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PARK NEAR THE MERCHANT'S QUARTER - MORNING
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Ragnarr sat beneath a tree enjoying the cool breeze and shade before his day would begin. hia buisness had picked up dramatically since another smith was MIA but he held a bit of worry for them. before him was a spread of various meats, cheese, and breads. he watched those around him even exchanging silly faces with a few of the children running about.
Kira is flying back from another couple of hours watching the guards training, her mind still full of un-mothly ambitions. She lands on a branch of the same tree that Ragnar is seated under, making a breakfast of the nectar from some of the few lingering flowers in its shadier parts.
Ragnarr stops mid chew his ear twitching briefly before he finished his bite of food and looked up trying to place the sound. or perhaps trying to place the scent he had caught. it was a new one, not just personaly but inlike anything hed come across before.
Kira continues to feed on the scant nectar of the plum blossoms, finishing up her meal before working her way out along the branch to somewhere she can take to the air again, only then noticing the wolf sitting below the tree. "Oh... I didn't disturb you, did I?"
Ragnarr turned and sat up when addressed, there was confusuion on his face at first but then a smile took over. "no not at all, i was going to ask if you were hungry and like to join me." he noticed her posture and presumed she was about to leave causing hisbears to droop ever so slightly.
Kira looks down at Ragnarr and his spread and flutters down to land next to his picnic blanket. "Ah, thank you. Perhaps a small bit of bread. I'm mostly sated from the nectar, though." She smiles at the wolf and offers a small bow. "I'm Kira, the lamplighter."
Ragnarr sits again with a light thud, it was clear he wasnt trying to stare. "pleasure to meet you, im Ragnarr." he gives her a nod of his head. "i run a smithy near north gate. this is where i come to start my days. i dont often get many people willing to sit with me. thank you."
Kira gives a tinkling little giggle. "Ah, well everyone is so much larger than me, it doesn't much matter exactly how much bigger. Also, you have tastier things in front of you to eat, so I don't think you're out to harm me."
Ragnarr laughs softly nodding his head. first genuine laugh hes jad in a while. "so far the only ones i get to share with are the orphans and beggars." he takes another bite with a smile. "Do you actually light the lamps around town?" he felt silly for asking but hes curious
Kira nods. "Yes, well the ones that aren't tied into the generator, or that malfunction. I lit almost all of them before the new generator came up. Now it's only a few and then flying around to check for problems." She picks up a piece of sweetbread and breaks off a quarter of it, holding it up to her mouth as she takes delicate bites. "And you... are a smith? Like Cavro?"
Ragnarr nods his head at her explanation squashing curiosity. "i am, but i focus only not only weapons and armors but everyday items and construction goods as well." he explains.
Kira perks up, her antennae swiveling to face him. "Ah. I'm in need of a smith. I want to learn to fight, but the guard don't have any weapons in my size..."
Ragnarr smiles to her, setting his drink down. "easy enough, what were you looking for?" he asks turning to face her more directly.
Kira sets down the bread so that her hands can imitate what she's seen. "A narrow blade, flexible but pointed... a stinger if you will."
Ragnarr pats down his thighs and sides finally finding what he was looking for, a scrap of paper and pencil. he sits up on his kneese waving her towards him.
Kira walks over and looks at the paper. "I think about this long..." She holds her hands about eight inches apart, a full half of her height. "Maybe a little shorter? But the big folks use long swords too..."
Ragnarr begins to draw almost what appears to be fencing sabres with a little detail in the hilt similar to her wings. "long and short swords all have purpose." he holds out the pencil for her. "they may not be best for you due to stature. no offense. but what you described i feel would be perfect."
Kira nods, smiling. "I've watched and spoken with many of the guard, and I think it's the right option for me. Of course I want it to be a real weapon, not a mere toy." She flutters back to where her piece of bread lies and picks it up again, nibbling more. "I'm not a child or a delicate flower. I know what I can and can't do. Most of the time, I expect my weapon will just give me and my friends a chance to escape if used properly..."
Ragnarr: "Thats what i wanted to hear." he folds the paper up and slips it in his pocket. "I would be more that happy to make it for you. if youd allow me too." he picked up a few items eating them. "if im speaking openly id rather fight someone my size than yours. your size can and will be a good thing in a fight."
Kira smiles. "Thank you. I will come visit your shop before my rounds tonight and bring you some coins as deposit." She gives a little yawn. "For now, though, I think I need to get home and sleep."
Ragnarr stands up out of manners as his guest prepares to leave. "thank you for your company Kira, it is truly appreciated." he gives her a dip of his head out of kindness and appreciation.
Kira nods back to Ragnarr as she flutters up. "And yours, Ragnarr. May the sun guide your path today." She flies off in the opposite direction from which she came, still heading home.
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TRAINING GROUNDS, MID-MORNING
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Brunilda sits down for the first time this morning, having come here first thing after waking up and expending a lot of violent energy upon the training dummies. She looks more than a bit frazzled and like she hasn't actually slept much, her wiping her face with a towel barely making any difference on her tired, scowling state of being. All in all, the elephant has seen better days and this one's barely started...
Louma lands outside the training grounds gate, having caught Brunilda's last couple dummy murders from on high. She proceeds through the gate, setting her personal bundle of training weapons on a prep table before turning to greet Brun. Now from this lower angle, though, she can take in her posture and expression. "Good morning Brunilda... You're not pushing yourself too hard again, are you?"
Brunilda glances up at the swan-snake before looking back down: "If I do it, I deserve it."
Louma blinks, leaving her bundle unopened as she approaches her friend to talk. "What do you mean?"
Brunilda holds her hands on her knees, still looking down: "Because I'm an idiot."
Louma chuckles dryly, shaking her head as she settles her tail into a coil, resting upon it. "I find that hard to believe."
Brunilda looks at Louma, her expression nonplussed: "Whether or not you do, that's what I am. Who else but a complete moron would do what I did?" She blushes slightly at the memory, turning to look away.
Louma shrugs, turning to glance at the ruined dummies before turning back to Brun. "I don't know what you did, but it must be pretty serious if that wasn't enough to relieve your emotions. Do you want to talk about it?"
Brunilda sighs a bit, then relents: "...guess I might as well." She takes a bit of a breath, gathering herself: "...long story short, I think I crushed on the new giraffe, Fiora. Kissed her, fessed my feelings, she freaked out. Hence, I am an idiot."
Louma pauses, letting everything sink in and trying to carefully word her response. "The bounty hunter that you were training with? You kissed her? She didn't try to hurt you, did she?"
Brunilda winces slightly: "Well, she clearly wanted to. Punched the wall instead. I would have deserved a black eye or something, honestly."
Louma sighs, shaking her head slightly. "I'm glad you didn't, she would be in a lot of trouble, even if you feel it's your fault." She thinks for a moment, looking to Brun again. "Sorry, this may be a bit blunt, but why did you kiss her before telling her how you feel?"
Brunilda sighs deeply, shrugging: "Spur of the moment. Alcohol. Not thinking clearly. Idiot. Pick one or all."
Louma sighs, deciding to keep the close comparison in her own life to herself for now. "I can't say that it was a good decision. You were following what your heart wanted, and only got heartbreak instead. That's a risk you take when it comes to matters of love, though."
Brunilda nods, trying to keep back the moist from her eyes: "D-doesn't matter anyway. She's leaving town."
Louma moves closer to Brun, setting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That is unfortunate, Brunilda, I'm sorry that things happened this way for you. Where is she staying? Perhaps you can catch her and try to at least save your friendship before she leaves? She's related to Erika, I wouldn't doubt she'll return to Respite in the future."
Brunilda glances up at Louma: "She's staying at the Minnow. I... I d-don't know if I can see her again. Maybe best I don't." She closes her eyes and turns the other way, unable to stop her tears now.
Louma sighs, as she hugs Brun without hesitation. "If you think that's for the best, Brunilda."
Brunilda doesn't hug back but doesn't shy away either. She sniffs: "She... I just..." She lets out a small trumpeting sneeze: "D-damnit."
Louma nods. "I understand what you're going through. The pain will go away eventually, on it's own. You're right that speaking to her might make things worse, but it could also dull the heartache a little." She releases the hug, moving arm's-length away with her hand on Brun's shoulder again. "Just do what you feel is right."
Brunilda looks down: "I don't know what I'm doing. " She glances at Louma: "What would you do?"
Louma chuckles dryly. "Last time I was in your situation I nearly drank myself blind before seeking Carter out." She shakes her head, blushing at the admission. "I would strongly advise against that course of action."
Brunilda looks at Louma, slightly surprised: "You...? Wow. Wouldn't take you for the type to do that."
Louma shrugs, still blushing. "It was rough, but quite a few years ago. I've mostly grown from that, with a couple slip ups." She pauses for a moment, grinning a little bit. "Let me rephrase my advice, let your sober heart lead the way."
Brunilda gives a soft chuckle despite her still teary eyes: "P-perhaps, yeah. Well, if she hasn't already gone."
Louma smiles at Brun, nodding. "You haven't had much experience with this, correct? You'll recover, Brunilda. You're strong, I know that. You're clever, I know that too. One mistake doesn't mean you're doomed, even if it's not Fiora, you'll find someone, or someone will find you."
Brunilda smiles, a small frail thing but a smile regardless: "T-thank you. I... I'll try."
Louma nods, drawing her hand back from Brun's shoulder as she settles onto her coil again, unsure of what else she can say.
Brunilda is quiet for a long moment, staring at the ground. Finally, she dries her tears with her hand and gives Louma a smile: "...want to go for a round, Cap'n? Just hand to hand."
Louma blinks, looking towards the circles and absently touching the tender spots that Gareth had laid on her, before looking back to Brun. She nods, grinning. "Just don't picture me as one of those training dummies, alright?"
Brunilda chuckles as she gets up: "Don't worry about that. Just want to get my mind off of things for a moment. You know."
Louma rises, slithering towards the nearest arena. "I'm happy to help, in that case. I can't promise to go easy on you, though."
Brunilda winks at her Cap'n as she walks: "Wouldn't want you to."
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - AFTERNOON
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Gareth sits at the bar counter, a nice, cool mug of ale in hand. Grimacing a little, he experimentally pokes at his side through his clothing, earning himself a bit of a jolt from the bruise hidden beneath fur and fabric. He lets out a bit of a sigh through clenched teeth before taking a pull from his drink.
Fiora noisily heads down the stairs in full armor, carrying her rucksack over one shoulder, with her axe held casually in the other. She looks like she's been up all night, clearly in a mood. She glances at the bar and snorts, "Hey, there you are, Gareth. I'm heading over to get a wagon back to Bairnell. Bought time to ditch this town, eh? I'm feeling like doing another job like that time in Kith, you know, just really bust some heads."
Gareth looks around at Fiora, looking perhaps a bit surprised at her eagerness to get moving. "Here I be, yep. Things finished with yer cousin, then, lass?"
Fiora frowns. "Finished enough. She doesn't need me here, and I shouldn't be here."
Gareth raises an eyebrow, then takes a moment to drink down the rest of his ale before sliding out of his seat. "Shouldn't be here, hm? What, you ran into some trouble with some of the guards or somethin'?"
Fiora glances away, "Something like that... was definitely with a guard. So yeah, don't want another run-in with any of this shit, so time to move on before the door hits me on the way out. I'm not gonna let myself be trapped here, damnit."
Gareth blinks. "Trapped? Mind runnin' that one by me again, lass? Ye've still got yer legs, and they're workin' obviously, and ye're not behind bars. Why're ye worried about gettin' trapped?"
Fiora hesitates, then unslings her rucksack to set down on one of the tables, "Not like, physically trapped you know? But shit... how long have we been here already, Gareth? I mean, we've got gold to spare, but that can't last forever. Erika is... fine. She's figuring out her cure or whatever, and I can't help there. Folks around here are just too..." She trails off and sighs. "You know me, Gareth. I can't stop moving. I stop moving and I'll feel like I'm giving up."
Gareth moves over to the table and leans against it, looking up at Fiora. "I know about yer desire to keep movin'. Ye're the one that's always pushin' for us to set out and find more jobs, even if we're still recoverin' from a previous one. Hell, I still remember that time ye wanted to jump onto a wagon even though we could both barely get out of our beds after the job in Sarn."
Fiora chuckles, "I'm preeeeetty sure there were some local guards looking for us after that job. I mean, not that they could have stopped us if we didn't want them to. But you did open fire with those popguns of yours in the middle of one of the 'classier' neighborhoods." She sets her axe down and flops heavily into a chair, crossing her arms, "I dunno... just... Respite, Gareth. This place feels too good. I hate it."
Gareth shrugs a little as he takes a seat opposite the giraffe. "Just remember, lass, these 'popguns' are what kept our target's friends from tryin' to tail us after the job was done." He tilts his head a little bit, "And I know what ye mean. Respite's peaceful fer a frontier town. Kind o' surprisin', really."
Fiora chuckles, "It did make for one hell of a getaway..." She sighs, "Too peaceful. Too... alluring. Too... something! I don't know. I could see myself settling down here, hanging up the axe... living and dying here." She frowns. "It's way too easy to see it."
Gareth hmphs, looking a little amused as he crosses his arms and leans back in his seat. "Settlin' down, eh? And the thought scares you? Why's that?" He shrugs, "Yer gonna have to, eventually. We can't always be swingin' our swords an' axes until we're old and gray. Though I guess there's money to be had teachin' once we become 'old masters' or whatever they call 'em."
Fiora laughs bitterly. "You think I'd be a good teacher? I don't have that kind of patience. I don't have time for any of that crap. Don't have to settle down if I just fight until someone kills me... then I just leave a pretty corpse and a legacy. Always figured that's where I'd end up."
Gareth snorts. "What good's a legacy and all this money we get if we can't use it, eh? Yer corpse'll be pretty until it's buried in some back alley and left to rot, especially with the kinds o' folks we fight on the regular, Ms. Vigilante Justice." He grins, "Some kinds of legacies are more long-lastin' than others, though. Think about it."
Fiora shrugs, "Eh... thinking's never been my strong suit." She lowers her head, "Or... fucking... talking to folks. Or dealing with emotions. Just... fuck, Gareth. Fuck. Someone came here last night, looking for me, to tell me she had feelings for her, and I just crushed her heart in my hand."
Gareth blinks and looks around at the floor nearby, trying to spot any traces of blood. "Er... not literally, I'm hopin'? So yer telling me that ye want to leave because someone was comin' on to ye?"
Fiora snorts, glancing away, "No! I mean, sheesh. I have some self-restraint. ...I just punched the wall. And broke a table. But no, I didn't hurt her. Physically. I'm pretty sure I hurt her bad enough with my stupid words..." She sighs, "It's not because someone was coming on to me. It's... just everything. I'm just going to end up hurting folks if I try to settle down. Easier to just move on."
Gareth hums, eying Fiora with an appraising look. "Y'know, never took ye to be someone to run away from somethin'. But, I suppose ye can't exactly swing an axe at somethin' like matters of the heart. Ye like yer freedom, though, I can tell, so I'm guessin' that's why ye feel like yer steppin' into a trap?"
Fiora snarls at Gareth, "I'm not running!" she snorts, then looks away. "But I guess that's the trap, yeah. If I stay any longer, I feel like I'm going to give in, settle down, get old and die, and just be content with that. I don't want to just be content!"
Gareth: "No? What are ye lookin' fer, then, if not to live life content?"
Fiora shrugs, "Live fast and die hard, I guess. I don't do plans, you know that." She sighs, "Thinking about any kind of future is just... no."
Gareth laughs a bit. "Heh, figured ye'd at least have somethin' in mind for all of the money we gather up as bounty hunters. Besides, ye don't have to permanently hang up yer axe." He shrugs a little as he looks off to the side, "Me old crew, we'd sometimes just take a bit o' time off from piratin' just to sail the seas a bit. Maybe drop anchor on a deserted island for a while and relax. 'Course, we always went back to it sooner or later. Some could even say our breaks were just to make others drop their guard, but we enjoyed them all the same."
Fiora raises an eyebrow, then chuckles, "Heh. Sounds nice. So you saying... just think of this as a... deserted island?"
Gareth shrugs. "I'm just sayin' that yer not as trapped as ye seem to think ye are, lass. Could even consider this place yer own version of a pirate ship, even, whatever ye want to look at it like. A place ye can count on to be there when yer ready to take a break for a little while."
Fiora hmphs, but is clearly thinking. "Well... maybe. But... I did sorta already burn that bridge here. I mean, Brunilda practically said she loved me, and I told her the best thing for her is if I left. I don't even know what to say to Erika, but honesetly, best thing for her is if I left too. What would I do if I decided to stay, eh? Just say, 'hey uh sorry I was gonna leave without telling anyone?'. And I really doubt Brun even wants to see me ever again."
Gareth shrugs again. "I figure ye've got two options, then. Ye can leave and never come back again, and continue livin' like we have been this whole time, always sailin' from one port to the next seekin' out more jobs to do... Or ye can try to make amends and at least be able to come back when ye want to." He pauses, fixing Fiora with a bit of a look, "After all, ye know bounty huntin' is goin' to dry up sooner or later, right? Just like bein' a pirate."
Fiora watches Gareth carefully as he talks, then slowly uncrosses her arms and leans them on the table. "And... what would you do? You've a sister who doesn't even know you, she's sick, you can't help, you've made a good friend who wants to grow closer, but you don't even know how you feel about her..." She struggles to keep a brave face as tears come to her eyes, "You've got nowhere else to call home... no one else to call family... what do you do? Cause... every little instinct in me is saying cut my losses and go before... I get hurt."
Gareth gives Fiora a bit of a look. "What would I do? Well, fer one, I might have been a pirate before, but we never let our mates down in their time of need..." He pauses and rolls his eyes, "'cept when they're bein' idiots, like attackin' a Silver-Talon vessel when they don't want to listen to sense. As fer gettin' hurt... we've dealt with way worse in our hunts, lass."
Gareth pauses, then fixes Fiora with a slightly sharper look. "And... sister? What sister?"
Fiora listens to Gareth's reply, looking rather embarrassed with herself in the process, until the last bit. "Sister? Shit... did I?" She sighs, "I... Erika. Erika's not my cousin... she's my half-sister... I haven't told her yet. Hell, I didn't know until I got a letter about it from my Mom! After she... you know... died." She shrinks in her seat a bit, "Got that news last time we were back in Vamas."
Gareth leans a bit against the table. "So yer cousin's actually yer half-sister, and ye worked yer arse off on the jobs in Vamas so ye could get here faster... And now ye want to bail because ye can't do anything to help yer sister, and someone else decided to try and make a pass at ye? C'mon, lass, yer supposed to be Fury, the iron-clad, unstoppable giant, and somethin' like this makes ye turn tail and flee?"
Fiora flares up again, pounding an armored fist on the table, earning her a sharp look from the barkeep. "Hell no, I don't run!" She blinks, then settles back and lets out a deep breath. "I just... shit. Emotions suck, Gareth."
Gareth shrugs, unperturbed by Fiora's outburst, having seen a few similar in the past from her. "Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, lass. We've only been here fer a few weeks, but yer actin' like we've been here fer years already. Ye can either take the time now to figure things out, or we pack up and go, and never come back." He gives Fiora a shrewd look, however, "But don't come cryin' to me when Aephix starts growin', and all the good bounties start poppin' up here, instead of the other continents."
Fiora ponders on that... especially the last part. "So we're like... heading off the competition, eh? Heh. So you don't really mind sticking around a little longer then? I mean... I know you were eager to head out and get another job, but..."
Gareth shrugs yet again, a little more exaggerated this time. "The jobs will be around however long we spend here while you get things sorted with yer sister. Once that's out of the way, we can head out again for some jobs, and then come back whenever we feel like a break."
Fiora nods slowly, considering this. "I mean... maybe? Could be a thing, sure." She crosses her arms again and sighs, "Still need to figure out what to say to Erika... and probably Brun too... I'm an idiot."
Gareth nods, agreeing with the sentiment. "Ye can be at times, lass, yes. But if ye aren't a determined idiot, there's somethin' to be proud of." He gives Fiora a lopsided smile, "As fer what to say to yer sister... yer never goin' to say what ye need to if ye keep worryin' about timin'."
Fiora sighs. "Yeah... that's probably... a thing. Maybe I just gotta stop worrying and say it."
Gareth hums. "The sooner ye say it, the sooner it's off yer chest." He scratches his chin for a moment, "As for that other one, Brun, or whatever... can't say I rightly know. What do ye think?"
Fiora sighs, thinking. "Apologize and let her punch me?"
Gareth chuckles and shakes his head. "I mean, what do ye think of her? Can't imagine a punch would hurt ye much, anyway."
Fiora chuckles, "She's an elephant, and in the guard. She's got basic training, and a lot of weight behind her."
Gareth hums, then shrugs a bit. "Eh... size doesn't mean everything when it comes to a punch. Had a nice reiteration of that particular lesson sparrin' with that guard captain, Louma, the other day." He sighs a bit, "But, fair. Think ye can talk with her in a way she won't punch ye?"
Fiora shrugs, "Punching makes me feel better... Figured it might make her feel better? If not... yeah, talking is a second best I guess."
Gareth chuckles, amused. "Yer an easy enough girl to make feel better thanks to that, but not everyone's gonna find that same joy in punchin' things as ye."
Fiora chuckles, pointing a finger at Gareth, "Don't go spreading rumors that I'm an easy girl, or there's gonna be a lot more punching around here. But yeah, guess so..." She glances away, twisting her face up a bit as if swallowing a bitter pill. "I don't want... Brun to feel bad. I just don't know what I even want from a 'relationship'."
Gareth holds his hands up a bit, grinning. "I promise I won't spread any rumors of the sort, lass." He chuckles again as he lowers his hands back to the table, "Sometimes, it's one of those things ye find out while in the middle of it all. 'Course, there's also the chance that ye just don't want a relationship. Might not even work out, ye know? Ye'll probably feel better at least clearin' the air between the two of ye, either way."
Fiora nods, "Yeah... ugh. Guess it's something to... think about." She sighs, then sticks her tongue out at Gareth.
Gareth grins a little more. "What? I wasn't goin' to say anythin'." He pauses, "Even if that was an easy joke to ride off of."
Fiora shrugs, "Meh, I figured I was setting you up, but whatever." She smiles, reaching a hand out to Gareth. "You've always got my back, don't you?"
Gareth chuckles and grabs hold of Fiora's hand, giving it a firm shake. "Heh, of course, lass. Just like I know ye've got mine." He flashes another toothy smile, "Ye might have yer moments, but ye've a good sense of yerself. Wouldn't have teamed up with ye otherwise, ye know."
Fiora clasps Gareth's hand and smiles. "Well, you do too. For a pirate, anyways."
Gareth laughs a bit, only to trail off and blink when he notices the position their hands are in. He gives Fiora a bit of a look. "...Yer not tryin' to goad me into another arm wrestlin' match, are ye?"
Fiora grins, clenching her grip on Gareth's hand. "No? I mean... just because our record is what... 14 to 16 with you leading?"
Gareth holds Fiora's look for a few moments before sighing. "Fine... just... don't expect a big challenge. I'm still sore from that arse-kickin' that guard captain, Louma, and I gave each other the other day." He does manage a smile after another moment, though, "Feelin' better, though, lass?"
Fiora grins, "Yeah... guess so. I guess I'm not gonna run, at least."
Gareth nods. "Good. Just remember, once all this is finished, we still got jobs to do out there."
Fiora nods, "Wouldn't want it any other way."