2018-09-28: Outreach Gathering

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

New Petra has become a true community in the weeks proceeding from the second battle of Adlehyde.

Not just the works of any one individual in particular, but a true joint effort between the Outreach, the Azadians, and other contributors from all around Ignas as well as their Drifter friends--

--the little town has become something reminiscent of a second Wayside, with various pre-fabricated buildings surrounding a nice, small town square that's managed to carve a look for itself despite the desolate desert surroundings.

Riesenlied is hosting a little party to celebrate their efforts, since milestones ought to be recognised; it's at the deck of the Fereshte, where a number of open tables with all kinds of nibbles and treats have been arrayed. The children are bustling around having fun with Muni acting as a Bouncy Castle nearby, too!

As well, she wants to introduce Maya to some of their newer friends who weren't there in their Ebony Wings days...

... though she's dressed a bit peculiarly today. Her gown is rather usual, but it's... absurdly long, to the point where it's dragging the floor to pool around her covered feet. ??

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline is moving around the deck of the Fereshte, though slowly and in an unhurried manner; she looks a little tired, but also quite content enough to be at Riesenlied's side and enjoy a more peaceful moment. "... really, I'm a little staggered at how fast we've started managing this," she huffs to herself as she cradles a glass of red wine from a bottle recently purchased in Adlehyde, looking out at the collection of buildings that make up New Petra.

Every so often, she flicks a quietly suspicious look towards Riesenlied's dress; more than once already she's commented with a huff that it's going to get dirty dragging across the ground like that, but Riesenlied's reaction has been withdrawn enough that she's left it alone for the time being, taking it on faith that it isn't anything too urgent.

Instead, she's somehow managed to end up with an orphan on her shoulders, easily carrying the small girl's weight. Noeline isn't really tall enough for her height to allow dominion over the entire crowd, but her passenger seems terribly pleased anyway, especially at her newfound ability to just order Noeline to go grab some snacks for her, and for Noeline to utter an exasperated sigh but obey anyway with a grin plucking at her lips.

For a moment, she glances at Maya as she goes past, looking for a moment's support - and then levels a brighter, fanged grin at her partner. "Riese, you realize that a situation like this is going to call for a speech, yes?"

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

Yes, isn't it amazing what many small hands can do when they come together? Rather than vainly struggling to do everything on their own? A lesson well learned by the one-time selfish princess of the desert wastes and ruins, Maya is reflecting on this very notion as she silently stares at a small water cracker in her fingers. It isn't that she's searching for the answers in the slice of Brie de November perched atop it, it's just that she hasn't had a chance to put her feet up since the whole shebang with Sin and the struggle to return home.

A warm breeze nudges locks of burnished gold too close to her eyes for comfort, and knocks her from her reverie. Maya resumes animating from her momentary stillness, turning away from the edge of the deck and walking past the table covered with fruits and sweets. Somehow resisting.

"When -I- screw something up in the laundry, it usually shrinks. So what happened to your dress, Miss Riese?" Maya casually asks as she links both hands behind her back and strolls past the gentle-hearted Hyadean with her usual easygoing grace. Whether this counts as support for Noeline is, well, open to interpretation. Maybe it's the thought that counts.

Somewhere belowdecks, no doubt, the rest of the Wild Bunch are washing dishes or making beds or something. Good luck, Todd.

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.

Rebecca has her arms crossed as she watches the kids have a good time. Unable to keep her thoughts away from the fact that 'New' Petra is the next iteration of Wayside which was itself an interation of 'Old' Petra. Now she didn't see what happened to Old Petra, yet the stories alone are enough to make a person introspective at times like these.

What exactly were they getting themselves into here?

She's snapped out of those thoughts though by Riese in that gown. She didn't think to dress up, so she's still in her vest and shirt, jean shorts...

"You should have told me you were getting married today Riese."

Rebecca teases from a short distance away - as if that were the only explanation for such an impractically long gown - from where she's leaning.

"Would have brought a gift for you and the lucky groom. At the very least I would have dressed up a little more for the occasion."

The edges of her lips quirk up some as she considers what Noeline said, "A speech - and a toast." She comments, even though she's got no particular inclination to drink. They certainly feel like rituals of being an adult. However, as Maya says that, "Is that what this is? Just a laundry mishap?" She quirks an eyebrow then says speculatively, "Must have gotten your basket mixed with Val's..."

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia Seren has just returned from the Baskar Colony and she engaged in a great deal of work on the Fereshte before passing out covered in oil and grease and other miscellaneous engineering byproducts.

Lydia evenetually wakes up though and wobbles wearily into the PARTY ZONE with a big yawn. She blinks a few times at Bouncy Castle Muni before blinking a few more times. "Ah...the party...!" She smacks herself across her cheeks with both hands twice which seems to almost make her wake up a little and she quirks her head briefly at Riesenlied's outfit.

But then...Rebecca! It seems that she seems to know about Riesenlied and Noeline's relationship now which, considering what their last conversation veered off into, was less of a certain thing than she would normally expect.

"Oh Becca." Lydia says suppressing a yawn. "Sorry I totally forgot. I was workin' all night. Actually, speaking of gifts..."

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

Avril herself dresses as is typical: that gown and wrap, both of which she had been wearing when discovered over a year and a half prior. Her gloved hands entwine fingers; for now she says nothing.

She's content to watch, after all -- time was, she and Dean and Rebecca had paid for their room out west by looking over children in an orphanage. Time was, she'd looked after some of these same children briefly in Wayside.

It's just a comfort to see everyone doing well.

"Your dress is quite beautiful, Riesenlied," Avril speaks, only to draw up short, a hand raised at about chest height. "...Are you marrying?" she asks, after glancing once Rebecca's way -- as if to query after the heart of the mystery. Her gaze afterwards is only for Riesenlied, at least for now.

Avril cants her head to the left, smiles slightly, and says: "Congratulations. I am sorry I had not known beforehand, or I, too, would have come with a gift." She's... far too serious to be joking. Probably??

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Matilda... honestly, is kind of nervous about New Petra -- as always, Riesenlied's unique approach to town-building fills her with a *deep* anxiety. On the other hand, it's for that very reason that she feels like she can't *quite* just leave it alone, either -- so here she is, at the deck of the Fereshte.

The dress gets a slight raise of an eyebrow -- but honestly, Matilda doesn't question it. Sometimes these things just -- happen. She's very hesitant in the situation, in general, really; she hangs at the periphery, holding a drink in one hand and gently rubbing at her wrist with the other. It's a slightly awkward position, in general.

Rebecca and Avril do get a small wave, though.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

If Riesenlied honestly had her way, it wouldn't be New Petra that they would be stationed around. Rebecca's right -- the stories surrounding Old Petra have a certain kind of weight and difficulty around them, but... well...

They had refugees to house, and they needed a site that they were more than passingly familiar with. With months of experience dwelling around the site, most of the Outreach veterans knew where to procure water, vegetables, and other foraging ingredients to get them through that critical 24 hours of support for the Azadians.

"A--a speech? Well, I mean, I don't..." Riesenlied sounds just a bit flustered, and definitely, definitely distracted the way she's /still/ pulling down at the hem of her dress skirt.

Her cheeks get redder and redder as Rebecca teases her about marriage and -- /of course/ her eyes flit immediately to Noeline, as Avril follows up as well. "M-marriage...?!" Riesenlied's mind is slooowly rebooting--

Mikaia comes up next to Avril and seems terribly pleased to continue to stir the pot, as it were. "Uh huh! It's been long enough that Noe-mama and Riese-mama's gone on, don't you think, Miss Avril?"

--and Maya teases about a laundry mishap.

"Y-yes, of course! It was just a laundry mishap," Riese innocently goes, fully believing that's a proper way out. Oh, Riese...

The part of the over-long dress around the feet is kind of... large, though, now that Riese is inadvertently kind of drawing notice to it.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Maya gets a snort of quiet amusement, eager to see Riesenlied's response to that particular question - if only for the mischief of it, rather than the answer itself. Whatever attention she was paying is scattered away when Rebecca speaks, however, as a petulant frown appears on her face and she shares that side-on look with Riesenlied. "Excuse /me/. Whatever do you mean 'groom'?" she huffs loudly, planting her hands on her hips for a rather grumpy moment, the possessiveness clear in her voice.

It's as much a way to cover her own embarrassment as anything else, as her eyes flick towards Mikaia's follow-up with a bashful sigh, grumbling as she folds her arms at one of the pair of Orphans Prime. "... I really think you're more mischievous than Janey, at times."

At least she can reasonably trust that Avril isn't teasing them, so much as just swept up in suggestions around her; Noeline lets out a sigh as she gives the girl a nod, then does the same towards Lydia as she offers their aviator a rather uncertain glance. "... are you quite alright?" she ventures after a moment. "It isn't as if we meant to wake you up."

"In any case," she adds as she crosses to Riesenlied's side, and rests a hand on her arm as if to soothe her fussing; she at least has the werewithal to offer Mikaia a fanged grin. "... we shall see."


<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.

Rebecca has a bigger grin as Avril seems to join in on the fun. Until her expression changes under the realization she's being serious, "I'm just messing Avril - because that dress is way too pretty and impractical for a party like this." She is envious though - from thoughts of herself in a wedding dress one day... but then Noeline huffs about her choice of groom and Rebecca looks suddenly suddenly confused, "I was just teasing her... meant no harm by it Noeline." Because she has no idea the two are together. /Even though she really should./

"Hey Lydia!" Then she eyes her a little hard, as if trying to make out what she was working all night /on/. "On getting the town all set up?" She ventures an innocent guess, but then... "Wait really? Were we expected to bring them after all?"

Rebecca eyes Riese extra hard though as she declares it was definitely just a laundry mishap... as she has an eye for people covering...

With arms crossed, she leans forward as if skeptical now, "Wait is that really it or did you just get the impulse to wear something extravagant?"

Well... she can't exactly blame her.

Her smile turns up a little extra hard, "Should have just made it the dress code..." Though she says it under the realization that she... doesn't have anything that nice to wear herself.


<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

Maya's brow twitches innocently as everyone takes the laundry joke and runs with it. This, she did not expect. At least the bright orange dress that doubles as her armour (and armory) is refined enough to pass for at least casual gathering-wear, though today she's left the ribbon in her hair at home, so she doesn't have to go copycat someone's formal gown or anything.

"W--well, yes, speaking of gifts..." she starts, keen to leave that one behid her. One hand finds Lydia's shoulder and gently pulls the beastgal to her side in a half-hug. "There's one Virginia wanted me to pass along to you, hmm?" and the weird transforming girl offers her a brilliant grin afterwards. Some friends persist for life--even beyond being dropped from play. Respect.

Don't think Matilda is safe, either--Maya has one arm left. She loops it around the other girl's arm and drags her in from the distant edges of the Fereshte's deck to be closer to the middle of the throng. "And you, -well now-, you've saved my bacon enough to join the family. Come here, Miss Whitehead, and introduce me to some of these fine friends I'm not so familiar with."

Is the smug self-assurance an act? Maybe? It feels so much -nicer- than it used to. Maya turns an eye to Avril and Rebecca especially as she says this. "Not nearly as familiar as I ought to be, for such good friends of Miss Riesenlied's."

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"Nah, nothing like that," Lydia says regarding fits, now assuming that Rebecca knows everything about Noeline and Riesenlied. "But yeah I've been workin' hard. Buildings. Plumbing. Repairs." She lets out another major yawn. "Sometimes I just leave Old Petra just so I don't have to look at all this stuff that needs doin'. Luckily, there's a lot of help and Hammer's back on task, but still a lot of work, you know?"

She blinks a few times and she adds, "Anyway, um, since you were helping me with the swimmin', I wanted to give you something in return to help you out. And well, I use them a bit sometimes still, but I figure...you'd make much better use out of 'em than I would. I mean you're a friggin' acrobat." She lets out a small smile. "And I thought, 'hey, maybe she can use these in her act'." She draws out her two portal pistols and shows them to Rebecca. "If you get a neat idea with these things, I'm sure you'll get an awesome act goin' and everybody will show up to see you." She pauses. "Oh--yeah--now that I think about it, Carina mentioned somethin' about a circus coming to town. You want to take a looksee?"

She holds them out for Rebecca. "Might ask to borrow 'em from time to time till I find somethin' to replace it, but otherwise...you want 'em?"

She smiles sunnily.

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Matilda takes a slightly closer look at Riese's dress; she might be considering saying something -- but Maya promptly scoops her up and into the conversation in her own way, instead. Turning slightly pink, Matilda says, "I -- um -- oh, o -- okay," reduced to a slight stammer.

She swallows the rest of her drink, sets her cup aside, and starts to look around. "Ah -- well! Let's, um. Let's start with Miss Streisand and Miss Avril," Matilda says, half-guiding, half-letting-herself-be-guided in that general direction. "I don't know how acquainted you are with everyone -- but, ah, well... we can start there."

She takes a breath, fluffing out her hair a bit. "Ah -- you two, this is Maya Schrodinger. Say, er. Hello." She scratches her chin a little before trying to come up with something else to say.

Conveniently, Lydia's approach gives her something! "Oh! And! This is Lydia! She's a genius." There's a slightly strained, thin smile on her face.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Whate~ver do you mean, Noe-mama?" Mikaia grins as she looks at Rebecca and wonders just how close she can dangle it without telling the acrobatic shooter outright.

"Riese-mama's groom is /incredibly/ handsome and elegant, Becky," she continues to egg things on. "The way Riese-mama gets swept into a princess carry in that super-suave and charming way... and you should've heard their vows too. 'Even if the world turns against us...'"

Yyyyyyeah, maybe Mikaia is more of a mischevious imp than Janey is at times, Noeline certainly has the right of that.

Riese feels a bit bad she was distracted from introducing Maya, but the orange-dressed Drifter's taking matters into her own hands as she encourages Matilda to do so! Maybe it's best to have a hands-off approach sometimes... she does have to the compounder when they approach.

Riese does spend a bit of time looking a bit concerned for Lydia; much like her, Janey spent some time taking a nap too. Being brave takes a lot out of you. She smiles a little bit as she chats with Rebecca about acrobatic acts--

--then her eyes widen as Rebecca presses the point.

Riesenlied wilts further as she-- stammers, "... I didn't want to make it a big deeeal..." in that defeated tone of hers as her horns wilt alongside her face. There's a comical tear in her eye.

She tugs the hem of her extra-long skirt upwards and pushes her feet out where... instead of just the one deformed, dragon-shaped foot, there's... two, now. Highly scaled, with large talon-like nails at the front and one at her heel where her degeneration has... progressed, it would seem.

"... I was feeling i-incredibly self-conscious..." A pause. "And I already really miss being able to wear shoes..."

         [ Riesenlied has lost the ability to use Foot equipment! ]           

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline hesitates for a moment. She's often the mischievous sort herself, and something in the way Rebecca apologizes to her tickles some baser instinct at the back of her mind, realization dawning that somehow the acrobat hasn't yet figured out how involved she and Riesenlied actually are. For a moment, she huffs out of sheer amusement and considers making it clear - but that same instinct tells her to stay her hand for the time being. There's surely more fun to be had here, if she lets it sit.

She lets Maya act as a miniature whirlwind across the deck; she has her hands full, quite literally, between the children and Riesenlied - but she does chuckle in response, and bow her head slightly towards Matilda out of something like respect, and then watching with significant surprise as she watches Lydia offer to give up her dual pistols. "It isn't like you have to do everything yourself, I should hope," she does at least remember to note with a chuckle. "There's enough hands here I imagine we've some spare around the place. You could recruit Matilda," she adds impishly - but maybe isn't joking all that much. There's not much better way to get used to things around New Petra.

She gives Mikaia a rather glum look, at least at first - but as much as she's got their daughter pegged as the real power behind Janey's throne, she can't help a pleased and increasingly proud smile on her face as their relationship is elaborated upon. It falls just a little at the sight of Riesenlied's further degeneration, her brow furrowing slightly as she feels a spike of fear... but she swallows it down, and offers her a quiet smile. "Really... did you think I'd tease you about it, or something? Of course not. You're beautiful," she's quietly adamant.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

The circus. For the moment, Avril straightens -- Lydia's got her attention. "Then the circus is coming to this area? Rebecca, you should go and see. It's your dream, isn't it?"

After all, they've spent so long chasing after Avril's own goals... perhaps it's time to pay forth in kind.

Matilda gets a little polite (to the point of being rather... aristocratic) wave herself.

But even that brief interruption will spare Riesenlied not a bit. "I understand that marriage is a ceremony of considerable importance," Avril continues on. "A vow of union between two hearts." Her gaze shifts slightly to the right. Towards Noeline. Naive in some respects Avril may be, but she is no fool. If Riesenlied were to marry-- Mikaia approaches. Out of the mouth of babes, as they say, is wisdom. Or something like that.

And Avril, perhaps to Riesenlied's eternal dismay.. giggles. "Hee hee.. I suppose you could say that, Mikaia." Her gaze lifts. Oh. /Now/ she's definitely in on it. There's no way that isn't a teasing look.

"Well then, is today the day?"

It's just a laundry error.

And Avril is for the moment consumed by the dreaded giggles.

"...I know, but it does seem like the sort of thing one might marry in, doesn't it?"

SHe's been /learning/. "I suppose I could not resist. My apologies, Riesenlied, did I go too far?"

Though it's about here that she glances over at Maya as the blonde woman voices that she's not as familiar with some of them as she would like.

Blue eyes widen, and for the moment, Avril touches her fingers to her lips. "Oh, my apologies. My name is Avril Vent Fleur... I'm afraid that there is little else to say." She pauses, glancing at Rebecca as if in search of the encouragement to continue, explains: "I have lost my memories. I have been traveling with Dean and Rebecca in search of them, but I am afraid for now that all I can remember is my name, and the name of another. Johnny Appleseed."

That, and the price on her head. And the knowledge that someone in Elru is searching for her.

Before a shuff of Riesenlied's skirts causes Avril to turn her gaze.

She lifts a hand to her mouth. "...Oh... Riesenlied..."

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.

Rebecca is stunned for a few moments then nearly goes cross-eyed as Lydia offers her- "H-Hey whoa... is that really okay? I mean giving me your ARMs? You really don't have to - I was happy to help and you were eager to learn." Rebecca sees one getting an ARM as something real personal - a life changing experience in her case. A responsibility that starts ones journey into maturity. If she was offering a different ARM for /attacking/ Rebecca would turn her down flat but... this... this kind of utility?

Her enthusiasm then grows in a sudden burst, "I mean - I'd love to have them oh my gosh don't get me wrong - you're right - because I can think of a million ways to incorporate them into my act already but..."

All the same, she puts a hand on them trying to swallow her eagerness. "... are you sure? Really? Really sure? It feels like... too much."

And with a circus coming to town... her eyes drift over to Avril. And suddenly her feelings are... "Wow... that's... I'll have to find out more..." ... surprisingly mixed. What happened if she did get scouted out right now?

What happens then? All the same she can't deny that she wants to see for herself...

As Matilda introduces her, Rebecca holds up a hand at Maya, "Nice to meet you - Miss Schrodinger." Rebecca may not know her from a wanted poster or anything - but she certainly knows her family by reputation. That look is just too distinctive.

"Dunno if you've met Dean already - but Avril and I are friends of his." She says with a sense of caution, "I'm not planning on being competition against you or anything though - just looking to get my big break in the circus some day. Which hey... could be real soon by the sound of it. And Avril is-" She nods at Avril and stops speaking as she reports it, "-right. It's a mystery the three of us are trying to unravel."

However Avril reveals that she was just fooling too and Rebecca suddenly lets out this loud snort of amazement before breaking into laughter herself, "Wow Avril - I had no idea. You've got that 'serious' act so down pat." It tickles her pink though that Avril is just /doing/ things like that though.

However then Riesenlied reveals the reason and Rebecca double takes again, "Oh-"

She puts a hand up to her cheek, "-I didn't have any idea... I'm real sorry." How does she come back from that? She trails off, before saying in low volume, "You look gorgeous in that dress. Really." Before trailing off into silence again.

Perhaps wanting to take those portal guns and go on a trip... /anywhere else/ but right here right now.

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

Poor Matilda, you should have hidden yourself away a bit better or feigned interest in someone else's conversation. Now you're trapped, for a time, in the odd blonde's social orbit. At least she's pleasant about her weirdness.

"I'm afraid I've not met either of them," Maya advises the nervy Matilda, regarding both Rebecca and Avril. She idly plays with a lock of blonde while quickly scanning the crowd, eyes focusing on the two girls in turn. Quickly-dawning comprehension lights her face anew with a calm smile as Avril pipes up and offers her name, soon joined by Rebecca as the girls cluster around briefly.

"Miss Vent-Fleur, was it? Or just Fleur?" Maya pauses, uncertain. "No need for more than that, if the words aren't there. A memory full of holes is a frightening thing, isn't it? You've my sincere sympathies." she carries forward conversationally, regardless, and bows her head for a few moments Avril's way with her eyes closed. "I hope when you find what's missing, it brings you comfort."

Rebecca waves her over, now, too. And seems well learned of her ... reputation, or at least, the reputation she outwardly cultivates. The blonde's smile seems a great distance from the image of a dangerous and competitive Drifter, though. "Oh, oh, I see... no need to worry, I'm more worried about things falling into the wrong hands, these days, than losing out on a bit of fame. If Riesenlied has faith in the two of you, then, heck, so do I!"

A common thread amongst these two: one Dean Stark.

"You two are friends with Dean, was it? Brave boy. Good heart." Maya wraps it together with that, picking her words carefully. Out of respect. "I owe him one, so if someday I can be of help..." she looks up again to make eye contact. "Well, we'll see! Pleasure to meet the two of you, but don't let me hog the attention here~"

That all said and done, Maya pats Matilda proudly on the shoulder and whispers in her ear, regarding Lydia, "We are already very well acquainted, but I appreciate it...!"

Poor Riese. It isn't that Maya doesn't care about your dragon feet, it's that knowing you, that's just par for the course. And she'll have a private little 'are you okay!!?!?' freakout about it later, anyway.

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"In my mind I'm not even really giving them away, I just see a better use for 'em." Lydia assures Rebecca, her cheeks silvering faintly. "'Sides, I know if I really need 'em for somethin', I could just ask you to bring 'em along!" She grins widely, showing off her sharp fangs. "Who knows, maybe they'll even help you catch someone you like someday." Rebecca isn't the only person who can engage in teasing it seems, but it is at least the fond short. "Anyway you'll be paying me back with an awesome circuit act one day, so think of it as an investment! Heh heh heh....!"

She looks over to Matilda, eyes wide for a moment. Not many people call her a genius and she suddenly feels a little bad for worrying about her LIFE PATH so much. If she's willing to say that about her, maybe she's misunderstanding the situation. "Heh, you're pretty brilliant yourself. In more ways than one." She isn't lying about that, of course, but it does pay to repay compliments.

She looks towards Riesenlied's DRAGON FEET. Lydia holds one arm with concern before saying, "I don't know..." Lydia says. "I think you can work 'em...! A little bit of uniqueness just adds cosmetic flair! And shoes are a rotten industry anyway--" She kicks off her own shoes right there and then. SHOELIDARITY!?!??! It's a bit of a gamble but she doesn't want Riesenlied to feel bad about her appearance. That, at least, she would rather fight back against.

She sits down afterwards nearby, now considerably more awake, focusing her gaze back on Rebecca, whom she smiles at.

"Yeah," Lydia says, not turning her gaze just yet. "Maya, Ginny and I go way back."

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

A black cat wearing a 'Schrodinger' nametag and collar has appeared at some point and is now rubbing against Maya Schrodinger's leg.

And then another black cat that looks exactly the same places a paw on Maya's other leg.

<Pose Tracker> Matilda Whitehead has posed.

Though she's a little better at socializing now that she's got someone else to deflect much of the main attention onto, Matilda's still pretty shy about this whole thing -- even though she knows everyone. Something else has her anxious, perhaps -- or maybe she's just *that* anxious. Either way.

"Ah -- well, um --" she starts, to Lydia, on the topic of her also being brilliant. "... Yes, I suppose I am," she eventually concedes, rather than bat the compliments back and forth.

Absently playing with a lock of dyed-blonde hair, Matilda lets herself get patted. "I'm sorry, ahaha -- I don't know, um, who all knows everyone here. I... Lunar was -- very disorienting." She laughs a little at that, saying, "I sort of -- lost track, of, everyone..."

Finally, she loops back to Riesenlied, looking down at those feet briefly. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing quite comes out; she isn't sure what to say, and so, she settles for nothing.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There's a sweet kind of smile from Riesenlied as she watches Lydia bequeath the portal pistols to Rebecca -- she hasn't seen an acrobatic act of hers, but from the way she knows how agile and adroit the girl is just from the battles and Digs alone... it must be an incredible treat to see. "If you'd like us to set up a show, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand... I think we could use more entertainment and cheer around here, after all."

She looks on sympathetically towards Avril and... shakes her head, drawing her hand to her chest. "No, it's all right..." perhaps both on the account of marriage and her feet. ... boy, there's a weird sentence out of context. "I'm-- I'll be all right," in part buoyed by Avril's giggles. It's a rare thing to see from her and--

--well, it draws a few weak giggles of her own too, infectious as they are.

She looks at Rebecca and shakes her head as she says, "I--I didn't mean to make a scene... I was-- a lot more frightened when my first foot went, I think."

There's a slightly alarmed look at Lydia as she kicks her shoes off! Bam, bam! Hopefully they don't boink against Muni. "A-aaah... Lydie, thank you..." she seems very bashful, but then says, "Y-your shoes are pretty, though, don't just get rid of them!"

To Noeline, as she fetches her hand for a quiet cling regardless of who's watching, she says, "... I didn't. I felt scared about it none the same... I'm sorry," as she leans her head against her in a moment of need.

She does sympathise with Matilda's confusion, but then says to her -- and by extension to the deck. She gets up to her feet.

"It's why I wanted... to just have a moment. Before we moved on -- to better get to know everyone, and to also thank everyone for all their hard work. From Wayside when we banded together, to the creation and maiden flights of the Fereshte... to what we achieved in Taben's Peak that allowed us to respond urgently to Azado, and do everything we can."

She pauses, looking bashful -- but, well, there were requests for a speech!

"Noeline, all of the long hours you've spent supporting me to organise everything... and protecting us from our most dire threats. Lydia, of course, for all the hard work you've done establishing our town and our ship, and all your guidance with the Guardians... Maya, for all your knowledge from the various ways and paths you've been able to gather, whether magical or technological -- and I can't discount the Wild Bunch either! Matilda, both your compounding and planning efforts have made us be able to do so much more with what little ingredients we have, and of course, our studies with VR Factor... Avril, I don't think we'd know half of the artificial Mediums without your guidance, and your support and strength through all those perilous times... Rebecca, you've been a kind support to all the children and villagers, and you've helped us more than once through thick and thin in danger as well. And-- well, he's not quite here, but of course I can't forget Dean, with his neverending optimism that's helped the Outreach out through our darkest times."

She bows towards them all, nearly ninety-degree in angle.

"Thank you, every last one of you. Even without just one of you, it wouldn't have been possible. I know that we can continue to provide aid and relief where it's most needed."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline is quick to turn her very theatrical sigh on Avril next, folding her arms slowly as she does so. "As if we don't act the part already," she sighs in amusement, already expecting Rebecca to somehow miss or else misconstrue that direct statement into something else. "Really, it would be a formality at this point, though I /suppose/ I shouldn't keep people waiting too long."

"Miss Schrodinger has been of great assistance to Riese and I over the last year," she chips in to the introductions. "I dare say it is safe to say that without her, things might have gone much less smoothly in places. Given that our path is already a rocky one, you can surely imagine how much worse it might have gotten. And, of course, the same goes for the three of you," she notes with a hum towards Avril. "For my own situation in particular."

She's not quite as ready to kick her boots off as Lydia is, but that probably isn't a surprise if you've been near her for more than, say, ten minutes. She does at least offer a grateful hum towards the girl's direction. "However she looks, Riese is Riese, all of her together," she agrees with a solemn nod of her head. "That's really all there is to it, as far as I am concerned." ... she knows that Riesenlied might not think that, deep down, but she'd like to think the reassurance might help here and now.

The spy's hum towards Matilda is a little thoughtful - there's a bit of a difference between 'lost track' and 'founded a mercenary company' in her mind, but at the same time she can't really say she's n much of a position to judge. Rather than swing one way or another, she simply accepts the comment for the time being with a nod of her head - and then a light grin. "Well. No time like the present, hm?"

Accepting Riesenlied against her side, Noeline holds onto the other demon for a long pause. "... not at all. I understand. It's alright," she whispers quietly, before stepping back a little to allow Riesenlied her speech, her gaze terribly fond as she raises her glass to it.

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.

Still stunned, Rebecca looks from Lydia's eyes back down to the portal guns. First off - she hits upon the surest way to get her to agree. Logic. Those are all very practical reasons... "Well when you put it like that..." and then she hits upon her second reason... Rebecca's cheeks have pinkened, "H-Hey I don't need a portal gun to... to..."

And now she's bright red. "Ah- um-" And now she's thinking of how such gestures might actually be necessary for... someone to notice her... after a moment she's just sorta giving this silent nodding, "Uh-huh- awesome... circus act... to... payyouback." She mumbles as she takes them in hand.

Giving Lydia a /furtive/ glance to see if she can make sure this line of teasing is over and it's safe to talk before. "Thank you /so/ much Lydia. You ever need my help - just say the word - and I won't disappoint you with what the show I can put on with them. Promise." She then tucks them safely away in her satchel because... well... if she doesn't get them out of sight she might excuse herself to practice with them /right now/.

Brave Boy. Good Heart. Rebecca could add a few more things to that... she doesn't though right now, "Well we certainly wouldn't say no to a helping hand when things get rough." She gives a light salute, "You can have the spotlight /for now/."

Then Schrodinger shows up - next to Maya, and Rebecca actually has to suppress some giggles because... she gets the joke.

"Well you do fight like an old married couple." Rebecca says to Noeline as if thinking this was just yet another joke of hers between two close girls who are friends.

Then straightening up as Riese speaks, she says "No - no it's okay... I understand why you wouldn't want to make a scene about it." Boy did she feel like a heel though for calling attention to her dress - not knowing that it was covering that up.

However Riese gives a speech - calling to mind each of them in it and... she finds herself quieting down like it's making her a little somber. Because the dangers inherent in... being associated with a place like this. It makes her feel /good/. It's just /sobering/ too. "You didn't have to thank us or anything... but you're welcome Riese."

It's a good thing what this is right now. It's a good thing what they're doing here. She just hope it lasts...

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Not quite here this exact moment, sure--but that's soon to change.

Dean had of course meant to come. He is currently in the process of coming! But along the way, he ran into one of the local chefs who asked him to taste-test a new recipe of theirs: a steamed bun filled with spiced, mashed, stewed, and/or stir-fried vegetables, in a gambit to get the kids to eat vegetables more. Dean, being the type to help people he's literally just met, and also a bottomless pit, had gladly accepted.

Many buns later, he's got a full stomach and an armful of the remaining experimental buns, and he's walking cheerfully towards where Riese and the others are gathered. Riese is issuing her speech to the others (he lights up to see Avril and Rebecca), and he hurries over to catch the end of it.

"Awww, hehe, it was no big deal! Just doing what I can!" he says cheerfully. He nods back to her deep bow--it'd be a bow of his own, but again, arms full of steamed veggie buns--and smiles at the end of her speech. Huh. Is there something different about her feet? He's pretty sure they didn't look like that before. Is this a Metal Demon thing? He'd better not say anything about it. "Hear, hear!" he says instead. "And speaking of which--I brought snacks, guys! Everybody take one!" Buns for everyone!!

They were originally from a local chef anyway. It's only fair.

As he hands them out, he looks over at Noeline. He nods firmly at her comment on Riese. "Yeah! She's always been Riese!" ...is this about the feet? He's not sure still. Wait, maybe it's about the dress? The dress looks new. Girls like fashion, right? He pauses, then scoots in towards Rebecca. "What'd I miss?" he whispers.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

The children, not aware of the DEVIOUS PLAN that had been hatched between Dean Stark and the culinary master of hiding things inside other things, Val, congregate immediately towards the steamed buns. "Whoa!! It smells so great!" "I want a mince one!" "Barbecue pork for me!"

Chomp.

"A-asparagus?!?!" "Mine has burdock root!!" "Carrot... and chives..."

One of them gasps. "Dean Stark you villain!!!" there's laughter and grins all around though. "You pranked us so good!"

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

"What?!" Dean gasps, genuinely thunderstruck to be called a villain. "But they're really good!!"

...It seems like his stomach doesn't discriminate.

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.

Mouthing 'Hey Dean' as he comes over. Rebecca lifts a bun and eats it. It's not what she expected, but she still takes another bite as she catches that taste of bitter green peppers. "Mmm... interesting flavor."

Rebecca looks scandalized by the kids a little herself, "Dean's no villain! He's just always liked his veggies." Then she tries to turn it on them, "'sides you kids want to grow up big and strong right? So fill your plates with those buns."

However then she leans over and whispers to Dean, "Tell you later. Though don't look at her feet or call attention to them. She's a little... embarrassed by the changes she's going through."


<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

Maya can positively sense the levels of uncomfy coming off of Matilda in this situation, and does her best to help out by gravitating to the front. Let her escape to the back if she's starting to really sweat. A masquerading introvert is good at sniffing out their own, maybe. "I don't think that's a problem," she counters to the other blonde's nervous admission of losing track of where everyone is at. "Especially since I was out cold for most of my stay there, and hell, nobody's upset at me!"

Maybe this is comforting to Matilda because it means the Schrodinger girl has no idea what kinds of crimes she may or may not have performed out there on the moon. Maybe?

Here's a blessing, though: Maya quietens down for the duration of Riesenlied's speech, impromptu as it might be. The gentle smile on her face has turned into a dashing grin more befitting her established persona. Of course she's weak to flattery, and gestures for Riese to stand up again after being bowed to. "Now, now, it's not all that..." she feigns some degree of humility, waving her hands before her in some kind of 'oh, me? surely not!' manner.

Noeline joining in on that is a surprise. Not because she doesn't trust her, but because she didn't anticipate this much attention directed her way despite being such a glory hound. "O--oof, well, I'm very glad to have been of help..." the hand-waving has since turned to fanning herself. Phew!! "There's a lot I'm still learning about myself, too, but what kind of Drifter can just sit by and watch while a fine bunch of folks like y'all lead by example!?"

In this instant, a little ? floats above Maya's head and she looks down, to where two identical cats have taken possession of her legs. There is no resistance. Not even token. Her eyes are wide, mouth agape. C--cute...

"E--eh? Was there something else?" Maya loses her train of thought entirely, looking back up in time to see Dean and Rebecca conspiratorially stealing all the baos for themselves. She's not sure she can blame them.

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia Seren snickers a bit before saying, "Sure was..." though she's not exactly eager to jump into that topic. Not after hearing what Kaguya tried to do to Talia. It's a hard fact of life that's hard to pretend didn't happen. Of course, what did Talia try to do to Kaguya and Matilda??? Nevertheless, even if fair is fair she doubts it's going to end with that.

She doesn't throw her shoes at Muni Muni. That would be Meani Meani! "Well I won't get rid of them." Lydia promises partially because she doesn't have dragon feet. "But today is the day for shoelidarity." She must be desperate to make that a thing???

She smiles back at Riesenlied briefly. "Hearin' that is what makes it worth it." that and someone called her a genius today. Yeah she's in a good mood. At least it seems that she is done teasing Rebecca. She responds to her promise with a big goofy thumbsup." She DOES glance away when Dean shows up. "Oh hey, speak of the Dean."

She glances back to the acrobat, sighing faintly. It's such a shame she's straight but at least they'd be cute together.

Blink. Blink.

Fuck, Lydia thinks.

Schrodinger, now that they have Maya's attention, proceeds to turn away and lick their paw in a disinterested manner.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

"Is it that unusual for me?" Avril asks. Though, she still bears a slight smile so it's as if she's more amused by it than honestly questioning. "I suppose I am simply following along with everyone else? But, there's something pleasant about being able to tease someone a little bit. Hee hee..."

Though such cheer does dampen when she sees that Riesenlied's condition has advanced.

"..." Blunt she may be, but it's a different matter from tactless. For now, Avril holds any questions to her chest, her silence maintaining when she finally looks away, her gaze for now distant.

"Avril," she speaks at last to Maya. "Just 'Avril' will do, but thank you. I do... not feel as if we should be as formal as a last name basis." Silence, again, has its due, her blue eyes meeting Maya's own. And then, Avril nods. "Perhaps so, though I am not afraid. As long as I am able to travel with friends, it is hardly a burden. ...Besides, I... it is difficult to know whether or not I should feel so terrified, when I know so very little of myself."

That's a lie. No, she's learned a few things /about/ herself... if not the wherefores.

But Maya has met Dean so there's that aspect so handled. "That does sound like him," she says, rather earnestly. "If it is no trouble... we will need to head east. But, not solely because of the threat to the world. The person who is looking for me... also lives in Elru."

She leave that to linger. "I know not who," she adds, glancing away. It troubles her -- to put such a high price on her head, and yet, do little else but trust someone might bring her home. Perhaps they were attempting to do so quietly, but it still...

"For now, though... they say that it is best to make haste slowly. I do not wish to rush, even if they are family, inviting me back to my home. Still, if you would assist, we would be grateful."

Only to smile, itself almost bittersweet, when Noeline expresses her own gratitudes. Riesenlied, too, which only makes that smile of hers perhaps bloom further. "And to you as well, Noeline. Riesenlied. If it were not for the both of you, I might yet be trapped in that temple."

This is about the point where Dean makes his appearance, snacks in tow-- (which some of the kids might be disappointed to find have more vegetable than they're accustomed to or care for)

"Oh, Dean-- there you are. Maya was just speaking about you..."

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Hey, Dean's not monopolizing these buns! Anyone who wants one can /totally/ have one. ...Though maybe the kids won't want them after they think they've gotten pranked? Even if they're good natured about it.

He nods firmly at Rebecca's protest. "Yeah! And noodles, and meat, and cheese, and fruit, and..." He might go on in this manner for a while if Avril didn't mention that Maya had been telling them about him. "Oh really?" he asks, offering her a bun. He grins at Maya. "Then you guys're all introduced to each other? That's great!" And then of course there is Lydia. "Hey Lydia! What, were you *all* talking about me?"

He glances over at Matilda, who seems to have retreated into herself awkwardly. Although he was, and still is, happy to see she's well, he's reminded of what Prissa told him about having gotten ARMs from her while on Lunar, and about what Kaguya had told him about having started a mercenary corp, and what the two of those might mean together... He needs to talk to Matilda about that, still.

But he slides that thought to one side when he whispers to Rebecca and she gives him the short-short version. "Ohhh. I *thought* she looked kinda different... I'll make sure not to stare."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

An old married couple... well, Rebecca is technically correct on that front, given how much they've been dancing around each other. Timescales are /weird/ with long lasting races. She does cling tightly towards that hand, blushing a little as Noeline vouches for her, nodding gently.

There's a look of joy and surprise both as Dean emerges with steamed buns! Which the children seem to enjoy, albeit with surprise that they're eating their veggies. They're all good children...! They listen to Rebecca and go, "Haaaaaaai~" no matter whether or not you've turned the subs on or not.

"Dean, I'm so glad you could make it. Please, feel free to have any of the other foods around," Riesenlied encourages, since she knows one of the things Dean absolutely loves. She doesn't get what she and Rebecca are whispering about, though! She does gently nod at Rebecca, quietly thankful for her discretion--

"Hehe..." Riesenlied has one of those soft chuckles to Maya, nodding as-- she stares towards the two Schrodinger cats. She... doesn't quite get the joke, but there's a part of her -- the part that explodes into cohered particles at an elementary level -- that twigs just a little.

"S-shoelidarity, hehe..." Riese sounds just a bit bashful at Lydia. "You really know how to cheer me up." She's happy to see Lydia feeling good! She wants her daughter to feel good.

She looks towards Avril, though, and... nods.

"As I've spoken to some of you... there is that Medium I must pursue in Elru myself, and there is the whole story behind Mother and my brethren too." A pause, as she lowers her head. "Of course, I will assist... we're not about to stop supporting each other at this point."

She smiles. "When we're good and ready -- we'll make the trip east, towards the nearest ports upon Elru. Noeline and I both have strong familiarity with those lands, so we can assist in navigation... we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I have no doubt we can make a real difference."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

With a snort, Noeline's suspicions turn out to be entirely founded; she watches Rebecca gloss past her romanticism, letting out a faint sigh as she wonders whether she needs to have a long talk with the acrobat - especially if she actually wants to get anywhere with her own relationship woes. "... something like that, I suppose," she allows after the moment, feeling too comfortable at Riesenlied's side to really worry about it right now.

She's long-since learnt to just lean back and let Dean do his thing when he appears, a mild disbelief written across her face as she chuckles; she leans down, letting the girl she's been carrying all along slip from her shoulders and bobble across to get a snack of her own. "Honestly... where on earth did you get so many of those on such short order? I wasn't aware we even had the ingredients for so many on hand." In the end, all she can chalk it up to is Being Dean.

Past that, she's content to watch the chaos unfold, nudging the other demon gently with an arm and quietly pleased that the topic of Riesenlied's deformities has been lain quietly at the wayside for the time being. "Well. It wouldn't be Riese if she didn't have a way for words," she notes towards Lydia as she leans forwards to peer around the other Hyadean, letting her fondly lopsided grin remain on her face. "That was how we met in the first place, after all, at least from my end of things."

Maya and Avril get an amused glance each as Noeline snags one of the buns for herself; her eyebrows raise slightly, and she puffs up her cheeks playfully. "Really, you'd think I'd never complimented anyone in my life with the way your faces look."

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

It's a good party to be a slightly melancholic amnesiac at, if the people in attendance are any indication. Maya links both hands behind her back and laughs gently, pursuing no more answers from Avril for now. There's a time and a place to speak of secrets, and it sure as heck isn't here and now.

"Not -everyone- was speaking about you," the whimsical blonde corrects Dean patiently, "But I bet your friends are damn glad you're here. Good timing." she then looks down, ready to scoop up an armful of cute kittens only to find that they've forsaken her for greener pastures and more interesting people. Betrayed.

At this point, Riesenlied and Noeline are looking entirely too comfortable with one another, so the meddling Human figures she had best keep from ruining the vibe with further questions and watches the rambunctious Dean shepherding all the kids around in the meantime. A very Wayside feeling, to be certain. Which can be dangerous: too comfortable, too tempting. Things that make her question her Drifting lifestyle.

"Hm," Maya glances from group to group, as whatever ceremonial vibe was previously held finally collapses and the mingling proceeds apace. "Maybe another time, yep..." and, stopping only to pick up an apple, egresses belowdecks on the Fereshte quietly. By the time the door closes, a tired-looking version of Maya with slightly bedraggled hair and coke-bottle spectacles replaces the shining gunslinger we all know and (maybe) love.

"Elru, huh...? Better study up..."