ways a group act could be put on.

Then, he pauses in his plotting, inclining his head to Shiruba, causing his hair to fall slightly forward in the process. "If you're to depart, I do wish you fair winds and safe travels, m'lady. Be safe."

Then, Uta has his attention again, it seems. "I usually perform a lot of feats of dexterity for my shows. Dual juggling is an option. Music is another. If you've got decent balance and flexibility, yourself, I could probably teach you a few moves that would really wow people."

Then she has to make that comment about treating ladies as 'pretty packages', which draws out another of those laughs from the elven man. "Let's be honest, m'lady, in show business, it is all about the pretty package. No one looks long enough to see more than that." He smirks, "There's a reason I tend to perform shirtless. It adds a certain sex appeal that pays very, very well."
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander comes back out from the HQ of his alliance. As he walks, his steps have an, almost cadence to them and his mind does seem to be elsewhere, so when he arrives to where he was, he sees everyone still gathered and talking.

The Salamander looks at each one of them, raises a brow and tilts his head lightly, "... I figured by now you all be sitting down in a bar or trying on some cloths.... or something."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta's response to Rylen consists of taking a few cursory glances at the street, the sidewalk, the crub, the trees planted along it, then looking back at him, flicking one finger, and making some motions that other people would recognise as her navigating her menu. Her staff materializes in a shimmer, she bows, then, abruptly, does one, two, three, three-and-a-half backflips.

    And-a-half because she lands on her hands, propels herself up, spinning in the air, and lodges her staff between two appropriately distanced Y-shaped branches of a tree she must have selected early during her recon glance.

    She spins around the staff a few times, eventually uses carefully applied centrifugal force (yes, it's a thing!) to be propelled up and away again, trace a parabola in the air, and land back at her starting point, knees bent to absorb the shock, then straighened up again to stand, with her arms spread.

    She ends with what is supposed to be a street performer's bow... which, ok, unlike the rest, the bow was not an acrobatic arte; it will need to be worked on.

    "If your opinion on the prevalent activities of people has any statistical basis in reality, Xander, you should open a fashion inn. You'd make a /killing/!"
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

As Uta begins to mess with her menu, Rylen simply watches, still leaning back against his peko. There is an appraising look that follows her entire display, gray eyes almost seeming to be looking ahead of where she is and watching for each landing. There isn't a sense of wonder as one might expect from someone who is seeing something like this for the first time, only a knowing smile that suggests he is all too familiar with some of what she is showing off.

"Impressive." As the girl returns to the beginning, he inclines his head towards her. "/That/ we can work with." He nods, knowingly. "Tumbling runs and high bar work. Definteily more of a masculine style to it, but we can probably see about adding a few other elements to soften it out a bit." His fingers rest on his chin, "At the very least, we could do tandem runs, which would look really impressive to most people."

Then, Xander's voice has him lifting his head, glancing in the direction of the returning Salamander. "You, my friend, have a very strange idea about what we do in our spare time." He raises an eyebrow, smirking to himself. "Do I look like someone with fine fashion sense?" The fact is, he mostly is wearing loose fitting, traveling gear, no armor, no fine weave in the clothing. Without any color accents, it mostly looks grayscale.
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    "I am not the economy sort." Xander replies back to Uta after he watches her acrobatic show. "I just kill and ask questions later."

His fiery, gold eyes then look over to Rylen, "No. You look like a hobo that came off the street," He says as he walks by Rylen, keeping his eyes on him the entire time, before he turns to face him. "At least not someone made for combat, but right. Performer. Things that bring cheer, but no actual substance to what needs to be done."

The Salamander sighs gently. "Though I am sure some ladies would joke you could walk out in a towel and they fond over you. Just don't go thunder down under on anyone, alright?" He then sits himself down under and tree, before resting his head back.

His eyes then drift over to Uta, "You thinking about joining this clown and his crazy circus of good will and cheer?" His voice was slightly monotone. He didn't seem /against/ the idea, but his voice was not really giving much away either.
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta is also pretty much wearing her starting gear: a practical, loose fitting scrubs-and-gi kind of ensemble; comfortable, fit for martial arts and acrobatics, but not exactly fashionable.

    She blinks in confusion at Rylen, "...S...soften? O...oh. I just, uh, recycled fighting artes as acrobatic artes, to be honest. Just refrained from following them up with the attacks. That's... that's all I've been taught and I've practiced. I wasn't meaning to show, uh, what I can do. More like... you were asking about balance and flexibility?" An expert like Rylen will probably have guessed that already, but, hey, Uta's probably not realized that: she's the newbie here, and to guess what's going on in an expert's head, well, you have to be an expert yourself.

    At Xander's request about joining Rylen, Uta gets a mischievous glint in her eye. "...Why, I mean, when I decided to play this game, the last thing I would have guessed was that it'd have involved being cast as the rebel child who has the chance to run away from her disapproving dad to join a circus." She walks to stand to Rylen's side, and grins at Xander. "...isn't that every kid's dream? I'd be an idiot to let this opportunity pass."

    "But, hey, you can come visit any time. I'm sure Rylen would be more than glad to hang out with you again, wouldn't you, Rylen?"
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"It was good. Trust me." Rylen confirms, nodding his head towards Uta. Something in both his expression and tone suggest that he knows what he is talking about. It almost sounds like... a coach talking to an athlete. "There's a limit to what you can do just with your class-driven artes." He explains, "If you can get a feel for those same moves, but memorize the motions in your body, you can push the limits of what the normal fighting styles allow."

He hmms, thoughtfully, "So, you know how crafting things manually makes them better, right? It's the same with using your body. The HUD is a crutch, but if you train yourself to really move, you could be flat out amazing." There is encouragement in his voice, like one used to helping people see their potential.

Then, Xander decides to try his hand at being derisive, causing Rylen's smile to grow just a bit wider on one side. "What I wear for performances is a fair bit nicer than this, but I'm not fool enough to go dressing up when my plans for the night include sleeping rough in the cold." Likely because he had to pay for a table that someone destroyed, though he doesn't say as much. Where some other people might be offended by the words, the Pooka just laughs it off, not seeming to take Xander's jibes too seriously.

But then, his eyes narrow ever so slightly, "For someone who is supposed to be smart, you're not very good at reading the situation, are you?" There is a hint of challenge there, but he still seems to be smiling. Still leaning on his peko as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Not a very good tactician, either, I imagine." He folds his arms across his chest.

"Some people are more than a pretty face, but clearly you're too blind to see that." He shrugs, "Anytime you want to test how much 'substance' I have to get the job done, feel free."

Then, he just smiles at Uta, seeming to enjoy that spark in her. "That would be an interesting role to play. The run-away daughter, fighting for her own place in the world?" Then, he looks over at Xander, "Of course." Xander may not exactly want to hang with him, but damn if the Pooka isn't persistent.
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander continues to rest under the tree, hands coming to clasp near his belt buckle. "You do whatever make you happy, Uta. We are trapped in this place after all. Might as well make the most of it, because you never know when it could be over."

"Do stuff-- you'd never do in reality. Be.. whatever it is you want to be." The Salamander closes his eyes. "People don't normally get second chances. This is... everyone's second chance."

Xander chuckles a little, "... And I can't even believe I am saying all this, but, seriously. If that is what you want to do, do it. Be happy."

    The Salamander looks over to Rylen, "Honestly, all my tactical energy was spent yesterday in a hot desert, determine the boss on Floor 2 is no the same as he was, and then making a proper report on that to command so they don't get nearly everyone killed. /Again/."

Xander tsks gently, his eyes looking directly at the SEA HQ. "... no one gives a rats-ass about tactics anyways. If they did, they would have had someone actually do /what/ I did and I did it because I don't want to see people I give a shit about get killed." His eyes narrow once more, a bit more dangerous, "... If not for a promise..."
Uta
Alne - Main Square

    Uta says nothing, but it's not difficult to read her excitement at the prospect of becoming downright amazing. She seems to really like the acrobatics, that's not hard to tell.

    "Nah, not fighting for my own place in the world. Just to annoy dad."

    She walks back to Xander, and moves to rest against the tree, next to him, also resting her fingers into her gi's black belt, looking ahead of her, but down. "I didn't join this game for what I /want/ to do. In fact, I joined specifically because I hate computers and videogames."

    Her eyes are raised, now lost in the distance. "You know what pretty much every positive change arc is about? It's about someone who wants something, gets into an unfamiliar situation of conflict to get it..." She turns towards Xander. "...but eventually, they discover that what they wanted wasn't so important after all, and what they so much fought against was the means through which they got what they /needed/."

    Back to staring at empty space.

    "I was missing something in my life. So I said, hey, let's get out of our comfort zone. Try something new. Like... one of those videogame things you hate so much. There's plenty of ads for a cool, new, ultra-safe one. G'ahed. It's just a game. No consequences."

    Her eyes are lowered with a bitter smile.

    She looks at Xander again. "I never wanted to be... /this/" Her hands sweep downward, in a gesture meant to attract attention to her figure. "...and if I wasn't a complete clueless space cadet at the time, I'd definitely wouldn't have accepted this character, not even for a videogame without consequences."

    She pushes herself away from the tree, and walks slowly towards Rylen. "But you know, maybe the random generator not only good at giving people what they /want/, like it did for Rylen." Xander is faced again. "Maybe... maybe it also gives people what they /need/. And what I /need/, right now, is to be... /this/, and run away with the circus?"

    She frowns. "...wait, getting what I /needed/ above what I /wanted/ was exactly what I /wanted/... so..."

    She shakes her fist. "Curse you, random generator! You win again!"
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

"That's the problem with not knowing people. With making assumptions about their priorities and reasons." Rylen shifts himself, standing back to his full height. "If you want a glimpse into the mind of this 'crazy circus clown'?" Xander hadn't asked, but the Pooka gives that hint of insight, anyways. "The reason I'm in Alne is to help train new players. To make sure that when they go into the tower, or out into the world, that they don't get themselves killed. That's the reason I'm here, rather than up there." He motions a hand at the tower.

He leaves that space between them, one hand reaching up for the reins of his peko. He loops the leather strap around one hand, but his eyes are on Uta, and then on Xander. The smile falters, replaced with only a thoughtful expression.

Despite the fact that she may be a space cadet at times, the girl had more wisdom than so many others he'd encountered. "You know... you're more brilliant than you give yourself credit for." That, perhaps, is what brings a ghost of that smile back to his features.

Then, with a glance at Xander, he admits, "I'm here because I lost someone." His gray eyes look away again, down to that leather band at his wrist. "This world was her dream. A dream she never got to live. So... I'm trying my best to make a difference in other lives where I can, because it's what she would have done if she'd lived long enough to see this place." Shaking his head, he smiles to himself at some memory, some joy or happiness. "If my antics can bring a smile to a person in a dark place... if I can teach someone to protect themselves and survive here..."

He shrugs. "It makes it worth it. It means her death meant something... to someone other than me." And on that downer, he looks at Uta, shaking her fist at the game, and laughs, "Thank you. I needed that."
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    "So... That is what you meant." Xander says to Rylen, as he looks at him. "... About your family torn apart." The Salamander sighs, "And I can't fault you for training new players. I help them out as well. I use to, before the expansion, protect lowbie players in dangerous zones from PKers."

"This-- meant my name was red more times than not, because I sometimes had to act before they actually /made/ a move, and got me a reputation for also being a PKer." Xander glances over at Uta and notes her wisdom, but looks back to Rylen, "However," He grins. "I would like to one day just see what you /are/ made of. I do love a good fight, even more when there is a betting game in it."

    Xander hrms as he studies Rylen, "Trouble is, you have no gear that I want and so, I need to think of what else I can gain from you if I win... It makes the spar... More interesting." There is a dangerous smile there. "Only if your game at least! I will never force someone after all!"

The Salamander looks over to Uta, "By the way, Uta. It /would/ do you some good now that you have more connections to find other people to train from. Combat experience comes from knowing different forms, while you may not use those forms, the knowledge of how they work can be used for tactical reasons."

    "You know," Xander chuckles, "To defeat thy enemy, one must think," He taps the side of his head gently, "Like his enemy." His eyes then look over to Rylen, ".. and sometimes playing stupid can also get you a ton of information off a person as well. Its a useful tactic, even if it gets you little respect in the end." He glances back over to Uta, there is a devious grin on his face.

"Just means that they are less likely---" Then he goes to tickle her, "-- See it coming, Ah-ha!!" Look! Xander can be playful with friends! He isn't always a jack-ass.
Uta
Alne - Main Square

Uta replies to Rylen's compliment with a smile and, "Eh, just wait until you see just the kind of things I can be completely oblivious to...", and to his gratitude and comment about 'needing that', she replies with, "...but it wasn't what you wanted, eh? See my point?"

    "Oh, hey, speaking about stakes... how about... a cut of the income of our first show together if you win," She points at herself and Rylen alternately, with a thumb, "...and if you lose, you join us to perform on stage the next time?"

    "One thing, though, is for sure. Based my experience with storytelling and people, well, despite the inherent uncertainty intrinsic in this kind of discussion, I think I can safely guess that I'm the one with the least tragic backstory among the three of u-"

    Uta smirks abruptly at Xander's surprise attack. "HA! You fool. Tickles? Seriously? You might not be aware of this, but I, Uta Furore, am the least ticklish person to have ever existed! I AM INVINCIBL-"

    And down she goes in a fit of giggles.

    "THIS NEVER *giggle* HAPPENED *giggle* PRE GAME!"

    She attempts to catapult Xander away with a marital-arts technique, but as she does so, one thought haunts her, one that, at least as far as she believes in that particular moment in time, suddenly puts her backstory back into the same major league of loss and regret as everyone else in the location.

    "...Oh goodness. I have /giggled/. I am /never/ going to live this down..."
Rylen
Alne - Main Square

Rylen seems quiet, as if he were taking in that brief bit of history from the Salamander. There are things he could say to that, memories of his own to share, but the Pooka shares nothing more of himself in that moment.

Nor does he offer anything to the table for a fight. Xander already underestimated him, that much was plain to see. Though he has faith in his own abilities, there is a fair chance that the Salamander simply has more long-term fighting skill, especially within the game. "I don't fight for sport." He states simply, shaking his head. If his mood had not already shifted to a darker place, it would have now.

Then, Xander's words seem to hit Rylen like a blow to the chest. Anger isn't something that the Pooka is generally prone to, the sort of person who's rage burns cold rather than hot. "I see." Oh, there is a shift in his voice, from his usual easy-going voice to something that seems... deadly serious. "I'm an enemy now."

He turns, hooking a foot into into a stirrup and then gracefully mounting up onto his peko. He watches the playful way that he interacts with Uta, but it's clear that Rylen is no longer interested in being playful. "I'm glad my /dead/ sister could be a weapon for you." Ouch. "I look forward to you trying to use it against me. Because trust me, Xander Scaleharth, when you do... you're going to regret it."

Then, he lightly nudges his peko with a heel, spurring the bird into motion, quickly putting distance between them.
Xander
Alne - Main Square

    Xander's pushed back by Uta, as he wasn't trying overly hard and laughs a little. There was a smile there, an honest to god smile! By the goes of Yamato! The world was going to end! Xander was smiling /and/ laughing!

Now cats and dogs will fall from the sky and there will be cheese for everyone!!

Then there is a shift from Rylen and Xander blinks, his own brows knit. There is obvious confusion on Xander's face to Rylen's sudden change in behavior. Then when he speaks...

    Xander can only simply say, "... wait... what?" It was obvious something was, misunderstood. Either by the Salamander not being aware of how his words could be taken or perhaps Rylen mistook something Xander said.

The Salamander stands up, his own ton switching to a serious one. A militaristic sound to his voice. "Uta. Don't follow. Please." He looks over to her. "I... Need to fix something before--" He dosn't finish his thought, instead he goes to jog after Rylen.

Seems the Pooka and Salamander will need to have a talk.