2018-11-20: Child-friendly Dragons

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  • Log: Child-friendly Dragons
  • Cast: Riesenlied (playing Janey, Mikaia, Kids), Noeline, Ashton Anchors, Maya Schrodinger
  • Where: The Fereshte
  • Date: 20th November 2018
  • Summary: Ashton, Weepy and Creepy come to find Noeline and Maya with the children of the Fereshte, following on a message from the Guild...


<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

A while ago, Noeline had delivered a message through the Memory Cube that had spread through to the Adventurer's Guild. It was short, but to the point:

"Alhazred has Riesenlied."

Those portents are chilling to those in the know -- and concerning even those who aren't.

Further inquiries would point out that Noeline's returned to the Outreach's centre of operations -- the airship of the same name as the village, the Fereshte.

https://i.imgur.com/IexwCnW.jpg

It's... a half-remarkable, and half-junky airship, let's be fair -- the top glows with ancient Hyadean technology with an impressive dragonshead, albeit all patched up and sewn with metal and wooden bulkplates, and the bottom half looks like a sailing ship got glued onto it. It has singes and dents everywhere, and kinda looks like a pile of junk...

... but heck, it's /their/ pile of junk.

The workers around are of a curious sort -- 'Tainted', as Ashton may have heard; Metal Demons who were deemed unworthy, whether through defects or battle damage. A man with accordion tubing for legs hums as he bangs away at a plate for repairs, while a woman with a refigerator for a torso and blinkers for eyes pours a drink at a nearby tavern.

And in the midst of this...

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline's turned out to be a pretty capable second-in-command. When it comes down to it, she's got a head for logistics and planning, and it isn't too hard for her to keep tabs on everyone around the Fereshte and ensure that there aren't any problems. Besides, the Tainted crew are more than seasoned enough to know what Riesenlied's capture means, and bit by bit the ship's engine and armor are being reinforced and made ready for the time they'll have to face the Photosphere.

What Noeline /isn't/ is an inspirational leader, but she's trying her best to lend an ear to each of them. Taking on their problems and worries and doing what she can to offer some help gives her something to do and stops her dwelling on things - and she's got conviction and anger to spare as she promises each of them that they'll get Riesenlied back.

Still, there is at least one thing that Riese can do that Noeline may not ever be able to...

"And then, the mystical warrior laid her hand on the Medium, willing it to life in hopes she might earn her freedom!" she crows brightly, waving her arms high from where she's sat in the middle of a semicircle of children; she nearly hops to her feet, but instead leans far to one side as she stretches her arms out with her hands splayed. "But alas, the Guardian was not convinced, not yet! And with an almighty crack, the Medium shattered into--" "Eehhhh? That's not right," chimes one girl with a frown. "Miss Riese always says the Guardian is happy with her and they go travel." "And then she meets back up with the shaman!"

Non-plussed, Noeline has to clamp her mouth shut for a moment. Somehow, getting carried away with a story is always so much easier when your audience isn't quite so earnest.

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

Riesenlied is gone.

To be true, Ashton only met her the once. But she was kind and friendly - a good heart, as best he could tell. And while still technically a mercenary? The spellswordsman has always seen himself more as an errant adventurer seeking more than mere money.

So he's returned here, to Fereshte. Perhaps he can't help. He has no clues - but he does have the will, and sometimes what's needed is just an extra pair of hands. That, Ashton knows, he has to offer.

The strange and unusual aren't that much so for Ashton - perhaps not this sort, but he's used to the stares and whispers behind the back. So as he arrives there's far less of it on his part to the Tainted. There's a little, of course, he's still human. But a man with dragons for shoulderblades has very little room to talk about strange apperances and a good bit of sympathy.

Approaching, the young man recognizes Noeline's voice. He doesn't interrupt - he just hangs back and watches her storytelling to the children. With just a bit of a smile on his face - unable to decide if the audience or the enthused storyteller are acting more adorably.

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

                         Alhazred has Riesenlied                           

Maya Schrodinger does not know the intrinsics and workings of Hyadean politics. She barely even registers the term 'Quarter Knight' save for what Riesenlied and Noeline have spoken of in her presence. She did not see the scythe-wielding Lady Harken spill King Justin Adlehyde's blood across the ramparts of his own castle, nor did she ever cross paths with the elemental force of destruction named Berserk.

                         Alhazred has Riesenlied                           

Yet, a sense of dread underpins that simple truth. The Metal Demons have stolen away with the heart of the Outreach for their own purposes, and those who escaped the Photosphere whisper terrifying rumours of mad experiments and powers twisting the very fabric of space and time. What Maya does not know of that being, that most inhuman of the Quarter Knights, she will learn quickly.

                         Alhazred has Riesenlied                           

So that is the long-winded explanation for why a familiar-looking lady with blonde curls is tracing routes on a map spread across a nearby table as Noeline entertains the children. The good cheer from her usual expression is strained hard, brittle. She has a stack of books nearby which appear to be very dry and technical manuals lifted from a Metal Demon encampment or something. They detail, in great technical depth, directed-energy weapons and the use thereof. Enough to worry anyone who knows what the Schrodinger girl can accomplish with the humble written word.

But that's that, and this is this. Maya waves the approaching Ashton inside, spying a moment's hesitation in his movements.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

The children are understandably in lower spirits -- those that have come with them are hardy enough, of course, but between Elru and Riesenlied's untimely disappearance, storytime is a bit of a difficult time...

Amidst them are two that seem particularly close, as if they treat Noeline as their own mother -- a grey-haired girl with a wirey and limber disposition, and a black-haired one with... wings? on her back. A crow beastgirl, perhaps.

"Mom..." whispers the grey one -- Janey. "It's okay... c'mon," urges the black-haired one -- Mikaia, as she pulls up and smiles at Noeline, appreciative of storytime even in a tough moment like this.

Ashton gets -- fairly warm welcomes, really; there's a few curious looks as some people wonder whether his dragons are Metal Dragons -- but it's rather clear that Weepy and Creepy are not. And where there's sympathy from him, there's sympathy back from the guy who's stuck with ammo boxes for shoulders. It's a very welcoming community, run-down but...

... with a spirit that seems embodied by people like Riesenlied, Noeline and Maya. Embodied by everyone here, really.

People who have very little individually, but have contributed to a greater whole.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

At the very least, Noeline doesn't seem at all depressed by the children interjecting. Instead, there's an amused smile on her face as she quietly snorts, reaching over to pat the pair encouraging her fondly. "I know-- really, you don't think I've only got /this/ story, do you?" she adds with a warm bravado. There are signs that she hasn't slept terribly well, and that she's perhaps pushing herself a little too hard given the injuries she sustained - but the spirit around her matches that of the rest of the Tainted: that they may have lost a battle, but not yet the war.

In some ways, she and Maya are very much the same - they both tend to go war with information rather than weapons, even if that phrase is a little literal on Maya's case. Regardless, it isn't just technical manuals that Maya's been given - Noeline has made sure to annotate the Elru map as well as she can, the Photosphere's location and several patrol routes marked across it from memory. Slipped underneath is a smaller piece of paper, one that even to this day it felt strange to offer: a rough layout of the interior of the Photosphere, with Alhazred's lab and the Gutter - home of the Tainted - marked upon it.

Noeline has launched into another tale by the time she spots Ashton, her arms spread as she describes a magical mansion in secret woodlands owned by a Crimson Noble; she pauses, her eyebrows raised, and then huffs quietly to herself as she tilts her head in the man's direction. "Mr Anchors. Welcome to the Fereshte - children, say hello to Mr. Ashton, and Weepy and Creepy," she offers, knowing that many of them will be overjoyed to have yet more in the way of peaceful dragons around.

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

It's strange. This is perhaps the first place where Ashton's been outright welcomed since the curse. It's unfamiliar - but not in a bad way. Though in the back of his head? He still struggles that this place full of the strange and freakish is... a place for someone like him. Even after all these months, it's still hard to accept.

But that's for another time. One less pressing and one less full of smiling faces. He spares a small nod to Maya - she seems far too busy to interrupt - and then a broad grin for the children.

Kneeling down, Ashton brings Creepy and Weepy to the level of the young ones. "Hello, all of you." The two dragons immediately start mugging for the crowd, playfully weaving and grabbing attention. They really are like playful pets, sometimes.

But while that happens? Ashton looks to Noeline. Wordless communication is difficult, but he can see that weary look. And in return? Give her a tight-lipped look of sympathy.

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

"Can't offer the kind of cheerful greeting I'd usually opt for," begins Maya, her gaze lifting to the quiet (and trustworthy) sellsword. She taps the eraser-tip of a pencil against the margins of her map as she speaks. That the children have something to delight them in these dark times is good enough news for her, not that she'd admit it. Not yet, anyway. "But you're a welcome sight 'round these parts all the same."

The blonde lady in the orange dress puts her implements down, having completed at least two or three hand-copied sketches of the layout Noeline has handed her. Maybe it's hard to tell at a distance, but the girl renowned for gunslinging and sorcery also appears to have a freakish, esper-esque knack for technical drawings and reproductions by hand.

More to the point, Maya also leaves the table and map behind her as she approaches Noeline, kids, and Ashton. "I mean, you've stuck it out this far, so you're either sworn to justice or a little bit mad. Welcome as can be either way, who am I to judge?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"But they're all about the Crimson Noble in the end..." whines one kid towards Noeline as he tilts his head down. Another beside him laughs and pats him on the shoulder. "Geez, that's what she likes, it's fine, it's fine--"

Noeline speaks up and talks to Ashton as he approaches, and the way the crowd lights up slowly marks a little bit of shock and awe.

"Whoaa, dragons!" "There's-- a blue and red one!" "Is it like Muni?" "I want them to see Muni!"

The children lightly congregate around Ashton, though they seem very well-behaved as to not push and shove as some of them pat and play, giggling. "Weepy? I guess it kinda looks rather sad! D'you want some candy?"

"Creepy?? I think he looks -cool-!" another child shouts as she makes a face to mimick them.

Beyond it, though, the two children by Noeline's side seem more acutely aware of the grave situation at hand, smiling a bit more tiredly towards Ashton. They can't be more than thirteen, yet... they've seen the world for the weight that one has to bear.

And they're still standing.

"Welcome, mister!" Janey decides to blurt out. "You've met Noe-mama, and Maya-sis before?" She pumps her finger to her chest. "M'name's Janey, and this is Mikaia. Riesenlied and Noeline're our moms."

Mikaia has a more bashful smile as she nods and says, "It's very nice to meet the three of you..."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline tilts her head just a little in return to Ashton's frown; it's an expression of recognition and respect, of accepting the man's sympathy and being welcome for it. Still, for all that she looks a little tired, there's still a light in her eyes, and she breaks into a grin when the first of the children reaches for one of the paired dragons. "They're alright. They don't bite, at least that I've seen - well, not unless it's Mr. Ashton himself," she teases merrily out of nowhere.

Craning back, she catches sight of Maya walking up, and nods her head. "Mr. Anchors came across us when we were investigating the village of Fereshte," she supplies for Maya's sake. "Or rather, when we were recuperating from it. Given the situation at the time, it seemed best to stick together. We made the open offer for him to come along whenever he liked - after all, Elru isn't exactly the most pleasant of places to be on your own, especially nowadays." She doesn't ask about Maya's work in front of the kids, of course - besides, she's got faith enough in the Drifter's abilities.

So instead, she puffs up. "--I was /going/ to talk about a starlight witch--" she playfully complains back as she makes a show of looking grumpy, but she trails off with another quiet smile as the children are successfully given something to distract themselves with. It's a welcome sight, given how much fear is playing at her at the moment, and it lets her take a moment to rest one hand each on her daughters' hair, ruffling it. A Metal Demon mother-- would certainly be a rarity, but then everything around here seems to be. "I couldn't ask for better family," she adds with obvious pride.

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

It's to the kids that Ashton replies first. He lets Creepy and Weepy handle the horde - they seem to have it mostly in hand, and so far are playing nice. (Mostly - Noeline's comment about biting makes Weepy take a moment to playfully gnaw on the man's head. He ignores it with as much grace as he can.)

Ashton himself looks to the two older ones, putting on a smile for Janey and Mikaia. "I have met them before, yes. Not terribly long ago, but I did. And now it's very nice to have met both of you, too."

The smile falters as he looks to Maya and Noeline. "Fortunately for you, miss Schrodinger, I'm a bit of both. Though I try to be the first, I fear I must admit to at least some of the second. And it is indeed your family that brings me here, miss Noeline." He shifts slightly, trying to not disturb the kid/dragon chaos seething around him. Creepy is currently twisted upside-down and making funny faces at one of the kids. "You do have quite the family - one I would like to offer my services in the assistance of reuniting. I may not be an expert with..."

Ashton pauses, trying to find a more soft way to put it. "With incidents and particulars of miss Riesenlied's extended relations, but I do still have a strong arm and a willing soul."

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

Maya doesn't correct Noeline because it would be rude and also generally unhelpful. So, to the introduction, she merely sends her eyebrows arching and smiles an enigmatic little smile. "Of course, and I figure anyone who doesn't go running at the sight of our little gang must have something right going on upstairs." she quips harmlessly, arms folded.

Luckily, Ashton is straight to business. If pleasantly so. Cobalt eyes blink once and lock onto the swordsman and his two dragons. "Well now, it's not going to be easy-going getting the Riesenlady back. Pretty sure nobody's ever snuck inside their villainous fortress to much success, but we -do- have a spot of inside knowledge on our side." a pause while she dusts her hands, gloves smacking together gently.

"Anyway, you don't have to be an expert on the Metal Demons to help us out. We've all trickled together at one time or another with whatever skills and powers we've got amongst us and it's gone okay. Way things are going lately, seems like all it takes is one person with a big heart to shake the world for the better..." and with that odd little peice said, Maya's expression returns to a more normal smile and her voice stops lilting upwards cryptically. Back to being a totally normal person.

"But I'm prattling on. Can we getcha something? Warm blanket? Drink? Whetstone?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

In some ways, perhaps it was one of Janey or Mikaia's idea to keep showering Noeline with attention -- if not from them, then from the children; they know her to be someone who can stave off concern with something to do, and to reinforce the feeling of what they do have, with stories, with companionship, with comfort...

"Ooh... thanks for escortin' our moms and Miss Maya back, Mister Ashton!" Janey nods as Noeline explains.

Some of the children laugh a bit as Weepy goes to gnaw on Ashton's head, then one of them goes, "Heey, that's mean, Weepy!"

"Mister Ashton should wear a helmet! Covered in candy!" "That'll just encourage them even more, dummy!"

Mikaia looks between Maya and Ashton, as the gunslinger girl talks, then lowers her head. "She's been taken back... to where mom used to come from. The Photosphere, right...? It's the Metal Demons' big base..."

A pause, as she pumps her hand. "B-but that's right! Everyone's working together, I know it'll turn out all right at the end... and I'm sure mom and everyone'd be glad to have you along too, Mister Ashton!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

For just a moment, Noeline's eyes glance towards the rest of the children happily playing with the dragons, checking that their attention is sufficiently captured. It isn't that she wants to keep the more serious talk private, per se, more that she's aware the kids have enough to worry about without talk of the impending battles to worry them further.

"... as Maya says, it is not as if we'd expect you to be an expert on the topic," she admits with a chuckle, dropping some of her usual insistent formality. "Though most of us here may be Metal Demons, the Wayside Outreach is intended to be more than that - a group of people who have come together with the desire to prevent further suffering and to do what we can to aid those caught in the fighting, regardless of race or belief."

She almost breathes out with relief as she delivers her speech; it's a useful and timely reaffirmation, and it helps centre her as she takes a moment to dote over Mikaia as the girl falters. Janey is much easier to read than Mikaia, and Noeline's done more than her fair share of trying to shower the beastgirl with affection right back.

It also lets Maya discuss their plan, even if it's only composed of the broadest possible strokes right now; Noeline chuckles quietly as she tilts her head towards the blonde. "Luckily, there is currently a swell of Drifters intending to assault the Photosphere to prevent Mother's awakening, and I will be quite happy to use them as cover for our own approach. But unlike the Drifters our goal is not simply to stop Mother," she adds, turning solemn all of a sudden as she looks back to Ashton. "Our goal is to rescue Riesenlied, and then rescue the rest of the Tainted. Those who cannot or do not want to fight - we will offer them a sanctuary."

Her eyes are alight with her conviction, and she glances down at the children for a moment, taking a little strength from their presence. "We will not fail," she promises at a whisper--

--then it's gone, and much like Maya she looks up with her eyebrows raised. "Ah. I had meant to ask when we found you so far out. Please don't tell me you are sleeping wild? I can't imagine the cold," she snorts. "I'm sure we can find you a room."

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

"That's right," Ashton agrees with Mikaia gently. "Everyone's working together to make things right." His eyes dart for a moment over to Noeline. "Stories should have a happy ending, right?"

Meanwhile, the two dragons are getting a bit too caught up in the crowd for their own good. Their egos won't allow for less. Creepy tries to get the attention of one of the kids who's looking at Weepy. Which makes the blue dragon snap at the red. Who snaps back. With a heavy sigh, Ashton stands up and puts a hand over both of their muzzles. "I'm sorry, children. I need to have a moment with my dragons, alright? They're not used to so many people and they're getting over-excited. We'll be back in a little while once they're calmed down."

The three stop, looking at each other and having a silent conversation between them for several seconds. Then - the two dragons relax and are released. Creepy pouts, curling up on Ashton's shoulder and grouchily refusing to look at him. Weepy is for once more mature and resumes his mostly normal position.

"Ahem. Apologies." Ashton straightens his robe. "Miss Schrodinger, miss Noeline. Thank you - I will certainly take that room and something to warm myself with. I'm not unused to sleeping outdoors, but I would never turn down kindness." He straightens, hands resting on the pommels of the two blades at his side. "I know I'm not one of your lot - and to be fair, we've only met in brief. But you've shown nothing but good hearts and what you're planning is a good cause."

"So." Ashton cracks a little grin. "We won't fail. Because all it takes is one person with a big heart to shake the world - and from where I stand, you have several."

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

The talk turns from tactics to offerings of hearth and home - as it often does, Maya finds, with this particular group. Not that she minds. And she's part of the problem here, anyway. "Oh, they've got good hearts, alright." she chimes in with Ashton after a moment. A thumb is jerked at Noeline from one side, the blonde's expression flat and comical, but not cruel or mean. "She might be made of metal, but she's a damn sight warmer than some Human pals I've made over the years. Even I wasn't immune to their charms, and now... here I am."

The Schrodinger girl walks, then, opening cupboards and rattling around cups, pots, pans. A stein in one hand and a plaet in the other, she bangs the cupboard door shut with one knee. "Like I said the first time I laid eyes on you, you're one of Lydia's friends, right? She could tell you all about total strangers going to bat for her with their lives on the line." the search for something to serve, however, continues.

"'sides, you might count yourself one of our lot after you get a taste for saving the world." Maya adds as one final line, successfully finding a stashed cheese platter to start divvying up. "Now there's a feeling that shines brighter than any gem I've ever laid eyes on..."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Mikaia's eyes seem to light up as Noeline offers her affirmation, then also something more practical to Ashton -- room and board. As if that were her cue, she perks up as she looks to her mother, then to Ashton and Maya. "I'll get one of the spare rooms done up for you and your dragons, Mister Ashton!"

She hurries away with a kind of frantic energy; frankly, the kind of worry a young girl like her shouldn't possess, yet this is Filgaia. Where the soul needs to do what it can to temper itself against the burdensome pressures faced against it.

The children seem understanding as they step back and laugh, saying, "Aww, they're all really good friends, aren't they?" "It's okay! Hey, Mister, there's other Dragons here as well--" "Yeah! Muni-Muni's our cuddly friend, she's real soft and round!"

They relent, though, perhaps trained to play with Dragons in their own way? Truly, Filgaian children have some strange oddities they're used to.

"A person with a big heart, huh..." Janey grins as she follows them inside, looking upat Maya and-- sneaking away some cheese when she thinks the gunslinger girl ain't looking. "Then, with all the big hearts 'round here, we're totally going to stand tall 'n shake the heavens!"

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

The spy pauses, and her eyebrows lift with obvious curiosity at the sight of the dragons and the human convening with each other. Everything on her face dearly suggests she would love to ask, but... here, they're amongst the Tainted, and Noeline knows just as well as everyone else that there are some things it's polite not to ask.

Instead, she huffs out a breath in a snort of laughter. "There is 'sleeping outdoors' and then there is 'sleeping outdoors on an angry Elru populated with Veruni and Metal Demons'," Noeline rather sensibly points out. "It is ultimately the very least we can do in return for your offer. The rooms may not exactly be the most luxurious around, but we manage."

She doesn't exactly deflect Maya or Janey's praise so much as she's not sure what to do with it right now; accepting it seems slightly wrong after everything that's happened, as if she needs Riesenlied back before she'll feel worth the words. She tries her best to take it on regardless, huffing under her breath a second time before she perks up at the blonde to add: "Ah, if you would, Miss-- Maya, I think we'll need the cocoa again soon," she notes as she spies one of the children sneeze. "Really, even twice the blankets wouldn't have been enough to bring with us."

She levels a thankful smile at Mikaia, making sure to look proud as she nods - but the girl's words combined with the other children's clamour gives her the glimmer of an idea. "Actually, I should ask... are you able to communicate with any dragon? With Riesenlied gone, some of them are feeling quite anxious. Someone new to talk to might help them," she wonders, and addresses the rest of the children to encourage them: "Would you all like to introduce Creepy and Weepy to Muni-Muni?"

... Ashton's already getting phased out a little...

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

Ashton laughs a little bit at Maya's commentary. "I've never saved the world before, I'll admit. Small villages and individual lives have always been plenty enough trouble for me. Bigger than that and I fear my ego may grow too big for just three heads." He pauses to grab a small piece of cheese - he's not going to ignore the food there! "I do understand about what you mean by how some humans lack humanity, however. Not every heart is large enough to open, as it were." There's a flicker of a frown - likely there's no need to elaborate on that which is obvious.

He also reaches out to ruffle Janey's hair with a gloved hand. "I can already tell. You're going to be a righteous terror when you grow just a bit older. Good."

"As for dragons..." There, the swordsman hesitates. "I honestly don't know. I've never actually tried before. Our current situation is a bit unique and I haven't encountered another dragon since it happened." Still - he straightens his back. "But I would be happy to try. At the very least, the children should get a laugh out of the encounter. And that's worth a healing vial or three, should the worst happen."

<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.

There's a comfort to be had in staying busy. Caring for children, copying maps, fixing things... it all detracts from letting the blame fester. From letting the doubt stew; a constant reminder of the many dozens of miracles Riesenlied has pulled out of her hat for everyone and that--just the ONE time--Maya couldn't keep her safe. And so it isn't long before the big sister of the group is bringing the kids cocoa and trying not to think about how many etheric equations she has to run in her soul to manifest a nuclear missile to drop on Alhazred.

"Not sure if your dragons and their dragons," Maya points first at Ashton, and then at Noeline. "Really share too much in common, but they might just find a familiar shape kinda comforting."

She leaves that one to sit while she equips the poor kids with something hot and comforting to drink in the meantime. "Well, we'll make a big-deal hero outta you yet. After all, once we've got Riesenlady safe and secured back home, maybe you can help me find out why some guy called the Demon King is reawakening and trying to snap Filgaia in half!" this is said, of course, with entirely too much genuine cheerful enthusiasm.

"'course, you could take a pass on that one if it doesn't sound like a good time."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

The children definitely are getting a little under the weather under the baffling Ellurian weather, but... these are also the kids that have been through the Badlands, and through the sea of stars to Lunar too. They're all hardy in their own ways.

Cocoa's a great idea still, though.

"Think that's kinda what the Outreach likes focusin' on... one village at a time, that kinda thing," Janey muses. "Don't forget the little guys in favour of the big picture, y'know?"

She-- pauses and grins as Ashton ruffles her hair. "Hey, nice! Righteoust error? I like you already, Mister! Haha!"

Noeline suggests Ashton trying to commune with the Fereshte's dragons, given his predicament. Maya comments on how they're not possibly the same, but she at least offers: "The Dragons here're real nice. They might be Metal Dragons, but they're giant sweethearts too -- you'll be in great company, and maybe Creepy and Weepy'll get a friend too out of it!"

She does pause for a moment as she looks to Noeline. "... gonna... go check up on Mickey. Y'know she's gonna go hair-trigger again on her own, ok, mom? Love you!" she runs off, with that, with a wave to the Drifters in the kitchen.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"I can absolutely guarantee," Noeline comments with a carefully straight face, "That Muni-Muni has never met an anything she didn't like. ... it would be appreciated, and as you say, it can't hurt. They're all quite tame, it's just that with Riesenlied gone they are definitely feeling her absence," she adds with a softer tone. The dragons aren't the only ones - and she places her hands on Janey's shoulders, trying to silently reinforce that they'll get out of this alright."

With another sigh, she tilts her head across to Maya's deliberately flippant comment. "Let us not forget the Veruni. Or Malevolence. Or Althena's Guard, since I'm sure they're up to something. Or the war in Aveh and Kislev. Honestly!" she blusters herself, preferring vivid motions as she flings her arms up. "People claim that Filgaia is dwindling, but from a longer-lived point of view it's a positive miracle that we're all still kicking. We shall just have to go tell them all what is what."

She pauses at the same time as Janey does, and hesitates ever so slightly. For a moment she nearly asks if she should go with her daughter, but... there are some things she knows they'd keep private, and that's alright. Instead, she just nods. "Alright. Look after her, and come back soon, and--" oh, right. Maya and Ashton are still there, and for once Noeline actually looks wildly flustered at having to say something in public. "--love you too," she huffs eventually before Janey can get out of sight.

<Pose Tracker> Ashton Anchors has posed.

As the young Janey scampers off, Ashton smiles all the more. "Children do bring such a light to the world - more than plenty to keep Filgaia from doing anything but flourishing, I'd say." It's a small thing, but enough to get him to wink at Noeline.

"And there are many crisis..es? Crisii?" He shakes his head. "Anyhow. One at a time, correct? I won't say I'll pass on the future ones, given how much trouble my luck gets me into.. but there is a lady in need of rescuing first." Ashton does playfully waggle a finger at Maya, however. "After that, I'll want to hear more about this Demon King. Perhaps just to take your challenge."