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WEST GATE - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Bracvar has been wandering about town all day, glad for the slight cloud cover, though they're thin enough that they don't promise any amount of rain. At least the slowly drifting fluff manages to filter the light down to the point where Brac's injured eye doesn't bother him too much. He reaches the West Gate guardhouse, pausing to stare out at the mountains beyond and pondering a short bit of exploration.
Damina is currently waiting at the guardhouse. It's her turn to keep watch and unfortunately she doesn't have anyone to talk to, so by the time the crab comes up to her she's bored out of her mind.
Bracvar starts pacing from side to side across the road, as if impatient with his own indecision. One his second return he finally spots Damina, only vague recognition on his face for a moment before he places her. "Oh, hello there! You were at the Minnow- ah- a couple nights ago? I don't think we properly met!"
Damina is almost startled, quickly scanning around before finding the source of the voice. "Ah, it's you. Hey, didn't you get me that ale or somethin'?"
Bracvar grins widely, nodding. "Aye! Although, that last round drained the last of my funds, it was a celebration of freedom! I hope you enjoyed it, at least."
Damina stretches herself out a bit. "Well, I appreciate it. You didn't really have to, but... ah well, I'm not gonna say no."
Bracvar watches her stretching, feeling the ache of his recent stint of sedentary life stinging at his joints, and then chuckles. "It would have been extraordinarily rude to order a round for everyone *except* you, no?" He turns to look out of the gate again, briefly putting a hand over his uninjured right eye and uncovering it again, grunting.
Damina thinks about it. "Ah, I guess I have to agree. Yeah, thanks for that-" Her current train of thought is interrupted by a rattling sound that comes from her crossbow. "Oh, it's doing that again. It's been like that all night!"
Bracvar turns to Damina, hmming. "What was that strange noise just now?"
Damina turns to Bracvar. "Uhhh... I guess it's my crossbow?" She picks up the beast by the middle, showing it off. It looks like it's made of organic materials, but the more disturbing part is how the limbs of it seem to be vibrating every now and then.
Bracvar lights up, scuttling closer to get a better look at the incredible device. "Oh how excellent indeed! What a beauty you have! Really, haven't seen one that lively since that wizard's lifeboat capsized..."
Damina looks it over, suddenly being perplexed at how she manages to wield something that's half her size with ease. But more importantly... "What, do you reckon this thing's hungry?"
Bracvar hums, still hovering over Damina to examine the bow. "Oh possibly. I'm no expert or anything, just fascinated by the whole concept of living weapons. Such a twisted thing to create. Is it bonded to you, or would you allow me to handle it for a moment?"
Damina lets out a hearty cackle at the suggestion that it's 'bonded to her'. "Hah! Never! Only thing I know is that it belongs to some jerk wizards from way beyond here. Yeah sure, go ahead!" She hands over the crossbow.
Bracvar cautiously accepts the weapon from Damina, judging it's weight. It certainly looks much heavier than it feels, and the large crab turn to face the gate, hefting the bow up with one hand and staring down it's length. "It's certainly not a nimble thing, but these bolts look incredibly effective..." He comes to a resting stance, holding the bow sideways in one hand and tracing a finger along the bone projectile.
Bracvar: "Incredible..."
Damina: "Wanna know the best part? No metal gets in whatever you're hunting. I think that makes it better."
Bracvar chuckles, his eyes lingering on the incredible weapon for a little longer before he gives a small bow to Damina and hands the crossbow back. "Thank you, what an excellent tool you've gotten yourself!"
Damina smiles. "Thanks, I stole it!"
Bracvar laughs heartily at that honesty. "Of course, who would blame you? Heck, who would try to make you return it?"
Damina lets out some uproarious laughter. Oh she likes this crab, very much.
Bracvar winds down, still grinning. "But, the real question is how is your aim? The right tool in unskilled hands is as good as dust." He turns and looks pointedly toward the practice target range across from the guard house.
Damina settles down, then looks at where Bracvar's looking at. "What, that? I would show you, but that would mean abandoning my post. I can't really... do that, y'know."
Bracvar looks around, not seeing any other guards to take her place, and shrugs his shoulders. "I suppose you're right, admirable choice to honor your post. Perhaps another time, then."
Damina would answer, but Repentance makes yet another rattling noise. "Geez, what IS it with you? Do you even eat anything?"
Bracvar chuckles, looking at the fussy weapon again. "Who knows? Energy, elements, flesh, life essence... souls. Could be anything."
Damina: "Maybe it eats jerky. I still got some of Nesseth's stuff, maybe it'll try that...?" Never mind exactly where its 'mouth' is, she reaches into her bag to retrieve some of it.
Bracvar watches Damina curiously, interested in how she plans on feeding a magic weapon.
Damina now tries to find exactly where to put the jerky, which results in the hilarious visual of her slapping an organic arbalest with a dried strip of meat.
Bracvar cracks up, though he gets a bit of a chill. "I don't know if your friend appreciates being beaten with trail rations. Maybe it has more refined taste?"
Damina picks it up and decides maybe the place where bones go out is where food goes in? And somehow it works because the front end of it starts taking chunks out of the jerky, piece by piece.
Bracvar: "Oh now isn't that a sight? It's working! Well done indeed!"
Damina wonders exactly how much it's gonna eat. The front end of it looks kinda unsettling with the horn-like teeth tearing away at what it's given.
Bracvar watches for a little longer, eventually turning to peer out the gate once again as the clouds tear apart to allow the sunlight down in full force again. He smiles at Damina, "Well, it was certainly interesting meeting you for more than a drink! I think I'll take a wander around the outside of the wall to get some kinks out, but hopefully we'll meet again before the next caravan heads out!" He bows to Damina, turning to head out the West Gate.
Damina waves as he leaves, wondering what to do with the enlightenment that her weapon is alive.
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MARKETPLACE - LATE AFTERNOON
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Maybelline is out for a walk, feeling restless and a bit uncertain about things. She's made up her mind to console herself with a treat, and is definitely not addicted to sugar, as she makes her way towards that little bakeshop that she's been buying from whenever she needs a pick-me-up.
Nesseth steps out of said sweetshop as May approaches, munching on what looks to be a sweetroll, and carrying a little bag of other treats. He spots May approaching and gives her a bit of a sugary smile as he braces the door with a foot. "Hey there. Heading on in for a snack?"
Maybelline blinks in surprise, then peers up at Nesseth, "What!? No! Of course not. I was just... out for a walk. What is this shop, anyways? I haven't been to this part of town before."
Nesseth blinks, then pulls his foot away from the door, letting it gently swing shut on its own. "Oh, my mistake. That's just a little bake shop. The owners make some really good cinnamon pastries!"
Maybelline bites her lip as the door closes in front of her, "Oh uh, I had no idea. Never was much for that kind of stuff you know, it's just silly... uh... kid stuff." She looks a bit crestfallen despite her words.
Nesseth chuckles and smiles a bit. "I dunno about kid stuff. Some folks just have a sweet tooth that never goes away. A little sweet something is always welcome after a day out on patrol, I find." He holds up the bag a little, "And they make nice gifts for partners, too."
Maybelline blinks, "Oh! You're... Nessie? Nesster? Shoot... I should remember this. You're the one with Doc. Partners..."
Nesseth nods. "Nesseth, and yes, I'm the one with Plume." He grins jokingly, "C'mon, May, we spent a whole afternoon chatting over coffee and tea in Plume's apartment not that long ago, remember?"
Maybelline nods, "No, no, I remember you, I just... I'm bad with names, okay! Sheesh. Sorry." She frowns slightly, thinking to herself before she looks back up at Nesseth. "Do you... have time to talk a bit?"
Nesseth is still grinning. "I'm just pulling your leg, May. Don't worry about it." He nods as his grin eases up, "Sure, I've always got time to chat if folks need it."
Maybelline relaxes a little hearing Nesseth's words, then lets out a sigh, "I... think I need it. And I don't know really know anyone else in town that's in a relationship except you and Doc so, that means I need to talk to you or Doc I guess. But you can't tell anyone else, alright!?"
Nesseth nods again, recognizing how serious May's request is. "Of course. Let's go have a seat somewhere, then. Maybe up on the wall nearby or something, unless you'd rather we sit somewhere shaded."
Maybelline takes a deep breath, glad to see Nesseth responding to her seriously, "Oh uh, yeah. Up on the wall? Sure, wherever. Just... somewhere private."
Nesseth nods down a side lane next to the bakery and starts heading in that direction. "The closest stairwell up is over this way, then. There are a couple of benches up there we can relax on while we chat."
Maybelline follows, doing her best to stay alongside Nesseth, "Never been up on the wall. I'm not sure I want to think about what it's keeping out, you know?"
Nesseth keeps his stride slow to let May keep up as the two quickly approach the staircase leading up. "Honestly? Nothing that big. Right now, even with the shield down, most things stay far away. Almost every day is ruled by boredom."
Maybelline nods, still a little nervous as she looks up the stairs, then starts to climb with him, "G-good... good. Nothing to freak out over then. That's always good. I'm used to Sarn, The plains are pretty clear, and nothing much ever approaches the cities these days... but out here..."
Nesseth shrugs a little as he crests the top of the staircase a few steps ahead of May. "Out here, the land's a little less settled, so wild creatures still roam as they want. The more settled the town gets, the less creatures will even dare to approach the territory."
Maybelline smiles a little, "Guess that's part of why I'm here, eh? Get the generator back to one hundred percent. Help the march of progress to tame the world? Something like that..." She follows Nesseth to one of the benches and pulls herself up on top of it to sit down.
Nesseth takes a seat as well and nods. "Since you're the town's new magitech engineer, yeah. You'll be at the forefront of expanding the town's footprint and making the region a little safer to traverse."
Maybelline nods, "Good... yeah. Kinda something to be proud of..." She trails off, then sighs. "So uh... you and Doc, right?"
Nesseth tilts his head a bit. "Me and Doc?"
Maybelline: Yeah uh... you're a thing right? A couple?
Nesseth nods after a moment. "Oh, yeah, we're... a thing, yeah. We've been together for a little while, now."
Maybelline slumps slightly... "How? I mean, how did you ever get the courage to even... ask for something like that?"
Nesseth chuckles a bit at the question. "I didn't, actually. Plume was the one to make the first move. I'd been intrigued by them for a little while, but they were the one to work up the nerve to mention it first."
Maybelline slumps a bit further, "Oh. Guess I should talk to Doc too then..." She sits a moment in silence. "This will probably sound stupid but, I've never really had a crush before."
Nesseth raises an eyebrow as he looks at May slumping over. "You've a crush on somebody, then? I'm afraid neither Plume nor I could really say much about that, since we're both pretty... inexperienced." He shakes his head, "But it's never stupid to fall for someone."
Maybelline reacts rather quickly, standing up on the bench, "N-no!" But she quickly flops back down. "Or, that is... I think I do. I'm not naive enough to call it love, but... something about her..."
Nesseth shrugs as he watches May stand up and then flop back onto the bench. "Well, no, a crush isn't necessarily love. It could just as easily be protectiveness, infatuation, or... other things." He leans back, getting comfortable, "I'm guessing you're feeling something of the sort for whoever she is?"
Maybelline stares down at her hands, holding her paws together in front of her nervously, "Yeah... protectiveness... guess I have been a bit of that too, going all over town to make sure she was safe. And the infatuation... yeah. I don't know. It's all confusing on top of everything else I'm trying to figure out in town. "
Nesseth hums quietly as he listens. "I can't imagine it's making things any easier when you've already got your plate full working on the generator. I'm guessing they don't know about your feelings yet?"
Maybelline shakes her head, "You're kidding right? No... she doesn't. I just can't make myself say the words, I guess? She's stressed out enough as it is, and I've spent a week worrying about that and thinking she was in danger, tracking down information like Dad taught me how."
Nesseth blinks and frowns as he sits up a little more attentively. "In danger? How so?"
Maybelline blinks in surprise, "Oh! Oh uh... I really don't want to spread gossip or... or get her in trouble if it's nothing... I don't really know the whole story, but... well, she's working for this big merchant in town as a servant, and she definitely gets overworked. I thought she was in deep with something shadier, but I think it's something less dire and more personal. It might just be me overreacting, but... at the same time, it all just smells wrong."
Nesseth hums as he settles back down onto his seat, still frowning a touch. "Well... if it's something concerning, or if it ever gets to be something violent, be sure to let one of the guards know, alright? We're a frontier town, not someone's personal amusement park." He sighs and scratches at a frill on his head, "Are you a close friend of hers, or something?"
Maybelline hesitates, "I'm a friend, yeah... I don't think we're so close yet, but... not close enough that she's comfortable confiding in me, even when I tried to press her a little."
Nesseth nods. "Then... just keep supporting her without pushing, I'd say. You can't just spring this sort of thing on someone else and expect them to immediately return the sentiments..." He trails off as a thought occurs to him, then he shakes his head a bit and continues, "Pressing might just cause a rift to form, you know?"
Maybelline nods, "Then just... keep doing what I've been doing. I guess it's too much to hope for some kind of magic words to just make it all work out, but thanks for talking with me about it, Nesseth."
Nesseth smiles. "Of course, May. Extra perspective is never a bad thing to ask for. Hopefully things go well between you and whoever you've got that crush on."
Maybelline blushes a little under her fur and smiles, "I hope it goes well too... I have no idea what that even means, but... I guess I'll see. And I'll let you know if I find out anything... untowards. So far, all my investigations have gotten me is a bunch of rumor and curious connections. Nothing illegal or unusual. I just feel bad for Annika mostly. Wish I could do more." She takes a deep breath. "It's nice up here."
Nesseth hums and nods as he shifts his gaze out beyond the wall. "Yeah, most days, it's nice and peaceful up here. The walls are away from most of the town's activity, so it's always pretty quiet, but the sun does get a little warm at times." He pauses and looks back at May, "Annika, huh? I met her a while back. She seemed nice, if quiet and kinda shy."
Maybelline nods, smiling peacefully, "She does seem nice, yeah. I want to be friends with her, even if nothing else comes of it."
Nesseth smiles in turn. "A good way to look at it, I think. Sooner or later, though, I bet you two will be close enough friends that you could maybe ask her thoughts on the matter."
Maybelline hums, "I'd like that... and it's not like I have any clue what I'm doing anyways, so taking my time makes sense."
Nesseth shakes his head, chuckling. "From personal experience with Plume, I can say this sort of stuff takes a long time to understand. Plume and I might be partners, but that doesn't mean we understand each other one hundred percent yet."
Maybelline chuckles as well, "I don't know. I think back to my parents and how much they had it together. But I guess they'd had years of practice by then."
Nesseth smiles and leans on a knee as he listens to May. "Your parents sound like interesting folks, but I'd bet they had it just as confusing as you and I about this stuff way back when they first started dating. What are they like?"
Maybelline chuckles, "Well, my Dad was a merchant..." She goes on to talk about her parents and life growing up, talking about her relatively mundane childhood as she and Nesseth sit on the wall together.