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ERIKA'S GARDEN - EARLY MORNING
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Cavro would be sleeping peacefully next to Erika, glad to join her on the ground one more time for comfort as the cure is supposed to work it's magic. Would be, if he hadn't been nudged awake by movement, waking slowly and turning to Erika, only to be snapped to full wakefulness as he sees her face slowly changing before his eyes, the lines only highlighted by moonlight, but clearly shifting. The badger slides slowly away under the blanket, facing her and watching in mixed awe and horror as the blanketed outline of Erika's body rearranges itself to her familiar shape. He stays this way for hours until the sun breaks through to their little clearing from behind him.
Erika groans in her sleep as an errant ray from the morning sun reflects upon her face from a nearby roof. She tightens her eyes and shifts the other way, feeling very stiff and odd. "Mff..."
Cavro almost starts as Erika begins to move, unsure if he should wake her or not. He quickly hatches an idea instead, quietly absconding from the blanket and rooting through the nearby food basket. Within a few minutes, the badger has set out a few of Erika's old favorites on top of the basket, nodding to himself as he sits a few feet away, though clearly still a little nervous, waiting for the okapi to wake.
Erika sniffs tentatively in her sleep, smelling something familiar. She's on the edge of waking up, though for some reason her body feels all different and odd and a bit wrong. She groans again, blinking her eyes open slightly: "...Mmmh?"
Cavro smiles with a quiet chuckle. He gently waves a plate over the food, calling quietly. "Eeerikaaa~ Breakfast is ready~"
Erika mmh's, a smile forming on her face. She opens her eyes, smiling even brighter upon seeing her lover: "Cavro. Hi~." She's leaning on her hands, but hasn't quite realized that bit yet.
Cavro grins, nodding. "Good good good morning, my beautiful sleepy okapi~. Did you get a good rest?"
Erika sits up, blinking though her smile doesn't wane: "What's got you so cheery this morning? It's not like-" She lifts her hand as she's talking and looks at it: "...o-oh."
Cavro blushes as Erika sits up, trying to keep his eyes on her face, though it really doesn't take much effort with how much he's wanted her back. "I I I think it might have worked."
Erika is still looking at her hand, moving and twisting it in quiet marvel: "...I-I think it did..." She starts to tear up as the reality of the situation catches up to her.
Cavro hesitates for only the briefest moment before trotting the short distance to Erika and hugging her.
Erika hugs Cavro belatedly, still a bit stunned: "I-I'm me a-again?" She sniffs, her eyesight blurring.
Cavro chuckles, though his own vision is growing foggy with relieved joy. "I think you you you are!" He closes his eyes, hugging a little tighter.
Erika hugs Cavro back finally, tightly as she can as her tears flow freely: "I'm back. I'm BACK! Oh, Cavro..." She holds him close, unable to really do or think much else right now.
Cavro looks up at her with a purr in his throat. "You're back~ I I I'm so happy! Your garden will be so so so happy, too! And your parents! And Fiora! So many people to to to go see!"
Erika lets out a crying laugh, shaking her head slightly: "Y-yes. B-but right now..." She holds Cavro close and gives him the deepest kiss she has every given him.
Cavro squeaks in surprise, but returns the kiss with as much passion, his purr deepening.
Erika holds the kiss for as long as she's basically able 'til she needs air: "Luh- love you~." She nuzzles upon Cavro's shoulder, just wanting to hold him close now that she's able to again.
Cavro huffs, blushing deeply as he leans into Erika's embrace. "Love you you you too~. I missed that~"
Erika sniffs: "M-missed it too. Y-you're the bestest." The elation in her voice is rather palpable.
Cavro feels the briefest hint of shame for the things he had thought during Erika's ordeal, though the familiar kiss washes the thoughts from his head immediately. He blinks up at her with a goofy smile after the kiss. "Of of of course, my love~"
Erika lets out a bit of a giggle: "Can I just stay here?"
Cavro closes his eyes and just enjoys Erika's presence, forgetting the food laid out for them for the time being.
Erika gives Cavro another kiss: "S-stayed by me. Love you~."
Cavro chuckles quietly. "It's your garden, after all. Can I I I stay here with you?" He leans against her again, purring.
Erika giggles again: "T-that's what I meant, silly! I want you, all of you, here like forever! Or lunch, whichever comes first."
Cavro grins, glancing toward the East Mountains, where the sun had shown up only a short while before, then back to her with a warm smile. "I like like like lunch, even when it's for for for breakfast~"
Erika holds onto Cavro, rather leaning on him pretty forcefully: "I think I'm gonna stay right here for now though~."
Cavro blushes as he feels her body push against his, glancing down briefly. "I I I would love nothing more but... Do you you you mean naked on purpose or..."
Erika blinks, then just lets out a little 'rawr' and pushes against Cavro some more, grinning.
Cavro chuckles nervously, blushing. "Right, I I I wont question it again~"
Erika slowly tackles Cavro upon the ground, kissing his snout and pretty purposefully making soft love with her long tongue. "B-been a while~..."
Cavro lays back, blushing brightly as his hands play along Erika's sides, stealing kisses when he can, his own excitement obvious through more than his burning snout. "Yes... A a a long time..."
Erika squirms as Cavro finds various soft and weak spots, but doesn't exactly lean away, continuing giving Cavro's neck and chest love with her tongue as though nothing was ever different... or perhaps because things no longer are.
Cavro sighs at the treatment, blushing brightly as a mysterious curtain falls over Erika's garden. The two might even find time for tasting the food at some point, rather than eachother.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EARLY EVENING
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Aurelius had just finished the preliminary clean up of the library, and started researching the local tradesfolks in order to find the best for each job he needed to do. He wasn't going to rush this. He would only open the doors when everything was fully ready, and not a moment before. For tonight, it was another type of research, of the local culture. He had ordered himself a small meal, and was eating it, while he looked at the comings and goings of the barroom, occasionally taking notes in shorthand in his notebook. All very fascinating stuff, and there were already stories he would need to follow up on! Strange herbs, magical machinary, eldritch horrors, dark tales of demons stalking the sewers...even such a young town like this having its own folklore was fascinating!
Enver walks into the bar, looking a bit exhausted and more than a bit sweaty, but in excellent spirits. He sits down at the bar and orders a drink. The bartender passes him a mug of what looks like barely alcoholic beer, which the mongoose nods in thanks for, taking a long sip of it.
Yengrisk trods into the bar not long after, their knit poncho and shaggy coat swaying with their steps.
Aurelius takes note of the variety of people coming in. Truly a diverse peoples in this town. It was almost rare to see a large number of one sort...but how did they interact with each other? That's important to know too....
Enver drinks down about half of the pint before looking around the bar. He notes the pale bird and blinks a bit before looking back to his drink.
Yengrisk heads up to the bar to order some fruit juice, then settles in. Their horn tips glow a bit, as a pouch is levitated from under the poncho, and the appropriate payment is produced. Then a couple small pastries join the juice for their lunch.
Aurelius looks back to Enver for a moment, nodding in greeting, only mildly distracted by Yengrisk, the horn glows were worth finding out about, but he wouldn't break attention away from the fellow now that he's made it. It would be so rude to do so!
Enver notices the yak but misses the glowing horns. He gives a nod to Aurelius and raises up his mug. "Evening." He speaks quietly, seemingly making the gesture out of social nicety rather than desire to interact.
Yengrisk munches on a donut a bit, glancing over at the other two bar patrons. They haven't decided if they want to speak up yet or not.
Aurelius wouldn't push the matter, taking notes again. The patrons were outwardly friendly, but didn't appear to be particularly forward in their engagement with others. He taps his pen gently against his notepad, regarding Yengrisk a moment, giving him a small beckon with his pen. An invitation to take a seat, so Aurelius could learn from him. The bird was used to his robes marking him out as one that was always interested in hearing a tale...though that may well be lost on the Yak.
Yengrisk tilts their head a bit at Aurelius's gesture, questioningly pointing at themself for a moment. "Bird man wishes to speak with yak, yes?"
Enver turns back to the barkeep and orders a bowl of stew to go with his drink as he watches the other two, content to let them handle each other for the moment.
Aurelius: "Indeed Good Sir! I was curious about the glowing of the tips of your horns. Would you care to let me document the reasons for such an effect?"
Yengrisk ohhs and looks up at their own horns, reaching up to adjust their mounted glasses a bit to do so. "Ah, yak can do a little magic, yes! Mostly just moving things around, but also learned a bit of goat lady's climbing magic." They looks a bit excited to be talking about magic again, and get up, bringing their lunch along to settle in at Aurelius's table. "Does bird man know magic too, yes?"
Enver turns to listen in on the pair's conversation, now curious at the mention of magic.
Aurelius: "I know of some spells, though I have little natural talent" He muses, considering him "So, your magic is more..native? Are all your people proficient? Is magical heritage common amongst yours?" He scritches down a few more notes
Yengrisk shakes their head a bit. "Magic yaks not very common. So Yengrisk goes out into the world to learn magic for the Herd, yes?"
Enver quietly eats his stew, still keeping an ear turned toward the yak and bird.
Aurelius: "Ah, so your purpose here is to bring knowledge back..your peoples are very community focused, I believe I recall a text mentioning such a thing. Maybe you could take the book once I recovered it, to tell me what was right, and what we could improve"
Yengrisk nods again. "Yak wants to learn many things. Goat lady has taught Yengrisk much about the stars, yes. Bird man is looking for a book, though? Library might be good place to start!"
Aurelius: "Ah, I am the librarian of the town, the Lorekeepers recently purchased the library, and I will soon be opening it back up, with a more appropriate selection for a town such as this. I believe I know where the book is stored..but most of them are still in boxes"
Yengrisk ohs. "You think yak might help with book then, yes?"
Aurelius: "Indeed, many books are written by scholars, rather than members of the society of which they refer"
Enver finishes his stew and beer, paying the barkeep for them. He hops down from his stool and approaches the table where the others sit, not wanting to intrude but curious about their conversation still.
Yengrisk smiles. "Yak can try, yes? Maybe yak will learn more of magic from it as well."
Aurelius: "I have some books of magic available to me, that I am happy to make available to you. I would be curious what you would make of them"
Yengrisk tilts their head a bit. "Yak hopes they can be read. Yak knows the common words and all, but no yak books on magic, yes?"
Enver mutters a bit under his breath. "Wish I could read..."
Aurelius: "I can provide aid in such an endeavor" He speaks up a little, so both can hear
Enver blinks. "Huh?"
Yengrisk looks to Enver curiously. "Oh, hello, yes! Yak has not said hello. Yak is Yengrisk, yes."
Enver nods to Yengrisk. "I'm Enver. Think I've seen you around the market."
Aurelius: "Ah, I apologize" He taps his ear "I am quite an excellent listener"
Yengrisk nodnods. "Yak is often about, yes! So many interesting beings in Respite Falls, must be much to learn here."
Enver looks to the bird. "Ah, me too kind of... at least when I'm not busy juggling..."
Aurelius: "Well, my goal is to create a center of learning. I would be a poor Lorekeeper if I would allow people to languish in ignorance"
Yengrisk tilts their head again. "What is a lorekeeper?"
Aurelius: "A Lorekeeper is one dedicated to gathering knowledge, and making sure the people that need that knowledge are able to use it"
Yengrisk ahhs, and smiles. "Yak likes this job, yes."
Enver cocks his head. "Oh, I think I heard of those in Policaster..."
Aurelius: "Indeed" He nods "We make no secret of our locations, knowledge is not something to be hidden"
Yengrisk nods. "Yak would agree. There is much to be learned from non-yak, yes."
Enver ponders a bit. "Learning sounds good, but I don't think I can afford it."
Aurelius seems somewhat offended at the insinuation! "I do not do this for money! I do this to spread knowledge to where it is needed!"
Enver blinks. "Huh. My dad always said he couldn't afford for me to get much schooling..."
Yengrisk hmms. "Yak thinks knowledge is there to be gained, yes?"
Aurelius shakes his head to Enver "Loremasters typically do not engage in formal schooling, but the books are there, should one wish to learn" He nods to Yengrisk's comment, since he had it much closer to the mark.
Enver ponders on this. "Is learning to read hard? Like, I can read some signs, but I don't know a lot of words..."
Aurelius: "Ah, it is like any skill..difficult at first..but easier from there..." Talking about learning was a passion for him, and he would happily talk the ear off anyone about it..poor Enver....
Yengrisk is clearly a good listener as well, and settles in to finish their lunch and listen to the "lecture".
Enver listens eagerly as he considers new possibilities now open to him.