2018-04-22: The Twin Empresses

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search 
========================<* Meribia - Port District *>=========================

Meribia's port is impressive; though dwarfed by Pentagulia in sheer size, it sees considerable traffic, particularly between the Meribus and Glenwood continents. Regular ferries move between Meribia and Pendrago, and most cargo ships are willing to take on passengers for a few coins more.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3jru8_hq_s

(An informational bulletin, posted around the land...)

"A pirate ship matching the description of the Ruby Empress, the vessel of the Bladewall Pirates, has been spotted on the seas once more. Though the ship and her crew seemed to have vanished after a confrontation with Althena's Guard, there have been confirmed sightings from survivors of attacks.

Though no information is currently available as to the status of her captain and crew, they are armed, dangerous, and should be avoided if possible. Civilian ships are recommended to only travel with armed accompaniment. Additionally, settlements close to shore are recommended to increase militia patrols until the Guard can deal with this threat."

Accompanying this bulletin is a series of sketches of known members of the pirate crew. One of them is Layna Manydays, though there are some slight differences from her current look...



<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna had expected there to still be a price on her head when she returned to Lunar. The Guard had a notoriously long memory, after all - they were unlikely to forget about it just because she was off-planet for a little while.

This was to be expected. She had even helped contribute to that price, though in her defense it had happened in the course of helping out a friend.

What she hadn't expected was for there to still be rumors that the Ruby Empress was sailing the seas - rumors that were noticeably still propagating after she had vanished to the Blue Star.

This was strange, because she knew full well that the Ruby Empress was currently half-buried in the ground somewhere around the Silver Coast region of Eastern Ignas - in other words, all the way back on Filgaia unless they had managed to free it in her absence. This warranted investigation - if there was even the slightest chance that it was the Ruby Empress, she had to take it. And if it wasn't...

...Well, then she had a bone to pick with someone.

And so, today Layna has called everyone together. She's got a friend who knows a thing or two about the movements on the seas, and she figures that if anyone can point them in the right direction, it's him.

They find themselves in front of a 'bar' in Meribia's Port District called the 'Beggar's Choice'. It's less a bar than it once was, due to the ban on alcohol, but it still remains a stop for the average sailor.

Layna enters in her usual fashion, throwing open the door dramatically.

There's only one person here at the present - a Beastman with a feline look to him behind the counter, looking much like a hairless cat in a fancy suit and with an eyepatch over his left eye. He's in the middle of cleaning a glass, or he was until he paused to look.

"...Manydays. Try not to break my doors, will you?" He says. Layna just grins and takes a seat in front of the counter before waving everyone over to do the same.

"That how you greet an old friend, Al? An old friend with money to burn?" She comments with a grin. He doesn't even respond, just takes a moment to scan through the party before looking back to Layna.

"...Heard you died. I'm not surprised to see it hasn't made you any less...you." He replies, shaking his head. It's heard to tell if he means that in a good way or a bad way...though with the way he looks at the others afterward, it might be the latter. "You have my condolences."

Layna just rolls her eyes.

"This is Ol' One-Eye Al - we used to be in the trade together 'til he went his own ways." She explains. He nods.

"Just 'Al' is fine. ...Or 'Albert', if you owe me money. What did she drag you in here for today?" He asks dryly. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise had expected there to be a modest price on her head too, but it turned out everyone assumed she died. Ah well.

But the talk of the Ruby Empress sailing the high seas is troubling, considering the last time she saw it, it was stuck in a sandbank on another planet.

"Geez, the place sure has improved over the years," Talise mutters cynically as she nudges the door open with a sweep of an arm. She's dressed more casually than her usual traveling armour - tunic, trousers, seafarer's coat and a pair of hardy boots, Rastaban slung over her shoulder with the hilt bound.

This one's not a place she remembers that well; most of Talise's regular haunts were in Dalton. She does flip a hand up to greet Ol' One-Eye Al with a snap of her wrist and a rough, lopsided smile. "She said something about breaking doors, actually. I promise I won't put you out too many."

Talise is taller than most men and looks like she could bench them, too. She just might rip out a door or three while she's here.

"I'm Tal," she says then, smiling easily and lowering her hand to rest at her hip. "Used to be on the Lunabelle. I kind of keep up with things as much as I can. But we heard some stuff and Layna figured you're the guy what we should talk to." 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval helps himself to the counter. This is less to say 'he takes a seat' and much more appropriate to describe it as 'he is currently laying atop the counter like one might a bed.'
        A narrow, uncomfortable bed that has to be bad for his back. If Seraphim worry about that sort of thing. This one sure doesn't seem worried about much of anything, as he lets an arm dangle off the side like he might be looking to catch a wink or two.
        He sniffs the air. "Mmmmmph." The bearded wastrel of an elemental mmmmmphs, as niceties are made. "Ahhhh. Firsht time I've ever sheen thish one," which he kind of says a lot, "but I could tell ya a lot 'bout it."
        Based on established history, it would be stuff like 'what the stain on the ground is,' 'what drinks used to be on tap,' 'how clean the glass is,' and 'not so much explaining anything so much as talking nonsense in his sleep,' and also the most important thing, 'basically nothing useful to the current situation at hand.' 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"I'm Sephilia Lampbright!" Sephy introduces herself brightly. She has not got anything further to add. It's so nice not to have to explain to everyone here on Lunar that her father is a famous explorer. They already know! Because he's famous! 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle has never been to this place before. Honestly, she's barely spent any times at places like this - places where low sailors hang out and plan the next job, if they're not attached to a ship at the moment, or drink before going out on it, if they are.

It's interesting. She isn't sure she entirely thinks it's the best place ever, but Tethelle thinks she could spend some time here.

Tethelle is wearing her usual outfit, with her usual sword, and only the fact that she's not especially wanted here by anyone with an accurate description is saving her from getting identified. She is, after all, the non-Lunarian here. Because of the district, she has not bothered to bind her sword in place to show that people are safe. They can hope.

"Tethelle," she says, taking a cue from Talise and not using her full name - but there's not a great shortening of just her given name that she likes enough to go exclusively by. She spends a few moments looking around before focusing on Al. "And she's been pretty alive in my experience, at least." 

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

The Fox Company gets a look over, with the exception of Lanval. There might be something from the feline Beastman that might be acknowledgment of the Seraph's presence, but it's hard to tell if that's true or not.

"The Lunabelle, hm? She was a fine ship - a fine crew." Al says, glancing toward Talise. There's a hint of recognizance when he studies Talise, but he doesn't outwardly acknowledge it before moving onto the others. There's a subtle nod, however, that might be respect.

"Miss Lampbright...I saw your posters." He comments, glancing toward Sephilia next. He definitely recognizes the name - he was fairly well connected, after all. But as for Tethelle, well...

...Of course he wouldn't know anything about her. He nods in acknowledgment, however.

"A pleasure. And yes, so it would seem...you all must have your hands full." He comments, looking back toward Layna who offers him a cheeky grin.

"So, what was it you wanted to ask me about? And...what would you like to drink?" He asks, getting some glasses ready. He sets out four of them, but Layna raises a finger. He raises an eyebrow, but sets out one more all the same.

"You heard those rumors about the Ruby Empress, aye? Tell us all about that." Layna says, leaning back in her chair.

"Hm. I was hoping you could tell me - I assumed you were responsible for that business. ...In one form or another." Al replies. He draws out a bottle, pouring it onto a glass which Layna takes.

"Haven't even touched the wheel of a ship since I got here, have I?" Layna says with a shrug. It was not for lack of trying, or interest. "S'far as I know, she should be all the way in the Blue Star right now. She can't be here."

This potentially world-shattering piece of information doesn't even cause Al's expression to flinch, nor does he even question her specific wording of 'in'.

"Hm... Curious..." Al mutters. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        For one on the cusp of being able to comprehend and observe the Seraphim, the act of there being one present at all must be a truly blessed event to even some of the weariest hearts upon Lunar.
        It may be just as well that they don't have the acumen to observe such sacred acts of Her servants such as the portly phantom falling off the counter and collapsing in a heap on the ground that just so artfully avoids disturbing any of the seats around the counter. He doesn't have much clearance to avoid that.
        Acrobatic, and pathetic. Pathobatic?
        "Theshe floorsh are... cleeeeeaaaaan." Lanval comments aloud. Now is probably not the time, especially what with that most interesting bit about things being on the Blue Star and all being spoken. But yet, he can't help but find himself needing to comment...
        "Trusht me. I'm lookin'. Not a crumb. 'm... pretty good at findin' crumbsh on the floor." 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise nods gravely back to the old bartender, young sea-dog to old sea-dog. Her smile takes on an overtone of some distant longing, but it's brief before she chuckles and shakes her head. "Yeah... yeah. She was one hell of a ship. A hell of a ship."

The swordswoman shrugs out of her big coat and drapes it over a nearby stool, finding herself getting a little warm indoors - but then, the warm season's here, right? Settling into a seat beside it, she leans into the table Layna's at and props her elbow up on it, one streaked cheek cupped in a pal. "Anything that you got that's good and stiff," she invites.

Maybe she'll get lucky and an old law-dodger like this guy will have a nip of hooch on hand to sneak into a cup while piously insisting it's apple juice.

Talise leans back, scratching at her thigh with her other hand. "Yeah, we thought it was odd too. Last I saw of her, she was in no condition to sail. And last I saw of Layna, she was...."

She gestures at Layna. Since, y'know... there she is and all that.

Lanval's slurring gets a glance and s faint smile from her, but it's hard to rope him in since she's not sure Al has much by way of resonance. She just sighs and shakes her head. "So evidently there's some other Layna out there." 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle may or may not want to be famous - she's never said, really - but she probably does not want to be famous for the size and quantity of her wanted posters, so not being known by 'Al' doesn't really upset her. She expected it.

At least she remembered not to introduce herself as a shaman or a priestess of someone other than Althena. She looks like a warrior, and she's happy, for the moment, with being assumed to be one.

Still, if Layna is putting all her cards on the table that early... "She's not crazy," Tethelle confirms, though whether she's believed is an open question. "She certainly doesn't have the Ruby Empress right now, though. If she did, I wouldn't have had to buy a ride from Glenwood." She smiles at that; it's not quite a joke. Tethelle would have used that gella - silver, sorry - for something else, if she could. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy nods. "Yeah, it's not possible that it's really here!" 

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"I'm afraid I've gone clean, miss. I have nothing of the sort." Al replies, drawing a bottle out from behind the counter. ...It's clearly marked 'Coffee', but no one would ever store coffee in a bottle like that, right? Regardless, a glass is soon poured out and passed over to Talise.

Al remains as stone-faced as ever.

He glances over to Layna when Talise gestures to her, who waves cheekily. Al simply returns to pouring out glasses, and eventually everyone has a glass of something agreeable before them.

And a fifth glass of something off to the side, that may or may not be in the perfect position to be claimed by a certain Seraph who has taken it upon himself to investigate the floor very thoroughly.

Layna sends Lanval a thumbs-up.

"Ol' Al's always been like that." She comments with a chuckle, before returning to the subject at hand.

"But aye, what they said - it can't be her. So, that's why I was hoping you knew somethin', see?" Layna says. Al nods in understanding.

"...Well, I can tell you that no one outside the ship has seen the captain in person - only the crew. And they rarely leave the ship itself. No one's seen this 'Ruby Empress' pull into port - at least, not a port they didn't intend to pillage." Al explains. Layna frowns, leaning back.

"That's not any way to run a ship...I don't know who this impostor is, but I don't like 'em already." She comments with a frown, taking a sip of her drink. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"That's very good of you, Al," Talise says with an absolutely straight face as she receives the glass. "I'm sure Althena appreciates your devotion."

Talise tilts the glass and takes a steady drink from it.

Sometimes, life is good, she decides with a smile that is not particularly more sly than the smiles she usually shares with people. Nope, nothing amiss here at all.

Swirling her drink around her glass a little, Talise leans forward to rest her elbows on her thighs, listening more seriously as Al explains what he knows about the so-called Ruby Empress. That smile reverses itself, tugging downward into a frown. "Yeah, that doesn't seem like a privateer or even a smuggler. Those sorts will pass themselves off as legitimate businessmen when they come in to port and act like nothing's amiss. A bunch of people who just stay on the ship seems like either they really have something they don't want people to see, or it's amateur hour over there and they don't realize how suspicious they're being."

Talise glances at Tethelle, clearing her throat, before looking back to Al and Layna. "If you've seen the ship... does it look the same as the Empress, or is it a totally different ship?" 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian accepts the drink with a thankful grin. Rest assured he'll get a tip in a bit.

Tethelle knows smaller boats more than the big ocean-going ships, as her village had several of the first and none of the second. But...

"That sounds like a bad plan," Tethelle says. "What's she doing for maintenance? Supplies? Recruits - presumably she takes injured when she goes to pillage?" She glances at Layna and Talise, who apparently - and unsurprisingly - have some of the same ideas. "It seems like that's a good way to hide something... until your ship falls apart. To say nothing of it being suspicious."

Tethelle slides her drink along the bartop, hand to hand, before stopping it with her left and having a sip. "And if nobody's seen the Captain, why are they saying it's Layna?" 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy takes a careful swig, then wrinkles her nose. "Apple juice? I'm--I'm not a kid!" 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        The lump of whatever matter Seraphim are made of stirs and maneuvers himself as to not trip anybody walking up to claim their drinks, which is nice and right polite of him to do. If only he'd do something other than collapse on floors and pass out in inconvenient places, or basically be anything other than a borderline freeloader on the kindness of the Fox Company...
        He slaps a hand down on the counter for stability as he rises. The side of his hand touches the glass. He raises his hand, wiggles his fingers, and swipes the glass off the counter to have himself a swig.
        Then he leans all the way back, stretching against said counter, and tilting his head back to see the bottle clearly marked 'Coffee.'
        He laughs, holding his glass up.
        "Ha ha! That'sh not coffee at all!!" Lanval laughs. "But, uh. Waaaaaiiit. Maybe that'sh jusht how they make it in theshe partsh now...? Uhhhh. Hmmm. Hmm." He thinks over a drink, which of course he drinks while he thinks, starting to slide down against the counter until he's seated on the floor again. Instead of the proper stools. What does he have against stools?
        "Hmmmmm... wonder if they got shome kinda... local variationsh in thish part of Meribush then. Liiiiiiiiiike... uh, hrm. Milk. That'd be a good one, yep..."
        Lanval clumsily crawls back up over the counter, helps himself over it, proceeds to drunkenly trip out on the bartender's side of the counter while magically not spilling a drop of his drink - if there's even anything left of it - and investigates the shelves for himself. 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

"Well, we could get you coffee if you don't want to be a kid," Tethelle says to Sephilia, "because alcohol's banned."

But she slides her drink over to Sephilia to try if she wants. Watch out, it's strong. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Oh. Right. It's been awhile, I forgot!" 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Oh. Right. It's been awhile, I forgot!" Sephy laughs nervously. 

[OOC] Sephilia Lampbright says, "bluray etc."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

One of Al's ears twitches slightly as the Seraph helps himself over the counter. If he could actually see Lanval, he might appreciate the way he somehow hadn't spilled a single drop of whatever of his drink was left.

'Coffee', 'Soda'...there's many such labeled bottles on the bartender's side of the counter, among others. Some of them actually seem to be what they're claimed to be, but others, well...

Not so much.

By all accounts each bottle seems to be the same as the others...but it may be there's something that only Al can determine to each of them to figure out which is which.

"That I can't tell you. By all accounts she appears only when she wants to be seen. It may be they have somewhere to restock and repair without being noticed - somewhere remote." Al suggests. "As for why they're saying it's Layna..."

Layna shrugs and finishes his sentence.

"It's 'cause I'm the Captain of the Ruby Empress, aye? And they don't know any better - I wager whoever's running it now prefers it that way. Keeps the heat off o' them." She says with a huff and takes another drink.

Al glances toward Sephilia for a moment as she complains about the apple juice, but doesn't comment. He can tell when it's better to back off a subject. So, instead, he glances toward Talise.

"I haven't seen it myself, no... However, the description is accurate to the Empress, yes." He replies. Layna frowns. "But there's only one Empress, and she's on the Blue Star."

Al seems to consider this for a moment, before looking up to Layna as something occurs to him.

"...Manydays. Do you remember where the Ruby Empress came from?" Al asks. Layna frowns, and furrows her brow as she tries to remember.

"...Uh, let's see here...it was Bladewall before me, and he took it from...it was, uh, Fairsails, aye? What's he got to do with it? He's been dead for ages." Layna asks.

"Captain Fairsails was the one who commissioned the Ruby Empress originally...but there were always two ships at the head of his fleet. No one's seen it on the seas since Fairsails' demise, but... this 'Ruby Empress'...it may very well be the other one." Al explains. Layna glances down into her drink with a contemplative look on her face. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

Talise loves sinners. They're doing Althena's work, even if Althena doesn't realize it.

She sips her 'coffee' with delight, flashing Sephy a contented smile. "Althena appreciates your remembrance, my friend," she murmurs piously, bowing her head just a little.

But there's more dire subject matter afoot. Scooting her chair a little closer to the table, Talise sets her glass down. She furrows her brows as Al and Layna explain a few things.

"Huh. That might explain it. You honestly never know where some of these ships end up. I mean, even the Lunabelle went through a few sets of owners before Goldhand got her. So... hm." She scratches her cheek for a moment, then looks down.

"...Someone might be pulling something awfully opportunistic, then," she murmurs. "Maybe one of Fairsails' people kept the ship, and when you vanished, saw an opportunity to make a few bucks by riding on your reputation, Layna. I mean, people know who you are on the high seas, and they'll be more likely to surrender to Captain Manydays than Captain Nobody in the No-Name."

She frowns and looks down into her drink. "...Either way, sounds like a good reason to try and figure out where that ship is now, or where it's likely to be soon." 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian no longer has a drink, because she gave it to Sephilia. She gives Lanval a hopeful look in case he feels like sharing something he finds.

"I suppose," Tethelle agrees with Layna. "Still, you'd think they'd show themselves... accidentally if not on purpose. Surely they have to come out to give orders during a raid, otherwise what are they needed for?" Tethelle is used to small boats, and so to her the captain is right in there doing hard work along with everyone else.

She taps her fingers against the bartop for a moment, more thinking than anything else. "I agree," she says. "Plus, think about it. If you take their ship, too, you can have a Ruby Empress on Lunar and a Ruby Empress on Filgaia. Maybe you'll have to change one of their names to the Garnet Emperor?" She sounds half-joking or teasing, though she did say something that on reflection she may regret later. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy takes a look at Tethelle's drink, then passes it back to her. "I'll stick with the apple juice," she says lamely. "Oooh or the Foxington!" 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Lanval, one hand on a steady drink, has his other just idly thumb the bottles of the drinks on display. To the naked eye, it is all very well-camoflauged. To the eye of a Seraphim of the element of water, whose very being embodies and affects it... he mostly just has himself a good laugh as he runs a hand against one of the liar bottles without confusion nor guesswork. He can tell!
        "Awww, never woulda thought ta try thaaaat~" His laughter slows. "Ahhh. Hmmm. I shupposhe that--"
        He stops as he sees Tethelle's look at him. She's his favorite for bottle carrying every time they go to Glenwood. Sure, the others are fine too, but someone like her, well...
        He has a look at the drink in his hand, back to Tethelle, and...
        Puts it back on the counter, sliding it gently towards Tethelle. "Cheersh."
        Now Tethelle has one-and-a-third drinks, as he hoists himself back up over the counter with the paradoxical simultaneous clumsiness in form, but incredible ability to - despite the bulk of his manifested form - simply not brush into anything back on the way down.
        Maybe he had well enough to drink before he came here.
        Or for three entire mortal lifetimes, really. 

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"...To be fair, I can't be too upset - that kind of thing is just normal business in the trade, aye? But if they're usin' my name...well, if I'm gonna get a price on my head, I wanna earn it personally, aye? What's the point if it's because of someone else?" Layna says, running a hand through her hair with an annoyed sigh.

"Yes, that's the only issue at stake here." Al comments dryly. Layna ignores this in favor of listening to Tethelle's suggestion.

"...Aye, aye, you've got a point." She comments, a grin slowly starting to form on her face. Oh no. She's getting ideas.

Al...doesn't seem to acknowledge the glass apparently sliding itself across the counter toward Tethelle. Maybe he thinks she's just capable of telekinetically drawing alco-er, Completely Legitimate Beverages - to her. Or maybe he's just more worried about whatever it is Layna might be doing.

"We'll take it under consideration, lass, don't worry." Layna comments with a grin toward Sephilia, before looking around at the others.

"So we've got a plan, then - we'll keep an ear out for rumors, an' next time it pulls into a port to do its thing, we'll be there. Whaddaya say, me hearties?" She comments with a grin and a raised glass. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Yeah, it's a little different if they're going around saying they're you," Talise concurs. "If nothing else because you'll have to deal with the Guard chasing you over things the imposter does. And the last thing we want is that kind of thing."

Talise has had more than enough Guard run-ins that she'd rather not have more unless she chooses to, thanks. (Not that she doesn't intend to make life frustrating for Althena's chosen.)

Glancing at Tethelle, she smiles crookedly at the idea. "She could always give one to me," she says with a shrug. "I always wanted my own ship. Kind of hoped it would be the Lunabelle one day, but, y'know."

Fate intervened.

"That's definitely the idea," she agrees with Layna, raising her glass as if to salute the pirate captain's ostensible brilliance. "And when they do pull into port, we'll stop by and say hello. Introduce 'em to the real Captain Layna and her pals." 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle Cirdian has the devil's magic.

Well, no, but ssh.

Tethelle now has multiple drinks, which is a slightly better situation than no drinks, if a little overkill. Tethelle settles for keeping both of them and alternating, with a pleasant nod toward Lanval - she'd thank him but she doesn't want to get thought crazier for saying hello to empty space, if anyone is watching who can't see him.

"I would do that," Tethelle agrees. "It gets a notorious pirate off the seas, doesn't it?" And another one on the seas, but Tethelle trusts Layna more than she trusts someone pretending to be Layna. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

"Aye aye!" Sephy chimes in. 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        "Y'know meeeee!" Lanval adds, as though suddenly reminding them that he is a part of their reality for better or for worse, or for much of anything other than being a drunken lout as he holds up his gourd in place of a glass for the collective toast to the greater plan. "I'm jusht along for the ride... hic!" The hiccup gives way to laughter. So carefree, so silly, just so eager to go along with the flow of things like matters of restoring one's pirate honor like it all were just a fun thing to do with good friends - is that all he really cares about? 

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"...Aye, I agree, Talise. It's bad enough that they don't like us, wouldn't wanna get either of you in trouble with 'em, too." Layna comments, glancing between Tethelle and Sephilia. After all, as far as she knew neither of them had been taken notice of by the Guard.

She looks back to Talise, then, as she remarks on wanting her own ship. Layna considers this...and then smiles slightly.

"...Don't worry, lass. We'll find you a ship one o' these days. Even if it isn't this one. I know that feeling all too well." She says. The others all agree, as well, all in their own ways. Layna grins, and they clink glasses.

"To us, then! An' to taking that impostor down!" She says, and drinks.

"...And to paying for your drinks, I hope." Al adds, as deadpan as ever.

...Layna freezes. 

<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.

Tethelle flips a coin from her pouch at Al.

It is a Filgaian gella. Fortunately, they have silver in them.

"How about a one-of-a-kind relic?" she asks, not really expecting this ploy to work. Fortunately, she has enough local silver to cover it anyway. 

<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.

"Psh, I'm used to being in trouble." Talise waves a hand and smiles easily. "It's just I'd rather be in trouble for things I did."

Like fighting with the Guard when she was younger - usually because she was playing music too loud, or stealing things, or starting fights. Absolutely nothing has changed.

As Layna puts her at ease like that, Talise smiles a bit sheepishly, scratching at her cheek with a gentle blush. "Maybe someday. But hey. Right now what's important is getting to the bottom of this whole imposter Layna business, right?"

With a roll of her eyes and a little smirk, Talise reaches for her purse, fishing out a handful of silver.

"It was good coffee," she says. 

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy pays up for her drink. "Thanks for the apple juice. You should try mixing some strawberry into it!" 

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.

        Paying!! Oh, right, Lanval thinks to himself, things are... different. He decides not to elaborate upon the thoughts within his head, but thankfully, this mortal ceremony of trade of silver coins for goods and services is already being performed by those much more intricately practiced - and properly equipped - for the ritual.
        He helps himself behind the counter one more time in decidedly less silly a fashion, giving the stone-faced barkeep one last look-over. Ah, he can't really see him, can he? He has a look to the rest whom have excitedly decided to face down this imposter and enjoyed their 'coffee' and orange juice alike.
        He says something as an aside to the fellow. "Thanksh for the drink." Lanval can't lay a hand on their shoulder, so he just leans a hand up against the shelf. "Bringsh me back~"
        ...Except this is the first time he's been here.
        "Don't ya worry. I'm jusht her humble shervant..." He murmurs, rubbing at his chin. "I'll figure thish whole thing out." 

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Al catches the gella in one hand. He eyes it for a moment before looking back up at Tethelle.

"...Only if there's more where that came from." He replies levelly, setting it on the counter in front of him.

...Yeah, he isn't buying it. Maybe he's had other Filgaians come by trying to do the same thing, or maybe he's just that clever.

Instead, as Layna begins rummaging for her own coin, he acknowledges Talise with a nod.

"Thank you. Only the best for such...devoted worshippers of the Goddess." He comments, with a hint of a smirk. And Sephilia actually gets a slight smile.

"...Duly noted." He replies.

And when Lanval climbs behind the counter, and delivers his heartfelt thanks...one of Al's ears twitches, and there's a slight nod.

It might be something, and it might be nothing.

But perhaps, in some way, his feelings may have gotten across.

Retrieved from "https://dreamchasers.space/index.php?title=2018-04-22:_The_Twin_Empresses&oldid=5651"