Preparing to Move

"Did you hear they're looking to try and clear a route to Eastal?" That's the first thing that comes out of Cyrus, while pointing over his shoulder, as he approaches the fence of the Game Reserve. He puts his hand to the shorter fence one has to pass approaching, and sits himself on top.

His hand comes up and he pulls two items from the inventory. "I got sassaral to try and make some bread today." The sweet Japanese kind of course. "Come join me for lunch? I hear you've been hard at work to prep for Byalan. Don't want you falling over before we can hit up the dungeon." He proposes to Miki.

Though Mikage had one of the leading hands in developing the Game Reserve for the New World Alliance, she doesn't really consider it 'hers', but there is a sort of feeling of responsibility which draws her back to Shibuya from time to time to check in on things. Moon Tree largely seems to keep the place running, as it's useful for training lower level adventurers which tend to gravitate towards the peaceful nature of that guild.

Miki looks through the fencing, as if she were appraising what animals were visible and in what numbers. It's a delicate balance to make sure that no one creature overpopulates the area. Cyrus' comment, however, draws her back to the moment, "Hmm?" It takes a second for her brain to boot up, it seems. "Oh." Ding. "Yeah, I caught wind that they were looking to try to clear some of the monsters between here and Fort Ouph. It's... going to be a long process, not to mention trying to build any kind of permanent road structure."

They'd traveled that route a few times, and it's mostly monster nests and wilderness. Shibuya had been cut off a long time ago, so there are only the most basic of trails that lead down in a Southerly direction from the Root Town. "I'll... probably help out once they have an actual plan in mind. Killing things is one of the few things I'm good at." She says this, a lot.

The offer of food is accepted without protest, "You don't have to ask me twice." Then, with a smirk, she adds, "I'm not going to fall over. Not unless you're late with your healing."

"Yeah, it's going to take a lot of work. Luckily, if they talk to the landers, they might get the help of the Gnomes. They know how to build good roads. Though I wonder if it'd be safer to just tunnel instead." He notes bemusedly. His legs kick out a bit, and he stretches them out - trembling. It felt so good to just /stretch/ his legs.

This simulation is almost scarily life-like.

"But getting the rocks will be the hardest part, along with the clearing itself. Fires keep some lower level monsters away. But they'll have to constantly patrol the roads until they clear the Monster Nests." He hands her the sandwich, and glances aside as she presumably joins him.

"Well, when we have time, we can certainly help them. As for healing... I mean, I haven't been late on my healing /so far/."

"I think tunneling that far is asking for trouble." Mikage replies with a shake of her head. "We've been down beneath almost every city and there's usually something you stumble into down there. I don't even want to imagine what sort of underground dungeons are lingering out there in the wilds between here and Fort Ouph." There are some things that are likely best not released onto the world if they can help it.

She joins him against the fence, then, accepting the sandwich and digging into it with the relish that comes from someone who sometimes has to live on food that tastes like stale crackers. It certainly makes you appreciate the good stuff. "Mmm." She murmurs her agreement as she chews. "I trust you." Which is high praise from her. "I just need to make sure I keep my skills sharp. After that encounter with the Outworlders..." She trails off, likely having told him of the one that wanted to reclaim her relic gemstone.

"I don't know if even your healing could keep me in a fight if they managed to catch us outside of a Wave where there is backup and other people we can depend on. They're... stronger than we are, by a long shot." She sighs, looking at the sandwich before taking another bite, "Need to get stronger, ourselves." Miki mutters with the sound of food in her mouth.

"That is true. The monsters do really seem to enjoy taking up place in the underground. And I figure some of them are probably tunnelers that would find them." Cyrus notes, tapping his finger against the wooden railing of the fence. "And the underground dungeons littered everywhere are even more trouble."

He closes his eyes as he bites into his sandwich again. "Mmmmawwarall mawes bwhe bewt wanwiches." He mumbles with a full mount. He quiets then, as she mentions the outworlders. A small nod of his head. Yes, if she can avoid that man, things will be off a lot better.

"It's quite surprising really, just how strong they are. Most of the Landers that are that strong have multiple relics, or are really old... or are heroes." He notes. "Adventurers level past them at a pretty good rate, since we can spend more time killing monsters and gaining experience."

"I think they intend to get volunteers from Silver Sword to patrol the roads." Mikage explains, likely having heard some of that from amongst her own guild's chatter. "I'm sure there's more than a few people who would be willing to take the fight to the monsters like that, but... others probably would find regular patrols pretty boring." People like Miki, who preferred to retain her freedom to travel and had refused any kind of regular appointment from the guild.

"I don't really know how any of it works, despite having seen the Outlanders since the first Wave." She had been the first one to track one of them, but she doesn't have the knowledge about them that some other people had attained. "Whatever the case, they seem to somehow be connected with the relics that some of us have. Which suggests that they must have other ways of coming and going from our world, other than just the Waves, themelves."

She shrugs, then takes a few more bites of food, a pensive look on her features. "Right now, other than training, my highest priority is that underwater gem we need for the shrine. At least I can do both by training in Byalan."

"Yeah, I think I overheard a few of my old Silver Sword buddies talking about taking up those posts. Quite a few people who prefer something that feels more like a job. Where they can get some consistency in their lives and not feel so aimless." He tells Mikage.

"It's not for me." He then agrees, as he steps down from sitting on the fence, rubbing his rump, and then grabs the fence for a moment. "Ach... pins and needles." He grunts, slowly lifting his legs one after another.

"It seems to be connected to the tower clears. And it seems like they have some kind of insight into what we are doing. Their attacks used to be a lot more aimless." He expresses to Mikage. "Though from what you told me, I am not sure that Bondrewd guy is the same as them."

He huffs, grunting and slapping his legs. "Come on."

Then, looking back up, he nods. "Yeah, that underwater gem is going to be trouble. Did someone figure out how to make the Trident work yet?"

"Consistency is overrated." Mikage replies, glancing over at the feline with a small quirk at the corner of her lips. "I think you and Sasssaral are the consistent forces in my life, and that's good enough."

She can't help but cover her mouth to avoid giving away a soft laugh, but the shake of her shoulders is obvious. It's hard not to be amused by someone's leg falling asleep. When he seems to continue to have troubles with it, she shoves the last bit of her sandwich in her mouth, and pushes off the fence, moving towards him.

"Come here." The Were Fang eases to her knees and without even asking, starts to massage his leg, trying to restore some of the feeling. He knows very well that she used to work with rehabilitation of the disabled, so it's likely that she'd seen or utilized such a technique before, but this is the first time she'd used anything of the sort on Cyrus.

"The others are looking into the trident. I've just got those strange stone tablets." Miki shakes her head, "But I'm not really good with looking into that sort of thing." She doesn't seem to want to even comment on Bondrewd, perhaps because he actually had intimidated her and that is something she is averse to admit.

After a moment of rubbing at his calf, she looks up, "How's it feel now?"

"Heh. Yeah, consistency is overrated." He agrees. "It gets boring real fast. You only need a few stones you can rely on." For him, that's Sassaral and Mikage. And perhaps she can read that from the way he talks about it and interleaves his words with her own.

He leans to the fence, holdong onto it with one hand as the Were Fang gets on her knees and begins to massage his legs. He hisses at first, the pins and needles a bit painful. But the technique quickly starts easing the pain. "Oooh... oh... okay, yeah..." He mumbles, looking down at her... and immediately begins to blush and looks away.

"T... thanks." He mumbles, his cheeks red, his ears half-folded, and his tail making awkward motions. "I'm not great with translating things either." He tries to distract. "Yeah, that's... that's a lot better." He doesn't dare move from his spot.

There are times when it becomes quite clear that Mikage's experience with social interactions may not quite line up with a normal person. She doesn't seem to think twice about trying to help with the pins and needles feeling, oblivious to what sort of thoughts it might send through Cyrus' mind.

She leans back a little, resting in that kneeling position as she looks up at him. "I'm no physical therapist, but it used to help me sometimes, and some of the people I worked with." She explained. All too easily, she shifts her weight, her feet moving beneath her as she eases back onto her feet in a fluid motion that wouldn't be possible in the real world.

Oblivious as she might be, Miki does notice the fact that he is turning an interesting shade of red. "Is... everything okay?" Her head tilts, seeming a little confused.

Cyrus watches her lean back, and sees her looking up at her. The wind playing with her hair. The sun shining on her, making that white hair sparkle just a little. He can't help but bite his lower lip for a moment there, looking at her. As she gets back on her feet, he offers her a hand in case she needs anything to stabilize herself on.

When she's standing, he glances the other way for a moment. "Yeah. I'm good. Just..." Just what? "You looked really pretty in that light." He goes with that thought, instead of the first one he'd had.

The explination that Cyrus offers is enough to have a hint of color rising on her own cheeks as she reaches back, rubbing at the back of her neck and looking a little embarasssed. "Mmm." Miki still doesn't quite know how to deal with compliments.

"Well, if you're legs are feeling better, we should probably start heading back to Shibuya." Yep, there she goes, changing the subject again whenever it even remotely approaches something like that. "We should see if we can pick up some dungeon delving supplies. Maybe some of the materials for water resistance and water breathing potiions." Assuming, of course, that Cyrus can create those, himself.

He doesn't mind her changing the subject in this case, what with him having subtly changed the subject himself just moments ago. It's one of those times where he feels like he dodged a bullet. "Yeah, ehm, let's head to Shibuya and get some supplies." He agrees.

"I can make some breathing potions fairly well, so that won't be a problem." He adds, vaulting back over the fence. Yep, legs are working. "I didn't take the cart today. So we'll have to walk it." He notes. "Hope you don't mind."

"That's fine. I do walk, you know." Mikage teases, letting the moment of uncertainty between them pass as she shifts into their usual companionable banter. "I don't /have/ to steal rides on the cart." Her laugh has a soft tone to it as she motions to him.

"Come on. I'll relish the exercise. It'll be a while before we're on solid ground again and I want to make sure I commune with it enough before we leave." Miki is known for her hatetred of boat travel, but with it being one of the few ways to get around Yamato, it is the only option to get from Shibuya to Carmina Gadelica Marina.

"Luckily, the sea sickness potions mostly make me pass out for the majority of the trip, so I won't have to worry about it, too much."