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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - MID-AFTERNOON
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Gareth sigh a bit as he sits on a flat rock he'd pitched his tent next to. Another day's march, another hot day, another day closer to the Prominence and a resolution to all of this stuff that started over a month ago. He doffs his hat and takes a few seconds to fan himself as he tries to cool off, a nearby rise being enough to provide some blessed early shade. As he's fanning himself, he takes a few moments to look around for Sammi, wondering how she's been holding up under the sun, being a denizen of the deep and all.
Xochi slithers through the camp, having finished her morning prayers. She has found herself somewhat aimless as the group draws closer to the Prominence, the wounded having returned to Respite, the outlook for any peaceful negotiations rather dim. At most, she has been acting as a go-between for Usid's clan and the remaining warriors of Respite. At the moment, though, she is quite without purpose within the camp. As she moves through, she spots the wolf resting upon the rock in his typical peculiar garb, and considers him for a moment before raising her voice with a quiet clearing of the throat. "Pardon the interruption. You are Gareth, yes?"
Gareth locks eyes with Xochi as she starts talking, not having spotted Sammi nearby in his quick, cursory scan. He doesn't stop fanning himself, though he turns a bit more to get a better look at Xochi. He smiles and shakes his head a bit. "No interruption, lass, yer fine. Aye, I'm Gareth, and yer Xochi, the guards' negotiator. Somethin' amiss?"
Xochi shakes her head, her hands folded in front of her. "No, nothing is amiss. I am merely curious. I had been advised of your presence, your volunteering to aid us. But I admit I am curious about something about you... if you would indulge this old snake in her questions?"
Sammi was outside of Gareth's line of sight because she was in the tent, out of the sun. However, the talking outside had piqued (She just learned that word!) her curiosity, and she stuck her head out "Oh! Hey Xochi! Didn't know you were here!" She was about to say something else (Likely something odd, that would demand a reaction), before she noted that Xochi was here with something of a purpose, so she settled for just sitting down nearby, crossing her legs under her. She didn't really comment on herself and Gareth..since that was self evident..She was dressed, at least, in that vaguely seafarer getup she now had.
Gareth nods, looking over at Sammi with a warm smile when she comes out of the tent, but looks back at Xochi after a moment. "Sure, if ye've somethin' ye want to know, feel free to ask." He flashes a bit of a grin, "Unless ye want to know if I've bounties on anyone other than yerself. Afraid I have to keep quiet about any o' those."
Xochi blinks in surprise at Sammi's sudden appearance, but she seems rather happy to see her. "Oh! Sammi! Greetings!" She tilts her head a bit at the outfit and chuckles, "Your clothing seems quite well suited. I have always thought about getting pants, but I find they do little to flatter my backside." She laughs at her own joke, before turning back to Gareth with a strange look, "A... bounty? I suppose such a thing would be worth knowing..." She considers her wings. "Recent revelations may have changed your estimation of that fact... but I felt it would aid us in achieving some measure of parlay with our foe, but I am afraid that was not the case."
Sammi is still a little bad at getting jokes, so just gets a puzzled look on her face at Xochi's comment "Oh! If you really need, there's this bounty board that you can find, in fact..." She reaches into her bag, and pull out a small sheet of paper "..This service is not available in your area" She sighs, and pushes it back in "Never mind...anyway! Are you going to find the big bad dino guy, and try to make him a big good dino guy..like that Usid!" She pauses "I don't know if he's good, but gosh, he's trying"
Gareth chuckles and shakes his head. "Well, just to put it out there, no. I've no bounties on ye, Xochi. Don't have any bounties active, really." He looks over the coatl's wings for a moment, as well as the plumage on her in general, "Well, it was worth a shot, at least. It doesn't always work out as planned."
Xochi chuckles, feeling an unexpected level of relief at that sudden and new concern being so quickly dismissed. She nods to Sammi, "That was my hope yes. I do wish I could take credit for Usid, and I have been trying to aid him in understanding our beliefs, but I'm afraid most of what he is doing is of his own agenda. Dyvrisse was a failure... and I fear what may happen... but ah, I should not dwell on such! The truth is, I had not considered your profession. I was more interested in your outfit? Is it crass to call it a 'pirate' uniform?"
Sammi: "I think the nice way of saying is uh..Privateer?"
Sammi: "Or Freebooty!"
Gareth shrugs a bit. "That Usid... he's doin' what he thinks is best fer his clan. Not sure if he cares what he learns unless he's guaranteed to live when we all get back." He flashes another smile, "As fer me outfit, aye, it's a pirate outfit. Same one I used to wear some time back when I was the Quartermaster on the Victory North, even. And, uh... that's "freebooter", Sammi. At least, fer anyone not me."
Xochi covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, "Ah, we return to the issue of private rears. This could be why I could never have been a pirate, yes? Ahh, but you were a pirate? Or still are? This is, perhaps, a random question, but how well did you know other pirate crews?"
Sammi: "Oh! Uh..right! Freebooter" She ahems, before settling, to wait for Gareth's answer. She doesn't feel the need to interject with anything more right now, content to let Gareth take the floor
Gareth chuckles in amusement at his current company. "Was a pirate, aye. I quit and left the Victory North just before the crew did somethin' monumentally stupid. I was on the money, too, because Fiora came stompin' into town not too long later with a bounty on the lot o' the crew, except meself." He shakes his head, "Didn't know the other crews too well, but we had our interactions here and there. Sometimes friendly, sometimes not."
Xochi hums, considering. "Then perhaps you would not know them... I am curious, is all, about one crew in particular. They fly under a flag of two snakes entwined, but I know little else I'm afraid."
Sammi: "Oh! Some sort of serpenty crew? Are they enemies of yours?"
Xochi laughs, "I do not believe so! But, I cannot say for certain. They aided me once, unasked for, in a time of need. I was curious to learn more of them, if such a thing were possible."
Gareth shrugs again. "It depends. Twin serpents, ye say? If they operated around the northern sides o' Orela, we likely ran into them a few times." He rubs his chin a bit as he thinks a bit more deeply, "Yeah... can't recall the ship name off-hand, but I remember the flag. Maybe if I gave it more thought, I might come up with somethin'."
Sammi: "I could try spooky deep sea magic? Maaaybe? Dunno how good it would be out here"
Xochi bows her head to Gareth, "It is... simply a matter of curiosity, I suppose, but any information you recall..." She glances at Sammi, "Spooky deep sea magics? I would not wish to impose upon you with such an idle request." There's definitely something more behind her words than just speculation and curiosity.
Gareth scratches his cheek for a moment as he looks at Sammi. "Maybe we can figure out a bit more information if we work together on that when we get back to Respite. Wouldn't be surprised if ye caught some talkin' in the past years about the ship, Sammi."
Sammi: "Oh, it would be no real bother, You know I don't mind helping with stuff!" There's that whole ritual thing after all "Ah, yeah..we can get on it back in Respite? It would all work better if I can actually be in water. Hard to focus with dry skin and all that"
Xochi grins, "There is certainly no rush." She pauses, considering. "To tell the truth... there was a package, delivered to me in Respite, bearing their icon. But I don't know their motives for helping me once, nor for sending me anything afterwards. It is most... unusual."
Gareth tilts his head curiously. "And they did that without ye askin' them? Huh... I suppose there are all kinds o' folk out there sailin' the seas with pirate flags, if me old crew was anythin' to go by."
Sammi: "Maybe they just liked you? You're a very likable person after all!"
Xochi raises a hand to her chin, and would blush if she could. "Ah, I try, Sammi. I do not wish to cause others strife. But they did not even know me when they first gave their help. It is quite a mystery, no?"
Gareth nods. "Aye, that's a mystery fer sure. Yer sure ye don't have any other info to go off o', though, aside from their flag? Did the package have anythin' signed by one o' the crew, or anythin' o' the sort?"
Sammi: "Did you open it?"
Xochi pauses. "A letter... but no signature. It only said to open the box if I was in need." She closes her eyes. "I have not opened it, no. It is safe, in my home in Respite."
Gareth hums thoughtfully. "That's curious, fer sure... So the package was a recent arrival, then?" He pauses, frowning just a touch, "Well... 'recent' as can be since we all left town, that is. Gettin' a chance to see the emblem properly will help, though, so that's good."
Xochi: "Recent, within the past year, for I have not been in Respite much long. It followed my own arrival into town by a few months. I chose to hide it away and hope I would never need anything within it. But the questions remain... and I am now revealed to others. The question of its need becomes more open."
Sammi: "Uhhh,..honestly, I'd have already opened the box"
Sammi: "I'm not great at not opening forbidden sealed containers..."
Gareth shrugs a bit. "Part o' me says it won't hurt to at least look, but another part o' me says that... if it's somethin' magical, well... Whatever it is might not take too kindly to bein' opened without a reason."
Xochi chuckles, "I have many years of patience, Sammi. I can resist the temptation." She nods back to Gareth. "The nature of their first such aid was magical, yes. Though I do not suspect it would be harmful to open and examine, part of me did not wish to think of it. Out of sight, out of mind."
Sammi: "Well, if they're there to help you, it probably doesn't hurt you to open..right?"
Sammi is curious! Open da boxxxx
Xochi nods, humming again. "I suppose not... when we return to Respite, then? If it shall aid in sparking your memory, we can all examine the mark, consider the letter for clues... and open the box to see what lies within."
Gareth hums in agreement, nodding along. "Aye, if ye think it'd be worth a look, we could do that when we get back. The more info we have before startin' a search, the better. If I had a name to connect with the emblem, that'd be the best bet fer figurin' out the how and why o' things."
Sammi: "Right. That sounds like a plan!" Yay! Opening the Box!
Xochi dips her head in appreciation, "I thank you for your aid. Both of you."
Gareth smiles and dips his head. "Happy to help ye, Xochi, since it's sort o' in my area o' expertise, in a way."
Sammi: "Yup! Always happy to help a friend!"
Xochi grins wider at the two, "Thank you, Sammi, once more. And to you as well, Gareth. I would be quite honored to call you friend as well, of course."
Gareth lifts his hand in a bit of a salute. "And yer a friend o' Sammi's, so I'd be happy to call ye one o' mine as well." He grins a bit, "We'll figure this mystery out."
Xochi gives the duo a formal bow. "I shall leave you two in peace for now. I had best go speak to Usid once again before I break fast. Stay safe, both of you."
Gareth hums and nods again. "And you as well, Xochi. Let us know if ye need us fer anythin' around camp."