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A RATHER NICE RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: Sometimes it was just nice to go out for a bit. There had been some business in town. A new supplier to sort out, but that was done, and Rondelethia was settling in with a menu, and a Calgwen. "So, is there anything you fancy yourself? I don't know for me. Nothing here is really striking my fancy"
Calgwen hums, glancing over the menu curiously, "Oh? Nothing? I'm sorry to hear that! I was looking at the stir-fried steak... ahhh they have Orelan Beef Barbeque as well! It has been a long time since I've had properly cooked Orelan barbeque. But I'm guessing such a thing doesn't interest you either, dear."
Rondelethia: "Ah.." Rondelethia pauses "You know...now that you've mentioned it. It sounds kinda nice? Rabbit's aren't obligate herbivores. So..uh.." She considers again "Yeah. If I'm gonna be eating alongside you, I may as well try some of your food. You've eaten carrots after all!"
Narrator: There was another table at the restaurant occupied, that by one of the newer entries in town, the somewhat irritated yet barely calm badger Rikard. He was poring over some scratchings from a notebook in one hand, eating a rather savory pheasant pie in the other. At least he tried his best to clean up, but he couldn't avoid the occasional disapproving stare from the waitstaff. Blast what they think. His money is good...or at least the currency he brought. He had sent Montag out to a currency exchanger and he hadn't been back for hours.
Calgwen chuckles, folding the menu and setting it down, "Carrots are good, dear! I wasn't expecting you to wish to share, but you know that I'm all for new experiences and trying new things!" He flags down the waiter when he gets a chance, ordering the stirfry and some barbeque. "It's almost a shame that Respite is so recently discovered that it doesn't have its own cuisine yet."
Rondelethia: "Well, it just means that we get to be there at the start, and maybe even decide what it is" She grins "Maybe BBQ Beef will be the new local specialty!" She hmms "Though, could you add a side serving of lettuce to it?" She's trying new things...but at the same time. Something regular as a baseline is good too.
Calgwen makes a note to the waiter to add some additional veggies to the side. "I have been looking for a project to invest in... though Respite already has its fair share of restaurants. It would be a difficult market to enter in from scratch."
Montag will enter. The engineer is dirty and oilstained. Some of the others are surprised that he hadn't been stopped at the entrance, but the canine would not be deterred as he protectively carries a half-empty satchel over to Rikard's table, setting it down with a look of triumph (or at least a waggy tail of triumph considering the mask on his face.*
Narrator: The maître d was pointedly clearing his throat beside Montag and Rikard. He was a rather well dressed fox, very well mannered, but excellent at giving a frosty aura without saying a word.
Rondelethia meanwhile, was discussing the business possibilities "We could always just invest in one. Restaurants are always going out of business, so just grab one that's failing, and take it over"
Rikard raises his finger to Montag as the engineer is about to speak, turning to the maitre'd, but not making eye contact. "If I am causing a scene with my prescence, feel free to move me to a less visible part of the restaurant. I know of my appearance and my money is good."
Calgwen hums, tapping his claw on the table. "Yes, we certainly could. But it doesn't feel wholly right to me. At least, it's not where I think my focus would fall. We can certainly do it anyways, if you think it would be a good idea. There does seem to be a lot of Sarn and Orelan cuisine here. Perhaps Vamas food provides an opportunity?"
Rondelethia: "Well. If we want to cultivate a food scene, it has to be more than just a copy of somewhere else. Maybe find a new restaurant that's got some cool ideas?" She ponders "I don't know what would be a good idea. My business brain is off right now, especially just before lunch" She chuckles "I'm more thinking about what I'd eat from the restaurant rather than if the books would balance"
Maitre'd: "Sirs" The maitre'd replied "It is not about the money. It is about the ambiance" He looks down at the dirty..oily(!) engineer "While we do not state a dress code. There are certain standards of presentation. It is a very low bar to expect our guests to be clean" He gives that tiniest hmph of snooty derision.
Rikard looks to Montag. Montag looks down, ears droop, tail droops. The badger nods. "Agreed. Montag, under the table and out of sight. You may submit your report under there and then get back to our bivouac." The canine will quickly duck under the tablecloth as Rikard smiles innocently. "It shan't be long. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. It shall be reflected in your tip."
Calgwen laughs along, "Ahh, but I shouldn't be trying to talk business either! My apologies, dear! It's good to be able to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the finer things from time to time, without worrying about the bottom lines." He glances towards the slight disturbance going on, admittedly curious, but then turns his attention back to Rondelethia. "What kinds of foods are you imaginging, dear?"
Maitre'd: "Oh. You come from a place where the waiting staff rely on donations to earn a living wage?" He hmphs, eying the disgraceful carry on under the table "This explains quite a bit" He bows his head, but only from the neck, before leaving to attend to other guests "I shall leave you do your business"
Rikard watches the waiter leave. "Saves me the coin then..." The badger lifts up a corner of the tablecloth. "Privy purse situation settled, I assume?"
Rondelethia clears her throat too, and focuses on the food "Oh! Well, if its just food" She pauses "Well..I'm thinking maybe pies? Some sort of savoury pastries. That way you can feed any sort of diet, depending on what's inside them. Potatoes, carrots...maybe a bit of chicken?" The chicken seems especially appealing right now...
Montag's voice is muffled from under the table, but still slightly audible. "As instructed, Herr Rick. Moneylenders were sour bunch but were willing to exchange currency for more acceptable tender. It shall be enough for thirty days, not counting bartering materials and emergency minerals."
Calgwen chuckles, "Hmmm, that does sound wonderful. A warmed crust, buttered, with chicken. Ahh, that is a wonderful image! You're almost making me regret already ordering steak! Potatoes, carrots, all wonderful. I shall say, peas, however, ah, I cannot abide."
Rondelethia: "Well then, let me make it up for you. A steak pie, with the sauce inside warmed, so that the pressure inside the pie infuses the steak with all the rich goodness" She sighs "I'm now glad I ordered it. I'm making myself hungry for it, and I don't even eat steak!"
Narrator: The Maitre'd returns with the order to Rikard, and places it on the table "Would that be enough" He looks under the table "Or would your companion like something else to eat?"
Calgwen: "You're certainly making my mouth water! It is a very big difference from your usual preferred meals. I suppose if you enjoy the lunch today, I can speak to the chef back home about experimenting some more with dinner?"
Rikard seems satisfied. "I knew I could rely upon you, Montag. And the status of the repair?" He pauses as the Maitre'd brings the dessert, an Orlean-style flaky pastry. The badger directs the maitre'd to put the plate on the floor, near the bulge in the tablecloth that was Montag.
Rondelethia: "Of course! That might be an excellent idea. Maybe you're rubbing off on me?" She chuckles
Maitre'd: "Sir, these meals are to be eaten on the table. If that is not possible, then I cannot help you. I shall not be putting a fine dish like this on the floor"
Rikard: "Put it on the chair then. If you don't want my companion to be seen out in the open, you should have thought of that before you asked to serve him!"
Calgwen has the presence of mind to glance down at the table at Rondelethia's words, and would blush if he were able, despite his grin "Ah, perhaps so? I do wonder if you're rubbing off on me as well? The prospect isn't unwelcome, my dear."
Maitre'd: "I did not ask to serve him. He barged in past our overly polite doorlady, and placed himself under the table" There's another pause "So, I shall be polite, and suggest he takes himself to get cleaned, and then perhaps he can allow himself to be seen. Otherwise, I shall ask he does not return. Please do not make any more of a scene than you already are on your way out"
Montag peeks out from behind the table. "Fox is right, Herr Rick. I will take dish outside." The canine stands, taking the pastry. "Sincerest apologies and thanks for attending to good friend and distinguished inventor friend." Rikard sighs, shooing Montag away. The canine is quick to scamper off as the badger takes the bag, checking it.
Narrator: The fox looks to Rikard "I shall expect the plate to be returned. In tact"
Rondelethia: "Well, we've rubbed off each other. In lots of ways" The rabbit chuckles "Both improving each other, I think?" She reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze. Also distracting him from the other table! "and if absolutely nothing else, you're very warm"
Montag gives an okay symbol with his fingers and eats the pastry on the steps of the restaurant.
Rikard meanwhile reengages the fox's attention. "Yes, so...how much do I owe you?"
Narrator: The fox clicks his fingers, and the bill is brought over by another waiter. The bill is placed in front of Rikard. It's..fancy restaurant bill amount.
Rikard has to put on some pince-nez glasses as he studies the bill, giving a somber nod, mouth smirk, then looks up. "There is a surcharge for the water? Is there a shortage or is it held as a premium?"
Calgwen takes Rondelethia's hand and squeezes in turn. He is rather easily distracted by the rabbit, at least, as the other commotion seems to have moved outside. "The warmth comes naturally. The rest, well, yes. I think we're improving quite a bit."
Maitre'd: "The charge is for the time it takes to serve you. After all, we value our staff's time" The fox replies with crisp, crisp politeness
Rondelethia: "Oh, I think we've made a few rather notable improvements lately" She chuckles "It was quite an enjoyable evening, even if it was..ah ..encouraged"
Rikard seems satisfied with the explanation. "A convenience tax. Yes, appropriate enough. I had planned to add extra to the bill for that purpose, but since you have a flat rate, I'll pay what you are due." The badger flips out a few large-denomination bills, then a few coins, setting them on the bill tray. *
Calgwen rubs the back of Rondelethia's hand with his thumb, humming, "Encouraged, but not regretted. It was quite enjoyable, indeed."
Narrator: The tray is taken away, and the Maitre D goes off to attend to other clientelle, leaving Rikard to his own devices
Rondelethia: "And..well, perhaps a sober revisit could be done. With more preplanning to prevent any accidents from happening"
Rikard seems to smile. "Nice fellow, and so candid. So much better than feigned politeness." Rikard raises himself, adjusting his vest as he glance over to the other table, giving a gentle wave as he pockets the specs, taking the bag as he walks out to the stairs, where Montag was...trying to stuff the pastry through the tinier mouthhole through the mask.*
Calgwen nods, "It could be done, I agree. I remain smitten to you, my dear." He lifts her hand and lowers his head to kiss it in a slightly cheesy but quite romantic fashion.
Rondelethia: "You too" She titters politely at the kiss, before they are interrupted by their food arriving.
Calgwen reluctantly releases her hand as the food is set down before them. "Ah, let us hope the meal tastes as appetizing as you hoped! Cheers, love."
Rondelethia: "If we could be so lucky" Rondelethia carefully digs unto the steak. She has to eat it carefully, mostly using her knife to cut the foot up to managable pieces, but she's enjoying it! "This is a lot better than I thought it would be. I've had bits of steak before, but this is absolutely the best yet"
Montag looks up to Rikard, providing the plate back to the superior.
Rikard takes it. "Continuing."
Montag: "Yes...supplies are...not as easy to acquire as needed. Technology seems still based upon magical means, though I have seen automatons in the market, and other trinkets. It may be we will have to find manufacture plant for specialized parts." Montag pauses, wiping off his mask. "Would not hurt to hire new hand for refurbishment either. Shall I consult local news outlet for help wanted?"
Rikard examines the plate, cleaning it off with his hand as best he could.* "That would be acceptable. Though, I would think two or three would be more acceptable. I am certain with this being an independent town, there will be no shortage of mercenary mechanics and whatnot." The badger sighs. "I am to appear before the guards again though, just to make sure that we are following code."
Calgwen nods, having taken his first bite as well. He politely dabs the corners of his mouth before speaking. "Mmm. It is exquisite. Perfectly cooked. I shall have to give my compliments to the chef. I'm glad you enjoy it."
Rondelethia nodnods "I'm glad I made the call to pick it" She adds a bit of lettuce to it "Maybe it was talking about all the food beforehand made eating all the better" She takes another eager bite "We should discuss it before meals more often if that's the case"
Calgwen laughs, lowering his napkin. "Just evidence that you were hungrier than you expected, perhaps?"
Montag nods. "This one will keep busy then, Herr Rick. I shall be your nose and ears while you...well..." The canine pauses, as if his train of thought has been derailed. He was looking up to the lanterns, some that were being lit in early evening. Those eyes go WIDE beneath the mask. Rikard sighs, then nudges Montag rather abruptly.*
Rondelethia: "Maybe" She nods "No need to overthink it!"
Rikard: "Just...stay out of trouble, Montag. We're enough of an oddity in these lands already." The badger will peek inside, flagging down a waitress, extending the plate to her, giving a bow. "Compliments to the patisserierre, if you would?"
Narrator: The waitress takes it, and scurries off, eager to get away! She doesn't want to earn the wrath of the Maitre d by lingering!
Rikard: "Nice arse on that one."
Montag shakes his head out, blinking at the badger's comment. "Whuzza?"
Rikard looks back. "Never mind. Duty calls!" Another shoo and Rikard and Montag go their seperate ways, though the canine was trying not to linger too long as he stares at the lamplights that light the path.
Calgwen and Rondelethia continue to peacefully enjoy their meal, with only a little bit of flirting as they eat, enjoying the company and the (mostly) peaceful ambience.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Victoria is sitting to one end of the bar, sipping at a fancy drink (for her, anyway). She's dressed up in a small purple number that's also pretty fancy (for her, anyway). And swishing one more big fluffy tail behind her than she had mere days ago. Overall, the leopard-slash-snow-leopard is in a good mood, clearly not in a people-murdering mood at all!
Xochicoatl lands outside the bar that she's heard Captain Louma and a few others talk about a few times. Letting her wings drape over behind her, she pushes open the door, slithering in to sniff at the air. She's never had alcohol before... what could go wrong? The teenage snake wonders. She comes up to the bar alongside Victoria, glancing towards her drink. "Oh! What is that one?"
Victoria turns around on her seat and blinks at the sight of coatl, then only belatedly realizes a question was asked. "Oh. This is just... vodka and juice. It's simple but it works."
Xochicoatl nods as if she knew this, "Ah yesss, yes of course! I shall have the same, then." She raises her hand to the barkeep and smiles.
Victoria blinks at this again, then just shrugs: "You do you." She takes a sip of her own drink, knowing full well what her goal for tonight is. That is, getting slightly drunk and thinking dreamy thoughts of certain fox.
Xochicoatl takes the proffered drink from the barkeep and drinks it entirely too fast, only to cough at the mixed burning and sweetness. "Aahah, sm-smooth? Yes?" She smiles at Victoria. "Ah yes. Greetings! I am Xochicoatl."
Victoria looks at Xochi downing the drink in one and looks at her evenly: "Smooth. Right." She gives a slightly toothy smile: "Victoria. First time drinking?"
Xochicoatl hesistates, "Err... no? Ah, but, perhaps? Maybe. Yes. How can you tell this?"
Victoria smirks: "Most people don't drink their hard liquor quite that hard. You look pretty fresh. New to town?"
Xochicoatl shakes her hand non-commitally. "New-ish, yes. I have been in town for a short while, but not truly done as much as I wished to do."
Victoria leans on the table, now curious: "What do you wish to do, hmm?"
Xochicoatl hesistates, Louma having told her to keep her true ambitions secret. This makes complete sense of course... and she's only one drink in, but if Victoria is even a little bit observant, the lie is obvious on her face, "Oh, I have simply come here to ah... stretch my wings?"
Victoria raises an eyebrow: "Whole lotta desert to fly over, sure..." She's definitely not buying this, but doesn't pry. Yet. "Respite tends to be a place of escape, that's for sure."
Xochicoatl nods, very enthusiastically, "But I have only just learned to fly! There is much to see, yes?" She flaps her wings subconciously, the rainbow plumeage bright even in the bar's lighting. "Escape? I suppose, yes." She glancees down at her empty cup and motions for a refill, though this time she does not chug the drink, instead cautiously sipping it at first.
Victoria smirks: "Might want to take that bit more carefully." She turns to take a sip of her own drink, then looks back to Xochi: "Not that it's any of my business, we are all down here for own... reasons."
Xochicoatl laughs happily, not taking the hint to Victoria's statement there. "Oh? What is yours? You are... a two-tailed cat? I have heard legends that those with two tails have a great destiny to confront."
Victoria nearly chokes on her drink, then carefully sets it down. "Pfewh. Well. I sure hope I have a better future to look forward than past to try and forget."
Xochicoatl nods her head sagely, "Yes, this is wisdom you speak. We make our own futures, yes?"
Victoria pauses, briefly admires the spill of drink on her dress's cleavage, frowns, then finally looks up: "Yeah, let's go with that. Don't really think about the future all that much."
Xochicoatl watches Victoria curiously, unsure of herself now. "You do not dwell upon your past, or your future? Are you not a great warrior, or powerful mage, or... something? That is strange... I would have thought the sign would point to your greatness for certain."
Victoria grins toothily at this: "Greatness of my partner, really. Although I've been in the Guard long enough, taken enough names that I suppose I'd accept being pretty great a warrior. Or hunter, that works too." She swishes her tails, only slightly conscious at having two of them now.
Xochicoatl giggles, "Ahh, great pride and devotion to your mate. I see! I applaud you." She finishes the second drink... weirdly quickly considering she was only sipping? She orders a third.
Victoria shrugs: "Suppose you can call it that. I just love her, and she loves me. She's pretty good at magic." She eyes Xochi's drinking, but mostly just follows bemusedly.
Xochicoatl giggles, "Love is good. Magic is good too. Ahhh, this drink is very tasty! You were right!" She sips at the third glass. She seems to think about something, and frowns, "Why did I come to Respite...?"
Victoria shrugs again, smiling: "Couldn't tell you, but maybe you can tell me?"
Xochicoatl: "There is someone here who is helping me. I was... sent here to meet them? I think?" She shakes her head, "...I came for... freedom. The freedom to fly wherever I please, yes."
Victoria pauses at this, sipping the rest of her drink. "Sent here? Huh. Most people out there barely even know where Respite Falls is."
Xochicoatl drinks the third drink faster, slightly upset that she can't remember things. "I remember leaving my room... and then... I was coming to the gate. And then I met the cat, ahh not you! The other. Vix. Yes. I asked her to lead me to the other coatl, Captain Louma. Or... did she tell me about Louma?"
Victoria gives Xochicoatl a rather even look: "You're making no sense right now. You don't remember how you got here, to Respite?" She's plenty familiar at not remembering stretches of time due to being feral, but pushes that thought to the back of her mind.
Xochicoatl shakes her head, starting down at the glass. "I... arrived at the north gate...? I went through the window of my room, and then... then arrived at the north gate." She turns to face Victoria, "I do not remember... why do I not remember?"
Victoria nods at Xochi's glass: "Usually I'd say that your alcohol intake has to do with it, but I don't think that's the case right now." She pauses, frowning: "Is there any particular reason you might not remember? Some kind of... I don't know, curse or something?"
Xochicoatl frowns. "Would... would I know if I am cursed? I do not feel cursed?"
Victoria shrugs: "You might, you might not. Some of that stuff is really subtle."
Xochicoatl shakes her head, "Ahhh. Then I do not know." She leans over closer to Victoria, not really whispering, "Can I tell you a secret?"
Victoria blinks, then smiles: "Yeah. You can." She tries to keep her tails swishing from her sheer curiosity at this strange, strange coatl...
Xochicoatl nods rather seriously, knowing she can trust this noble two-tailed hero, because um... that's probably what a storybook princess would do? She's starting to feel the booze hit her as her native snake lisp sneaks back into her diction. "I am a long-lossst Princesss. A Coatl."
Victoria stares for a brief second, then just nods. "Ahh. Okay." She waves for another drink: "How... how long-lost?"
Xochicoatl swallows the rest of her third glass. "I wasss born just before the death of the Red King. My Daddy wasss the Prince... he died. But I wasss hidden away. Kept captive." She sighs. Depending on how well Victoria knows her history, that should still be over 60 years ago, and not... this kid is definitely too young for any of that.
Victoria does not know her Orelan history, having been born in a small town in Vamas. "I uh... well, if you say so." She takes a sip of her new drink, definitely swishing her tails curiously now: "That's some heritage, alright. So if you were captive, how did you end up here?"
Xochicoatl puts her glass down. "I... went out the window? I remember... I remember they told me, that they would not teach me how to fly. There were lizards and snakes, they kept the manor clean, kept me under guard. I just turned 16..." Oops. Definitely too young to drink. "But they said I would not be allowed to fly! And I wept... and when I awoke, the window out of my room was open. It was always locked from the outside, but someone had opened it. And so... I left."
Victoria raises an eyebrow: "Sixteen? Aren't you... a bit young?" She gives Barkeep a glance, but at the end it's not her problem really. She turns back to Xochicoatl: "You just left, hmm? But if you were not taught how to fly, how did you leave through a window?"
Xochicoatl frowns, "I... climbed?" That doesn't make sense. She can't remember what happened after crawling out the window. It all goes black in her memory. "Captain Louma taught me to fly, here in Respite... So I must have climbed out to get here?"
Victoria looks at Xochi's less-than-climb-able body: "Mmmhm. Well, if you say so. What made you decide to come to Respite, after that?"
Xochicoatl seems truly troubled, "I don't know... I thought I came seeking aid? Or... to find freedom? Or... help retaking the throne?" She lifts a hand to her head, as if trying to sooth a sudden headache. "I was just... here."
Victoria tilts her head as she idly takes another sip: "Sounds like a bad case of spots indeed."
Xochicoatl sighs, "Case... of spots? What do you mean?"
Victoria taps the side of her head: "Up here. You sound like wherever you came from isn't exactly next door, and yet can't tell how you got here."
Xochicoatl: "But... I know why I'm here. I'm here to hide until I can return! I can go back to the Snakes, and rule again, like I should have? Yes?"
Victoria: "Might want to hold onto that thought until you're more certain, then." She pauses, motioning at Xochi's collection of empty glasses: "Or at least more sober."
Xochicoatl looks down at the three empty glasses. She looks up at the barkeep, who now only shakes his head, then gives her another glass. Of water. "I do not understand. I know what I want. Don't I? It feels so... odd. I cannot think straight when I look back."
Victoria takes a sip of her drink: "I'm not certain you can think any kind of straight right now, backwards or forwards."
Xochicoatl looks at the water. "I... do not understand that either. You keep dancing back and forth, it makes you hard to understand." She is a bit wobbly now...
Victoria blinks, then chuckles: "I'm perfectly still. So, definitely first time drinking..."
Xochicoatl shakes her head, "No, you're definitely..." She reaches out a hand towards Victoria, except no where near her, grasping at thin air as she overreaches, topping off her seat and down onto her coils. "Ah!"
Victoria looks down at the drunk coatl: "Mmhm. That first step can be rough. Might want to drink a glass of water or three, now."
Xochicoatl tries to uncoil herself, but her tail doesn't seem to want to cooperate. She manages to reseat herself with some effort, leaning heavily against the bar and takes the barkeep's glass of water to drink it down. There's tears in her eyes, but it's doubtful those are from the fall. "Victy.... Vic...? Viccy... I just... I just wanna be a person."
Victoria pauses, blinking several times at this: "Uh... what makes you think you aren't? You seem very real to me, right now."
Xochicoatl sniffles, drinking the water as she steadies herself, "I'm tired of being a prisoner... being protected... being... being... I don't know. I just... wanna do what I want to do."
Victoria considers this, hmm'ing: "So... what's stopping you? Who's keeping you prisoner or protecting you? Your parents that strict?" Granted, letting the young one to come to drink is on the other end from 'strict', but...
Xochicoatl chuckles dryly, "Parents... Daddy's dead... momma must be too... I never knew them... there's so much I'm supposed to do, right? You say... you said, you don't think about past and future, but what am I even except past and future? Xochicoatl... Queen of Flowers. Heir to the Red King..."
Victoria takes a sip as she considers this deeply confused kiddo, pondering her next step. "Well... I can't really tell you what to do." She shrugs: "I focus on the now, since that's where I live in."
Xochicoatl sighs, finishing the water as barkeep pours her another. "I want to be able to do that. But I don't think I can? Maybe I should just fly away... go somewhere far away where I can just... escape."
Victoria frowns: "Sounds like whatever you're escaping is in your head, at least partially."
Xochicoatl nods sadly. "Maybe... you're a really, really good friend Viccy."
Victoria frowns: "Well, yeah. Don't call me Viccy."
Xochicoatl blinks, trying to remember the cat's name. "Vic- Vix? Vix, you're a good friend."
Victoria sighs: "Victoria. Just-" she looks at the sorry state of the coatl: "-nevermind. Just take care of yourself, okay?"
Xochicoatl: "Victoria... Yes. Yes... Okay. I will?"
Victoria waves for a third drink for herself, before turning back to Xochicoatl: "You definitely have problems, and I think I'm out of answers." Truth be told, she has never really been good at this sort of stuff, but she's trying. Sort of.
Xochicoatl nods, lifting a hand up from the bar to massage her head. "It's okay... okay... I uh... thanks. You really are a noble one."
Victoria nods, making a mental note to tell Annika she's 'noble'. "Yeah... just go get your head cleared. Things will make more sense then." Probably. Honestly it all sounded so weird to the leopard she's not sure which part of it, if any, was true.
Xochicoatl nods, drinking another glass of water. "I'll maybe just... fly back to Louma's and... go to sleep?"
Victoria shrugs: "Wouldn't maybe recommend flying in that condition, but since I have no wings... eh. You do you."
Xochicoatl thinks on this for a moment, then nods, "Oh uh... I can slither home? I think?"
Victoria nods: "I sure would hope so. Good luck."
Xochicoatl puts down her water glass, and then very, Very carefully gets down from her seat, and while she initially has some trouble, her coils misbehaving just a little, she eventually manages to slither to the door. "Good night, noble Victoria."
Victoria watches Xochicoatl go, and to her credit giggles at the 'noble' part only afterwards. The two-tailed leopard being in no hurry herself, she starts on her third drink while wondering what the hell just even happened...