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JUST OUTSIDE OF PLUME'S CLINIC - LATE MORNING
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Nesseth walks around a bit, not really pacing so much as just slowly working the strength back into his legs as he continues his recovery. Luckily, it's just been a mixture of exhaustion and pain from other body parts keeping him off his feet, and now that he's been well-rested and had his injuries treated, he's been more easily capable of standing up and walking around. Still, by the way he's taking his time and measuring his steps, he's still being cautious, if only to not make Plume worry about him.
Erika walks back to the clinic with another set of healing herbs and assorted 'easy eating' fruits in her basket. Upon seeing Nesseth, she waves at him with a grin, not having had a chance to talk with him before now: "Hey Nessy!" She pretty much bounces closer, putting her basket down on the grass as she does.
Nesseth looks around as he pauses to stretch one of his legs and waves with a cheerful smile upon seeing Erika. "Hey there, Erika! Good to see you again!" He stands up straight and smiles warmly as he gets a look at the contents of the basket, "Coming by with another delivery of medicinals for Plume, I take it?"
Erika grins and gives Nesseth as tight a hug as she dares: "Good to see YOU! I was so worried when you all were out there!" She then lets go, glancing at the basket: "Oh yeah, pretty much what I can do. It's not that much, but it's what I can do."
Nesseth chuckles and gives Erika a warm hug back, his good arm definitely a bit more effective at it than his injured arm, even if the pain is mostly just a dull throbbing at this point. He doesn't show any real signs of discomfort as he releases the hug. "Hey, every little bit helps. Those herbs can help people get on their feet faster, stop infections, and all kinds of other things." He grins, "I'm glad to see you're okay, though. I've been worried about you and everyone else back home while I've been out to the west."
Erika smiles brightly back: "Oh, I'm fine. Been fine." Her smile wavers ever-so-slightly: "J-just keeping everyone up-top, it's what I do." She glances at the herb and fruit basket and gives a small shrug.
Nesseth takes notice of the subtle signs and gives Erika a knowing, if wry smile. "Hey, you're trying to fool a tracker, Erika. I've a sharp eye for details." He stoops over and picks up the basket, and then nods over at the bench on the porch of the clinic, under the awning, holding out his free (injured) hand for Erika to grab if she wants. "Come on, let's go and have a seat, and you can tell me what's up, okay?"
Erika hesitates for a second, then sighs and takes Nesseth's hand with a weak smile: "It's nothing really. I don't get to complain..."
Nesseth shakes his head as he leads Erika up to the porch and over to the bench, where he takes a seat and offers the open spot to the okapi. "You've helped me before with all kinds of things. The least I could do is return the favor if I can." He smiles, "And if that means lending an ear, or a shoulder, that's fine by me."
Erika sits down next to Nesseth, looking down: "Yeah, I know. It's just..." She pauses, gathering her words for a few seconds: "...I'm glad it's over, cause, I... I'm not sure how much longer I could have kept up... all the loss, and trauma, and... I've tried to keep people up and cheery, to see the bright side, even if it's just with a sweet fruit..." She sighs, giving Nesseth glance. This has definitely done a number on the okapi.
Nesseth nods understandingly. "It's been a stressful time for everyone, especially those that look out for others, like you do. Doubly so, if the caretakers don't have anyone to take care of them when they're stretched thin."
Erika nods slowly: "Yeah, it is. But well... I don't do much, I wasn't out there..." She shakes her head: "I just want things to go back as they are."
Nesseth shakes his head a bit. "Everyone does what they can. You don't have to be out fighting to still have an impact on things, after all." He sighs a bit, "Thankfully... I think things will settle back into a more normal routine again, now that this is all over with."
Erika looks down again: "...is it bad if I just want to sort of do what Melia did, and close back into my garden... at least for a bit?"
Nesseth smiles a bit at Erika. "Nothing wrong with wanting to just... withdraw for a bit, especially after working to keep so many folks' spirits up for so long." He offers another smile at he looks at Erika, "I actually go on hunts on occasion just for the peace and quiet more than to hunt anything. You know, just to get out away from day-to-day life for a bit."
Erika nods, glancing towards the mountains in the distance: "...I do miss being out there."
Nesseth follows Erika's gaze out towards the mountains, nodding. "It's safer to head out that way again, now that the troubles with the Saurs is over with. Of course, if you'd feel more comfortable with someone watching your back, I could offer to accompany you if you like. A trek into the forest would be far, far easier than hiking across the desert."
Erika nods slowly: "Perhaps..." She looks at Nesseth with a small smile: "...as long as I don't bore you. You know how I get with herbs."
Nesseth chuckles. "I don't get bored too easily while out on a hunt. Chatting with you would be honestly a lot more fun than stalking a target for hours on end, no matter the topic."
Erika chuckles in turn: "At least herbs don't care if I make noise. I'll promise to be quiet if something needs more crossbow and less herb sickle though."
Nesseth smiles at Erika. "Honestly, if something needs more crossbow out that way, I'd rather you stay safe than stay quiet."
Erika sticks her tongue out: "Same thing."
Nesseth laughs a bit. "Fair enough. Still, I think it'll just be a nice trip out that way. Peace and quiet, and you'll get to scratch that exploration itch again."
Erika nods with a smile: "I'd like that, once things settle here for sure." She sighs: "...I'd like that."
Nesseth smiles at Erika again. "Then we can make plans for it. Whenever you think would be best, just let me know and I can get ready for it."
Erika looks at Nesseth's body, then grins: "Perhaps when Plume lets us go, whenever that is."
Nesseth smiles sheepishly as he lifts a hand to his injured shoulder and moves his burned arm. "Yeah... well... the burns will take a while to heal no matter what, but I'm up on my feet again. We'll see how quickly I can recover."
Erika lifts her hand to Nesseth's arm: "Whenever you can. Don't rush on my account... I'll live." She smirks a bit: "...even if we want to head out there already, now that you mentioned it."
Nesseth 's smile shifts back to a less embarrassed one. "You'll live, sure, but I do want to make sure you're able to get a well-deserved break. I might not be able to persuade Plume to let us go right this instant, but... I don't have to be one-hundred percent to get cleared for a day-trip of herb-gathering with you."
Erika winks: "As long as we manage that, yup." She looks down, then sighs as her smile fades a bit: "...thank you, Nessy. Needed that talk, I think."
Nesseth leans to the side and gives Erika a gentle one-armed hug. "You're always welcome, Erika. I'm always happy to lend an ear or a shoulder when it's wanted or needed for any reason."
Erika smiles: "Yeah. Lots of friends in this town, but not that many who I can say this stuff to. If that makes sense."
Nesseth nods. "Some friends are closer than others, yeah. I get it." He chuckles a bit, "I'm glad I'm counted among the closer ones."
Erika gives Nesseth a poke, then a hug: "Of course you are! You've tolerated me here for how long now?"
Nesseth jumps slightly at the unexpected poke, but laughs as he leans into the hug. "About since I first arrived about six... seven years back, I think? You're good fun!"
Erika giggles: "Good to know I haven't lost my touch."
Nesseth pffts in amusement as he waves a hand. "It's harder to not smile around you, you know, even with that little talk we just had."
Erika shrugs with a smile: "I just do what I do."
Nesseth chuckles again. "And you're really good at doing it, too."
Erika gives Nesseth a poke on the rib: "Now you're just complimenting me for no reason." Pause. "Keep going."
Nesseth brings in his elbow to shield his ribs from another poke on reflex as he manages to choke out a laugh. "H-hey, just being honest! But, if you're serious..." He slowly untenses as the danger of another rib-poke fades, "What else could I compliment you on...? Hmm..."
Erika gives Nesseth a cheesy, encouraging grin.
Nesseth gives a similarly cheesy smile as he thinks. After a few moments, he comes up with some easy ones. "Well, for starters, I've always been really impressed at your plant knowledge. Hearing you talk about herbs, sure, half of it goes over my head, but you still make it all sound really interesting just from how passionate you get about them."
Erika blushes a bit: "W-well, anyone's could have learned that from my Mom. I just... continued with that, sort of?" She doesn't sound convinced herself it's 'just' that.
Nesseth nods at the basket of herbs and fruit. "Knowledge aside, you're also amazingly skilled at putting that knowledge to work with your garden. All the times I've seen it in the past, I swear I'm still finding new things that were always there, but escaped my notice before." He laughs, "I'm lucky to keep that little tree in my backyard from withering."
Erika giggles, waving her hand: "Learned things the hard way a lot. It's just... work, right?" Again, not sounding terribly believable.
Nesseth grins at Erika. "Hey, experimentation and trial and error is just a learning experience. There's also probably some natural talent at work, there." He nods after a moment and gestures at Erika directly, "And smarts and talent in botany aside, you're very pretty. Seriously. Whoever you set your eyes on in the future is going to be a very lucky person."
Erika now blushes for real: "...p-pretty? Me? No I'm not." She opens and closes her mouth a couple more times, but no real objection escapes.
Nesseth laughs a bit when he sees the blush on Erika's cheeks. "Sure you are. You've a natural beauty about you, and all that exercise you get going out to gather herbs in the mountains, or tending your garden helps reinforce that.
Erika squirms a bit, swallowing a breath: "Uh yeah... maybe. Something like that." She gives Nesseth a look: "...you think someone will find me like that, one day?"
Nesseth nods quite sincerely. "Definitely. I certainly noticed all of that about you, after all." He gives a cheeky grin, then sticks his tongue out for a moment, "And me being a tracker and a scout has nothing to do with it."
Erika shakes her head bemusedly: "Fair enough, I guess." She glances up towards the mountains again: "One day..."
Nesseth hums. "One day, for sure." He looks over at the mountains, then casts a mischievous look back towards Erika, "Did I lay it on too thick that time?"
Erika gives a chuckle as she keeps looking up: "...not much. It's you, that's what you do." She gives Nesseth a smirk and prods him on the ribs again.
Nesseth jumps again at the poke and scoots away very slightly as he brings his elbow up to shield his side again, his hands rising up on reflex to guard against anymore incoming pokes. "A-ah! Y-yeah, I'm honest about what I think. Heck, if I wasn't with Plume and Vix, I'd probably try asking you out."
Erika grins with a blush: "Best you not, I don't want to get inbetween all that." She lets go of the poking, if just to keep Nesseth wary for future ones.
Nesseth is indeed still wary as he keeps a close watch on the closer of Erika's hands. "Yeah, we've managed to figure it out, but I can't imagine a fourth getting involved would be all too easy at all." He chuckles and shakes his head a bit, "Might have even tried back when I first arrived, but you know how nerves are. New faces, new locale, lots of things trying to draw attention every which way."
Erika chuckles: "Perhaps better not. Though I really wasn't with Cavro, then..." She shakes her head: "Messy, that."
Nesseth hums and nods. "Yeah... ah well. I like how things have gone this way, too." He blinks and looks over at Erika after a thought occurs, "...That silliness aside, how did you two hold up when that dragon flew over the town? Sounds like a lot of folks were pretty well freaked out by it."
Erika shrugs and gives a lopsided smile: "Each in their own ways. Most are fine if a bit spooked."
Nesseth nods at that. "Then... in that case, I'm glad you're okay. I'd have had to go and hunt down that thing if anyone here in town got hurt by it."
Erika shakes her head: "I don't think anyone could. We can just hope it's gone."
Nesseth sighs a bit and nods again. "...Yeah. It flew off somewhere, and the skies have been clear for some days now. Wherever it is, it's far from Aephix and the other continents. Hopefully it just finds another deep cave to sleep in for good."
Erika nods, laying her hand gently on Nesseth's shoulder: "Hopefully so." She gives a tired, if somewhat relieved sigh.
Nesseth hums quietly, smiling at Erika. "If you've got the time, we could try and persuade Plume to take a bit of an early break for some tea before you go on with the rest of your day."
Erika nods with a grin: "True, I should do that. Can't have them spend all day without a break either."
Nesseth leans over and picks up the basket again, then takes a moment to stand back up with a stretch. "A nice bit of tea for all three of us, then."
Erika smiles: "Sounds like a plan!"
Nesseth leads the way into the clinic, Erika's basket full of herbs and fresh fruit in hand as he and the okapi do their best to persuade Plume to take a short break for some tea and a short, friendly chat before all three continue on with the rest of their individual days.
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RESPITE BATH HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
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Louma rests coiled in the slightly more expensive private bath, some parts of her tail floating idly in the water, taking up most of the spare space, the heat soaking pleasantly into her scales and feathered flesh. The padded screens around the area do a decent job of cutting noise from the other patrons, but a loud laugh from somewhere beyond starts the guard awake, looking about in confusion for a moment, having dozed off a short time ago mid-conversation. "Anh ah no tea... Huh."
Gareth notices Louma startling awake and chuckles a bit as he soaks in the bath in probably one of the only sections left unoccupied by the lesser coatl's coils. "Mornin', Louma. Looked like ye dozed off fer a short while, there. Once yer nice and soaked, might not be a bad idea to head on home fer sleep. Probably more comfortable in yer bed than on the rim o' the bath."
Louma looks to Gareth with a nod. "I hope I wasn't out for too long... You were right about the bath though. I certainly needed it." She rises from the water, not covering the nothing she has to hide while she stretches the short nap out of herself. "Feel free to use the rest of the time in the private bath, though. My treat~"
Gareth smiles at the question. "Nah, you were out fer maybe a couple o' minutes, tops." He tilts his head a bit as Louma makes to get out of the bath, "Headin' out already, eh? Well, thank ye kindly fer coverin' the both o' us. Glad to know it helped ye out."
Louma chuckles, giving Gareth a bit of a look. "You just told me to get home to bed! Besides, I have to get home to cook for May, it's my turn. You'll just have to repay me with some good exercise in the ring some day~" Louma towels off her belly as she exits the bath during their conversation, fine with letting the rest of her body air dry.
Gareth laughs and nods. "Aye, I did, true, but only once ye felt good and relaxed." He dips his head a bit at the comment about cooking, though, "Ye don't want to keep yer partner waitin', in that case. And don't ye worry, Louma. Once yer ready fer a sparrin' match, I'll be ready."
Louma nods with a bit of a grin, shivering her wings to let the water fall away while draping the damp towels over her shoulders. "I'll look forward to it. Take care, Gareth." She bows slightly to him before making her way between the dividers towards the locker room to retrieve her uniform, leaving Gareth alone in a tub that would feel rather spacious after so much drifting snake vacates it.
Gareth waves farewell to Louma as she leaves the bath. Once she's out of sight, he sighs a bit and indeed stretches out to take advantage of the extra space afforded to him. It doesn't take more than a few seconds before he decides to just let himself float a bit on his back.
Piper stands up from the bath she'd been soaking in nearby, making quiet conversation with the others sharing the public bath until she'd heard Gareth's voice. Watching Louma pass by, she excuses herself from the others, rising... And rising... And rising until she steps from the water and around the barriers. Nobody bothers to speak up that she can't go there without being invited. She grunts in Gareth's direction, looking a bit odd with her large form holding a dish towel in front of herself in a display of modesty. (Correction, that's a regular towel.) "Evening. Join you?"
Gareth is definitely not caring about modesty, thinking he's alone at the moment as he floats along on the little eddies left by Louma's departure. He cracks open his eyes when he hears the grunt and looks over at the divider, thinking Louma came back for some reason. When he spots Piper, however, he loses his careful balance and dunks himself under the water for a moment before he resurfaces sitting up. "E-evening, Piper. Aye, if ye want to join in, feel free."
Piper chuckles her three notes when Gareth spooks, shaking her head slightly as she steps down into the water. She sighs quietly when settling back into the heat, closing her eyes for a moment. A concerned employee knocks at the barrier before peeking around, giving Gareth a look as if they'll eject Piper if he doesn't want her there.
Gareth wipes some of the water out from his face as he settles upright in the water, then notices the employee peeking in. He shakes his head and holds up a hand, silently saying it's okay.
Piper glances towards the knock, but returns her attention to Gareth without otherwise acknowledging the attendant as they leave. "Good service. Very attentive."
Gareth nods as he settles back again. "Aye, they pay pretty close attention to just about everythin' just to make sure nothin' is out o' sorts."
Piper nods as she slowly sinks further into the water. "It's good. Very busy tonight, still checking everything. Impressive. Private bath is nice, but pricey. Who's the lady?" She tilts her head a little on the question, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
Gareth tilts his head at the question. "Lady? Ye mean that doe that just peeked in? She's one o' the workers here. Don't know much more about her other than that." He pauses, "Oh, or do ye mean Louma? She's one o' the guard captains."
Piper 'ahhs', looking out through the dividers. "Interesting friends. Comes with the job, yeah?"
Gareth nods. "That it does, aye. Somethin' o' an odd friendship, but I'm not complainin'. She's a good sort, and ye don't see that too often in rankin' officers nowadays."
Piper chuckles her three notes again before humming for a moment. "Oh, the one you said to talk to." She grunts,, shaking her head. "Should've interrupted sooner."
Gareth smiles a bit. "Ye could have, aye. I don't know if she'd have appreciated it, though, since she just got off o' a really long day in the office. Ye could probably stop by her office tomorrow mornin', though."
Piper nods, sinking a little more into the water. "Right, point. You're in one piece. Very good." She seems to blush a little, though in the low light with her dark scales, it's only obvious in the way she turns her gaze away from him. "Felt bad. About last talk. I am sorry."
Gareth waves away Piper's concerns. "Ahh... don't worry about it, lass. It's fine. We both could have handled that whole thing better, I think."
Piper sighs, shrugging a little as her composure returns. "Could have been worse. Really wanted to bite your nose. My problem, though." She grins toothily at him, hoping the accidentally menacing smile makes the unintentionally threatening comment a little lighter.
Gareth laughs, clearly unbothered. "Wouldn't be the worst injury I've had, and I'd probably have deserved it anyway. Not sure if ye would have cared fer the fur stuck in yer teeth, though." He flashes a similarly toothy smile, "I was still kind o' in the middle o' sheddin' me winter coat when we last talked, if I recall."
Piper chuckles three, involuntarily flicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth as if just mentioning the tickling sensation makes her uncomfortable. "Certainly not. Still owe a fight, eventually. If guard doesn't hurt you."
Gareth grins and nods. "I think I'll be alright against her. Bruisin' won't bother me much, so I can still meet ye fer a match whenever ye have the time." He pauses for a moment, "Just... let me know when, so I can tell me huntin' partner about it. She'd want to watch the match, fer sure."
Piper laughs, nodding. "Try to not surprise you. Am very sneaky." She sinks down into the water until the top of her snout is nearly submerged. "Stealth is specialty."
Gareth chuckles and grins at Piper sinking lower into the water. "I'll just have to be careful around bodies o' water, then. Though ye know me weak spot's the water anyway, because o' the whole piratin' thing, and Sammi... and Lianne... and..." He trails off, a bit of a weird look on his face as he considers, "...Damn, I'm just easy prey fer a persistent crocodile, aren't I?"
Piper chuckles again, brushing her tail against his calf. "Created your own doom."
Gareth chuckles, his leg tensing just a bit at the light brush. "Eh... guess I might have been fated fer it or somethin'. Felt the call o' the sea since I was a wee lad, years and years ago."
Piper grins, pulling herself back out of the water with her arms supporting her from the edge of the bath. "Ay, hard to resist for some. Easy for others. Channels of archipelago, one thing. Deep seas... Mgh."
Gareth nods as he sinks a little into the water in turn, letting the warmth soak into the fur around his shoulders again. "The channels around Orela are nice and calm. Great places fer swimmin' and sailin' about. The seas are good fer... just gettin' away from things." He lightly nods his head, "Exceptin' durin' storms and such. Those are awful on the seas."
Piper nods, smiling at Gareth. "Just the depth, for me. And yeah, the waves. And time. Horizon. Infinite sky. Lack of fresh food. Er... Everything."
Gareth chuckles again. "Fair enough. Long-term sailin' isn't fer everyone. Would be nice if there was a faster way o' gettin' around for folks, somethin' more convenient."
Piper hums, nodding. "Wings. Everyone gets wings."
Gareth laughs a bit. "Aye, that'd be nice, wouldn't it? It'd make gettin' around a lot easier, at least."
Piper chuckles her notes, shaking her head. "Would be a sight. Flying elephants, ay."
Gareth takes a moment to imagine Fiora with wings, then laughs a bit harder. "Giraffes, too. That would be a sight, fer sure. Imagine how big their wings would have to be."
Piper laughs with Gareth, nodding. "With the armor, too. Muscly wings."
Gareth grins. "Lots o' exercise goin' everywhere and haulin' all that extra platin' and such everywhere."
Piper chuckles, tilting her head as she considers something. "Should try armor, sometime. Heard Fury's looks nice."
Gareth hums thoughtfully, then nods. "From what she's told me, she forged it all herself. Lass has got a sense fer style and utility, to say the least." He smiles at Piper, "Armor's heavy, but ye can definitely handle it."
Piper grunts. "Ay, be lots of steel. No pike to carry, though." She hums, thinking about it more. "Want tail spikes. And shoulder spikes. Elbow. Just spikes." She chuckles at the ridiculous image forming in her head.
Gareth starts forming a rather more sensible image in his own mind, and he nods as he considers it in his mind's eye. "Tail spikes... ye could deal some good damage with a swing o' yer tail that way. Shoulder and elbow spikes... good fer chargin' down yer opponents." He lets out a bit of a laugh, "Ye'd just be a giant, spiked mace, aye?"
Piper gives Gareth a wry grin, shrugging. "Do good damage now with tail. More so enemy can't grab. Other spikes... Yes. Croc mace. Already spiked hands, why not more?"
Gareth concedes the point. "Aye, yer tail is a mighty enough piece on its own. I definitely wouldn't want to get hit by it fer any reason." He smirks at the last part, "And exactly. Might as well complete the image."
Piper nods, her smile widening. "Ay, a hint for sparring, that would be. Will not hit full force. Will hit."
Gareth chuckles. "Dependin' on how much force ye've got behind that tail durin' a swing, I might be okay, really. Once, Louma sent me flyin' across the arena with a tail swipe. Only really wound up just sore and bruised."
Piper can't help but laugh at the thought, shrugging. "Was she armored?"
Gareth thinks for a few seconds. "Pretty sure she was. Light stuff, though, and definitely not her full guard gear. She had enough leverage to send me from one side o' the sparrin' arena to the other."
Piper flashes a toothy grin, nodding. "Ay. Soft. Snakes can swing fast. Make a good whip, long reach, but soft." She laughs, "Supple, even." Her tail rises out of the water, showing tough, hard scales glistening as the water runs off of them. "No need for armor, muscles like hard wood." She drops the appendage back into the water, splashing Gareth a little, which brings out a giggle.
Gareth brings up an arm to shield himself from the splash, but it's clear he doesn't mind from how half-hearted the attempt is, on top of the laugh. "Aye, that would be more like gettin' hit by a solid shield than a blunted whip. Not sure which would hurt more, though... and I'm not sure about findin' out, either." He grins, "O' course, if it happens durin' a spar, I won't hold it against ye."
Piper laughs, nodding along. "Would be the same. No holds barred, er... Well, might draw a line. Half load your guns powder, ay. Tough, not indestructible."
Gareth blinks and gives Piper a bit of an odd look. "...Wait, ye... ye think I use me guns durin' sparrin' sessions? I only use those things if I'm aimin' to kill, lass. Not goin' to risk hurtin' ye or anyone else near the arena if I can help it."
Piper tilts her head, grunting. "Ah, point. Should spar somewhere else, then?" She's clearly not picked up on the entire reason for Gareth's objection.
Gareth tilts his head a bit and just sort of looks at Piper with a rather dubious expression. "...So yer sayin'... ye don't mind if I shoot ye with half-loaded charges? Did ye... ever get shot before?"
Piper nods, getting his concern now. "Ay, thrice." She turns a bit to the left, lifting her right arm and pointing to two spots. One is halfway up her ribs, and the other is a vague gesture toward the right side of her back. With the way croc scales shed and regrow, there's nothing to show there in the way of scarring. "One glanced off my side. One buckshot to the back. Last a pistol, like yours." She turns back to face him. "Pistol hurt the most, but only lodged in muscle." She blushes a bit. "Not a boast there. Is just what happened."
Gareth stares at Piper in a bit of disbelief, though he does at least look at the spots she indicates, and notes that there are indeed no signs of any visible damage. "...Damn, and I'm guessin' that pistol was a full, proper load? Yer scales are tougher than I was expectin'... Probably just as tough as Fiora's armor, I'd say." He shrugs a bit, still looking a bit uncertain as to how wise it'll be to shoot a sparring partner, but... "Well... uh... if yer certain? When yer ready fer the sparrin' match, I can do half-loads."
Piper chuckles, shrugging slightly though she takes the comparison as a compliment. "Might have been, might not. I ah... Know half powder will hurt because well... Was curious. Who wouldn't, after that?" She chuckles a little more nervously, hoping she's not coming across as deranged. "Just don't want you handicapped. Fight at full skill, if at all."
Gareth shrugs a bit, accepting that if Piper's okay with him using half-load shots, he'll probably use them. He does, however, shake his head at the mention of being handicapped if he doesn't use his pistols. "Nah, I've got extra gear I can use if me pistols aren't available, or are used up. It's only two shots, so hit or miss, if the target isn't down already, I'll be fightin' without them pretty fast."
Piper hums, nodding to his point. "Suppose so. If it is too much, don't have to." She chuckles a little less nervously. "Not worried, myself."
Gareth nods. "Well, we'll see, then. Wouldn't want to hurt ye, but ye've got me pretty curious about how tough those scales o' yers really are."
Piper chuckles, giving him a sly look. "Tip my hand? Figure you start with them. Or you end with them. Up to you, know you are smart. Strategic, ay? If you start with them..." She chuckles darkly, seeming to loom in the shadows of the low light, "Wish you ended with them." She stops the look after a few seconds, laughing jovially. "Was scary? Haven't been threatening since arrival."
Gareth eyes Piper as she looms rather menacingly, certainly appreciative of the effect she's going for. At the question, he chuckles and nods. "Very good effect, there. Don't ye worry, though, I'm pretty strategic with them. Sometimes I open with them, sometimes I close with them, and sometimes..." He laughs again, "Sometimes, I just make folks dodge into another attack with them without firin'."
Piper reduces to a chuckle over a few seconds, then nods to him. "Ay, looking forward more." She leans back in the bath, arms supporting her again and showing off her toned physique fairly well. The posture and lighting on her frame and face reveal a similar outline to James.
Gareth gets a bit more comfortable on his side of the bath, nodding as he adjusts himself and sits up a bit straighter. "Should be a really good match. I'd best make sure I'm in top form fer it, just so I can give a good showin'."
Piper nods to Gareth , straightening up in the bath slowly. "Of course. I expect nothing less." She grins, reaching aside to grab her towel again. "Let you soak in peace. Looked like floating was fun." As she rises out of the water, she takes that uncharacteristically feminine posture, covering herself with the cloth.
Gareth chuckles and gives Piper a friendly nod as she rises up out of the water. "It's pretty fun, aye. Just sort o' driftin' about and relaxin'. I can see why waterfolk enjoy doin' that sometimes. It was good seein' ye again, Piper."
Piper nods to Gareth, humming in response as she steps from the tub and approaches the split in the dividers. "You too. And Gareth? Thank you. For forgiveness."
Gareth dips his head courteously, smiling easily. "O' course, lass... I should say the same fer me own missteps from earlier, too. Just let me know if ye need any help with that stuff, alright? Least I can do is give ye all the help I can."
Piper chuckles, smiling at the wolf. "Ay. Will need it. Good night." With that she bows her snout to him, stepping carefully past the privacy screens as to not knock them over. A lot to still think about for the croc, including wondering to herself why she'd not shared her findings right then and there.