Meet the 'Landers': Anthome

Of course, with such a curiosity popping up, it's inevitable that adventurers would show up to investigate this sudden town appearing in the middle of the desert and possibly even partake of its wares!
    Nevermind that all of the 'landers' have something off about them. And of course they read as non-aggressive monsters when examined.

Napellus Martina
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     Rumors spread fast when a part of a dune just randomly falls away to reveal friendly ... 'monsters'. Except these monsters looked rather... humanoid? And yet, it seemed as if everyone was welcomed with open arms by these antenna-sporting women. As those who came to investigate approach, they're greeted at the gate by a pair of guards that looked nearly identical to each other, each one carrying a spear and each one sporting a wide, if slightly... off... smile, as if they didn't really know how to smile and were faking it.

     "Hello! Welcome to Anthome!" Pronounced An-tho-me. "Let one of the guards know if something happens while you're here." The two speak, their tones were friendly enough, beyond that they almost sounded as if they were reading off of a script. And they kind of were, each individual that entered got that exact same line from the two.

     Adventurers were usually let in freely, but landers that entered in seemed to get scrutinized heavily, with a slightly less friendly greeting and the guards making a note to check through their goods, which those that came to visit would notice as a small caravan comes in for trading with the town.
Setsuna
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    Sestuna had in fact hitched a ride in with the caravan , he was not a fan of walking especially through the desert. So when he had ran into the caravan he had hitched a ride in exchange for a promise of unneeded protection and a few coins. So he is present when the people of Anthome get all uppity about the caravan and start to want to investigate things he speaks up, " Not to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, I mean that's not really my way even, but I think the good folks have just come to trade. Why all the fuss?"
Kotono
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Also arriving with the caravan is the duo of Miyako and Kotono (or is that the other way around?)

Kotono didn't feel like getting sand in her shoes, and she didn't want to dehydrate herself either, so she hitched a ride with the caravan. And Miyako's with her too, naturally. Once they arrive, Kotono wipes her forehead and says, "We finally made it..."
Prophylaxis
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It wasn't too long ago that a very tired, thoroughly rained-on Prophylaxis face-planted hard into the bar at Tolbana's inn... And had a chance encounter with a strange ant-ennae'd girl who claimed to be from Out Of Town (tm). Not long after that, another buggy lady made her appearance at Westelande's traditional Coming of Age ceremony and almost led to the death of a full generation of young warriors. Is it a coincidence that there is a strange colony of ant people just... out there, in the dunes...?

Probably not.

And so Prophylaxis is investigating, as he does.

"Yes, yes. Hello there to you too," the good Doctor says with a genial smile as he passes through the gates and into the town beyond. "Come now Setsuna, it's clearly because standards are somewhat more stringent for official trade business! Besides, these girls seem friendly enough, no? Hahahaha~"

Is he serious right now?

Is the sun getting to him!?

Or is he just pretty sure that things will only get weirder as the day goes on, and that if they stop to interrogate every little inconsitency, they might end up missing the forest from the trees...?
Merek
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    Merek walks along and into the city, a little curious about it all while he takes a moment and would begin adjusting the potion belt which he wears. The hood up, with the beltcape about the waist, he takes time to look at people, and nods to the guards.
Miyako
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    Miyako stretches as she hops down from the wagon that had carried her and Kotono to the new town. "Good to be here," she answers her friend, taking a long look around before approaching the locals.

    "Looks like we're not the only ones who are interested..."
Napellus Martina
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     Uppity was ... not entirely how it goes, so much as over-cautious and possibly the tiniest bit unfriendly towards. "We have to make sure that their goods are nothing dangerous to us." Is one of the guards' responses to Setsuna's questioning. Of course, adventurers are even MORE likely to bring in dangerous things, so that explanation probably didn't make the most sense in the world. Either that or it was just not worth fleecing adventurers, they tend to stab in response.

     Hey they totally aren't ant people, they're Totally Normal Landers, see! Their nametags even say as such! ... Okay no they actually read more generically as 'Anthome Guard' 'Anthome Merchant' and similar things. The fact they read as monsters but weren't aggressive was probably the weirdest thing so far. Beyond the fact that landers were being scrutinized more heavily than adventurers. Though once that check is done with -- assuming that it's not stopped for some reason -- the adventurers would be let in otherwise mostly unmolested.

     Taking the time to look at people finds that... all of them look... strongly related, if not exactly identical in all cases. All of the guards are silver-haired with black antennae, and most of the traders and 'normal' people were black haired with purple antennaes. Very occasionally, there were sighs of black haired ones with red or black antennaes, but other than the slight differences in antenna and hair colors they looked otherwise mostly identical, beyond there were occasionally a few small 'children' that could be seen running around at times. Watching for /too/ long became uncomfortable though, as sometimes the children would repeat what they did, seemingly starting from the beginning on a loop that was long enough that /most/ people wouldn't notice, but when you're there just to investigate and not just to trade and such... well. It seems Prophylaxis' assessment is right.
Setsuna
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    Setsuna looks over at the doctor and then back at the guard and tilts his head for a moment considering, " I was just asking why slow the process down. I meant no harm of course. Anyways after all that sitting I need a drink. " Hopping out of the caravan he peers about and takes note of all the monster tags. " Bet they would let me keep a legion of brainwashed skeletons around." With a wink and a grin towards the doctor he begins to head towards what appears to be a tavern glancing over his shoulder to keep track of Prophylaxis' movement as well till out of eyesight.
Kotono
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"Seems that way indeed, Miyako," Kotono says with a nod. She keeps her blades sheathed for the time being, not wanting to cause any trouble if she can help it. "This is one of those places that make you feel uneasy but you're not sure why." Her eyes narrow a little. "Maybe I'm just overreacting?"
Merek
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    Merek nods a bit to the guards, then he makes a way to the merchant, taking a moment to pick from his pack a few coins, "What all are you selling?" he asks, while he watches the place in thought, the man drinking from the flask with him.
Prophylaxis
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"Makes sense to me," Prophylaxis answers the guard with a shrug. "You never know what might be poison. You know, Setsuna, insect poison and rat poison work in similar ways. They are brought in by a wandering member of the nest, and the effect quickly spreads to the rest of the community. Protecting a home from unwanted toxic agents is a vital role for any customs official!"

Not that these girls are at all insects. Nope. Not at all. NOT AT ALL.

Even if one look around the place is enough for Prophylaxis to confirm that they are indeed very, /very/ similar to a certain other insect-person he met while he was sloshed. So that one, at least, is definitely from here. Or from... wherever these came from? Fascinating. What could they be up to, though? What do they gain from interacting with adventurers and landers? The way that they're repeating the same actions over and over again on loops, it could be that their fascimile of humanity is not quite perfect, and there's some nefarious plan afoot to produce more effective infiltrators...?

Or maybe they're being led by a genuinely sweet and headpattable ant queen who just wants company around to talk to that isn't a semi-mindless drone?

.../Are/ they mindless? Hm.

"I wonder... could that be why they need to investigate the trade caravans so closely? If they need to produce pre-determined reactions to each trade good and price them appropriately, then the added scrutiny would give them time to... Hm..." Prophylaxis mutters softly to himself, quietly and thoughtfully massaging at his chin.

"...I wonder what they're trading for. Hm." Well, time to visit the marketplace! What might be for sale...?
Napellus Martina
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     "There is a tavern straight ahead, where fermented fruit drinks and squeezed fruit drinks are sold!" The guard helpfully says to Setsuna, pointing towards the tavern that... he does, in fact, go towards. It looks, on the outside, like a replica of the inn in Tolbana that had opened not too long ago. Closer inspection by someone intimately familiar with it would likely find it to be a case of it just /superficially/ looking like it. Especially since it's carved out of sandstone blocks instead of Tolbana's own tavern.

     Keeping her blades sheathed was likely the correct decision by Kotone! Not that they seemed to be particularly aggressive or concerned about adventurers, but if they /are/ insects, insects tend to swarm when attacked. When Merek approaches a merchant, the merchant... turns towards him with a bright smile, much more practiced than the guards' more plastic looking ones. More genuine, as if she legitimately enjoys her job!
     "Hello! I have a wide assortments of vegetation and fruits for sale. I currently have a special on cabbages! I give one extra cabbage whenever trading! ...Seriously I have too many cabbages please buy my cabbages." The 'cabbages' were, of course... slightly... off. In that they weren't cabbages, but instead some sort of green cabbage-shaped mold that looked /very close/ to cabbages and did read as edible.

     The guard gives Prophylaxis a bit of a Look when he talks about insect poison, possibly looking a bit nervous. A proper reaction from her, it seems! But she speaks up, "P...please don't bring any poison into our home, yes. We do not wish to be poisoned. That would not be pleasant. We will happily accept shiny goods, weapons, armor, materials, and foods though. Oh and drinks! We enjoy the sweet nectar-drinks of other lands." ...Are there many nectar drinks you would find in the holy empire of westlande? Maybe a few, but...
Miyako
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    Miyako nods to Kotono. "Bit of the Uncanney Valley, you think?" She muses as she walks in with the other adventurers, no sign of weapons but a guitar slung over her shoulder. "Want to check out the tavern first, or the market?"
Merek
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    Merek will look along to everything that is for sale, then nods a bit. "I'll take one of each," he notes, while he begins to place the coin onto the table in front of him. The man takes a drink from the flask, then waits for the goods, "So, can you tell me anything interesting about the city?" he asks.
Kotono
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"Let's go with the market first. I'd like to see if there's any cool stuff here." She sounds like a teenager at the mall. "Then we can hit the tavern. I could use a drink honestly, and I'm sure you could as well."
Setsuna
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    Setsuna looks at the tavern on the outside and nods his head, " I think Vertina has a strong case for copyright lawsuit. " Though as he approaches the door he reaches and brushes his hand along the wall, feeling the sandstone and tilts his head. Stepping into the tavern he looks around and walks towards the bar. "If Vertiant appears though I think I may have a couple words to say myself." It is said more for himselfthen everything, Setsuna is acting a little odd himself as he keeps touching things as if to make sure its real. When he finally sits he looks around for a bartender before asking , " I'm hoping for something cold. Whatever the town favorite is."
Prophylaxis
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"Ahahaha, oh you don't have to worry about poison from me," Prophylaxis laughs gently and restrains the urge to pat this poor misunderstanding bug girl. "I am a doctor! Though medicine may become poison in large enough doses, I promise that I do not bring any such substances with me today!"

Not that he's incapable of defending himself. Prophylaxis is kind of a walking arcane arsenal even if he's not dumping bug poison into every anthill he can find.

Not that he'd do that either. Not at a first meeting, at any rate.

"But, you all like the 'nectar-drinks' of other lands, you say. Hm." The Doctor rubs at his chin again, and then... conjures two things to hand. "I have with me two options, my guard friend. One is a simple fruit juice. The other... is a fermented version of that same fruit juice. Would you happen to know which of these two would be more welcome at the local market?"

Is he trying to get ants drunk!?

Maybe.

Maybe just a /little/ bit. For science.

Also possibly for profit!?
Napellus Martina
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     The ants nearby were listening rather intently to the talk about uncanny valley between Kotono and Miyako! They weren't really sure what that meant, but it was apparently something that was applied to them. Now comes the question, was that a bad thing? They weren't sure.

     When Merek says he'll take one of everything, the merchant's eyes widen slightly, but she gives a nod, quickly beginning to gather up one of each thing into a sack. "Of course, of course!" She doesn't... really give a price. Which is a bit odd.

     Most of it was local things you could forage in the holy empire itself, cactus fruits, edible plants that would grow around the oasises and in the small bits of forest that existed around there. More weird things were edible fungi, some of the more fuzzy sort and others of the more mushroom style of edible fungi, all of which aren't things native to the holy empire itself... or at least so far as Merek likely knew. Including those cabbages, which two are put into the sack. As coin is placed on the table in front of her, the merchant carefully begins to count the coins. Hmm. One... two... three... four... she would accept... one or two coins per fruit and vegetable, which was probably very cheap considering!

     There is not a clone vertina manning the tavern, no! ... In fact it was manned by one of the black-haired purple-antennaed workers, who was serving up glasses of drinks to the few other patrons in the tavern; served up in very rough glass mugs that were... definitely not the most skillfully made in the world, even if they LOOKED right the glass obviously had sand flecks and such in them. "A town favorite? Okay." The woman replies, smiling towards Setsuna, another one of those kind of genuine but not quite perfect smiles as she walks into a back room and comes out with a cup of some sort of ... somewhat... thicker nectar. It wasn't quite honey consistency, but it was definitely not quite what one would come to expect from a drink, though it /was/ cold. "Here you go. One cold cactus nectar."

     The guard actually looks relieved at that, giving a soft sigh as he says that, in fact, he was not going to poison them, and that he was a doctor! Something about medicine becoming poison in large enough doses though. Huh. "I see. ... Well then you are very welcome here. We enjoy trade and conversation with those from outside of our hi-- home." She pauses at the talk of the fruit juices. Hmm.

     The guard falls silent, looking towards the other guard, their antennae twitching in response to each other a bit as they 'conversed' silently, as if trying to determine which one. "It is our understanding that the tavern sells both, however it is more frequent for drinks to be of the fermented nature when sold at taverns." Wait did non-tavern locations not sell drinks???
Setsuna
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    As the drink is placed infront of him he looks questioning at the cup but doesn't drink from it right away as he smiles politely at the bartender and reaches out to put his hand on her arm. It wasn't an aggressive move, but it is also one of those things that most female bartenders would give you the death glare for, at least in the human world. " Hey there, don't suppose I could get another one of these cactus nectars and the gift of some conversation with a pretty bar tender like yourself?" Yes once again the monster handler was trying to flirt with the female monster.
Prophylaxis
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Oho! Well that seems to answer the question as to whether or not the 'drones' are simply mindless workers. The fact that they communicate relatively complex concepts like that purely through antennae and the associated pheromone exchange suggests that they're more 'alien' than 'mindless.' Eusocial, perhaps, but not without some drone-individuality.

"I see!" Prophylaxis nods thoughtfully. "Well, thank you for your time, ladies! I think that I will indeed see about visiting the local tavern." The one that looks SUSPICIOUSLY like someone copied Tolbana's. Should they be... flattered...? "Oh, but before I go--"

He glaaances back, "You two wouldn't happen to know who runs this place, would you? Your mayor, or, ah, queen perhaps?"
Merek
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    Merek nods a bit while he begins to offer whatever would be fair, then he takes a moment to place that into a pack. The man walks along to find places to buy things, "Thank you," he offers, then he tries to see if there's anything to drink.
Kotono
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Kotono wasn't intending anything bad towards the ants. She was just making commentary on how the place looked and felt. "If we hit the market, what would you be looking for?" She bit her lip for a moment, realizing she wasn't sure herself. "I mean, maybe some neat trinkets and stuff for me." She smiles at the ants, trying to give a friendly appearance.
Miyako
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    Miyako nods, "Any written materials would be number one for me. Books, scrolls, that sort of thing. Anything music-related, especially." She smiles lightly as they walk through the market, pausing to look over a trinket here and there. "Maybe some interesting new foods."
Napellus Martina
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     The bartender's arm is grabbed! The bartender looks towards Setsuna briefly. Her eyes seeming to shift very briefly to red, along with every other town member in the tavern. Until the fact that no damage was done seems to register. Looks leave Setsuna, and the bartender's smile is somehow, through all of this, maintained. "Yes, I can get you another cactus nectar. Did you want warm or cold? It is good both ways." She says, her tone almost sweet. She motions a bit towards one of the other girls in the tavern, who scurries off to the back room before Setsuna orders... but would come back with whatever he orders shortly after he does. "What did you want to talk about?" The bartender asks, seemingly actually quite interested in said conversational prospects!

     What use are information givers that can't give information! ... What Prophylaxis had likely not seen is the little line of subtly moving antenna through a large portion of the village, but of course it was hard to tell that individually when not directly interacting with them. "You're" "Welcome!" The two ant guards respond with smiles, bright, if still very awkward and it's easy to tell they're not used to smiling at all. They pause though. The question. Hmm. They look towards each other, and then back towards Prophylaxis, though they don't look upset, more taken off guard. "That would be our mother." Is the simple action that Prophylaxis gets from one of the guards, the other guard piping up, "She is not available for visitors though. She's a very busy woman and nobody is allowed into the tunnels." It was very matter of fact. Not unfriendly, just a statement of the rules.

     The merchant gives a bow of her head towards Merek as he gives her more than she took on her own, seemingly making note of the amount as she puts it all away. It would, of course, probably not account for rarity of individual items, but she might have more fair and less cheap prices in the future. "You're welcome! Please come again! We also accept normal barter as well!" Apparently coins were weird to the people of anthome. Even if they accepted them because they were shiny and useful for trade.

     Talk of neat trinkets gets the attention of one of the merchants, who starts waving enthusiastically in Kotono's direction, flashing smiles towards her when she smiles in her direction. "I have trinkets over here! Odds and ends. Shiny things! Small sandstone statues!" How did she hear from all the way over /there/? ... Probably more hive-communication, really. There's not really comments on written materials though. Books and scrolls... they might have some, maybe. But they don't exactly look like an affluent town of nobles.
Setsuna
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    "Well I offer you to make that decision for me. As the drink is for you after all." The human smiles at the ant lady before reaching out for his drink. Setsuna takes a moment to looks at the nectar and sips as best as you can something thick and places his cup down with a smile, " I can see why people enjoy this. So I would love to get to know you better. Tell me about yourself, what do you like ? What do you dislike? What do you do for fun? Do you have a mate? You know the usual things. In fact lets start with a name, I'm Setsuna and you are? " Setsuna just continues to watch the bartender's eyes as he offers a hand.
Prophylaxis
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"I see. Well that's too bad, I was hoping to ask her a few questions, perhaps even organize a shipment of more fermented juice in exchange!" Did you know ants can get drunk? They can! Their sober friends don't really know what to do with them, so they just get dunked into water until they snap out of it. So basically just like humans. "Ah well," Prophylaxis shrugs, then provides a bottle of (un)-fermented juice as a show of good guest behavior. "Ah well, thank you for your time, ladies. Here, please take this in thanks and share it."

And with that, Prophylaxis is off to the inn!

He arrives just in time to see Setsuna putting the moves on some kind of ant girl innkeeper and is struck by the crisis of what to do when your alliance-mate is trying to seduce a eusocial monster girl from a hive-society where only the Queen is supposed to be doing any reproduction. Is this considered gauche? Maybe just a little bit... Improper?

"Setsuna," he says, his brain still trying to figure out exactly /how/ he feels about this situation. "...You seem to be enjoying yourself."
Kotono
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Kotono stops to peruse the merchant's wares. "Hmm, let me see here." She looks closely, before looking to Miyako. "Find anything you like?" The girl checks her money supply as she continues perusing the items.
Miyako
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    Miyako hmms softly, walking along with Kotono, her eyes lingering over the wares on sale. "Oh, maybe," she muses, pausing to examine a sculpture.

    She looks up to meet the gaze of the merchant, and asks, "Do you know anyone who makes musical instruments? As a bard, I'm always interested in learning something new about my field."
Merek
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    Merek takes a look to things for sale, then he nods a bit while he makes a way to an establishment for drinking, "Any interesting kind of drinks?" the man asks, with smiles as well as a nod.
Napellus Martina
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     "I... see." The bartender responds, shifting her antenna a bit. Soon, a slightly more watery nectar is brought out. Deep green in color and smelling vaguely of some sort of berry. Probably something gathered from around the oasises. Or stolen from a farm. Who knows where they got it from, really. "It is one of the most plentiful food sources, along with being sweet and having a pleasant flavor. We enjoy it greatly on our breaks. Though we have to be careful with the fermented nectar, as it makes us sluggish!" Pause. Tell him about herself. And what she likes. What she dislikes. What does she do for fun. She falls silent on those questions, seemingly musing over them. "...I like being useful, serving drinks... and flowers. ... I dislike rats. I am the bartender. ... ... ... Tenda." She seems to be complex enough to be able to come up with a nickname. Maybe. Also to completely dodge a question.

     "Unfortunately, as she is our leader, she keeps busy at most times." The guard responds to Prophylaxis, "We will bring your interest in speaking with her later. She may send one of us out to attempt to contact you. What location do you usually frequent?" She asks towards him. And then he provides them with a bottle of juice, which the second guard takes, while the first guard is suddenly replaced and begins to scurry off. In the tavern, luckily, it seems that Setsuna hadn't caused the entire hive to come swarming down on him! ... Though it had been close. Almost.

     Miyako and Kotono find that the shopkeeper has... all sorts of odds and ends, even a few coins among their wares since they just consider them a trade item, rather than currency. There were things that had been traded to them by merchants and other similar things, things that they'd decided weren't useful for the hive most likely. Which included a couple of relatively crude musical instruments, a lute of some sort and a pan flute that probably work okay maybe. Honestly, the landers had most likely been taking advantage of the ants' relative lack of the knowledge of worth of things to get the things the ants had, as there were some more high-worth items among the wares, small pieces of rough ore, and possibly even some minor artifacts that had been dug up in their tunnels.

     Meanwhile, Merek finds himself to... the only establishment for drinking. The tavern. "That depends what you find interesting!" Tenda calls out towards him.
Setsuna
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    Setsuna smiles at her as he sips , finding her description of why she likes the drink one of the first real things about her. He doesn't break eye contact while she talks, as he sips his drink every now and then. Then he hears the doctors voice and , well it really wasn't a jump despite howw it looks. Turning he looks at Prophylaxis, " Absolutely, I found some wonderful tender hands to treat me well. This here is Tenda. Tenda, this is the Doctor of Tolbana, Prophylaxis." Then he notices Merek and raises his glass, " Try the cactus nectar. "
     Turning back to Tenda he resumes his conversation , "So you like flowers, I know a place a few days ride flowers as far as the eye can see. Maybe you could take a few days off from the bar and come with me? We could leave tonight in fact if you really wanted? Unless you have somewhere you need to be tonight."
Merek
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    Merek looks a little bit distracted while he nods to Tenda, "Alright, I'll take everything, you can put it in flasks, all of that, I will bring that with me," he notes, then nods a bit to Setsuna, then taking coin to place on top of the bar while he begins to settle in.
Kotono
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Kotono purchases a few trinkets and ancient coins, albeit more like souvenirs than anything. After that, she looks to Miyako. "I'm done here, I think we should find a place to rest for the night." She smiles. "Preferably an inn with a tavern. I'm sure there's one or two here."
Miyako
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    Miyako nods, "Sure, Ko-chan, just a moment." She lingers to purchase a small piece of jewelry, and the pan-flute, tucking the purchases away after she hands over the coin.

    "Where might we find a good place for travelers to spend the night, kind sir?" she asks of the merchant. "My companion is in need of rest after our long journey, and I think we could both do with a meal."
Prophylaxis
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Well that /is/ an interesting question. Does he refer them to Tolbana again? They've already sent an agent there before. Prophylaxis thinks for a moment, then nods. "There's a clinic in Tolbana. Please come find me there. I'll inform the reception desk to keep an eye out for one of you, just let them know that I am expecting you."

Is this a good idea? In Prophylaxis' opinion, they were already aware of Tolbana and able to access it. So it's not exactly an issue as long as they don't cause any trouble, and if they do...

Well, Tolbana is a Scale Emblem stronghold, after all.

But that is then! This... This is now.

"Setsuna," Prophylaxis groans and sets himself down at the bar. "Are you seriously-- Okay. It's your neck on the line, I /guess./" Possibly literally! "I'll take one of those drinks, though. Trade a drink for a drink, perhaps? Never had cactus nectar before. Hm."
Napellus Martina
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     The conversation between Prophylaxis and Setsuna is listened to! Tenda is honestly not entirely sure how to react to it either, beyond just... meeting Setsuna's gaze as he looks towards her eyes. She doesn't seem to have gotten that red look in her eyes again as of yet, at least? Sure there had been that moment where basically every ant in the room had been looking at him, but still. "Yes. The cactus nectar is delectable!" She agrees with him towards Prophylaxis. Aaand... then the resumed conversation. She blinks a few times at Setsuna. As he talks about flowers. As far as the eyes can see. But it was a few /days/ ride away? She actually frowns a bit at that. "I do have somewhere I need to be, yes. That is at home. I am the bartender. That is my job here. If I am not here, there is no bartender." And while another one could take her place, it was /her/ place. And the thought of leaving said place made her skin crawl. She even seemed to shiver a little at the thought.

     Meanwhile, Merek asks for... everything? One of everything? Literally everything? Tenda just kind of stares at him for a few moments, and then a few of the baristas scurry off into the back room, getting cups for him and bringing it back up. There's... a surprisingly wide array of things! Some of them are ... not... really suited to the human pallet. Mushroom juice, squeezed moss, and a few other ... somewhat... weird things. The fermented mushroom drink is surprisingly good though. ...Also extremely strong. It might have been made from a mushroom just this side of non-poisonous.

     The ancient coins were... not... really... all that ancient. In fact they were probably just coins that someone had used to buy other trinkets, to be honest. The question of where to spend the night though, the merchant has to glance towards one of the guards... seemingly the information holders of the town, before she looks towards Kotono and Miyako, "There is a place of rest attached to the bath house. Food can be brought there, though I do not know if our tastes will suit yours."

     "We will send a scout to you if she is interested in your visit, then." The guard speaks to Prophylaxis, and then she was off to go report to their leader. Or well. Probably to her boss who would then report to her boss's boss and so on. Yep. The talk of trading a drink for a drink gets a smile from Tenda, who goes to the back herself while the others in the tavern take care of Merek's drinks, in spite of how many were moving around they slipped around each other like a well oiled, and very good machine. Soon she was back with one of those rough faux-glass mugs filled with that slightly thick, cold, cactus nectar. It's likely been sweetened with something. "Here you go. With an extra dash of sugar." She says, dropping... a sugarcube into it. She'd then hold her hand out for the drink that was being offered in trade.
Setsuna
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    Setsuna nods his head as Tenda speaks and replies, " I completely understand. Some people just don't like to travel, and take great dedication in their work. I use to be like that and only recently was I really able to get out of the office. " Taking a sip his head looks at Prophylaxis , "Whats wrong my friend? I am simply getting to know the town people, thats all. Nothing wrong there." Turning back to Tenda he asks some more, " So what time do you get off work? I would love it if you could show me around, maybe we could stop at where you stay, maybe even share something warm to drink at your home." He gives a toothy grin as he stares into her eyes, predatory not really, but anyone not familliar with such a look may confuse it for such.
Prophylaxis
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How sweet is an ant's favorite alcoholic beverage? Apparently, 'very.' Prophylaxis wonders if diabetes is even still a thing in this mysterious ant-filled virtual(?) world. At least the glass mugs aren't /sharp/ even if they're a little roughly hewn. "Right, a drink for a drink," that bottle of FERMENTED JUICE (read: wine) appears in his hand again, only to be placed into Tenda's own. "Cheers."

Drinking a thick, sugary-sweet liquid like this is... It's /basically/ just like drinking honey.

The doctor wonders, briefly, if it's being produced in a similar way. The thought doesn't actually disgust him all that much; this is just how you refine sugars with insects!

"There's 'getting to know' and then there's..." Well. Whatever this is. "Take it slow, Setsuna. You've only just met the lady and you're already asking her out for a night on the town." This is how you get eaten, Setsuna.

/Literally/ eaten.
Merek
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    Merek nods a bit thankfully to the drink, while he sips from that. The man seems to think about it, "Ah nice," he notes, then he takes a little look about that place, "Will the city be about for a little while?"
Napellus Martina
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     "That is... an acceptable assessment of my viewpoint on it, I suppose." Tenda responds thoughtfully, shifting a little bit uncomfortably, her arms crossing underneath her chest even with her discomfort at the thought of leaving the hive. She wasn't a scout, she's a worker ant who tended to the drinks! She does relax at the talk about showing him around. "Perhaps. Though the guards would be better for that, they have more information about things. But I suppose I could. ...You cannot go to where I stay though. Nobody is allowed into the tunnels."

     The bottle of wine is carefully taken, and she carefully stashes it away. And then looks towards Merek as she watches him, waiting for his trade possibly? She blinks at the question of if the city will be around for a while though. "Yes? This is a home. Why would it go anywhere?" She responds. A question with a question.

     Meanwhile, outside, that caravan was beginning to move on... its leader sporting a new hat weaved from grasses/hay to shade him from the sun when it becomes daytime again.
Miyako
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    Miyako eventually emerges from the bath, having negotiated a meal and a place to sleep for herself and Kotono. "Thank you very much," she says on her way out, and then walks down the marketplace to see what else is going on, and perhaps meet up with one of her fellow adventurers.
Setsuna
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    Setsuna nods his head, " Well I wouldn't want to cause any trouble. Where do the tunnels start so I can avoid even trying to go there? Maybe you could point them out on the tour , or just tell me that is fine. Either way I would love for you to show me around. " Sipping his nectar again he notices his cup is empty and sets it aside as he looks over at Merek for a moment wondering what he is going to do with all the stuff brought out before deciding to not worry about it. He turns back to Tenda and goes back to asking more questions. "So Tenda what do people do around here for fun? More importantly though, do you have any questions for me? "
Merek
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    "Thank you, I like the place, I will come by for drinks," Merek notes along to Tenda, "I am Merek!" The man then takes a moment to look from the hood to whatever folk might be about, "It's nice to stock up on things."
Napellus Martina
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     It was fairly priced. Almost too fairly priced. The kind that makes it hard not to wonder if things weren't stolen...but in reality they just iddn't really know much about money. "You're welcome!" Is the polite answer from the bathhouse and bunkhouse tender.

     "The tunnels are pretty obvious...they're the only place heavily guarded in the town." Tenda responds simply, shrugging. Yeah those guards around town weren't really considered 'heavily guarded', then again even the 7 or 8 guarding the tunnel entrance was pretty lightly guarded. "We...work. Mostly. I enjoy making drinks, it is very fulfilling for me. Fun is a strange thing to attempt to conceptualize." She frowns a bit as she thinks on that. Completely unsure how to handle this particular line of questioning. She had her job. That's what she did. When she wasn't doing it she was sleeping usually. Hmm.

     "It is nice to meet you, Merek. I'm the bartender." Seems she only gives out Tenda when pressed to give a name. There were other adventurers around, though none of them really of note. Most of them were keeping to themselves or talking about missions they were about to go on in hushed tones, some of them talking without too much worry about people hearing. After all, they're just monsters, are they gonna go warn the other monsters or something? Hah!
Setsuna
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    "Have you ever had fun before? " Setsuna asks as he notices the frown, and continues to press for the moment. " What about now are you enjoying our conversation ? Is this fun ?" Yeah fun was a vague concept but really it was an interesting enquery. However he does take pity on her after a few moments and asks a different question, " Oh maybe this is an easier question, does your family live here? Like mother , father, brothers, sisters? I have two brothers and a sister myself. THough they live a long way aways." Peering over he notices the other adventurers and Merek pacing a little, " Hey Merek if Tenda has a sister would you want to double date?"
Merek
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    Merek nods a bit to Tenda, while he takes a moment to drink from the flask with him, "You be well, I am going to find a few things to do while I wait about." The man nods a bit to Setsuna, "Alright. If you like."
Miyako
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    Miyako decides to check the tavern first, figuring it's the most likely place for adventurers to turn up. She smiles lightly as she walks in, noting the presence of two of said group, and walks up to the bar to join them. "All goes well, I trust?" she asks, calmly. "What's good to drink?"
Napellus Martina
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     "...I find fun in doing my job?" Tenda gives a slight shrug as she goes over to serve another patron briefly. "I am learning from this conversation. I like it well enough." She nods slightly. The question of her family gets a small nod. "Yes. My family lives here, my sisters and mother all live here, in fact... though most of them are in the tunnels right now." She gives another one of those slightly awkward smiles. She bows her head slightly towards Merek at his statement that he's going to go find a few things to do. "Okay. Good night!" She glances towards Miyako as she enters, smiling towards her in a friendly manner! "The cactus nectar is delicious, in my opinion." She pauses, and then glances towards the back door. "...I need to go take care of something." She says with a small smile, before slipping into the back door to take care of... something?