Strawberries For All

Market District, evening.

The fair wind and spring sunset wanders on over Alexandria, a cool breeze to ruffle flowering trees, plants, and other botanica in the city of heroes. It's a nice night to be out looking for a deal, especially where there's fresh berries coming out of the Heartlands and into the city, and so berry scents are in the air, especially from a vendor who's frying up something delectable filled with strawberry jam.

And waiting in line for one of these delightful confections is one Cor'ethil Cari'thana, recently-wedded and returned from a honeymoon in Llyranost. "Will you at least try a piece with me?" he asks Karasu by his side (ever-patient husband that he is). "I know you don't like desserts, but..."

He eyes Wuya, Karasu's raven. "Maybe you'll let Wuya have a piece, too?" he asks.

Wuya, the raven in question, wiggles hopefully at the idea of having some of the berry dessert. Karasu however only frowns a little bit at the idea. "I will try a piece, but Wuya should not eat anything this sweet. He will become sick."

Wuya croaks in protest, making raven noises at Karasu who sighs. "Very well. A very, very small piece." He looks like he is making the concession of the century.

There are those who seek solitude and submerge themselves in silence and meditation. And there are those... who do not. And sometimes the latter take it upon themselves to drag the former along.

"Oooh, look at that! We should get some of those for Mourner Torlin, she loves that sort of thing." The voice is that of a young woman, coming from the heavy khopesh slung at the side of the gangly war golem. Khepri looks down at its blade, tilting its head quizzically.

"You will need to be more specific, Kastuvas. 'That' can apply to many things, and you lack hands to point to where you are indicating."

Kastuvas makes a sound rather like a raspberry, before responding. "Fine, fine. The strawberry fritter stand. The one with the cute brooding guy and the good-looking elf in front of it."

Khepri peers down at its sword again, trying to parse what it just heard, before heaving a metallic sigh and walking over to wait in line.

Carver happens to be people-watching, and as is normal these days, is uncomfortably intense. Even seated, she seems an anxious bundle of nerves. The warpaints are back, the heavy furs, the reinforced bandolier, and pair of quivers bristling with arrows. A folded Tribunal is in her lap, an article circled with shaky lines; something upsetting to her. The welcome flow of LIFE that she is adjacent to serves as a soothing balm, chatter wafting alongside the rich aroma of cooking food.

A pair of young lovers there, a girl's gossipy lilting voice here, and a gangly war golem. Blink.

Recognition has her lifting a hand in greeting.

The Goblin descends into the market, held aloft by angelic wings. A woven reed bag is clutched to her chest, lest the wind tug it from her grip. "Oh I hope they're still open... and still have some of the early strawberries.", she mutters to herself. Unbeknownst to her, a smudge of blue mars one of her pale cheeks, a leftover of some painting session.

Simony begins to pace up and down among the stalls. "Strawberry fritter?", she says wtih a blink, catching the tail end of Khepri's conversation with his blade. She offers Carver a wave, and then exclaims, "Khepri! It's been a while, when did your sword start talking?"

"Yay, Wuya!" Corey is beaming brightly at the victorious Wuya, allowed to have at least one little bit of strawberry fritter. As per usual, he's full of sunshine and cheer--probably even moreso for being back in Alexandria. "I can't wait; these smell... well, I'd say they're divine, but I think I might get in some kind of trouble if I say that."

He's joking, but then he catches the sound of a girl's voice, and he blinks, blushing a little. "Was she talking about us?" Corey asks Karasu. "I mean, you're a cute guy. And you brood. And I'm an elf!" Yes, very observant, Cor'ethil.

Karasu glances in the direction of the girl's voice but doesn't see a girl who might have been talking about them. He eyes the area a bit suspiciously for a moment and returns his attention to the line in time to move with it and of course to Corey. "They might well have, we should be cautious after Sori's most recent attempt on us. If someone is discussing us, that is reason for alarm."

He lifts his hand and makes a noise at Wuya who sadly croaks and lifts into the air to look for anyone who might be suspicious or acting oddly.

Khepri impassively raises a hand in greeting to Simony and Carver. "Her peace be with you in time," the golem begins. A traditional Vardamen greeting, borne out by the Harpist's symbol engraved on its breastplate. Inclining its head down towards Simony, it continues, "I had offered a prayer to the Harpist for greater insight into people. Her response was... unexpected."

"Unexpected, hm?" Kastuvas's response is all teenage cheek, but layered with surprising empathy. "Well, sometimes you need something -special- if you're trying to shake yourself out of a rut. To wit, the Lady sent me to him, to guide him and give him advice. You can call me Kastuvas. Now, Khepri... you'll probably want to buy a dozen for Torlin. Make sure you get the fellow's name too, she may want to give him return business." The khopesh is almost hilariously 'chatty' for what is clearly a magical weapon.

Carver had seen this weapon speak before, and others, but everytime it warrants a shake of her head. "The Gods have senses of humor, in ways one can never expect." Khepri's life as a stoic inquisitor of a god most well-known to be grim now travels with a flighty, butterfly of a tool meant for killing. One has to admit, it's kinda funny. Her eyes track the raven as it takes off over head, rising to her feet as well, considering the married couple.

Or their strange treats. "What is that?"

Simony waits her turn, but the sight of Corey feeding Wuya has her moving to tug lightly at Corey, "May I try it?" Her stomach gurgles hopefully.

She looks back to Khepri, and then the sword as she speaks. The Goblin giggles.

"So uhm, the sword was too cheerful to hang around in Vardama's armoury?", she posits with a cheeky grin.

"Strawberry fritter. Deep fried pastry filled with a jam or cream, depending on preference. There are even savoury versions fill with meats.", she say in response to Carver's question.

Corey is blinking as Simony asks to try something he doesn't actually have yet. "I mean, I would, but we haven't even gotten to the front of the line yet." He shows his hands. "Nothing."

But he looks at Karasu with a small smile. "I'm a Warden of Gilead, my nightingale," he reminds Karasu. "People talk about me. I imagine they talk about you, too. We've been seen close to Archmage Lupecyll-Atlon, so people know us from that. Although I appreciate you looking out for us."

Finally he looks at Khepri. "So... Your khopesh. It's talking?" Then a beat before he asks, "May I see it? Her, that is?" He looks positively thrilled.

Karasu is looking at the weapon, identifying it as the source of the voice that had been talking about himself and Corey earlier. This eases his concern somewhat and he whistles quietly for Wuya to return. The raven does this after a long moment, wheeling through the sky and landing on Karasu's shoulder with a reproachful look. "There is a weapon that can talk." Karasu explains to Wuya in short.

Khepri tilts its head quizzically. "I prayed for guidance. It is the Harpist's will." A pause. "Perhaps I will understand more, in time."

Kastuvas tsks. "You can't learn everything immediately. You'd get horrible headaches if nothing else. Understanding takes time, like growing crops." There's something calmly confident despite the young voice. "But don't worry. I'll be with you, every step."

At Corey's inquiry, Khepri glances down at its sword. "If she wishes." Kastuvas replies, "No objection, as long as I wind up back on Khepri's harness." With that, Khepri unslings the khopesh, the hooking blade broad and polished to a practically mirror shine. From the pommel, several tiny bells hang from black cords attached to it, as Khepri proffers the hilt to Corey.

"Um, how long did you work on your verbal cues?" Carver asks Karasu, motioning with her left hand. "They responded well. Very intelligent creatures. I hear they are especially fond of rewards... but, eventually, can be a little demanding."

Oh, right, introductions. "I'm Carver." She bristles. "Hello." She does not want to interfere with the crew nerding out over Khepri's weapon.

The Goblin's stomach growls in protest, and her cheeks flush. "Oh, uh, okay..." Back to waiting in line. Her head tilts slightly and she grins. "Clergy tend to gossip and mine is no exception.", Simony says with a cheery tone in her voice. "The Monestary even has a gossip magazine, 'Essential Alexandrian Knowledge'. Not just all the sights and sounds of the city, but also a who's who. Saucy tales but they don't dip to the level of the Crimson Pen. I hear you're thought of as a sweet young man."

She grins at the return of Wuya. "Has Wuya met Pothy?", she wonders of Karasu.

Time is taken to admire the blade Khepri draws free, a small notebook appearing from a pouch on the Goblin's belt. Sketching begins. "It is interesting that you were given her, she appears to be quite opposite to your demeanour.", Simony says to Khepri.

The line draws forward by one person. One entire person. Corey and Karasu are nearing their goal of strawberry fritters. Well, maybe it's more accurate to say Corey's goal of strawberry fritters, but nobody's keeping score. Corey moves up a little in the line, but he takes the weapon and is very visibly appreciating it. He looks at the blade's reflection, and Corey's eyes widen. "Wow! There's a girl in the blade!"

Corey motions for Karasu (and Wuya by extension) to come take a look. "Are you stuck in there? Do you need help getting out? Or are you there of your own free will?" he asks, before looking at Simony with a blink. "Oh, people think I'm sweet? That's good! I try really hard to be kind and polite to everyone."

He even smiles broadly, and that smile's turned onto Carver as she introduces herself. "Hello! I'm Cor'ethil Cari'thana, Warden of Gilead. Errr, you can call me Corey for short. I know my name's kind of long." He gestures to Karasu. "Karasu here is my husband, so... Karasu Cari'thana. We just got back from a honeymoon in one of my mother's holdings in Llyranost."

Karasu doesn't move from his place in line (he is unwilling to lose their spot and thus have to start over again), but he does offer a brief bow in greeting to the sword whom can clearly see even if it is something that lacks eyes with which to do so. "It was a pleasant trip, aside from the poison at the wedding." His droll tone suggests he isn't kidding.

GAME: Carver rolls knowledge/local: (14)+3: 17

Kastuvas makes a derisive snort. "Yes, I'm supposed to be here. That's... kind of the point. Khepri prayed for guidance; I'm here to help him with that. To understand -people-. He's very good at handling the end of living; he just needs some more education on everything that happens before."

Khepri would be scuffing its foot in embarrassment, if it had the capacity for such. Instead, the golem patiently waits for Corey to return the blade. "I was not required to learn such things, as an Executor of Vardama. The words must be spoken. The dead must be remembered."

"Yes Khepri, that's very true, but people matter -- not just the dead, but the living." Kastuvas's voice is still cheerful. "I think someone may need to examine the catechism for inquisitors though. Some things are getting left out."

Carver lips press tight briefly at something, but nods at Cor'ethil. "I worked with you once on a job... an' I met your Ma. Enjoy your treats." She slips away. Stalks away? More or less the same thing. The Tribunal is snatched up on the way out.

Simony stands on tiptoe so she can see Kastuvas, and ohs, "Hey, hello!" She waves cheerfully and offers a quick bow. "I am Simony Smithsdottir. Khepri here saved me, in what seems like ages ago. We were fighting ghouls." The Goblin nods then. "Ah, you are reform minded? Interesting."

A wave is offered to Carver as the woman takes her leave, before Simony nods to Corey.

"Yes, you are a popular person among the older ladies."

"Oh! Right, err, sorry, I didn't mean..." Corey's cheeks pinken as Carver walks away, and he sighs. "I'm great at this making and keeping friends thing, aren't I?" He looks a little sad for a moment, but then there's Simony and Kastuvas and Khepri chatting about Vardaman issues.

"Karasu is an adherent of Vardama..." Then it finally hits Corey what Simony means. He blinks as he hands Kastuvas back to Khepri. "I'm popular among older women? Tell those older women I respect them, but I am not interested!"

The line shuffles forward. Another person walks away with fritters. Cor'ethil moves up a little, frowning as he looks at Karasu. "You aren't having any lingering effects from that poison, right?" This is a question he's asked Karasu a million times. The paladin is a worrywart of a husband.

Karasu lays a hand on Corey's back, stepping closer even as he moves up in the line and offers a faint smile to the other man. "I am well, thanks to you. It was only meant to emulate death so that you would think me dead. It is rare that it actually kills." But not impossible. Wuya shuffles his feet. He turns his head toward the others. "But let us not bring the conversation down. The wedding was lovely despite it, and the honeymoon... eventful." This has him smiling slightly slyly.

"It's probably not just the older women," Kastuvas remarks. "I mean, look at them. They're so cute together. Don't you agree, Khepri?"

Khepri just stares at Kastuvas blankly, before looking at Karasu and Corey, and then back to the sword. "...I lack the appropriate context for this question."

Kastuvas stage-whispers, "He means yes," before she's handed back over. "Hold on, big guy, don't put me up just yet. I gotta answer the Temperance first." The blade actually tugs a bit in Khepri's hand, as she continues, "'Reform' isn't really the best word for it. Rather, part of being a Mourner, a devotee of the Harpist, means dealing with people. Because we speak the words when they're gone, and we weep for them if no one else can. We stomp out undead and send fiends back to the hells, sure, but what's the point if we don't understand the people who dearly need us the most?"

"You'll have to forgive Carver. I am sure you've not alienated her. You're doing just fine making friends." The Goblin giggles at his blink. "Now now, you cannot blame them for mooning over a handsome man. Your husband is also eyed and mooned over. And I think that they think you're a cute couple."

She blinks and hops up and down. "The line's moving forward."

Simony tilts her head slightly, nodding at the teenager-in-the-blade. "Well, if the inquisitors aren't getting that message, that lesson, and you want to change that... is that not reform? And I agree totally. We must dispatch our duties with weapon in one hand, and help those most vulnerable with the other."

Corey has quite-red cheeks when Karasu makes a reference to the honeymoon. "It was lovely," he murmurs at last, before he smiles at Simony, Khepri, and Kastuvas, respectively. "That's exactly how I feel about serving people as a Warden, you know. Working with people is all part of it. Because people need us to understand them so that we can help them."

The line inches ever closer. Corey and Karasu are very nearly almost at the head of it. "Oh, this is exciting," Cor'ethil murmurs to himself. "I want two of them! One fritter for me and one for Karasu and Wuya, and I'll eat whatever they don't have."

"Which will be quite a lot of fritter for you." Karasu remarks much to Wuya's chagrin. The raven waves his tail hopefully though. If Corey accidentally drops the fritter on the ground... the food is his! Narrowing his eyes at Wuya as if he can read his raven's mind, Karasu stares at the bird.

Khepri intones, "Perhaps... reevaluation is a better turn of phrase. Kastuvas does not wish to unduly change the catechism, but to simply remind its teachers of certain critical elements." The golem considers. "There is merit in her complaint. I find myself lacking understanding in handling people."

Khepri returns Kastuvas to her sheath, before returning to waiting patiently behind Corey and Karasu. "To that end, she insists that I spend some time every day interacting with the city and its residents."

"I expect many clergy types feel pretty much the same way, Corey. Some are less into the sword-swinging than others, but I think their hearts are all in it equally." She looks to Karasu then, "Well he's a growing lad." Her gaze goes back to Corey. "But if you need help scarfing down the fritters... I'm your Goblin!" Stomach with legs.

She looks to Khepri then, and rubs at the back of her head. "It's good for clergy to mingle with the people they tend too. It raises morale, and makes you approachable. If you wanted, I would be pleased to accompany you on one of your jaunts. I would love the conversation too, from you and Kastuvas."