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ONDOGA CITY - NEW MOON HARBOR - MIDDAY
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Gareth sits on a bench lining a walkway at the water's edge of one of Ondoga City's more reputable areas, just enjoying the sounds and smells of the sea, so close at hand. Having been sailing so much as of late on the trip from Aephix to Orela, especially with Sammi accompanying him, he's particularly at ease as he relaxes and watches some shore birds doing lazy cartwheels over the water some distance away.
Sammi was at this moment, considering all the birds. Sammi was an ocean girl at heart, and so was especially fascinated by all the seabirds, so similar to the ones she knew, but then also so quite different! "I wonder if they even like the same sort of fish...."
Gareth looks around towards Sammi, a small smile on his face, but curiosity in his eyes. "Probably? They usually go fer the things that swim near the water's surface, but I bet they wouldn't know the difference much."
Sammi: "Really? The fish here tastes totally different, sort of more.." She wiggles a webbed hand "Redder? I don't know taste words"
Gareth hums thoughtfully, lifting a hand to rub at his chin. "Mmh... redder, not sure what to liken that to, but... I mean, I suppose the fish here are a lot different from the ones that are around Aephix. Different environment and all that..." He looks back out towards the birds, "Heh... they might actually have fish preferences, when ye say it like that."
Sammi: "Anyway, I've not realllly been paying attention to the business stuff. You got everything you needed done here?"
Gareth nods at Sammi's question, another smile on his face. "Aye, just about, anyway. The first delivery was a success, and I met with someone I'd been meaning to, along with other folks that I needed to speak with to get things sorted fer future trips." He tilts his head a bit, "So I think the rest o' our time in Orela is pretty free and open, if there's anythin' ye want to do or see."
Sammi: "Hmm" She ponders "No idea! Never been before, but I bet there's places you think are cool, right?"
Gareth hums quietly, pondering the question for several seconds. "Hmm... here in Ondoga City? There are a few places, aye, like the city's cultural district, where ye can find all kinds o' art and entertainment. If ye want somethin' quieter, there's a really nice park not too far from here that has a good view o' the harbor." He pauses for a few moments, and adds, "Or if ye want to see a little bit o' Orela's history, I think the memorial fer the Snake-Lizard War isn't too far away, either."
Sammi: "Hmm. Maybe start with the Park. I dunno if I want to learn about the war. That sounds like less fun, but the Park? Loads of cool things in the park, then maybe the cultural spot? Bet they've got food there..." She stands up, doing a little wiggle there "Do you know the city well? Or are we both doing the learning thing?"
Gareth chuckles as he likewise stands up, his tail swishing a bit just from him always enjoying spending time with Sammi. "I've been to Ondoga several times, but I think only a few times beyond the harbors when Fiora and I were huntin' someone fer a bounty. I'll be kind o' learnin' with ye, when we get to the cultural district. But first, the park it is!"
Sammi: "Awesome!" She briefly gets distracted batting at that tail before she refocuses "Onwards" She leans against him gently as she goes, letting him guide her to wherever this park is.
Gareth 's tail responds with a light bump against Sammi in turn before the two start on their way to the park. He lightly wraps an arm around Sammi as they make their way through the city. "How're ye likin' the trip so far, by the way?"
Sammi: "Well, the water's nice. Sort of warmer, and a bit saltier, which is fine, I think!" She muses "I've not really been listening to much about the business stuff, but you seem happy enough with it, so that's fine too right! I could even talk to someone though, maybe I can be nice, and they'll agree to be more helpful?" She gives him a cheerful look, but there was that tiniest aura of menace there. She's not quite as innocent to his goings on as she acts, and she's perfectly willing to go all Eldritch horror on someone if needs be....
Gareth chuckles, sensing the menace, but he simply leans in and gives Sammi a little kiss. "Well... if I run into any business issues, I'll be sure to let ye know. Yer negotiatin' skills would be really helpful fer anyone bein' really troublesome." He nods a bit, "And... aye, the waters around Orela are a bit different than around Aephix. Ye might even see some interestin' things between the islands that make up Orela, since they're full o' sea life."
Sammi: "Yeah. Though..you wouldn't be able to explore too, so it wouldn't be that fun" She returns the kiss "Well, maybe we could work something out?" She leaves that thought there for a moment, before moving on "But for now, lets see the Park. What different Park bits are around..."
Gareth quietly considers the idea of doing something to help him explore beneath the waves with Sammi, but files the thought away as Sammi moves the conversation along. It's not long before the two arrive at the park. "It's a pretty simple layout, I think. There's a nice clearin' around the gazebo area fer picnics and such, and the areas closer to the shore have a good view out into the harbor. Good place fer walkin', spendin' time relaxin', or just gettin' some quiet time to oneself."
Sammi: "Yeah!" She nods thoughtfully as they enter into the park "So? What's a Gazebo? Is it a sort of evil monster? The Dread Gazebo~" She giggles
Gareth can't help but laugh a bit. "Well, nah, it's just a small wooden structure folks can use fer some shelter while enjoyin' bein' out and about." He shrugs, "Ye could probably attack one if ye wanted, though."
Sammi: "Oh. Well, I was more thinking it could be a sort of..ambush predator. Lying in wait in Parks, luring in unsuspecting people..." As she passes by said Gazebo, Gareth...just out of the corner of his eye, may catch a glance..did it just..move? Nah, just his imagination. Surely....
Gareth blinks and looks over at the gazebo, thinking he just saw the damned thing actually move. He stares as the two walk by, only to eventually pass it off as his good eye playing tricks on him. He chuckles as he continues his walk with Sammi. "That'd be terrifyin', runnin' into one without knowin' it was like that."
Sammi: "Ahuh!" She nods in agreement "But, well, it would have to be super patient, only really take people that can't be missed..." She ponders, walking further away. Thankfully, while her imagination running away from her can be occasionally dangerous..it can't run terribly far, so getting far enough away from said Gazebo reverts it back to a vegetarian one. "Maybe it could be nice! A proud guardian of the people..."
Gareth hums. "Possibly. A silent sentinel that watches over the park and whoever spends time in it, aye?" He grins at Sammi, "Ye know... ye could write novels, ideas like yers."
Sammi: "Oooh. Papa always said I shouldn't write fiction. I wrote a story once, and the shoreline smelled of gravy for weeks..."
Gareth blinks, then nods. "Ah... aye, that might not be too good an idea, then... Ye've got a wonderful imagination, though."
Sammi gives him a hug "Hey! It's only as good at the inspiration!"
Gareth chuckles and hugs Sammi, a happy grin on his face. "And I'm guessin' I inspire ye that much, hm?"
Sammi: "Of course! Why would I care about telling stories if I've nobody to tell them to?" She muses idly, before getting distracted again by a tree "Yeah, this is totally different too! It has totally different skin and everything"
Gareth smiles. "I'm always happy to listen to yer stories, dear." He nods at her following statement, "And aye, there are a lot o' different things this far away from Aephix. Stuff growin' here don't usually grow elsewhere, and the same fer Sarn and Vamas, too."
Sammi: "If we're doing trade stuffs, we should bring some food back, I bet Xochi would love some food from home"
Gareth 's smile shifts to a look of realization. "Ye know... that's a great idea! I think we could get some good food that'll last the trip back to Respite. Could even buy a couple o' crates fer general sale, too, since there are more than a few folks from here livin' there."
Sammi: "Yeah!" She nods a few times "I'm sure if I talk to the food, I can convince it to hang on. Food only really rots if it thinks nobody wants to eat it"
Gareth seems a little more surprised by that information. "...Huh, that's really good to know. I might need ye to do that, then, if we're intendin' on bringin' some food back with us. Just let it all know that there's goin' to be a lot o' folks lookin' fer food just like that."
Sammi: "Oh! Well, yeah. I'd want to keep that stuff for friends. It would be sort of mean to tell a bit of food that we're hanging on for a special somone and then just /sell/ it. right?"
Gareth nods with a smile. "O' course. Xochi, Louma, Piper, Nesseth... there're a good few folks we know who could probably appreciate an Orelan dish straight from home."
Sammi: "Yeah!" She nods "We need to work out what the right food is...but I bet loads of people here know that"
Gareth hums in agreement, walking along with Sammi at an easy pace through the park. "Aye, we're in the main city o' the continent, so we can get just about any sort o' food native to the place here. Just got to figure out what all our friends like." He and Sammi continue their conversation, now shifting to figuring out what their friends in Respite like, and how best to surprise them with a gift of fresh Orelan foods.
Sammi starts planning out what dishes they can bring home as they forge all those ideas together.