Picking up Papers
Log Info
- Title: Picking up Papers
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Jinks, Aryia, Seyardu
- Place: A14: Society for Progressive Arcanists
- Time: Sunday, November 21, 2021, 6:55 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is picking up some scrolls from the College of Magic when she encounters Jinks, who is practicing magic and performance art in the courtyard of the Arcane Society. The whitescale, with carnationscale, stops to talk and mentions an interest in the cafeteria. Jinks counters with a fried food street vendor, and she agrees. They go over, order some fried chicken and fish, and talk. Aryia and Seyardu group up with them and share some good news. The Erinyes that has been troubling them has been killed. They discuss clearing Jinks' place with Swiftclaws, and the variations in nests among the sith'makar. The gnome is called off to a meeting with a hobgoblin butler. He rejoins them briefly, then they all split up, with Cryo flying back to Mictlan.
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A14: Society for Progressive Arcanists *>=--=--=--=--=--=-
The central courtyard of the Arcane Society is a large and sprawling affair within the heart of the city. Soaring marble pillars reach upward to the sky, four sets of three, evenly spaced apart as the massive columns form a rough circle, each trio of pillars warding a particular direction. Carved into the smooth stone floor within the center of the atrium is a massive circle within the ceiling itself, which opens always to the stars, in honor of Eluna, the Goddess of Light Magic. Taara, the Goddess of the Dark, is given no such honors.
The central courtyard radiates outwards into paths, leading through the exotic gardens of the Society. One extends to the Library, another to the College of Magic. Another path leads off to a small, rather plain looking building between the two colleges, most likely the dormitory for the students, and yet another for the famous Cafeteria. Numerous magi can be seen walking back and forth most hours of the day and night here, with familiars or other odder creatures roaming about, most of them in the latest styles, as dictated by Madame Gelfure, the a more social head than the Society has had in most of its history. Myriad scents and aromas can also be sensed, some delightful, others repugnant, others quite colorful as apprentices and magi alike go about their experiments. Arguments are not unheard of, and even the most "dignified" of magi might be seen from time to time, in a pique of anger, waving an agitated hand to teleport the disagreeable person to the top of the nearest tower.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Little Fang, 'Lily' Kobold Female A pinkscale youngling in a leather dress, Cryo's daughter. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It was a rainy day in Alexandria, cold droplets falling from a black, void-like sky. A raw wind blows from the east.
A white-scaled sith'makar woman steps out of the college of Magic and onto the complex walkway. She adjusts a hood on her cloak, which seems rather too large for her her head. There's a glance upwards. "I wonder if they could make a floating disk spell that was above the head."
"Enduresss Elementsss." A small, high-pitched voice answers from behind her, in the clothes.
"It's more it is distracting, than it is discomforting. Hmmm... Cafeteria? Yes. Cafeteria." A direction chosen, the lizard woman starts moving in it.
Someone has made practical use of a pair of the central pillars and tethered an oil-treated tarp to them, staking the third corner of the triangle-shaped fabric into the grassy grounds to fabricate shelter against the rain. That someone is currently engaged in silver-tongued debate with a docent growing increasingly frustrated. Clearly, this sort of alteration (however temporary) isn't appreciated. It doesn't help that the offending party is under his tarp and staying dry while the academy functionary is stubbornly standing under the open sky and getting wetter by the moment.
Jinks is under the spinning play of his five soft-glowing ghost lights, arms crossed as he smiles sweetly at the robed mage. He's laughing, casually, and acting for all the world like this minor inconvenience is a mistake on the docent's part-- and not a liberty taken by the gnome without permission of the grounds' keepers.
The Eldanar surrenders the debate but promises to return with someone of greater authority to dislodge the gnome. Jinks apologizes to the man (without meaning it at all) from under the makeshift awning.
"... not even covering your lovely Elunite runes," he offers with a gesture to the central portion of the courtyard, opposite the two pillars he's making use of. His kit and weapons are piled in the dry patch of grass nearby.
The temporary protection is enough to catch the sith'makar's eye, and she angles towards it, then respectfully stands back and observes the debate. Once the mage has gone for reinforcements, she steps towards the glow of the gnome's lights.
Interestingly, she is visible before coming within range. Her horns have a pale light, matching the aforementioned Eluna's, that lights the inside of her hood, and there is a blue-ish hue to her highlight scales that also makes her stand out.
She tilts her head, "Jinks, are you making a stand for the incorporation of bardic talents into the traditional teachings of the weave?"
"Peasssce on your Knesst." Lily adds, from within the hood.
"Coyote laughs," Jinks grins, turning and tossing a hand to point westwards. "I think the bardic colleges would have my head on a pike if I tried convincing the Academy here to hedge in on their racket." He sniffs and draws a thumb across his nose, smearing a trickle of blood through his goatee.
"I wanted to practice my focus in a busy setting--" he waves around the courtyard-- "but away from the common press of rabble. And not catch my death in the interim," he then points at the tarp pattering over his head with the rainfall. The gnome seems to recall something and turns his head, body following like a dog trying to find its tail. "Bauglir's balls... I lost it."
"--an illusion," the gnome explains before Cryosanthia can ask. "I can keep a lot up for quite the duration--" he grins lasciviously-- "but taking my magics beyond what just comes easily... Well, my tutors could complain enough to fill a library with the transcriptions."
"Hello, Lily," he greets the little hooded kobold. Then he pauses again, blinks, and gives Cryosanthia a curious expression.
"Back already?"
It's hard to tell with her cloak, but Cryosanthia seems normal sized, her usual lithe self. She shakes her head, "No, this one needed a few scrolls. My magic abilities seem to be improving so I was looking to learn some harder things."
"Speaking of, can you create a Cure scroll spell? I have a spell storing ring I think I could put a bardic spell in and it would work for me." She smiles hopefully. A small pink lizard head joins hers peering out of the hood, adding a hydra aspect."
They both look around, opposite directions, then at each other, then the same directions, "What was the illusion? The Docent you were talking to?"
Lily waves a small claw-hand, then says, "Promisssed food." She points at the cafeteria.
"Lost it when I was distracted," Jinks admits again with a shrug, canting his head towards the central courtyard. "Dancing girls. Figured I'd start with something easy to stay interested in." He flares his nostrils, gaze lingering that way for a moment before he remembers the sith's other question.
"Yes, I can, but only the most basic. My specialties are beguiling and bolstering. Either by design-- as I seem to be unable to escape a certain silver Sith-Makar when the contracts come-- or natural aptitude." He offers a winning smile and a handsome pose. He is a pretty little thing if you like them short and dandy.
"Ah, the cafeteria? What penance are you observing?" The gnome laughs and shakes his head, tossing a thumb towards Sage Orum's, "There's a fantastic streetside eatery run out of a Lucht wagon not a block away."
"Penance? Oh, it is that terrible?" The whitescale looks in the direction, then back at Jinks, "We eat carrion, at times, our taste pallette is quite broad. Batter-fried is rare in Mictlan, and Lily likes the chicken strips."
"This one missed the dancing girls, of course, you could always ask this one." Cryo grins. For her, a deadly sort of smile, which when coupled with a beautiful pose makes her look quite the dangerous thing, tall and scaley, "lets try the side-street eatery then."
There is no sign she's carrying eggs, her belly is flat, her sides curve in above her hips. She seems oddly normal.
"Oh, twist my arm." Jinks laughs, pointing up at where the ropes tied off to the column. "You have the higher ground, tallman, would you mind un-doing the knots?" He bends to gather up his things; sheathing sword, sliding into his pack, and then strapping the bow in place. A little side-step and he's kneeling to work the stake loose from the ground. "Clearing out will spare me having to buy their drunk of a dean an expensive bottle to keep from being banned from the grounds."
"How are... things moving along with your... hm, reinforcements?" He loops his thumbs into the straps of his pack, waiting for the larger lady to lend a hand.
"No trouble at all." Cryosanthia says, leaning close to un-pick the knots with a careful delicacy. She unravels one rope, then the next and holds them extended to make folding up the shelter easier.
She leans a little, her tail high for balance. Lily shifts more to behind her neck and the centre of her shoulders.
"Quite well!" Cryo answers proudly, and sounding cheerful, "this one has made new friends, we're all getting ready to settle in. There are only a few more supplies needed."
She glances down at Jinks, "How do you feel about being smaller?"
"I'm quite happy with my natural size," Jinks says, narrowing his eyes at Cryosanthia before wondering, "why do you ask?" He drops the stake into a canvas ditty bag and then just starts shoving the tarp in messily. No folding or rolling gneatly for thise gnome. The ropes are left dangling only to be fished in, finally, and he cinches the bag closed and tosses it over a shoulder.
"And you, Lily, are you ready to be an... auntie? Big sister?" He turns, squinting against the rain so he can quirk an eyebrow properly at the burrowed kobold.
There's a vigorous nodding of the hood, and then a carnation scaled head re-appears, "Yesss! Big sssissser!" Lily sibilates, staring down the length of her mother at Jinks. "teachess koboldings!"
"Only the good kobold techniques," Cryo insists, stroking at the hood, taking slow steps so the gnome doesn't have to rush. The rain pattern isn't quite right near her. "Well, the Egg-Watchers... my egg watchers need to practice, and while illusions or summons are close, ah, one of your stature reduced and hasted would be a very accurate simulation."
"I was considering asking Faran also, it's... an imposition, do not feel obliged."
Jinks barks a laugh, showing his teeth and putting his free hand to his stomach. "I'm sure I could find the time. A little liquor and a grease spell would make things even more interesting-- and remind me of a few narrow escapes from my younger days. Wrathful parents and cuckolds in my wake."
Spying someone, the gnome pushes tongue to teeth, curls his lip and issues a sharp whistle. A brief wave and a smile is all he gets as the other gnome hurries between buildings with an armful of papers under their coat. The dancing lights wink out, one after the other, and the bard leaves them gone as they near the street and its lamps.
"Would they come here, to Alexandria, or would we venture to Mictlan? I can't say I've ever been..." Not that it's too surprising given his up-to-now opinions and attitudes towards lizards.
"Ah, hmmm." Cryosanthia says, watching the strange gnome interaction and not commenting on it. She laughs a little, "so you have lived the romance plays and stories? This one is curious how they line up. I had imagined Mictlan but..."
"Foods," Lily reminds.
"... they might not want too many new people at once. Although one of them knows Aryia, which is very fortunate. The training could be done in the Festival Fields."
She gestures, "it is primarily ensuring the Egg-Watchers won't step on the hatchlings, while they're trying to defend them against attackers. Also to herd them. It is... perhaps like football, with many balls, and you can't kick them and have to stop the other team, kicking them."
"Oh, I'm fairly certain there's at least one or two works in circulation through the northern mountains, Stormgarde, and the Myrrish Kingdoms that are directly taken from my life." Jinks offers without a hint of neither modesty nor perfidy. "But the characters appearing are a foil at best and, at worst, the villain."
The gnome turns to walk backwards, glancing at Cryosanthia but then considering the sky to the north and west. "There's a reason I'm here, after all, and not there."
A slide, twist, and spin and he's rightface ahead once more and nodding towards a glowing bit of street beyond the topiary hedging Academy grounds. "Do you conjure your heart's desire with a word, Lily? We seem to have arrived..."
And there it is surrounded by a slapdash assembly of mismatched benches. A wagon not unlike the mobile homes of the Tsura but with an open side. Rolling smoke billows from no fewer than three tall stacks and the glow of the ovens inside spill out onto the street. The closed side and floor are a matte, black metal to keep the whole thing from going up in flames. The cookpots sizzle and ovens crackle loud enough that the two Lucht sweating inside need the orders shouted to be heard. Two hirsute, ginger, and befreckled fellows move next to and past each other with practiced ease.
The fare seems to be all manner of fried things and people hunch over their greasy goods on the benches. There are no tables, just benches and laps. The smell of battered fish, red meats, and cheeses along with that of the grease fills the nearby street.
"That makes a certain amount of sense," The whitescale laughs, as the gnome back-walks, her attention moving to the Tsura. Her thoughts drift briefly to a paladin she hasn't seen in a long while. When the stars are right.
"So what should we order?" Cryo asks both littlefolk as they come upon the lucht's stand. Her nostrils flare as she inhales, points her snout at each cookpot.
"Chickenss. Rat onss sstickss." Lily answers immediately. She's over Cryo's shoulder and into her arms. Despite her squirming she doesn't get any further until she stops, at which point her Ssassa sets her down.
"Chicken, yes. Rats... this one does not trust the Alexandrian rats, Nor the mystery bugs on sticks." She smiles at the vendor, "fried chicken strips, and fish and chips. Unless you have a suggestion Jinks?"
She looks down at the man, and straightens, tugs at her clothing beside her hips. "Mostly this one has keeping to a careful diet. This smells wonderful."
Jinks smiles and just holds up a finger. "I'm not sure that they offer rat, anyhow." The Lucht seem to know him; he's been spending some time at the dormitories recently. Surely one of the students introduced him to this place. "I'm quite partial to the cod. They have a citrus fruit from the Elwynn that pairs wonderfully. But I've enjoyed all that I've tried... it helps that I'm usually quite drunk." His stomach burbles its eagerness as the aromas flood the gnome's senses.
He stops and thinks, knocks to draw the gaze of one chef and amends his orders by holding up two fingers. "Just realized I haven't eaten yet today..." he muses, glancing at Cryosanthia and Lily as he digs out a few coins and drops them into the till. Out comes the flask and he has a drink to offer his guts a consolation prize as they wait. "What does 'a careful diet' look like from the tallman who just told me she feasts on carrion?" He smirks, puting the flask away and crossing his arms.
Rats on sticks? Someone must have rang the Aryia bell, because getting in line was a hooded, grey cloaked figure. Short in stature, yet the identity was revealed easily by the two pinpricks of light peering out from under the hood. She's got a few eaten, empty sticks in her hands. Was it rats? No one knows, but her eyes are fixated on whatever greasy master(?)piece is next on the menu.
"Well this one hopes the food is good sober also, as ... the reinforcements are not ready for that." Cryo laughs, "well, it is making sure this one is eating the right balance of bones, marrow, connective tissues and the traditional mix of nuts and berries."
"A little challenge to my immune system is not bad either." She adds, then shakes her head the luchts, "This one did not mean here."
"And bugsss." Lily adds.
"Yes, my daughter is recommending bugs as well. That also is tradition, apparently."
The whitescale's head turns in Aryia's direction, then she sees her, "Oh, Aryia, peace on your nest."
"She would be one of my Egg-Watchers, to be trained."
"I have to imagine she's equal to the task," Jinks muses, turning to nod at Aryia. He leans closer to the white-scaled sith and stage-whispers, "Though she is a bit of a lush." The gnome winks at the mul after his wry bit of pot/kettle.
"My etiquette tutors used to mock me and ask if I was hoping to enhance my supper with flies if I would chew with my mouth open." The minstrels tells Lily with a turned lip. Apparently he doesn't share her fondness for insect dinners. "But they were also overly particular as to which flatware was employed for which task and-- speaking from no minor place of expertise-- I can assure you that nearly any fork will properly do a fork's job."
The Lucht go about their work with a surprising coupling of alacrity and tirelessness. Especially when one considers the heat coming of the ranges and the close space of the wagon. It's not long before Cryosanthia, Lily, and Jinks all have their orders filled and handed over and the pair are moving on to the next set of customers. Even at this time of night there seems to be no shortage of Academy-goers looking for a gnosh.
Aryia gives an up-nod towards the trio, her free hand flashing a, "Peace on your nest," to the two scaled folk. She steps forward in line, her closer to them. She tilts her head to the side, "I thought all I had to do was beat someone up if they mess with your eggs?" she asks, scratching her scalp over the hood.
Her eyes settle on Jinks. Her expression softens slightly before she snerks and rolls her eyes. "You're one to talk," she quips back with a hand. She places an order for something ungodly healthy for the arteries, and turns back to the three of them. She makes a soft whistle to get attention. "I have something for you." The hand finishes signing, then curls a finger twice to beckon the gnome closer.
"Lets take that bench there." It's a short bench which Cryosanthia could easily occupy all of it. Moving to the exact center, there is enough space on either side for a kobold and gnome. "Technically, true and not true. Any fork will do a fork's job unless it is on a mission of ettiquette, and then placement and even how it is held suddenly becomes important."
Lily simply stares at her Ssassa, carrying her box of chicken, cheese and chips. She hops up to sit beside Cryo and then dives into the sauces. "Forksss is forksss." She insists, then adds, "Arryarryis says she only needs beat the eggs?"
Cryo stares at Lily, and then looks at Aryia. Gears are clearly clicking over as she pieces together what might have been said, "Noo... there is learning not to step on the hatchlings, direct them back to their nests, ... manage the nest-mothers if they get too excited, as well as kill any Egg-Snatchers."
"Coordinating with the other Egg-Watchers, also they need to get learn your smell." She takes a piece of fried fish, biting it, "One of them knows you already."
Jinks cradles his food in one hand, leaning to one side as if to look around Aryia, then craning his neck to the other. "If it's miniature furniture for my home someone else has already made that joke..." he ventures a few steps closer. "And if it's wine I'll warn you that almost all Elvish reds give me chest pains."
He half-turns and looks between Cryosanthia and Lily, "As tedious as learning all of that, Cryosanthia, I do miss being in situations where it matters." The dandy smiles wistfully and sighs through his nose. "... and not having it devolve into a demon-tainted ballroom blitz."
The cloaked shadow elf silently chuckles, evidence from her shoulders shaking. And the only thing behind her was her elongating shadow from the lights around and above. She kneels down, cutting her height so she was eye level with the scoundrel of a bard. Her present comes out: an arm reaching forward, wrapping around the man, and giving him a careful squeeze in a hug. "Thank you," she subwhispers to him before pulling away and standing, a hand finishing for explanation. "For Hextus." <Kulthian, then Handspeech>
Once Aryia gets her food (A fried piece of ham lanced with bacon and... donuts?), she walks with the group over to the bench. There's a soft 'ah' sound that comes from under the hood, as well as a little snicker from Lily's translation job. She nods along, filing away the tasks for late-
Moonlit gaze squares on the white-scale, her head tilted to the side. "Who?" she gestures with an index finger waggling near her lips. <Handspeech>
"Well this one has never been on a protracted mission, despite this one's speaker training." Cryo says. There are no tables, so the food is on her lap, and she's placed it quite far out along her thighs. She mumbles, "... have to squeeze one in... somehow."
Lily dips her chicken stripes, getting it all over her fingers, which gives her something extra to lick when she's swallowed the strip.
"Chew a little, Little Fang," Cryo says, although she needs the advice as well. She makes an effort to bite her fried fish, and somewhat chew before swallowing. "Metztli, a golden-scale."
"She was upset set was off-season, she had hoped to lay in the spring with her friends. She was petrified almost immediately after the dance." The whitescale explains, "very grateful that you saved her from Charn. Aryia. She hopes you're doing well."
Jinks had leaned away and half-closed his eyes expecting another flick for some perceived slight (when, really, his jokes were a Gift!). Even in the hug his initial reaction is to tense-- a bi-product of being physically diminutive, likely-- but he relaxes and offers a pat with his free hand before she pulls away. He smiles back and shrugs, momentarily lost for words.
Clearing his throat, he turns to find a bench, sitting to face Cryosanthia and Lily. There might be room next to her, sure, but he'll enjoy a bit of extra room. Watching him eat the street food is a curious thing; he breaks small pieces off the larger whole and daintily raises them to his front teeth and then rolls the morsel back to his molars before closing his lips and chewing. The deliberate nature of the whole process is quite the juxtaposition with Lily's maddash race to clear her portions.
Still without much to say, his onyx-black eyes look between the two discussing Cryosanthia's nest-allies.
It was curious, she had never seen a place that had so much oil and fat that they could submerge food within it to cook. And Seyardu had to admit, the concept was quite intriguing. Fats were a good way to fill up for a long time, so adding more to existing food in such a way, and doubling as a cooking medium, the silver cleric had to investigate. From outside the wagon, around the other side appeared a silver sithmakar with what appeared to be a large bowl of fried and battered fowl, and a large mound of mashed potatoes on the other side of it. She was walking and picking clean one of the legs, before she came upon several recognized faces, surprised that the smell had obscured them. Her tail thumps once, and Seyardu grins to the others. "Peace on your nests! I see you have heard of this place too. Curious is it not? But the flavor is good, and it remains properly cooked despite the intense heat it is cooked within."
Aryia just flashes a light smile towards Jinks before looping in all in conversation once more. She nibbles on her monstrosity of a meal on a stick as she affixes Cryosanthia with a raised brow. Her eyes trail off, a foot tapping in thought...
Rage. Blood. Death. Screaming. Yelling. Bodie-
She snaps a finger. "Ah, right, I remember her," she snaps a finger towards the whitescale. "I'm glad she's doing better. I am well, maybe I can talk with her later."
She looks over to Jinks, munching on a crispy bacon before asking, "How's your place coming along?"
She catches Seyardu a bit away, her flashing towards her, "Peace on your nest." The mute nods quickly, raising her heart-stopping monster of a skewered, deepfried ham with bacon and donuts. <Handspeech>
"She wantss talkss with her," Lily points at Aryia, translating, then at Jinks, "nice place" and finally Seyardu, "Peassscess."
Her little claw-hand is covered in barbeque sauce, and despite her vigorous gestures she doesn't end up flicking it on anyone.
"Yessss..." Cryo hisses, watching Jinks delicately eat for a moment. Suddenly she's breaking a small piece off, putting it to the front of her snout, and then working it back along her many, many teeth.
Lily continues her solo race.
"So this one did not know there were so many nesting options, it seems like each village had their own style." Cryo says, breaking off another piece, nodding towards Seyardu, "Peace on your Nest, Seyardu. What were your nests like?"
Jinks chokes on a bit of fried batter when Aryia asks her question, turning his head and covering his mouth to cough loose the crumb. He clears his throat and issues a half-laugh. "Coming together but... well, I forgot a bit of food and wine before our trip and, well, the rats are back." He pauses to work another tiny bit of food into his mouth and processes it quickly, swallowing before continuing. "But they got into the wine and I'm fairly certain they're drunks now; I can hear them falling in the walls at night."
"The other option is they're infested with hellwasps and I'd rather not consider that; I'd hate to have to burn the place down after just moving in." The gnome nods at Seyardu's arrival, snapping out a pocket square and wiping his fingertips before he raises a hand in greeting. "I'm sure Elsie would be rather upset with me, too."
"That is, donuts with fried meats?" Seyardu asks after a moment, with one brow raised slightly. "I was led to believe donuts were a food served for dessert, unless that stick is meant to encapsulate both dinner and dessert, which is not a bad idea, to be honest. You could carry your entire meal in one hand with minimal effort, while remaining easy to eat it all."
She turns back to Jinks, and nods. "Well, if that is the case, they should recover if given enough time without alcohol to sample. Just leave your drinks to the taverns and that should resolve itself."
The question from Cryosanthia gives the silver makari pause. "I would not say that my, or, ours was particularly normal. As I said before, it was not a communal thing, and I barely remember my nest mother at all. But it was nice, It was in a mountain in central Am'shere, excavated and carved, with lights from tunnels made to the main chambers. I wonder if the area is still being used, now that I think about it."
Aryia's brows pinch together under her hood, and she sighs. "Damn. Well, if you need some crazy gnome to kill the rats from experiments, I know a lady. Can't say her name for shit though, it's way too long." The mention of hellwasps makes her shudder. Ugh. Fuck those things. She does blink though, and squint at the man. "... is that the blue haired woman that stole your shoes...?" she ventures.
The pugilist nods at Seyardu. "It kind of doesn't go together but its all fried so... whatever. I'm just hungry as fu-"
She glances to Lily.
"... fudge. Hungry as fudge." <Handspeech>
"Hellwasps?" Cryo looks at Jinks, "Drunken rats sound better than Hellwasps, but not much better."
She looks at Seyardu, "the actual nest though, was it leaves, thatch, logs? A depression in the ground? Xochi insists on logs big enough to bash brains in. Papal wants a platform."
"This one's village, we had a large hut and all the stranglevines. Thanks again, for getting them. This one may need some stickywood also."
"Arrryiassss iss still hungrry. Wantss all fried thingsss." Lily translates, it's close enough.
"No," Jinks grins, shaking his head. "Elsendrabentum. Of Elsie and Madze' Fine Cuts and Settings; I bought the top floor of their building from them. The blue-haired beauty is Deddendaplethaleste, or Dee, and more age-appropriate that a lady old enough to be my grandmother. She's studying at the Academy," he tilts his head that direction, "with a focus in illusory magics..." He licks his lips and laughs at himself a bit, leaning forward. "And I'm fairly certain I just lost my shoes... somehow. She's quite adamant that she does not have them and it seems the naked truth." The gnome thinks, narrowing his eyes, much of the evening still a blur.
"The mongoose is still too fat from the last outing," Jinks then tells Seyardu, leaning back. "So I have to find someone to lend me a cat, I suppose, and the situation can be properly resolved." Though he does consider Aryia's suggestion of a crazy, rat-killing gnome inventor.
Finally addressing Cryosanthia's question, he offers "The lower trades have a hellwasp problem. Seldan is looking into it with the help of a few others. They made an appearance during a recent scuffle with the rogue Swadling heir. That was... quite the confluence..." He looks to Aryia and Seyardu, since the two were in the thick of it.
"It was, stone, actually. I remember that, it was stone and filled with mosses, down and Various other vines and plants." Seyardu explains further. And, that is quite alright Cryosanthia, if you need anything further, do not hesitate to ask. Though, a bit more of a warning on the dangers of the plants gathered would be good. I am not the best at discerning plants." Seyardu chuckles.
"Perhaps you kicked them off somewhere and someone else took them? I could see that happening easily. Check with those at the Fernwood if they had a pair brought in, assuming you are not tossed out on sight."
"Rat problems and other pests are not often a problem in Am'shere, as swiftclaws will likely eat anything small in the camps. Though, they will also raid the larders, so it is not as ideal a solution as one would hope."
"They wouldn't fit in Jinks place, it's a little tight for them." Cryo says, working through more of her fried food, "Well I hope it's drunken rats and not Hellwasps."
Lily is finished, and simply drops her box.
Cryo huffs and looks at her, "In the bin Lily, we don't need to make Alexandria worse."
"Well, sticky wood has very sticky sap that skills bugs and glues things." She explains, then looks at Jinks, "aren't you often losing clothes in places? Maybe you left the shoes behind at one."
Aryia nods, scratching her head in thought. So, the mystery of the missing shoes still remains unsolved...
The pugilist grimaces some at the mention of the fight, but a grin manages to crack across her lips. "We killed the Ashwing!" she motions happily, further explaining what happened to Cryo. "I grabbed her in the air, tied her up, and dropped her to the ground like a sack of bricks, twenty stories up!"
She looks between the two makari, tilting her head as she listenings to how nests are built. <Handspeech>
"Just the shoes," Jinks counters, finally finishing his first piece of the fish. He pauses long enough to have a drink before remembering, "Oh, and the shirt the the vocalist tore. And then there was the belt and vest the airman kept." He cocks his head and purses his lips. "I... suppose you have a point, Cryosanthia."
"One thread tie--" The dandy gives pause when an ethereal, blonde-yellow bird flits into view soundlessly. It glows softly and circles before flying back east in a lazy, stiff-winged glide. Frowning at the bird, Jinks stands and looks back that way.
A rather done-up and fancy looking Arvek Nar approaches. He's still distant but the smart clack of his polished shoes on the cobblestone road echoes this way. The hob's dress and grooming are immaculate; he has the look of a butler or similar sort of houseman. He has a long-legged and purposeful stride but maintains composure and dignity well-short of hurrying.
"Ah, well. A moment..." Jinks tells the ladies, taking a nervous breath. He smooths his coat, checks his reflection on an especially-wide ring, and then half-jogs over the meet the fellow towards the other end of the block.
"Aryia did, yes." Seyardu grins, offering a fried chicken leg to Aryia, and another to Lily. "It was quite impressive, she was able to wrestle it into submission, tie it up while mid air, all while being chased by a swarm of demonic insects."
Seyardu looks to Jinks, and nods. "Of course, peace on your nest Jinks. We did not have many things specifically to drive off insects, but I believe that was due to the location making that less of a concern."
Lily watches Aryia's excited handsigns, leaning forward and getting dipping sauce on Cryo's thigh. "Killss Asshwingsss, dropss like brricksss from high buildingssss, tie her in air."
"Oh wow." Cryo blinks, "you can fly? You got the devil, finally? Nice!" She squirms in place, adjusts her clothes with a wistful wish. "That's amazing! Is that all of them?"
She looks between Seyardu and Jinks, "All of you were there?" Well, at Seyardu, as Jinks has been drawn off by a little birdie towards an Arvek Butler.
Hobgoblins probably buttle well.
"You know there's a song about yellow birds. It's rather sad." Cryo comments.
Aryia watches as Jinks goes, her giving a wave from the hip before returning to the conversation at hand. She does, however, give the contact a once over before gesturing more.
She shakes her head. "Can't fly. Seyardu put a spell on me that lets me walk on the air. I just jumped up there to her." The mute scratches her head, her meal almost done. "I... think so? I think that's all of them. Maybe. I have to double check."
She nods her head in confirmation. Yes, they were all there. But she raises a brow. "I wasn't aware there was a song." <Handspeech>
Seeing the offerings denied, Seyardu shrugs and pauses to bite off more of her fried chicken. "It was a fairly simple spell honestly, Aryia did all of the work." She states after swallowing. "There was, three of them, I believe, and only one left. Unless there was another brought in, but I doubt that. They were very careful about escaping, usually."
"What is this about a song? A sad song about birds, I am curious about the purpose of such a thing."
Cryo nods, "Yes. It's a love lost song, from the islands. She slips into a hum with a natural cadence to her words" 'Yello bird, up high in banana tree, yello bird, you sit all alone like me. Did your lady friend leave the nest again? Oh, how very sad, make me feel so bad."
Lily stares at her Ssassa, picks up her empty box and nudges the whitescale's leg with it.
"What do you mean, the purpose?"
The ghostly bird alights on the butler's shoulder and blinks out of existence, its job done.
Soon after, Jinks meets the arvek nar out of earshot. His back is to the wagon and benches as he holds one hand out to the side to both greet and slow the fellow. There's an exchange; the gnome uses his hands (as he frequently does) while the hobgoblin remains aloof and impassive. Practically unmoving.
A pause and then a stiff shake of the head from the sunset child. He produces a letter-sized bundle from his coat and something else from a pocket.
There's a quick bark (maybe a "wait!") and then the tindertwig is struck and the bundle lights. It burns quickly in spite of the rain, the 'nar dipping the lit end low, inspiring the flames to crawl higher. Just a few seconds to make sure the fire is good and going before he drops it at Jinks' feet, turns, and walks back the way he came.
Aryia notes the offered food for later, her tossing her stick into a bin and wiping her hands off on her cloak. "The spell let me run through the air like it was nothing. And Verna kept it locked there so it wouldn't teleport away."
She frowns a little bit, then gives a soft sigh. The mute pats Cryosanthia on the arm. "The purpose is it's a sad song. That's all."
The pugilist walks over to Seyardu, fishes a hand into the bucket to get her offered chicken, then steps back to the center of the group. "Good to see you all. I was just here for the food, going to get back to... stuff and things." Crunch. Her brows raise, her looking down to the fried chicken. Oh damn, she might have a new favorite. She looks over to what's going with Jinks, her tilting her head to the side.
A few errant strands of thoughts connect, and she frowns with a light sigh. She twists her stance some, nods to the three scaled folk with a "Peace on your nest" flashed in it before-
The pugilist's image fades out. Another one nearby fades away, her with her chicken locked in her maw and half running towards Jinks. The mute apperates in front of the gnome, cloak flaring out to the side as she briskly kneels down and pats the bundle out with a gloved hand none too long after it was dropped.
Before anything could be said, she turns, and a faded afterimage of her backflipping up and out of the plaza is what says goodbye. <Handspeech>
"I am not sure if I entirely understand that, a sad song for the sake of it being sad." Seyardu sighs. "But, that is interesting, still."
"Enjoy your stuff and things, Aryia. Peace on your nest. Tell them that I said hello."
She turns to watch the strange exchange with Jinks and the other. "That almost looks like a threat, I hope he is alright."
Cryo nods to Aryia, then watches whatever is going on with Jinks, followed by the strange apparitions and skipping after-images. "Um..."
"Well I'm not sure what to make of that."
"No, I think something important has been destroyed. He is upset about that." Cryo surmises, staring, "Anyhow, yes, the song is sad to be sad."
Her tail curls up around Lily.
Jinks takes a moment to consider the bundle, burnt, smothered, and now growing wet on the cobbles. His shoulders rise and fall and then he kneels to collect it. He turns the folded papers in his fingers as he walks back and then just drops them into the crate of rubbish near the cook wagon.
"If you've the room, Lily, you're welcome to that last bit of fish." Jinks offers upon his return, bobbing a finger at the basket he'd left. He grins and looks between Cryosanthia and Seyardu, "So, yes; Ashwings, demon-tainted noblespawn, and hellwasps. The fun you've missed, tallman." He has his flask out and takes a long drink.
"Yasssss!" Lily holds out both hands for Jinks' last bit of fish. She's seen Tanith, there's always room for fish! How swiftly she forgets she couldn't match her.
"This one can't bring all the troops," Cryo says with a smile, leaning her her head towards the gnome, "Congratulations. Congratulations to you both."
"And there shouldn't be wasps this time of year, so there's something wrong with that." She concludes. Its a big leap.
"I am hoping whatever you are embroiled in is not too unpleasant Jinks, that looked to be quite the statement from whoever that was." Seyardu sighs. "At least the ashwings are hopefully managed for now. There are still troubles here, but I feel a bit more relaxed for the time being. Perhaps I can find somewhere else to stay outside of the temples, even. The wasps are still a concern though. I was incapable of doing much to them, they likely need magic to be dealt with, and I am not the most capable with such things."
"Aryia, Seyardu, and the rest did all the heavy lifting. I contributed very little in this instance," Jinks tells Cryo after licking his lips. He screws the cap back into place and tucks the thing away. "As surprising as that may seem." A wink, there.
A turn and he's considering Seyardu. "Hm?" He wonders, "Ah, that. No. Pursuing some social entanglements with a higher class of lady." He sprouts that wolfish grin. Smoothing his goatee, he shrugs. "It's all a dance of sorts."
"It must be so troublesome to be in season all the time." Cryo states randomly, "gnomes are like humans in that way, yes?" Almost doubly so, she doesn't state. "Well good luck in your woo-ing."
She's uninterested, it would seem. The gift fish holding her attention more. She watches as Lily eats it. Lily watches her watching, looking confused, crumbs of breading falling from the sides of her mouth.
"Well, if you could arrange for a healing scroll from the college, this one would appreciate it Jinks. And congratulations, all, for dealing with a truly troublesome devil. I should get you drinks." She stands, brushing at her clothes, adjusting them at her hips but careful to keep her hands from in front. "Well... it is late, and this one should find sleeping arrangements. I think... yes... this one could manage the flight to Mictlan. Even with the rain."
"It would not be that bad, I imagine. Less pressing that way." Seyardu shrugs. "That sounds complicated though, is it not simple enough to tell someone you like and appreciate them, and see if they feel the same way? The noble class is so complicated, they feel a need to make a big deal about how one approaches invitations and the like. But I digress."
Seyardu blinks, and chuckles. "I would like that, but I know you should not be drinking now. Still, another time, to celebrate in some manner. Irshya is running the bathhouse again, so that is excellent news, I would say."
"I think you could manage the flight, it would be little problem for you."
Jinks offers a little laugh at Cryosanthia's observation. "Truly a curse. And thank you. Good luck with your thing," The gnome nods at Cryo's trim trunk, sliding a finger down his nose as if sharing a secret. He gathers up his pack and bundled weapons, sliding back into them before snatching the ditty bag up, too. "Coyote laugh with you, Lily, and good luck looking after Cryosanthia." A nod, then, to the silver sith, "Good night, Seyardu."
The gnome makes to head east and pauses, turns to look west, and then finally heads back towards the Academy grounds. There's a hitch in his step when he glances at the rubbish bin in passing and an attempt to whistle falls flat before being aborted. A little curse in gnomish takes him past the topiary and through the gates.
"It's a mating dance. Softskin mating dances are excessively complex because they have a protracted period to execute them across." Cryo says, tugging at her cape. She hands the empty box of her food to Lily, "Throw this and your own out please."
Lily takes both over to the trash bin. She was watching also, the kobold is very sharp sometimes. She hops up on the edge, then dives in.
"Lily," Cryo sighs, "don't play in the trash, you'll get all greasy, or worse."
She might pick up a half-burned envelope while no one is watching. The little Kobold climbs out a few moments later, "all goness."
Cryo checks her clearance, then wings appear. She examines her right one for the mark. It's dinner plate sized and near the leading edge. Her tail coils towards her kobold youngling, "Up."
A moment's concentration and her clothing has adjusted so she can fly, and Little Fang has a canopy to keep the rain off. "Peace on your nest, Seyardu, This one hopes to see you in Mictlan soon." With a flap she surges up into the air, and turns towards the refuge.
OOC
<OOC> Jinks says, "If this were a sitcom that'd totally be an episode; people show up at Jinks' apartment with a couple swiftclaws to deal with the rats and it immediately spirals out of control."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Someone standing outside running interference as Jinks is trying to just go in and relax."
<OOC> Skielstregar says, ""Sweetrolls? Sir, your order says Swiftclaws""
<OOC> Jinks says, "It's the steamed hams incident all over again."
<OOC> Vaera says, "But what if I bring in swiftclaws to eliminate all the rats and disguise it as my own work? Delightfully devilish, Seyardu."