2018-04-02: The Meat Dimension

• Log: The Meat Dimension
• Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Dean Stark, Avril Vent Fleur, Rebecca Streissand
• Where: Wolfsbane Tavern
• Date: 2nd April 2018
• Summary: Riesenlied, Noeline and Dean return to the Wolfsbane Tavern after their trip to Gaferis, meeting with Avril and Rebecca over matters. Dean disappears into a meat portal.

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied has returned to Vane from their first trip over to Glenwood, with plenty to discern and investigate -- in particular, there were the tomes of Rolancian history from the Gaferis Ruins, which Dean was there for as well... and given that the topic of meeting Rebecca back in the Mystic City had come up, it seemed prudent for them to come back as one.

By the time they've arrived at Vane, Riesenlied quietly moves towards the Wolfsbane Tavern. Mikaia and Janey've been helping spruce the place up with the other Wolves under Argus' watch, and the sign -- painted by Fei depicting a cartoon wolf with a meal napkin and fork and knife -- is up and running once more.

She's been quiet and down, rather clearly affected by what she insists was not a problem back at the Ruins.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline's remained at Riesenlied's side ever since her return from the ruins, more than able to pick out that something certainly was a problem after all. Bit by bit, on their return journey, she's managed to wheedle enough details out of Riese to piece together what must have happened - but she doesn't bite for it, just sighing to herself and offering space and comfort as necessary.

It helps that Janey and Mikaia are there waiting for them back in Vane, helps more than Noeline cares to admit out loud - but her huff is undeniably fond as she helps hoist Mikaia up onto her shoulders.

"You've really done the place up. Has Argus managed to say more than a couple of words at a time yet?" she asks the orphan pair, glancing for a moment at her companion as if to highlight that she's in need of some cheer, or at least a good loud change of topic.

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Dean certainly hadn't been against it. He'd met up with Rebecca since Riese had last seen her, as he'd explained, but there was no harm in meeting up with her again in Vane, since they'd been planning on heading that way regardless. As for the Ruins, well... Dean doesn't really know what to make of what happened, and while he'd tried to ask Riese and Noeline what had been wrong at first, Riese seemed so bummed that he decided to leave off the topic for a little while. Rebecca's better at these nuance-y kind of things... Maybe he can ask her for her insight.

Either way, the three of them enter the Wolfsbane Tavern. "Hey, this place looks really nice!" he says, looking around once they're inside. "It's really homey... I'm already starting to get hungry for a home-cooked dinner!" He grins over at the orphans, too. Noeline mentions something about doing the place up, so-- "Hey, Janey! Hey, Mikaia! Did you guys clean this place up? It looks great!"

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

There's been a lot to learn. Between history, the nuances of local customs, ways of life that simply don't exist in the dying world of Filgaia... Lunar's no echo of the blue sphere hovering in the sky. It's its own world -- vast and rich as the planet they've left behind. In their travels so far and explorations of the towns they've come across since their arrival, this has become Avril's impression of this land.

Today it's to Vane. Rebecca had spoken of it previously; so too was there the hope that there might be a hint of information useful to them in its libraries. On Lunar, Johnny Appleseed, or otherwise.

Vane, though... Avril has seen towns that had the same feel as Vane before. On Filgaia.

Thus, perhaps, might explain the faintly concerned expression on her face as they enter the tavern, before her attention alights on Riesenlied and Noeline.

"Oh, it's quite clean in here, is it not?"

Implication: outside, not so much? (rude, Avril)

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.

"Sounds like we got here just in time. Have you ever seen Dean when he's hungry Avril? It's worse than when he's stuck on his Golem Obsession."

Rebecca still remembers fondly every time how dramatic Dean got whenever he was forced to miss a meal, sent to bed without supper. How she always eventually snuck him one.

Pushing open the door into Wolfsbane Tavern. Rebecca double takes at Avril's remark and she murmurs to her, "Well the town /has/ seen better days... but I guess you expected a little more from a flying city, huh Avril?"

Before Rebecca's eyes wander until they pick up on the two helpers. "Calamity Janey! Mikaia! Wow Dean and Avril are right - this place really is spic and span. You two really turned it around since the last time I was here."

After a moment she holds up a finger, "Mind escorting us to your mama's table before Dean's stomach starts to go critical mass?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Haha... no, he's still really quiet," Mikaia looks good in what seems like a sporty little waitress getup, perhaps inspired by something Shalune suggested to her. She waves to Dean and goes, "Oh, Dean! Heeey, you're just on time, it's Sunday Roasts today, with popovers and gravy!"

Maybe she does have a future selling food...

Riesenlied lowers her head and bites her lip, hugging her daughter as she bobbles up to her side. "Mom, what's wrong?"

A pause, as Riese realises that Mikaia's cottoned onto her mood better than even she can herself. She looks to Noeline, and shakes her head. "No, no... I'm just tired."

She turns towards Avril and Rebecca as they enter, smiling warmer as she says, "Oh, hello..."

Janey, on the other hand, looks... pretty good in a black vest, white button-down shirt and pants. The bartender look...

She grins and goes, "Heeey, welcome!" she puts her hands behind her back and hops down, grabbing some menus as she ushers them to a table. "Come on in and get a load off! Of course it's clean, you can eat off the floor here!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

At the very least, Noeline has thrown Dean a bone during their return when it comes to trying to figure out what's up with Riesenlied... ... the only trouble being that it's usually 'I'll tell you later', and at some point it's turned into an amused little attempt to see just how much of a 'later' Noeline can get away with. Still, she looks sympathetic, to some degree. "I'm quite surprised they managed to get this much done," she agrees with a nod, before pausing at the sign with an uncertain frown.

With a quiet snort, the twintailed demon looks over to Avril's... compliment. "It took some work, certainly. It was quite dusty to begin with, and there was a neat hole in the ceiling right over there," she adds with a nod of her head, indicating a spot just above the girl's right shoulder. Is she trying to tease? It's not really clear from her ever-amused tone. "I'm quite sure it's alright now, mind you."

"I wouldn't say we have a table of our own, per se, so for the time being I'd really just suggest sitting wherever you like," Noeline smoothly adds to Rebecca-- but something makes her pause, and that's because she's finally taken a moment to notice what exactly Mikaia and Janey are wearing. Suddenly, the question isn't so much 'do we have a table of our own' and more 'have we gained an entire tavern', and her brow slowly furrows. "... should you be working behind that bar?" she huffs to Janey. "Val is going to have some serious words with me about letting you near the drink later, I expect."

She helps lead Riese in Janey's direction, sharing a glance with Mikaia on the way. "... we ran into a little trouble. Nothing dangerous, I suppose, so much as someone determined to be as subtle and blunt as a brick," she adds quietly. Mikaia gets preferential treatment over Dean!

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

"Wow, that sounds delicious!" Dean enthuses at Mikaia. "Did you and Janey make that yourselves?" But then Mikaia latches onto Riese, noting her sad mood--but even she can't get the reason out of her. Dean sobers, but fortunately, Avril and Rebecca walk in just then, brightening his mood back up.

"Hey guys! Yeah, it *is* nice in here, huh?" he says to Avril. He grins at Rebecca, having fortunately missed her comment about him getting dramatic when he's hungry. "Oh, you were here before? Cool! Yeah, let's all get a table!"

Noeline points out that they don't really so much have a table as the entire tavern. Dean makes a face. "Whatever, it doesn't matter where we sit!" To that point, he strides right over to the nearest table with seats for at least six or seven (in case Janey and Mikaia join them too), and parks himself down at it. Meanwhile, it's okay if Mikaia gets preferential treatment. Dean was there to see *that* much, at least.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

Avril's expression flits from that pensive look to one of mute mild shock. "...Is that so? Then, that is quite fortunate..."

...Is she taking Rebecca at face value?!

Fortunately, before she can /really/ act on that assessment of the situation, they step inside the tavern. (This may be for the best, before Argus is put to the test on just how much he can feed a growing teenage boy with a hearty appetite... or how well their collective wallet can /cover/ such a feat)

"Perhaps," Avril allows instead, at Rebecca's commentary. "Though, with a flying city, it is possible that being removed from the ground might also..." Fortunately, she's /also/ interrupted before she can speculate her way down THAT rabbit hole.

(Flying cities: possibly have some supply issues? The ramifications thereof: an exploratory thesis.)

"It is wonderful to see the both of you again. And of course, Mikaia and Janey, as well," Avril says with a polite nod. "I hope that Lunar is treating you as well as it has us. I must admit, I did not expect to become transported to the moon..."

This is followed by a brief blink, and the lift of her gaze towards the ceiling. "A hole... I would barely be able to tell it was there if you had not said," she comments, a tad bluntly. "It must have been difficult with the rains until it was repaired. ...It's a strange thing, is it not? It rains here on the moon." As compared to, well, Filgaia.

"Do you have a recommendation on where we should sit?"

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.

Avril's taking her at face value is actually kind of nice to her? That someone does - despite how shocked she looks. But she worries that such could be taken advantage of sometimes. "Haha yeah - when he hungry and gets a craving for something he's pretty much unstoppable."

"Hmm?" Rebecca actually seems pretty interested in what Avril has to say there on Vane - but it's interrupted. Looking at Noeline - Rebecca certainly has no idea that she's the subject of some lines of poetry she's drafted in moments of private daydream this past week. She imagines instead a ruggedly handsome alabaster Skinned Crimson Noble sweeping a Metal Demon dressed to the nines into a dance in some fantastic far away kingdom.

Can this creature swept up in this dance
A dark and bloodied prince
Find beauty - soul - and devotion.
A love I've not known since...

Such is the fate of noble crimson
Caught in this world alone
Love for demon maid fleeting - bitter
My pain has only grown.

While she's still a little guarded about Metal Demons - she's a little less wary now after figuring out that they can in fact have romance. That common ground brings a good measure of empathy, to the point where she at least offers a wave to Riese in the midst of that. "Yeah." She agrees with Dean, "Let's not take them up on the floor offer though."

Settling down at the table, she takes up the menu. "Roast huh? Mmm... I'm kinda missing the selections from back home a little."

But they're already sitting and Avril is asking for recommendations? "Huh? Well we already picked a table... so it really doesn't..."

By now though she knows Avril is Avril so she decides rather than pointing out how weird it is to just go with it, "Well you know what - how about you sit by me Avril? Seems like a good spot."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Aw, it's fine! Argus doesn't have a problem with it, and y'ain't gonna see Val gripin' about someone making her work lighter! She's always been complainin' about her coils getting heavy," Janey waves Noeline away as she sets the table up and pours some glasses of water.

While standing on a stepladder. She's a bit of a tyke, OK...

Mikaia blushes to admit, "N-nooo... Uncle Argus makes a really tasty roast, though. The meat in Lunar is so much fresher than Filgaia! But, but!" She lights up and almost faux-whispers, as if sharing a secret:

"He lets me put the sprig of parsley on top at the end."

She looks towards Avril with a heavy smile, saying, "Yes, none of us expected it to go the way it did... we--"

She bites her lip. "I'm sorry. We had to do what we could to escape the Lord of Calamity, and the Elw teleporter seemed the most expedient way to do it... but for it to have turned out like this..."

Janey waves Avril over to go, "This' the best seat by far! Views of the stage and everything!" to where Dean's picked out a table for them.

Riesenlied looks rather guilty as sits... and eventually addresses the elephant in the room, "Dean, I'm-- sorry for keeping mum about it, I feel ashamed to think it in the first place..." with a soft sigh. "I know you, Rebecca and Avril do not treat us like... well, how I think Mister Ethius views us. As Demons, regardless of what we do."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"To be quite honest, this is actually all new to us, as well," Noeline admits towards Dean as the group move to a table; she glances around them at their surrounds, and lets out a quiet and slightly prideful chuckle. "Some friends of ours decided they wanted a place to stay in Vane from time to time, and decided to find an abandoned building that might look likely enough. Imagine our surprise when it turned out to be 'active', at least in a very technical sense. No customers for two years," she sighs in amusement.

"We decided a bit of elbow grease would make things a lot more pleasant, and perhaps draw in some business. Evidently, it worked, because here you are," the demon adds, rather tongue-in-cheek, as she glances to Avril. "As far as Lunar is concerned, we are presently missing the Fereshte, and the rest of the Waysiders. We were separated from them, and have yet to uncover much information on their whereabouts. Until we can find them, we're stuck learning what we can and licking our wounds, but I do admit it's a pleasant place."

Noeline isn't exactly looking terrifically Crimson Noble at the moment, more Anime Black Knight - but perhaps that still counts for something, her hair up in a pair of overblown twintails. She does at least laugh in response to Rebecca's comment, flicking out her hair after a moment. "There are, at least, some rooms available. Last I checked, we were in the midst of cleaning those up as well, before I had to go chase after Riese for a while."

She ends up leaning on one arm on the table, watching with quiet interest as Janey and Mikaia fuss over them all. ... she's not really sure if she should feel proud, or try to help, or just succumb to her first instinct of claiming a table in the corner, Starfall Saloon style. "I suppose that's fair," she admits towards Janey, and displays a fanged grin. "More than anything, I'm amazed you're helping out to this degree. Mikaia, I could certainly understand. ... did you go on a dig while we weren't looking again, and this is making it up to us?" she wonders aloud, watching for any telltale signs.

"Mr. Hesiod is the sort to call a spade a spade even if it point-blank asked him not to. He is determined to work out the way the world works, and that leaves his actions... rather lacking in nuance. I doubt he intended to be judgemental, so much as just tactless," she sighs with a shake of her head - and then pauses to place her hands on Riesenlied's. "... just remember how many people you've reached," she cautions. "On balance, we have come terribly far."

Gasp, Rebecca! She's muscling in on Crimson Lord ______ Blackflame's territory!

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Janey swallows a lump and immediately says, "NOPE! And don't mind the pile of new toys in our rooms that certainly were gifted to us by someone generous and not from a Ruin or anything!!"

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

As long as Rebecca's not writing poetry about Dean, it's all good.

"Oh yeah?" Dean says to Noeline, blinking. "Huh... I guess there *are* plenty of, uh... abandoned-looking buildings out there." He rubs a finger under his nose. "Honestly, I was kinda surprised by how... run-down the city looks. It's a flying city! You'd think it'd be fancier or something." He grins at the rest of Noeline's story. "That's true! Maybe that's just what this town needs." ...Customers?

Missing the Fereshte and the other Waysiders... "What's the Fereshte?" he wonders, because he never got filled in on the skyship. Avril then comments on rain on the moon, and he nods vigorously. "Yeah, I know! I never really thought about it before. I mean, the moon always kind of looked like a big gray rock. I never would've figured it'd be so green and wet here!" As for sitting recommendations, Rebecca invites Avril to sit next to her, and Janey points Avril to the best seat at the table, so Dean smiles and nods them both to sit on over on that side. He doesn't really care where he sits, as long as he gets plenty of food out of it. If they put on a Golem show, he might regret that decision, though.

Meanwhile, Dean turns in his seat to listen to and nod at Mikaia, then leans in as she faux-whispers about the parsley. "Oh cool! So you *do* get to help!" he says, grinning. "I bet you'll be making amazing roasts yourself before you know it!"

Riesenlied is apologizing, both for the transporter and what happened at the Gaferis Ruins. "Hey, nobody knew it would do that," he says, which is quite a big presumption, but Dean tends to assume the best of people. He stares at her blankly when the topic turns to Ethius, and it takes a full moment before realization dawns. "Wait, *that's* what was going on? He was acting all weird because you're a Metal Demon?" He frowns. "That's not fair. I get not liking stuff your people have done, but *you've* always been so nice... No wonder you were so upset." Noeline weighs in, and Dean nods slowly. "Oh, okay... I think I get it now." He smiles at Riesenlied. "Noeline's right, y'know! And I'm sure lots of people understand. Don't let him get you too down!"

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

"Hmm, I see," comes Avril's response to Rebecca's description of Dean's terrible hunger. "Then, we should endeavor to keep him well fed for certain." ...Is that a slight smile she's wearing? ...Wait, just /how/ much of that was actually at face value anyway?!

Within the tavern, a different set of conversations are underway:

"It is alright. I'm thankful everyone appears to be safe and sound. When the statue was broken, I..." She trails off, glancing away. She's still worried, to be honest. What's happening down there now on Filgaia? Are the sealed statues alright?... But she shakes her head. "...We are here now. I'm certain that we will all do our best. As always, don't you agree, Dean? Rebecca?"

Never give up.

Janey waves her over towards the spot Dean's already chosen. As if startled, Avril lifts a hand to her lips. "Oh, then this one is alright?" Her gaze sweeps between Rebecca and Dean, as if she was attempting to place something, however vaguely for a moment... But she shakes her head, pulls back the seat nearest Rebecca, and sits. "Yes, this will do nicely."

The Fereshte. She thinks she recalls what that is -- the ship from Wayside, as she recalls? From the depths of the waterways. "I have not heard, I'm afraid. I will let you know if we hear a rumor, Noeline. It's the least that we can do for the both of you... and the people of Wayside."

Rain on the moon. A strange thing, and yet-- "I suppose that is a result of the illusion, however," Avril muses to Dean, a hand to her chin as she thinks back on what Riesenlied and Noeline and Elder Halle had spoken of, all those months ago. "Do you remember, Rebecca? If what they said was true, it is the same for Filgaia as seen from here. Neither realm can see the other, and yet they traverse their own separate paths through the eons..."

The hand of the Guardians. Duras Drum, to be specific. Sidelong, Avril's attention slides towards Noeline, as if recalling something the Metal Demon had told her once.

"..."

Before Riesenlied's comment -- and Dean's reaction to it -- both draw her eye. "The... transporter?" She blinks, once.

And Ethius had said... Her gaze dips downwards, towards the table, her expression troubled. "Ethius..." They're of a sort, in a way -- people without their memory. But to think he caused someone such obvious pain, to hear Dean phrase it. "He is direct. Pragmatic, but blunt..." she says, in a sort of agreement with Noeline. Akin to her own nature, in a way.

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.

Mister you have no idea how much poetry she's written about you. Specifically because she'd literally shrivel up and die on the spot if you ever figured it out.

"Helping out the kitchen too huh? You're gonna be quite the cook some day Mikaia."

Rebecca wonders what Avril is thinking about in those moments before she sits down - looking between the two of them. But she does eventually pick to sit beside her. And something about that makes her feel more comfortable. Safer in a way.

"I've kept an eye out for the Fereshte... even checked out a few harbors to see if they had to make landing on the water - but... nothing yet. Problem is... ship like that can be near anywhere..."

But then she's rapt with attention at what Avril has to say. "Yeah I remember..." She says quietly, "I don't understand why the Guardians feel the need to do things like that... or anything really. When I just think about all this time we've been hidden from each other - it just feels a little... sad you know? Almost like we're being forced to shun each other for no good reason."

But the subject turns a little more serious when it comes to what happened. Rebecca puts her menu down flat on the table. "Well you've always been on the up and up - even though you didn't come clean about that until now. It was a little inconvenient... but from what I heard about how bad it was - it couldn't be helped."

She's secretly a little irked that now she's a world away from being scouted by the Circus but - it's still enough fun that she doesn't get mad. "Anyhow - I don't think it's wrong for people to be wary about - your people."

After all she sure remembers Dean being excited about getting his butt kicked by a Metal Demon - and heard a lot about Adlehyde. "And sure Dean is probably a /little/ too quick to jump in and champion... pretty much everything, no matter what it is."

It sure doesn't sound like this is going in a good direction, "But that guy is a total weirdo." She looks at Noeline, then to Avril at her own evaluation, "Someone told me something like that - that he has a hard time expressing how he feels but honestly he gives the creeps."

After a moment she looks Dean's ways, "So all the same - I feel like we should stay away from him if we can help it. Every drifter I've ever heard call themselves pragmatic are the the kind of guys that wouldn't think twice about shooting someone in the face for standing up to 'em."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied swallows faintly at Noeline, as she looks rather guilty and conflicted to stammer, "... aah-- I should not be the more cynical, when you can see the brighter picture where I cannot... but you are right, Noeline. I will have to keep that in mind and not--" She bites her lip. "Dwell on more dangerous and painful alternatives..."

She glances at Rebecca as she sinks just a little further, and says, "At least, that... that is how I ... felt he acts. It isn't the first time... I understand he has reason to be suspicious of me... and I understand he is a guarded person, but..." she shakes her head.

She reaches for Noeline's hand, and given that they're sitting next to each other, it's not terribly obvious a gesture. Y'know, to just keep the misunderstanding up for poor Rebecca.

She nods very slowly at Dean, squeezing Noeline's hand as she tries to keep herself buoyed.

"... but you're right. And I keep those words you've said close as well. Because no one at Wayside has given up, we've built a wonderful thing out of our hopes..."

She pauses to press her hand to her heart.

"I want to keep reaching more people in need -- I want to make the Outreach a reality when we return to Filgaia... to finally do the things we really are passionate about, with our newfound wings."

Janey grins a big grin at Dean and answers his question: "The Fereshte's a flyin' ship, speaking of flying things! When Wayside got attacked by all the bad guys at once, we were like, 'ho ho, we had a ship under our sleeve this entire time' and flew away on it!" A pause. "I mean, it was flying. Sure, things were on fire and fell off, but that's the charm of Wayside engineering, right?"

Mikaia has disappeared, but it's for a good reason. Because behind the counter, one can see...

A bobbling, moving tray with a giant leg of roast with a carving fork stuck into it, along with popovers, a gravy boat, potatoes and a hearty bowl of mac and cheese floating around the counter.

bobble bobble bobble...

Only when Mikaia turns the corner is it revealed that she's carrying it above her head with both hands! "Heads up! Argus' roast special!"

She drops it on the centre of the table. It's a veritable manga meat feast...

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline, one of the best spies that the Photosphere has ever created - if only because it prefers to create warriors instead - levels a long gaze at Janey as she protests her involvement with ruins, sizing up the other girl. Eventually, she's forced to let out a heaving sigh. "... alright, alright. At least tell me you had someone with you at the time," she grumbles as she folds her arms.

"My understanding is that the leader of Vane is tremendously kind, even to a fault. She prefers not to charge any rent to her townsfolk, and looks out for them as best as she can, out of her own pocket. That is what has left this place rather run-down," she explains for Dean's benefit - then chuckles quietly to herself as she tilts her head towards Riesenlied. "You could say that it called to us as being a place very similar to Wayside, not to mention led by someone just as reckless when it comes to her own needs and desires," she adds with a toothy sort of grin, and a squeeze of Riesenlied's hand under the line of the table.

Turning back to the conversation, the twintailed demon bows her head to Avril's comment, and then also to Rebecca's. "The assistance is appreciated. Lunar is not terribly large - so I'm assuming for the time being that no news is good news, and that they are holed up safely as they fix the ship. For that matter, I'm assuming the Fereshte made it to Lunar while staying on the ground, however it was transported - otherwise, I'm quite sure someone would have managed to see it and reported an odd comet, or something of the like.

The spy catches Avril's look - and her smile tugs a little wider, a glint in her eyes. "As for the illusion between the worlds, you have the situation broadly correct. It's clear the Guardians had some kind of plan in mind when they did it, though I suppose with the advent of the Alternate Lord of Calamity, we can call the masquerade well and truly broken by now." ... she lives with Janey, okay. Some concessions you make naturally. "I suspect we may need to tear that illusion away as part of finding a way back, so I plan to go and have a word with my patron."

"As for Ethius-- well, I suppose that's just how it is," she sighs. "Curiosity is all well and good, but you need to make sure it's used lightly, rather than wielded like a hammer. I don't disagree with your wariness," she nods at Rebecca with an amused smile, before she huffs. "It's a fine trait. But it would be nice if more people could recognize how much we've changed and given up to get here."

Turning, she touches at Riesenlied's hair, brushing some of it aside affectionately. "But-- put it out of your mind, as best you can. For the time being, you are home safe, and have a great many hopes for the future."

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

LOOK AS LONG AS DEAN DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE POEMS ABOUT HIM IT'S ALL GOOD.

"Yeah, that was a shock for me, too," Dean says soberly, nodding, when Avril brings up the Statue breaking. It'd been sealed, and Berserk had broken it like it was nothing... Even if that was due to that anti-sealing rod, if they had more of them... Still, he smiles and nods in agreement at Avril's follow-up. "Yeah! We'll find a way back for sure!"

Janey explains the Fereshte. "Ohhhh. Wow, Wayside's a flying city too now?! That's so cool!" He nods at Avril, not at all minding that she takes the seat next to Rebecca. "Yeah, if we hear anything, we'll definitely let you guys know!" Even if Rebecca has a point about it being potentially anywhere. It's a ship the size of a town! How hard could it really be to find? ...ahem.

Noeline explains about Vane. Dean's eyes widen thoughtfully. "Ohhh... Wow, that's really nice! The lady who runs Vane is a really great person, huh?" The illusion. "Oh yeah--there's some kind of illusion keeping us from seeing people on the Moon, right?" he says, frowning thoughtfully, glancing at Riese to confirm this. "Makes sense that it'd just look like a normal rock in that case." He sobers further as Rebecca comments on the Guardians. "I don't know... I'm sure they've got their reasons, but I kinda think maybe they're stuck in their old ways and haven't realized how different things are now."

Also, Dean won that fight against Malfi!! Even if he did also get his butt kicked. But more importantly is Rebecca's talk of his 'championing' things like it's a bad thing. "What--hey," he says, frowning at Rebecca. "Geez, I just like to help people out!" Even if they're complete strangers. Even if they're obviously shady. "Anyway, I don't think Ethius is a bad guy? But he definitely is kinda weird." He frowns at what Rebecca says about Drifters who call themselves pragmatic. Maybe she's not wrong, but... "I don't think we have to go out of our way to avoid him," he points out. "But I guess if you think it's the best thing, we can be more cautious of him." He nods in sympathy to Noeline. "Yeah. Especially because of that."

Fortunately, at that point the MEAT DIMENSION arrives. "Yeah!! Dinnertime!!" Dean declares, eyes sparkling at the feast prepared for them. Mountains of roast...! And no sooner is there a meat-on-bone on his plate than he's grabbed it and already stuffing his face.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

"Hmm. Yes. I see..." she murmurs, as Noeline presents her with the gist of the Fereshte's situation. "I suppose we shall all have to do as Dean so often says," she adds a moment later, a ghost of a smile on her lips regardless of the dire situation. "'No news is good news', indeed."

"I kinda think maybe they're stuck in their old ways..."

"The Guardians had some kind of plan..."

"I don't understand why the Guardians feel the need to do things like that..."

Avril's gaze lowers as Dean and Noeline and Rebecca all speak their thoughts on the matter. "...I do not know, myself. Perhaps there is some reason to it, something about which they cannot speak. I have often wondered about it myself." She had speculated before once, with Dean, that perhaps it was something to do with the Guardians' very nature as manifestations of Filgaia that guided their actions or prevented them from further explanation.

"Or perhaps, there is no reason to it. ...The same could be said for us, after all." Her mouth turns downward, a pensive frown as she broods however briefly upon such topics: "For what reason do we fight one another? Is it 'just' to use our claim to the planet over another's...? I have been wondering it... even if I know where I must stand."

And yet she lifts her head and glances among the lot of them. "...My apologies. I've been thinking a little too much, I'm afraid." In spite of her earlier words, she still smiles. "I am alright."

Her gaze again travels between Risenlied, Noeline, the pair of orphans from Wayside. "It is good to think, but it does us nothing well to spend too much time thinking. ...Don't you agree?"

'For people to be wary about your people.' Even if they're just seeking a home, in the end, their aims were at cross-purposes. If there was another path, she could not yet see it.

She's silent a moment or two, as if considering Rebecca's words with care. it had been so easy: she had sunk her blade into Lady Harken's chest and she'd known she'd known what sort of person she had once been Slowly, atop the table, her hands clasp, fingers briefly tight. "...However, Rebecca, it may be that he behaves that way due to his missing memories. Perhaps if I had not met the both of you, I might be in a similar situation. ...He may have been less fortunate, having to make do on his own. Nevertheless, if his behavior concerns you..."

Well, she'll take it under advisement, at least. 'Use care', the other fraction of herself murmurs, so soft and quiet below the ice. 'Be wary'.

Further ruminations will need to wait another day. For here comes a veritable feast, born forth by none other than--

"Goodness, do you think you have that by yourself, Mikaia--" Thump. Mikaia's got it covered. "Oh, well done! You are very much the hard worker..."

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.

As Avril works through it about the Guardians plan, Rebecca leans back in her seat, hanging onto the words. "...You don't have to apologize for that Avril. I like the kind of questions you ask. It makes me think. The Guardians - they were harsh to you when you don't even know what you've done to make them upset - and that's not fair. And they put us through a weird test like trying to show them people's place in the world. It felt like - they set us up to fail." After a moment... she shrugs her shoulders, "I can't figure it out - other than it seems pretty petty."

It's nice hearing Riese wanting to help more people in need. Though it's still a little strange. I mean she never imagined Metal Demons to be huge philanthropists or anything. "You've got a big heart Riese. You remind me of the folks back home who used to cry over reading a sad story in the newspaper. After Wayside though..." She rubs her chin. "...maybe be a little more careful. Now that you have wings - more people than ever are gonna take notice."

But Dean is Dean, "That's the /whole problem/ Dean. You just rush /right into/ helping people out before you even know what's happening." And while part of her liked that side of him - she worried about what might happen to him as a result of him rushing into the wrong situation.

She allows a long sigh of frustration, catching Noeline's amused look, "I get it that you want that - but it's gonna take time. Like - you know. You wouldn't expect people who live in Veruni controlled zones to not fret over what might happen if they looked at one of them the wrong way?"

She gives this little shrug of her shoulders, "And it's the same way with your people. It's hard for most regular people to see the good you're doing when all the bad is still out there. It's not fair - but it's how it is. They'll come around at their own pace."

Avril however - causes her to sit right back up straight, "Huh - wait he's... got missing memories too?" Rebecca looks pretty shocked but after a moment, "Well maybe ... but I just can't imagine him... ... you see Avril ... even when we were first getting to know you... I don't know."

She puts her chin up, tapping it, "I just never feel threatened around you. I guess - from the start. Like there was something about you that I could trust - and not feel like you were taking advantage of the kindness of strangers. Everything about you seems so genuine - I guess. That's all..."

She sort of trails off as the bobbling meat tray comes around the corner though and - "Mikaia!? Wow... you're really strong. I've seen people three times your age who'd have trouble holding all that up." Rebecca finds herself looking sidelong at Avril in this moment as the meat gets dropped off. Before Dean starts... digging in...

In some ways it's kind of nice how some things don't change - even though her life is constantly in flux right now...

"Well come on Avril, we'd better dig in quick or else there'll be nothing left for us."