Beach Things

Xander
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    The sound of the ocean waves crashes along the beachline. The wind gently brings in the smell of the crystal waters that shimmer in the sunlight.

The weather was already pleasent and the wind, carried by the ocean, only made it that much sweeter. There on the beach was a dark scaled Salamander named Xander Scaleharth.

    In his hand, his sword and shield. He was timing each swing, each movement of the shield. Practice. Practice. Practice. That is pretty much what this man does. He fights that unseen shadow, going through the motions. Focused. His eyes always focused.

His steps glide across the surface of the sand. Each step calculated. Thrust, stab, shield block. Change stance, move to the side, swing again.

Over and over again.
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade is walking along the beach, her boots tucked into the top of her small backpack so that she can walk, ankle-deep, through the breakers. It's quite a nice sensation, and while the weather's a bit cool for traditional beachwear, the cool water on her feer is nice. She watches the fellow practicing on the beach, smirks at seeing that fellow again, but calls out a greeting. "Hello!"
Rylen
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There are days that anyone might need a break from the festivities going on in the city of Breg Epona. For that reason, it seems, Rylen has decided to take a ride across the sands. It's still relatively cool, though the sun is enough to drive him towards the ocean side, the sea air offering some reprieve from the desert.

The *clomp, clomp* of peko feet announce his arrival easily enough, the pooka sitting atop a yellow bird with colorful plumage. The breeze catches his hair. "Do you ever take a break?" He laughs to himself, leaning forward against the Peko's neck.

The man gives a nod in Goldenblade's direction, raising a hand. "Hey there."
Xander
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    Xander does not even stop as Rylen speaks up to him. "No." He says simply, taking another step with a swing. "That-- that is a silly question." He says between breaths, but for a moment, just for a moment Rylen might catch a grin.

When Goldenblade calls over and comes up closer to them, Xander goes to take another swing, before a step back, and then at last, the sword is re-sheathed. "Goldenblade." He says respectfully to her, sounding a little winded but he was doing some controlled breathing to slowly calm down to his pace.
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade looks up, calls out, "Hello, on the peko!" to Rylen. She bows her head as Xander calls out to her. "Good morning," she greets him, her tone a bit formal. "I hadn't intended to interrupt your training. I see now why I couldn't beat you in the tournament, if you train this hard."
Rylen
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The Pooka on the Peko gives a small salute to Goldenblade, "And a pleasant day to you, M'lady Goldenblade. My appologies that I couldn't lend my support by cheering in the tournament. Normally I would throw support to a guildmate, but I promised this one..." He motions a thumb towards Xander, "... that I would cheer for him." He grins, then swings himself down from his mount, giving the bird a pat on the side.

"Don't let him fool you, lass. The lizard lies." Rylen smirks in his direction, "Despite his claims, I have seen this mythical thing of him not in training. It truly is a rare thing, though. Like a unicorn." Oh, he is definitely teasing Xander at the moment, that grin on his elven features.
Xander
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    Rylen teases and Xander peers at him. "... What are you, Steve Irwin now?" His heavy scaled tail flicks the air. "It is important to train to stay in good health," He motions with his index finger, "In good form." He then raises his middle finger to sit next to his index. "Ready for anything."

Then his ring next to his middle. "And strike," Then he just gives Rylen the middle, with a sly grin on his face. "When no one is expecting it."

    He lowers his hand and laughs, "But Rylen is correct," He looks over to Goldenblade. "I do slack off sometimes. Normally when there is a hot meal in front of me and a few drinks." He peers up, "... That is probably about it really and... Maybe a few /other/ things, but we don't talk about that in mixed company."
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade shrugs to Rylen about the training. "Don't concern yourself at that. The place seemed to be a madhouse, you could hardly tell who was cheering for who." She remains standing in the shallows, letting the waves wash over her ankles. She smirks at Rylen's revelation that Xander occasionally doesn't train. "Don't worry," she says. "I won't tell anyone."

She arches a brow at Xander admitting to slacking off, and she laughs at him flipping off Rylen. "Wine, women, and song, the bane of all men. With food for the men who don't care to sing," she seems amused by that. As far as mixed company, she's not sure if she counts as that or not. That part is one of the strangest parts of being here.
Rylen
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"Crikey. Wouldja look at that beauty of a specimen we have before us? Ye can just tell that he'll bite yer hand off as soon as look at ya." Rylen motions towards Xander, as if he were talking to some invisible camera, doing at least a passable immitation of a certain deceased celebrity. Then, he wraps his hands around his stomach and just laughs. The Pooka always does seem to have an easy laugh.

He crinckles his nose at the finger offered in his direction, then just winks at Xander in return. "Should I be scared? Oh no, I'm trembling in my boots." He's not.

Ry leans against his peko, still seemingly amused. "Don't forget the thrill of competition, or the lure of limelight." He adds, "Just as appealing and just as dangerous." Another chuckle rumbles in his chest. "Though a pretty face has certainly gotten more than a few people in trouble, men and women alike." He looks at Xander, then away again towards the sea.
Xander
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    Xander raises a brow at Goldenblade and shrugs, "Comes with the territory I'm afraid. Apparently mine time around my other half of my blood taught me some horrible lessons. Then my career choice, but eh!"

He laughs gently, "Nothing can beat a good hard drink and a nice warm body to curl up next too." Then his gaze shifts over to Rylen, "And yes, you should be scared!"

    The Salamander then goes charging up to Rylen, there was a playful smile there, where he attempts to grab the other man and if successful, may actually try to mess up that long hair of his. "I am the fierce Xander Scaleharth! Defeater of the first floor boss and your internal tormentor!!" He says this all /trying/ to sound serious, but he was having a hard time not laughing.
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade chuckles as Rylen does his Crocodile Hunter impression. Well, it's amusing enough. Goldenblade warns Rylen, though, "Better watch out or you'll wind up with a blade through your chest. That's a risk for all naturalists, don't you know?"

She sighs wistfully at Xander's observation, and laughs as he rushes Rylen. "Ah, and now we see how things really are." She nods gravely as the two play grab-ass. But in a manly way.
Kauchemar
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The desert was not the only place to find sand. But the beach was a lot more pleasant this time of day. Perfect time to go gathering examples of the local elemental attunements.

That would be the reason Kauchemar comes moseying along like a wayward beachcomber. Though by the ethereal glow shrouding her eyes it may not be the beach itself or it's occupants she's paying attention to.
Rylen
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Rylen seems to raise his brows in response to Xander, as if he were offering a silent challenge. The sudden charge is enough to startle his peko, causing the bird to squawk and back up, flapping his wings slightly. The Pooka, on the other hand, tenses ever so slightly, subtle enough that it might go unnoticed. A moment when he considers how to let this play out.

Then, Xander has him and his hair gets swept around into a mess. He stands up, still grinning, blowing a bit of that messed up hair out of his face. "Hah. Sure thing, lizard breath. Then again, if this is your idea of eternal torment, you've really got to work on your creativity." He draws a hand up, trying to sweep his hair back again before looking over at Goldenblade.

"Well, I /am/ a beastmaster by title." He agrees with a nod, "Though, I'm usually pretty careful with wild beasts." Ry shoots a sideways glance at Xander, "This one, is trouble though. Not sure why I'm friends with this asshole, but I am." That grin returns, just as his peko walks up behind Xander and starts to preen at him. "Though I'm not sure I'm ever going to be safe from being stabbed. That's how Xander tells you he likes you."
Xander
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    "Oh, you going to break me down like a simple beast huh? You going to tell me my mating rituals next?" Xander says with a chuckle, trying to gently punch Rylen in the arm.

He looks over to Goldenblade. "But yeah, sadly being friends with me can be-- Painful, but I promise. I don't bite. Just rough talk." He says with a playful wink. It is about then he spots Kauchemar, "Hey! Kauchemar! Surprised to see you here! How ya been?" He calls over to her and asks.
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade chuckles as Rylen explains his relationship with Xander, and nods at the beastmastering thing. So, he could be a crocodile hunter if he wanted. If there were crocodiles here. Are there? She hasn't seen any, but there's quite a lot of this world she hasn't seen. As for how to tell Xander likes you, she nods. Male bonding. It's a thing. She chuckles at Xander's explanation, and their struggle.

She peers over at Kauchemar, looking for something that Goldenblade can't see at all. "Hello, the beach," she calls. "Looking for something?" She hasn't seen any lost keys or anything, that's what she always loses at the beach.
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar blinks, eyes returning to their normal just slightly off-putting color from the ethereal glow, when she hears her name. "My my, what have I stumbled across?"

She half circles around, then looks the other way as she makes an exaggerated gesture of sniffing the air. "I don't smell anything elicit or intoxicating I guess it really is a good mood."

She gives Xander one of her fanged grins before wandering over toward Golden. "Admiring the elemental leys of the area. Makes a summoner's job easier when she knows what's at hand."
Rylen
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Rylen rubs at the spot on his arm, mouthing 'ow', though it's obvious that it doesn't really hurt. He just chuckles to himself, "From my observations, it usually involves getting drunk, coming on to Lander women, and then passing out drunk." He raises his eyebrows, "Keep in mind, it's rare to see the battle Salamander doing anything other than training." Yep, he's still teasing him.

As Kauchemar comments about there not being anything elicit or intoxicating, Rylen raises his hands in innocence, "I promise, I was not responsible for this. He was like this when I got here." Because... he may have been responsible for providing some intoxicants on other occassions.

He then lowers his hands, giving a small bow towards the Were Fang. "I'm not sure I've had the pleasure. Rylen Corvus. And you are Kauchemar, is that right?"
Xander
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    "Good mood? What good mood?" Xander asks looking around giving that stern, military stare. "There is no good mood here!" He huffs out, trying to look like he isn't, but that is hard to do, because he honestly is in a good mood.

Xander looks at Rylen then at Kauchemar, "Kauchemar here is one heck of a lady in combat. She helped me deal with some lizardmen when we first met." He explains before giving a bit of a stretch before walking over to Goldenblade. "So," He looks at the human of the group. "Anything exciting happen thus far after our match?"
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade chuckles as Kauchemar sniffing for intoxicants, and she says, "No, nothing like that. Just two people being silly." She looks confused about elemental leys, but nods slowly. "Magic, right." So, nothing to do with her.

She laughs at Rylen's summary of Xander's social life. "Ouch." When Xander asks her about after the match, she admits, "I got on a boat and left the city, actually. I kinda didn't want to deal with the fighting, I thought I could just go train someplace. But ..." she shrugs. She's back, obviously. "It's hard to keep track, so much is going on. In real life, there's a mucg better sense of what's your business and what's just strangers. Here, there's an inclination to want to involve yourself in everything." She smirks at Rylen, "So, how's the peko ranch coming? Call it a ranch rather than a farm, and people will think less about supper options."
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar laughs at Xander's response. "Whatever was I thinking? At least you're enjoying it."

The nightmare turns to Rylen as he bows. A brow raises, though it's more at the surname, and the mention of bird farms. "Interesting~" She bows back with a wave of her own arm. "You would be correct. Kauchemar Tenebrae, mischievous muse of monsters and music."
Rylen
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"He's trying so hard." Rylen chuckles, "But it's escaping, you can see it. Just the hint of a smile. Right there." He points in Xander's direction. There may or may not actually be anything that he's pointing at, it's just a continuation of that light-hearted teasing.

Then, his attention turns back towards the others. He raises an eyebrow at Goldenblade, "It isn't officially named or anyhing at the moment. Though I'll keep that in mind." He laughs again, the sound soft, "With help from the Peko Army, we've just about finalized a property. Just need to get building started." There is some reluctance there, "I might have to head back to Carmina Gadelica to oversee things. Just worried I'll miss a few rounds of the tournament." He hesitates, then adds, "And it requires most of our traveling troop to play nice for a week without me."

He gives an appraising look towards Kauchemar, "High praise. If you're ever looking for performance space, my troop travels a lot, but we usually go where coin can be hard."
Xander
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    Xander nods gently to what Goldenblade has to say and grins a little at Kauchemar. Though even though Rylen is right about the smile, it is slowly fading as conversations float around.

This allows the Salamander to slink a bit out of the light of conversation and go over to Rylen's peko who was earlier trying to preen Xander's hair. "Hey there," He says softly to the bird, before reaching up to gently pat her neck. "Thank you for the little groom."

Seeming content just to hang with the bird for the moment.
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade hrms at Kauchemar, then nods as Rylen explains about his plans. "Yeah," she says. "I'm definitely interested in helping. Though I'm not sure what I'd benefit from it. Mainly, I just like biulding, to be honest." She peers at Xander and the peko, though she's got no riding skill, herself. "Can you train people to ride those?" she wonders.
Kauchemar
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The Salamander slinking away from the center of conversation is noticed, but there's enough topics floating around for her that Kauchemar doesn't feel like going and needling him over it.

Instead she turns attention back to Rylen, the snake-like fangs visible as she smiles broadly. "I have always been the more Wandering Bard sort." She brushes a hand back through her mane to keep part of the long bangs out of her face. "And Messenger." She somehow emphasizes that in a way to indicate a capitalized term, as it is her Profession.

Then reachs over to drape an arm over Goldenblade's shoulders and give her a gentle jostle. "And a good builder she is, too! Helped build the resturant Crescent Moon established. Likes to put her hands to use." It's hard to tell if she's trying to give Golden pep talk or sell Rylen on getting her help. Maybe a bit of both considering the back-and-forth nature of the nightmare. "Teach people to ride them? That's part of the reason they exist!" She smirks and waggles brows at Golden. "HAVE you seen any horses? Besides present company, that is."
Uta
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    It starts out quiet, indistinct, but with the approaching of a familiar dark-haired, white-and-blue-and-black clad figure it slowly crescendoes into a distinguishable song, which... sounds off-key and professional at the same time, as if a composer had carefully picked the accidentals to give the impression of drunken singing, but in an artistically pleasant way.

    The dark-haired, white-and-blue-and-black clad figure, though, looks completely wasted. A flask of something that looks a lot like claret is held in one hand, and a red flush floods her cheeks and spills over across the bridge of her nose; occasional bursts of laughter, vacuous stare -- wait, that last one is not exceptional for Uta. Hey, at least she seems to be the happy drunk type.

    The singing is interrupted.

    "Here I come! Wine! Women! Songs! Mixed Company! All rolled up into one!", Uta exclaims... no, more like, /de/claims, out of nowhere, the flask-holding hand jabbing at thin air in the general direction of the assembled group, as her attempt to slow down cause her upper body to sway forward and backwards.
Rylen
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The peko leans its head down towards Xander, giving a soft wuffle of sound. The creature seems content around the Salamander, perhaps because of previous encounters.

"That's the intention. Offer work to members of Crescent Moon and train people on how to ride and care for mounts." Rylen explains, "Hopefully also offer a place to breed and train pekos that is a bit more accessible than the heart of Peko Army territory. It's quite a trek out there." He takes a step closer to the peko, reaching up to pat the creature's beak before giving a glance to Xander, then back to the others.

"I certainly wouldn't mind the help." He folds his arms across his chest, nodding, "They're useful for pulling carts, hauling goods, and as mounts. But I figure in the long run, other people will want to get more epic mounts and they are a good starting mount to learn on."

This time, he definitely is looking at the Salamander, "If I remember, you wanted to hunt down a mount you used to have?" As Uta arrives, he offer her a warm smile, "Indeed. Hello there, Uta."
Xander
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    "There use to be horses in the game." Xander says calmly, stilling giving the Peko some attention. "Actually the mount I use to have was neither Peko nor horse. I had a monster mount, but you know." He chuckles. "Game reset and all that."

Though when Rylen walks over, Xander grins slyly at him. "What? Jealous that your bird likes me." He chuckles softly, "And yeah, yeah we did, but it's really whatever. Probably once this tournament is done, it will be back to the Tower grind and my life in servitude to the cause."

That is when Uta shows up and seemingly drunk. He does a quick inspect on her. "Uta, what the heck did you get into this time?"
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade is draped over by the much taller Kauchemar, and she smirks, but looks proud at the praise for her building talents. "I was a bricklayer, in my regular job," she explains. "I -like- building." As Uta stumbles upon the lot of them on the beach, she chuckles. "Xander, we've found you a drinking partner!" she calls.

Goldenblade nods to Rylen about helping out, and says, "I'll be glad to help you. By the way, do you shoe pekos the way you shoe horses? Or do they go with just bare talons?" She peers at the feet of Rylen's peko. To Xander, she asks, "Horses? Are they still around?"
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar was about to say something witty on the commentary about horses, but her attention is drawn away from the group by the rowdy arrival. Which gets her to raise brows once more, but a moment later curl her lips into a slightly more sinister version of that snake-fanged smile. "Oh, if only cameras had been invented already~" AT least Uta isn't trying to juggle those flasks while drunk.

Yet.

Kauchemar meanders a bit, though still comments over her shoulder to Rylen. "I'd offer to help, but I'm better with monsters than normal animals... Takes one to know one, so on and so on."
Uta
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    Uta bows back in greeting to Rylen, "My sincerest greetings, Sir Peko Pooka!", her words a bit slurred but still clear. She teeters as if she was about to fall down, but a few last-minute interventions of the foot she's not standing on, which make her look like she took a few sideways steps, hurried, manage to avoid the worst. Somehow kinda-sorta straightening up again, she continues, "I am sorry you have to see me in this state while you are still sober, that kind of goes against the whole social drinking etiquette, I suppose." She raises her bottle with a slosh and a grin. "May I interest you in a swig?"

    Miss Horse! I'd offer you a swig too, but I hear that you can't make horses drink. I can take you to the water if you-" She turns to look off to the horizon. "Hey, what do you know, we already /are/ at the water." She stares ahead of herself again. "Wow, I'm good."

    "Good thing Gwen cannot see me at the beach, or she'd get ideas."

    She giggles (!) at Xander, who will probably be able to confirm Uta's status effect as intoxicated. If Xander can determine the level of intoxication, he'll notice that at least it seems to be nothing serious, within the parameters of a run-of-the-mill Japanese social drinking session. It's probably the wrong time of day for that, but...

    "It's wine! Best wine this side of the Leviathans! These nice people took me to an inn, and talked, and talked... and... talked and told me that I should..."

    She trails off, squints, hard, while teetering. "...and talked..."

    Silence.

    She squints some more at Xander.

    She turns, and squints at Goldenblade.

    Back to Xander. Back to Goldenblade.

    "...Oh, right!", she finally exclaims.

    "WOO-HOO! I have remembered to come to the arena just in time for cheering you two on!", she attempts to take a step back, but her lack of coordination makes her falls backwards. She doesn't stop smiling through all this, quite the opposite, at the end her grin widens, and after placing one arm behind her head, she raises her flask-holding hand to point at Goldenblade and Xander. "...now fight."
Uta
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    Uta bows back in greeting to Rylen, "My sincerest greetings, Sir Peko Pooka!", her words a bit slurred but still clear. She teeters as if she was about to fall down, but a few last-minute interventions of the foot she's not standing on, which make her look like she took a few sideways steps, hurried, manage to avoid the worst. Somehow kinda-sorta straightening up again, she continues, "I am sorry you have to see me in this state while you are still sober, that kind of goes against the whole social drinking etiquette, I suppose." She raises her bottle with a slosh and a grin. "May I interest you in a swig?"

    "Miss Horse! I'd offer you a swig too, but I hear that you can't make horses drink. I can take you to the water if you-" She turns to look off to the horizon. "Hey, what do you know, we already /are/ at the water." She stares ahead of herself again. "Wow, I'm good."

    "Good thing Gwen cannot see me at the beach, or she'd get ideas."

    She giggles (!) at Xander, who will probably be able to confirm Uta's status effect as intoxicated. If Xander can determine the level of intoxication, he'll notice that at least it seems to be nothing serious, within the parameters of a run-of-the-mill Japanese social drinking session. It's probably the wrong time of day for that, but...

    "It's wine! Best wine this side of the Leviathans! These nice people took me to an inn, and talked, and talked... and... talked and told me that I should..."

    She trails off, squints, hard, while teetering. "...and talked..."

    Silence.

    She squints some more at Xander.

    She turns, and squints at Goldenblade.

    Back to Xander. Back to Goldenblade.

    "...Oh, right!", she finally exclaims.

    "WOO-HOO! I have remembered to come to the arena just in time for cheering you two on!", she attempts to take a step back, but her lack of coordination makes her falls backwards. She doesn't stop smiling through all this, quite the opposite, at the end her grin widens, and after placing one arm behind her head, she raises her flask-holding hand to point at Goldenblade and Xander. "...now fight."
Rylen
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"I plan on having some space for monstrous mounts as well." Rylen clearly thought about this in advance, giving a nod to both Xander and Kauchemar. "Though they can't be stabled down in the same building as the pekos. It tends to upset them when they are too close to monsters." He pauses then, "You know I'll help you, right?" He asks Xander.

Then, he reaches to scratch the peko beneath the chin, "Not at all. I'm glad he likes you." He shakes his head at Goldenblade's question, reaching down to pluck up one of the peko's large legs. It balances on the other leg easily enough. "No shoes. They've got pretty sturdy feet, and the talons help them defend themselves." He lets the foot fall back down again, causing the bird to ruffle feathers.

This is likely the first time that Rylen has seen Uta in quite this state. Though it isn't the first time he's been around someone drunk off their ass. "Just so long as you promise not to keep your feet on the ground until you're sober, lass. I'd rather not see you break your neck." He is just a bit protective of her.

He steps away from the peko then, heading closer to Uta, "I don't know when you started drinking, lass, but these two already had their fight." He glances over his shoulder at the two, then back to Uta. "You lost track of time again, didn't you?"
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar jesters vagely at Uta with her hands. "It's not fair. I can't do anything with this material, she's rediculous enough on her own in this state." Can't make fun of what is already too funny. "Forget her feet, don't let her start juggling."

The nightmare shakes her head a bit, then turns her attention Rylen once more. "Well if you need help with monsters, you know who to ask!"
Xander
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    Xander watches the peko ruffle its feathers and chuckles softly, going to smooth a few back down with gentle care. He shakes his head gently at Uta, "You really should get some food on your stomach, kid. Your asking to have what you got, come up an end you don't want it too... Or at least drink some water."

Xander looks over to Goldenblade, then back to Uta, "And Rylen is right," He motions between himself and Goldenblade, "We already fought and I won. Maybe you'll make the next match."

Then he looks over to Rylen, "As for the help. Maybe. Once I know what it is I want." He laughs softly, "Kinda like my life here. Figuring out what it is I want."
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade nods to Kauchemar about being better with monsters than pekos, admits, "I know about zero about animals. I'm mostly helping with the financing side, and some of the construction. I wish I -could- help more with the animals." She ohs as Rylen explains that Peko shoes won't be needed. "I think riding and animal handling would be a very useful skill to learn for here." As Uta tries to start off the fight between her and Xander, she smirks, nods at what Rylen and Xander say, and replies, "You're like a week late for that."
Uta
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    "There are many things I can lose track of at once! I am quite the multitasker!", Uta boasts, puffing up even. "And yes, I promise not to perform acrobatics or juggling. I know my limits."

    Silence again.

    "...Those nice men at the inn said I should have given them half of my healing potions in exchange for a bottle of superior wine," she exclaims, shaking her bottle. "Aged and blended to taste /just like rice water/. It's not easy, you know?" She nods knowingly. "It was a bargain. Oh, which reminds me!"

    Uta flicks her hand to open her menu. Then does it again. And again.

    A few aborted attemps ensue, which involve lots of cross-eyed squinting.
Rylen
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"I'll make sure to keep you in mind, m'lady. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see what sort of creatures could be trained into mounts. It's not something I've experimented with in the past." Rylen obviously has some interest in it, otherwise he wouldn't be making sure that there were facilities for such things at the ranch. "Well, you're more than welcome to come by and train once the ranch is set up." He nods to Goldenblade.

Seeming to think about that, he strokes at his chin, "I'll have to test a few to see which ones are the most beginner friendly." He glances at his own peko. "Usually, they can be a little stubborn. Moko here is just bonded pretty strongly to me, but he usually doesn't tolerate strangers."

As Uta continues to explain her situation, though, Rylen just groans and leans his head forward into one hand. He may just be asking himself why none of his friends can be mellow, relaxed drunks? No, they all have to be the 'let's make bad decisions!' drunks. "Lass, next time you decide to get drunk, it might be a good idea to let other people make the business decisions, aye?" He asks, shaking his head.

"At least you can make your own potions so it probably isn't as big of a loss..." He eyes her as she starts going through her menu, looking uncertain.
Kauchemar
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"Well." Kauchemar rests one hand on her hip while she ticks off the fingers of the other. "We know she was likely duped by actual players. Landers wouldn't have the comprehension of the 'rice water flavor' being a distinct thing of in-game drinks in order to word it that way. Or likely that outside-the-box clever in general to take advantage of her naivity." Then stops and leans down to Uta's eye level, though the bangs of her mane swish over one sside of her face, it doesn't completely high the bemused expression behind her sarcasm. "Come now, how am I suppose to be a proper rival when you get yourself into such entertaining trouble on your own, hmmm?"
Gwen
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The Beach, it was spring. There is a certain sort who would be drawn to this to plan things out for the summer, that sort would be Gwen. Who knows hat she's been up to? She's been grinding for materials off some of the local monster life. With her task of gathering more materials,. she ends up spotting the group. She'll wave and dash towards them.

"Hey I didn't think I'd run into anyone else I knew out here!" She also spots Rylen whom she needed to talk to about a job.

"Golden! Uta! Kauchemar and /Hello/ Xander."
Xander
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    Xander listens to everyone talk and chuckles gently, his thoughts seeming to be heading elsewhere, as he gives the Peko a few pats, gives an idle wave to Gwen, before goes to slink away from the group.

Making his way closer to the rolling waves and just staring out over the ocean. He starts to hum a song gently. Anyone who listen to 80s music, mostly english, would know the song, which went a little like this:

Take, these broken wings,
Learn to fly again,
learn to live so free...
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade peers at Uta, and against her better judgement, she asks, "What are you trying to do?"

She nods as Rylen tells her she can come by and train once the ranch is set up. "Thanks, I may do that. I've got some ideas of my own for projects," she explains, "but I don't know if they can be done, or how to do them. I guess I'll just kick them off and see who I can get to help me." She smiles as Gwen arrives, "Hello!"
Uta
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    "They were not many bottles. I think. I forget the exact number, but one thing I remember is that there weren't enough to fill a crate, because-"

    She stares at Kauchemar. "...I have no idea, to be fair." She looks at Xander and Rylen. "Anyone has suggestions for the horse lady? Maybe, you, Gwen?"

    "...wait, /Gwen/?!"

    "...Gwen! How nice it is to see you here! Boy, am I /glad/ you can't see me being here at the beach..."

    "...Anyway. As I was saying earlier, I know the number of bottles can't have been that high because half of the bottles are exactly leftovers I could not fit in a crate-"

    She pales, finger held above what must be her inventory. "...oh no."

    "Oh no no no no no..."

    She buries her face in her hands. "OH GOODNESS NO! I've accidentally given those nice wine merchants the leftover laxatives disguised as healing potions that I had prepared for the goblin experiment on Valentine's day..."

    Lip quivering, biting her lower lip, tears forming in her eyes, she whimpers, "...those poor people... it was powerful, monster-grade stuff..."
Xander
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    Xander peers over his shoulder's at Uta, "You probably should run your happy drunk ass back to them before they leave town or sell those off to some adventurers." He gives her a smirk. "Or you will be the cause of number 2 mess around the game." Before he looks away to go back to whatever is on his mind.
Kauchemar
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"..." Kauchemar doesn't even get to making fun of Uta talking to Gwen but not realizing Gwen is there. Because what comes after that is enough to leave he briefly stunned.

The gaping pause is followed a few moments later by an almost literal roar of laughter from the nightmare as she rocks back on her hooves. "NEEAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH! The best revenge pranks are the unintentional ones!" She manages to weakly wave Xander off. "No, no no no. Let them sell them, if they don't drink it themselves. They'll have to deal with all the angry customers! Serves them right! Either way, they'll be the ones that have to deal with"

Kauchemar grins oh so wickedly.

"The ton of shit that follows."
Rylen
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Rylen nods, agreeing with Kauchemar that it's clear what has happened in regards to Uta. He isn't quite sure the odd relationship between the two, so he just looks between them.

"Well, if you need help with anything, let me know. As soon as the ranch is finished getting set up, I'll be more than happy to lend my skills to help out." He replies to Goldenblade. The Pooka's official title within Crescent Moon is 'Mentor', so he helping other players does tend to be something that he focuses his gameplay on.

Gwen's arrival comes as a bit of a surprise, causing him to draw his expression into a smile as he bows in her direction, "Well, good day there, M'lady Pendragon. I'm surprised to see you here." He almost doesn't notice Xander starting to retreat, but Moko starts to pluck at his vest, causing him to look in that direction.

Then, as Uta begins to chant 'no', a worried expression is cast in her direction. One that changes into a flat out grin as he begins to laugh. "My god lass... you are the strangest ray of sunshine I have ever had the good graces to know." He snickers, "Those 'poor' scammers. They deserve every ounce of shit they get."
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade peers at Uta, decides she probably going to avoid asking her to borrow a healing potion unless it's a total emergency. She bleahs at the image Xander's comment conjures up. To Rylen, she says, "Thanks, I'll let you know when I get things rolling." She peers at the crowd that's formed on the beach, and with a smile for everyone, she wanders off. "Don't mind me, I'm just taking a walk," she explains, then walks off.
Gwen
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Gwen looks at Uta with a grin.

"Well it's too early for fun swimwear. Though I have an idea for you several that should be fun."

Gwen is just always thinking several steps ahead when it comes to fashion. Hopefully, it won't be too insane but they are in a world of RPG clothing. Only the gods might have any idea what Gwen might forge for this summer.

She looks to Xander for a moment.

"We need to talk later in private."

She'll not drag out her issue in front of everyone it seems. She looks to Rylen and beams a bit.

"Well I needed some materials for a project I'm thinking about, so I figured some hunting for them out here would be good. Also selling food and outfits to people going to the tournament. You would be stunned at how fast socks are moving right now. So what might you need from me?"

She pauses looking at Uta and gets a horrified look.

"Scammers? Bad pots? What did I miss?"
Uta
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    "Thanks, Master Corvus. That's the best compliment I have had the luck to receive."

    "Later, Goldenblade!"

    She pays attention to what Gwen says, or at least appears to, and at the end she asks, "...Are you selling merchandise at the fighting events? Scarves, baseball caps, and those big novelty gloves which are actually huge hands with a finger pointing up? Burlap dolls of the fighters? T-shirts or setting-appropriate T-shirt equivalents?"

    "...What is mess number one?", she asks Xander.
Rylen
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Rylen gives a parting bow towards Goldenblade, always the sort to be curteous to ladies. He sweeps a hand in front of his chest, hair lightly tipping forward in the process, then stands back up again, his silver eyes finding Gwen.

"Well, it's good to see you, regardless. I hope the journey wasn't too troublesome." A she speaks about talking to Xander in private, Ry can't help but look between the two, raising an eyebrow. There had been a distinct shift in the Salamander's mood and he isn't oblivious to it. What the cause is, well, he can't even guess, but he is making sure that the lizard doesn't wander too far out of sight.

Gwen draws his attention back, though, "Ahh." There is a flick of his eyes in Xander's direction, but then he offers Gwen a smile. "Would you mind if we discussed it later? I have what I need back at the camp, so I'll send you a chim message a bit later once I have it all together."
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar finally recovers from her bought of laughter to wave goodbye to the already far from the group Goldenblade. Then muses. Uta has already done more than she could ever make fun of right now, so there wasn't any humor other than the Spriggan's own fault there. Fortunately other interesting matters have come to the small gathering on the beach.

The nightmare sashays over in Gwen's direction, smiling a less sinister but still mischevious smile. "Well if it isn't our resident Master of the Material Arts." There's a wordplay for you all. She sidles behind the elven woman then turns to tap a fingertip at her temple. "Now what could be going through that glitter and bedazzled brain I wonder...."
Gwen
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Gwen says "Just general things right now, though I have some ballcaps with the alliance symbols on them along with t-shirts. I don't have enough production volume yet to go that diverse." She frowns a bit she'll have to try to hire some more landers later. The last time it ended in disaster for her and she'll have to try again. She pauses at Rylen and just makes an oh face, she nods once and will speak on this later.

"Not a problem at all." Gwen laughs at Kauchemar and seems pretty pleased with that.

"Swimsuits for summer. From String bikinis to banana hammocks. I'd want a wide range after all."

She looks at Uta.

"Morri also said she had some ideas for you too!"
Xander
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    Xander hears his name brought up, or at least a voice directed at him. "Huh? Private?" He looks at the amazon woman known as Gwen, "Yeah... Yeah. We can talk private. I'll be in the city, which speaking of..."

The Salamander walks back toward the group, before giving Rylen a pat on the shoulder. "I should make my way back there. it was good seeing all of you," He looks at the group with a smile.

"And Uta," His eyes fall on her, "/Do/ try to make better trade deals next time yeah? Or at least... for better wine." He laughs and then goes to head off.
Uta
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    Uta belatedly replies to Gwen, "If you hear stories about people accidentally drinking powerful laxatives, uh, just... you know nothing about it, okay?"

    "Ah, Morri, I remember her. She seemed nice. I didn't really give her a chance to help me pick an outfit last time I was at your shop, should make up for that next time." Morri's picks can't be as bad as a string bikini or a banana hammock, she reasons.

    "I like your way with words, Kauchemar. And the way you needle Gwen." NO SHE DIDN'T!

    "Anyway... I think I should be going. I am suddenly feeling..." She yawns and stretches. And clicks her tongue. "...reeeeally sleepy..."

    She sticks one leg up horizontally, spin around on the other, and...

    ...faceplants forward. Falling asleep on the spot. Zzzzz.
Kauchemar
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Kauchemar raises a brow at 'banana hammock'. Her player was in America for a time so she knows exactly what Gwen is talking about.

Which would be why she turns to look towards Rylen and Xander. Tilts her head to the side thoughtfully... Nah, Rylen seems too classy, and is Xander ever not in armor (certain circumstances with cactus derivitives aside). "I could see that being a popular option with the more show and tell type of guys."

Cue Uta making one last pun and falling face first into the sand when the stupor finally puts her out cold. "I'm surprised she stayed on her feet this long, to be honest."

She shrugs, and puts her hands back on her hips. "I think I could go for a bikini, no?" She does have a pretty curvy figure... if you don't mind your curvy figure on a 6+ft tall horse woman.
Rylen
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"I appreciate it." Rylen replies.

The idea of various bathing suits has Rylen chuckling to himself. "Have to admit, I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, though..." He looks himself up and down, and then laughs, "I'll pass on anything too skimpy for myself. I already spend half my life shirtless, I'd like to leave a few things to the imagination."

The pat to his shoulder is met with a nod, "Alright." Though part of him wants to ask about the Salamander's shift in mood, he knows well enough to keep it to himself for now. "See you around, Xan."

And then... Uta faceplants into the sand. Rylen sighs. "Well, looks like I get to play peko-taxi." He walks forward, scoops up Uta, and then takes a moment to position her up on his peko. It isn't the first, nor the last time, that his peko will be used as drunken transport. This seems the poor bird's lot in life.
Gwen
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Gwen looks at Uta with concern as she passes out she will go to the fallen woman's side. "Might have to camp here till she wakes up can't leave her out here like this. I don't want to think of what happens." She looks to Rylan for a moment.

"I'm sure I'll have something to your liking or can make it."

She'll move to help get Uta up on the bird and shake her head.

"Some things never change though how did Uta get so hammered? She doesn't strike me as one to drink much."
Kauchemar
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"Apparently underestimated that despite it's bland taste the 'rice water' local alcohol is still potent enough to get you hammered, thinking she got 'good' stuff from some shady scamps." Kauchemar shrugs a little, though there's still a hint of a smirk behind her words even as she turns and starts to stroll off to continue her own little endeavor. "I'm sure you two can handle getting her back into town. Ta-ta~"
Rylen
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When Gwen talks about possibly having to camp her, Rylen shakes his head, "Moko can carry her, and it's not too far a walk back to the city. It won't be the first, or last time that he's had to taxi someone who's had a bit too much to drink." As for the question of how, he just shrugs. "Never underestimate someone because they are adorable. Some of them can drink you under the table." He sounds as if he knows from experience.

Taking the peko's reins, he starts leading the bird back towards town, Uta in tow.