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ERIKA'S GARDEN - MID-AFTERNOON
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Erika gets up to stretch her back, after a solid time of fixing up stuff in the garden. "Mmm! That should do for now, we've gotten far today." She looks about the garden; she and Nesseth have turned a solid chunk of various spots turned over to make space for... even more plants, naturally. The okapi gives Nesseth a warm smile: "Thank you, would have been way slower doing this alone."
Nesseth sighs a bit and rubs the back of his hand against his forehead as he straightens back up, having gotten a good workout with Erika helping the okapi till the soil for more plants. He looks over at her with a grin. "No problem, Erika. It's nice working in the garden on a day off."
Erika giggles: "You know, not everyone would call this something they'd do on a day off." She sticks her tongue out: "But I'm glad you do."
Nesseth laughs and shakes his head. "Maybe not, but it's not something I normally do, so why not, right?" He stretches his arms up a bit, the shovel in his hands held high as he does so, "Besides... that kind of workout means I'll sleep really good tonight."
Erika steps closer, grinning: "Well, as long as you're okay with it. And don't you usually sleep like a log? You have been a bit twitchy since you came back from Prominence, though..." Her smile fades into a worried one as she steps next to the lizard, holding her arms on his shoulders: "You're all right, right?"
Nesseth nods with a reassuring smile as he lightly rests his free hand on Erika's waist in turn. Up close, it's pretty clear there's a hint of lingering exhaustion, though. "Yeah... yeah, I'm okay. Just the occasional nightmare is all."
Erika gives Nesseth's nose a lick: "I don't like it when you have nightmares. Wish I could do something about that."
Nesseth chuckles a little at the tickle from the lick, and returns the favor with a teasing little kiss on Erika's chin. "Well... remember that night I accidentally woke you up not too long ago? You just being there helped quite a lot."
Erika leans close, nuzzling into Nesseth's frills: "Well, glad to have been there. You're great to be with... there... for. Or something like that."
Nesseth steps a little closer to Erika and hugs her a bit more warmly as she presses against his frills. "So... don't worry too much, okay? I'll be fine as long as we just... keep as we have been."
Erika hums, closing her eyes: "I'm still gonna worry. You know me."
Nesseth chuckles and gives Erika's neck a tender kiss. "I know... and I'm glad I've got folks like you looking out for me."
Erika giggles at the tickly kiss: "Well, someone's gotta do some of that, might as well be me." She gives a soft sigh: "...t-though I am glad I mostly need to worry about you and maybe Cavro, now. Not like... everyone."
Nesseth hums. "Mmh... it's a lot of stress off your shoulders, now that things are settling down again, yeah. I was worried you'd stretch yourself too thin while we were away from town."
Erika glances down at herself: "I mean, I am sorta thin and stretched..." She lets out a small giggle at her own joke.
Nesseth smirks teasingly as he pulls his arm back a bit and tickles Erika's side for a moment. "Silly okapi... That silliness is why you're fun to be around."
Erika squirms at the tickle: "N-nuh! No tickling! Or I will stop being silly! You hear?"
Nesseth laughs a bit and kisses Erika on the lips as he stops. "Oh, fiiiiine. When you put it that way, I guess I have to stop~"
Erika kisses back: "See? You only obviously like me for the silly, so if I stop goofing around, who knows where we'll end up?" She looks aside and points to a small bush: "Like there. And despite the Willbush looking soft, it's actually pretty spiky inside. And we don't want that, now do we?"
Nesseth follows Erika's finger towards the push, then chuckles as a hunt with Louma flashes through his memory. "I think I've had enough up-close encounters with spiky bushes for a while..."
Erika gives a cheeky grin, being well aware of said encounter: "Now why would you say thaat? Thorns look good on you, I'm sure."
Nesseth grins and shakes his head a bit as he gives Erika another hug and steps back. "On me, maybe... but definitely not in me."
Erika giggles, looking Nesseth over: "Well, fine, you look better like that~."
Nesseth grins as he sticks the tip of the shovel (gently) into the ground next to him and poses just a little for Erika. "Glad you think I look good, even when dirty." He winks, "Just like you, looking good no matter what~"
Erika blushes a bit, but her grin doesn't vanish: "I d-don't look that good. I'm just silly ol' me."
Nesseth grins as he looks Erika up and down, appreciation clear in his eyes. "I don't know, dear... you're like your garden. There's a certain wild beauty about you."
Erika blushes some more: "Wild beauty? B-but I'm not wild. I'm pretty tame, actually..." She trails off, not really having an objection.
Nesseth chuckles some more, leaving the flirting at that for the moment, though he gives Erika another little wink as he picks his shovel up again. "Whatever the case, safe to say I love all of you~" He glances around for a moment, "So, uh... before we get all cozy for the afternoon, is there anything else that needs doing?"
Erika glances around, distracted from the blushing for the most part: "I guess we're... sorta done here-ish? Least nothing pressing comes to mind... gotta do a pass on pruning that bush but it can wait..." She turns back to Nesseth: "I think we're fine~."
Nesseth hums as he looks around a bit then nods as he goes to set his shovel aside near another, somewhat flowery bush. "Guess we're in the clear to take a nice bath and snuggle up together, huh~?"
Erika starts nodding, then blinks: "Uh, Nessy... s-step away from that cloud of pollen you just... oh. Oh uh oh." She twitches slightly, frowning and unsure what to do.
Nesseth looks up and around, lightly swishing his hand around to clear the air as he disturbs the flowers. "Hm? What's wrong with the pollen?" His nose twitches, and he momentarily angles away to sneeze as he steps out of the cloud, "Ugh... that tickles."
Erika gives a lopsided smile: "You uh, shit... sorry, you might wanna sit down." She motions towards her toolbox off to the other side: "The Merndan Flower, it... kinda messes up with your sense of balance. Up is left and down is the other way, sort of thing..."
Nesseth tilts his head curiously at the explanation, then nods as he goes to take a seat a ways away from the disturbed bush. "Uh... temporarily, I take it? How long?"
Erika nods, looking apprehensive and a bit ashamed: "S-should have warned you. I-it's... a-at least I read it also is..." She swallows, looking at Nesseth, kind of afraid to continue all of sudden.
Nesseth takes a moment to dust off some pollen clinging to his scales and shirt. "Eh... it's fine, that was my mistake." He gives Erika a curious look when he hears her hesitation, "You also read that it's a...?"
Erika blushes and looks aside: "A-a p-pretty strong aphrodisiac for the scaly types..."
Nesseth tilts his head. "An aphrodis...?" He pauses, then laughs a bit, "Heh... how strong are we talking? Like, is it going to be any different from, uh... what we usually get up to?"
Erika gives a weak smile: "I'm not sure, but... I would not want to take advantage of... y'know, you being forward 'cause of it." She pauses: "How do you feel...?"
Nesseth shrugs a little, though his head cants to the side a few moments afterwards. "Honestly, just fi-- woah, okay... there's the balance problems..." He slowly shifts and lays down on his back as his balance starts to spin, "Heh... take advantage? How could I be more forward than I already am about you?"
Erika fiddles with her fingers: "I don't know, I just... I don't know." She sighs and gives a small smile: "P-please stay put, Nessy. Directions going funny, yeah?"
Nesseth nods a bit as he gazes up at the sky above the garden. "Yeah... starting to get a bit spinny, now. Honestly, not too much different from when I went tumbling down that hill..."
Erika smiles weakly: "But you're not really stumbling right now."
Nesseth hums in agreement. "Yeah, it just feels... I dunno, like I'm doing a slow-motion backflip or something. Kind of hard to describe..." He slowly looks over towards Erika, a smile on his face, "As for the other effects... not feeling much different from normal."
Erika tilts her head: "O-oh? I guess it's possible the study I read was wrong..." She shrugs, her smile widening just a bit: "That could be it, yeah?"
Nesseth chuckles and angles his head back to straight again just to keep whatever vestigial sense of normal balance he has from vanishing. "Probably... either that, or I'm just normally that, uh... well, yeah. Most likely the former."
Erika giggles, stepping closer to hold Nesseth's hand: "Possibly that, then. Guess we will see." She gives Nesseth's forehead a kiss: "Whichever, I'll be here."
Nesseth smiles as he holds Erika's hand, and his frills flex a little at the kiss. "Guess we've just got a little delay to any plans for a good bath together before snuggles, huh? Until this wears off, anyway."
Erika nods with a grin: "A-and maybe wait until that to go for that bath." She pauses: "W-wouldn't want you slipping, is what I mean."
Nesseth hums as another wave of dizziness washes over him. "Mmh... slipping wouldn't be good. Sorry for making you wait, dear." He grins a bit, clearly joking a little.
Erika giggles, nuzzling close as she kneels next to Nesseth: "W-well, I waited this long, only to find you."
Nesseth chuckles quietly. "Fair... I'll just make it up to you once this thing is done, hm? Just for making you wait some more even though I'm right here."
Erika sits with both of her knees to ground, leaning close to Nesseth, nearly nosing his chest: "You've felt like worth the wait, is what I'm saying, anyway. I can wait for a bit more~."
Nesseth reaches up with his free hand and lightly teases at Erika's ossicones, though he can't really lift his head up from the spinning sensations. "Then I just hope I keep being worth that wait. You're all kinds of amazing, dear~"
Erika giggles: "I thought I was wild and beautiful, not amazing?"
Nesseth takes a moment to stick his tongue out into the air. "Wild, beautiful, amazing, silly, all that and more."
Erika blushes but her grin doesn't fade as she looks down at Nesseth, halfway leaning over him now: "Well, guess I'll just have to take that, then."
Nesseth tries to lean up for a kiss as Erika leans into view, and he manages it for a couple of moments. "I won't be changing my opinion of you any time soon, though... you're welcome to try if you want." He grins after a moment, and winks, "Sexy okapi."
Erika tilts her head after the kiss: "And now I'm sexy too? Sheesh. Gonna run out of words at this rate, Nessy. And what would we do then, use some second-class words like, 'asparagus'? No offense to the plant, but who came up with the name?"
Nesseth laughs a bit. "Fair. I should be more discerning, huh? I'll have to curate my list of words for you to the best stuff." He shrugs a little, still grinning, "No idea who came up with asparagus, but maybe they thought they were being clever or something."
Erika sticks her tongue out: "Clever my furry tush. Smart as a sack of potatoes, and let me tell you, potatoes aren't all that smart."
Nesseth smiles warmly, just rolling with Erika's train of thought. "Not smart, but pretty tasty, I have to say, especially in a good stew."
Erika blinks, then gives a half-shrug: "Yeah, fair. They're tasty. What were we talking about?"
Nesseth chuckles and shrugs in turn. "Just talking about how amazing you are."
Erika hums, then shakes her head: "Boring topic. Let's rather talk about how good you look." She nuzzles at Nesseth's chest: "Or I might just sleep here."
Nesseth smirks, his free hand idly stroking Erika's face as she rests against him. "You're welcome to sleep on me, dear, since we tend to wind up that way most every night we spend together." He shrugs again, "Could also get into other things, too, since we're already halfway there. Your choice~"
Erika gives Nesseth's frill a lick, before cozying up halfway on top of Nesseth: "Mm, we can just stay here. Gotta keep you safe because of the pollen." She reaches her hand around Nesseth's arm, grinning as she closes her eyes.
Nesseth 's frill wiggles a little at the lick, and he smiles warmly as he gently wraps his free arm around Erika's shoulders, letting her get comfortable as he similarly settles in for a little nap to sleep off the pollen's effects. "Couldn't ask for a better protector from the pollen. Thank you, Erika."
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RESPITE PARK - EVENING
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Narrator: Respite's citizens have reached a peak of celebration, with caravans fully moving and no sign of immediate aggression from the saurs who had not opted to live in harmony with the frontier town. While previous gatherings had been substantial, it seems that quite a feast has been laid out tonight, a potluck where many have brought entertainment if not food. Storytellers and singers, as well as the main play all going about their routines with a little extra gusto as everyone else enjoys the company and comradery. It had started mid-morning with the latest caravan of delayed travelers returning home, and doesn't look like it would be slowing until well into the early morn of the next day.
Piper wanders into the park, avoiding the most crowded spots as she does, just trying to stay out of the way in general. She pauses on the way in to hear the story of Baldwin's group, courageously capturing a pterosaur, and rescuing poor Captain Louma in the process before the smell of roasted meats catches her attention. She makes her way toward the banquet table with little hesitation, sticking to the shadows as she observes what is available and calculates how much she can pilfer without being rude.
Rhask is sitting on a stump near the banquet table, a plate of food on her lap as she nibbles away at some juicy meats from recently-caught game from out in the mountains north of town. She's clearly enjoying the big portions and savory flavors, as they remind her quite a lot of the large meals from her hometown. Though, in her opinion, the table does seem to be lacking in choice cheese dishes, but that's something she's fine doing without in light of such good meat dishes.
Piper steps into the light after affirming that there's more than enough for everyone with leftovers. Frankly, she hadn't eaten much in the last couple days, her appetite waning as it usually does when she's not particularly active. She lifts an empty serving platter rather than a plate, shamelessly picking out multiple portions of each stacked baked good and meat dish. She's careful as she starts turning away, not wanting to spill anything on her rather nice vest. The bright green garment fits very well, but doesn't have the same appearance of her other shirts, not quite as form-fiittingly stretchy.
Rhask notices Piper approaching the table, but waits for her to make her plate before cheerfully waving, doing her best to keep her plate balanced as she does so. "Oh, Piper! Enjoying the festivities? If you're looking for somewhere to sit, come join me!"
Piper catches sight of Rhask, smiling with a nod toward her before stepping around the lizard to settle next to her. "Evening, Rhask. Quite exciting, lots of music. Didn't know so many here were players." She pauses to listen, their location not quite in the middle of everything going on, chuckling her three note laugh. "A bit discordant from here."
Rhask giggles and nods. "Yeah, we're within earshot of a few groups playing music. I guess with so many folks coming from elsewhere, a lot of them brought something to remember home by with an instrument or songs."
Piper hums, nodding after she forks some of her food into her mouth. She doesn't chew, of course, but does take a few seconds to savor the flavors before swallowing the morsels down. "Ay, it's nice. interesting to hear other cultures music. Not much outside drumming home." She raises a hand, flexing her un-dainty fingers. "Not built for strings and horns." She turns her hand over in the light, revealing patterns on the scales of her hand and forearm that her normal outfit would almost completely hide, colorfully weaving up her arms and disappearing at the fringe of her vest.
Rhask tilts her head curiously as she leans in to get a look at the curious markings on Piper's arm. She looks up at Piper after a few seconds spent admiring the patterns. "Maybe not for strings and the like, but I would imagine the drum music is beautiful in its own right. What are those markings, by the way? They look really nice!"
Piper shrugs a bit, though doesn't comment on the music for now as Rhask brings up the markings. Piper extends her arm, turning it a bit. "Hobby, of sorts. I paint them sometimes." She'd blush if her dark scales would show it. "You like them? No talent for tailoring, so started painting." The markings don't repeat, and clearly aren't just broad strokes of color. While primarily abstract, some mosaics of flowers dot her arm.
Rhask nods happily as she redirects her attention back to Piper's arms. "They're very pretty designs! Certainly eye-catching, with the amount of detail you've put into them. You might not have talent with tailoring, but you'd make a wonderful designer or artist!"
Piper chuckles quietly, looking to Rhask. "Would I? Thank you. Not much call for scale painters, though. Wouldn't pay enough to feed." She monches another mouthful of food, as if trying to prove point. Probably not with that intent, though.
Rhask hums and nods as she takes a bite of her own food. "Mmh... I guess you'd need another means of getting money if you weren't making much from that..." She perks up a bit, "But you could maybe try your hand at painting on canvas, too! I know folks pay quite a bit for those sorts of things. Vamas merchants are always buying and selling artwork!"
Piper considers this for a few moments, shaking her head. "Tried. Frustrating. Blank canvas doesn't bring anything in mind. Enjoy highlighting existing patterns, though." She grins at Rhask, shrugging. "Could paint you, though."
Rhask doesn't seem all too put out upon hearing that Piper's already tried her suggestion, instead appearing quite understanding at the frustration of art block. "I know that frustration all too well, trying to think of good designs for my clothing..." She sighs a little, only to blink and give Piper a curious look, "M-me...? Like... my scale?"
Piper nods, looking at Rhask's face while trying not to loom too much. "Ay, pretty distribution. Many nice contours. No horns or frills in the way." She chuckles, shrugging. "Only painted others a few times. Mother and close friends."
Rhask blushes under her scales, though it might even be intense enough to be seen if the lighting weren't somewhat dim. "Ah... thank you, Piper, really. I don't think I look more than maybe average for my kind, but... for such an offer, I certainly can't turn it down." She smiles brightly after a moment, "Then... just let me know when you want to meet up for it!"
Piper blinks, tilting her head. It takes a few moments, but Piper gives her an excited, toothy smile. "Really? I would like to. Would be fun!" She looks forward, clearly happy about the idea. "Takes time. You don't mind? Sitting still for an hour or more?"
Rhask giggles at the cheer on Piper's face and shakes her head. "Of course not, Piper! I sit at the market stall for hours on end, just knitting clothes while everyone else is busy. I don't mind sitting still for however long you need to take."
Piper nods, munching more of her food. She hums in appreciation of the blend of spices that make one of the delicacies a deep red. "Point there. Mh, what's the story? Tchotchkes aren't yours, who else sits the stall?"
Rhask tilts her head at he strange word, but chuckles. "Oh, I share the stall with the actual owners, Emmeline and Jennica. They're both also from Vamas, but arrived before I did. Jennica makes all kinds of good luck charms and such, and Emmeline helps manage to actual sales."
Piper nods, watching some dancers nearby as she responds. "I see. Never seen them there, myself. Not taking advantage, are they?"
Rhask shakes her head a bit, though the expression on her face isn't exactly certain. "Jennica is pretty shy, so she's not at the stall too often. Emmeline has been in and out, but I've been the one sitting in for the most part." She shrugs after a moment, "After all, I can do my knitting at the stall or at the Minnow. It doesn't make too much of a difference."
Piper hums, shrugging. "Makes sense. You get work done, they get theirs done." She chuckles, looking to Rhask. "How's tailoring going?"
Rhask grins at the question. "Really well! I learned a lot from looking at that shirt you gave to me a while back, and I think I've managed to come up with a good water-proofing method, too. Not too useful most of the time here in Respite, but a good thing to have during the rainy season, short as it might be."
Piper chuckles again, nodding. "I'd like to see. If that's okay. Interested in your version. Right about not much rain here, but good at blocking stains."
Rhask nods, smiling. "It's only proper you get to compare my work with your dad's, since you were the one who gave me the ideas in the first place! You're always welcome to stop by the stall whenever you like."
Piper nods, finishing her platter off. with a satisfied hum. Best not to consider how much larger the platter of food was than a standard plate, or how much remains on Rhask's... "Ay, think I will. Thank you. Bit embarrassing, but will admit. You're reassuring. A root to home. Good presence." She grins at Rhask.
Rhask smiles a bit more brightly, her plate already almost empty, but not completely clean yet. "I'm glad I can be such a brightening presence, Piper. I'm just doing what I like to do, that's all."
Piper nods, relaxing in her seat as a raucous group wanders by, supporting a friend among them who seems to be avoiding walking on his cast.
Rhask hums quietly as she watches the group of revelers pass by, her gaze lingering on the one with the cast. "Hmm... I guess even something like a broken leg won't stop people from enjoying the feast, huh? I don't blame them, the food is amazing~"
Piper hums, nodding as she also watches the group, before turning to a storyteller who's settled with another group within earshot of them. "Ay. They deserve it. Did well to find peace. Crocs would have... Well, let's enjoy the peace." She chuckles her three notes, leaning forward a bit to listen to the storyteller.
Rhask nods in agreement as she turns towards the same storyteller that Piper's directed her attention towards. "Yeah... it's nice now that things are settling back down." She settles in on the stump, nibbling on the last bits of her food as she focuses on what the storyteller is saying, the two enjoying the late evening festivities in their own peaceful way.