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RESPITE BARRACKS - MORNING
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Teis wanders through the streets of Respite, approaching the barracks with a piece of parchment clutched in her hand. She's dressed in her lab attire, having been in her lab when the communication arrived. Thanks to the recent caravan that had made it through the Saur's blockade, in conjunction with the supplies Della had kept stored for a rainy week, Teis is confident enough to have resumed work. . .For now. The guards around the barracks have seen Teis around enough (Both because of the messages and her training in the training grounds) to let her approach the barracks office. She knocks, though doesn't wait for a response, simply barging in. She prepares the parchment, looking down at it as she enters. ". . .Hey Nesseth. Got another message from..." Teis abruptly stops speaking as she looks up. "You're not Nesseth." She blinks at Louma.
Louma is waiting, coiled up off to the side of her desk, rather than behind it. She's dressed in a comfortable cotton tunic, rather than anything resembling her uniform. The coiled tail is dotted with gauze bandages, all looking clean, thankfully. She looks up at the knock, halfway to calling out in reply when the cat walks right in. Louma raises an eyebrow at her, "Neither are you. Not a guard I recognize, either, so doubly bold to just walk into someone's office like that."
Teis throws her hands down to the floor, frowning, "You're one to talk! You're in someone else's office too!" She energetically huffs. She calms down somewhat, "Nesseth lets me if I've got a message from Dorri. And see?" Teis lifts up the piece of parchment. "I have a message. From Dorri. Now where's Nesseth?" She questions.
Louma hums, her eyes narrowing a bit as she stiffens in demeanor. "Nesseth is attending to his duties. I know we haven't met, but that is a lot of attitude to be throwing around to a stranger, miss. What is your name?"
Teis: "I mean. . .Yeah. I can see that." Teis pauses, "I'm sorry. I'm just. . ." She deflates with a large sigh, crossing her arms. She looks Louma up and down more thoroughly, notably pausing and somehow sorrowing further on Louma's gauzed wounds. She glances back up at Louma's face. "I'm Teis."
Louma nods, her expression softening a little. At least the labcoat cat isn't all attitude. She gives Teis a slight bow as she introduces herself. "And I am Captain Louma. Pleasure to meet you."
Teis tilts her head upon hearing Louma's name. She's heard that before. Or seen. Where? She looks around the room briefly, eyes eventually settling on something. Wait. Yes. There. The office's owner named on the wall. Captain Louma. She looks back to Louma, then back to the name. "Wait. . ." Teis' brain slowly turns. She uncrosses her arms, pointing to the tag with one hand and Louma with the other. "As in, this is YOUR office?" Teis questions, momentarily perplexed enough that her sorrow fades. . .Only to come back. "Oh. . .Oh muffins. I'm so sorry." Her face melts, turning away to perhaps hide some of her wilting expression, "Idiot, Teis. . ." She mutters under her breath.
Louma watches Teis's reaction, shaking her head slightly after the apology. "Don't be sorry for not knowing me, I'm not in uniform and we hadn't met. Maybe be a little more careful about walking into places around the barracks, though. Even if Nesseth is using my office for his work. I am not up for a lecture, honestly." She sighs, relaxing a little. "So you've been helping, hmm? Thank you."
Teis turns back up to face Louma, cheering up a little upon being tanked, offering a weak smile. "Mm. What little I can do, anyway. . .There's this lady up in the observatory. She's been scouting for Nesseth, and I've been the, ah. . .Middle-man. Magic parchment." Teis replies. "So. . .You're the one that. . .Um. I'm. . .I'm sorry."
Louma nods, sighing. "It was my own fault, but in the end, it was a valuable experience. A classified valuable experience, for now." She's opting to cut off any questioning until everything has been discussed between her, Baldwin, Nesseth and the others in command. "You mean, Dorri though? And magic parchment?" She thinks for a few moments, nodding. "A gift from Aurelius, I presume? Hm. Clever."
Teis somewhat wants to question further, though understands. Additionally, she realises that she may not even want to know the details. She's sad enough about the entire affair as it is. She elects to simply follow the change of topic, nodding. "Yes. Aurelius gave one to Nesseth and one to Dorri. Nesseth needed help using it, or rather, resetting the parchment. I mean, I could've taught him how to do it himself, or one of his guards, or, well, I guess your guards, but. . .Just decided to take the responsibility. It's. . .The least I could do to take some stress off of him." Teis approaches the desk, "But. . .If you're the Captain, I guess I should just give it to you?" Teis tilts her head, offering Louma the rolled up parchment. "This, uh. Isn't the magic one. Just a transcript."
Louma shakes her head, gesturing toward the desktop. "Nesseth is in charge of the effort, I wouldn't have much use for the information other than to relay it right back to him." She smiles slightly, shrugging. "Besides, I'm supposed to be relaxing and recovering. Doctor's orders."
Teis nods, retracting her hand and the parchment. "Fair enough. So, uh. . .Full circle, know where I can find him?" Teis questions.
Louma lets out a light chuckle, shrugging. "Not really, but he'll be here shortly, I hope. You're free to wait with me until then, if you like."
Teis: "Yeah, if. . .That's not too awkward for you." Teis projects.
Louma shakes her head a little. "Not at all, but it's up to you." She pauses, considering Teis for a moment. "If anything, i wouldn't mind chatting a little bit with you. Nesseth has spoken of you before. Favorably."
Teis tilts her head. ". . .He has?" She questions, biting the inside of her upper lip, thinking. She decides to take a seat. "Uh, yeah. I'm good to chat, especially if there's something more I can do to help."
Louma nods, smiling at Teis. "Well, before all this." She waits for Teis to settle in a bit, the two of them having an amicable conversation, though they manage to skirt around the most relevant topics for the time being, both waiting for a certain lizard to arrive and allow their respective days to move on.
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RESPITE WESTERN WALL - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Nesseth stands facing out to the west, leaning lightly against a spear that he's been using as of late for patrol duty. One thing about the amount of duties he's been taking up is that when he has time to relax, even for a moment, exhaustion is quick to sweep him up and out. This is why, despite standing upright and on guard duty, his idleness resulted in him dozing off rather readily. Currently, he's snoozing peacefully in the warmth of the sun.
Vix pads silently behind Nesseth, preparing to pounce on him in greeting. She pauses thoughtfully as she gets closer...is he sleeping??
Nesseth is indeed sleeping, completely upright and perfectly balanced. He shifts a little as the wind occasionally nudges him about, but otherwise remains standing.
Vix grins as she sneaks up closer. Maybe she can mess with him a little~
Nesseth remains sleeping, completely unaware of anyone that might be sneaking up on him. He's pretty well exhausted from all the work.
Vix moves right behind Nesseth and runs a claw down the middle of his back from his neck to the base of his tail~
Nesseth 's frills flex a bit and he shivers as Vix's claw traces down his back, almost like he's caught a chill. He lets out a quiet, incoherent hum and shifts about slightly, but remains asleep...
Vix hums quietly and continues to run her claw along Nesseth's tail.
Nesseth wobbles a little as another shiver rolls through his body, his tail curling against thin air at Vix's touch. The rhythm of his breathing changes as he comes out of a deep sleep into something a bit more alert and shallow.
Vix stifles a giggle as she tries tickling the back of Nesseth's neck
Nesseth 's frills adjust as Vix teases his neck, moving aside as though to invite continued teasing even as he cants his head back and to the side in an unconscious attempt to ward off the touch. "Mmghg... hmm...? Time to wake up...? Didn't hear the alarm..."
Vix giggles and continues to tease~
Nesseth hears Vix's giggling, then tries to reach over to remove the blanket and roll out of bed, or so he thinks. "Okay, okay... getting up... I'll get breakfast started in a moment..."
Nesseth overbalances from his upright position as he tries to "roll' while standing up, stumbles and falls over in a tangled heap. "W-woah, agh!"
Vix steps back as Nesseth falls over. "Mornin', sweetie~"
Nesseth answers with a muffled groan. "Ugh... morning, Vix... or, uh..." He tries to crack open an eye, only to catch the glare of the afternoon sun in his face, "...Right... I'm on the wall, still, aren't I...?"
Vix giggles and offers a hand to Nesseth. "You were out cold. Pretty impressive to do while standing up~"
Nesseth slowly untangles himself from his gear and spear, then takes the offered hand up. As much as he'd prefer to just keep holding Vix's hand, however, he takes a few seconds to dust himself off and rub the sleep from his eyes as he yawns. "I think I still prefer sleeping in a bed, but... I'll take what I can get, I guess." He smiles softly at Vix after a moment, "What's up?"
Vix hugs Nesseth. "Just stopping by to say hi. Brought you some snacks, as usual~"
Nesseth hums warmly and hugs Vix back, giving her a little kiss in addition. "Thanks, dear. I'm always appreciative of whatever you bring by." He tilts his head curiously, "So... what's on the menu today?"
Vix opens up her pack. "I had some extra rice, so I tried packing it into balls with different stuff in the middle. Here!" She tosses a rice ball to Nesseth.
Nesseth blinks and catches the rice ball when Vix tosses it at him. He looks curiously at the snack and then back towards Vix. "Huh... bite-sized meals, eh? You're getting creative with your cooking." He takes a rather sizable bite out of it, revealing the bit of food hidden in the center of the ball of rice, "Mmh... tasty~"
Vix bites into a rice ball of her own. "I think next time I'll toast the outside or something to make it less sticky.
Nesseth takes another bite of his, leaving about a third of the ball left. "You could also maybe wrap it in something edible, too. Just a little extra layer or something, if you're trying to make it less sticky."
Vix snaps her fingers. "Ah, of course! That makes total sense"
Nesseth pops the last piece into his mouth and finishes it off. He takes a few moments to pick off the bits of rice clinging to the scales on his fingers. "Pretty good idea for a snack out in the field, too."
Vix chuckles. "Glad you like it. They're pretty filling, so you have to be careful or you'll pass out in a food coma later."
Nesseth hums and nods. "It's rice, so... not too surprising, I suppose. One or two would make for a good energy boost, though."
Vix hums and sits on the wall. "You look like you could use some energy. What's up?"
Nesseth shrugs a little as he goes to take a seat next to Vix. "Just a bit tired from the extra duties, that's all. It's not too bad, now, with Louma back, but there's still a lot to be done before things settle back down again."
Vix: Hmm, so not the time to throw a welcome back party yet, huh?
Nesseth chuckles and shakes his head. "Sorry to put a damper on things, but... not quite. I'm sure Louma would appreciate the thought, but there are still a lot of folks stuck out to the west." He winks at Vix, "We can party once everyone's back safely. How's that?"
Vix smiles. "Sounds like a good plan~. Time to stockpile some booze~"
Nesseth leans to the side and gives Vix a hug. "Hopefully you're able to find someone to supply you with the drinks. I've been hearing the Minnow's stocks have been getting a bit scarce lately."
Vix rubs her chin. "Maybe I can set up a deal with a local trader..."
Nesseth nods. "Probably not a bad idea. You've got a nose for sniffing out good deals."
Vix sticks out her tongue. "We gotta rent out the Minnow, too. That should be easy enough~"
Nesseth chuckles again. "Who knows, you might be able to just work out a deal with the Minnow staff alone, since it's kind of the main inn in town."
Vix hums, planning things out in her head. "Hard to know when everyone will be rescued...should I take care of that, too~?"
Nesseth tilts his head. "What, rescue everyone?" He pauses, blinking, then shakes his head, "Woah, wait, no, you aren't suggesting joining up on the rescue mission?"
Vix chuckles. "Just kidding! I would just get in the way, I think..."
Nesseth shakes his head again, though less forcefully. "No, you'd be a pretty good tracker, and you can hold your own pretty well from those raptors we ran into some time back. I just don't want to put you into this sort of situation."
Vix pensively crosses her arms. "Yeah, I know...I still wish I could help somehow."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully. "Hm... we just need to think outside of the box a little. Xochi's going to be a mediator; Plume, Tarbin and Melia are taking care of all the wounded; Kira's Xochi's personal guard for the trip..."
Vix: I dunno...field chef?
Nesseth nods slowly. "That could be an idea. You've got a lot of good recipes, and we could always use tasty food out away from town."
Vix: I mean, ready-to-eat snacks could probably work as rations too~
Nesseth smiles. "If they're enough to keep us on our feet, it works as a ration. Energy-rich and delicious works wonders for morale."
Vix: I guess I can put together a menu and collect orders from the rescue team...hmm, yeah..."
Nesseth chuckles. "Your kitchen's going to be quite busy, then. If you need food stuffs to supplement, you can snag things from my pantry. Better you use them than I let them go bad during the time I'm away."
Vix scratches her head. "Wait, how many people am I cookin' for?"
Nesseth shakes his head and shrugs. "Not sure, yet. We're still taking volunteers for a couple more days or so, I think. Once we finalize the roster, I can let you know. At the very least, I'd guess maybe a third of the guards are guaranteed to go?"
Vix: Ah jeez...any big eaters?
Nesseth smiles a bit at Vix. "Well... we've got a few bigger folks in the guard, like Brunilda and her girlfriend Fiora. They're both herbivores, so that might make it easier on you."
Vix nods. "I've got a few simple vegetarian recipes already~"
Nesseth grins. "Sounds like you've already got some ideas, then."
Vix grins and leans against Nesseth. "Shouldn't be too hard to whip something up~"
Nesseth hums and wraps an arm around Vix's shoulders as she leans against him. "I bet the guard would be happy to pay you for the help afterwards, too. No small task, cooking for so many folks, you know."
Vix: Might have to put the shop on hold for a while. Oh, and I'll need a taste tester, too~
Nesseth smirks. "Well, you know you've got a volunteer if you want someone helping with the taste tests, Vix. You know I love sampling the food you make~"
Vix winks. "We'll probably also have to test out how much energy you get from them~"
Nesseth chuckles as he pecks Vix on the nose. "And you know I'm always happy to give you the necessary feedback~"
Vix leans over and kisses Nesseth on the cheek. "Oh, I know~~"
Nesseth hums warmly and simply settles in next to Vix, the two just spending the afternoon together on watch as they chit-chat about this and that, or wherever their thoughts take them. A nice, peaceful moment amidst a steadily rising tension from the upcoming rescue operation.
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RESPITE TRAINING GROUNDS - AFTERNOON
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Brunilda pauses in her furious halberd-swinging, holding the big weapon to her side. The elephant is soaked with sweat, having spent couple of hours giving the training dummies (and a few guards) a bit of what-for in preparation to the same thing they are all preparing for - saving innocents from the 'Saurs. She gives the badly battered dummy a frown, makes a mental note to fix it up later, then goes sit down on a rock at the edge of the grounds.
Piper approaches the training grounds, craving some proper exercise that can't be found much anywhere else, what with the town being in a soft siege. She is deliberately attending during one of Gareth's meal breaks. She's not embarrassed about their last conversation, but not putting any more strain on that relationship is preferred. The croc's outfit of choice for training is... Identical to her typical clothes; a well fitted pair of croc-styled slacks and a nice coat and shirt to match, all looking slightly too tight in some ways and loose in others. Her punching-dagger bracers dangle from her right hand as she takes a casual look about. She's not used the training grounds yet, and certainly doesn't hide that she's unfamiliar with the layout.
Brunilda looks over at Piper, giving her an appraising look. The elephant is dressed in her usual guard gear - that is, mostly light leather armor in strategic places, with few plates of metal here and there.
Beef follows on soon after Piper arrives, having been waylayed to help with some small task requiring strength on the way. He's dressed gear a bit more appropriate than what he wore during the caravan attack, though it's still not much. He's mostly just clad in loose shorts and a sleeveless shirt with a well worn pair of grappler's gloves on his hands. The big grey ox moves to stand beside Piper and joins her silent examination of the training grounds, giving an noncommital snort.
Piper spots Brun looking her way, giving a quick nod before she looks to her side at Beef. "Was quick, ay? Lots of room..." She looks toward Brun again, figuring the guard keeping an eye on them would be fine with responding. "What rules are here, ma'am?"
Brunilda gives a soft grunt before getting up and addressing the admittedly intimidating-looking gator: "The grounds are for training, not for hurting. We're here to sharpen our skills, not cause the town Doc more work." She shrugs: "Not much beyond that."
Beef nods to Piper. "Yeah. Boxes weren't too heavy. Back in the cart and on their way." He follows Piper's gaze out to Brunilda and gives a polite nod to the elephant.
Piper hums, glancing toward Beef. "Weren't planning on hurting me, right?" She chuckles her three notes, smiling toothily at Brunilda. "Will try, wont fight anyone too small. Unless they ask. Mh, name's Piper, if you need. This is Beef."
Brunilda nods, giving a tired smile: "Brunilda. One of the town Guard, though I imagine that's obvious." She gestures at the grounds: "Feel free to have at it, seems we're going to need all the available force we can get soon enough."
Beef smiles at Brunilda and stretches out his meaty hands, a couple quiet pops coming from his knuckles. "Don't want to hurt nobody if I can help it."
Piper hums, her smile slipping a little. She's not keen on repeating her reluctance to help against the saurs, particularly in front of current company. "Appreciate it. Bit stiff here, with the... Issues. At least one place to stretch." She raises her weapons, nodding toward the dummies. "Can hurt the wood ones, ay?"
Brunilda chuckles, nodding: "Feel free to. I spend a fair amount of time repairing them, but that's what they're there for. Getting your swings right." She shifts her halberd in her hand just slightly, still itching to get a few rounds in even in her rather exhausted state.
Piper nods, draping the wrist straps of her right-hand dagger over the sleeve of her shirt, pinning the other gauntlet between her elbow and side. It's a fairly practiced effort, but still a little awkward. She tries to distract from the slight fumbling by nodding towards Brunilda. "Beautiful tool you have. Custom?"
Brunilda looks slightly up at the halberd's top edge as she holds it upwards: "Yeah... was my grandfather's. He had a nickname for it too, but I think he changed it like five times when I was growing up."
Beef gives a little chuckle at that. He walks over to one of the dummies and gives it a good looking over, mostly to make sure it won't break unexpectedly.
Brunilda glances at Beef: "Don't worry about them breaking. Takes a lot of force to make one of them explode. I should know."
Piper tugs the straps tight, having an easier time putting the left on using her dominant hand. "Good to have pride in your work, and of family's work." She adjusts the bracers slightly, then tugs her sleeves a little looser. "No tailor like Father."
Beef nods in agreement. He walks back toward the pair. "Yes. Some folks don't build them right, though. Usually when made to do it as punishment..." He watches Piper futz with her gear. "Need help?"
Brunilda gives a bit of a chortle at that: "Family pride... sure. Let's go with that."
Piper tilts her head at Beef, extending her arms to show the secured bracers, the matching blades looking odd for such a weapon. Typically adorned with straight blades, Piper's differ with a forged straight blade in the middle, and a crescent hook to either side of the main point. "No, thank you. ...Maybe next time?"
Brunilda looks at Piper's choice of weapons and gives a low whistle in appreciation. "Don't see those sort of blades too often."
Beef nods a bit. He takes a moment to tighten his own gloves, the leather creaking a bit at the hard tug on the wrist straps. "OK then."
Piper chuckles, taking a moment to stretch. "Hope not. Snakes don't give up spears easy." She pauses, grinning at Brun. "Won't spar with them. Promise."
Brunilda laughs a bit, looking over the training ground. "Most prefer to spar hand to hand, or just with wooden staves." She pauses: "For that matter, so do I. This halberd here is for the real situations."
Beef looks between the two. "I'll go work a dummy then, if you two gonna spar." He walks off to do so, squaring off in front of one of the larger training dummies.
Piper looks toward Beef as he walks toward the dummies. "Think we both prefer bare hand? Mh..." She looks to Brun. "Not if you are tired."
Brunilda considers for a moment, then sighs: "I probably shouldn't. Promised Fiora I'd still have a match with her later."
Piper chuckles. "You know Fiora? Need to meet her in ring. Some day. Well, will join the big ox, then."
Brunilda smiles: "Yeah, Fiora's my partner..." She still feels a bit odd - and elated - to say that out loud, even though it's been obvious to anyone observing the pair lately. "Have fun, though. I'll watch your style from here."
Beef has just warmed up with a few punches and slaps to the dummy, but is still paying attention to the conversation as he stops and turns back to face the pair.
Piper nods to Brun with a kind smile. "Ay, rest well!" She gives a short bow before turning toward the dummies, rejoining Beef. She might take a few slower steps, watching him test out the dummy until he turns their way. "Short warm up?"
Brunilda sits back down on the rock, just observing the grounds as she continues gathering herself.
Beef grunts a bit. "I'm good. You?"
Piper chuckles, shaking her head as she steps up to a dummy. "Not even started!" She starts in on the dummy, warming up before they spend a few rounds in the ring, weaponless, but not bruiseless. Wouldn't be fun without a few bruises.