2017-03-25: In Which Princess Alisha Discovers Churros

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<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

A man with his fire.

It's a sacred bond that as existed for eons and likely will continue to do so for quiet sometime. The horizon has a orange illumination for those that look to the distance, the sign that someone has set up a campfire. As if a polar juxtaposition to the many stars that dot the night sky, the small single blaze roars down below.

The owner, Rudy Roughnight, has his simple sleeping bag and gear placed behind him as he sits on a rock. Evidence of a finished meal, pieces of rabbit bone and fur, the rind of cheese and the core of a very tasty apple, are placed in a neat pile that will later be buried in order to leave the place clean. While off the 'beaten road' somewhat of Adlehyde, he's close enough that those wandering outside the town will see the fire and those making their way toward the popular destination will notice the boy and his bonfire as they close in.

Right now, the boy with blue hair is alone. However, destiny always seem to find odd ways of throwing people into his life. 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha Diphda rotates her shoulder, with a soft hiss every time she does. She knows, though, that this will be the easiest way to loosen her shoulder after the stiffness. Being hurled through a barn by one of the Lord of Calamity's lieutenants wasn't such a fun thing. Thankfully, Mikleo was there to get her back -- and the Shepherd's band did not lack for healers. The princess knight, however, frowns a little as she walks.

"Still stiff," she mutters, though it is enough that Sorey and Edna may hear. As the three walk along at night, perhaps in the direction of Adlehyde, she pauses. She spots the fire -- and blinks, before she looks sideways. "Sorey! Lady Edna!" she says. "A camp fire, if I did not know better."

She looks ahead, then nods. "Shall we investigate? I admit that I am curious." 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

The plains outside of Adelhyde are indeed an interesting and peaceful place - ultimately its on the way enough to a lot of places that you can often find a few groups wandering about, looking for adventure, ruins, or just passing from one place to another.

Sorey may or may not be out looking for a small group of people who are of considerable interest to both himself and those in Althena's Guard. Having heard about the last encounter Alisha had with them he is.. less than pleased.

But he nods to Alisha as she points out the campfire. He doubts that it is their quarry, but... "Someone staying this close to the city without actually traveling to the city itself? That is interesting," he admits.

It's not hard to rouse his curiosity, and he turns to make a detour towards Rudy's camp. As they approach, he raises his hand and calls out in a loud voice: "Hello to the camp!"

Always good to let them know you are coming. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Destiny? Fire? These things are foreign concepts to many a demon indeed. But there are some among them who recognize the brilliance of Prometheus' flame, and the cruel turn of the Moirae's wheel... And then... There is Zed. An individual for whom fate and flame are nothing more than excuses; opportunities to meet and/or terrorize a new face, and to bring more... /Zedness/ into the world.

And so there is a guest who arrives at the fireside.

...From above.

In a tree.

"Ahahahaha, I knew I'd find someone interesting here!" Zed grins like the allegorical Cheshire Cat from behind a tangle of branches. "It's my fellow comrade in cream! The one who puts value in motherhood! Hello! Good evening!"

Zed leaps, lands, and drops unceremoniously onto his behind. He... has a paper bag with him. Inside, there are...

Churros?

"Soooo. This spot taken?" 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna plods down the path, just a bit aside from Sorey and Alisha. As usual, she looks none too impressed with anything going on. Even less so because apparently Alisha got herself beat up when she looked away for a moment. Sigh. Good thing Meebo was there to help. He can be useful.

Sometimes.

But then Alisha brings their attention to a campfire, and the earth seraph blinks slowly. "Hm. So there is. Fascinating." So full of cheer, this one. And Sorey makes a good point. "Why camp outside the city when it's so close?" A shake of the head follows. People are weird.

Oh well. Shepherd and Princess are going. She may as well follow and make sure neither get thrown through trees or something equally dumb.

Because really. People are dumb. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia has been cooped up for almost a whole week, hiding from an evil witch. It's been worrying her, and it's finally got to be too much. "Chauncey wants to go for a walk," she had explained to Talise, "and he wants to go outside the city for a bit. She won't be looking for me out there, right?"

Whatever about this argument had swayed Talise, Sephy doesn't know, but she's glad to be out and seeing new sights again.

Well, mostly new. "Oh, hi, Zed! And...other people I don't know really--oh hey, weren't you the moon princess? Oh and it's that guy who thinks I'm a kid." She scowls at Rudy, as if that were some dire, deadly insult to her. "Chauncey, tell him he's a jerk."

Chauncey is not getting involved in this, especially since it seems that this is Rudy's fire. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

So much of Talise's life has consisted of interesting conversations lately. She's had an awful lot to think about.

Aside from last night's diversion to the ocean shore, she's kept relatively close to Sephilia for the past couple of days - enough to be able to step in and protect the girl should the occasion arise. She'd smiled and acceded to Chauncey's whims, but hadn't told Sephy her ulterior motive.

Namely, she wants to be near enough to the girl to murder the Pyre Witch should she try for Sephilia again.

She'd seen the campfire from a ways off but it had been Sephy's idea to wander over to it; she's just along for the ride. Nevertheless recognition flashes across her face as she catches sight of Rudy, and she smiles with a big wave. "Oh hey, it's you! We're not crashing your thing, are we?" Then she spots someone else there.

Her eyelids lower slightly. "...Zed," she says.

With Team Shepherd still trudging towards the fire, Talise isn't quite in earshot yet; she peers off into the distance, but is distracted as Sephilia suddenly spits fire at poor Rudy. In spite of herself she has to suppress the urge to chuckle. She gets it down to putting a hand over her mouth. 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As there is a sudden Zed, the Metal Demon finds that there is suddenly a large bowie knife in Rudy's hand and the normally calm brown eyes have firmed into a fighting resolve. But seeing as it's someone who wishes to be a friend than a forceful foe, the knife is soon placed back in a sheath on his belt. "Sorry," he states simply. A second passes as if wondering if there is any point to fighting for his alone time. As other people make their way down, it seems as if that would be a losing battle. "Not really. All yours," he says with a flash of an awkward smile.

As people whose curiosity draw them to his fire, the young man offers a much warmer smile, doing his best to put a best foot forward. "Rudy. Good to meet you all," he states simply. "Just enjoying the night air, that's it," he offers preemptively, as if fearing that he will be questioned on what he's doing here and asked to leave. Because well, when you've been thrown out of enough places, you start to generalize.

Finally, Roughnight moves his gaze toward Talise and Sephy. "Nothing to crash," he states as he looks around once before his attention shifts toward the 'girl' and her stuffed animal. "Yeah, it's me," he states in a matter of fact voice, as if to dispute any claims that it's some form of doppelganger. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

" 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"I'm not sure," Alisha says. "Perhaps he feels more comfortable out here?" she asks Edna, giving the Seraph a general glance for a moment. She still can't see her, but she knows where she is. The princess, though, slows down as she glances first at Rudy. She smiles. "I am Alisha Diphda, Princess of Hyland. The pleasure is mine, sir. Thank you for--"

Then she glances at Zed. Her eyes narrow a moment. "You--" She said that, literally exactly that, last time. But, she does not glance at Sephilia next. Nor does she glance at Talise next. She hears, of course, the question about being a princess. Her leaf green eyes are drawn, however, to the churros.

"Wh-what are those?" she says, and her voice sounds... hopeful.

Her expression brightens almost instantly, and a grin is spreading ever-so-slowly across her otherwise noble features. "Can I have one? Maybe three? Six?" 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

"He could also just not be able to afford an inn. I know we've certainly been there before, especially when we first arrived." That had not been fun, but thankfully adventuring was its own reward in quite a few different ways.

But as they approach the camp, Sorey looks around and smiles. No one here that he feels like they need to be hostile of. Zed was... well, Zed. "Edna, I know it's him but let's... not get too carried away. Even if he was working with Lucia and those people, he's not been an enemy otherwise."

Really, Sorey wondered where the Lord of Calamity had wandered off to. Given what people had been saying, if she was just some unknowing bringer of disaster, she could well be getting into trouble without even meaning any harm.

ELSEWHERE AT THIS VERY MOMENT:

Lucia just stares intently at a pile of hamburgers that are almost as tall as she is, if you count the table. And their fierce Adelhydian Princess Guardian, who is protecting them like a dragon protects her horde.

Yeah it was a concern, truth be told.

"Hello!" Sorey comments to Rudy, and grins. "The name's Sorey. This is Alisha-" he gestures to the ash blonde young woman traveling with him. "...and Edna," he gestures at thin air. Nothing strange about that. "We just wanted to swing by and see who was staying out here. Curiosity and all that." 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Chauncey says I shouldn't be rude to you," Sephilia says after making a show of listening to her doll "speak". "But I'm not. A kid, I mean. I just think you should say sorry about that. I'm sorry I said you were a jerk.

Sephy does brighten when Alisha re-confirms that she is indeed a princess, but she's busy being a mature person and saying she's sorry so that Rudy will see she's more mature than he is.

Neener.

Sephy sits down and waves to Zed, who knows she's not a kid. "Tell him I'm not a kid, Zed!" She'd appeal to Talise, but she knows Talise has her back. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise's expression falls slightly as she realizes Alisha is not only here, but won't even /look/ at her. (So just my talking to Hiro and Lucia is enough for her to hate me, huh,) her mind fills in. (The extent to which she's faking here is obvious. No way would a pretty pink princess bum food off fucking Zed. How would she even know, anyway?)

Her eyelids lower. (Of course. One of the Seraphs probably told her. Maybe that's why Sorey won't even look at me.)

The smile Talise was hiding has vanished now; her hand falls to her side, jaw setting as she looks between the two in question, before clearing her throat. "Alisha," she greets, her voice a little stiff. "Shepherd."

Respectful, but slightly offended. It's what she can manage right now.

Her hand falls to Sephilia's shoulder and squeezes firmly, but leaves this one to the girl - instead turning her focus to Alisha. "I hope you've been well," she offers the Princess Knight politely. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna sighs and looks away, rolling her eyes and opening up her parasol to set it against her shoulder as usual. "All it takes is something sweet to distract her. A glaring weakness." Said in the most deadpan manner possible. Not to mention it's coming from *that* guy. The idiot with the scarf.

Sorey suggests that she not Rock Lance the poor fool, and the earth seraph purses her lips. "Hm. Fine. I won't launch him into the stratosphere."

Pause.

"For now."

At that, Edna falls quiet, letting Sorey speak to Rudy in that time. She's introduced, and the girl has a very good feeling that what the blue haired boy is seeing is thin air. Regardless, icy blue eyes stare holes into him for just a moment.

Then they look elsewhere. Namely, Talise and Sephilia. "And I guess we have Althena's Goons here too. Fun." The earth seraph turns away, shaking her head. "Isn't this just a quaint little gathering?" She just might keep quiet and wait for everyone to kill each other.

Maybe. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Zed... Does not actually seem all that perturbed by the SUDDEN BOWIE KNIFE in Rudy's hands. No, he is a Metal Demon, after all. Greetings at knifepoint are just kind of a thing he's learned to deal with over the years! Being Zed does not necessarily earn you too many non-knifepoint friends in the Photosphere. "Oho, my thanks to you then! I've been running all night, you know! This is a good chance to cool my heels."

Or, with his feet closer to the fire than pretty much anything else, maybe he's... Warming his heels? Hm?

But then, there are more people. All of whom he recognizes! "Oh! It's...!" Zed points, starting at Sephilia and then moving in vaguely whatever direction his whims desire. "Sephi, who is definitely not a kid. Talise, who is tall. Sorey the Shepherd, and--" His ears twitch. "...An invisible person. AND! YOU!"

Zed's finger is fixed on Alisha.

"YOUUUUuuu...? Uh?" He glances between her big, hopeful, green eyes and his churros. Then back. Then forth. Then he frowns, then... shrugs?? "Very well! I will give you a churro. But for every churro I give, you must promise... EQUAL COMPENSATION in the future! Not necessarily churros, but other tasty sweet things. I can't deny a fellow sweet-toothed compatriot!"

And so Zed offers the bag.

And the delicious cinnammon-sugar treats within. 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

"Princess?"

Rudy blinks, looking around to see how everyone is reacting. "I know I'm supposed to do stuff for royal people, but-" A bead of sweat goes down his face. She has a bodyguard and... thin air with her? "-I'm sorry," he admits, lowering his head in defeat. "I really don't get to meet royalty very often." Despite the fact that he's kinda working with one right now. He sweeps across the field as if it was his ten foot by ten foot domain. "But if you need to sleep here, it's no problem, I'm pretty good at keeping watch." Then he remembers who he's talking to. "But as a Princess, sure you have some sort of nice place to stay."

His eyes flicker toward Sorey. Then the blank air. Then to Sorey. Then the blank air where 'Edna' is supposed to be. He knows Zepet said when you don't understand a situation, just wait it out and sometimes you can figure it out without looking the fool. Right now, he's really not seeing it. He still manages to give Sorey a polite smile, understand that he has no real room to cast stones for the sake of oddness. "Good to meet you all."

Then Talise states that Sorey is Shepherd. "You keep sheep?" he inquires with a small, attempting to make small talk. "I guess you must be pretty successful in your business, if you have a Princess for your company."

A glance is given toward Lampbright and Zed. He decides to concede without apologizing. "Well, if Zed says it, it must be true," Rudy concedes, though his tone is hard to make out of he believes it or if this is some sort of perfectly delivered deadpan. He repeats another "I'm sorry."

Apologizing does seem to be this meek boy's default setting. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Good," Sephy says, mollified. "Now we can be friends. I'm Sephilia, Sephilia Lampbright, from near Takkar. This is my bodyguard Lord Chauncey of Foxington." She holds up the doll, beaming. "Since we're not in a bar this time, I'll show you what he can do, so you don't misunderstand."

The doll, held before the girl, bulges and suddenly grows to tremendous size, with Sephy, previously dangling him from her arms, now dangling herself from his back.

"An' this is my friend Talise, who I guess you might already know. She's awesome and she's teaching me to sing!" 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"O-oh! Talise!" she says, looking up. There is a flicker of awkwardness -- her shoulder hurts again. She smiles. "My sincerest apologies. I was distracted--ah, did someone here bake these? Perhaps? No?" She looks around, hopeful and expectant. She needs to find the source.

The source is not apparent. Instead, she looks back at Rudy, and then she shakes her head. "I am afraid, Rudy, that I am very far from home. As are many of us. But, I am a knight before I am a princess. I am quite used to camping while on the march. And you hardly need to worry about protocol."

But then her head swings back to Zed. She looks at him, then she looks down at his bag, and then she looks back at him. Her head tilts to the side -- and miracle of miracles, she flashes a bright and happy smile at him. "Yes, of course," she says. "That is only fair. I have found some sweet shops in Adlehyde, but am still exploring. If we are in Ladylake, though... oh--"

She remembers herself, and then reaches into the bag, and takes out a couple of churros. Then, she bites them, and she sighs -- and gets halfway to melting. "Oh! They're delicious!" 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey gives Talise a momentary glance, and whispers out the side of his mouth, "Ixnay on the hepherdsnay," he mutters, and shakes his head with a smile. "We're just traveling around, and it's hardly like I would expect anyone here on Ignas to know what the Shepherd is. Just Sorey is fine."

Well, there's not a lot he can do, and he sighs. There's absolutely no hostility from the brown haired young man - indeed, he seems excited to meet this new person. "Shepherd is actually my... well, title. It has some religious significance back home, but it's not anything I would expect people to know here. I'm just an adventurer, and someone who is trying to help people out."

He thinks for a moment, and adds, "I can see you're confused when I mentioned Edna. Let me... here. It is a pleasure to meet you." And so Sorey steps forward and offers Rudy his hand, in proper greetings. He also concentrates, closing his eyes - this has been getting easier - and works to pass some of his awareness to the blue haired young man when their hands meet.

Which may result in a rather strange moment when the blonde haired young woman with the parasol appears out of nowhere a few feet away from Rudy. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Something buzzes in Talise's ears. She can catch snippets of someone else talking -

'althena's goons'

She lowers her eyelids and sighs. She recognizes just enough of the voice from the time she heard Edna at the bar. (Of course. I bet she was the one trying to convince them I'm evil.)

With a short laugh, she nods at Zed crisply - only for him to confirm that, yes, a Seraph is about. Go figure. "Yeah, I sure am a tall person," she agrees. "And I'll play you a neat fight song, once my lute's fixed, if you share your churros with me."

Then Alisha realizes she's there and it stops her train of thought for the moment - though something still nags at the back of her mind. She flashes the princess a crooked smile, her thumb hooking into one of her belt loops. "That's fine. They're probably tasty. Besides, you seem hungry."

Then Sorey acknowledges she exists. Pushing her free hand into her hair, she leans in to listen to the murmuring. "We should talk about that later," she mutters back, glancing sidelong towards the spot where Edna ought to be.

She's at 'hear' right now, because she has the spiritual presence of a stick of gum.

She takes a step to the side as Chauncey hulks out. "Oh, Chauncey," she murrs with a shake of her head, before chuckling quietly and nodding to Rudy. "You can call me Tal, if you prefer. And--" Here she looks up at Sephilia. "--singing lessons soon! I've almost got the lute re-strung, and the woodwork's holding up fine. Unless that Guard priestess comes by and breaks it again." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Sorey offers Rudy a handshake, with ulterior purpose, and Edna already knows. Having turned just slightly to see it happening, she gives the vest clad drifter and pointed look. "Hey." Is all she says. Standing there, umbrella opened up and the most dour look on her face. It's an odd sight for sure. For the brief moment that Rudy can see it.

And then there's those other people. Like Zed. She gives the green haired fool a mildly irritated glance. 'Invisible person'. Really now.

An exchange between Sorey and Talise has the tall lady looking in her general direction. Casually, the earth seraph takes a step back. Just to make it so that she was no longer in the correct line of sight. Not that anyone but Sorey would know, probably.

The amusement of Seraphim. 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As the girl introduces herself formally, Rudy Roughnight merely gives a nod. He seems ready to discount the 'bodyguard' again, but then it shoots into a large size. "What the-" he exclaims before he falls backward, his legs sprawling about in the air for second before he swiftly scrambles to get back to his perch. He looks around to everyone else, taking their clue. No, doesn't seem like people are talking this 'lord' as a threat, so he warily lets out a breath to attempt to relax once more.

Muddy brown eyes, which seem dull amongst the vibrant greens and blues of his current company, take in the princess as she explains herself. "Okay," he replies, clearly not sure what to make of this 'knight first, princess second' mentality. Somehow, he'll figure it out in time. Somehow.

As Sorey makes it clear that the Shepherd talk is bad, Rudy awkward rubs the back of his head, his bandanna ends shifting about from the effort. "You got it, Sorey," he replies. "The pleasure is all mi-WHAT THE."

Rudy falls back again, though thankfully he doesn't draw Sorey with him save the initial knee-jerk pull. Hopefully Sorey's Shepherd training will avoid him getting pulled over and landing onto Rudy. Hopefully.


Either way, with his legs sprawled in the air once more, he is still polite. "Good to meet you, Miss Edna." Somehow if she's invisible, likely best to be EXTRA polite. Just seems a wise choice of action or else he might be in danger of getting mysterious wedgies, his stuff taken, and framed for crimes he didn't commit. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Truly, there are some things that transcend race, and culture, and planet. The value of glucose to the metabolism of creatures near and far to and from Filgaia means that sweets, and those who love and are loved by them, are scattered across the tapestry of space like delicious little jimmies against a backdrop of jet black chocolate icecream.

...The metaphor ran away a little bit, there.

"A song, you say!?" Zed looks to Talise, and then offers yet another gear-shaped stick of deep-fried cinnammon-sugar goodness. "Very well. Payment accepted! Transaction received!" Today is a profitable day! Especially since he got these things in a two-for-one special deal. What a wonderful time to be Zed!

He nods, then, at Alisha who appears to be... Melting? Metaphorically? Zed can almost see the sparkles of pure, sweet-induced joy radiating from her face. It's... It's heartwarming!? It's befriendening!! Zed smiles a gleeful grin. "Hmhm, yes! Perhaps if the situation is someday reversed, and we both happen to be on the Silver Star, yes? I do want to visit, one of these days-- now that I know there's something up there! You know, it is strange how it's impossible to tell from down here on Filgaia."

Maybe there's some kind of... shroud involved, or something? A hologram projector!?!?

"But yes, these churros are the best! So crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and coated with so much sweetness! They sell ones with some kind of sweet cream inside, too. It's the best!"

Well. The best so far. Zed is still expanding his palate. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

Zed perks up, then. He squints into the invisible air. "So it's Edna again today!? Hello! Did you also want a churro?" 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy allows Chauncey to return to a more manageable size. "I don't want a stray spark to catch him, and there's more of him to catch that size," she explains. "Ummmm...are you okay?" she asks then, seeing Rudy falling over a couple of times. "What do you see?" She peers at the 'empty air' with great curiosity. Then her ears catch up. "Hey wait, did you say you're the SHEPHERD?" she demands of Sorey. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Wow that was... a bit more of a reaction than Sorey had been expecting. As Rudy leaps back, the young man is not prepared for it at all, and instead gets pulled forward with a rather dramatic *yank*. There is a brief moment where Sorey just goes 'ACK!' and then he collapses right on top of Rudy.

"...apologies about that. I hope she wasn't making some weird face when she appeared," Sorey mumbles as he pushes himself back to his knees. He laughs after a moment, and adds, "She can be like that sometimes. Edna is quite the prankster..."

He pauses, and turns slightly just to make sure that the Earth Seraph isn't about to whack him on the head with her umbrella or something. But Sorey manages to turn around, pulling himself onto a small rock and smiles at Sephilia. "As I said, it's not a big deal here," he counters, not... really wanting anyone making a huge fuss, especially here of all places. Although Rudy may be getting the sense that he's being more modest than his title may actually call for.

He looks over at Talise, Alisha, and Zed for a long moment, and shrugs. "I'm someone who is trying to carry a light for people to see by, in a world that is growing a bit darker every day." He isn't... really clear on who he's talking to at this point, although everyone can clearly hear him. "I think that anyone who was put in my position would do the same." 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Ah--oh, yes! That can be a surprise, can't it?" Alisha asks, looking at Rudy. Though she hadn't actually /seen/ the Seraphim... yet. (It was in part because she closed her eyes when Sorey held her hand and, in part, because faith is a curious thing.) She opens her mouth a moment, before she munches on her churros. Then, she looks at Zed.

Just in time to miss Rudy's pratfall.

"Talise has a good voice," she says, with a cheerful nod. She sighs, before she bites down into the churros again. For a moment, at least, his alliance with the Lord of Calamity is forgotten. "Oh, do they? I do love pastries with cream. Have you had an eclair? I have yet to find a shop that sells them."

She sighs, wistfully. "But I am /very/ partial to those. Of course, those aren't crispy on the outside, like these are." 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Fortunately for Edna, Talise is only at 'hear,' not 'see.' Even then she's not hearing much, because she has the spiritual awareness of a bag of potatoes.

With Zed being tolerable today, Talise meets his look with an easy smile, reaching out to accept the deep-fried cinnamon delight. "Perfect. See, you're a good guy after all, Zed. I owe you one song." Leaning forward, she lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper: "Don't tell the Guard."

She winks, once. Come, sin with me, Zed.

Straightening up again, the half-Beastwoman takes a bite of her treat, eyes slitting in quiet joy at the taste of it. Num num num. "Honestly," she says, "/when/ we get home I'd be happy to show any visitors around. If people want to come back, anyway. I know at least one Filgaian who is."

She sticks her elbow out to give Sephy a nudge, then lowers close to whisper about that. "He's trying to keep that a secret."

Sorey outs himself anyway. Taking a step back, the taller woman lets out a slow rush of breath through her nose, her eyes not leaving the young fellow. "The world's gotten very dark. And there's darkness in places you wouldn't think should be dark at all," she says, perhaps a bit cryptically.

What Alisha's talking about is safer. She can't help but crack a grin. "I'd love a pastry. I /really/ miss the ones from home." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

There's a greatly amused smirk at Rudy's reaction to her appearance. "Heh." She intones mildly. But does nothing more.

Sorey calls her a prankster.

Edna responds to this in the most mature manner possible.

She calmly closes her umbrella. And then she plods right up to the Shepherd and sets a hand on his shoulder. "Sleep with one eye open tonight." A fair warning. She doesn't do much else because he's speaking on mildly pertinent 'Shepherd matters', so a warning towards the unknown future is all he gets.

Fortunately.

Edna's eyes close as the conversation on sweets and lights in darkness and all that stuff drones on. She doesn't need to eat. Nor does she need to rest. She just turns away from all of this, opens those blue eyes of hers, and stares off at the moon silently. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia nods at what Talise says. "I miss Mom's meat pies. When we get back home, you'll see what I mean!" She hugs Chauncey a little tighter, suddenly reminded why she hasn't been out exploring this week. "If...if we get back, I mean," she says in a very small voice. 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

So then, Sorey is the kind of friend who lights up the night and pushes back the darkness? Zed makes a contemplative sound from around a mouthful of churro, which is about the best place for a contemplative sound to be. "Wlff thff finf--" Wait, no, his mouth is full. MUNCH-MUNCH-MUNCH-MUNCH-gulp. "Well, that's fine!" Better! "If the world gets dark, it's just right for me! After all, I am the Dark Hero. The one that fights in the dark so you don't have to!"

Catchphrase delivered, Zed munches another length of churro. So good.

But then... THEN...! "She does!" Zed nods in agreement with regards to Talise's voice. Even if she is very large and also a cat, her voice is pretty great! Is this what they mean when they refer to cats singing!? "Don't you worry, Talise. Your secret is safe with me, but... Hmm." Zed frowns, "That is strange, why do the Guard hate music and dance so? These things are important, aren't they?"

Even Metal Demons know that!

(Or rather, even Zed knows that. Because he's memorized theme songs to all his favorite shows and plays them on repeat in his head almost constantly.)

"Well, as long as they don't outlaw sweet things, I guess! Never heard of an eclair, though. I HAVE had muffins! Muffins are great! Maybe when we end up on Lunar sometime, you'll have to show me all of these... Moon Delicacies?" If... If they're still friends by then. Nevermind the Lucia thing, there's also the fact of... species to consider. Zed pushes the thought out of his mind before it can eat away at his smile. "Hmm. But if you're looking for more pastries... Maybe you should check some of the bigger cities? More people mean more restaurants, right?" 


<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

As Rudy gets up and back to his place once more, he looks toward Sorey with his own apologetic look, only nodding toward his explanation of Edna's tactics. As the talk goes to being a light, Rudy nods. "I wish more people wanted to be light," he states his tone getting suddenly sad as he looks off toward the side. Whatever thoughts he was thinking, he swiftly stops. Brooding is poor form, after all.

As Alisha speaks of Talise's voice and she offers to sing, Rudy nods in approval. While he was distracted previously when he had heard her last, it did seem that she had talent, after all.

As people talk of traveling, Lunar, and the concept of home, Rudy looks to the ground, not sure exactly what to say on that. He appears like a man in a woman's clothing shop, or a princess in a store selling seed... awkwardly out of place. "I hope you all get to go home if that's what you want," he offers softly as he looks up to everyone. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia impulsively hugs Rudy. "You should come too. My Mom's going to make so much delicious meat pie when I get home safe. And you can meet my Dad and stuff. He's a famous explorer! it's just, there's a witch, you see." She nods somberly at this proclamation, as though that makes perfect sense.

And yet, Lord Chauncey of Foxington has indeed turned out to be a capable bodyguard despite appearances, so maybe there's something to this mention of a witch, too. Who can say, with Sephy? 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha's eyes widen, slightly, at the mention that sweets could be outlawed. Surely, the Goddess would never...

She tilts her head to the side, looking at Zed, and considers what he says -- and then she smiles brightly at him again. "A fine idea," she says. "I should think there are regional specialties here, just as there are on the Silver Star." Alisha's fingers come to her chin for a moment, and she reflects back on that.

Then, she looks at Rudy. She nods, once, and looks a little sad -- but only briefly. "...I do, too. I do miss it." She starts to look up, like Edna does, at the moon.

But then she notices Sorey. She blinks at him, lowering the churro from her mouth. "Sorey? Did something happen?" 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey nods once, although he looks... pensive. "Not everyone is cut out for dealing with other people's problems. I think that it is rewarding, but I don't blame anyone who wants to look after themselves first - after all, if you can't take care of yourself, you're not going to be able to help other people in the end."

It wasn't really the place to air dirty laundry. Sorey wasn't entirely happy with the brutality that Althena's Guard was willing to show towards its enemies, but that meant that he needed to purify the Lord of Calamity and return her to being a normal human - if possible - before the Guard could catch and execute her.

And then Alisha asks her question, and Sorey actually blushes a little and wave his hand in denial. "No, no - I'm fine," he replies. "I was just introducing our friend here to Edna, and... well, you know me. Tripped over my own feet and all." It was as good an explanation as anyone, but Sorey attempts to emit 'no need to worry about me' vibes as well.

It doesn't work very well.

Especially with Alisha. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Bringing her hand down to Sephilia's shoulder, Talise gives the younger girl a firm, encouraging squeeze. "Hey, hey. Don't get like that," she encourages with a smile. "We're gonna get home. Stick with me, Lyn and Ida, okay? We're all working on it as hard as we can, and once we find the way, we'll get you back to see your mom and dad again."

She makes a mental note to have a long conversation with Sephilia very soon.

"Well, the Guard's outlawed everything else. Sweets would probably be next," she grunts with a nod towards Zed, curling her lips. "I mean, outlawing music is already comical enough. But they're misguided. I don't think that's really what Althena wants. At least... not the Althena I've been singing about for most of my life."

Trailing off, she tilts her head to one side and listens to what Sorey has to say. Her lips come together in a tight line.

"I think part of dealing with other people's problems is listening to them," she says, her voice quieter. "Not that I'm some big hero, either. But there's a lot going on from our neck of the woods, and I think a lot of it isn't what it seems. I'm trying to figure it out too." As she speaks, her gaze shifts towards Alisha; that probably has more meaning for the Princess Knight than for the Shepherd. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

All that said and done, Edna remains silent through it all. She's got nothing to say. Rather, she just stares at the moon and frowns just a bit.

A mild sigh follows, then, the Earth Seraph turns away and looks to everyone else. "Hm." Nope. She's got nothing to say to these goons. "I'm done hanging around. Hurry up and finish your business, you two." With that, she vanishes into a plume of golden light, drifting off into Sorey's chest.

Welp, there goes Edna. 

<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.

The hug catches Rudy off charge and people might be concerned to see that Rudy's hand instinctively goes half way toward the bowie knife. The move isn't something of a seasoned warrior, but merely a reflex of fear and... something else. But he catches himself in that split second that it's merely a hug and the hand that went for the knife just offers a simple pat pat to Sephilia. Hopefully, most will miss the inappropriate reaction from Rudy, he is making 'friends', after all. "Maybe one day," he offers meekly, not sure how else to respond to traveling to another world.

"Haven't really run into Althena's Guard much much," Rudy then admits softly as he looks to the invisible woman (or where he last saw her), the princess, and the Shepherd. Maybe he's wondering where their alliances are. Seems like people have complicated ones. For Rudy, however, life seems rather simple and easily interchanged with your average Digger or Adventurer. As if showing that with one sentence, he states his thoughts on selfishness and aiding those in need.

"I like helping," Roughnight offers in response to Talise's words, as if it was somehow profound. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Helping people is fun!" Sephilia agrees. "Well maybe not everyone," she amends. "Some people just want to take advantage." She smiles at Talise. "I'm learning!" 

<Pose Tracker> Zed has posed.

"...So. Hold on, they outlaw things that... People enjoy doing? Or just things which inconvenence them?" Zed frowns, rubbing his chin. Does that mean that they could outlaw... No, not unless they know about it. And even then, HE'S not an Althenian. But it does give him an... Idea. An idea that can only be executed at another place and time, and only if he plays his cards right.

...He's going to need to prepare.

But it'll be amazing. Totally, completely worth it.

"Hmmmm. Well. Maybe I'll go find a way to visit the moon, too!" Technically, Zed... maybe... could already? If he really wanted to risk it, he could just-- no, that's probably a bad plan. Prrrroooobably. "Someday. It'd be neat to be on another world, yes?" Maybe one that's less hostile to his very existence? That'd be nice. 

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey listens to Talise for a moment, and shakes his head. There's not a lot he can respond to in that case - he's well aware that things are complicated, and they DID try and talk to Lucia's crew before that fight had broken out. "Yeah, but if it wasn't difficult I don't think you could call it an adventure," he replies.

After all, he wasn't sure where anyone had landed in this whole conflict - only time would tell. Time and an open mind.

But he keeps his doubts and concerns mostly to himself right now, not even sharing them with his companions. But then Edna declares that it's time to go - not as much an order as a reminded that they need to continue on to their destination. "Well while I don't want to be as abrupt as Edna, I think she has the right of it - we should continue onwards. A pleasure to see you again, Talise, Sephilia." Sorey nods to Rudy. "And a pleasure to meet you as well, Mister Rudy." Another, longer pause, and Sorey shakes his head and laughs. "Don't get into too much trouble, Zed. I'm sure Edna would hate to miss being able to swat you again in the future." 

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha takes a bit oe of another churro. Then, she looks down at Rudy, and she smiles briefly at him. "Helping is nice," she agrees, with a serious nod. Then, she looks back at--well, at where Edna /was/.

She watches for a moment, then frowns. Maybe, she thinks, she should try to talk to her later.

Later, though. Not here.

"Sorey," she says. "We may want to be moving. I think we have a few hours to go until we get to Adlehyde, and the others will want to know where we are." She turns, then, and does a short bow. "Zed, though we have our differences, your offer of churros will not be forgotten in the future. On behalf of my kingdom and my people, I thank you."

Then, she turns, and walks away. The little ribbon on her spear sways, dramatically, in the wind.

THAT JUST HAPPENED. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise catches the way Rudy's hand moves. She takes a step forward and bunches her shoulders visibly, her chin coming up, but he stops himself and spares himself a beating. Smiling, she instead reaches out and gives the shy man a brisk clap on the shoulder. "See, you're a good man. I knew I liked you for a reason."

Lifting her hand away, she plants it at her hip again, sending a sad sort of smile Sorey and Alisha's way. "...Yeah. Yeah, nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Safe travels, you two. Let's talk later."

With a smile she looks back down to Sephilia, giving the girl's hair a light tousling. "Anyway! We oughta let Rudy roll back into bed and catch a few winks. What say we start back to town, huh? We'll get something to eat when we get there." 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Meat pies?" Sephy asks hopefully. "Chauncey still didn't get to try those ones from the stall we passed the other day..." 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Laughing, Talise fluffs Sephilia's hair again. "Alright. Meat pies," she agrees, putting her arm around the girl. "Let's do that."

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