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GUARD TRAINING GROUNDS - MORNING
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Kira has come to the training grounds after her nightly rounds as she has been doing since she returned from the expedition. Perched up on an awning, she watches the guards spar and train with various weapons, trying to see as many different types of fighting as she can.
Louma is observing two guards as they spar, wearing her usual cloth uniform and having settled back into her familiar, stiff persona. She's not necessarily there to train them, as many guards prefer to bring their own homeland styles of fighting, which they often teach to others. She nods in approval as one pair ends their fight in a cloud of dust, brought up by a good takedown. She turns away from them and begins to approach another training pair before she spots Kira, giving her a brief, but friendly wave.
Kira waves back to Louma and flutters over, her eyes focused on the other pair as well. "Good morning, Captain Louma."
Louma greets Kira with a short bow, smiling slightly. "Good morning to you, Kira. You're out late, hmm? How does the day find you?" She turns an eye to watch the pair as they practice with wooden swords and over-weighted shields.
Kira bows back. "Not so late, no. Long days mean plenty of time to sleep before the lanterns need lighting again." She looks at the guards again. "It's all very interesting here, though."
Louma nods, making a movement behind one guard's back to the other, indicating a weakness in their lower left defense. A lesson both can learn from. "Yes, it is. I'm not technically on duty until tomorrow, but it's hard to stay away from this place for that long. I didn't know you had any interest in combat arts, though, Kira."
Kira gives a little nod. "Yes.. I saw and learned so much on the expedition. So much I didn't know... and I want to be able to help like I did there, but moreso... and I think that means I need to learn to fight. Not with large weapons, of course, but there must be some style that would work for me..."
Louma pauses, watching her hint pay off as the sound of wood slapping leather painfully rings in the air, followed by a thud as the attacker learns what shield tastes like. She turns to look more directly at Kira, tilting her head slightly. "You were very helpful as a scout and runner, I can't deny that, but how often do you feel the need to defend yourself in town?"
Kira shakes her head. "Not in town, no, but if I were to go out again, I could run into some threat and it might corner me. Being able to sting it would give me time to escape, so maybe a small poking sword... the thin ones, like that one guard uses..."
Louma nods, thinking. "That's a good point. I honestly didn't consider that you would want to go outside the walls more often. A thin tuck could be the perfect fit for you." She rubs her chin, considering Kira's build for a few moments. "I can't say I know any fighting styles that are designed for a small, light person such as yourself."
Kira nods some. "Fighting is not something my kind do. We run... but usually we have only oneself to protect. If I become a guard, then I will have companions to think of as well..."
Louma nods, then pauses for a short moment. "Ah... Did I hear you correctly? Become a guard? Kira, you surprise me with your new aspirations!"
Kira lands on a weapon rack near Louma and looks at her seriously. "Yes. I want to help the town. I have so many friends here and I can make a difference. You saw that. With the new generator going, the lamps mostly tend to themselves."
Louma turns to continue facing Kira as she moves to the weapon rack, settling onto her tail slightly. "That's admirable. Hmm... It wouldn't be a bad thing to have a patrolling guard or two that can fly consistently. I'm just concerned for your safety."
Kira looks to the weapons on the rack beneath her feet. "And that's why I want to be able to fight... at least a little..."
Louma glances down at the weapons, sighing quietly. She reaches down, picking up a blunted, exceptionally thin blade with a sturdy crossguard. In her taloned hand, compared to her general size, it looks almost toy-like. She holds it pommel-first toward Kira, "Well... This is a tuck. What do you make of it?"
Kira looks at the weapon and smiles. "I like it, yes, but that one is too large. Perhaps the badger can make one of my size?"
Louma holds the weapon up, nodding. "He could, or you could approach the wolf smith as well." She sets the blade back into the rack, drawing a wooden longsword easily taller than Kira by nearly two feet, which she displays by setting the tip on the top of the weapon rack. "I have my... Apprehensions about your desire to be a guard, I hope you understand."
Kira flutters up from the rack and nods. "Of course. I know I cannot stand and fight for long, but if I'm defenseless, then I'm of no use..."
Louma nods, setting the sword back into the rack, crossing her hands in front of her and looking to Kira. "Like I said, you'd be valuable on patrol, and as a messenger, but... Well, to get straight to the point, a guard should have a certain amount of presence to them. An intimidating presence can prevent problems on it's own."
Kira flutters around Louma's head. "Yes, I understand... I know it's not usual, but even if I can't be a guard, I still want to help and want to learn to fight."
Louma chuckles despite her apprehensions. "You're that determined, hmm? Alright Kira, I can put a word in for you with the other captains. I can't promise you'll be given a uniform. Either way, I would be happy to teach you how to handle a blade when you get one."
Kira gives a little squeak and then flies up high for a moment. "Oh! Thank you, thank you captain! I promise I won't let you down!"
Louma chuckles, shaking her head slightly. "You're an interesting one, Kira, I have to give you that. Just don't do anything to get yourself hurt."
Kira gives a little nod when she descends again. "Of course. I promise..."
Louma smiles, straightening up and turning slightly to watch a new pair or guards as they begin to practice an asymmetrical fight with a pole and a short sword. "And of course, watching these guards practice is a good way to get some ideas as well."
Kira finds her eyes drawn to the new pair. She gives a nod but doesn't say anything in reply.
Louma watches the fighters with Kira, answering questions that come up and pointing out things she doesn't think to ask about as the clearly skilled swordsman puts up a surprisingly good defense against the longer reach and reversing strikes from their opponent.
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WATERFALL NORTH OF TOWN - NOONISH
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Xochi winds her way towards the waterfall. Somewhat thoughtful today, glad that her friends have returned from their journey, and wishing to clean herself. Since her encounter with Louma in the baths, she has been much more careful about washing, lest she give away her secret once again. The pools at the base of the waterfall often prove a much more private place.
Sammi had been having a nap, since not long after she met that rather nice fellow here by the waterfall. There was people coming and going, but she'd found a nice private spot for her nap, and hardly anyone turned up here...but today, someone was! She yawns, at the bottom of the lake "There appears to be a guest" She murmers to herself, opting, for the moment, to observe, or..at the very least swim away so that she doesn't appear in the water right beside the snake. That would be mean, and people react poorly to her surprises.
Xochi ensures that no one else is around, for some reason neglecting to look under the water, then reaches towards her waist and undoes the bindings on her wings. Though still hidden by her illusion spell, she lets them stretch out a moment, then pulls them back to her side before she slides into the water. She lets the full length of her tail submerge, but she keeps her upper body above the water.
Sammi was suitably impressed, letting out a little bubbly 'oooh', as far as she was concerned, Xochi had invisible wings, which was super cool, and now more reason to make friends! Wings were cool, but invisible wings were even cooler. It's like how colours were cool, but invisible colours were even cooler! She got a pen from a surface dweller full of ink that was invisible once. She drew on everrrything, and so, she pops her head out of the water at a medium distance "Hi! I'm Sammi! Nice to meet you Ms. Invisiwings!"
Xochi gasps at the sudden noise, dipping her lower body below the water to hide her wings, even though they're still disguised. She blinks at the creature who made the noise, slightly uncertain, "Ah. Hello... Sssammi?" She cringes at the nervousness in her voice. "I don't quite know what you are ssspeaking of. I am a sssnake, yesss?"
Sammi: "Yes! You are! But like..cooler than normal, because of Invisiwings.." She pauses her ramble, and scrutinizes Xochi "Oh! Oh! Wait! This is a surface thing! You're lying because you don't want me to know the truth!" She smiles, proud of herself for this insight "I get it now! Sorry, I'm still learning land customs..so.." She puts on a slow, exaggerated tone, and winks twice (First left eye, then right) "Hello Ms SnakeWithoutWings. How are you today? Wingless as ever I see!"
Xochi takes a moment to compose herself, her tongue darting in and out several times. "Xochi. Err, that is, my name. I am called Xochi." She smiles sadly, "I have no wish to lie, Sammi... I do have wings, yes. I keep them secret, for they are most rare, and I fear some may consider me dangerous if they knew the truth."
Sammi: "ooh! I get that!" She nods quickly, splashing about "I'm that way too, but with my everything! People are always like 'Oh! You're a threat to reality and must be caged. Woooo!!!" She wiggles her fingers ghoulishly "And, I've not ended reality, not even once! Barely even thought about consuming the souls of the innocent either" She absently mindly licks her lips "All totally anti- OldOne Propaganda" Her brain finally pulls her back to the present "Then it's nice to meet you NoWings Xochi. Hopefully nobody gets weird about it if they ever find out"
Xochi smiles gently at the strange creature in the water with her, "Well, this is very good! I also have no interest in those things, nor in waging wars or avenging some old wrong. I know nothing of Old Ones, though. Is this the name of your kind?"
Sammi: "Um..Well, sorta..kinda. It's complicated. The name of my race is actually 'ל̵̛̠̩̞̲פ̴̛͓̔̎̍̓͜͝ב̷̻͈̫̹̽̈́̍̓̀͛י̷̛̮͋͊̓̕͠ת̴̞̰̹̃͆̈́̎̀͠ ̶̞̂̽̈́̀͛̀ע̵̨̨̤͖͎͇̐̑͋͘ב̵̥̯͊ר̸̻͚͖̝̪̅̉̀י̶̖̲̮͆̃̎̆̉͝ͅ ̸̢͉͙͑̎͆̔ ,' but that doesn't really translate well into Surface dweller. It's just sorta what everyone up here was calling me...so I just went with it!" She grins "It sounds kinda good though! 'Old one', and 'Great Old One', because, I'm pretty great I think"
Xochi blinks at the unhearable words that Sammi says at first, but rasps out a laugh in the end, "You seem quite great, yes. I am not so sure I would appreciate others calling me old, even though I am. I believe myself to be good, but I cannot say that I'm great. I have certainly not done anything worthy of being called great."
Sammi: "Well, I think of it more of 'Old', as wise, and knowing..and.uh..I don't know if I'm that, but I'l take the compliment!" She pauses her prattling "Hey! You're totally great. Everyone is, if you think you've not done anything great, then that just means you've been saving all that greatness up for something totally awesome later on!"
Xochi chuckles, "That I don't know. I will be quite happy to live from this point on without doing anything... 'awesome'. I am here to find peace. Though, I suppose I would do my best if someone were in need, but I seek no greatness. Though, much like you, I shall take the compliment. Thank you, Sammi." She shifts in the water to rise up and bow.
Sammi accepts the bow, wiggling her tentacles gracefully in return "Being peaceful is pretty good too, and I hope you find it...I'd say I want the same, buuuut that actually sounds super boring, so I want some excitement!" She thinks "Oh! That's right, I give all my new friends gifts" She opens up her bag, which starts growling words that Should Not Be, and Sammi has to slap a 'something' that attempts to emerge from it, before she pulls out, a small broach, of simple metal, and a very small pearl inlaid in it "Here ya go!" She passes it over "It's from my Homespot! I was tryin' to think what'd you'd want, and you said you wanted to be like..left alone, and nobody looking at you, and this will help! It's..uh.." She wiggles finned hands "Magicy, but it'll mean that folks won't be able to magiclook at you so good"
Xochi takes the broach carefully and smiles, "This is very kind of you, Sammi. I am afraid I have little to give in return. Coins, back at my home, but little else. Is there something you wish that I could do for you?"
Sammi: "Oh! It's totally okay! It's just a thing we do back home, I don't expect anything in return. If I did, it wouldn't be a gift!" She grins brightly "I'm sure that if I'm ever up out of the water again, I might need directions and stuff. I was going to explore the city..but.." She yawns "I went to have a nap instead. Maybe I'll go looking soon..or maybe I'll nap again"
Xochi chuckles, "I am quite new to the city myself, but I am beginning to understand where many things are. I would be more then willing to show you around as best as I am able. I shall also offer your name in my morning litany, as I do with all my friends."
Sammi: "Oh..um..miight not want to do that, if its a whole God thing" She coughs "Me and Mine aren't really on the up'n'up with upthere"
Xochi tilts her head, "No? I suppose if you do not wish me to, I shall respect your wishes, of course." She points up at the sun, "Though, the father's eye sees all. They say that I share his bloodline. Though, I shall be the last of it."
Sammi: "Ah" Her eyes follow up , though flinch away before they get too high "The sun doesn't touch the deepest oceans...." She ponders the rest of her words "You know, it's never too late, even if you think it is..In Strange Eons, all may Arise, and all that"
Xochi hums, "Never too late? I wonder..." She shakes her head, "I cannot say I understand, but I am willing to listen and learn. There is much of this world I have never seen. I likely will never see it either, I'm afraid."
Sammi: "Well, you gotta find a cute guy..or girl, but guy would be more straightforward, and..uh..I'll tell ya what!" She taps her bag "I'll go and work out the stuff. I know I'll need to gather it all up, and so it can be a cool reason to get around the city!" She thinks "Uh..so..like, it'll be stuff like 'The nails of one that's walked on 6 legs'..so, it can be a puzzle, and if we never need it..well, it'll be stuff fun!"
Xochi smiles, "Perhaps finding someone such as that would be nice, but it is not a concern. There was someone but... it was not to be. As for the nails of a six-legged being... I am still not sure I understand that, or much else you have mentioned, but if I can help, simply ask and I shall do my best!"
Sammi: "..Well, if it was easy, it wouldn't be a powerful ritual! You know..even the UpGods get this right, that if you want something good, you gotta work for it!" She bounces a little in the water "Just think on that one, ask some people!" She smiles "But I should get going, I gotta dive into the books, really work out what we're gonna need"
Xochi nods, "This is true. Nothing is gained through faith alone, from gods above or below, it seems. I shall wish you luck, Sammi, and I shall think on this riddle, then."
Sammi gives a salute, and dives away!
Xochi shifts her position to sink into the water again, floating on her back while staring up to the sun. She's rarely ever considered two legs, let alone six. She lifts the broach up and examines it, thinking about her new friend.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Brunilda is sitting at the table, nursing a beer as she half-reads her study notes but not really. The elephant has a bit of an absent look on her face. She's dressed lightly, only a bit of a shirt and shorts enough to conceal the most obvious bits. Concealing almost nothing given her, uh, assets but we digress.
Fiora pushes into the bar after another long, hot, boring day, and another hike out east. She's still doing her cool-down stretches as she comes in, waving to the barkeep for a cold glass of whatever's on tap before she rather unceremoniously sits at Brun's table. "Ugh. I still don't know how you deal with this heat. What's up, Brun?"
Brunilda blinks a bit belatedly, then doesn't quite stop the blush from forming with her smile as she realizes who just sat there: "Oh! Hey Fiora. And... I don't know, just do. Never really been in that much cold I suppose."
Fiora shrugs, taking her beer in hand and taking a long pull before setting the empty glass on the table. "AAHH! Give me the cold mountains of Vamas anyday. Or the... I don't know. Sorta nice temperatures of anywhere in Sarn? You'd think I'd be fine in warmer weather, but not this damn warm."
Brunilda gives a soft chuckle, shrugging: "I've only really spent time here and in Ondonga. It's... sort of hard to imagine what a colder climate even feels like."
Fiora blahs, "Yeah, so out of the jungle and into the frying pan. You're not kidding."
Brunilda gives Fiora a smile: "It's all relative. Respite is drier."
Fiora shrugs, "So hot and boring then." She leans over the table towards Brun and grins, "You ever seen snow? Now that's fun."
Brunilda raises an eyebrow: "I, uh... I have not."
Fiora grins, "Oh yeah, it gets so cold up in Vamas, that the rain freezes and falls in little tiny flakes. Like ice, but tiny and awesome. Used to run out and try to catch it on my tongue when I was little. Well, still relatively big compared to other kids, but you know, little compared to now."
Brunilda gives a bit of a grin: "I might have an idea about that last one. 'Little kid' is so very relative."
Fiora laughs, "Guess so! You'd know what that's like. Ah, well, mostly it meant I didn't get picked on." She frowns, "Guess I might have done a little bit of picking on..."
Brunilda frowns a bit: "What do you mean?"
Fiora glances away, "Eh. Kid stuff you know. When you're the biggest one around, everyone else just wants to listen to you. Or, if not... it's reallllly easy to make them listen."
Brunilda looks at Fiora oddly: "I never got that. No one really paid attention to me, either way. Wasn't bullied cause... y'know, big and from a family of big guard types to boot."
Fiora 's expression is halfway between a pout and a scowl. Not really sure what that is, but it's not terribly pleasant. "Eh. Don't know if that makes you smarter or just cause you had a better time of it growing up. I was a pretty dumb kid."
Brunilda shrugs: "Don't know if any kids are that smart."
Fiora pauses a moment, then starts to laugh. "Eh, probably not! I just made dumb kid an art form, that's all."
Brunilda smiles slightly again: "I just escaped into books."
Fiora: "I liked the adventure books, whenever Mom made me read." She frowns again, then shakes her head. "Usually when I was grounded. I was more of a 'do it myself' kind of kid."
Brunilda looks at Fiora, nodding: "Well, me too... though I guess from the opposite side. I had my books taken away from me to make me go outside at times."
Fiora laughs again, "That's a thing!? Ha!" She waves to the barkeep for another beer at last. "Outside is just one big playground. I was always thinking 'what's in there?', and 'can I climb that?' and stuff like that."
Brunilda waves for another beer as well: "I reckon I can see that. For me... I don't know. I was discouraged from doing stuff not related to being a Guard in the family, so of course the forbidden kinda attracts you know?"
Fiora chuckles ominously, "Oh, that defined me. Ha!" She sighs wistfully, "I wanted to be a guard. Wore that helmet for a little while too, but wasn't for me."
Brunilda tilts her head curiously: "Oh? I guess I can sort of relate... just took me longer to realize."
Fiora shrugs, "Yeahhhhhhh, sorta. I guess. You're quitting it to do some big time magic stuff right? Use those books of yours to build stuff?"
Brunilda blushes a bit: "W-well... just learning how to work magitech. Nothing big-time."
Fiora: "Right. Magitech. Guard work's not for you, cause you found something you're good at. Me, I got two skills. Smithing. And Fighting. Never much liked making all the little crap for folks, the stuff Mom did to make ends meet. Got bored real fast unless I was making something big. Something impressive."
Brunilda smiles: "Your armor is certainly impressive. Made it yourself?"
Fiora grins, "Sure did. The Axe too. I've revised them both a few times, based on a few fights, testing things out, you know?" She winks, "Paid a good bit of coin to have the Mage's guild enchant a piece here or there too. But you didn't hear that from me.~"
Brunilda chuckles softly: "Fair enough. I guess I've always preferred the lighter armor, even compared to other thick-skinned types."
Fiora shrugs, "All about the appearance for me. There's just something about that sound, the metal grating against metal, the thud of each hooffall on the cobblestone. That moment when you throw the bouncer through the window, and kick down the door, and the whole bar stares at you. Not five minutes ago they said they were ready for me. Ha!" She grins wickedly. "Intimidation ends more then a few fights before they start. And I do love that feeling of becoming 'Fury'."
Brunilda shrugs, smiling: "Reckon I can see that. I'm plenty intimidating just by being me, to most folks." She looks aside: "Honestly, I would at times prefer not to be."
Fiora laughs, "Guess I don't see it much, but maybe that's just cause we're on the same level. Same with that Captain of yours, though not sure what might intimidate her. But probably some of the smaller folks around here shy away, I'm guessing?"
Brunilda nods, taking a sip of her drink: "Yeah... useful if they need a tall and strong, but not much else." She flexes her arm, looking at it: "...not that I can exactly deny being either of those."
Fiora grins, "For sure! You definitely fight like it too, even if it's inexperienced. You'd make a damn good bounty hunter, given time and training."
Brunilda blushes slightly: "Do you really think so? I can barely just swing my halberd."
Fiora points a finger at Brun, "Cause you don't want to." She lifts her beer and takes a drink. "You've got the strength, maybe you need a bit more form. You're damn smart, least it seems like that to me. Gareth handles what he calls 'the brains' of our work but that's just cause I don't care so much for 'strategy', so he does whatever, and it usually works."
Fiora stops, raising an eyebrow. "You've never actually 'hurt' anybody have you?"
Brunilda blinks, then looks indignant for half a second before relenting: "No, I... no. I haven't. Not on purpose." She looks aside, looking a bit ashamed at a 'guard' having such a track record (or lack thereof).
Fiora nods, "Yeah, that's what I thought." She takes another drink of beer. "You've probably done fine against whatever beasties sit around outside the walls of this blast furnace of a town, but never had to face down another person who can look you in the eyes while you break their bones. Destroy their livelihoods." She narrows her eyes. "Take their lives. No, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe bounty hunting isn't for you, Brun."
Brunilda looks back up: "A-and if it isn't? What of it?"
Fiora shrugs, "Probably means you're a better person then me, that's all."
Brunilda blinks in surprise: "...huh?"
Fiora chuckles, "What? Did you think I was being all judgy on you?"
Brunilda looks at Fiora evenly: "You sounded like it."
Fiora: "Eh... I mean, just not gonna sugarcoat it. You ain't got the stomach for it." She sets her beer down and raises her hands, "Truth of the matter is, it's a violent profession. I mean, I try to pick the right jobs... I want to do good, and taking out a pirate crew, or breaking up some protection racket in a slum, those feel good. Sometimes, you're just taking jobs you don't like just to stay alive. I like the lifestyle, Brun. Fighting is who I am, and I enjoy it. But there's a lot of blood on these hands."
Brunilda looks at Fiora, considering this: "...perhaps. Not that... not that I have ever tried. But maybe you're right. I'd rather defuse the conflict than cause it."
Fiora gives Brunilda a sad smile, "And like I said, I'm more of a disturbancecauser..."
Brunilda shrugs: "Do what you're good at, I suppose. For what it's worth, I do like your fighting style."
Fiora nods, "Yeah, suppose so. And thanks. Been honing that style for years. It's what I'm good at, as you say."
Brunilda takes a thoughtful, long sip of her beer. "I've just been trained to it, but honestly it's not my calling." She pauses. "I think."
Fiora shrugs, "That shows in your style too. It's practiced, regimented, but inexperienced. And of course, it's still good excercise. So I'm not exactly saying give up sparring."
Brunilda nods, leaning on her hand: "To be fair, sand gators aren't the most complicated tacticians."
Fiora snrks, "Gareth would say the same about me. Maybe I should go out and wrestle a few just to find out."
Brunilda chuckles: "Maybe you should."
Fiora purses her lips a moment in thought. "I've not really looked up any jobs while I've been here. Gareth's probably already been over whatever bounty board Respite has. They offer any kind of reward for stopping nearby menaces like Sand gators?"
Brunilda shrugs: "Guard pay. It's not much, but you don't really need much out here compared to, say, Ondonga."
Fiora frowns. "Guard pay... so long as no one starts calling me a Guard, maybe I'll look into it. I've got a bunch left over from our last job, that's the money that brought me out here, so not too worried about the money, I guess."
Brunilda nods, taking a gulp of her beer: "I've learned that out here money just... means less. Gotta have some, but need less of it to get by."
Fiora drinks as well, "Yeah, can't complain much about that. Room and board here in the Minnow doesn't run too much either. Guess they don't expect too many folks to be 'just passing through'."
Brunilda chuckles softly: "Passing through to where, exactly?"
Fiora shrugs, "I dunno. To uh... do Sand Gator's have cities? Sand Gatoropolis?"
Brunilda laughs a bit, shaking her head: "No idea, not sure I want to know either."
Fiora laughs, "Well, then heck if I know. All I know is that the rooms here are cheap, and the booze is cheaper. It's not even that bad."
Brunilda nods with a smile: "Yeah, I hear that. 'Course, I just have a room via the Guard."
Fiora grins, "Guess 'free' is a pretty good price too."
Brunilda shrugs, smiling: "Yeah." She trails off, looking at Fiora still as another thought occurs to her but she pushes it down. Instead, she just takes another gulp of her drink, not completely hiding the slight blush she's found again.
Fiora shrugs, finishing off her beer with a satisfied 'aaaahhh'. "Speaking of bed... probably should head to it."
Brunilda nods: "Yeah... not the worst idea. I should too."
Fiora stands up, tossing some coin to the barkeep for the beer, she claps a hand on Brun's shoulder. "Sorry if I got too real with ya. You'll probably do fine, whichever path you end up taking. Smart ones like you always do."
Brunilda chuckles, glancing at Fiora: "For a given definition of 'smart', anyway. But thanks." She stretches as she gets up, letting a bit of a groan.
Fiora laughs again, lifting her hand to wave as she heads for the stairs, "Smarter then me, at least! Sleep well, Brun!"
Brunilda looks at Fiora's retreating form dreamily for a second, before blinking herself back to reality. She glances at the stairs for a moment, then sighs and heads out into the night.