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MAIN SQUARE - EARLY EVENING
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Lorelei was in the main square, browsing the area. The long, serpentine like lizard was new here, still with her travel bag on her bag, and a secondary bag wrapped around her long tail as she walks around, finding something new each time. She was tall, with green and white scales, and colourful feathers from her ears, and at the tip of her tail. She was dressed rather haphazardly, with a vaguely Orelan vibe to her clothing. Right at this moment she was peering between two apples, deciding which one would be the best one to buy. Eventually she realizes the genius solution. BOTH.
Nesseth is currently walking around the marketplace as well, a couple of bags in hand as he goes about getting some food to restock the pantry at his place. He happens to be walking along the same lane as Lorelei, and he winds up browsing a stall just off to her side as she's making her purchase.
Lorelei swishes her tail idly as she takes the apples, and puts one in her bag, before she eats the other, chewing on it happily "Oh!" She perks up when she sees Nesseth "Hey there!" She fetches the apple back again from her bag, and offers it over "The first one was pretty good, so I bet this is pretty good too!" She smiles "Is it a little silly that I'm happy to see another Rep' here?"
Nesseth looks around at the exclamation, then blinks when he sees Lorelei and her unusual appearance. He smiles after a second, though, and adjusts his bags a little. "Good evening, miss! The fruits here are pretty nice, but... you just bought that, didn't you?" He tilts his head a little, his frills flexing slightly, "And hardly silly, really. It's always nice having familiar folks around."
Lorelei: "Well! I couldn't decide between the red, and the green. Maybe the green isn't nice though? But, if they're all good, then that's good" She nods "I just got here.Left the Isle, and I've been travelling around, seeing the sights, all that sort of stuff. I heard there was a load of Reps here, and I saw them outside. They're..uh dinos though. You're the second Orelan type I've seen here. Saw a Feather though. Oh! Is she your daughter?"
Nesseth chuckles and accepts the apple offered by Lorelei, once he hefts his bags onto one hand and shoulder. "The green ones aren't quite as sweet, but they're still tasty." He makes a point by taking a little bite out of the apple and happily chewing away at it before perking up, "Oh yeah, those are the Saurs, they're natives of Aephix. And... a Feather? I, uh... no, I don't have any daughters."
Lorelei: "You know..." She wiggles her feathery tail "When a Lizard and Snake love each other very much..." She giggles "Oh! Sorry. Got ahead of myself a bit! I didn't mean to offend you or anything. Uh..I don't think you're old or anything!"
Nesseth nods along and looks towards Lorelei's tail as it wiggles a bit, though her comments cause him to blink and look back up at Lorelei after a moment. "When a Lizard and a Snake... wait... what? I'm not offended or anything, but... wait... They can... they can have children together?"
Lorelei: "Uh...Well, I hope so!" She giggles "Or else Mom and Dad have some realllll explaining to do!" She wiggles her tail, and tickles him with her feathers playfully "How else do you think I got the feathers? You think I'm half parrot or something?" She giggles again. She clearly thinks Nesseth is being silly for being confused.
Nesseth chuckles and squirms a little away from the tickling feathers, but doesn't really make an effort to get out of the danger zone, so to speak. "No, not part parrot, but you've got some really nice plumage. But, uh... the only ones I know of that have feathers are just a few specific Snakes. None of the Lizards I know have anything quite like what you have... nor a tail like yours, either."
Lorelei: "I do! I have a special oil I use to keep them shiny!" She nods "Well, yeah! I'm only half lizard. The tail is from Mom! I think she was a bit sad that I had legs, she wanted another noodle" She giggles "I kid, I kid, but..really? You've never met someone like me? Aren't snakes all over the islands?"
Nesseth nods at both questions. "I've met several Snakes before now, yeah, but... I've never met anyone like you, no. A half-Snake, half... Lizard?"
Lorelei: "Yes?" She tilts her head "You seem..confused. I thought that bit had been clear? Lizards and Snakes they're..well, one is just a noodlier version of the other. Why wouldn't we mix?"
Nesseth shrugs a little, definitely a little confused. "Er... well... You're from Orela, right? Um... where exactly in Orela?"
Lorelei: "Uh, Aleria Isle, I think I remember it being called? I always just called it 'The Isle' growing up though"
Nesseth gets a thoughtful look on his face, though he continues to idly munch on the apple Lorelei gave him. "Aleria... Aleria... Hm... Is it a newer settlement? I don't recall any island with that name, before I left some years back."
Lorelei: "Mom and Dad were both born there! So I don't think so! It's a bit out of the way, and we kinda keep to ourselves though. Not much trade, a few of us wander out every so often, but that's about it!"
Nesseth nods, now understanding. "Ah, that'd explain it, then. So definitely not a newer settlement, but out of the way..." He pauses and looks at Lorelei a bit better, just noting her mixture of Lizard and Snake features, "Well... Snakes and Lizards used to not really mix before, because... uh... they were both at war for a good while, several decades back."
Lorelei: "Oh!" She ponders "...Well. That seems odd. So..they sort of..split apart, and then decided to..fight? Over what?"
Nesseth sighs a bit and shakes his head. "Disputes that go way, way back... I think one of the final straws was some kind of pirate activity along trade routes or something like that, but there were a lot of things building up to that point."
Lorelei: "Oh. Odd" She ponders "Well, I can't say I've ever heard about that. I think the biggest row was that one time the librarian installed steps, and all the noodles got annoyed"
Nesseth chuckles a bit. "I can see why they'd get a little annoyed by that. Legs make some things a lot easier..." He nods again, "And... yeah, that stuff was from like... 50 or 60 years ago, give or take. I'm glad some folks were able to get along together even back then, though."
Lorelei: "Yeah! But...60 years ago? But like...surely since then...I mean, nobody? Really? But snake boys are so cute! And they have two.." She coughs "Two...uh...Great types of smile?" She blushes again "And the girls...I was always so jealous, sure, I can wrap people up in my tail, but they can do the full body thing. You're saying that like..there was none of that?"
Nesseth chuckles, knowing what Lorelei is likely talking about thanks to the blush on her face. He does, however, shake his head. "Yeah... none of that, no. Though, the body bind thing... well, my boss does that to me whenever we spar. It gives her kind of an unfair advantage, almost."
Lorelei: "Oh! So you do have a noodle around" She ponders "I'm curious, hadn't you worked out the whole Feather thing? I saw her, snekky like, lovely big feathers on her back..You met her? She was just sorta..on her way by. Didn't want to disturb her day..."
Nesseth shakes his head again. "Xochi? She's a pure Snake, I'm pretty sure. She's a good friend of mine, but... no, there haven't been any Snake-Lizard couples that I know of."
Lorelei: "But she's all feathery? That's what a Feather is. As I said, when a snek and a lizard loves each other very much..."
Lorelei: "I mean, they're not always as cool as actual wings! But sometimes!"
Nesseth hums thoughtfully. "So a Feather is a mix of Snake and Lizard... and they sometimes display traits like Xochi? Heh... I learn something new every day, it seems."
Lorelei: "Well, that's how it works back home!" She nods "See, I got the cool tail feathers, and my ears!" She giggles again "You're cute though! You're a guard, yeah? So many muscles...."
Nesseth tilts his head a bit at the question, but nods. "You've a sharp eye to tell I'm one of the town guards, but... yeah, I am." He chuckles again, and smiles, "And... thank you. You're rather pretty, yourself, especially with the care you give to your feathers."
Lorelei: "Thanks! And I just pay attention. Not many jobs have their boss sparring with you after all!" She stretches out "Annnnyway. I've got to get back at some point. It's been lots of fun talking to you! I still think you're just yanking my tail about not knowing about all this stuff, but..still! Fun talk!"
Nesseth smiles a bit more and waves at Lorelei. "It was definitely a fun talk, yeah. Thank you very much for the apple, by the way!" He pauses then laughs quietly as he realizes something, "Oh yeah... I completely forgot to introduce myself! I'm Nesseth, town guard, like you'd guessed, and a hunter in my off time."
Lorelei: "Lorelei! I don't have a job, but I'm sure I'll work out something!" With that, she heads out!
Nesseth hums, nodding as he likewise takes his leave. "Good to meet you, Lorelei. See you around!"
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NESSETH'S HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
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Vix hums as she zips around Nesseth's kitchen, preparing dinner~
Nesseth returns from the marketplace before too long, having went out to restock the pantry for some mystery dish that Vix wanted to prepare. He calls out as he enters the living room. "I'm back with the stuff, Vix. Also got a few other odds and ends, just to top up some other ingredients."
Vix grins as Nesseth returns and peeks out from the kitchen. "Great! Just put them on the counter there..."
Nesseth makes his way over and sets the bags down as indicated, then moves to give Vix a soft hug. "What are you even planning on making with all these ingredients?"
Vix takes some vegetables from the bag and starts to wash them up. "Oh, just cookin' up a big tasty stew~"
Nesseth chuckles as he watches Vix work her kitchen magic. "A stew, eh? Some kind of special occasion for all that effort?"
Vix hums in thought. "Just feelin' like the night should be a little more comfy~"
Nesseth hums with a bit of a smile. "Well... you know I'm going to enjoy a full meal like that very much, Vix. Thanks~"
Vix purrs as she pulls a big loaf of bread from the bag. "Of course, we gotta have toast too~"
Nesseth nods as he goes to extract the various odds and ends that aren't related to stew-making in order to stow them in the pantry. "Of course. A little bit of bread to soak up the sauces will do just fine."
Vix finally pulls a glass bottle from the bag. "And some wine! Gotta have it~"
Nesseth laughs and calls out from the pantry. "Yeah, I was a little surprised at that item on the list. Lucky thing that the marketplace has a couple of good vintners."
Vix smirks. "Want it in the stew, or wanna drink it separately?"
Nesseth leans out into the doorway with a cheeky smile as he shrugs. "Your call, dear. You're the chef, tonight!"
Vix sneaks a swig of wine before adding some to the broth. "Sure thing~"
Nesseth goes back to finishing up stowing things in the pantry before he comes back out to see if Vix needs any assistance with the food. "So... need any help cooking?"
Vix lays some vegetables out on the cutting board. "Can you cut these for me?"
Nesseth nods as he goes to wash his hands, then grabs a knife to start cutting up the vegetables for the stew. "Sure thing." As he starts into it, though, he looks over curiously at Vix, "We're going to have a good bit of leftovers, though. Think we should take some to Plume later?"
Vix puts a little more seasoned meat into the pot and hums as it sizzles. "Oh, yeah. I might have gone overboard with the portions~"
Nesseth chuckles as he continues to chop the vegetables, and working with Vix to add them to the stew in the right order. "Okay, you must have been planning for something with this much food."
Vix leans against Nesseth a bit as she stirs the stew. "Honestly...I noticed you seemed kinda down, so I wanted to make you a big ol' meal."
Nesseth blinks and gives Vix a curious look again, though his tail lightly wraps around one of her legs in reflex. "I... have? Well... thank you, dear."
Vix gives Nesseth a little more of a hug. "What's been on your mind, hun?"
Nesseth hums with a soft smile. "A few things, actually." He pauses, then spares a hand to give Vix a hug in turn, "Aside from you and the others, of course. You, Plume, Erika and Mirriam are always on my mind."
Vix purrs and blushes. "Aww~. We haven't done anything to trouble you though, right?"
Nesseth shakes his head. "Nah, it's nothing any of you have done or anything." He pauses for a second or so, then goes back to slicing the remaining vegetables for the stew, "So... did you want to know why I've been down, or the more recent thing, first?"
Vix stirs quietly for a moment. "Mmm...I wanna know why you're down."
Nesseth chuckles a little and nods. "Well, in that case... I think I'm just going to miss spending time with Mia as often as before, you know? She's decided to try going one-on-one with someone else for a bit, instead of with all of us."
Vix frowns a bit. "Hmm, good for her...but I'm gonna miss teaching her stuff~"
Nesseth hums quietly. "Mmh... like, I don't mind that we're not... y'know, screwing each other or anything like that anymore. That's just one way we could have fun together. I'm really going to miss all the snuggling we used to do, or whenever she'd be snoozing somewhere close by during time off."
Vix: Can we still invite her over for board games or battle tops?
Nesseth shrugs. "I'm guessing so? But I'd also guess that she's going to want to spend more time with whoever she's with." He sighs after a moment, "I'm just going to miss how often she'd keep us company."
Vix hums in agreement. "Yeah...heck, now I need to eat a giant bowl of stew..."
Nesseth pulls Vix against his side with his tail and gives her a soft nuzzle. "Sorry, dear. But yeah... that's pretty much what's been on my mind recently. Just Mia being... well, not around as often as before."
Vix adds more of the vegetables to the stew and adds some more seasoning. "What's the other thing, then?"
Nesseth hums in thought for a few moments before he manages to pull himself out of thinking about Mia. "Oh, something less sad and more... weird, I guess? You remember that whole thing I'd told you before about the Snake-Lizard War, right? The one from like... 60 years ago?"
Vix nods, covering the pot to simmer. "Yeah, I figure that's why Louma still teases you a lot."
Nesseth moves his arm to wrap Vix in another soft hug once she sets the stew to simmer. "Well... you know how it also meant that Lizards and Snakes really didn't like each other for a long while afterwards. Some still don't, right?"
Vix hugs Nesseth back. "Mmhm. So what's weird about it?"
Nesseth shrugs. "I just met someone at the marketplace earlier this evening who's apparently half-Snake, and half-Lizard... who also didn't really get why Snakes and Lizards were at war back then."
Vix blinks. "Whoa, talk about sheltered..."
Nesseth shakes his head. "Not really... She was from an isolated island in Orela that I'd never even heard of before today. I guess news doesn't travel too much like that." He takes a moment to scratch his frills, "...But the weird thing isn't that, it's that... she's half and half, Snake and Lizard... and she looks like a cross between both... but she has Coatl-style feathers."
Vix tilts her head. "Huh, I didn't know snakes and lizards could uh...y'know..."
Nesseth furrows his brow in confusion and nods. "Neither did I. But... according to her, the entire settlement she's from consists of Snakes and Lizards living together without any issues... you know, having children together."
Vix chuckles. "Sounds pretty neat!"
Nesseth taps his chin thoughtfully. "It does, but it also got me wondering about something... and I think I might need to chat with Xochi and Louma about it whenever I can see them next... They'll probably have some interesting thoughts on the whole thing... if only because of the Coatl feathers thing." He pauses, then nods, "...Though, yeah, her feathers looked really pretty."
Vix smirks. "A half-lizard girl with pretty feathers, you say~? Maybe we should show her around town, huh? I'll keep an eye out for her in the market."
Nesseth nods. "She stands out pretty readily, so you shouldn't have trouble spotting her around town. Pretty feathers, and a rather long... really long tail, pretty much exactly a Snake's tail... with some really colorful feathers on her head, almost like my frills in a way, and on her tail. She's new in town, too, though you obviously guessed that already."
Vix sticks out her tongue. "I'll try not to stare~"
Nesseth hums and lightly pokes Vix in the side. "It'd be rude to stare too much, dear. But yeah, she's pretty obviously Orelan, just... a bit different in dress style."
Vix uncovers the simmering stew and gives it a stir, getting a good noseful of the savory aroma. "Mmm, I think it's ready~. You want a big bowl, or a biiiig bowl?"
Nesseth likewise gets a good whiff of the stew's delicious aroma. "A biiiiig bowl sounds really nice~"
Vix giggles and serves up the stew in big bowls for both herself and Nesseth, adding slices of toast to the side. There's still plenty left~
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Aerdrid wanders into the bar after another day of work, though he seems a little more exhausted today compared to the day before. The lack of energy is likely due to the intensity of the ongoing construction, especially with the heat slowly rising as the seasons change towards summer. He plops himself down at the counter and orders himself a really big, cold glass of water to help him cool off.
Jennica wanders in some time after Aerdrid, looking somewhat sweat-heated herself though not to the same degree as the pterosaur. Upon noticing the tall person she spent time talking with the other day, her smile widens and she makes her way to the seat next to him: "T-this seat taken?"
Aerdrid looks up after having taken a really nice and deep drink of water, only to smile a little tiredly and shake his head. "No, feel free to make yourself comfortable, Jennica. Good evening."
Jennica sits down and smiles at the pterosaur: "H-hi. Um, evening." Pause. "Rough d-day, I g-guess? It has been pretty hot..."
Aerdrid nods at the question. "It was a little difficult today, yes. The heat really didn't help matters, but it feels like the work building houses has gotten a little harder for some reason." He chuckles quietly, "Though... maybe it's because we are moving onto heavier materials now?"
Jennica nods slowly: "Maybe... I guess it makes sense that once, uh... everyone has some dwelling, t-to start working for more permanent buildings, right?" Belatedly she realizes to get herself a drink as well, similarly large pint of water.
Aerdrid shrugs a little. "Maybe. I can't say with any real certainty, since I still don't know what projects the people from Sarn are hired to do besides the houses."
Jennica shrugs: "Me n-neither just, well, sort of guessing?" She takes a sip of her drink to try and hide her blush.
Aerdrid hums as he takes another drink of his water, and nods appreciatively as he gets a refill pretty quickly. "It's a reasonable guess. Though I've been here for a little while, I don't think I've explored most of the town yet. Are there buildings that this place lacks still, compared to elsewhere?"
Jennica looks aside, thinking. Her eyes wander for a moment before she turns back to Aerdrid: "I don't really know... h-haven't paid much attention. Respite is growing they say but I-I'm the wrong cow to ask..."
Aerdrid nods, understanding. "Ah, well... I guess it doesn't matter much for us, since neither of us are actually managing the town."
Jennica giggles softly: "M-maybe better so. O-or at least, t-that it's not me." She looks at Aerdrid: "M-maybe you could be, who knows."
Aerdrid laughs quietly and shakes his head. "Me? I'm hardly capable of that. I was a warrior... and now I build houses. I have almost no idea of what would go into working for a town like this, much less one larger than it."
Jennica shrugs with a smile: "M-maybe then. Silly ideas that wander in my h-head, you know?"
Aerdrid smiles at Jennica again. "Maybe, but silly ideas can sometimes make for an interesting thought or two."
Jennica giggles softly: "S-sort of what my entire craft is. Get a silly idea, feel what the metal wants to be... kinda do that."
Aerdrid hums in thought. "You've told me of your craft before, but I still don't quite understand it. When you say "feel what the metal wants to be"... is it like how I would sense something by touching or tasting it?"
Jennica blinks: "W-well, not tasting..." She fishes her pockets, finding another half-finished piece of metal that's not yet really a trinket. She holds it up in her hand for Aerdrid to see: "I just... it's hard to explain, but..." She rolls the piece from one hand to another, her hands giving the faintest of glows around the would-be trinket as she focuses: "...p-pretty sure this one desires to be some kind of shielding, protecting device..."
Aerdrid leans in curiously, looking at the piece of metal in Jennica's hands as she rolls it about. "And... this is a sort of magic? You have an extra sense of some manner that lets you, er... "understand" the metal?"
Jennica pauses in her movements as she thinks... then nods with a smile. "That's a k-kind of way to put it. I just... 'feel' it, I guess?"
Aerdrid looks up at Jennica for a moment before he sits up straight again. "Magic is such a strange thing... It can do so much more than what our kind know of it already..."
Jennica shrugs as she puts the piece of metal on the bar. "Honestly, I d-don't know much of anything. So much magic out there." She sighs a bit: "M-my abilities are pretty limited."
Aerdrid smiles again. "What you consider limited is unheard of within our community... though I'm sure people beyond this land know everything we know and more."
Jennica nods slowly: "P-probably..." She shakes her head: "It's hard to even say, b-but probably yes."
Aerdrid hums, nodding as Jennica sort of confirms his thoughts. "You might think your abilities limited, but... you have a gift."
Jennica smiles, then slowly looks back up: "T-thank you. I-it's not much, but..." She blinks, then blushes a bit. "Y-yeah."
Aerdrid chuckles a bit. "Everyone is able to do something, and every little bit helps, whatever it may be."
Jennica smiles, glancing aside: "W-well, I sure hope my trinkets help..."
Aerdrid tilts his head thoughtfully. "Have others used your trinkets before? What did they say about them?"
Jennica hums: "P-people mostly like them, but... they're kind of subtle effects, so they often forget about them as well? Suppose that is a sort of success?"
Aerdrid: "I guess that could be considered a success, in a way? Do you intend for them to be subtle effects, or... do they just happen like that?"
Jennica frowns: "Emotions are... well, a-at least the way I do, I can't really make them too strong or they overpower you... t-too much of any feeling or emotion or such and it... i-it can change your personality f-further." She pauses. "I'm afraid to push very hard."
Aerdrid blinks at Jennica. "Ah, so when you say your abilities are limited... you limit them on purpose? That is... strong magic, to have such a lasting effect."
Jennica shrugs: "A b-bit of both... l-limited because I d-don't want to push... n-not sure how far I could, but I don't really want to find out, either."
Aerdrid nods. "It might be for the best that you do that, then... It already sounds like rather powerful magic, especially for something as small as a trinket like that."
Jennica looks at the half-made chassis smaller than her palm: "Most enchantments, they scale with whatever you enchant... a-and I can't really enchant anything big."
Aerdrid: "Is there any particular reason for that? You seem quite skilled with the smaller objects, after all."
Jennica shrugs: "D-don't know. Maybe it is the kind of magic I do, or just my own abilities that don't reach..."
Aerdrid nods a bit again. "That makes sense. Your expertise is focused."
Jennica smiles: "P-probably a better way to put it." She hums: "Maybe one day I will explore that... m-maybe."
Aerdrid offers a kind smile again. "It never hurts to explore a little, I find. Push a little outside of what you normally do on occasion, and you might find something interesting."
Jennica blushes, shifting a bit in her seat: "Y-yeah... p-probably." She swallows, then turns to Aerdrid again: "H-how about you?"
Aerdrid blinks and tilts his head. "What about me? I'm... not sure I understand?"
Jennica smiles slightly: "Y-your abilities. T-there's probably more to you than just being strong."
Aerdrid blinks again, then chuckles. "Well, my strength is somewhat of a recent development... but I'm an excellent flier, I think." He takes a moment to extend one of his arms out to the side to show Jennica his wing as he talks.
Jennica blinks: "O-oh. Right. Flying." She hums: "I wonder what that is even like... m-maybe I should take a trip on one of those airships one day..."
Aerdrid smiles. "I would almost say it's like you trying to describe your magic to me. It's hard to tell to someone who just... can't. I can say that it's a wonderful feeling, though, and if you ever have a chance, you should try it."
Jennica smiles softly: "I'll keep that in mind." She hums: "So... construction and f-flying." She shrugs.
Aerdrid nods. "And a past as a warrior, yes. Beyond that, I don't have much of a history."
Jennica shrugs: "M-me neither I guess..." She glances aside. Well, some history, but maybe a story for another time. Instead, she takes a sip of her water: "N-not that history matters. What matters is what we make now, right?"
Aerdrid dips his head. "You speak true, Jennica. It's why I'm doing what I can to help, now that I consider Respite Falls to be my home."
Jennica smiles with a small blush: "Me too, in a way."
Aerdrid laughs quietly. "In a way, we both create what we can with what we know, hm?"
Jennica nods: "Yeah... y-yeah. Guess we do." She gives the pterosaur a warm smile.
Aerdrid smiles back. "So... now I have to admit I'm curious. What sorts of things have you been creating as of late? I've seen the marketplace stall you share with that lizard woman, and you have a number of trinkets on display."
Jennica hums: "Well... a-as I said, n-nothing all that big. Most of what I do are like... mood enhancers of sorts. Kind of improve some aspect of your feeling or mood or emotion, keeping things balanced towards the positive..." She waves a hand: "Nothing m-major."
Aerdrid chuckles again. "They may be nothing major, but you still make quite a few during the week. Do you have any particular trinkets that you're especially eager to work on?"
Jennica nods slowly: "Maybe... there's this one for giving you more courage in l-like social situations, b-but I haven't tested it properly yet..."
Aerdrid hums thoughtfully. "Not tested properly? I take it that the trinket is otherwise done, though?"
Jennica nods again: "Y-yeah, it is." Pause. "W-well, I didn't paint it yet. Not sure what color it would be."
Aerdrid spends a moment thinking. "So you paint them, too? Do you try to match the pattern and colors to what they do?"
Jennica shrugs: "Not really, kinda just give 'em some color so they look better."
Aerdrid chuckles. "Well... have you done anything with a deep purple as of late? That might look nice with a good pattern, maybe."
Jennica shrugs again with a bit of a smile: "Maybe. Don't know." The two continue talking for quite a while again, musing about this and that until they part ways later in the evening.