Down By The Marina

Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Carmina Gadelica Marina is busy as ever. Different ships, from different nations coming and going. People leaving, people arriving. Shipments being moved and young landers yelling out the latest news for those willing to listen.

Leaning against the stone and wood building of the port is Xander Scaleharth. Tank of the Scale Emblem and a dark scaled Salamander who some say has a chip on his shoulder, others call him perhaps an ass, and then those who know him know-- He really isn't all that bad once you know him.

As he leans there he watches the people come and go, chewing gently on a piece of wheat like some American country boy. He isn't wearing any armor at all, just his leather pants, boots, tunic, and the gloves that Mikage made for him.

The only weapon on him is his sword, which rests in the scabbard hanging on his hip.
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki happens to be passing by! In towns like this she usually sticks to her jacket-and-pants outfit rather than battle armor -- although for her class most 'armor' is cloth anyway...

    Xander is a recognizeable face. "Oh, hi!" she waves as she approaches. "How's it going?"
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    The 'How's it going' reaches Xander's ears bit more than the 'hi' does as Mizuki walks over to him. The six feet fella turns his golden, fiery draconic eyes onto Mizuki.

Then a gentle smile comes on the edges of his lips as he says, "Hey." while seeming to easily keep that wheat right where it is. "Not bad. Taking a break as I was helping Rylen with his Peko farm ranch... stable... Thing." He sighs softly. "Though I admit, needed the break from there /and/ from my own personal pressures."

Xander tilts his head gently. "What about yourself, Mizuki?" He raises a brow, "It /is/ Mizuki, right? Cause if not, I do apologies in advance."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

The Marina was a familiar haunting ground of a certain equestrian bard, and when she was passing through it was likely to hear her haunting voice take to something suitable to the swaray of sailors and trade shippers that populated the settlement alongside the passing adventurers.

" o/~ My arms aching, back's breaking, legs aching neck
And this whole ruddy ship is a huge creaking wreck
Blown ten thousand miles with this thorn in our sides
Though the wind's steady strong with no clouds in the skies

The ropes creaking, ship's leaking, sails are on fire
And this whole bloody ship could go up like a pyre
We've got smiles on our faces, but we've seen this before
No telling just now what we have in store. o/~ "

A Shanty singing the various things that could go wrong with working on a vessel at sea might sound depressing, but it is a means of keeping work in time and on time, so tracking all the things that could possibly need repair actually makes sense.

Though Kauchemar more likely IS singing it for the theordy sounds as she strolls, knowing the dread mare's proclivities.
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki looks up as she approaches Xander, and Kauchemar approaches. Tall. She doesn't really notice her avatar being shorter than her original body that much because so many Japanese players used the body scanner, but when someone's avatar is tall they're /really tall/. "Peco ranch? Cool. Folks are gonna need a source of mounts... I actually never got to the original questline for getting one, I was only on this server a few days before..." vague gesture.

    She shrugs, though she nods at the name. "Yeah. I mean, unless you mean in some sort of philosophical sense. Am I Mizuki, or am I... who I was before... I've been spending a lot of time the last couple weeks just kinda wandering out into the wilderness to see what I could see. And sure there's the occasional little puzzle that leads to a treasure chest or something, but I haven't found any glitches we might be able to use to get out or anything like that..."

    As Kauchemar approaches her ears turn to listen before she looks, waving to the bard.
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    "The only way you are probably going to locate a glitch is you either need to find the programmer or a hacker. Maybe both." Xander says to Mizuki crossing his arms over his chest. "While I maybe /could/ find a hole, I haven't messed with computer code in over nine, maybe ten years now."

He hears Kauchemar singing before he sees her. He raises up his hand to the Nightmare werefang in greeting, before he places it back with his other hand over his chest.

    The Salamander's attention going back to Mizuki once more. "I actually had an awesome mount back in the original game. A monster mount at that. However, with the reset, I lost that. Got some folks willing to help me get a new one, just haven't pulled the trigger on that yet."

This is followed by a gentle laugh, "Besides! I'd hate to get lazy. Don't really want to test to see with all these damn systems that allow these digital bodies to /be/ like real life to see if we gain /weight/ like real life as well." He sighs softly.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar does have rather good hearing, and picks up most of the conversation even while she's performing her music. But once she closer to the familiar duo she stops, slinging the lute onto her back and bowing briefly in greeting. "Hello, friends, hello." She rights back up with an extra flick to shish her mane back out of her face. "Did I hear correctly that Rylen has finished his grand project?"
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "We're not looking at code though, we're IN the game. Also, I know a thing or two about computers, though I haven't messed with code in... not quite that long, but awhile."

    She looks disgusted at the thought of there being some sort of fitness rules. "Ugh, that'd be the /worst/! One of the upsides to all this has been an in-shape body that's able to actually enjoy running around and fighting and shit. I guess it's possible there's a system for getting fat and I haven't noticed because I've been a lot more active, but... ugh. I hope that's not a thing."

    She looks between the others. "Ahh, who's Rylen?"
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander looks over to Kauchemar and gives a nod, "Yeah. Not sure if he has it open or not, but the general work is done." His gaze then moves back over to Mizuki. "Rylen is an-- interesting man. Heart of gold, good guy honestly. He tends to do public gymnastic type stuff to entertain the crowd."

Then the salamander hrms gently on the rest, but doesn't seem to add for now.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"Well I look forward to when he does. It would sure make working as a Messenger as a side gig easier." Kauchemar laughs, which does have a nickering sound to it yes. "I have no lack of speed, but having to run everywhere myself is... tiring, of course. The wandering part of wandering bard takes soooo much longer these days."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki just sort of vaguely nods, that not helping her form a picture of who Rylen is very well. "You work as a Messenger? I guess people could set up a sort of Peco Peco Express, huh... Man, if only we had the technology from FM World. Imagine trains and steamships travelling between all the cities..."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar nods her head. "There are places the chimlinks do not function past, nor do the Landers use them. So helping keep the cycles of information flowing is, arguably, more useful than it was when we could just gate to wherever and what not." She shrugs her bare shoulders. "Doesn't hurt to keep an ear to the gossip, either, there's oft nuggets of truth to find in the... exaggerations."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander listens to the two women talk a bit, moving the piece of wheat around in his mouth a little as he does. He tilts his head a little as Kauchemar explains a bit more about why she does what she does.

"Hope you make good money doing that," He says taking the piece of wheat at last out of his mouth, before flicking it off to the side. "That is not an easy thing to do. Given monsters, bandits, and so on." He hrms. "Maybe I could convince Rylen to give you a good deal on a Peko when it comes to that." Xander then chuckles,. "No promises though, after all, his job, his ranch, his rules."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "I mean, when we had the gates, we also still had the BBSes..." Mizuki observes. "I guess it's like when we were growing up now... remember when people made up ways to revive the flower girl in Last Fantasy 7 and they spread like crazy? Man, I spent so long looking for the Clown Suit in Mario 3 because I wanted to see what it would even do..."

    She scratches the back of her head. "It sounds tedious, trying to tell what's true... but I guess as long as it's about something we can physically go check, there's always a way to find out."

    She looks between the other two. "If he's starting a Peco Peco ranch the objective is to raise and sell them, right? Once he has enough, couldn't you just buy one?"
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar waggles a finger at Xander. "You bet it's dangerous. Why do you think most Landers don't want to do it themselves? And when there's work from Landers, there's at least some coin involved." When Mizuki starts taking about video game rumors she snickers softly, and chips in. "Mew. Under the truck at the docks."

Then rubs the finger along her chin. "Summoners get monsters to summon as part of their Class, but the rare and powerful ones you need to find yourself. Buuuuut," she holds the indicating finger up again, "There's no assurance just finding the monster works anymore, with how much things have been changing. Same is possible with mounts." The equine shrugs again. "Hopefully the matter with the WILD Nightmare -- not me -- that Giganpor got us together to work on will bring some more insight on how monsters can be... tamed. Bonded? To that effect."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    "Well, I know they can be, or I wouldn't have this." Xander says to Kauchemar, as he pulls out a collar from his inventory. Under inspection it says pretty much how he explains it. "Apparently, this thing will expand to fit the monster that is capable of being captured."

The Salamander puts it away. "And we saw those lizard men inside the tower running around on their own beasts. I see no reason if monster races can ride on monsters, that we, as players, can not as well."

    He looks back over to Mizuki, "That is why I said I'd see if I could convince him to give her a deal." He chuckles lightly. "Though I doubt Rylen will say no. He is a good man. Quick to... get under his collar, but a good man."

Xander shifts his weight in thought, "... Or maybe /I'm/ just good at getting under his collar... Hmm."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki sighs at the mention of mew. "...Ah, I haven't tried summoning in ETO. Good luck with it!" She nods to Xander. "Ooh, yeah. Having some special monster mount would be pretty cool!"

    "Honestly, in the real world horses kinda scare me. Something big enough that, if it had a misunderstanding, could easily kick me to death just makes me uneasy. Not so much of a problem here... I've fought things far more dangerous than peco pecos..." she looks curiously at the collar. "Where'd you even find something like that?"
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"The question is not in possibility," Kauchemar gestures at the collar as it's shown, "but the possible processes. Such as the one you have there. Not everything works as it did when this was 'just a game'; there's been signs that the monsters are getting smarter as well. Shoving a collar or a spell around something may not be all it takes now."

As Mizuki mentions being wary of 'real' horses she just smirks with that snake-fang smile of hers a little more. "You never approach a horse from directly behind. That's the most dangerous end, and the quickest to react." She stomps one of her own hooved feet on the ground for emphasis. "And whatever you may think, they know you are there. Our senses are much sharper than people usually gave credit for."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    "Part of my profession, since I am a monster handler, I guess. Or maybe its the left over of my old mount." Xander shrugs, not seeming really to concerned over its origins or how it came to be in his inventory; Or perhaps just is not sharing with the class.

Though he laughs a little as Mizuki voices her concerns for 'large' things. "I guess you're a lady who wouldn't want to be picked up a tank then, huh?" he ahems, "Sorry, old military joke."

    He looks over to Kauchemar and snorts softly, "I've been yelling the monsters been getting smarter since then first week or two that we got stuck here. After awhile, with no one listening, I just kinda fucking gave up on gathering information and sharing."

The Salamander's tail flicks. "Let alone seeming that any information I gather for tactical use is seeming tossed to the side. So, if people want to just play stupid, then let 'em. They will learn. They always do." He then pushes off the wall and rolls his left shoulder a little. "... After all, everyone wants the glory, but screw the ones with experience."

    Then there was a slight grin, though it wasn't a happy one before he shakes his head. "And sorry. Not aimed at either of you. Just I get tired of idiots thinking they know best, when they don't know jack about tactics, planning, or willingness to adapt. Kind of why I-- vanished for a bit."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "Yeah, I usually saw horses from the front, at a fence. I guess that's not the most concerning end..." she nods. "Yeah, I've had rabbits and a cat. They... heh, we, hear everything..." she rotates her ears backwards briefly."

    Mizuki looks curiously at the collar. "Can I try Appraising it?"

    At Xander calling her 'a lady' and the joke about being picked up in a tank, she makes another unpleasant face. "That's different. A tank is a vehicle controlled by a human. But an unfamiliar animal is unpredictable."

    She scratches the side of her head nervously. "There's just so much going on. Monsters getting smarter... wasn't as immediate a problem as being stuck in here, but obviously, it becomes more of a problem over time. But who would even know how to study it? There must be some... zoologists or anthropologists stuck in here..."

    She looks at Xander, concerned. "I'm happy to hear any information you have... But who wasn't listening?"
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar rolls her eyes at Xander's triad. Not him, just the rant, because, well "You're not exactly wrong, Xander." One hand rests on her hip while the other is propped to gesture towards the Salamander. "It's always been there. The stupid side, I mean. It's just more noticable because none of them can leave right now."

Then shifts to rest that hand fingers to a cheek in a manner of thoughtful poise. "I can't devulge specifics on what. But.. experimentation in the matter has been done." Hwyaden doesn't so easily give out the things they learn in their dealings. "There are instances of monsters acting outside the norms of what would be simply programmed responses."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander gives a nod to Kauchemar, "Yeah. I remember giving some heads up to folks about that. It shows that the Artificial Intelligence protocols are either adjusting to /what/ we do or are simulating actual life."

He then hrms gently. "On top of that, that also means that /if/ if the system is learning either by our interactions with the world or just general overall, that means the code is constantly in change. This also explains why when I scouted the second floor boss, his weaponry was no longer what it once was."

The Salamander's tail flicks once more. "It /also/ means we never have /any/ guarantee, no matter what it is, that anything would or will operate the way /we/ think it should. Thus real world experience states that those in command need to ev--" pause and sofly says, "Ev..al.." Then continues as if catching himself nearly slipping up, "Evaluate the situation, examine the alterations, and adapt. Going by old tactical plans are no longer a valid strategy."

    Then Xander looks over to Mizuki, "... Mostly that. While I am glad that floor two was a success, I made a report on the changes. I also spoken a few times that more care should be taken when entering a floor, along with careful examination of each boss." His tail flicks yet again. "Most people, sadly, play soldier, but in truth... Very few in the S.E.A. /are/ actual military." He sighs and rubs the brdge of his nose. "Which is where /I/ have to remember what patience is... and I am prone to easily lose it."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar finger-guns at Xander, complete with the faux trigger-clicking noise made with her tongue between her teeth. "And that is why I am helping others experiment, rather than just go off looking for the stronger monsters I'd like to have at my disposal on my own personal whims."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "Ugh..." Mizuki holds a hand to her forehead as Xander talks about the AI. "Sorry, it's just hard to talk about this without wondering if /we're/ being simulated, too..."
    "Of course plans need to be up to date... but I don't really know how the ALF handles that stuff. The Odysseia Knights are pretty free to do as we please, and thus pretty independent. Someone might be away from HQ for days or weeks searching for glitches or exploring and gathering information."

    She rubs the back of her head. "I mean... there must be military folk in the ALF planning how it's organized and trained, right? But I guess they have to adapt to... a wider variety of recruits than a military would usually like. And every soldier is far more powerful than an infantryman..."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    "In truth, I see the three guilds in the alliance as different branches under one house. One is the special forces, another is ground pounders, and so on. However, to be efficient, all of them need to work together, or you won't get anywhere." Xander explains with a deep inhale after and slow exhale.

"Either way," He then pulls the collar back out and lets Mizuki look at it. "I'm just a grouchy ol' thirty fii," He pauses as he remembers what month and day it is. "... Thirty six now, actually. So yeah. Grouchy ol' thirty six year old."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki doesn't seem to get much from Appraisal. She may or may not end up pointing out strange runes to Xander once the job is resolved. "Oh. Congratulations? What do we do for birthdays in here? I'm twenty-six... You're not grouchy! Anyone would hate their work not being recognized..."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar leans over to give Xander a teasing nudge with her elbow and wink. "At least you have a reason to be grouchy."
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander takes back the collar and puts it back into his inventory. "It was last month. No biggie. My-- family, we /always/ made big deals out of them, but. Eh." He shrugs, then gets nudged and looks over to Kauchemar, "Why is that? Another year old and deeper in debt?"

There is a laugh that follows that, then a slow frown. He closes his eyes in thought, trying to smile but fails a little. "... fucking game..." he rumbles under his breath. "... fucking computers." Was the next that followed, before he runs his hand through his hair.

    "Well, can't change nothing, right? Gotta do what we gotta do." Then lowers his hand once more by his side, his other coming to rest on the hilt of his sword. "Anyways, I should get back to the Rylen's lil' ranch operation. Make sure he doesn't need any more help and oh!"

He turns to Mizuki. "If anyone in S.E.A. asks where I am, let 'em know I'm helping a friend. I also may be helping him train a few noobs how to defend themselves and do combat stuff correctly." Xander tilts his head gently. "... Though while I /doubt/ anyone cares I'm MIA, I know we don't have many tanks but I'll try to make sure I'm there for the next boss. Hopefully."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar grins lazily, though it's still slightly unsettling due to her viper fangs and weird eye colors. "Was refering more to the dealing with snot-nosed gamers that want to play pretend soldier with their now very real lives, but I appreciate the lyrical quote."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki pouts slightly at Xander viewing birthdays in such a way. "It's not about the time passing, it's a celebration of /you/. Agh, I'm bad at this stuff but like... you must have touched /someone's/ life positively, they'd have reason to celebrate, right? And there's no debt in here, and we might not be aging..." she sighs.

    Then nods. "Sure. That'd be good. Always good for more people to not be helpless in here." still, she looks... vaguely nervous and uncomfortable at having not had any way to lift someone's spirits.

    She looks at Kauchemar curiously. "Lyrical quote?"
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander looks back to Kauchemar and chuckles lightly."Well, people like to pretend they are, just they need to realize that there is no more pretending. If you are in command, well," He jaw shifts a little. "Well, you have /lives/ now to think about. Each and /every/ life is in someone's hands."

He does raise a brow and it gives him pause. He peers at the nightmare werefang, giving her a close examination. His lips part slightly as a thought crosses his mind. His brows then slowly knit before he asks her, "Though, why do you say that? About the pretending." The Salamander seem to be trying to peer behind Kauchemar's viel, as if looking for something.

    His attention turns back over to Mizuki and he laughs. "You /don't/ know the song?" He grins brightly, "Its-- More from America, but it goes like..." He pauses seeming unsure if he even /wants/ to sing, but he kinda does, "Sooome, people say a man is made out of mud. A poor man's made out of muscle and blood. Muscle and blood, and skin and bones. A mind that's weak and a back that's strong. You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt!"

    That is-- as far as he goes, as he extends his hands out to the side and then chuckles a little. "It's... a really old American song. I knew about it thanks to my grandparents in the states when they were alive, along with my dad. My /dad/ loved that song. Never knew why. Maybe cause the way he felt even though..." Xander trails off and shakes his head. "Eh, nevermind. Though as birthdays, I /know/ they are important. Like I said, for my family they /were/ a big deal, but, I can't think about that. I can't think of the fact that if, /IF/ somehow time is normal..."

The Salamander curls his nose for a moment in thought, "... That she is alone... now... and..." He shakes his head. "Like I said, just, don't worry on it."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Pretending actually means a lot when it comes to the Nightmare, but she's not spilling anything with her mischevious expression. "This was pretend. Now it is not... but I wager for as many of us that are trying to adapt and survive, there are those who do not... Or do not want to accept that it is no longer 'pretend'." She even holds up her hands to make the obnoxious air quoting gesture with her fingers.

"I spent a fair amount of time during my youth in the States," she quickly suppliments to the conversation, as asking how she knew of such an old and very American song was likely somewhere in the Salamander's thoughts as well. "... And my parents worked for a shipping company, so you heard that one on trucker radios a lot."

She tilts her head a little as Xander... well, he's Xander. But it's starting to show a little more -why- he is, when you get under a few layers. "Mmmm... that's a rabbit hole you don't want to think too hard about unless you want to stare into the existential void until it stares back."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina



    "At least when they screw up they can respawn now... but perhaps that experience will encourage them to try more seriously." Mizuki observes.

    Once she hears the words lyrically, she ohhhhhs, "That sounds familiar, yeah." Her ears splay as she deadpans, "I'm /from/ America." And then he says 'she is alone' and Mizuki looks sad. People have so many problems...

    She turns to Kauchemar. "So what've you been up to since that goblin dungeon?"
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Xander's jaw shifts and he laughs a little. It wasn't a happy laugh. "Let's just say, the void likes to keep its hands on me most nights so I /can't/ look away." He looks up a little. "I just hope that people wake up to the fact they /have/ lives in their hands as leaders... Because when you lose someone. When you /lose/ lives around you... It /fucking/ haunts you."

He raises a brow at Mizuki, "Oh? Where from? I spent most of my Highschool in the states, given I have dual citizenship." He chuckles. "... Another example of my damn age." He rubs the back of his neck.

Then his attention turns to Kauchemar. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. The truckers. I, uh," Hrms. "As you may have already put two and two together. I am a vet. Army. Was part of-- what some would know of as Cyber Command. The nerd squad who got to sit around, staring at computers, and making sure the internet stayed safe." He shrugs. "I was stationed on the Japanese base, along with a group of brothers in arms as we handled security and such on that base."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"I picked up on some manner of military background, yes... The complaining about 'pretend' soldiers compared to real tactics did solidify the deduction though." Kauchemar folds her hands behind her head, lost in the depths of her glam rocker mane. That it wasn't a field soldier though... well, just goes to show reasoning isn't perfect. "It's true, though. Losing someone.... It doesn't even need to be literal death." Even she glances off to the side for a moment at that thought. "What the viruses did to some people... Is arguably worse."

Then the moody demeanor shifts away again, and she is back to just being off-beat and mischevious. "Let's see..." She draws one hand back out to tick off with her fingers. "I've been helping Giganpor orchestrate matters with the -feral- nightmare problem," she keeps emphasizing that, it's out of habit by this point, that it's not her doing. "Also helped another mage research what could possibly be done with Binder spirits, though that didn't turn up any -combat- application yet... There was going with the group to investigate the third floor settlement..." At which she grins again. "Which is very interesting. I won't spoiler, you should go see for yourselves." She nods towards Xander. "As I assume Scale will want to establish a waypoint there in advancing towards the eventual boss."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki is glad for a change of subject, brightening when he asks where she's from. "New England." and what he did. "Cyber command, huh? Cool. What kinda stuff did you actually get to do?"

    He nods with interest at Kauchemar. "I've been exploring but haven't really found anything of note... I need to get involved in more experiments. It'd be neat to learn more about how crafting works now, but..." she makes a vague, spread-armed gesture. "Thief. I don't get crafting skills, only stealing. Sometimes I miss being an infiltrator... but the increased DPS /is/ pretty sweet during big boss battles!"
Xander
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    "Probably yeah." Xander admits, though he now he starts to step away from the two. "Anyways, hope the investigation bares some fruit." he says in passing to Kauchemar as he takes another step away.

He looks over to Mizuki, "Simply put, we were trained how to do everything Infantry was trained to do, plus be the IT guys." He laughs softly. "Mostly... Protect virtual space from intrusions... and well," He pauses. "Yeah. Anyways. You two take care." Then the Salamander walks on.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar was avoiding making an IT joke, but Xander does it himself. So that is a thing. Though it makes sense, between the skyrocketing technical developements... and then the super virus attacks... that Militaries would dedicate resources to virtual threats as well. "Later, then, Xander." she waves after him.

All the better to change back to the less depressing topics. She props an elbow in her palm to rest the other hand against her cheek thoughtfully. "I would say the same, but as I know a Bard that has been struck by these 'fey moods', apparently Songcraft counts under the right circumstances."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    A military IT guy, huh? "Yikes. Bad enough dealing with clients who don't understand technology, but if they were superior officers too... Well, see you around..." she waves, then turns to Kauchemar, listening curiously. She claps her hands together in front of her chesat excitedly. "Really?! And with some songs being magical... maybe there IS something cool to do there!" the tip of her tail lifts up and twitches back and forth excitedly.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

That gets a brow arcing from the nightmare were fang. "I was not aware you had musical inclinations."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki blinks. "You've heard me sing! You were walking down the street singing Birdhouse In Your Soul and I sang along as you passed! I guess maybe you didn't notice..."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar snaps her fingers. "Oh, now I remember! Sorry." Though that causes her to pause and think for a moment. "But... you're not actually a Bard class-wise, are you. Your connecting it to magic threw me for a moment." She shrugs her bare shoulders. "There's so many different manners of accessing certain aspects to keep track of."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki ahs. "Well, it's true, a Were Fang Ninja Thief from the Ninetails Dominion doesn't typically have the Song skill, but there was this musical puzzle I solved before the apocalypse which rewarded me with a runic tattoo on my avatar -- well, on me, now -- and the Song skill appeared on my sheet."

    "Of course, now it's a relief. I can't work with computers in here, but I always liked music too..."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"Oh really?" Kauchemar was not aware of this means of accessing the Song aspect, but in hindsight it makes perfect sense. "So it is like the scroll I found that allows me to use Divination artes... Boy did that come in useful with how fast some of those Tournament matches went. It's hard to play-by-play when you can barely keep up yourself with how fast some combatants move!"

Then she sighs softly. "I know, right? I miss having a proper DJ rig... but I've been finding ways to use the blend of magic and music to make up for it. Will-O-Wisps make for interesting supernatural rave lights if you apply them properly."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki tilts her head curiously. "How did divination artes help? And you were a DJ?" She smiles. "Kaleido's talked about starting a singing group covering songs from outside. I... never thought of singing as a career there, but here... I guess for a number of reasons," she makes another spread-armed gesture and glances down at herself, then back to Kaleido, with a slightly awkward expression, "...I have better chances."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"Some people like Yuuki can move so swift being able to glimpse a few seconds ahead was the only way to know what to announce. And with how close some of those final blows were...." It's hard to tell if she's serious, or just making jokes about how close some of the matches were. Especially involving the famous duelist. Kauchemar nods her head. "That I was... Well, I've been involved with musical arts for most my life. It's why I picked Bard for my primary class." She taps steepled fingertips together. "That and musical magic is good for influencing emotions and visions, making it the closest thing to manipulating dreams that I know of within Elder Tale." She parts her hands partially to her sides, to indicate herself and her species of Were Fang. "Notice how I'm based on a classic Nightmare, and not the modern fire and brimstone interpretations many roleplay games use these days?"
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "It's good for influencing people, huh? Is there a song that could really give people good dreams?"

    She looks over Kauchemar. "Honestly... I'm not sure what a 'classic' nightmare would be. I thought it was an obvious pun, I can't remember any myths about horse-shaped creatures that give bad dreams..."
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar twirls a hand at her side. "Technically it is. The original concept was simple a demon that haunted dreams to cause fear and dismay, with a name that translated to 'mare'.. and when you think about it was closer to a sleep paralysis 'demon' than the terrible dreams. The equine appearance came later to yes make a pun of sorts. And more modern versions added the fire and poisonous smoke because 'dreams' are such a nebeulous concept people don't understand. So I guess technically I'm a revised classic rather than the original."

The mare realizes she's rambling a bit, and chuckles softly. "Sorry. My mom was a literary and linguistics major. I've read a lot of the books she had on other culture's mythology and folklore. My name is actually nightmare in French."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki nods. "The incubus myth, yes, I'm familiar. I suppose games are kind of crossing the idea over with hellhounds and hellcats... and indeed I wonder if there even /are/ classical hellcats, and whether classical hellhounds are firey..."

    She smiles, "That's cool, myths are really interesting! I mean... the stories of games kind of grow out of the same structure, don't they? Maybe not the main narrative itself, but all the little world details..."

    She looks over Kauchemar curiously. "Nightmare in French, huh? Does it actually translate literally as something like night-horse, or is it a completely unrelated word for bad dream?"
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"Both, with how close the different uses are wound together." The nightmare chuckles a little. "I spelt it with a K instead to make it more like an actual name." She rubs her hands together a bit. "Songs are written to tell stories. Myths are stories written to explain things people did not understand in their time. Songs are an inspiration, as are dreams of both good and bad meanings. So it all weaves together," she laces her fingers together like a demonstration. "I am a creature of both inspiration and fear, of desire and discord. The darkness that light would have no meaning without, and vice versa." Someone maybe put a little too much time and effort into crafting their character themes.
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "Although mare is also a sea, isn't it? I suppose a 'sea of dreams' is also a poetic image, though..." She scratches her head. "I just picked a Japanese name. I didn't really think about... themes." She scratches her chin. "Perhaps I should. Cat, stealth, ninja, got some kinda theming started there... but also musical? And... I'd like to inspire people positively... I mean I know I haven't, really, so far, but... Ugh." She sighs. "It's hard to maintain dignity AND do the cute cat thing. Any thoughts on that?"
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar hooks a finger to her chin and hmms. "Not that I picked a creature that has to worry about being 'cute'." After a moment she squats down, to get a bit closer to the catwoman's height. Tall horse legs yo. "But I do know that inspiration comes in many forms. Some people simply... do. By how they act, and act upon. By being who they are in helping others." She leans a little to the side. "I wouldn't try to use singing until after the point of being ninja stealthy though... I did the whole 'cliche song bit played in movies for being sneaky' once." One hand rubs the back of her head. "It turned out being more of a diversion than deceptive."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki smiles and chuckles a bit when the idea of 'sneaking music' is mentioned. "Yeah, I can imagine."

    She sits on a nearby crate or something. "Inspire's not quite the right word, I guess. Although that would be good! But... I figured it'd be easy to be more cheerful as... this. I didn't mean to get stuck... well, none of us did. Buuuuut, if I lean into it... will people think... I'm just... silly and undignified?"
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Suddenly bun! Well suddenly albino human in a kimono with a bun tattoo on her neck. Her long white arms ago around Mizuki's shoulders and her chin rests atop the other girl's head. "Mizukichi! The tourney is over, it was fun but I wana go exploring again." explains how she ended up here.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"See. Right there." Kauchemar lightly pokes a fingertip to Mizuki's forehead. "You're overthinking it. Do less of that and more... I guess 'being' is the best way to put it. Don't think about what you want to be, -be- what, or who as it may be, you want to be.... is that using be too much? Damn, I miss having an online thesaurus at ready."

And then suddenly Mizuki has a bun hat and shawl. She squints at Wisteria. "Are you sure you'r not part vorpal rabbit, appearing suddenly like that?"
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "Right, and what I want to BE is both cute AND dignified. How do I do that?" And then she's bunhatted. "Wisteria!" she turns and hugs. "That sounds wonderful! I'd love to go exploring!" She holds the hug for a moment and squeezes, then looks back at Kauchemar, about to say 'what did you think she's a were fang OF', but that's Wisteria's right to say first, isn't it?
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Wisteria grins "I'm Were Caerbannog." she says "Speaking of... it's the season, I only ever did the silly fun things here before the wave." she says "And it's Egg season... and bunbun season..." she says "So who's thinking what I'm thinking?" she is of course thinking of finding an over leveld monster bun with horrible great big pointy teeth, that can leap... somewhere near a pile of bones... to get eggs.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"I was not thinking that at all." Kauchemar taps a finger to her chin. "Though now that you've implied it, it would be interesting to see if the creature you're based on actually exists somewhere within the accessable world... Not that I would doubt it, after there being an actual beastial Nightmare running around." She's just going to act like the vorpal bunny guffaw never happened.
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki's question goes unanswered! She looks at Wisteria curiously. "...That as a sort of bunny you feel it would be especially appropriate to participate in the events?"

    Oh. Kauchemar has a different interpretation. "Of course they do... right? They have to or they couldn't have, in story, been used to make were fangs, right?"

    "...Oh! You think the vorpal bunny might appear in one of the events or have an increased spawn chance, huh?"
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Nods her head "And all buns have a chance to drop eggs. So a rare dangerous boss bun! Means rare dangerous boss eggs." she giggles and squeezes Mizuki.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar can't resist with the change of topic. "That sounds like a definate way to end up facing..." faux dramatic pause. "... eggstermination."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    "What will you do with them? Food ingredient or are you hoping to hatch pets?" She taps her chin. "Do you think they'll be chocolate?" She smiles widely at Kauchemar's joke.
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    :shrugs "There's always something with seaonal events, and I figure rare eggs will be better." she says with a giggle.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar shakes a finger at the were-bun. "She's got a point. Things like that do tend to be more likely to turn up during events.... I would doublecheck any small 'candies' before eating them though, just to be sure."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki gives Kauchemar a rather concerned look. "I've already had somebody give me catnip candies once. What's going around /now/?"
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Wisteria rolls her eyes and shakes her head "That's just gross." she says and squeezes Mizuki breaking into giggles.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

Kauchemar looks at Mizuki. Looks at Wisteria and smirks a bit when she gets it. Looks at Mizuki again. "Maybe you're better off not knowing, if you've never dealt with real rabbits before."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Then Mizuki gets it. She looks relieved and rolls her eyes. "Ohhhhh."
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Wisteria "So yah that's my plan, gonna find a caerbannog to get rare boss eggs." she nods her head with a smile.
Kauchemar
Carmina Gadelica Marina

"Well, I hope you don't get left in shellshock." Kauchemar chuckles as she pushes herself back up to stand. "And on that note I should be on my way."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki nods. "Sounds fun! Any idea where we might find one?" She turns to Kauchemar and waves. "Nice talking to you!"
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Waves to Kauchemar "I duno for sure, but mountainy craigs, uhm with lots of bones I guess? There should be some in Ninetails since I was able to get this werefang option."
Mizuki
Carmina Gadelica Marina


    Mizuki holds a finger to her chin and hmms. "Mountainy crags with lots of bones? Have you asked around yet if anyone's seen such?"
Wisteria
Carmina Gadelica Marina

    Wisteria shakes her head "Nope, been too busy, but the bun event is like a week or something if last year is an indication." she says and shrugs. "PLenty of time to find it." and map the mountains of Ninetails.