Off in the boonies

Mist. Or, to be more precise, mist just dense enough to nearly qualify as a drizzle. It's one of those distressing mornings where the sun is blotted out, the air is thick enough to tickle the lungs, and everything just feels slick and...damp. Not wet, which is at least somewhat respectable. Just damp.

Sprites' mood mirrors the weather, judging by the irritation that positively flows off his form as he stands there, smack dab in the middle of the square, hands on hips, staring up at the unforgiving heavens. He's at least had the foresight to don a thick, hooded cloak, and the angle of his head is just sufficient to reveal the grumpy, distasteful twist to his lips, and the eye that is squinted half-shut against the weather..

Winter is coming, and the signs of it getting later in the year are showing. She had been out checking out some merchant stalls and has been caught in the rain. The short Salamander was bolting for cover at this point not quite watching where she was going and would be zooming past Spriteshero as she goes.

"Why did it have to start raining now!"

Perhaps it's the cloak. Perhaps it's the weather. Perhaps Sprites is off in a heavens-cursing reverie. Perhaps his ears are just clogged with earwax. Whatever the reason, Sprites only registers the pounding of footfalls behind him at nearly the last moment. He spins around, cloak a disorienting whirl of fabric, and instinctively reaches for the dagger at his waist. His spin unfortunately puts him smack dab in the middle of Miho's path.

The smolsmith now at the last moment spots Spriteshero. She attempts to stop but things go bad "Look out!" She slips on the now wet ground and is going to go crashing full on to SpritesHero. She really should have watched where she was going.

To be fair, he did end up moving into her path. It is at this point that one thing goes right, and numerous things go wrong. First, the good. Miho's 'Look out!' likely saves them from a more serious misunderstanding. Sprites's hand comes off his dagger. Next, the not-so-good. Sprites sizes Miho up. Sprites analyzes the imminent collision in a split second. Sprites calculates. Sprites completely forgets to take into account that he is currently a Spriggan, and not a 6'+ human. Thus, his decision to absorb the impact (rather than getting as far out of the way as possible) is not quite what he'd hoped. He'd braced, but not nearly enough, and the slickness of the square throws an additional wrench into things. "Huh," is his insightful comment. Or perhaps that's just the wind getting knocked out of him.

Miho has no idea her warning made things end up not being as bad as they could have been. She's too distracted by the impacts into Spriteshero and she's losing the balance. She's going down and doesn't mean to bring the Spriggan with her but the pair will end up most likely in a tangled heap. She's also turning a bit red as she's confused and now tangled up with someone else. "He...hey HEY!"

SpritesHero does at least have the grace to make an effort to make sure he's the one on the bottom getting muddy. He further has the presence of mind to remain completely and utterly still. Alternatively, he's balancing 20% of a concussion with the dim sense of failure, and the cosmic awareness that...yup...he's still stuck in this world. And this darned body. "Ma'am," he states at last, with a courtesy completely unbefitting of the situation they find themselves in.

Well the good news is nothing undue is happening, she's still turning bright red at this. she will try to slowly disentangle herself from Spriteshero and then will offer him a hand up. Her tail is swishing in a very strange fashion. "Sir..." Thankfully Miho had been in a mostly good mood before the rain so there's no fire breathing yet.

SpritesHero remains as he is until the disentangling is complete, at which point he rejects her offered hand-up with a wry smile and an explanatory display--and wiggle--of a very muddy hand. "You alright? Nothing..." He trails off, eyes catching on the twitching tail just visible over her shoulder. Puzzlement filters over his expression, his attempt to push himself to his feet abruptly interrupted by what is likely an attempt to read mood from tail swishing. Are dragons like cast or dogs? Is that a wag or a warning? "...broken? No injuries? I do apologize." he finishes at last, dragging his gaze back to Miho's face.

Miho says "I'm fine only my pride is hurt." Her tail is twitching and it' always gives away how she might be feeling, still, it seems she gets it's not intentional with what happened. "How about we get out of the rain perhaps?" She tilts her head a little bit as she looks Spridehero over not to get better stock of him.

"Yeah," is all Sprites has to say with that. It's barely a word at all, more a grunt of assent, really, and with a sudden surge of motion he rises to his feet. There's...not much to take stock of. His hood is down at this point, his form mud-spattered, his dampening hair rapidly losing what little curl it may have once had to it. But his expression is at least on the warm side of neutral, and he indicates a shop awning with a tilt of his head and a questioning lift of his eyebrows. Any counter-scrutiny will wait until they're out of the elements.

Miho says "Come on let's go to Pela's Cafe and we can get something to eat. Don't forget to use the menu you clean before you in." Don't want to tread mud all over the smol catsith's cafe, in the end. She'll do the same before she'll try to set inside. "So what brings you to town?"

SpritesHero looks very confused for a moment, though he'll follow gamely enough. "I...should perhaps eat outside?" he suggests, with a glance at his clothing. "If you're open to the company, we could chat through a window." He's not stealing glances at her, not exactly, but every couple seconds his gaze flickers over, performing a quick scan.

Miho looks at Spritehero for a moment she thinks about saying something then changes her mind and says something diffent. "I would not mind some company, so if you want ot eat outside? Then I guess I'll join you for it. so what brings you here I'm Miho Mithrilscale."

"Robert Lutjens," Sprites replies, instinctively offering her his hand before recalling that it's dirty. Right. It gets yanked back quick-like. Her response prompts a smile, however faint, and he shakes his head. "Somehow I doubt you enjoy this weather much, ma'am. If cross-window makes you uncomfortable, we can go inside. After you, please." The smile broadens slightly, a roguish twinkle lightening his gaze. "As for what I was doing, just thinking. Still trying to get a feel for...things." Pause. "You know. Everything's different yet not."

If SpriteHero inspect Miho the char name would be as she said. Her tail sways a bit as she head on inside and says "Huh interesaing name." She ntoes as she heads inside and will find a spot to sit while she gives him a look as she sits down. "It's been almost a year and there's still some thing to get used to. Like horns tails and breathing fire. At least in my case."

SpritesHero carefully removes his cloak, wiping his hands off as best he can. His movements are meticulous, bordering on obsessive. Potentially even neurotic. If Miho were to inspect Sprites, it'd be pretty obvious that his character handle is NOT Robert. But his expression shows no signs of deception either. "Foreign," he explains, waiting for her to sit before taking a seat of his own. "Pleased to meet you, Miho Mithrilscale." He pauses, then, gaze searching once more. "Breathing fire sounds useful. Wood too damp for a fire? Presto! Overly enthusiastic companion? Poof. Do you get much use out of it?"

Miho does not seem botehred. "I spent a while oversees when I was younger myself. Good to meet you Robert Lutjans. Yeah it helps a lot given I am a Blacksmith. Huh yeah I can see how some people would take longer to adjust to things than others. At least we're all in the same boat for anyone who didn't roll human, right?"

"Yes and no," Robert answers, his hand lifting to tap the air beside his head, just about where Miho's horns would be. Amusement flickers once more, momentarily, hinting at an internal dialogue that thankfully remains unvoiced. "I'm a recent arrival in Japan myself. Lovely country you have, especially the countryside, though I've been here for only a couple weeks." Pause. "Well, considerably longer than that now, I suppose. Where did you visit? Was it for work or vacation?" He leans in, ever so slightly, interest having sparked, but catches himself. "Look at me, yammering on when you haven't even had a chance to order yet. What's this place's specialty?"

"I see just getting used to things. You go to take a break for the launch of the expansion and next thing you know? You are someone else somewhere else." She nods a bit listening.

"Father got moved overseas for a while so brought the family along, The American Midwest, it's still flooring how much /space/ America has. Though it's been a long time at this point honestly. Bout the only thing I kept was a taste for some of the food from that way. As for here? Pastries."

"Stranger in a strange new world," Robert agrees, with a light laugh. His fingertips tap the menu once, and he lifts his opposite hand to gesture for a waitress. He'll let Miho order first, though. "You seem to have adjusted well," he continues, after another scrutiny. "You enjoy it here, then?"

Miho says "Yeah, I'm not catching my tail in doors anymore so I'm doing ogod there. I do I'm a blacksmith getting to use my skills for more than kitchen knives or the odd bit of artwork? Is honesly great. Not that I don't enjoy making that sort of thing. It's a good home honestly."

SpritesHero visibly winces, having no doubt slammed his fingers in doors before. Aside from that, his expression is mostly one of polite interest, except when she mentions 'home'. His expression sharpens, then, suddenly intent, though it rapidly relaxes once more. "Home," he echoes, his eyebrows lifting in a silent question. Having finished with her other table, the waitress begins her approach. "Your family is here?"

SpritesHero's eyes slide shut for a breath, in consideration, before flicking open. "So your family's skills work in here?" he inquires. "Same results as they wuld have been out there?" The waitress approaches, then, and curtseys. Robert defers. "You first."

Miho says "Yes we been smiths for a very long time." She seems very proud of this her tail is swishing lazily at this. She'll place her order and then look back to SpritesHero as she waits for him to make his order. "Can do some things I couldn't. I can shape metal by hand thanks to a relic I have. Also see breathing fire."

"Strudel, with cream. And a cup of tea, please. Jasmine." Robert flashes a warm smile at the waitress, who hustle away, and turns back to Miho. "Shape metal by hand?" he echoes, surprised, but not necessarily disbelieving. He extends his hand to her. "May I, Mi...sorry, do you prefer Miho, or Miss Mithrilscale?"

Miho says "Yes." Her arms flare up for a moment with moment-looking tattoos before they fade away. "Miho, works right? I don't have any actual titles here after all. Well not yet anyway. "Know another smith who figuring how to make actual Demacus Steel too. He's one of the only other people I would suggest to get weapons from who isn't me."

SpritesHero grasps Miho's hand in his left, trailing the fingers of his right hand over her fingertips and her palms. A poke here, a prod there, monitoring everything from stiffness to roughness. It's an odd juxtoposition between intimacy and analysis. "Miho it is," he agrees, his words slow and halting, given that his attention are primarily focused on his inspection. "And you must call me Robert. I'm ashamed to admit I really haven't given much thought to my weapons. I'm afraid I use them more for slicing fruit than anything else. Never did learn how to use them for combat properly."

Miho pauses as she catches on to her hand being looked over but she doesnt' stop SpriteHero. "Robster huh fine with me then. So never really got much into hutning and any of the dungeons? If you do hit up the Hunter's guild and pay attention to the ratings on the quest. Guild Girl and the others put them there for a reason. You should keep it up to date if you travel at out outside a hub city. Never know when something might be thrown at you."

Miho =A sargent was there and just utterly destroys the guy XD

SpritesHero frowns. Pokes a few more time. Huh. "Fireball!" he intones, way too perkily as he mimes invoking the system command with his free hand, before relinquishing his grasp on her's entirely. "Kidding! Kidding." He sits back in his chair, considering her words. "I'm more magic and ranged," he explains at last. "Mostly solo-ish, so never really attempted dungeons. I suppose I don't normally play so well with others. But I'll keep your advice in mind, maybe stop by before heading out." It is at this point that the waitress returns with their orders in tow.

Miho looks a bit embarrassed now "Oh a caster I see! Still, you can find weapons that can help with your spell casting sometimes or provide other useful traits." She nods as she waits on her food. "Ah, some of the best loot outside of crafting is from them." She'll take her order and pauses for a moment as she boots up her menu and offers SpriteHero friend's invite.

SpritesHero's fingers dance through the air, confirming the friend invitation. "I'm not against weapons," he clarifies with a light laugh, leaning back to give the waitress room to deposit their orders. "Not by a long shot. I just feel like my haphazard handling of weapons would insult whomever put so much effort into making them. But, if you're willing to take that risk? What would you recommend I look into?" Occasionally he'll glance downwards as he spreads his whipped cream over the top of his strudel, but other than that he keeps one ear directed towards Miho, attentively.

Miho saus "Humm given your a caster I'd say something easy to hide like a dagger or a staff given the reach. That's just my read on the matter honestly." She notes he tail swishing a bit as she gets into her food now. Noming away at it.

"Any particulars on the staff?" Sprites asks, making sure he's swallowed his mouthful before talking. And yes, he's eating his strudel with a knife and fork. And yes, he's suppressing a grin at the sight of that tail swishing back and forth. "I do have a dagger, but it's just...something I sort of picked up." Knife and fork aside, he's relaxing a bit more now, a bit of his weight resting against the chair-back. He slides his dagger (the one he nearly tried to stab her with earlier) out of its sheathe and sets it on the table, sliding it towards her. Hilt-first.

"If you'd prefer not to talk business over snacks, do let me know," Sprites adds. "I was always told I have a nasty tendancy to bring work home with me."

Miho says "I'd think of a few things its just best to not let your gear laspse generally. Even if you don't use it much. It's till good to know how to use it." She notes with a grin and thinks. "I don't mind it's more casual." She'll take a moment to inspect the dagger looking it over with her eyes and the menu system.

The dagger is crap. For fighting, at least. While it does seem to have been cared for--there's no pits or rust or anything like that, indicating that it is kept sharp and cleaned--chances of it holding up in combat are virtually nil. It really doesn't help that the thing's level limit registers as "Min level: 0". It's not starter gear. But it may as well be. Sprites braces for a look of crushing disappointment, and reaches for his tea. Not that he drinks it. He's using it as a hand-warmer for the moment. "You do dungeons solo, or you have a regular party?"

Miho looks at the item "... this is a kitchen knife, a starter weapon would be better. You should get this replaced for any combat use." She makes a face about this and says "We could work out something if your interested. As for dungeons I tend to pug a log with alliance members or other people I know. Be they customers or ohterwise."

"Yup, that's about what I use it for," Sprites confirms, setting down his tea and returning to his strudel. It's perfectly flakey, and crunches just so as he bites into it. He chews, swallows, momentarily glances out the window. "And sure, I'm interested." But there he pauses, expression growing serious. "You pug your dungeons? That must have led to hilarity. I remember, back in the day, our healers always used to yell at us for doing stupid things. How have pugs been on here? Mixed bag, or have circumstances gotten people to shape up a bit?"

Miho says "It can be but it's honestly quicker to get it done. Leave me free to crawl when I'm not busy forging. Generally pretty good so far. Well I tend to keep to my guild, the alliance or people I at least know most of the time. Nothing too bad has happened honestly been lucky that way so are you interested in commisioning a dagger from me?"

SpritesHero's eyebrows lift a fraction of an inch, and he sets his knife and fork down beside his plate. His hand rises to contemplatively rub over his chin, and his gaze sharpens, taking in every shift in her expression, every change in her posture, every potential swish of her tail. "What's the advantage of a commission over one you've already made?" he queries.

Miho says "Oh just offering I likely have something stock if your looking for it generally if it's custom ordered I can make it to what you want. Then again it sounds like you don't care too much about it so long as the new one's better than the old, right?

SpritesHero nods his agreement. "I mean, it's not that I don't care or don't value your workmanship," he begins, "but the phrase 'pearls before swine' comes to mind. Tell you what. Once I reach a reasonable degree of proficiency, I'll go for a comission. If, of course, you are still willing?" The plate that had been home to his ex-strudel is pushed aside, and he gingerly takes a sip of his tea as he watches Miho over the rim of his cup.

Miho says "Sounds like a plan to me, I do have a few in your level range on me. Standard stuff but still worlds better than what you have now. Nothing made to help with spell casting though." She notes she'll open her invenoty and pull out a few daggers to show SpritesHero on the table.

SpritesHero is a minimalist, it would appear, as he opts for the dagger with the sleekest, most elegant lines...but little in the way of decoration. "This one," he decides, sliding coins across the table towards Miho. A much smaller pile is set aside for the waitress--enough to cover the bill and a standard tip--and then he rises to his feet. "It's been a pleasure, Miho. You take care of yourself." He flashes a smile, re-dons his muddy cloak, and heads out into the misty afternoon.